posted July 16, 2008 at 13:40 in MLB Free Picks

BetUS Sportsbook bettors who focus on major league baseball will take a deep breath at the All-Star break and evaluate where their favorite teams, or pre-season choices, currently stand in the ultimate chase for the World Series. At this virtual half-way point, we will examine each team and what they can do, relative to the MLB odds posted at BetUS.com.

BetUS MLB Futures Odds

To Win American League

Boston Red Sox +175
New York Yankees +700
Los Angeles Angels +325
Cleveland Indians +5000
Detroit Tigers +900
Chicago White Sox +700
Oakland Athletics +1800
Seattle Mariners +50000
Toronto Blue Jays +7500
Texas Rangers +7500
Minnesota Twins +1400
Baltimore Orioles +20000
Tampa Bay Devil Rays +350
Kansas City Royals +25000

Boston Red Sox (+175 in BetUS odds) -- The Red Sox were able to assume first place in the American League East as Tampa Bay went on a seven-game losing streak. The Sox are 36-11 at home, but are still under the .500 mark on the road (21-29). That will have to improve for them to hold on. David Ortiz, the designated hitter, will probably be in the lineup again by August. But with people like Keith Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia having such great seasons, there is enough pop in the batting order. All five starting pitchers have an ERA under 4.00, and with the emergence of Justin Masterson, they won't have to miss Curt Schilling (who is out for the year).

New York Yankees (+700 in BetUS odds) -- I see some upside with the Yankees. They're going to be getting back Chien-Ming Wang in September, and maybe by that time Carl Pavano might be able to help as well (though that would be a bonus). Mike Mussina has done better than expected; Joba Chamberlain has done pretty well as a starter, and one of those young pitchers may be able to add something to the mix before all is said and done. Players like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano could possibly be counted on for more offense than they've given in the first half. Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon will also eventually come back to the lineup to provide punch. The Yankees did not come into the break with a head of steam, and they are 5.5 games in back of the Rays, which would be the leading wild card contender right now.

Los Angeles Angels (+325 in BetUS odds) -- The Angels could be of some value because they are the team that is most likely to get to the playoffs at this point. With a six-game lead over Oakland in the American League West, the Angels are the team to look out for. The starting rotation is very solid, with Jon Lackey, Erwin Santana and Joe Saunders pitching like All-Stars, and there is a strong bullpen to back it up. They could use some more offense, but they have players like Torii Hunter, Vlad Guerrero, Garret Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr. who are capable of providing it.

Cleveland Indians (+5000 in BetUS odds) -- The Indians are looking for stars like Travis Hafner and Fausto Miranda to come back and chip in, so they can help bring this last-place team closer to respectability. But the Indians, who are 41-53 in the AL Central, have given up on the season, as evidenced by their trade of Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee.

Detroit Tigers (+900 in BetUS odds) -- The Tigers are in striking distance, at .500 and seven games out of the lead in the AL Central. This is the kind of team that could make up ground in a hurry, but they've got to get more offense in a hurry. Magglio Ordonez and Gary Sheffield have spent time on the injured list, and Edgar Renteria is in a slump. But Ivan Rodriguez is starting to find his hitting stroke. Dontrelle Willis is likely of no use for the rest of the year, which won't help this very mediocre pitching staff.

Chicago White Sox (+700 in BetUS odds) -- The White Sox opened up a decent lead, then lost ground. They're staring down a very serious challenge from the Minnesota Twins, who came into the All-Star break on a hot streak.

Oakland Athletics (+1800 in BetUS odds) -- It's a shame, because Oakland, which went into the break six games in back of the Angels in the AL West, has the makings of some very good pitching with Justin Duchscherer, Rich Harden and Dana Eveland. But there's almost no one hitting worth a damn.

Seattle Mariners (+50000 in BetUS odds) -- The real drama around Seattle for the rest of the season will involve whether Ichiro Suzuki will reach 200 hits for the eighth consecutive season,

Toronto Blue Jays (+7500 in BetUS odds) -- The Blue Jays have overtaken the Orioles for fourth place in the AL East, but the starting pitching, with the exception of Roy Halladay, is taking a turn for the worse. Shaun Marcum is on the DL for the time being with an elbow problem, and Dustin McGowan will be missing for over a month. Toronto is set to go with a four-man rotation. For a team that doesn't score many runs, they are looking at tough times ahead.

Texas Rangers (+7500 in BetUS odds) -- There's a ton of hitting here; Ian Kinsler is in the American League batting lead, and Josh Hamilton leads the AL in RBI's. But these guys need to support Vicente Padilla with more pitching, and that isn't likely to happen.

Minnesota Twins (+1400 in BetUS odds) -- For a team that is just a game and a half out of the division lead to be sitting at this price right now is a pretty good value. If I recall, the Twins won a couple of World Series when they weren't necessarily the favorite to win the pennant when the post-season started. There is the feeling here that the starting pitching might not hold up, which makes the brilliance of Joe Nathan somewhat moot. LIvan Hernandez is giving them a lot of innings, as was expected and hoped for, but the absence of Johan Santana is felt.

Baltimore Orioles (+20000 in BetUS odds) -- The Orioles are ten games out of the American League East lead. And they have recently slipped into the division cellar. The O's are getting plenty of power, but their starting pitching staff isn't enough to stop anybody. George Sherill, who made the All-Star team and has chalked up 27 saves, has a WHIP ratio of 1.32 and an ERA of 3.72.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (+350 in BetUS odds) -- Yeah, last time we talked I was putting value on Tampa Bay because I thought their pitching would keep them from going into a long losing streak. So here they are having lost seven games in a row and without Troy Percival, who had been a very strong closer for them (0.96 WHIP, 19 saves). But I still have faith in the Rays, because I know with their speed they can manufacture runs, and Evan Longoria looks like he's moving rapidly toward the .300 mark. I do not think this rotation is a mirage.

Kansas City Royals (+25000 in BetUS odds) -- The Royals may have a pretty good chance to stay out of the American league cellar, but remember that the Indians are going to get healthier.

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com touches all the bases as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)