Posted on 5/5/2008 1:13:35 PM

MLB Baseball Betting Preview - Spotlight on Perfect Pitchers

By BetUS Staff

What pitchers should you focus on when you’re doing your online MLB betting? Well, those that haven’t been tagged with a loss so far this season are a good place to start. Here’s a look at the hurlers who have been racking up wins and avoiding losses through the first five weeks of the season, along with their current statistics and projected next start:

Brandon Webb – Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 7-0, 2.49 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched

Next Start: Thursday (vs. Philadelphia)

Webb actually gave up four earned runs on five hits over six innings of work in his last outing (on May 3 versus the Mets), but his teammates came through with some offense to push his record to 7-0 on the season. The righthander has allowed more than two earned runs only twice in seven starts, and he’s a huge reason for Arizona’s quick start.

Chien-Ming Wang – New York Yankees

Record: 6-0, 3.00 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched

Next Start: Wednesday (vs. Cleveland)

Wang’s 3.00 ERA is even more impressive when you consider the fact that he gave up eight earned runs in four innings versus the BoSox on April 16 (the Yankees eventually won that game 15-9). The righthander, however, has limited the opposition to three or fewer earned runs in his other six starts, picking up the victory in each of those contests.

Joe Saunders – Los Angeles Angels

Record: 6-0, 2.61 ERA, 21 strikeouts in 48 1-3 innings pitched

Next Start: Saturday (at Tampa Bay)

Saunders has been a workhorse for the Angels so far this season as the team tries to overcome the injuries to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar. The lefthander began his campaign by tossing eight scoreless, four-hit innings versus the Twins, and he’s been on a roll since then. Saunders beat the Orioles on Sunday afternoon for his sixth victory.

Ervin Santana – Los Angeles Angels

Record: 5-0, 2.48 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched

Next Start: Monday (at Kansas City)

Santana wasn’t even a lock to get back into the Angels’ rotation this season, but he’s rewarded the team with five wins and a no-decision in his six starts so far in 2008. In fact, the righthander is coming off his best outing of the year, holding the Athletics to one unearned run on four hits over 6 2-3 innings. Santana has walked just nine batters.

Cliff Lee – Cleveland Indians

Stats: 5-0, 0.96 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 37 2-3 innings pitched

Next Start: Wednesday (at New York)

Lee was named AL Pitcher of the Month for April after he cruised to a 5-0 record in five starts. The lefthander was completely dominant over his first four outings, surrendering just a single earned run on 13 hits over 31 2-3 innings of work. Last time out, versus the M’s on April 30, Lee allowed three earned runs on eight hits over his six innings pitched.

Ben Sheets – Milwaukee Brewers

Stats: 4-0, 2.29 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 39 1-3 innings pitched

Next Start: Saturday (vs. St. Louis)

Sheets is always an injury risk (he’s already missed one start this season because of a sore triceps), but he’s been shutting down NL hitters through the first five weeks of the season. The righthander has already turned in three scoreless outings in 2008, and he threw a complete-game shutout (surrendering just five hits) versus the Giants on April 6.

Daisuke Matsuzaka – Boston Red Sox

Stats: 4-0, 2.52 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 35 2-3 innings pitched

Next Start: Monday (at Detroit)

Dice-K should probably be 5-0 right now, as he got stuck with a no-decision after his bullpen blew a lead for him last time out versus the Blue Jays. The righthander tossed seven scoreless innings in that contest, giving up just two hits and striking out four batters. Matsuzaka has given up more than three earned runs in a game just one time.

Ryan Dempster – Chicago Cubs

Stats: 4-0, 3.16 ERA, 22 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched

Next Start: Monday (at Cincinnati)

Dempster went 4-0 with two no-decisions in the month of April, and the converted closer seems comfortable in his return to the starting staff. The righthander has given up more than three earned runs in a game only once this season (versus the Reds on April 15), and he picked up a win over the Brewers last time out (three earned runs in six innings).

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