Posted on 5/14/2008 1:00:40 PM

MLB Baseball Betting – Trends-A-Plenty for Season’s First Quarter

By Eric Williams

With the 2008 MLB regular season coming up on the one-quarter mark of the regular, with approximately 40 games having been played so far by most teams, there are ‘trends-a-plenty’ taking place in the BetUS Sportsbook that are offering the BetUS MLB Betting Community with numerous teams offering bettors excellent MLB Odds in their respective daily matchups across both leagues.

Before getting underway with how these trends affect the BetUS MLB sports betting community, let me say that the early going of the 2008 regular season has certainly produced more than its share of surprises, both good and bad.

Here is a look at Major League Baseball’s top 10 Run-Line, (RL) teams in the early going of the 2008 season, followed by seven struggling ballclubs that bettors may want to avoid for the time being.

Top 10 MLB Run Line (RL) Teams

Florida Marlins, (25-1 RL, +$1225)

Despite being picked to finish no higher than fourth in the NL east this season by most pundits, the Marlins have greatly surpassed expectations and undoubtedly have one of the game’s best players in either league in shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Oakland A’s, (23-16 RL, +$ 687)

GM Billy Beane just keeps coming up with quality young players, particularly, pitchers, that have jaw-dropping talent they eventually teach to harness their immense talent into productive major league hurlers. Just think of ex-A’s starters, Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder when you think of Oakland’s ability to produce fantastic pitchers.

Houston Astros, (26-13 RL, + $1412)

No way did anyone see the Astros early-season success coming this season after their dismal 73-89 record and fourth place finish in the NL Central in 2007. Still, I’m slightly worried that Houston could go the other way at any moment with just one big league pitcher that scares me in staff ace Roy Oswalt.

Tampa Bay Rays, (24-14 RL, +$957)

Yeah for Tampa Bay! After years of fielding miserable team, the Rays have finally displayed the fact that they have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball. Currently in first place in the AL East, the Rays are for real, though beating the Boston Red Sox for the division title is another story altogether.

Atlanta Braves, (22-15 RL, +$1040)

The Braves are one of the top winning RL teams in all of baseball this season despite being in fourth place in the NL East. Atlanta has won with Chipper Jones going wild in the early going and some decent, but not outstanding, starting pitching.

Washington Nationals, (22-17 RL, +$232)

Despite being one of the better RL teams in the league this season, the Nationals are undoubtedly going to hit the proverbial “wall” at some point, showing problems with their ballclub that even their brand spanking new ball park can’t hide.

St. Louis Cardinals, (21-19 RL, +$322)

Most baseball experts predicted the Cardinals to be a middle-of-the-pack NL Central team that wouldn’t even win their own division, likely finishing behind Chicago and Milwaukee, but the Cardinals have surpassed expectations in a big way – just like they did two seasons ago when they unexpectedly won the World Series.

Arizona Diamondbacks, (21-16 RL +$516)

I’ll keep it short and sweet by saying that, even at this early juncture of the regular season, I can clearly see that the Arizona Diamondbacks are going to be one of the very best contenders for the National League Pennant, not only this season, but for years to come with their ballclub featuring some of the best young talent in the game these days.

Baltimore Orioles, (21-17 RL, - $45)

The Baltimore Orioles have also been one of the better surprises in the American League this season after years of floundering. However, despite their winning RL record, they have failed to put bettors in the black with their -$45 RL total and should begin to start falling back into mediocrity at some point in the next month or two.

Chicago White Sox, (21-16 RL, +$436)

Yes, team manager Ozzie Guillen is absolutely ‘nutso’ but the Sox, World Series winners just three seasons ago, have gotten off to a respectable start this season in the tough American League. While this club has been just above average on the field, I say ride the Sox until their wagering wins start to cool off.

ATS Struggling Seven

Here are seven teams that MLB bettors will want to avoid at all costs unless one of these clubs is a lock’ to win. The fact of the matter is that these teams have cost bettors who wager on them, big-time in the early going so far, though at least three of these teams could genuinely rebound in a big way at some point soon in Philadelphia, Seattle and Detroit.

Cincinnati Reds, (12-24 RL, -$1406)

San Diego Padres, (14-25 RL, -$1317)

Milwaukee Brewers, (16-22 RL, -$989)

Philadelphia Phillies, 16-23 RL, -$814)

Detroit Tigers, (16-22 RL, -$757)

Seattle Mariners, (17-22 RL, -$574)

Colorado Rockies, (16-22 RL, -$1068)

Will Rebound At Some Point:

Every season it seems, at least one or two ballclubs get off to a slow start before rallying in a big way, similar to what the New York Yankees have done in each of the last two regular season, making the postseason despite downright horrific starts.

Cleveland Indians, (18-18, 17-19 RL +$9)

Just aver at the moment, the Indians are likely going to put together a solid winning streak at some point soon, probably around the time C.C. Sabathia remembers how to throw like the Cy Young winner he is.

Detroit Tigers, (16-22, 16-22 RL -$757)

This team simply has too much talent to continue wallowing in the muck with the league’s worst teams. The Tigers also have one of the best managers in all of baseball in Jim Leyland.

Seattle Mariners, (14-24, 16-21 RL -$574)

One would think that the best defensive team in baseball, featuring the game’s most consistent hitter, (Ichiro Suzuki) and two spectacular pitchers in Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez, will start winning some games on a regular basis at some point right?

New York Yankees, (19-19, 17-20 RL -$82)

While I hate to admit it, the fact of the matter is that the Yankees have bounced back in after consecutive poor regular season starts and could do the same once again, though I genuinely believe this team won’t reach the postseason this year.

Tailspin Trouble Possible:

Florida Marlins, (22-14, 23-13 RL +1025)

Fantastic start, but can this team’s young arms hold up over the long haul?

St. Louis Cardinals, (23-15, 21-17 RL +$609)

The Cardinals have overachieved in a big way so far and could contend all season under fiery manager Tony LaRussa – or fall back into the mediocrity that plagued them last season, particularly if their pitching goes south.

Oakland A’s, (22-16, 22-16 RL +$580)

Youth certainly has its advantages, but often comes with more than its share of drawbacks at times. The Marlins will be hard-pressed to fight off the Phillies and Mets during the coming summer months.

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