National League vs. American League Odds & Predictions: July 13th 2010

July 13, 2010 By

Our Tuesday night All Star Game predictions take us to Angels Stadium where the American and National League will go at it once again in the Midsummer Classic for the rights of snagging home field advantage in the upcoming World Series.
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There have been 80 All Star Games played to date; the National League has won 40 overall and there have been two ties. The latest draw came back in 2002 when both leagues ran out of position players, so Commissioner Bud Selig pronounced the game a stalemate.

Since then, this former exhibition has turned into one of the most important games of the season with the victor holding home field advantage in the World Series. Since then, the AL has dominated winning six in a row; that mark includes last year’s 4-3 tally in St. Louis.

The American League will carry its 12-game winning streak heading into the 81st overall All Star Game; the National League last came out victorious in the Midsummer Classic back in 1996 when it extended its winning streak over the American League to three straight.

National League vs. American League
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, July 13th, 8:00 ET
Game Location: Angels Stadium, Anaheim, CA
TV/Radio Broadcast: FOX, XM

MLB Odds: National League Even (Ubaldo Jimenez – R) vs. American League -120 (David Price – L): Total Over/Under 8.5

Ubaldo Jimenez gets the starting nod from manager Charlie Manuel to be the NL’s starter this evening. The righty’s very much so deserving considering he stands a phenomenal 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA & 1.05 WHIP throughout his 18 overall first half starts. He became one of just 13 pitchers to earn 15 victories in his team’s first 85 games of a season, and threw a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves back in April. The Colorado Rockies have won 16 of his 18 overall outings, and they went a phenomenal 9-1 the ten times he led their charge on the road.

Opposing the potential NL Cy Young Award winner will be Tampa Bay Rays southpaw David Price. The youngster exploded onto the MLB scene in the Rays memorable 2007 season that saw them fall short against the Philadelphia Phillies in the world Series. He leads the league in victories with 12 and ERA (2.42), he’s led the Rays to victories in 12 of his 17 overall MLB betting starts. When he throws out the first pitch Tuesday night, he will become the youngest pitcher (24) since Brett Saberhagen did in ’87 to get the starting nod for the American League in All Star Game betting. Other starting pitchers to be thrown into the mix will be Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay, Florida’s Josh Johnson, St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright, San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum, New York’s Philip Hughes, Boston’s Jon Lester, Texas’ Cliff lee, and Detroit’s Justin Verlander.

MLB Insider Tip: I’ve seen a limited return with my All Star bets each of the L/2 seasons by backing the NL larger on the run-line and playing smaller on the $$$-line. However, my 2010 All Star Game predictions finally have the National League putting an end to their 12 year drought! I simply can’t ignore the pitching the NL will be throwing at the AL with Jimenez leading off, followed by the trio of Halladay, Lincecum, and Johnson. The AL’s starting pitching staff is still rock solid, but it just doesn’t do it for me the way the NL’s does this season.

Having not won this exhibition since it turned into one of the most important games of the year has got to be driving the NL’ers crazy! I expect them to come out the hungrier team and finally get the best of the AL. With the Yanks running so well in defense of their World Series Title, why not make it a bit tougher for them to pull off the repeat? I expect manager Charlie Manuel’s side to do just that this evening!

My MLB Prediction: National League (Jimenez)
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

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Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds & Prediction: July 7th 2010

July 7, 2010 By

Our Wednesday night MLB predictions take us to Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays will look to win their fifth game in a row by sweeping the division rival Boston Red Sox right out of the Sunshine State.
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The Rays took the first two games of this series after it disposed of the BoSox by a 3-2 final count in last night’s baseball betting battle. Though runs were very hard to come by, the Rays squeaked by the Red Sox on the heels of a four hit and one ER effort from starter Jeff Niemann who picked up his first win since June 8th to move to 7-2 on the year. The victory allowed the Rays to swell its lead in the AL Wild Card race to 1.5-games over the Red Sox; Tampa sits two-games in back of the AL East leading New York Yankees while Boston finds itself 3.5-games back heading into tonight’s series finale.

Boston Red Sox (49-35, $360) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (50-33, $168)
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, July 7th, 7:10 ET
Game Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
TV/Radio Broadcast: NESN, Sun Sports, XM

MLB Betting Odds: Boston Red Sox +1.5 -130 +160 (Tim Wakefield – R) vs. Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 +110 -190 (David Price – R): Total 8.5 O Even 8.5 U -120

Knuckler Tim Wakefield takes to the bump for the 18th time this season in search of his fourth overall win. He did score his first win in just under a month his last time out at home against Baltimore by limiting the Orioles to a pair of ER’s through his eight innings of work. Boston has dropped five of Wakefield’s seven road starts this season where the veteran owns a 2-2 record with a 3.66 ERA & 1.22 WHIP over 39.1 total IP. He has however been rock solid of late allowing just 23 hits and eight ER’s with a K/BB ratio of 13/5 over his L/3 starts. He’s excelled mightily against the Rays throughout his career going 18-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 33 starts, but he’s gotten tagged to the tune of 19 hits and 16 ER’s through just 10 combined innings of work the L/3 times he’s faced them.

Opposing the Red Sox vet will be third year phenom David Price. He enters his 16th start of the season a dominating 11-4 with a 2.42 ERA & 1.20 WHIP having allowed just 87 hits and 29 ER’s through his 107.2 total innings of work. He’s been exceptional in “The Trop” going 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA, but he’s dropped two of his L/3 overall decisions beating the D’Backs while falling against both the Marlins and Twins; Tampa’s 5-2 in his seven overall home starts. He’s faced the BoSox twice and stands 1-1 with a 4.77 ERA & 1.24 WHIP lifetime.

MLB Insider Tip: After getting dominated by the Red Sox since the franchise was formed, it looks as if the Rays are finally able to hold their own in this division rivalry. They’ve taken seven of the 11 meetings this season, and enter tonight’s match-up winners of three in a row. While Wakefield has had tons of success against the Rays throughout his career, he’s been hit hard by them each of the L/3 times he’s opposed them; Boston’s dropped five of his L/6 starts vs. Tampa Bay. David Price is in the midst of an exceptional season, and I really don’t foresee this rag-tag line-up that Boston marches out there tonight doing much of anything against him this evening. My MLB predictions for tonight’s series finale have the Rays busting out the brooms and sweeping the Red Sox right out of “The Trop.” Lay the chalk!!!

My MLB Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays (Price)
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Prediction & Odds: June 2nd 2010

June 2, 2010 By

Two of the best MLB betting teams in the game lock horns for the third time in as many days at Rogers Centre on Wednesday night in the rubber match between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Toronto looked like it was going to close yet another game on the AL East leaders on Tuesday night before the Rays staged a dramatic comeback from down 5-0 that was capped by a four run 9th inning to win 7-6.

Tampa Bay holds a 4.5 game edge over Toronto in the AL East standings, but only has 2.5 games over the New York Yankees for first place.

Tampa Bay Rays (35-18, +$772) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (31-23, +$1,188)
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, June 2nd, 7:07 ET
Game Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
TV/Radio Broadcast: Sun Sports, RSN, XM

MLB Odds: Tampa Bay Rays -105 (David Price – L) vs. Toronto Blue Jays -115 (Shaun Marcum – R) Total: 7.5 Runs

LHP David Price is going to get the ball for the 11th time this season from manager Joe Maddon. Largely accepted as one of the up and coming southpaws in the game, Price is 7-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 66.2 IPs this year.

Price has been tagged for a combined eight runs in his L/2 starts, which is more than he conceded in his previous six starts added together.

However, against the Blue Jays, he has been absolutely lethal in his career, going 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA, including a complete game shutout against them back on April 25th.

RHP Shaun Marcum has been just as effective for the Jays this year, though. He is 5-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 11 starts and has been the victorious pitcher in four straight outings. Marcum’s 1.03 WHIP and .216 batting average against are amongst the best in the majors.

At home, he has only had one non-quality start all season long, that coming in his first outing of the year. Since that point, he is 3-0 with a 1.41 ERA.

MLB betting fanatics are a perfect 6-0 and are up $601 in Marcum’s L/6 appearances for Toronto.

If you’re talking about a sparkling career against a team, it doesn’t get much better than what Marcum has done to the Rays. He is 2-0 with a miniscule 0.75 ERA against Tampa Bay lifetime, though this will be the first time that he faces the 2010 edition of the team.

MLB Insider Tip: The Rays have won eight straight games as underdogs and are 21-6 in their L/27 road games overall.

Even though Price has been bounced around just a tad of late, he is still going to do enough to keep the Rays alive in this game. From that point on, a bullpen that has absolutely been lights out and the momentum from last night’s huge comeback should give Tampa Bay yet another victorious road series.

Take Tampa Bay in MLB betting action on Wednesday night.

My MLB Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

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MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics: May 7th 2010

May 7, 2010 By

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics
Free Pick: Oakland Athletics +118
Courtesy of Mike Rose (Handicapperspicks.com)
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The team with the best record in baseball will return to the diamond on Friday night at McAfee Coliseum, where the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics will kick off a three game set.

The Rays moved to an impressive 12-1 on the road this year with a series sweep in Seattle before heading to Oakland.

The A’s are tied with Texas for first place in the AL West standings after taking two out of three against said Rangers.

David Price is 3-1 with a 2.34 ERA this year, and he is showing signs of electricity that hasn’t been seen out of a left-hander in Tampa Bay since Scott Kazmir was traded from the Mets.

This will be Price’s first attempt at facing the Athletics in his young career.

LHP Gio Gonzalez is Oakland’s version of Price. Also 24 years old, Gonzalez has shown flashes of potential, but now that he is in his third year in the majors, he is really starting to blossom.

Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA and has the exact same 27 strikeouts that Price does. Oakland’s southpaw has a 1.29 WHIP and a .215 batting average against, both of which are numbers that any hurler would be proud of.

Gonzalez has made three appearances against the Rays in his career, only one of which was a start. He has allowed six runs in 9.2 innings, but is 1-0 to show for it.

The Rays are just 12-34 in their L/46 visits to Oakland. One has to think that the road run for the Rays is going to come to a close at some point. The oddsmakers have probably run a wee too far with the lines here, as Price is still clearly no more than the fourth best starter in this rotation.

We’re going to back the A’s to make a statement in this series and continue their home dominance over the AL East leaders beginning with a win on Friday night.

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