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January 28th MLB news ... Welcome to Baseball betting sites, the informational site with the baseball bettor in mind.
Welcome to baseballbettingsites.com, the informational site with the baseball bettor in mind.
In order to score big on the game of baseball, the bettor must be as up to date with all of the key stats and trends. By logging on daily, the baseball bettor will find all of the pertinent information to successfully handicap the game of baseball.
Latest MLB News
World Series Game 5 Betting Preview
2010-11-01
Sportsbook.com World Series Game 5 Betting Lines: Texas -174, San Francisco +164 Total: 6.5
Once again, Texas calls on Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18 ERA) to come up big as the Rangers try to rally from a 3-1 deficit and send the series back to San Francisco. Tim Lincecum (16-10, 3.43 ERA) goes for the Giants in a rematch of Game 1’s wild 11-7 San Francisco victory. The World Series betting crowd at Sportsbook.com is expecting a Game 6 as 88 percent of the cash is on the Rangers.
Game 1 was certainly a start to forget for Lee, who allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over 4.2 innings. It was only the second time in 2010 that Lee failed to make it out of the fifth inning. With the loss, Lee’s postseason ERA worsened to 2.51. The start was an anomaly on multiple levels as Lee came into the game with a 7-0 lifetime postseason record and was 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his career against San Francisco. Monday will be his first start at home this postseason. Lee went 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA at Rangers Ballpark this year.
The series opener was also the worst start of the playoffs for Lincecum, who gave up four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander is now 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA this postseason. San Francisco has won five on his past six starts and eight of his past 10. Lincecum will make his third road start this postseason on Monday and that may be a good thing for San Francisco as he was better on the road during the regular season, posting a 7-3 record and a 3.17 ERA, as opposed to 9-7 and a 3.69 ERA at AT&T Field.
These baseball betting trends uncovered at Sportsbook.com points towards a Giants’ win tonight:
SAN FRANCISCO is 42-20 (+22.0 Units) against the money line after batting .250 or worse over a 20 game span this season. The average score was SAN FRANCISCO 4.6, OPPONENT 2.8 - (Rating = 3*).
SAN FRANCISCO is 45-20 (+26.3 Units) against the money line with an on base percentage of .310 or worse over their last 20 games this season. The average score was SAN FRANCISCO 4.5, OPPONENT 2.7 - (Rating = 3*).
For more World Series betting odds, head over to Sportsbook.com now.
Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts Betting Odds and Preview
Monday Night Football Betting Odds: Indianapolis -5.5, Total: 51.5
The Texans travel to Indianapolis in search of their first-ever series sweep of the Colts. Both teams are banged up, but the Colts are in much worse shape with TE Dallas Clark on injured reserve (wrist), WR Austin Collie out (hand) and RB Joseph Addai doubtful (shoulder) for Monday night. A few other key offensive players are hurt as well, including WRs Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon and RB Donald Brown who all have hamstring woes, but will all suit up Monday.
Despite all of the Colts’ injuries, Sportsbook.com bettors are confident that they will cover the point spread as 62 percent of the cash is on Indy.
The Texans also have some injuries to key players such as WR Andre Johnson (ankle) and TE Owen Daniels (knee), but both are expected to play close to 100 percent Monday night.
This game promises to be a shootout with two of the top four offenses in the league. Entering this week, Indianapolis ranked second to the Chargers with 409 YPG and the Texans placed fourth with 380 YPG. On the defensive side of the ball, Houston places dead last in the league in yardage (411 YPG) while Indy sat 21st with 344 YPG allowed. No wonder 68 percent of the football betting crowd is pounding the ‘over’.
Both quarterbacks have a long history of playing each other. Peyton Manning’s numbers against Houston are simply jaw-dropping. In 17 career meetings, Manning has thrown for 4,854 yards (286 YPG), 40 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Texans QB Matt Schaub has not been successful facing the Colts with just five touchdowns and seven interceptions in four career meetings.
The Colts are 15-2 SU in 17 all-time meetings in the series, including a perfect 8-0 home record. But these NFL betting trends lean towards a Houston covering the point spread tonight.
Play On - Road teams (HOUSTON) - with a horrible scoring defense - allowing 27 or more points/game, after allowing 25 points or more in 2 straight games. (34-9 over the last 5 seasons.) (79.1%, +24.1 units. Rating = 3*).
Play On - Road teams (HOUSTON) - slow starting team - outscored by 5+ PPG in the first half, after scoring 7 points or less in the first half in 2 straight games. (63-25 over the last 10 seasons.) (71.6%, +35.5 units. Rating = 3*).
For the rest of tonight’s Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts betting odds, head over to Sportsbook.com now.
MLB: Betting info favors Rangers in key series opener2010-07-22The Rangers and Angels are separated by five games in the A.L. West Division standings heading into their 4-game series opener on Thursday night in Texas. The set is clearly more critical for the trailing Angels, as anything but a series win will leave them continuing to play catch-up for next near future. They will send ace Jered Weaver to the hill on Thursday night, but he is a hefty +155 underdog to Cliff Lee, according to Sportsbook.com. Let’s take a look at this key showdown.
Weaver probably isn’t as worried about squaring off with a fellow ace as he is having to pitch in Texas. He has had trouble regardless of who is pitching for the Rangers. His team will look to avoid losing their seventh straight game started by Weaver at Texas on Thursday night. The right-hander has a 6.17 ERA during that stretch, surrendering seven runs in two of his last three outings.
This four-game series gives three-time reigning division champion Los Angeles (51-46) a chance to cut into Texas' five-game lead.
"It's huge," Weaver (9-5, 3.16 ERA) told the Angels' official website. "We've been sitting four, five games back for a while now. ... When you're playing those guys, you pick up a game or lose one. Simple as that."
Lee, meanwhile, has won four straight starts versus the Angels, posting a 1.91 ERA, and is 6-3 with a 3.18 ERA in nine outings against them all-time.
Lee is facing an Angels team that is hitting .329 while averaging 5.8 runs over its last six games. Los Angeles had 15 hits against New York on Wednesday, but still lost 10-6.
Today’s top StatFox betting system favors the host Rangers at -165:
• Play On - All favorites with a money line of -150 or more (TEXAS) - allowing 4.7 or less runs/game on the season (AL) against opponent starting a pitcher who did not walk a hitter last outing. (102-29 over the last 5 seasons.) (77.9%, +52.3 units. Rating = 3*)
There is also good reason to believe that the offenses will take center stage, rather than the pitchers:
• Play Over - All teams where the total is 8 to 8.5 (TEXAS) - with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.100 or better on the season-AL, with a rested bullpen - threw <= 2 innings in each of the last 2 games. (43-12 over the last 5 seasons.) (78.2%, +30.4 units. Rating = 4*)
Texas has been solid the last couple of years against its toughest opposing pitchers, going 15-4 (+13.6 Units) against the money line vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.100 or better over the last 2 seasons. The average score was TEXAS 5.3, OPPONENT 4.0 - (Rating = 2*). On top of that, Cliff Lee is on a 15-2 (+11.7 units) surge as a home favorite of -150 to -175. Of course, that has come with four different teams.
Perhaps the only blemish on the Rangers scorecard heading into tonight’s key game is that they are just 3-7 at home this month.
The Angels took two of three from Texas the last time these teams met at the end of June.
The StatFox Power Line indicates the Rangers hold value all the way up to -176. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 PM ET from Arlington.
MLB: Stephen Strasburg era begins in Washington2010-06-08The anticipation is nearly over. The 21-year-old with the fastball that reaches 100 mph and the curve that freezes batters is about to take the mound in the nation’s capital. Stephen Strasburg is set to make his Washington Nationals debut Tuesday night. Bettors have reacted, or should we say overreacted accordingly, betting the Nationals up to -210 after the line opened at -165 at Sportsbook.com.
Standing room only tickets went on sale Monday, all part of a rare Nationals Park sellout. The Internet is humming with offers for good seats. More than 200 requests for media credentials have been submitted, forcing officials to turn a dining area into a work space to accommodate all those reporters with laptops.
For the Nationals (27-31, +6.7 units), Strasburg’s major league debut is best summed up in one word.
Finally.
No one’s seen anything like it. A No. 1 overall pick who gets sellout, rock-star, hire-extra-security treatment in minor league cities such as Harrisburg and Rochester. It’s the type of overexposure usually reserved for top picks in the NFL or NBA.
The Nationals are actually having a decent year following back-to-back 100-losses seasons but are coming off a pair of losses to Cincinnati. They are 18-11 after a loss this season. However, everything they’ve done has been overshadowed by talk about a player who didn’t have a locker in the clubhouse, whose debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates (23-34, +2) has been given its own baseball holiday nickname: “Strasmas.”
“I feel like I’ve been ready,” Strasburg said after his last minor league outing, five scoreless innings for Triple-A Syracuse at Buffalo last week. There’s not much argument there. It was almost cruel to watch Strasburg overwhelm hitters in Double-A and Triple-A. His combined stats: 7-2 with a 1.30 ERA with 65 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 55 1-3 innings.
But money trumped wins, at least this year. Having already invested heavily in the right-hander from San Diego State with a record $15.1 million contract over four years, the Nationals wanted to save some dough down the road by calling Strasburg up after June 1, thus delaying by one year the eventual date when he will be eligible for arbitration.
Strasburg is also looking forward to normalcy because he’s not a limelight guy. Still, the toned-down persona hasn’t stopped the hype machine. Want to bet on how Strasburg’s going to do Tuesday? There are odds on whether his first pitch will be a ball or strike, how many innings he’ll last and nearly everything else in between. Sports bettors have this as one-sided affair, as Washington opened as -165 money line favorites and they have been bet all the way up to -210.
Nationals Park has been sold out only once so far this season—on opening day—but the thought that Strasburg might pitch drew the season’s second biggest crowd Friday against Cincinnati. Strasburg’s thoughts about it all? Pretty straightforward.
“It’s my major league debut. What more can you say?” he said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about my entire life, and now it’s starting to become a reality.”
At least Strasburg won’t have to wait long for the next phenom to come along. Baseball’s draft was held Monday, and the Nationals again held the No. 1 overall pick. As expected, Washington selected Bryce Harper, a junior college slugger who’s had about as much hype as Strasburg.
The Nationals have a great deal of baggage to overcome, with a 15-25 record as a home favorite of -110 or higher and though the anticipation had one more day to build, Washington is 4-22 playing with a day off over the last two seasons.
Sportsbook.com has the total at Un8.5 and that’s a hard prediction given the circumstances, nevertheless the Nats are is 13-3 UNDER after two straight games with one or less extra base hits, while Pittsburgh is 36-21 OVER in road games after a loss by four runs or more. The Pirates offense continues to struggle and they are 12-42 away from home after batting .250 or worse over a 20-game span over the last two years.
The buzz in the ballyard will be fun in Washington for a change and Bucs starter Jeff Karstens (1-1, 4.50) has to keep his emotions in check to give his club a chance to win. MLB.TV will broadcast the game 7:05 Eastern and ESPN will be covering this event in the afternoon before the telecast as only they can.
The StatFox Power Line shows Washington -157
MLB: Betting on View from 2nd Place in National League2009-08-04When you are not perched on the top spot, you have to be like they said in those old Avis commercials-”We try harder”. That is the case tonight for three National League teams is pursuit of the front-running teams ahead of them, while being ever mindful of wild card possibilities. Here is how the trio of second place teams size up, all on the road. Get all the decision-making betting material for these games on the GAME MATCHUPS page.
Florida at Washington
Florida (55-50, +6.2 units) has to be feeling rather chipper, having won four series in a row, the last in dramatic fashion over the Chicago Cubs. The Marlins have won nine of 11 to close the gap with Philadelphia in the NL East to five games. Tonight, Florida’s ace Josh Johnson (10-2, 2.87 ERA) will try to keep the heat on the Phillies against a team they have beaten like a defenseless MMA fighter.
The Marlins story against Washington (34-72, -32 units) isn’t fishy; they have clobbered the Nationals with 25-3 record. This includes 9-0 this season and 10-1 mark in our nation’s capital. Washington’s only hope to break Florida’s 10-game winning streak over them is score runs, which they have in last 10 games, averaging 6.9 per contest in accumulating 5-5 record. Despite pounding the ball with authority, the Nats are only 4-11 in home games with an on-base percentage of .350 or better.
Florida is a -165 money line favorite at Sportsbook.com, with total Ov8 and Johnson is 16-1 against NL East opponents since last season. (Marlins Record)
Colorado at Philadelphia
Here’s a real switch, the Colorado Rockies (58-47, +9.8 units) are playing good, consistent baseball and are with 6.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colorado put together another miraculous streak, winning 17 of 18 in June. Instead of collapsing, the Rockies have continued to climb with a 21-14 record in last 35 contests since hot streak ended. A sign of maturity is how Colorado plays on the road, with 31-26 mark. They will be severely tested by a less than hospitable Philadelphia club that return home after losing four of last five out West.
The Phillies (59-44, +6.8 units) were 14-3 in July at Citizens Bank Park and seek to regain offensive rhythm that produced 6.9 runs per game in 17 outings, after limping home scoring 2.9 RPG in last seven road tries. Jamie Moyer (10-7, 5.32) is assigned with the task of corralling Colorado and his club is a -135 money line favorite, sporting 15-6 record vs. NL teams scoring 4.8 or more runs a game. The Rocks will send Jason Hammel (5-6, 4.66) to toe the rubber and they are spectacular 13-1 when playing against a team with 54-to-62 win percentage this season.
St. Louis at New York
If you want to get really technical, St. Louis (58-50, -0.7 units) is in second place in the NL Central, after the Cubs win last night. The Cardinals and Chicago are actually tied in the standings with St. Louis having played four more games, but trail .538 to .537 if you want to get picky. The Cardinals are in the Big Apple for two tilts with the Mets (50-55, -5.1 units) and will face a rugged pitcher in Johan Santana (12-8, 2.96). The lefthander has enjoyed the spacious surroundings of Citi Field with 8-2 record and 1.69 ERA. The Mets and Santana are 9-2 at home against teams with winning record.
The Cardinals might be +100 road underdogs; however Joel Pineiro (9-9, 2.84) gives them a real chance against the punch-less New Yorkers. Pineiro has ERA of 1.22 in last five starts and is 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA in five outings against the Mets, all Cards victories. Backing Santana at this low price is tempting until you know the Redbirds and their righty starter have won last four games on the road.
MLB: National League Series Betting Preview2008-10-09Postseason baseball has changed dramatically over the last several years. In the past, normally the best team in each league would advance to the World Series and the favored team would win more often than not and only the occasional upset would occur. Presently, those days are more gone than the thought of one’s house increasing in value. In today’s modern playoff baseball it’s similar to most people’s outlook on life, “What have you done for me lately?”
The Los Angeles Dodgers took a calculated risk in trading for Manny Ramirez, hoping the talented, yet eccentric player could ignite a clubhouse that was as exciting as trip through a McDonald’s drive-thru. Ramirez proved to be the lightning rod, showing his teammates how to be a professional baseball player in terms of preparation, yet having fun and being just wacky enough he could fit right in at Venice Beach. The Dodgers so outplayed the Cubs, you would have thought they won 97 games during the regular season and are since September 6, are 22-8.
While the Chicago Cubs have spent a century not being a very good baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies have not exactly been stuffing their trophy case with championship hardware. Since first becoming a big league franchise in 1883 (Chester Arthur was President) the Phillies went 97 years before being World Series champions in 1980 and the newest streak is up to a mere 27 years. Philadelphia was barely given credit for winning the NL East a year ago, winning it on the last day of the regular season thanks to the New York Mets collapse and being swept quickly in three games by Colorado. This season the Phillies had many peaks and valleys, yet at crunch time, they were tough. With the series win over Milwaukee, the Phils are on 16-4 run-out.
To win this series, Los Angeles needs to play to its tactical edges. With Rafael Furcal and Russell Martin on-base at the top of the lineup, Manny Ramirez creates fear as a RBI-machine. When Manny either gets a hit or is semi-intentionally walked, this gives James Loney and Andre Ethier a chance to finish off a big inning. The Dodgers bullpen has been as steady as Amy Winehouse, but reliever Jonathan Broxton as been anchor of late. After Cole Hamels, the Dodgers have the next three starters in the NLCS with starters Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda.
Having won 16 of 20, the Philadelphia offense receives a great deal of credit. The real secret to this winning stretch has been the pitching. In their last 20 games, the Phillies have allowed more than four runs just three times, keeping them in games the offense can win. Having home field advantage in the series, the Phils must show patience at the dish. The Dodgers and Philly bullpens have similar ERA’s at 3.34 and 3.21 respectively; however the Dodgers are nearly a full run higher on the road. Chase Utley and his teammates need to go deep into counts, piling up Dodgers pitch counts and takes hacks the L.A. bullpen.
StatFox Take – If good pitching stops good hitting, than the edge has to go to the Dodgers. Joe Torre can run out three starters all capable of winning each game and a case can be made in Lowe’s favor in the opener, being 40-20 vs. NL teams scoring 4.8 or more runs a game on the season. (Team’s Record) It’s difficult to gauge Dodgers mediocre road record on the season, as this is a different team. In order to win the series, Philadelphia is going to need two wins on the days Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer pitch and not sure that will happen. Home field has meant everything between these two teams, each sweeping a four game series this season. Slight edge to the Dodgers to advance.
Series odds from Sportbook.com: Dodgers -110, Phillies -110
Thursday October 9
L.A. Dodgers (Lowe) at Philadelphia (Hamels) 8:22 EDT
Friday October 10
L.A. Dodgers (Billingsley) at Philadelphia (Myers) 4:35 EDT
Saturday October 12
Philadelphia (Moyer) at L.A. Dodgers (Kuroda) 8:22 EDT
Sunday October 13
Philadelphia () at L.A. Dodgers () 8:22 EDT
Tuesday October 15
Philadelphia at L.A. Dodgers if necessary
Thursday October 17
L.A. Dodgers at Philadelphia if necessary
Friday October 18
L.A. Dodgers at Philadelphia if necessary
Offensive – National League
Runs scored Dodgers 13th Philadelphia 3rd
Home Runs Dodgers 13th Philadelphia 1st
Total Bases Dodgers 13th Philadelphia 3rd
Slugging Ptc. Dodgers 13th Philadelphia 2nd
Walks Dodgers 11th Philadelphia 5th
On base Ptc. Dodgers 6th Philadelphia 7th
Pitching & Defense
ERA Dodgers 1st Philadelphia 4th
Strikeouts Dodgers 5th Philadelphia 11th
Walks Dodgers 2nd Philadelphia 6th
On base Ptc. Dodgers 1st Philadelphia 6th
Putouts Dodgers 9th Philadelphia 7th
Errors Dodgers 10th Philadelphia 5th
MLB: Monday means Game 1 of new MLB Series2008-07-29Every now and again, a major league baseball series will spill over into a Monday, just not very often. This means like the start of a work week for the rest of us working stiffs, MLB teams start a new series against a different opponent, trying to win the first game of a series, to establish the upper hand in hopes of taking control and doing what every baseball manager loves, triumphing series after series. Here is a look at this Monday’s most notable streaks by teams and pitchers.
Tampa Bay leads the AL East, in part on their performance in game one of series. In their last 23 series openers, the Rays have won 17. Tampa Bay will have to overcome the stigma of playing poorly on the road in July, with 4-20 record the last two seasons; however James Shields (9-6, 3.66 ERA) has shielded the Rays from defeat in last five outings to start new series. Toronto, who had their five game winning streak snapped, will counter with A.J. Burnett (11-8, 4.63) who is 2-6 (team record) in game one assignments recently.
Boston is off big Yankee series and goes from the fire, into the frying pan. The Los Angeles Angels own the best record in all of baseball at 64-40 (+17.1 units) and are fantastic 33-19 on the road. The Red Sox struggles can be traced to being just 4-10 in series starts, meaning they have frequently been playing up hill, just to win a series. At least they will have Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-1, 2.63) pitching for them, since combined; the two are 16-5 in this role. Sportsbook.com has the Red Sox as -145 money line favorites, as oddsmakers are aware Jered Weaver (8-8, 4.08) and the Angels are 1-7 when he opens a series. ESPN has this contest starting at 7:05 Eastern.
The Chicago White Sox, after defeating Detroit 2-1 to take three game series, travel to second place Minnesota for a stern four game test. The White Sox lead the AL Central by three games over the Twins and have won 12 of last 17 series lid-lifters. Minnesota is 34-19 at the MetroDome, garnering +17 units. Mark Buehrle (8-8, 3.56) gets the call, for the Pale Hose and he and his teammates are only 7-15 when he is game one starter. One huge positive for Chicago, they have won five of last six overtures versus the Twins.
Elsewhere on Monday, Oakland has lost game one’s of last two series, yet is still 9-3 in last dozen, with Kansas City visiting. Seattle’s season is down the tubes faster than Starbucks stores, but at least they and Felix Hernandez (7-6, 2.95) are 9-3 launching a new series.
In the National League, the Houston Astros have a bit more confidence, taking two of three from Milwaukee on the road and have Roy Oswalt (7-8, 4.56) facing slumping Cincinnati. Oswalt has 18-1 record with 2.55 ERA against the Reds and he and the Astros have won six of last eight beginnings of trio of encounters.
Maybe it was the depression of losing a couple of its best players, because losing last three games at home to San Diego has to be embarrassment to Pittsburgh. On the field it doesn’t figure to get any easier facing a Colorado club that is making similar statement to last September’s run, now on 9-1 excursion. The Pirates are 6-15 to open series and tonight’s starter Ian Snell (3-8, 6.10), is 1-4 in last five attempts to start series with a win.
One of baseball’s great old rivalries resumes, as San Francisco heads south to L.A. to take on the hated Dodgers. Both are coming in off sweeps, the Giants were wiped out by Arizona, while Los Angeles had little trouble with washed-up Washington. San Fran is 1-7 in game one installment, with the Dodgers on 5-1 roll.
