MLB Postseason Preview – The Gang’s all here – Almost!
Okay BetUS Sportsbook bettors, the 2008 MLB regular season has come to a conclusion after one of the most thrilling late-season finishes, the ‘real’ MLB season gets underway beginning on Wednesday with several division series matchups that are guaranteed to leave BetUS baseball wagering enthusiasts salivating for more.
While one postseason spot will be determined with the outcome of tonight’s Chicago White Sox-Detroit Tigers matchup – with the winner of the Sox-Minnesota Twins AL Central deadlock moving on to face the amazing Tampa Bay Rays.
Monday’s makeup game is necessary because of Hurricane Ike-related rains that arrived on Sept. 12-13, forcing the White Sox and Tigers to lose two games at U.S. Cellular.
If the White Sox, (87-74 SU) beat Detroit on Monday, they will play the Twins, (88-74) on Tuesday in a one-game playoff. If Chicago loses, the Twins will open against Tampa Bay on Thursday,
Okay, with that long-winded explanation out of the way, here is a glimpse into the 2008 MLB postseason wagering period in the BetUS Sportsbook.
While this MLB article won’t feature any Free MLB postseason picks, the BetUS Locker Room will have each and every MLB postseason game covered like a pig in a blanket.
Milwaukee Brewers at Philadelphia Phillies
The Brewers are going to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years but will have a very short stay if they play the same way they did in getting swept by Philadelphia in an important four-game series at Citizens Bank Park from Sept. 11-14.
The series wa the final straw that pushed former manager Ned Yost out the door just prior to the conclusion of the regular season.
Red-hot Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun called that lost series, “a complete and total disaster.”
While the Brewers may have the best pitcher in all of baseball these days in 2007 AL Cy Young winner, CC Sabathia, Milwaukee’s entire pitching staff takes a serious nose dive after Sabathia.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, can turn to staff ace Cole Hamels, teams wins leader, 45-year-old Jamie Moyer or even curveball master, Brett Myers, who has been as good as almost any pitcher in baseball since the all-star break.
The Phillies also have momentum on their sides after going a blistering 17-8 for the month of September.
2006 NL MVP, first baseman Ryan Howard has also caught fire lately, hitting .352 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in September while leading al of baseball in home runs, (48) and RBI, (146).
Phillies closer Brad Lidge is also the only regular closer in baseball to not blow a single save this season, going a perfect 41-for-41.
“We earned this because we didn’t take anything for granted,” Lidge said. “We knew what we had to do every day and did it.”
Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs
I told LB online bettors from the day spring training opened that the Los Angeles Dodgers would benefit from having the best manager in the game in Joe Torre and they certainly have.
However, beating the Chicago Cubs will prove to be a monumental, (impossible?) task if they want to win their first postseason series in two decades.
