After just one year of disappointing MLB betting fans and sitting out the postseason, the big, bad Bronx Bombers are back in a big way in the 2009 MLB odds. With a new stadium and some, big, shiny new free agents, the New York Yankees enter this online betting season as the top sportsbook favorites for the World Series.
MLB team preview – Boston Red Sox
If the early 2000s represented World War II between the Red Sox and Yankees, it looks like World War III looms in this year’s MLB odds. In a wild offseason, both the Bombers and BoSox made big acquisitions. Boston arguably had less work to do and wasn’t quite as active but seriously bolstered its rotation.
For years, the Tampa Bay Rays were a laughing stock in baseball betting circles. Last year, though, the stars finally aligned. Sucking for all those years allowed the Rays to stockpile prospects and everyone seemed to break out simultaneously. After the Rays defied the MLB odds in 2008, one question weighs heavily on sports betting fans’ minds: was last season a fluke?
What a difference a season can make. A year ago, the Jays were on everyone’s sleeper list in the MLB odds. They had, arguably, the best pitching in the AL, featuring a one-two punch of Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett, good young arms in Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum and the league’s stingiest bullpen.
2009 MLB Team Preview – Baltimore Orioles
Most MLB betting fans say playing the AL East is a death sentence if you’re not the Red Sox or Yankees. Well, now that the Rays join that elite list, life gets even harder for Baltimore and Toronto. Then again, the Rays’ story gives online sports betting players and young teams like Baltimore hope, doesn’t it?
The angst, the outrage, the fan uprising, the media frenzy.
What about you? Shocked? Feeling letdown? Is baseball over for you?
Well, get over yourself. Everyone should have known years ago had we only been paying attention.
There is no offseason for sharp handicappers.
It’s no secret that a ton of casual bettors close up shop after the Super Bowl. And in doing so, they rob themselves of an opportunity to cash in against softer betting lines than anything you’ll find in the NFL. What for? If you know the mechanics of the pointspread in football, you’ve already got the raw material to start betting on basketball.
The question today is: which teams have made the biggest strides toward fulfilling their goal of unseating the Philadelphia Phillies as World Series champs, and because of the changes (or even lack of same), who offers value in the BetUS odds?
Let’s start with the numbers:
The MLB free agent signing period is well underway and sports betting fans need to start paying attention as there is no doubt that some of the signings should greatly impact the chances of certain teams against the BetUS online sportsbook MLB betting spread.
Francisco Rodriguez, K-Rod to online betting fans because of his ability to strike-out opposing batters, today signed a 3 year 37 million dollar deal with the New York Mets.
The signing, almost a year after the Mets signed top pitcher Johann Santana, was the lead story on some of the major sports broadcasting networks throughout the night.
At BetUS.com, we know it’s never too early to get the jump on a wagering season long before it ever takes place! Which is exactly why the ingenious oddsmakers at the industry-leading, online Sportsbook wagering service offers sports betting enthusiasts spanning the globe, the most creative and bettor-friendly odds anywhere, regardless of the particular sport.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays may play to low television ratings but that doesn’t mean we won’t see stellar and exciting baseball.
The Sportsbook.com odds for the opening game are Even. The Series odds are Philadelphia +125, Tampa Bay -145.
The Philadelphia Phillies (99-72 SU, 76-89-6 O/U, 81-90 RL) and Tampa Bay Rays (104-69 SU, 80-90-2 O/U, 92-80 RL) will take square off at Tropicana Field tonight at 8PM Eastern for Game 1 of the 2008 MLB World Series in the BetUS Sportsbook and tonight’s pitching matchup figures to be a thriller with Phillies left-handed staff ace Cole Hamels (17-10, 2.92 ERA), going up against talented Rays lefty, Scott Kazmir (13-8, 3.54 ERA).
Without a doubt, magic is in the air in the American League Championship Series. The Tampa Bay Rays may be the ultimate Cinderella story, but Lady Luck was on the side of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, as it staved off elimination by scoring eight unanswered runs in the final three frames of their baseball betting match-up to win 8-7.
Oddsmakers like the Boston Red Sox chances at extending the ALCS and heading back to Tampa Bay for a Game 6 on Saturday.
Behind starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox are a -150 favorite to win Thursday’s Game 5; the Tampa Bay Rays are a +140 with Scott Kazmir on the mound.
Cole Hamels has been lights out in two postseason starts and oddsmakers like his chance of sending the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series.
Hamels and the Phillies are listed at -121 odds for Game 5 of the NLCS against the L.A. Dodgers on Wednesday night. Philadelphia leads the series 3-1 and can advance to the World Series with a win.
