MLB: Betting Inter-League Baseball
You can hear the whiny baseball purists from here, complaining interleague ball adds nothing to the baseball season.
2008-05-16
You can hear the whiny baseball purists from here, complaining interleague ball adds nothing to the baseball season. You’ll never hear the same from bettors who typically make this flavor of competition among the most heavily bet periods in baseball each year.
Critics say it’s a distraction because certain teams have more favorable schedule than others division. They will also carry on about nobody cares about at Oakland visiting Atlanta or Tampa Bay making the trek to St. Louis. (Like fans are clamoring for one more Detroit at Seattle or Washington at San Diego series showdown) Those betting baseball, likely have the best attitude, 15 new combinations of wagering opportunities, cool. Here’s a look at each series to start 2008 inter-league play.
Toronto at Philadelphia
The Blue Jays might actually like a trip to the City of Brotherly Love, not for the fans, but for the bandbox ballpark. This is particularly helpful when your team is 27th in runs scored, though the Phillies are not taking advantage of it as much as before, ranking just 11th in runs score at home at 4.7 per game. Philadelphia is only 20-28 (-8.5 units) the last three years in inter-league play, with Toronto exactly .500 (-3.25 units) in same time period. The Blue Jays are on four game win streak however.
Washington at Baltimore
Not sure how passionate the fans from either city are about these games, seeing the Nationals are still new to this. Washington has been a solid underdog facing the AL teams with 28-26 mark, taking in +11.69 units the last three seasons. Baltimore has been just about the opposite, with 28 wins and 44 losses, costing backers -21.95 units in only 72 contests. The Nats have taken four of last six meetings, with O’s 12-6 at home this season.
Milwaukee at Boston
Thou neither have a history of playing Over the total in interleague play, one might believe this could surface a couple of times this series. These two bullpens rank 26th and 27th in earned runs average (Boston is worse) and combined they have 16 blown saves halfway thru May (8 a piece). Edge in series has to go to Red Sox who are off the charts 40-14, +22.16 units in recent play against senior circuit.
N.Y. Mets at N.Y Yankees
Always great fodder in the Big Apple when these two teams tangle. Each is always searching for headlines to trump the other and when they meet, each creates their own. Both teams are playing below expectations, with the Mets 20-19 and the Yankees looking up at everyone in the AL East. Both have pitching deficiencies and Yanks 23rd ranked offense really misses A-Rod. As always, this will be entertaining and Sunday night’s John Maine vs Chein-Ming Wang pitching matchup should be very good. The Mets have dropped last four of six at Yankees Stadium.
Cleveland at Cincinnati
The battle of Ohio features two squads starting to play better baseball. Cleveland completed sweep of Oakland Thursday and has won six of seven to take over first place in the AL Central, thanks to incredible pitching. In this streak, Indians hurlers have allowed six runs in seven games, including four shutouts. Cincinnati swept a hot Florida bunch and has had 10 or more hits in 6 of last 7 games. The teams have split last six meetings in Cincy, but look for two quality pitching matchups with Caroma against Harang Saturday and Lee vs Volquez in series finale.
Kansas City at Florida
Go ahead, name what National League team is the only one in the top nine among all-time interleague play? I guess it’s rather obvious, seeing we’re writing about Florida. The Marlins are 105-81 since this started back in 1997 and are 28-23, +5.95 units the L3Y. Kansas City is finally showing signs of fielding a consistent major league club, thanks to improved pitching. The key factor that has kept the Royals in games is they allow the second fewest walks, preventing big innings. On the subject of big, K.C. has picked up +15.22 units playing NL teams the last three years (29-25).
Oakland at Atlanta
Sharp bettors know Oakland is just percentage points behind the Yankees for the all-time best record in interleague play with 113-81 mark, which has brought home over 30 units of profit. Atlanta used to be the leader in baseball, but as the team has gotten progressively worse, so has its record against the American League. Last four year’s shows 24-39 record, giving up -17.45 units. With A’s on three game losing skid, Braves glad to be home, where they are MLB best 14-4.
Houston at Texas
The battle of the Lone Star State has seen Houston and Texas divide evenly last dozen matchups. After crummy starts, each team is playing best baseball of the season. The Astros are on 6-1 road trip and have won 11 of 13 to leap into second place in NL Central. The Rangers have taken seven of nine, which included three straight shutouts. Saturday’s Roy Oswalt vs Vincente Padilla pitching matchup, could decide series winner.
Tampa Bay at St. Louis
Who’s in first place in the AL East? It’s the Devil, whoops, the Rays of Tampa Bay. Fresh off winning six of seven against the Angels and the Yankees, the Rays jettisoned to the top spot in the division. This interleague deal has always been a roller coaster ride for Tampa Bay. The former D-Rays have gone from .611 winning percentage and higher or .388 percentage and lower the last six years. St. Louis has been slipping in the standings with bullpen having blown 11 saves to date. The Redbirds at one time were tough on AL teams, not so much the last two years with 11-19 record.
Minnesota at Colorado
Two teams in reverse will collide in Denver this weekend. Minnesota was swept at home by Toronto, losing three contests by total of four runs. Colorado finished 1-5 division road trip with five consecutive losses. Expectations were fairly low for the Twins coming into 2008, yet they have managed to compete being .500. They’ll hope to play NL teams like the last two seasons, posting 27-9 record (+15.6 units). Having the 21st ranked offense isn’t going to cut it for the Rockies, without enough pitching to overcome it. Even-steven (35-35) record in interleague play the last four years isn’t going to excite backers either.
Detroit at Arizona
Just when it seems it couldn’t get any worse for the last place Tigers, who were among the favorites to be in World Series, they draw the team with the best record in baseball, Arizona. You name it and Detroit is awful at this season, pitching, hitting, fielding and composure. Maybe facing NL team will help, with 29-9 record the last two campaigns. After a choppy weekend in the Windy City, the D-Backs returned home and improved record to 17-7 at Chase Field. The Snakes are just 26-40 the L4Y against AL teams, though it is noted they are 38-24-2 OVER.
L.A. Dodgers at L.A. Angels
The I-5 series picks up, with the Angels 5-1 at home facing their northern counterparts. The club from Anaheim has been slumping, winning twice in last eight outings. The Dodgers offense is picking up again, scoring over five runs in last four encounters. Watch the Totals, as four of last six have been UNDER, with average score 8.7 runs per game.
San Diego at Seattle
After very successful 2007 campaigns, both San Diego and Seattle have stunk this season. The Padres own the worst offense in baseball, and bullpen is 2-11 with 50 percent save percentage. The Mariners are nominally better, with 25th ranked offense, 4-7 record out of the pen and 57.1 save percentage. These two West Coast clubs meet annually, with Seattle holding the upper hand 9-3, with OVER being correct wager 75 percent of the time.
Chicago at San Francisco
The White Sox travel up the coast from L.A. to take on the San Francisco. The Chi-Sox offense has been feast or famine most of the season, too dependent on the long ball, as they are fourth in home runs. They have rung up 10 or more hits in six of last seven trips to ball yard. The Giants were expected to flounder this year. The offense has, ranked just ahead of the Padres; however exciting young arms gives them hope today and in the future. San Fran is 19-29 vs. AL teams, with the White 34-24 combating National League squads.
Thou bettors have tackled interleague play for 11 seasons, Bill Veeck Sr., actually first proposed interleague play back in 1933. Enjoy the games
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