BSNblog

Texas Rangers @ Toronto Blue Jays

Friday, 7:07 PM ET

The Blue Jays liked what they saw from Brett Cecil at Texas last week, and hope that they can get a similar effort this weekend as they open up the three-game set on Friday in front of their home fans at the Rogers Centre. The 25-year old Cecil went the distance and allowed just four hits while striking out seven to earn the complete-game shutout against one of the best offenses in baseball. Cecil will get the call against Alex Ogando for the Rangers, and although he wasn’t bad against Toronto last week there is definitely room for a stronger performance. The last time he lost a game Ogando lost three in a row, and Texas has been very streaky at times this MLB season.

MLB Betting Pick: Toronto Blue Jays

Texas Rangers @ Toronto Blue Jays

Saturday, 1:07 PM ET

Brandon Morrow hasn’t been nearly as good as Cecil was in his last start since he got back from injury, and although he has shown flashes of what has made Toronto management believe that he is an integral part of the future, he needs to be much more consistent. Morrow didn’t start against Texas a week ago, but he did give up six earned runs on nine hits in just 3.1 innings of work against the Baltimore Orioles in his last start. The Rangers’ offense has looked good all year behind the 9-4 Derek Holland, and they should again as they look to even the sports betting bonus weekend series.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers @ Toronto Blue Jays

Sunday, 1:07 PM ET

The series finale will feature the aces for both sports betting teams, as Ricky Romero gets the call for the home side against CJ Wilson for Texas. Romero has been just okay this season as he has dealt with a ton of inconsistency, and the Blue Jays are looking for more from the man that they have pegged to lead them into the future from the rotation. Meanwhile, the Rangers have gotten exactly what they had expected out of Wilson who is 10-4, although he did get roughed up a little bit in his last start, allowing six earned runs in just 4.0 innings of work against the Minnesota Twins. Wilson has been the more consistent of the two all year, and he should get enough support from a powerful Texas offense to bounce back in the win column and earn the Rangers the series-clinching win.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

It is easy for baseball betting fans to tell which teams are in a slump and which ones are playing well. Aside from looking at the records, all you have to do is watch the teams play. The Seattle Mariners made MLB baseball news by losing a franchise record 15th game in a row when they were beaten by the Boston Red Sox 12-8 over the weekend. The MLB scores should go your way when you have a future pitching ace on the mound, you score eight runs and someone on your team hits a grand slam. But even with the show of offensive power, the Mariners played like a team that was waiting to get beaten again. The Mariners could very well break their losing streak in Yankee Stadium, but it will be difficult in this opening game of the series.

The New York Yankees would be leading most other divisions in the majors with their 59-40 record. But they just happen to be chasing the second-best team in all of baseball in the Boston Red Sox. That means that if the Yankees want to remain a factor in the AL East pennant race, they will have to keep winning games. The Yankees have won six of their last 10 games, but that was not enough to close the gap on Boston. In reality, Boston picked up two games on the Yankees in that stretch. The Yankees will be looking to take three important games from the struggling Mariners.

Seattle Mariners

The AL schedule makers must have been in extremely bad moods when they put together the Mariners’ late-season schedule. The Mariners had a stint in Boston before swinging over to New York to play the Yankees. That is not the way for a team to try and combat jet lag. For this game, the Mariners send Doug Fister to the mound. Fister is 3-11 on the season but sporting an impressive 3.30 ERA. He has been a perpetual victim of the Mariners’ power outage at the plate. As an example, on July 2nd against the San Diego Padres, Fister went nine innings, gave up one earned run and lost the game.

New York Yankees

The Yankees will extend the Mariners’ losing streak to 16 games, and the reason for that will be New York starter C.C. Sabathia. Sabathia is 14-5 this season with a 2.62 ERA. He is 8-2 in his last 10 games, and lost his most recent start when he allowed two runs in eight innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Needless to say, C.C. Sabathia did not like having his seven-game winning streak broken. The Yankees’ ace is making a statement for off-season contract negotiations as there are still rumors that he could opt-out for next year. With the way Sabathia is pitching compared to the rest of the Yankees’ staff, New York will open the vaults to keep Sabathia around.

The Bottom Line

The Seattle Mariners are not beating C.C. Sabathia.

BSNblog Pick: New York Yankees

The Patriots’ young defense made strides a year ago, with Jerod Mayo, Brandon Meriweather, and Devin McCourty all earning Pro Bowl nods. That core group of young talent is complimented well by veterans such as nose tackle Vince Wilfork in the middle, and they should all be better with another year of experience in Belichick’s system. On offense, Brady was ranked first in a poll by his peers of the top 100 players in the league regardless of position, and will be another year removed from major surgery on his knee. Brady found chemistry with Deion Branch in his return to New England, and will have some solid weapons again as young tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski continue to develop and Julian Edelman and Wes Welker also return.

The biggest threat to New England’s chances at the top of the division is the upstart New York Jets, which have guaranteed a Super Bowl under head coach Rex Ryan this season. Ryan has transformed Gang Green into a monster on defense, but the offense will need to make strides this season with Mark Sanchez leading the way under center for a third straight season. Sanchez will likely be without either Braylon Edwards or Santonio Holmes as both are free agents, and will need to be more than an online casino game manager going forward.

Things are unclear in South Beach where the Miami Dolphins are expected to go forward with Chad Henne under center, although they could go after a veteran that can challenge him for the No. 1 job. The Dolphins’ have a strong front seven and some depth in the secondary, but until Henne and the offense can produce with consistency this NFL picks team will struggle just to finish .500.

The final stop in the AFC East is the furthest north, as the Buffalo Bills look to claw their way out of the division basement. The Bills were very competitive with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center and lost several close games to playoff teams including the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they bump off Miami for third spot. There are still too many holes on the Buffalo roster to think that they can compete for a playoff spot, but they are clearly building in the right direction and their record should improve in head coach Chan Gailey’s second sports betting bonus season.

The MLB betting world is pretty familiar with the situation the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles are in right now. The Red Sox are fighting for the AL East pennant while the Orioles are languishing in the AL East basement. But the early season MLB baseball news was telling a much different story. The Orioles looked like they may be the team to beat in the AL East as the Yankees and the Red Sox were faltering early on. But the MLB scores slowly turned in favor of the Red Sox and against the Orioles, and now the Red Sox lead the AL East by a game and a half over the Yankees.

The Orioles could not sustain their early success and have fallen to a pace that is 18 and a half games out of first place in the AL East. Where there used to be visions of a playoff spot in Baltimore, there is now the familiar despair of a losing season. The Orioles pitching gave out only a month or so into the season, and now Baltimore is left with a team that can hit but cannot sustain leads on the mound. The Red Sox are trying to put even more distance between themselves and the rest of the AL East, and have come out of the All-Star break in fine fashion. The Orioles had problems after the break, but have started to turn things around a bit.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are starting to watch the Tampa Bay Rays fade out of the AL East pennant picture and are left with just the New York Yankees. Boston has won eight of its last 10 games, and is currently on a two-game winning streak. Taking the mound for the Red Sox in this game will be knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Wakefield is 5-3 this season with a 4.74 ERA, but he is chasing 200 career wins. If he can win this game, it will be win number 199. His last start was a win over the Toronto Blue Jays in which he struck out seven batters and only allowed three runs.

Baltimore Orioles

Brad Bergensen starts on the mound for the Orioles in this game. He is a young pitcher that has spent most of the season in the bullpen. At this point, Baltimore will be taking a look at young players to see if they can improve their starting rotation for next year. Bergensen is 1-6 on the season with a 5.65 ERA. He last faced the Red Sox on July 8th and threw three scoreless innings. His last start was a nine-inning shutout of the Tampa Bay Rays on May 14th. Bergensen has promise, and the Orioles are going to need promise if they want to improve their pitching.

The Bottom Line

The Orioles may be able to hit Wakefield’s knuckleball, but Bergensen may find the powerful Boston batting order a little much to handle. The Orioles need pitching that can stand up to the offense of the Yankees and Red Sox, but this may not be the time they find it.

BSNblog Pick: Boston Red Sox

For baseball handicappers, the MLB World Series plays a huge role in the quality of teams sent to the All Star Game. Essentially, baseball is the only one of the four major North American sports leagues, to entice players to play hard, as the winning league receives home field advantage in the World Series. In the other three sports leagues, the NFL, NBA and NHL, more and more of each league’s top stars are finding ways to get out of playing in the All Star Game, as they would rather spend time with family rather than their peers.

Are All Star Games losing their appeal? Absolutely, as we just noted most players try to avoid going to their league’s midway event. Meaning to say, if the players don’t want to go, then why should the fans even care about the game? Now it should be noted, that while many athletes attempt to skip the games, others are thrilled to go and are attempting to spice things up.

A betting expert example, the NHL and MLB both used unique concepts to entice fans to tune into the 2011 All Star Games. The NHL selected two captains for each squad, and allowed them to choose the players that were voted into the All Star Game for their respective teams. With the game’s best players picking the teams, fans from all 30 franchises were able to see where their favorite stars ranked in their peers eyes. Unfortunately for the Toronto Maple Leafs, star winger Phil Kessel was picked last. But Kessel was awarded a car and $20,000 to charity for being the last selected.

On the other hand, in the MLB, two captains were also selected in order to put together teams for the Home Run Derby. As a result of both of these ideas, fans tuned in thus allowing for the ratings for the events to go up. Nevertheless, many of our sports writing colleagues would argue, that the NHL All Star draft and MLB Home Run Derby super teams, is an acknowledgement that the All Star Games itself is losing appeal.

In our opinion, rather than have an All Star Game, the big four should make each half of their seasons more enticing. For instance, in the Florida State League for baseball, the season is broken into two 70 game halves, with the divisional leaders at each half way point automatically qualifying for the playoffs. If the big four adopted a similar concept, fans would be more intrigued to watch the games, in the first half of the season, since there is something at stake.

The San Francisco Giants are in a much different situation this year compared to the same time last year. None of the MLB betting experts were expecting much out of the Giants at the 2010 all-star break because the Giants were so far removed from the NL West pennant. San Francisco turned on the after-burners in the second half of the season and won the World Series. The Giants’ meteoric rise in the MLB standings had a lot to do with its pitching. As the Giants enter the all-star break in first place in the NL West, its pitching could be the team’s undoing as September arrives.

What a difference a year makes. At the all-star break last year, the San Diego Padres were posting some impressive MLB scores that had them in the middle of the NL West pennant hunt. But after the all-star break, the Padres fell apart and dropped out of the pennant race. This season, the Padres enter the all-star break in last place in the NL West looking up at the rest of the division. Now baseball fans in San Diego are wondering if the Padres can pull off what the Giants did last year and surge to the top of the standings in the second half of the season.

San Francisco Giants

The biggest problem for the Giants is the pitching that won them the World Series last year is not performing at a championship level this year. Madison Bumgarner was not an ace on the mound for the Giants last year, but he did not hurt their chances either. This year, Bumgarner is certainly not helping the Giants stay in first place. He is 4-9 with a 3.87 ERA, but he has been playing well as of late. Bumgarner is 4-3 in his last 10 starts and is only giving up an average of 2.5 runs a game in that stretch. But he has been wildly inconsistent. He has games where he has given up only one earned run sandwiched between an eight-run game and a five-run effort. The San Francisco bullpen has not been much help as the bearded Brian Wilson has had problems closing out games.

San Diego Padres

The Padres send one of their more consistent pitchers to the mound in this game in the form of Aaron Harang. Harang is 7-2 this season with a 3.45 ERA. In his last three starts, he is 2-0 and has given up only four earned runs. The problem for the Padres is run support. San Diego is at the bottom of the league in home runs hit, and near the bottom in team batting average. This is the same issue that caused the Padres’ decline last season. They could pitch, but they could not hit.

The Bottom Line

Could this be a complete reversal of last season? Will the Giants be the NL West-leading team that disintegrates after the all-star break while the Padres ascend to the top of the division? It could. But it didn’t look that way as each team entered the all-star break. The Padres lost seven of their last 10 games before the break. But, still, anything can happen.

Pick: San Diego Padres

Milwaukee Brewers @ Colorado Rockies

Thursday July 14, 2011 – 8:40 PM ET

Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

MLB Betting Odds: Milwaukee Brewers - 120

The good news is that the Rockies haven’t been very good at home this season, battling through inconsistencies to reach the All Star break at .500. The bad news is that the Brewers have the worst win total as the visiting team in the NL this season.

MLB Betting Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee will turn to young Yovani Gollardo to get the job done in their first game back. The 25-year old is 10-5 with a 3.76 ERA this season, and had won two of three heading into the break, but a closer look at his numbers tell a much different story. Gollardo is 7-1 at home this year, but just 3-4 on the road and his ERA in visiting ball park’s is 4.39. The Brewers will need to lean on their offense down the stretch regardless, and if they can get him some run support early Gollardo should be able to get the job done at Colorado. Milwaukee’s offense entered the All Star break at the top of the NL in home runs, and with a postseason spot within reach Prince Fielder and company will look to open the second half strong.

MLB Betting Preview: Colorado Rockies

While Gollardo has struggled, Colorado’s starter for Thursday night’s game offers an entirely different perspective. Ubaldo Jimenez has been awful at home in 2011, going 1-5 with an awful 6.24 ERA. The 27-year old was brilliant in his only start against Milwaukee this season, allowing just two earned runs in eight innings of work. The Rockies offense has done enough to get the job done at home this season, but it will be a tough sports betting challenge against a powerful Brewers’ offense. The Rockies have done a good job of manufacturing runs, but will likely need to provide plenty for Jimenez to get him the win.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Brewers have been awful on the road this season, but they understand that they will have to be better in the second sports betting bonus half if they are going to clinch a suddenly crowded NL Central. Jimenez has struggled at home, and with the elevation at Coors Field Fielder and company should be able to ride the long ball and do enough to get Gollardo the win as long as he pitches to his ERA.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers - 120

2011 MLB All Star Game

American League vs. National League

Tuesday July 12, 2011 – 8:00 PM ET

MLB Betting Odds: American League – 110

The NL side ended their skid of 13 straight losses at the All Star game a year ago, allowing just one run in a close 3-1 decision that surprised more than a few fans in attendance that day. Pitching will once again by the key to their success in 2011, and they undoubtedly have the arms to get the sports betting job done.

MLB Betting Preview: American League

The American League will be led by a heavy dose of the AL East, with Toronto Blue Jays’ slugger Jose Bautista at the front of the line after setting a record with 7.4 million votes. The reigning home run king was back out in front of the pack again in 2011 with 28 home runs with a week to go before the All Star game, and has shown no signs of slowing down. Six of the other eight starters are from the AL East as well, including four players from the New York Yankees. Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson blasted their way into the voting, while Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter’s appearances may be based more on their sports betting bonus resume.

MLB Betting Preview: National League

Lincecum will be among the top NL starters, with three pitchers from the Philadelphia Phillies flanking him, including reigning NL Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay. Halladay is joined by teammates Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels as members of what is undoubtedly the deepest and most talented pitching staff in baseball. The offense will come largely from a trio of Milwaukee Brewers, with Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks joined by Ryan Braun. The NL side has one of the game’s hottest hitters in New York Mets’ shortstop Jose Reyes, and they should be able to muster enough offense to compliment the strong MLB pitching.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

One year after ending their 13-game skid, the NL is looking to flex its muscle again with Lee back on their side. Last year’s team scored just enough runs to help out a pitching staff that was dominant in the sports betting win, and that will undoubtedly be the goal again as a talented group looks to slow down a powerful side from the AL.

BSNblog Pick: National League + 110

The MLB betting dream continues for baseball fans in Pittsburgh. The MLB standings has the Pirates only one and a half games out of first place in the NL Central. Not only has it been a long time since the Pirates were in the pennant race this late in the season, it has also been a long time since Pittsburgh was above .500 in July. With a 43-41 record, the Pittsburgh Pirates are keeping pressure on the NL Central leading Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals while trying to stay ahead of the hard-charging Cincinnati Reds. The Reds trail the Pirates by only a half a game, and it makes for one of the best pennant races in all of baseball.

The Houston Astros occupy that place of infamy as the worst MLB team in all of baseball. The Astros’ 29 wins is the lowest in baseball and its 56 losses are the highest. In the last 10 games, the Astros have only won two games and that includes getting swept by the Boston Red Sox at home. The Astros have reached the point where, even though almost half of the season is still left to be played, they are now trying out new players to see if they have anyone that can help for next season. No one on this Houston roster is immune to being cut, and when you are 16 games out of first place before the all-star break, that is the way it should be.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The very consistent Jeff Karstens takes the mound for the Pirates in the first game of this series. Karstens is 6-4 this season, but his recent play, and his 2.65 season ERA, indicate that he is a bit more valuable to the Pirates than his record may indicate. Karstens is 3-0 in his last six starts. He is not the kind of pitcher that will throw a lot of complete games, but he consistently pitches into the seventh inning to get to the bullpen’s set-up man. His last three starts were interleague games where he went 2-0. He beat the Boston Red Sox and the hard-hitting Toronto Blue Jays while pulling a no-decision against the Cleveland Indians. Prior to interleague play, Kartsens’ last NL start was a six and two-thirds inning masterpiece against the Houston Astros where he allowed no earned runs and only three hits.

Houston Astros

The Astros will send one of their more consistent pitchers, Wandy Rodriguez, to the mound against Houston. Rodriguez is 6-4 on the season with a 2.97 ERA, but his record has been improving steadily in the last few weeks. In his last 10 starts, Rodriguez is 5-2, and one of those wins was a two-run effort against the Pittsburgh Pirates. During this most recent 10 game stretch, Rodriguez has held the opposition to no earned runs five times. He has had impressive control, and he gives the Astros a chance to win whenever he takes the mound.

The Bottom Line

The Astros just do not have the hitting to compete with the Pirates. Rodriguez gives Houston a chance in this game, but Karstens can shut the Houston offense down and keep the game close until it has to go to the Houston bullpen. That is when the Pirates will take this game over.

BSNblog Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates