MLB Betting: Yankees, Rangers, Tigers All Looking To Make Their Moves This Weekend

It isn’t often that the online betting experts get all of their projections right, but in the case of the American League playoff race they are pretty close right now. The New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers were each expected to win their respective divisions in 2012, with the Los Angeles Angels pushing the latter in the AL West and battling for one of two Wild Card spots. Heading in to this weekend the Yankees, Tigers, and Rangers are all leading their division or within one game of top spot, while the Angels are right there battling to make the postseason.

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays
Saturday, 1:07 PM ET

The Yankees head north of the border with the second-biggest division lead in baseball, and can gain even more cushion in the AL East race with a successful series in Toronto. Injuries have taken their toll on the Blue Jays’ roster all season, and after battling hard for the first couple of months Canada’s team has sunk to the bottom of the AL East. Meanwhile, the addition of Ichiro has helped New York overcome an injury to Alex Rodriguez, and the pinstripes now have the best run-differential in the majors. The Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the mound to take on Aaron Laffey, and while Nova has the better stuff he has also given up 16 earned runs over consecutive losses and could be vulnerable against the fifth-highest scoring club in the majors.

MLB Betting Pick: Toronto Blue Jays

Detroit Tigers @ Texas Rangers
Saturday, 8:05 PM ET

For as strong as the Rangers have looked all online sportsbook season there has been talk about how their limited pitching staff matches up against the other top teams in the majors since Colby Lewis went down, and the addition of Ryan Dempster doesn’t seem to be a big difference-maker. That will certainly be the case on Saturday when Texas sends Derek Holland and his 5.18 ERA to the mound to counter Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander and his 2.51 mark. Verlander pitched a gem against the Yankees in his last start, striking out 14 over eight-shutout innings, and the bookies feel he should be ready to face another team he could pitch against in the playoffs. Detroit is still second to the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, but could be ready to make its move over the next week.

MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers

Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Angels
Saturday, 9:05 PM ET

Rookie Mike Trout is playing at a level 5Dimes players have never seen from a 21-year old, Albert Pujols has found his game, and Los Angeles has a top-three starting rotation that can match any in the American League. Yet still the Angels are on the outside looking in for the AL playoff race, and struggling to close out on one of two Wild Card spots with the Rangers pulling away in the West. The Halos will get an excellent chance to close the gap this weekend against the lowly Mariners, with Dan Haren allowing just one earned run in each of his last two starts. For all of the MLB odds for this weekend, check out the best sports betting sites.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Angels