MLB Betting: Yankees barely hanging on for Wild Card race
Posted on 8/20/2008 5:11:20 PM
By T.J. Kendrick
New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays
Thursday, August 20 at 7:07 p.m. ET
Yankees starting pitcher: Sidney Ponson
Blue Jays starting pitcher: Roy Halladay
Odds are most sports bettors would go with their gut at first glance and take Yankees over Blue Jays, but with Roy Halladay on the mound, there's a great chance Toronto will get the win.
New York is in a heated battle to win the American League Wild Card position. The team is playing the role of underdog this season, however, and has some ground to make up between it and Boston. Yankees odds don't look great in that department.
Sidney Ponson (7-3) will start on Thursday. The right-hander has been solid this season. He won't dominate, but he usually gives the lineup a shot to win the game. Ponson's 4.19 ERA is manageable, though his 1.53 WHIP needs work.
Still, New York is struggling behind the veteran right now, having lost three of his last five starts and certainly affecting Yankees odds. Unfortunately for the Yanks, Ponson hasn't had much luck against the Jays in his career, going 7-10 with a 4.59 ERA in 18 starts (plus one relief appearance).
Ponson has a decent offense backing him, but it doesn't have the juice you'd typically expect from the Bronx Bombers. They're middle-of-the-pack in run scoring among AL teams, a far cry from a first-place finish in 2007.
Blue Jays odds don't look great in terms of the playoff picture. Their schedule over the next few weeks is comprised almost wholly of teams they're chasing, but it would take a run of epic proportions to get back in it.
That won't deter Halladay, however. “Doc” is in fine form this season and is a favorite to win his second career Cy Young award. His 2.64 ERA and 1.04 WHIP are brilliant and he's among lead leaders in every meaningful category. He's the reason for these Blue Jays odds.
With a few more wins, Halladay will have a great chance at winning some hardware, but his teammates haven't helped him in that department much lately. Toronto has won just three of the right-hander's past six starts despite him posting a 2.42 ERA.
He does, however, have the Yankees' number. Halladay is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA in three starts against New York this season, running his career totals to an impressive 12-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 27 starts (and two relief appearances).
New York and Toronto have split their past 10 match-ups, but this one clearly favors the Blue Jays. Halladay is as sharp as ever and he's always pitched well against the Bronx Bombers. It's a safe bet he continues the trend and gives Toronto the win.
T.J.'s pick: Toronto
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T.J. Kendrick is the biggest baseball nut and a brilliant MLB handicapper. His love of the game borders on obsession, and he takes every chance he gets to make excellent predictions, frequently contributing to industry handicapping sites as well as BetOnline.com. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
