2010 World Series Prediction – Yankees, Braves Favored To Meet In Fall Classic
Online betting players are at the halfway point of the MLB season, and the usual suspects have risen to the top of your best online sportsbook.
The Contenders
New York Yankees – Of course, the Yankees are going to be favored to repeat, and now they have the extra motivation of their late owner, George Steinbrenner. Not that they needed any more, and it doesn’t hurt that the Yankees are, well, stacked. The pitching is great from C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettitte through the bullpen to Mariano Riviera, and of course they’ve got the bats.
Atlanta Braves – The Braves have been surprisingly competitive in manager Bobby Cox’s final season, but you have to wonder if a lack of power will hurt them at some point. The Braves are 22nd in the majors in the long ball, although rookie Jason Heyward is coming back from a wrist injury. Also, can Troy Glaus continue to produce for the rest of the season?
Tampa Bay Rays – These are the Rays we remember from 2008, but now, they have a bonafide star in David Price, who started the All-Star game for the American League. Price powers an excellent pitching staff, but the hitting is a bit inconsistent. The Rays have also been no-hit twice this year, but they’re just as likely to have a 7-8 run game.
Texas Rangers – The Rangers can always hit, but they definitely boosted their World Series odds with the acquisition of Cliff Lee, who gives them an ace for their improved staff. Josh Hamilton and the resurgent Vladdy Guerrero anchor a powerful lineup, and they’re now the MLB betting favorites in the American League West over Guerrero’s former team, the Los Angeles Angels.
Philadelphia Phillies – Strangely, it’s the offense that has let the Phillies down over the first half of the season, and they have the power, they just don’t have the average as Philadelphia is 21st in the majors in that category. The injury to Chase Utley isn’t helping matters, either. Roy Halladay has been everything the Phillies hoped he’d be, but much like in Toronto, his record would be much better with run support.
St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals haven’t played their best baseball, and we expect them to surge past Cincinnati in the National League Central. Albert Pujols had a down first half, and is still the MVP favorite, and Matt Holliday was starting to heat up at the end of the first half. They also have Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, as good a one-two pitching punch as there is in the majors.
The Second Tier
Boston Red Sox – MLB betting players will never discount the Red Sox because they have championship experience and veteran leadership, and despite all of their injuries this season, they’re still within shouting distance of the Yankees in the East. If they can snag a wild card and everyone can come back healthy in the second half, particularly Josh Beckett, watch out.
Colorado Rockies – The Rockies could be longshots, or it could be that you don’t hear a lot about them, outside of Ubaldo Jimenez, who has been the best pitcher in the majors by a mile over the first half. But the key is Carlos Gonzalez, who is having a monster year at the plate for the Rockies.
The Longshots
Cincinnati Reds – It’s been a nice story and all, especially Mike Leake and Joey Votto, but we can’t see the Reds holding off the Cardinals much longer. The Reds are young, outside of Scott Rolen, and most of them have never felt the pressure of a playoff race. Still, the future is bright in Cincinnati.
San Diego Padres – The Padres just don’t have the bats to compete in the National League, and it’ll be interesting to see what they do with Adrian Gonzalez, who is still under contract until the end of 2011, but may be too expensive for the Padres to hold onto. The pitching is there, but if Gonzalez leaves, that’s all she wrote for San Diego.
Los Angeles Dodgers – They have the talent in both pitching and hitting, and Matt Kemp is starting to finally come on, but do the Dodgers have the temperament to keep their wits about them down the stretch? The West is there for the taking, but we’re not putting our MLB betting faith in their World Series odds.
New York Mets – Getting Lee would have helped their starting pitching out a lot, but the Mets will be getting Carlos Beltran back in the lineup after the All-Star break. The return of David Wright’s home-run swing has been nice, and rookie Ike Davis has been a revelation, but six homers for Jason Bay? Gross.
Minnesota Twins – Their pitching hasn’t been good at all, but as long as Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are in town, the Twins are a threat in the American Central. However….
Chicago White Sox -…the White Sox are the division’s hottest team. However, you get the feeling that the White Sox are a streaky team and things can turn cold as quickly as they heat up. The starters in particular have been inconsistent. And then there’s always….
Detroit Tigers - ….the Tigers, who have the Central’s best starter (Justin Verlander), a guy that could possibly win the Triple Crown (Miguel Cabrera), and the Rookie of the Year favorite (Brennan Boesch). We’re putting our sports betting faith in them to win the Central, and they could be a problem in the postseason.
