Baltimore Orioles odds - Poor rotation too much for bats to overcome
It’s tough to give Baltimore Orioles odds any serious consideration when the team is buried in the American League East. The Yankees, Red Sox and Rays all look like 90-win teams, meaning table scraps for Baltimore.
Baltimore does have a core of young talent, however. The team should be able to hit the ball pretty well this season, so it’s not all bad on the Orioles' sports betting lines.
Baltimore Orioles odds: +8500 to win the World Series
- Offense will be respectable with potential to grow
- Rotation was among AL’s worst in 2008
- Bullpen has too many question marks
Obviously, given their MLB odds to win the whole thing, linesmakers give Baltimore the equivalent of a snow ball’s chance in hell. That doesn’t mean the O’s won’t be competitive on a daily basis, however. Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Felix Pie are a young, athletic trio that projects to be among baseball’s best units for years to come. Markakis has already emerged as a legitimate big leaguer, hitting .306 with 20 homers and 87 RBIs last season. If Jones and Pie can follow suit, Orioles betting fans will be very pleased.
Aubrey Huff exploded last season, putting up his best numbers (32 homers, 108 RBIs) in five years. He likely won’t duplicate that effort in 2009, but Huff’s final line should still end up being respectable. Brian Roberts returns as the team’s speed merchant, having swiped 90 bags over the past two seasons.
If you’re going to bet the Orioles, be very wary of a poor rotation. Baltimore was second last among AL teams in team ERA last season at a bloated 5.13, not to mention finishing dead last in strike outs. Jeremy Guthrie has posted back-to-back years of solid numbers, with an ERA of 3.70 and 3.63. He’ll need to deliver again for the O’s to have a chance. Even then, expect a rocky year.
The bullpen might be a bit better, but that’s not saying much in Baltimore. Orioles odds will get a boost if Chris Ray can come back from Tommy John surgery; he recorded 33 saves in 2006. George Sherrill, who closed last season, really let down Orioles betting fans in the second half, posting a 6.59 ERA after the All-Star break.
If you’re thinking about division winners, forget about Baltimore Orioles odds; they don’t have the pitching to compete, especially in the loaded AL East. However, considering their lineup, they don’t make a bad baseball betting pick on a daily basis if you play the matchups right.
Get Orioles odds and other MLB lines at the BetOnline.com Sportsbook.
Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball. Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
