MLB Betting Power Rankings – Dodgers, Red Sox sit pretty at the top

Welcome to the first edition of the BetOnline.com Power Rankings, in which we’ll track which are the best teams to place your online bets on for this MLB betting season. The American League East continues to be the dominant division in baseball, but the Dodgers and last year’s World Series champions from Philadelphia will pose a tough challenge to them in October.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (42-22): No Manny, no problems for the Dodgers, who have a huge series this weekend when they meet the rival Angels on the road. Their run differential of +81 is blowing the rest of the majors out of the water.
2. Boston Red Sox (38-25): Jason Bay for MVP? Baseball odds for this happening could be pretty good. Boston fans must be ecstatic for their 8-0 record against the hated Yankees.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (36-25): When you go 3-3 on the road against the Mets and Red Sox, you’re doing something right. Speaking of MVPs, could Raul Ibanez steal it away from Albert Pujols?
4. New York Yankees (36-27): They destroyed Mets ace Johan Santana, and this leads into a very favorable week when they host the lowly Nationals before heading to Florida, where they should have a betting edge in your offshore sportsbook.
5. Los Angeles Angels (33-29): Their pitching staff is banged up beyond recognition, but here they come in the AL West. This weekend’s series with the Dodgers at home could be a massive boost to their sports betting odds.
6. Detroit Tigers (34-29): Last year, it was the offense carrying the team with no pitching. In 2009, Justin Verlander is back to his old self, and the Tigers are struggling to score runs. They really should have taken at least two in Pittsburgh, though.
7. Milwaukee Brewers (35-29): In a 14-12 win at Cleveland, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder combined for 11 RBIs. If either of these guys go down to injury, say good night to the Brewers’ MLB betting odds.
8. San Francisco Giants (34-29): The Giants face the Angels and the Rangers at home this week, but with their pitching staff, they shouldn’t be afraid of anyone. However, they need a power slugger who drives in runs (what’s Barry Bonds doing right now?).
9. Tampa Bay Rays (34-31): Pitching? Check. Hitting? Check. Fielding? The Rays rank in the bottom third of the league in fielding percentage. One of the most overlooked stats in baseball is killing the Rays’ MLB odds right now.
10. Texas Rangers (35-27): The pitching is falling off, and the Rangers aren’t hitting everything in sight out of the park. They need to win this series at home against Houston to keep the Angels off of them.
11. St. Louis Cardinals (34-30): I can’t stress this enough: if it wasn’t for Albert Pujols, I don’t know if the Cardinals would never score a run. Road trips against the Royals and Mets in the next week will be crucial to the Cardinals staying with the Brewers in the NL Central.
12. Chicago Cubs (30-30): They fired their hitting coach to spark their anemic lineup, but the loss of Amaris Ramirez can’t be understated. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that the Cubs are going to go on a crazy streak very soon.
13. Florida Marlins (32-33): A three-game sweep in Toronto was a boost, but the Marlins won’t challenge seriously in the NL East until they learn to field: they’re second in the majors in errors.
14. Toronto Blue Jays (34-31): That sound you hear is the gasp of MLB betting players who put money on the Blue Jays, only to find out Roy Halladay is injured. It’s only a groin injury, but with all the problems the Toronto pitchers have been having, it’s understandable.
15. Colorado Rockies (31-32): They probably won’t stay this high, but an 11-game winning streak has to get you some love. It’s not like it’s been garbage teams, either: They swept St. Louis and Milwaukee on the road before three solid home wins against Seattle.
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (30-33)
17. New York Mets (32-29)
18. Atlanta Braves (30-32)
19. Minnesota Twins (32-33)
20. Cincinnati Reds (31-31)
21. Kansas City Royals (28-34)
22. Houston Astros (29-32)
23. Chicago White Sox (30-34)
24. Baltimore Orioles (27-36)
25. Cleveland Indians (29-37)
26. Seattle Mariners (30-33)
27. San Diego Padres (28-34)
28. Oakland Athletics (27-35)
29. Arizona Diamondbacks (27-37)
30. Washington Nationals (16-45)

Bettors have been dumbfounded by the Mets’ troubles, but it all boils down to injuries, in the batter’s box and on the mound. The Mets and Chicago are the only teams in the bottom half of the rankings that deserve to be considered by those checking out MLB betting odds.

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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.