MLB Baseball Betting – Rising Contenders Continue To Improve As Opening Day Approaches

While the Philadelphia Phillies are expected to once again rule the National League, there are a handful of teams that would love nothing more than to challenge their dominance the way that the San Francisco Giants did a sports betting year ago. The Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers are among those teams looking to take a step forward this coming season, as the road to NL opening day 2011 continues.

Florida Marlins @ New York Mets

The Marlins and Mets will have an equally tough time competing with the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves in the toughest division in the National League. Florida lost its best hitter to Atlanta in Dan Uggla, and will struggle to make up for his presence both at the plate and in the field. Young prospects Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton have impressed, but will still need to be better as the Marlins continue to prepare their lineup for opening day 2011. Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and David Wright are all healthy, but that hasn’t made the Mets any better this MLB betting preseason.

MLB Betting Pick: Florida Marlins

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Philadelphia Phillies

Wednesday, 4:05 PM ET

The defending NL East champions seem to be able to start a potential ace regardless of where they are in the rotation, and that’s a big reason why they have looked so good this spring training. Philadelphia continues to find answers for an offense that is lacking in firepower, especially with the move of Jayson Werth to the Washington Nationals in the offseason. The Phillies should feel comfortable with another exhibition game against the lowly Pirates however, a team that is the mirror opposite in regards to pitching talent and depth. Pittsburgh does have talent in Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez, but are still nowhere close to being a legitimate sportsbook promo contender.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia Phillies

Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals

Thursday, 1:05 PM ET

It is looking more and more like pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg won’t see time until at least 2012, and with Bryce Harper failing to earn a spot so far in spring training there are more question marks than answers in the nation’s capital right now. The Nationals are projected to finish at the bottom of the NL East again this year, but will get to see first hand what it takes to be a legitimate postseason contender when they take on the Braves Thursday. Atlanta has looked good this spring training, and after stealing Dan Uggla from the Marlins in the offseason, they could push the Phillies for a division title.

MLB Betting Pick: Atlanta Braves

Milwaukee Brewers @ Cincinnati Reds

This could be the spring training preview of the two teams likely to battle for the NL Central division title this summer, as the Brewers have taken significant steps to upgrade their roster in the pursuit of the reigning division champions. Milwaukee added Zach Grienke and Shaun Marcum to a team that should have plenty of firepower with slugger Prince Fielder in his contract year, and they have produced so far with one of the best records in baseball through Cactus League play. Aroldis Champman has already been demoted to the bullpen for a Reds’ team still searching for answers, while the jury is still out on the additions of Johnny Gomes and Edgar Renteria. It might still be spring training, but the Brewers will want to send a message.