MLB Power Rankings – American League East Continues To Rule

Online betting players know that the American League East is the toughest division in all of baseball, and it’s proving that way again in 2010 as the AL East has three teams in the top five of this week’s Power Rankings as we head into the All-Star break.

1. New York Yankees (54-31): The Yankees have won six in a row, including their opening game in Seattle on Thursday, meaning they could have a nine-game streak heading into the break.

2. Tampa Bay (52-33): The Rays have also won six straight and are hanging with the Yankees, and they have the Indians at home. It’s shaping up to be a very interesting second half.

3. Atlanta (50-35): The Braves just won two of three in Philadelphia, and will end the first half against the Mets. Atlanta has played well above their weight this year, can they keep it up?

4. San Diego (50-35): How long can the Padres go with no offense? Can they hold onto Adrian Gonzalez throughout the second half? That’s the key to the Padres’ second-half MLB betting chances.

5. Boston (49-36): That the Red Sox are in this position despite all the injuries they’ve suffered, particularly to their pitchers, is a testament to their organization. They’ll end their first half in Toronto.

6. Texas (50-35): The Rangers look like they’re ready to run away with the American League West, but starting-pitching help would be nice.

7. Colorado (47-38): Roy Halladay has had a great season in Philly, and we’re big Doc fans over here, but if Ubaldo Jimenez isn’t starting in the All-Star game, we’re calling shenanigans.

8. Detroit (46-37): Enjoy it, Detroit fans, because you just know the Tigers are going to find a way to lose the lead in the American League Central. It won’t be right away either, it’ll be drawn out.

9. Cincinnati (49-38): The surprises of the season have been a great feelgood story, and Mike Leake is every bit as good as his former youth teammate, Stephen Strasburg. Scott Rolen may be the MLB betting favorite for Comeback Player of the Year.

10. New York Mets (47-38): The Mets are right in the thick of things heading into the break, and they can’t ask for more than that. And that’s even with Jason Bay being terrible for most of the year.

11. Chicago White Sox (46-38): The most confusing team in baseball. They could be the best or worst team in their division on any given day, and now Jake Peavy is hurt.

12. San Francisco (45-40): If you would have told MLB betting players that Barry Zito would be the ace of the staff and not Tim Lincecum, you probably would have been run out of the room.

13. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-38): The Dodgers have been up and down as of late, and they have the best chance of chasing down the Padres in the National League West, providing the pitching doesn’t collapse.

14. Philadelphia (44-40): They’ve been hurt, their offense has struggled mightily, and yet the Phillies are still in the hunt. Don’t count them out over the second half of the season.

15. St. Louis (45-40): The Cardinals have been ambushed by Cincinnati, but we’ll see the experience of St. Louis pay off in the second half.

16. Toronto (43-43)

17. Minnesota (45-40)

18. Los Angeles Angels (46-42)

19. Kansas City (39-46)

20. Florida (40-45)

21. Oakland (41-45)

22. Chicago Cubs (38-48)

23. Washington (38-48)

24. Houston (35-51)

25. Arizona (33-53)

26. Milwaukee (37-49)<

27. Cleveland (33-52)

28. Seattle (34-51)

29. Pittsburgh (30-55)

30. Baltimore (26-59)

The bottom half of the league has some surprising teams down there, like Minnesota and the Angels, and they’re going to have to pick it up to get through the second half of the season. In “Tank Wars”, the Orioles have a solid lead over the Pirates, but if the Mariners do indeed trade pitcher Cliff Lee, they could be the new sports betting favorites for the No.1 pick in the draft.