MLB Season Betting – A Look At The Week’s American League Picks
For online betting players, baseball season is about to heat up as all the rust should be shaken off from the offseason and now the real the fun begins as teams look to prove they’re going to be a contender in the American League. Here are a few picks to consider for the week.
Red Sox Blue Jays Betting (Tuesday, 7:07 PM ET)
The MLB betting lines for this game will be close at the Rogers Center in Toronto as these East rivals kick off a three-game set north of the border. Jon Lester (4-1, 2.33) will get the start for Boston, trying to win his fifth start in a row, and he’s 8-4 in 14 starts against the Blue Jays with a 3.30 ERA, while going 4-3 in eight starts in Toronto with a 3.60 ERA. The Blue Jays counter with Kyle Drabek (2-2, 4.50), who is making his first appearance against the Red Sox, and the youngster is struggling with his command, leading the league in walks.
The edge will probably go to the Red Sox as they’ve won eight of their last 10 in Toronto, with seven of the games going over the posted total, and the smart play is on Lester to outpitch Drabek, who still has some issues to work out with keeping his cool on the mound.
Betting Edge: Boston Red Sox
Rays Indians Betting (Wednesday, 7:05 PM ET)
Despite their surprising start to the season, look for the Indians to be the MLB betting favorites at home against the Rays in the second of a three-game series as Tampa Bay will go with David Price (4-3, 3.26) who is coming off a brilliant 10-strikeout performance against Toronto, and he’s 2-0 in three starts against Cleveland with a 2.76 ERA (1-0 in two starts in Cleveland with a 4.35 ERA). The Indians will send out Jeanmar Gomez (0-1, 4.91), and they’re trying to take it easy on the 23-year-old, who is making his first-ever appearance against the Rays. Only one of Gomez’s four appearances in 2010 have taken place at home in Progressive Field.
The Rays had dropped eight of 10 in Cleveland ahead of Tuesday’s series opener, but they get the edge on Wednesday night as Price bounced back from a couple of inconsistent efforts to demolish Toronto. He’s been up and down this season, but Price gets the nod over Gomez all day.
Betting Edge: Tampa Bay Rays
Royals Yankees Betting (Thursday, 7:05 PM ET)
The Yankees should be the home favorites as they wrap up a three-game set in the Bronx against the Royals, who will go with Sean O’Sullivan (1-2, 3.41), who is 1-2 in three starts against the Yankees with a 6.06 ERA. O’Sullivan has split a pair of games in New York, posting a 5.73 ERA, and this will be his first start on the road in 2011. Ivan Nova (3-2, 4.08) will be on the hill for the Yankees, and he is making his first appearance against the Indians. Nova is 2-1 at home this season in four outings, posting a 4.30 ERA.This could be a high-scoring affair as you have two young pitchers (O’Sullivan is 23, Nova is 24) on the mound in a hitter-friendly park like Yankee Stadium, so check out the posted total. Both have been watched carefully in terms of pitch counts so far this season, so expect a quick hook if someone gets in trouble. Both are also coming off solid outings, which drives the possibility of either pitcher getting lit up higher, because it’s so hard to trust a young pitcher. This game will come down to offense, which gives the Yankees the edge in your sports betting book.
Betting Edge: New York Yankees
