Baseball Betting Style
Let’s take a look at some upcoming MLB match ups and see where you should be betting on baseball.
On Monday, April 20, Oakland visits the Yankees. Neither team is lighting it up thus far, although the A’s are not lighting it up with a significantly smaller payroll. Of course, the A’s are playing better on the road than they are at home, but I don’t think that’ll be enough to get them the edge when Eveland and his 6.75 ERA goes against long-time veteran Pettitte. Expect a -160 for the Yankees and a +135 or so for the A’s on this one. This will be just the Yankees’ second series at home for this season, and I think their fortune will change for the better once they get settled in a familiar setting. Pettitte, by the way, shows no signs of slowing down when healthy, starting off 2009 with a 1-0 record, 2.51 ERA.
Another Monday game brings the impressive Padres to Philly to take on the Phillies. The Phillies, after starting 1-3, have turned on the jets a bit and started looking more like the team that won the World Series last year – not enough for me to consider them a 2009 contender yet, but well done nonetheless. They send Moyer to face Correia, whose 4.09 ERA and 1.4 WHIP are acceptable if not eye-opening numbers. I know it’s early, but anything above 4 in the NL isn’t exactly Ace-caliber. Of course, Moyer’s numbers are much worse, although he does have an early win under his belt. I’d give the edge to the Padres here, they’re just playing better baseball right now. Padres -140, Phillies +125.
And staying with the NL, Cincinnati Reds travels to Houston. The Reds seem primed to be that team that wouldn’t die this year, and it’s probably only because I made a season-long bet against them. Having never cared one bit about the Reds before (when have they mattered?) I’m cheering every loss so far. Anyway, this one features a nice pitching match up of Arroyo vs. Hampton. I’ve seen Arroyo throw a couple times already, and his control is strong, and his performances have been better than his 4.38 ERA. But the man is 2-0. Mike Hampton (remember him?) is back and trying to put together another successful year with Houston. Forget this game, I’m willing to bet the house he doesn’t approach as many wins this year as millions of dollars he’s making. Yeah, try 20. The Astros will be lucky if they get $1.5M per win for him. Crazy numbers. I think this one will be a pick ‘em +110 each, but I’m going with the Reds to win.