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 This evening, Belmont betting enthusiasts also handicapping the MLB, are in for a treat when the Chicago Cubs take on the Philadelphia Phillies. On paper, everything but the pitching matchup indicates that the Phillies should decimate the Cubs, however with Carlos Zambrano and Roy Halladay on the mound, this game should turn into a classic. Today’s MLB betting pick features the National League matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, two of the league’s most storied franchises.
After being called a glorified Triple A team by staff ace Carlos Zambrano, the Chicago Cubs have won two of their last three games. Chicago shocked the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, as they came from behind to win the game four to one. The game saw the Reds bullpen implode for another consecutive time this season, as the Cubs snapped a disappointing 10 game losing streak. Then last night, the Cubs kept the momentum going, as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies four to three in 11 innings.
The latter of the two games, took a toll on both the Cubs and Phillies, as the Cubs sent five relief pitchers to the mound, while the Phillies used their entire bullpen in last night’s game. however, tonight’s game features a battle of the aces, as Carlos Zambrano and five and two record with an earned run average just under four, takes on Roy Halladay who is eight and three with an earned run average around two and a half. Historically speaking, both Zambrano and Halladay are workhorses, and fans handicapping this game should expect a low scoring affair, with both pitchers pitching a complete game.
There is no betonline scam -- the Zambrano is an underwhelming four and three with an earned run average of three and a half lifetime against the Phillies. Conversely, when Halladay takes the mound, the Phillies are an impressive 10 and three and have won Doc’s last five starts. Prediction: Philadelphia gets revenge after blowing the lead in last night’s game.
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 Of the big four major sports betting options in North America, baseball is by far a distant third to the NFL and NBA. However in a surprising turn of events, a lot of online betting handicappers are beginning to take an interest in the MLB as there is definitely money to be made. Baseball is perhaps the only one of the four major sports which ultimately can see you come out on top since the regular season is so long. With that said, here is a guide on how to bet on baseball.
Baseball bettors use three different methods to wager on the games, the money line, the run line and the totals. Here is a look at each of the money line and run line.
- Money Line Betting – The money line is the universal straight bet, in any sport you will always have a money line. Essentially if you understand how the money line works in the NFL you will understand how it works in baseball.
With that said, the money line is considered to be a straight wager in which bettors simply wager on which team they believe will win the game. However, the catch is that fans who bet on the team listed as the favorite will have to risk more to get back less since the favorite is anticipated to win. Conversely, the money line is beneficial to fans betting the underdog since they can bet less and get back more.
- Run Line Betting – The run line is the love child between the point spread and money line. Run lines use a constant spread of a run and a half to a maximum of two and a half runs beside the money line. The favorite and underdog similar to the money line are listed with negative and positive integers.
Your goal as a bettor is to bet on which team you believe will win, while giving the other team an advantage. For instance
Blue Jays +1.5 -125
Yankees – 1.5 +105
In this scenario, fans betting on the Blue Jays have to risk $125 to get back $100 since the Jays have a one and a half run advantage. Conversely, fans betting the Yankees can bet $100 and get back $105 since the Yankees need to win by more than a run and a half. |
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Sportsbook fans are anxious for the MLB playoffs to start, so it's time for some World Series picks. First of all, let's eliminate some of the pretenders. Whoever makes it out of the AL Central won't be advancing past the first round. The Tigers and Twins' late season battle for the division title has been a relief during a season in which there were no other playoff races, but it's all for naught—they simply don't have the talent to compare with some of the other teams on the schedule. In the National League, the Colorado Rockies are most likely to have their hearts broken in the opening round. It's been a nice run but they're not World Series bound, not with their pitching staff. True, a few years ago Colorado enjoyed a miracle run to the World Series, but the magic isn't there this season. That leaves the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and L.A. Angels for your MLB picks. Right now Boston looks sketchiest, as its skidding into the postseason. The Red Sox have lost five straight games and seven of their past 10; the team backed into the Wild Card and couldn't be slumping at a worse time. The Angels, on the other hand, are just warming up. Los Angeles has won three straight games, and the team has a little extra motivation this season after the death of teammate Nick Adenhart. The young pitcher was killed in a car accident and the Angels have rallied around him all season, including a few touching moments earlier this week when the team clinched the AL West. While the Angels would make for the best story, they're still not the best team. That distinction belongs to the Northbet favorite Yankees. New York has won seven straight games en route to a 100-plus win season. The Bronx Bombers are living up to their nickname and have scored a league-best 895 runs this season. It's not all about homers, though, as Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia is in competition for the Cy Young. On the Senior Circuit, the Phillies have battled ups and downs but will still win the NL East by a healthy margin, meaning a shot at defending their World Series crown. Despite a 5-5 record over the past 10 games, Philly is as legit as anyone in the NL. Same goes for the Dodgers and their spectacular pitching. Unfortunately, L.A. has dropped three in a row; this is a young team, and it's hard to believe it can get by the more experienced teams in the National League. Finally, there's St. Louis. There's a lot to like on the Cardinals. Albert Pujols has had yet another monstrous season, while St. Louis has studs like Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright to send to the mound. Considering those two can pitch a few times per series, St. Louis has the best odds to make the World Series. So who will come out on top of World Series odds—the Yankees or Cardinals? Many fans would probably appreciate a St. Louis championship much more, especially for Pujols' sake, but this Yankee team is too good. A great lineup, good rotation and arguably the best closer in MLB history is a recipe for success… and another Yankees World Series title.  Bookmark & Share |
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With World Series odds posted, we’re seeing every type of analysis you could imagine – breaking down the hitting lineups, bullpens, pitching staffs, fans, managers, and so on. One unsung hero in that regard, however, is team defense. Does fielding really matter that much? The Red Sox won two World Series with Manny Ramirez out there in left field; if you have enough hitting and pitching, how much does “D” matter? Well, know this: of the eight teams to qualify for the 2009 postseason, seven of them ranked in the majors’ top 10 in fielding percentage. Maybe defense matters more than many teams realize? As a matter of fact, the Philadelphia Phillies committed the second fewest errors in the majors this season and tied for second in fielding percentage. In Shane Victorino, they arguably have the National League’s best defensive center fielder. Jayson Werth is an athletic right fielder with a good arm, Jimmy Rollins makes plenty of plays at shortstop and Chase Utley is a steady if unspectacular second baseman. The Yankees’ “D” has overachieved admirably this season, with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez playing like they were 10 years younger. However, it remains to be seen if they can provide top-notch “D” in crunch time. Johnny Damon’s arm in center field is a noodle and Nick Swisher is a bit of an adventure in right field. This will clearly be a close series so you have to overturn every last stone to find an edge. Maybe the Phillies’ superior defense and athleticism will be the difference maker. Bookmark & Share |
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