Hot & Not - AL Edition
By Mike Rose
VegasInsider.com
The MLB betting season is officially a quarter of the way through, and today at VegasInsider.com, we're going to be taking a look at the best and the worst of the American League of late to show which teams are streaking and which are sliding.
Money-Makers
Cleveland Indians (8-2, +$766 in L/10) – The Tribe are 2 ½-games up in the AL Central right now, and it all started when they went on the road and beat Justin Verlander and the Tigers as +230 underdogs (Bet $100 to win $230). Since then, the team has gotten its scoring average up to 5.07 runs per game, and the team has launched the most dingers in baseball (60).
On Deck: Those pesky Tigers are coming to Progressive Field for two games in the middle of the week before it's off to Fenway Park for a date with the Red Sox. It won't be an easy week by any stretch of the imagination for Cleveland.
Texas Rangers (9-3, +$569 in L/12) – The Rangers just took three out of four from Detroit in a huge series that helped open up the lead in the AL West to 5 ½ games. The team already has 16 wins against AL West foes this season, which is more than any other team has against a divisional mate thus far on the season.
On Deck: There's a good chance that the Rangers will keep the best record in the bigs against divisional rivals as well this week. The A's are coming to town before the road trip to Seattle to take on the Mariners.
Boston Red Sox (5-1, +$393 in L/6) – It was a frustrating week two weeks ago for Red Sox fans, but since that point, the team has gotten back on the bus. This winning streak hasn't made up for all of the profits that were burned through during the losing streak, especially the part that came against the Twins, but it's a good start for a team that already has 27 wins under its belt.
On Deck: Two more games are on tap against the White Sox to wrap up this nine-game road trip. One would think that coming back home to take on the Indians would be an easier task, but we have to remember that this Boston team is just 13-10 at Fenway (-$296).
Money-Burners
Baltimore Orioles (0-6, -$711 in L/6) – Losing series like the one to the Rays over the weekend in such crushing form is bad news for a team like Baltimore. The Orioles know that they have a great bullpen, but you wouldn't know it based upon the Jim Johnson implosions of the last few days.
On Deck: The Yankees are playing against Baltimore for the last two games of what has been a disastrous home stand, and perhaps the best thing that could happen for the team is that it is getting away from home to take on the Jays at Rogers Centre this weekend.
Minnesota Twins (0-6, -$633 in L/6) – The Twins haven't been anything to write home about either, as they have six straight losses and are back in the gutter of the AL Central. This is a franchise that hopes that the future is very soon, because the current edition of this team is seemingly only waiting until the kids in the minors are ready to come up to the big league level.
On Deck: It's tough to see this losing skid really ending with any gusto for the Twins. Not only do they have road trips against the Braves and the Tigers up this week, but after Memorial Day, there are four games with Milwaukee, three with Seattle, and then it's back on the road for nine more.
Detroit Tigers (1-4, -$562 in L/5) – The game that really did the Tigers in was when they were beaten as -350 favorites at home against the Astros. It's going to happen at times this season, but you hope that's the type of thing that just doesn't happen to your team, especially when you're in the thick of a pennant race in the AL Central.
On Deck: Matters will get much easier once the Tigers are done dealing with the Tribe this week. Memorial Day weekend will see the lowly Twins coming to town in what should be a "get better" series for Motown.