MLB’s Best ‘Over’ Teams
by: Alex Smart Sports
1: New York Yankees (17-8-1) (4-0-1 in L/5) This probably isn’t what manager Joe Girardi was thinking of when the Yanks had an Opening Day rotation of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, and Joba Chamberlain, but alas, this is what it’s coming down to for the Bronx Bombers. They’ve given up at least six runs in five of their L/6 games, and haven’t posted a win for ‘under’ bettors since April 27th as a result. The offense is putting up 5.73 runs per game this season, which should be more than enough to win plenty of games, but 5.86 runs allowed per game is simply inexcusable.
2: Seattle Mariners (16-11) (4-1 in L/5) The M’s have now played six of their L/7 games ‘over’ the ‘total’, but unfortunately for them, it doesn’t have as much to do with their bats as it does their arms. The Rangers dropped 13 runs on Seattle over the L/2 days, both losses for Mariners’ bettors and ‘under’ bettors. In this stretch of six of seven ‘overs’, opposing teams have scored at least six runs five times, while the offense has only surpassed that number three times. The pitching lapse is surprising for a staff with a 3.79 ERA for the season, the sixth best mark in the majors. Place some blame on the bullpen, which has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in the L/4 games. One would like to think that getting away from home on an upcoming road trip may help the team, but it has only scored 13 runs in its L/4 road games, nine of which came in one game.
3: Cleveland Indians (16-10-1) (4-1 in L/5) When you think about the most potent offenses in baseball, the Indians probably don’t come to mind right away, especially considering they are just 10-17 on the season. But alas, the Tribe is averaging 5.41 runs per game, the seventh best mark in the bigs. The problem has been the pitching, particularly the starters. The staff as a whole has an ERA for the season just less than 6.00, and has been particularly bad of late, giving up at least a touchdown in three of its L/4 games and at least five runs in six of its L/7. Starting Pitchers Fausto Carmona and Cliff Lee were both supposed to be Cy Young candidates this season, but the duo is just a combined 2-7. Lee’s ERA is 3.92, while Carmona’s is a lofty 6.11. Carl Pavano’s 7.46 ERA and Anthony Reyes’ 6.84 ERA aren’t helping the clubs cause any either.
And the rest…
4: Kansas City Royals (13-14) (4-1 in L/5)
5: Minnesota Twins (14-12-1) (3-1-1 in L/5)