Who's Hot - AL Edition
By Mike Rose
VegasInsider.com
There are only six teams in the American League that own winning marks from an MLB betting standpoint through the first two weeks of the regular season. We'll be focusing on the top three here to watch this week at VegasInsider.com.
Oakland Athletics (8-4, +$333) – Oakland's pitchers have been out of this world of late, as they have held three of their last four foes to just one run or fewer coming into this week's games. The club has a 2.17 ERA as a team to go with a WHIP of just 1.08, and there isn't a lot to complain about from that perspective. However, we know that this team is going to have to hit the ball better in order to succeed in the long run. OF Josh Reddick is batting just .111 with splits of .111/.111/.290, and obviously, that isn't going to help the team out at all. 3B Josh Donaldson is barely batting the Mendoza Line. Still, there is plenty to be happy about when you're looking at this team. Pitching wins championships. Oakland has plenty of it.
Minnesota Twins (6-6, +$193) – RHP Ricky Nolasco really hasn't panned out through three starts thus far on the season, and RHP Kevin Correia hasn't been any better. RHP Phil Hughes has an ERA over a touchdown, and RHP Mike Pelfrey is in even worse shape. So how in the heck are the Twins finding ways to win games? Six of the regular starters are batting at least .265, and guys are getting on base left and right. OF Jason Kubel has an OPS of 1.057 early on in the season, and 3B Trevor Plouffe and 1B Chris Colabello have both been pleasant surprises out of the gates. Sweeping the Kansas City Royals early on in the campaign was a big time statement for a team picked by most to finish dead last in the AL Central this year.
Seattle Mariners (6-5, +$182) – The fun and games for the Mariners is about to be done with, as they have four games coming up this week against the Texas Rangers followed by three games against the Miami Marlins in a very awkward seven-game road trip. It's also becoming obvious that RHP Felix Hernandez can't pitch every game. King Felix is 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA, but the rest of the team is just 3-5 to show for its work and has a losing record from an MLB betting perspective. Still, there are things to be proud of here, and there are lots of things to be happy about for the future as well. 3B Kyle Seager isn't going to bat .121, OF Corey Hart isn't going to bat .188, and 2B Robinson Cano isn't going to go the whole season with just two doubles and no other extra base hits. The M's aren't the best in the AL West yet, but at least they are showing signs of improvement.