MLB Betting Power Rankings: Week 19
A look at the five best and worst bets in the bigs
Boy have things gotten ugly for the Detroit Tigers. We said in our Week 17 MLB Betting Power Rankings to steer clear of Gary Sheffield and friends until Aug. 11, but we didn't expect them to fall apart like Britney Spears at a photo shoot.
They've gone from No. 1 to out of the top five by losing 14 of 20 games since our last rankings, becoming the frontrunner for second-half implosion of the year. The Yanks meanwhile are on fire. Barring more hardballs towards Alex Rodriguez's legs, their offense should be blazing for the rest of the season.
Here are the best and worst bets in baseball:
Five Best Bets
1. New York Yankees
The empire has struck back and the emperor – owner George Steinbrenner – didn’t even have to threaten any jobs to make it happen. They've won 10 of 13 in August and are 8-5 versus the usually risky runline. Their hitting is murderous as usual (they rank first in runs scored, batting average, and third in home runs), and their pitching is good enough (they rank 13th with a 4.35 ERA). Keep betting on these Bronx bad boys until the wheels – or A-Rod – fall off.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
Has anyone TiVo'd any D-backs games? Somehow while we were riding Barry Bonds' jock and watching the Yanks climb back into the AL East, these young gunners generated the best record in the National League. They won seven of their last 11 versus the moneyline and runline, and racked up 15 of 21. Will they keep it up? Why not, 15 of their next 24 are at home.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
Another squad creeping under the MLB spotlight in the second half, the Phillies are hot. They've won 18 of 30 since the break, are 5-3 straight up in their last eight, and 6-4 versus the runline in their last 10.
4. Boston Red Sox
The Sox never do any worse than .500 every 10 games. Problem is, it seems like they've been playing .500 baseball since mid-June. For that reason, the best team in baseball is once again on a slow decline in our rankings. They pay off in bunches, but are you willing to take bunches of losses for overall profit?
5. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels are back in the top five, and they've done it the same way they went into their slump, with speed, and without the long ball. They're once again unbeatable at home (40-17 SU) and have won seven of their last 11.
Five Bad Bets
1. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Devil Rays are 46-73 overall. Basically if you had bet $5 against them every night between April 2 and now, you'd be up $135. Maybe they should be in our top five because they consistently play at the level of the Savannah Sand Gnats. At least Lou Piniella could shout this team into fewer than 100 losses.
2. San Francisco Giants
Yay, Barry Bonds is the home run king! Yay for faulty 'roid testing and BALCO scientists! You done celebrating now San Fran? Now open your eyes to a team that’s 19 games below .500 and losers in eight of 10. Can't say Bonds and the Giants aren’t working together as a team though: Bonds disgraces history while the rest disgrace baseball.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
You can imagine the nicknames being thrown at this team in Pittsburgh with a 26-34 record at home (49-68 overall). They've managed to improve slightly, going 8-13 SU over their last 21, but as long as OF Jason Bay continues to play like Mario Mendoza (batting .253 with 18 HR and 73 RBI), they'll be bottom-feeding until October.
4. Texas Rangers
They traded away their offense (1B Mark Teixeira and OF Kenny Lofton), and they never had any defense, so what does that make them? Boring to watch and 52-66 overall (and falling). They've dropped seven of their last 11, and look content to be that way until next year.
5. Baltimore Orioles
The O's were doing quite well in late July, winning seven of eight from July 22-31, but August brings them back to Earth. They've lost eight of 12, and face hot squads like the Yankees and Blue Jays on the road before heading home on Aug. 20.
Other Notable MLB Teams
* Detroit's been bad, but Cleveland's been just as ugly. The Indians have lost 14 of 20.
* Like the Angels, the Mariners are heating up again. They've won 12 of 17.
* Scratch Oakland as the best under in the bigs; that title goes to the Royals, who've gone under in 15 of their last 21.
* The Reds have been lighting up totals in the second half; they've gone over in 22 of 31 games since the break.
* The Dodgers have quietly imploded in the second half, losing 19 of 30.
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