The MLB Betting Market through 4/19: April 19th 2010

Handicappers PicksApr 19, 2010

If you look at baseball betting as if it were the stock market, here’s a look at what we’re buying and selling through another week of play on the diamond.

Bullish Squads

Tampa Bay Rays (6-0, +$705): It may only be April, but Tampa Bay won its biggest series in quite some time over the course of this weekend, taking all three games at Fenway Park to upset the struggling Red Sox. The Rays are in first place at 9-3 in the American League East with the Yankees, and they’re proving once again that they are going to be formidable foes in the division race. SP Matt Garza hasn’t given up more than one earned run in any of his three starts this season.

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New York Yankees (5-1, +$305): The Bronx Bombers are going to be on this list of bullish squads quite a bit this year, we think. They swept the Rangers out of town in dominating fashion, outscoring them 17-6 over the three victories. The Angels were a bit more of a test, as the bullpen nearly coughed up Game 1 of the series and didn’t pitch well in Game 2 either. We’ll see how the Yanks can do when they hit the West Coast for the first time this season this week.

Bearish Squads

Boston Red Sox (1-5, -$557): It’s tough being a Sox fan right now. The boys from Beantown are a woeful 4-8 and they’re already five games in the rears of the Yankees and Rays in the AL East. On top of that, DH David Ortiz is only hitting .171 on the year, and if he doesn’t pick it up and pick it up ASAP, Red Sox Nation is going to be calling for a new DH.

Baltimore Orioles (1-6, -$439): At least the O’s stopped their wicked nine game losing streak this week! Baltimore still hasn’t won a game at home this year though after getting swept by Tampa Bay to start this week off. It may be awhile too before that happens, as there is a series in Seattle and one in Boston before coming back home to play the Yanks for three and Red Sox for three. If Baltimore doesn’t win one of those six, it’ll be until the middle of May before it records a home win.

Player to Buy – Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies (1-0, 0.00 ERA): Jimenez became the first Colorado Rocky to pitch a no-hitter in franchise history on Saturday when he blanked the Braves in a 4-0 victory. On the season, he has been absolutely fantastic, going 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a batting average against of .205. Even though he walked six batters, Jimenez’s stuff was never in question on Saturday night, as he also fanned seven Atlanta batters in the process. We’ll see how well he pitches this week against the Nats after throwing 129 pitches for his no-no.

Player to Sell – Jason Marquis, Washington Nationals (0-2, 28.53 ERA): Yes, you’re reading that right. Marquis had a 28.53 ERA this week. Getting blasted in the City of Brotherly Love by the Phillies lineup is at least remotely acceptable, but what Marquis did on Sunday at home against Milwaukee was inexcusable. The man who was brought in to solidify the top of the Washington rotation has only hurt it, as he allowed all seven batters he faced to score without recording an out. Marquis’ days on the Nats may already be numbered.