Quick Thoughts on the MLB Playoffs and Series Betting
San Diego with better relief pitching and a better-shaped team with home field advantage should take out the Cardinals. San Diego is 14-2 in its last 16 home games. St. Louis is 17-35 in its last 52 road games. San Diego is 8-2 in its last ten games, St. Louis just 3-7. I wish Albert Pujols could pitch.
St. Louis’ pitching staff has been below average as the season has wrapped up. Injuries have also been a detriment. The Cardinals were just 35-39 since the All-Star Break. San Diego entered the end of the year finishing 14-2 at home. Jake Peavy has pitched well recently and has a schedule for this year since he didn’t make the playoffs last year. He adds Chris Young, who has been great on the road and a solid Clay Hensley, and he has a quality starting rotation. A relieved Linebrink and Hoffman closed the door on the fading Cardinals.
The heavily streaked Dodgers have a fair chance to win the series over the heavily favored Mets due to the uncertainty of New York’s starting staff, but New York has an exceptional bullpen and great hitting. Beltrán and Delgado could light it up for the Mets. Gun to my head and I’ll take a chance on the Dodgers dog.
Oakland keeps winning. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t scoring runs, they’re getting the job done. The A’s best weapon is their spacious ball park where home runs are a prize. Harden and Haren are very good shooters, after that it becomes risky.
The Johan Santana Twins haven’t lost at home since Babe Ruth was around the bases. With home field advantage, that should score two wins for Minny automatically. I like the offensive edge the Twins have along with some rejuvenated starters.
The Detroit Tigers looked like the strongest team in the American League until the All-Star Break. I don’t know if they ate too much bagged spinach, but Detroit became an average team after the break going 36-37 and each of their starting pitchers had a higher second-half ERA compared to their pre-All stats. Star. They had a chance to clinch the American League title, but they lost three games at home against the Triple-A Kansas City Royals.
New York’s pitching is highly suspect, but their hitting is not. The Yankees beat the Tigers. The Yankees are 16-6 at home against left-handed starters this year. The Tigers’ opening game pitcher is left-hander Nate Robertson. Make it 17-6 for New York. I prefer New York over an average Tiger team after the break because of their superior offensive firepower.
I have bet the Padres and the Yankees to win their series. The only thing I bet on was that Charlie Sheen would be MVP.
