MLB betting players should have a close eye on spring training to see how their favorite players are getting ready for the regular season, but the pool of teams that have a chance to win the World Series is quite small, although anything can happen.

It should be no surprise that the stalwarts from Philadelphia and New York are the World Series betting favorites in what should be an intense and entertaining Major League Baseball campaign.

The Favorites

The Los Angeles Angels (+600) threw their name into the MLB betting ring with their acquisitions of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, announcing themselves as the main threat to Texas (+850) in the American League West, as well as the league as a whole. For an offense that couldn’t keep with the Rangers, adding Pujols to go with a healthy (they hope) Kendry Morales and that is a heavy lineup for anyone, not to mention their pitching led by Jared Weaver, Dan Haren and Wilson, the former Ranger. Texas replaced Wilson with Japanese superstar Yu Darvish, who is going to get a lot of attention this season, but he appears to be ready for the stage. But how much do the Rangers have left in the tank after two straight losses in the World Series? This season may be more mental than anything for the Rangers.

Of course, the road to the World Series could still go through Philadelphia (+400) or New York (+550), and the Yankees attempted to bolster their rotation by trading for Michael Pineda, who appears to be similar to Yankee ace C.C. Sabathia in stature and skill. The Yankees still have the requisite number of bats, but Alex Rodriguez has to stay healthy. The Phillies, until someone serves notice, still has the best trio in terms of starters with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, but Vince Worley has to step up and prove that last year was no fluke. Also, the bats need to stay healthy to get in a rhythm, although the Phillies aren’t off to a good start as Chase Utley starts the season on the disabled list because of his knees.

The Second Tier

Boston (+800) and Detroit (+800) lead the next level of MLB betting choices for the World Series, and the Red Sox have a new manager in Bobby Valentine after the Terry Francona era ended in a massive September collapse and rumors of a clubhouse run amok with chicken and beer. The Red Sox have the talent to make up for last year and they should have a chip on their shoulder. The Tigers picked up Prince Fielder to go alongside Miguel Cabrera, who moved to third base and was hit in the face with a ball. Getting Fielder became a necessity after the Tigers missed out on Pujols and Victor Martinez went down with a season-ending knee injury, but the question for Detroit is their other starters, because Justin Verlander can’t carry the rotation again (although the Cy Young winner will try).

Cincinnati (+1200), Miami (+1400) and Tampa Bay (+1650) come up next, and the Reds have a chance to take advantage of a National League Central in disarray; St. Louis (+2000) is no longer led by the duo of Pujols and manager Tony LuRussa; Milwaukee (+2500) lost Fielder and has the Ryan Braun scandal hanging over their heads. Meanwhile, the Marlins moved to Miami and starting courting all the major free agents, coming away with Mark Buerhle, Heath Bell, Jose Reyes and new manager Ozzie Guillen. The Rays didn’t do much, and that is why they are the best bet amongst this trio. The Marlins have a slew of new players that need to gel (not to mention the combustible Guillen), and the Reds, you have to wait in see. But Tampa Bay is as steady as they come and Joe Maddon may be the best manager in baseball.

The Sleepers

Atlanta (+1800) has to get past the Phillies and Marlins in the National League East, but they, like Boston, also have to erase a September collapse that cost them a playoff spot, but they have another year of experience under their belts. San Francisco (+1600) is always a team to watch thanks to their pitching, powered by the duo of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but they lost Carlos Beltran. The Dodgers (+3000) are a mess financially, but managed to re-sign Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw is coming off a Cy Young year.

But the two most interesting options are Washington (+1800) and Toronto (+3500), who are in the National American League East divisions, respectively, so they obviously have some obstacles. If Stephen Strasburg can’t stay healthy, then there goes the Nationals’ chances, but if he can, he galvanizes the team and they have a full training camp under Davey Johnson. The Blue Jays have to climb over the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, but they have the bats in the lineup, led by slugger Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie, who has fantasy players salivating at a full season. If they can get some consistent pitching and the bullpen can improve, Toronto could be an excellent online betting darkhorse.

If it wasn’t for the St. Louis Cardinals completing a nearly identical late season run and making it in to the playoffs before actually going all the way to win the World Series, then the Tampa Bay Rays would have been the biggest story in baseball a year ago. Coming off their incredible playoff charge that led to them clinching a Wild Card spot on the final day of the regular season a year ago, the Rays are looking to be key players in the AL East once again, as the one best best sportsbook team that can never be counted out.

After finishing 20 games above .500 last season, Tampa Bay will once again field one of the youngest and most talented rosters in baseball. With so many young stars under contract the Rays’ biggest problem has been the decisions on who to sign long-term and who to move on without, but so far they have done an excellent job of balancing the talent and the money. James Shields is considered the veteran ace of one of the strongest starting rotations in the Al, and he isn’t even 30-years old. The one-two tandem of Shields and David Price is as good as it gets in the AL, and after the club tied for the AL lead in quality starts with 99 a year ago while leading in both ERA and WHIP, this group is destined for another quality season of best sportsbook results.

The biggest question for the Rays this season is the same one that it was able to answer last year, which is where the offense will come from on a team that lacks any superstar hitters, with Evan Longoria being the closest thing to an exception. Tampa Bay managed to finish eighth in the AL in runs scored, but only the Seattle Mariners had a lower team average than their .244 mark as a team, which shows both their efficiency and overall lack of hits. Longoria has all of the tools to become an All Star, but his average last year matched the Rays’ .244 team mark, and he must be more consistent. Desmond Jennings and BJ Upton have a ton of potential and are both capable of taking another step forward this season, and with the Boston Red Sox determined to bounce back and the New York Yankees as strong as they were a year ago, Tampa Bay will need more offense if it is going to repeat in that second spot.

After what happened a year ago, it would be impossible to rule out the Rays as a potential sports betting contender even before the season gets underway. That said, Tampa Bay needs at least a couple of its starters to step up and bring a more consistent effort on offense in order to improve the overall numbers, and do a better job of matching the pitching in contributions to the team’s success. If Jennings and Upton continue to improve, while Longoria makes that jump, then the offense could very well match the pitching and make the Rays a serious contender once again this season.

For longer than their fans have been able to stand, the Toronto Blue Jays have been an 80-win team that has consistently remained a competitive team that has finished just beyond the top two in the American League East. Whether it’s the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, or Tampa Bay Rays, some combination of the two has consistently pushed the Blue Jays from an AL playoff spot, extending the team’s postseason drought to 18 years.

Despite walking that line between a best sportsbook contender and pretender the past couple of seasons, Toronto still has a tough road to overcome if they are going to return to the postseason for the first time since 1993, and while the additional wild card spot was supposed to be a major benefit for teams like the Blue Jays, it doesn’t help that it came with Albert Pujols joining the AL’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Canada’s lone MLB representative was the definition of mediocrity in 2011, finishing the season exactly .500 at 81-81, which was good for fourth in the AL East. Despite a strong desire to compete for a playoff spot, Blue Jays’ management decided to stay the course on its long-term plan and avoid chasing key free agents, as the club continues to develop its pool of young talent from within. Young Ricky Romero will continue to serve as the team’s ace at the top of the starting rotation after hitters hit just .193 off of him following the All Star break, and the team hopes to get a boost from another young asset in young Kyle Drabek, who was the key to the team dealing Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies a couple of years ago. Sergio Santos was acquired to give the bullpen a boost as the team’s closer, with Jason Frasor and Casey Janssen sticking around in setup roles.

The Blue Jays didn’t need to make any changes on offense after the team finished fifth in the AL in runs scored with 743 and fifth in the AL in home runs with 186. Overall, manager Jon Farrell would like to see a better overall team average on top of the power numbers, and a full season from Brett Lawrie will help in that department. Toronto is banking on both Eric Thames and Colby Rasmus to be productive hitters that can work pitchers and get on base, and with a solid core of Lawrie, Jose Bautista, and Adam Lind, it will be the depth that either takes this team to the next level or leaves them close to where they were last best best sportsbook season.

Even with the internal improvements, the Blue Jays are going to have a tough time catching the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays, and with the Angels joining the defending AL champion Texas Rangers as legitimate MLB betting contenders in the AL West, that extra Wild Card spot may not make that much of a difference for Toronto in its first year. This is a young team with a ton of talent, that is capable of doing big things in the future, only it may take at least one more season and a couple of key pitching additions before the Blue Jays are ready to contend for the playoffs.

Consistently one of the elite MLB betting teams in baseball, the New York Yankees won the American League East last season, coming on strong in the final stretch of the season while their AL East division rival Boston Red Sox tanked and missed the postseason. However, with greater goals than simply making the playoffs, the Yankees went out and made some key changes this offseason that should make their club even stronger, with the most important being the upgrades to their starting rotation. New York signed young pitcher Michael Pineda as well as Hiroki Kuroda, upgrading the one area that was considered a team weakness a year ago. Those two additions have helped make the pinstripes one of the most complete teams in baseball heading in to the 2012 season, where they will look to do much more than simply repeat as division champions.

Where Pineda and Kuroda will pitch has yet to be determined, but filling two reliable arms in to a five-man rotation is a significant upgrade, one that allowed New York to ship the enigmatic AJ Burnett to the Pittsburgh Pirates. With perennial CY Young candidate CC Sabathia holding down his spot as the team’s ace, Pineda and Kuroda will join a group that includes Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, and Freddy Garcia to fill out the bottom-four. While none of those are considered elite options, they are better than what the Yankees had a year ago, and the competition should bring out the best in each of them. Closer Mariano Rivera won’t be able to sustain his level of play forever, but he should be able to get the job done for at least one, maybe two more seasons. The two arms on the above list that don’t make the starting rotation will head to the bullpen to join Rafael Soriano, Boone Logan, and Corey Wade, giving New York a ton of options in relief.

The reason why the Yankees were able to make the best best sportsbook upgrades that they made to their pitching staff has everything to do with the offensive pieces that they already had in place, an area where they really didn’t need to look for help. New York finished the 2011 season tired for second in baseball with 867 runs scored, second in on-base percentage with a .343 team-mark, and third in slugging percentage with a .444 average. Robinson Cano exploded with a breakout season in 2011, allowing an order that already consisted of Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Derek Jeter even more flexibility. Curtis Granderson was another breakout star in 2011, and although he may not be able to duplicate the results of last season after hitting 41 home runs, he is another reliable option that can bring power to the lineup.

The fact that the Yankees are a better team now than they were a year ago when they won the division is an indication they should have no problem once again taking the AL East, but the focus for this season in New York is taking one of the most talented teams in baseball and bringing home a championship. Among the best sportsbook favorites to do exactly that this season, the Yankees do have the talent, it’s simply a matter of putting all the pieces together now.

Even with the addition of the extra Wild Card spot in each league, there are at least a handful of teams that are well aware that they are at least one season away from contending for a playoff spot. The Baltimore Orioles are on that list, among the American League teams that despite undergoing some significant change in the offseason are still in need of a few more adjustments before they can be considered contenders. The Orioles have made a habit of occupying the cellar in the AL East over the years, and it will be difficult to end their string of four straight last-place finishes in one of the toughest MLB betting divisions in baseball.

When you consider that Baltimore hasn’t won 70 games since 2006, there is a sense that there should be major change throughout the club. Unfortunately, even with some key signings the Orioles don’t come close to representing a championship MLB betting contender. The team signed 26-year old left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to bolster the starting rotation, but the truth is that Chin is actually only a downgrade from Jeremy Guthrie, who was traded to the Colorado Rockies after spending the previous two seasons as the team’s ace. With Jake Arrieta and Tommy Hunter among the top options, it is clear that Baltimore has one of the worst starting rotations in the AL, and will be challenged not to finish with the highest team ERA.

Fortunately for Orioles’ fans they do have some key pieces on offense that will make the team worth watching. The team is trying to build around Matt Wieters and offseason addition JJ Hardy, and also added Nick Markakis to fill out the batting order. Wieters is a gold glove catcher that can bring a ton of offense, and Hardy is a rising star at shortstop, so those two will make up the team’s nucleus going forward. Brian Roberts and Mark Reynolds are currently pegged for the heart of the order, and Baltimore is hoping that Adam Jones can also provide some pop. The problem is that even with the offensive pieces the Orioles haven’t had the minor league depth to deal for a starting pitcher, and there aren’t many big names that have Baltimore at the top of the list for places that they would like to play.

The biggest task for the Orioles now is acquiring the players to build the starting rotation while complimenting Wieters and Hardy with better pieces to grow a young nucleus. This team has a lot of work to do going forward if it wants to be a legitimate sports bet contender, and while they will win some games, it will be hard for Baltimore to avoid the AL East basement. The Orioles are now committed long-term to following the same blueprint as the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, and while they may not see immediate results, the team is much better off in the long run.

For the 2011 Boston Red Sox, the addition of another American League Wild Card spot came one year too late, failing to prevent one of the historic late-season collapses in the history of the game. For the 2012 Red Sox, change is a familiar theme, and like the new postseason format the fans in Boston are hoping that this year is different than last for their home team. The clubhouse will have a different look with new manager Bobby Valentine running things, and if his early comments are any indication, it will be a complete 360 from the way that Terry Francona operated his team. Valentine isn’t a manager that is afraid to call out his players and say what is on his mind, and if nothing else, he will keep his players accountable as a legitimate MLB betting favorite.

Considering the lack of accountability down the stretch a year ago, there may not be a better starting spot for change. Closer Jonathan Papelbon became the poster boy for the Red Sox struggles, but he’s gone now and the team will look for a new closer. Former setup man Daniel Bard would be the obvious fit, but the team appears set on using him to bolster the starting rotation. That is the first of many areas where Boston should be improved, as Bard is far too big of a talent to keep from using in that closer role. Among the other 2011 roster players no longer on the team are Marco Scutaro, Tim Wakefield, and Jason Varitek, and while none of those players really hurt the club down the stretch last season, they didn’t make enough of a difference to hang on to. The Red Sox weren’t big offseason spenders with Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney the two biggest additions, a sign from management that they feel they have the pieces to contend even though they didn’t get the job done a year ago.

A big part of that is based on the team’s starting rotation, which was expected to be among the best in the AL a year ago before Clay Buchholz was lost for the MLB betting season, and Jon Lackey struggled more than anybody projected. Buchholz will be back and Bard will be added to complete the team’s top-four arms, with Alfredo Aceves the most likely candidate to close out the rotation. Aceves was 10-2 with a 2.61 ERA as a reliever a year ago, and if both Jon Lester and Josh Beckett can bring their best stuff at the top, then this should be one of the best rotations in baseball.

Even with the collapse, there really was no need to make major changes to an offense that ranked first in runs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, with newcomer Adrian Gonzalez leading the way with a .338 average and 117 RBI. Jacoby Ellsbury led the team in home runs with 32, and if former MVP Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis can stay healthy then the offense should once again be among the most productive in baseball. The Red Sox once again have the pieces to be considered a legitimate championship contender in the AL. The problem is that expectations were the same a year ago, and they now have to mentally overcome the burden of that collapse as well when fighting to bounce back this best sportsbook season.

Online betting players have been treated to a thrilling World Series so far, complete with pitching duels, historic offensive performances and sloppy bullpen work. It’s going to come down to a seventh game, so MLB wagering fans should strap in for an exciting week of baseball as the season comes to a close in St. Louis with a Cardinals’ victory.

Game 5 – Monday, October 24th, 8:05 PM ET – The Ballpark, Arlington, TX

Chris Carpenter (3-0, 3.52) didn’t have his best stuff in Game 1’s 3-2 win at home, but he managed to get by, giving up a pair of runs on five hits over six innings of work. C.J. Wilson (0-3, 7.17) had trouble with his command, walking six and striking out four, but he only allowed three runs on four hits. It’s been an inconsistent postseason for the 30-year-old Wilson, and this is his first appearance at home since Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit. You have to remember that this is only his second year as a starter and Wilson threw 223.1 innings in the regular season, along with 21.1 innings in the postseason, so fatigue is definitely a factor.

Carpenter is built for this and even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he does enough to keep the Cardinals in the game, and even though he has a 6.99 ERA in five starts at the Ballpark, he has a 2-2 record. You also should count on the St. Louis bats to wake up after a disappointing 4-0 loss in Game 4, and as a +113 MLB betting underdog on Monday night, they would be a smart bet.

Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals

Game 6 – Wednesday, October 26th, 8:05 PM ET – Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Colby Lewis (1-1, 2.95) should be familiar with going out on the road as all three of his starts in the playoffs have been away from home, and he pitched 6.2 solid innings in Game 2’s 2-1 win for the Rangers, allowing a run on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Jaime Garcia (0-2, 3.97) was on the other side, tossing a three-hitter over seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and a walk, but he was let down by Jason Motte, who blew the save in the 9th inning. That was his second straight no-decision, even though he has settled down since getting off to a rough start in the postseason.

Strangely, something similar will happen in this game as well as the Rangers try to stave off elimination with a big performance. Look for the Texas bats to come alive late in the game and in particular, one of their big bats, like Nelson Cruz or Josh Hamilton, who is battling what he thinks is a sports hernia. The Cardinals will probably be favored, but Texas is the MLB betting play on Wednesday night.

Betting Edge: Texas Rangers

Game 7 – Thursday, October 27th, 8:05 PM ET – Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO (If necessary)

The Rangers’ Matt Harrison (1-1, 502) and the Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse (0-2, 7.82) have been penciled in as the starters for Game 7, and neither pitcher made it out of the fourth inning in a 16-7 win for St. Louis in Game 3, which was highlighted by Albert Pujols’ three-homer performance. Harrison gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits over 3.2 innings, while Lohse gave up three runs on five hits over three innings of work in a game for the offensive fans. It’s doubtful that the two will have that type of game again in Game 7, especially in St. Louis where the games have been relatively low-scoring due to a few factors, but most likely the weather. It has been cold and damp in St. Louis, which makes the ball heavier. In Texas, the ball is much easier to hit and the Ballpark has always been known as a “hitter’s park”.

This is going to be up in the air and again, the bullpens will probably come into play as Harrison doesn’t have much postseason experience and the Rangers are asking him to pitch a Game 7 in the World Series. Lohse, well, he isn’t a very good pitcher and definitely pitched above his weight during the regular season. But at home, in a Game 7 setting and a managerial edge with St. Louis’ Tony LaRussa, St. Louis is the sports betting pick to make here.

Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals

In a season where not one but two teams completed a pair of the most improbable comebacks to earn their respective league Wild Card spots, another team filed for bankruptcy in the same year they reached the ALCS, and another team showcased the antics of one of its star outfielders and one of the breakthrough personalities of the year, there is one common MLB betting theme that has prevailed: Not everything happens the way that it is expected to happen. The same can be said about the respective championship series, as both continue to wind down on Monday.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers
Sunday, 4:05 PM ET

There could not have been a better ending to an NLDS than Nyjer Morgan pumping one in to the outfield for a walk off victory, and it will be interesting to see if the Brewers can provide their fans with another incredible finish. Milwaukee earned the chance to finish the series at Miller Park where they led the majors in home wins this season, and they got the pitching matchups that they wanted as well. Whether or not they can now turn those advantages into something tangible and end the Cardinals’ improbable run only time will tell, as players like Albert Pujols fight with everything they have in what could be their final game in a Cardinals’ uniform. Pujols is among a couple of potential free agents on the roster, and if he is going to go out then he might as well go out in style. The Brewers however have taken nothing for granted and have persevered every step of the way, and it wouldn’t be a major surprise if St. Louis’ magical MLB betting run ends in Milwaukee.

MLB Betting Free Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Detroit Tigers @ Texas Rangers
Sunday, 8:05 PM ET

It is no surprise that if it reaches game seven the Tigers will want to give the ball to Doug Fister, who pitched them to a memorable sports betting bonus win in game seven of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and proved that he can handle the pressure. Texas will counter with Colby Lewis if it gets to that decisive game, although the Rangers would be happy to put it away in six if they can get the job done in the first of consecutive games at home. The Tigers have proven to be a worthy opponent so far, but Texas has been here before and have every intention of getting the job done. The way that players like Nelson Cruz have delivered in the clutch just makes you believe that this is a team of destiny, although Delmon Young and company may have something to say about that. The Rangers and Tigers both deserve their chance in the World Series but only one team can advance, and in this case experience and home field advantage will make the difference.

MLB Betting Free Pick: Texas Rangers

MLB Betting players who follow Milwaukee last saw the Brewers in the World Series in 1982, when they were in the American League and they lost to St. Louis. Now, the National League Central champions will look to send their Central rivals packing in the NLCS, and they should be able to put the Cardinals away in a close series.

What: MLB Betting
When: October 9th-17th (Check best sportsbook for start times)
Where: Games 1, 2, 6, 7 (Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI); Games 3-5 (Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO)
Free Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Why Bet On St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have the most momentum of any team left in the postseason as they battled hard to put pressure on Atlanta, who collapsed down the stretch, then they managed to hold off Philadelphia, the World Series betting favorites, complete with a 1-0 win on the road in Game 5 in which Chris Carpenter outdueled Roy Halladay. St. Louis has a solid group of veteran players, led by Carpenter and Albert Pujols, who have been here before and relish the pressure of the playoffs. The hitting carried the team in the regular season as the Cardinals led the National League in runs scored and average, and there are few teams in the majors who can boast a mid-lineup order of Pujols, Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday. That isn’t to say that their pitching is awful, as Carpenter, Jaime Garcia (despite a rocky Game 1), Edwin Jackson and Kyle Lohse can get the job done, especially the first two. Octavio Dotel, Arthur Rhodes and Marc Rzepczynski have bolstered the bullpen in middle relief, and they were very good down the stretch. The Cardinals have put Jason Motte in the closer’s role for now, but they can always fall back on Fernando Salas as well.

You have to wonder how much the Cardinals have left in the tank after their massive run to the playoffs, especially a veteran team that has battled some injuries this season. Two months ago, most MLB betting players put the Cardinals out to pasture and they expended a lot of energy just to get here. It actually may be beneficial to play the Brewers, a heated division rival with whom the Cardinals have been physical with, so it should be easy for them to get up for Milwaukee. Also, the bullpen is a worry as it was well below average for most of the season.

Why Bet On Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have homefield advantage, and this is huge for Milwaukee, who won an MLB-high 57 games at home in Miller Park during the regular season, then won all three of their home meetings with Arizona in the NLDS, and then Game 1 against the Cardinals. We know that homefield advantage plays a big role in most sports, but this Milwaukee team is like two different squads when they’re home and away. While the Cardinals have their power trio in the middle of their lineup, the Brewers may have the best one-two punch in the game in Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, and there is potential power throughout the lineup with Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks, who is finally healthy, and don’t count out Yuniesky Betancourt. The Brewers can swing the bat with anyone in the majors, and that means they’re never out of a game. But they got to this point by improving their starting rotation with Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum, picking them up to go with Yovani Gallardo, who is one of the most underrated hurlers in the major leagues. Milwaukee also has a deadly late-inning duo in Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford, and their middle relief is effective as well. The Brewers feel like they’re a team of destiny, and one that may be broken up due to financial issues after this year, so they’re playing with urgency.

But that can backfire on the Brewers, who can’t let their emotions get the best of them, especially against their division rivals. The Brewers have the edge in talent over the Cardinals, but it’s all about keeping their heads and not trying to do too much, especially away from home. Milwaukee’s trouble on the road is a head-scratcher, which puts a lot of pressure on them to maintain their perfection at home. If they dropped a game in Miller Park, can they get it back in St. Louis?

How It Will Play Out

Milwaukee should be the MLB betting favorites, and Game 1 was the 19th time that these two have met in 2011, so there aren’t many secrets left between them. It’s been almost even as the Brewers are 10-9 against the Cardinals this year, with 10 games coming in under the posted total (along with a couple of pushes).

This has seven games written all over it, and the Brewers need to be able to take at least one game in St. Louis, where they’ve lost six of their last 10. They should be able to snatch a game on the road and send their bitter rivals packing after a wild series. The Cardinals will make it interesting with their experience, but the Brewers have too many weapons and will break through to reach the World Series. Take Milwaukee with your online betting baseball picks.

Cardinals Brewers Betting Free Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Online betting players should be treated to a fantastic matchup in the ALCS as Detroit and Texas battle for the right to represent the league in the World Series. These two are very similar and there isn’t a lot between them, but the Rangers’ experience from last year should give them an edge.

What: MLB Betting
When: October 8th-17th (Check best sportsbook for start times)
Where: Games 1, 2, 6, 7 (The Ballpark, Arlington, TX); Games 3-5 (Comerica Park, Detroit, MI)
Free Pick: Texas Rangers

Why Bet On Detroit Tigers

The Tigers’ “upset” of the New York Yankees wasn’t a major surprise to those who have been watching Detroit all season; they were fourth in the American League in runs scored and third in batting average, led by batting champ Miguel Cabrera (Victor Martinez was fourth). Their hitting makes up for a lack of speed on the basepaths, but they’ve even showed in the postseason that they’re not just a power team. They also have the best pitcher in the majors in Justin Verlander, who struggled in Game 1, but he’ll be back in Game 5 at home as manager Jim Leyland doesn’t like to throw his ace out on short rest. However, it’s not just Verlander as Doug Fister has been an excellent sidekick for the probable Cy Young winner. We also can’t forget about Jose Valverde, who was successful on all 49 of his save opportunities in the regular season and he has two more in the playoffs, although he was shaky in one game against the Yankees. The Tigers are well balanced and hungry, and that is a dangerous combination.

But MLB betting players still have some questions to ask of the Tigers, and it starts with the rotation after Verlander and Fister; can they trust Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello to hold up the bottom of the group? He tossed a great Game 2 against the Yankees, but it is still his first playoff experience and we all know the 22-year-old Porcello can be inconsistent. The Tigers have a 5.37 ERA so far in the postseason, but seem to be getting away with it due to timely hitting. Also, Detroit hit .226 against the Yankees, but they have to pump up their bats a little more to beat the Rangers. 

Why Bet On Texas Rangers

After a 9-0 blowout at the hands of Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the ALDS, the Rangers recovered to win the next three, followed by a Game 1 win over the Tigers and they have now won three straight by a single run, which sounds like a team that has been there before. You should believe that Texas’ experience in losing the World Series to San Francisco last year is something that they have fed off all season, and it’ll especially come in handy in the playoffs. We all know the Rangers can hit as they led the American League in average and they were third in runs scored (Texas was second in the league in homers, five spots ahead of Detroit). But they’ve scored just 19 runs in the postseason so far, tied with the Tigers, and they’ve been getting by on their pitching, which has a 3.80 ERA. The starters have been fine, but the key to it all may be rookie Alexi Ogando, who was an All-Star, but had a terrible second half and was sent to the bullpen, where he has looked to regain his focus, and he has four holds and a win so far. He is a perfect bridge to closer Neftali Feliz and that gives manager Ron Washington confidence that he can go to the bullpen after seven innings.

Like Detroit, the Texas bats have to wake up because it’s going to be tough to win when Josh Hamilton is hitting .211, and the trio of Michael Young, Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz are batting .111. They have been a bit fortunate to draw the Tigers, who are also having problems at the plate, but it also puts more pressure on their rotation, which is better from top to bottom than the Tigers, but they would like to make it easier on their starters.

How It Will Play Out

The Rangers should be the MLB betting favorites, given that this is their second ALCS in a row, and of course, Texas won Game 1 3-2 on Saturday to get off to a good start. Counting Game 1, the Rangers are 4-6 in 10 meetings with the Tigers in 2011, with five games falling under the posted total (along with a pair of pushes).

The two teams are relatively similar, but this is going to come down to pitching, which it usually does in the postseason, and the Rangers are more complete, especially with their rotation and setup men. Ogando coming back down the stretch and in the playoffs is huge if the Rangers are going to continue to win close games. Make Texas your sports betting pick to return to the World Series.

Tigers Rangers Betting Free Pick: Texas Rangers