posted July 6, 2009 at 11:55 EST in MLB Articles
MLB Weekly Preview - All About Pitching
by BetUS Staff
The main component of MLB betting is handicapping a team’s pitching. That being the case, it doesn’t mean the rest of the picture doesn’t matter. When a top hitter is out of the lineup because of injury, an affected team has a huge hole that’s impossible to fill, not to mention changes in dynamic to their batting order.
Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs backers know this refrain all too well, with sluggers Josh Hamilton and Aramis Ramirez both having missed significant time this season. Those same backers have the chance to make up for lost time and money when the pair return to the lineup this week.
Texas at LA Angels
Neck-and-neck with the Angels (45-35, +10.97 units) in the American League West, the Rangers (45-35, +10.88 units) get their best hitter back when they travel to Anaheim for a three-game series beginning on Monday night.
Cleanup batter Josh Hamilton is expected to make his return to the fold for the opener, and that’s welcome news for Texas backers. The Rangers went 15-15 against the moneyline in Hamilton’s absence, as the centerfielder missed 30 games after having abdominal surgery.
Texas also played under in 21 of its 30 games without Hamilton to continue to make a killing for totals bettors. The Rangers are the most dependable under wager in baseball at 29-48-3 O/U this season, with the team’s offense consistently overrated by oddsmakers.
The Rangers lead the season series 5-1, although this week is the first time the teams meet at Angel Stadium. Los Angeles comes into the series on a profitable run at the window, with nine wins in its last 12 outings.
Atlanta at Chicago Cubs
Like the Rangers, the Cubs (40-39, -8.01 units) are slated to get their cleanup hitter back in the lineup when they invite the Braves (39-42, -9.64 units) to Wrigley Field for a trio of games this week.
Aramis Ramirez is scheduled to be in the starting lineup for Monday night’s Game 1 after missing the better part of the season with a shoulder injury. Chicago was a pedestrian 24-26 (-7.92 units) against the moneyline without Ramirez on the field, so it’s safe to say it’s counting on its third baseman to get the offense rolling.
That hasn’t been happening lately. The Cubs are batting only .233 over their last 10 games, and it won’t get any easier against a Braves starting rotation that’s put up a 2.98 ERA over the same span.
Cincinnati at Philadelphia
If the Phillies (42-37, -0.91 units) are going to start putting some distance between themselves and the rest of the contenders in the National League East, ace pitcher Cole Hamels (4-5, 4.98 ERA) had better get it going. The 2008 World Series MVP gets a chance to do just that when Philadelphia takes on the Reds (40-40, +3.24 units) in a four-game set starting on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Hamels has struggled through much of the season, and also spent time on the disabled list with an elbow injury. The lefthander has been especially disappointing over his last three starts, with an 0-3 record and bloated 7.02 ERA.
Hamels gets the ball in the opener against Johnny Cueto (8-4, 2.69 ERA) in a rematch of their duel back on May 19. The Phils southpaw was the better pitcher on that day, allowing three runs over six innings to get the payday in Philly’s 4-3 win as –140 road favorites.
Florida at San Francisco
Nipping at the Phillies’ heels are the Marlins (43-40, +4.35 units), who head to the Bay Area on Monday night for a three-game series with the Giants (44-37, +7.86 units).
Florida trails Philadelphia by only one game in the NL East coming into the week, and if the Fish keep on cashing, the division could be theirs. The Marlins have won five of their last six outings, including two of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend.
The Fish could be without their best player against the Giants, with Hanley Ramirez (hip) listed as questionable to see action in the series. Florida needs his bat in the lineup against San Francisco, which ranks first in the majors in team ERA (3.50). The Giants also sport a 2.78 bullpen ERA at spacious AT&T Park, where they’re 26-13 (+10.81 units) this season.
