September 2010 MLB Events
Calendar of MLB Events for September 2010 brought to you by baseballbettinggame.com
APRIL 2010 EVENTS |
| 3rd |
Boxing: Roy Jones Jr. vs. Bernard Hopkins |
| 3rd |
Final Four |
| 4th, 6th, 7th |
MLB: Yankees vs. Red Sox |
| 4th |
MLB Opening night Yankees v. Red Sox |
| 5th |
Men's NCAA Basketball Championship |
| 5th |
MLB: 1st day full schedule |
| 6th-7th |
Soccer: Champions League |
| 8th-11th |
Golf: the Masters |
| 8th |
NBA: Lakers vs. Nuggets |
| 9th-11th |
MLB: Minnesota Twins v. Chicago White Sox |
| 10th |
UFC: Invincible |
| 16th |
NBA playoffs start (give or take a day) |
| 16th-18th |
MLB: LA Dodgers vs. SF Giants |
| 17th |
Boxing: Kelly Pavlik vs. Sergio Martinez |
| 17th |
Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Shields |
| 22nd |
NFL Draft Round 1 |
| 23rd |
NFL Draft Round 2 |
| 23rd-25th |
MLB: NY Yankees vs. LA Angels |
| 24th |
NFL Draft Round 3 |
| 24th |
WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber |
| 30th-may |
MLB: NY Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies |
|
|
MAY 2010 EVENTS |
| 1st |
Boxing: Shane Mosely vs. Floyd Mayweather |
| 1st |
Kentucky Derby |
| 6th-9th |
Golf: The Players Championship |
| 8th |
UFC 113: Machida vs Shogun 2 |
| 15th |
Preakness Stakes |
| 24th-june 6th |
Tennis: French Open |
| 29th |
UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans |
| 30th |
Indianapolis 500 |
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MLB: Line flips a sign of MLB things to come Tuesday?
2010-08-25
According to our friends over at Sportsbook.com, three of the games on Tuesday night’s Major League Betting board have seen their lines flip today, meaning one team opened as the favorite but is now the underdog. In each case, the road club was favored but has since ceded that role to the host. Let’s take a look at those three games and their corresponding line moves to see if we can’t benefit from our fellow bettors’ wisdom.
(911) ATLANTA (LOWE) at (912) COLORADO (DE LA ROSA) 8:40 PM
Sportsbook opening line: Atlanta -110, Currently: Colorado -109
Colorado’s 5-4 victory in the series opener on Monday gave the Rockies their first consecutive wins since a four-game streak July 29-Aug. 1.
Colorado pulled within six games of the Phillies in the wild-card race, but it wasn't the only team happy to see Philadelphia fall. The Braves (73-52) remained 2 1/2 games ahead in the NL East race thanks to the Phillies' defeat.
The Rockies had scored five runs in their previous four games.
Derek Lowe (11-11, 4.32 ERA) goes for the Braves. He is 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA in his last five starts against the Rockies, but 1-3 in his five most recent starts, and the Braves are 2-8 in his 10 second-half starts.
Lowe will be opposed by Jorge De La Rosa (4-4, 4.74), who was a hard-luck loser Thursday despite one of his best performances of the season. The left-hander held the Dodgers to two runs and five hits over seven innings, but Colorado mustered only two hits in a 2-0 defeat.
Bettors may be backing the Rockies based upon the following system:
StatFox Super Situation favoring COLORADO against the money line
• Play On - Home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (COLORADO) - after scoring and allowing 5 runs or less last 4 games. (102-72 over the last 5 seasons.) (58.6%, +30.1 units. Rating = 2*)
(915) CINCINNATI (WOOD) at (916) SAN FRANCISCO (SANCHEZ) 10:15 PM
Sportsbook opening line: Cincinnati -110, Currently: San Francisco -110
Reds rookie Travis Wood hopes to quiet San Francisco's bats and win his fifth consecutive start as Cincinnati continues its road trip on Tuesday night. However, he’ll have his hands full against a Giants lineup that scored 11 runs on 17 hits in the series opener.
The Reds (72-53) remain atop the NL in batting average (.271) and runs (617), and they averaged 5.9 runs while winning eight of nine before Monday's game.
The Giants (70-56), meanwhile, had totaled one run in their previous two games, but they scored five runs in the first inning of the 11-2 win. The victory opened a nine-game and pulled the Giants within one game of Philadelphia in the wild-card race.
San Francisco's hitters are in for a challenge as they face Wood (4-1, 2.51 ERA) for the first time. Opponents are hitting just .176 against the left-hander, but over the last couple of seasons, San Francisco has produced well for bettors against solid pitching:
• SAN FRANCISCO is 19-11 (+12.9 Units) against the money line vs. an NL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.150 or better over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SAN FRANCISCO 3.8, OPPONENT 3.8 - (Rating = 1*)
Cincinnati is 14-5 on the road since the All-Star break, with slugger Joey Votto batting .406 with 16 RBIs in that stretch. That has helped the Reds take a 2 1/2-game division lead over St. Louis.
Cincinnati may have to operate with a depleted lineup Tuesday against San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez (9-8, 3.47). Outfielder Jim Edmonds (strained oblique) and Laynce Nix (sprained ankle) both left Monday's game.
A Giants win would also end the Reds' streak of six consecutive series victories on the road - and San Francisco's string of three straight series losses overall. They have fared well vs. the Reds and their divisional counterparts this season:
SAN FRANCISCO is 24-10 (+13.0 Units) against the money line against NL Central opponents this season.
The average score was SAN FRANCISCO 5.3, OPPONENT 3.5 - (Rating = 1*)
(929) TAMPA BAY (DAVIS) at (930) LA ANGELS (SANTANA) 10:05 PM
Sportsbook opening line: Tampa Bay -110, Currently: LA Angels -107
Tampa Bay has played well on the road against the Los Angeles Angels this year. The Rays, though, did not have to face Ervin Santana until now. The right-hander looks to remain perfect against the Rays in Anaheim while trying to help the Angels avoid a fourth consecutive home loss to the AL East co-leaders Tuesday night.
Tampa Bay (77-48) moved into a first-place tie with New York by winning its third straight, 4-3 over Los Angeles on Monday. It was the Rays' fifth one-run game in a row. That win streak however, leads bettors into a potentially profitable fade system for Tuesday:
• Play Against - All teams with a money line of -100 to -150 (TAMPA BAY) - after 3 or more consecutive wins, a good team (54% to 62%) playing a marginal losing team (46% to 49%). (41-23 over the last 5 seasons.) (64.1%, +23.3 units. Rating = 2*)
Since losing six straight on the road to the Angels, the Rays have won three in a row in Anaheim this season. Three of the teams' four 2010 meetings have been determined by one run.
Santana has posted a 1.21 ERA in winning all three of his home starts against the Rays and has been outstanding of late, posting a 2.66 ERA in winning his last three starts. He has also done very good work against the league’s best:
• SANTANA is 10-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record) The average score was SANTANA 5.5, OPPONENT 2.8 - (Rating = 1*)
Making his debut against Los Angeles, Tampa Bay's Wade Davis (9-9, 4.45) will come off the disabled list for his first start since Aug. 5.
MLB: Top MLB Weekend Power Trends 8/20-8/22
2010-08-21
If late August baseball clashes between competing teams in the playoff races are your thing, then this weekend in Major League Baseball is probably not for you. Of the 15 series’ going on, only one pits current playoff contenders against one another, that coming in St. Louis, where the Cardinals host the Giants. However, if you’re indifferent to that type of drama and just prefer to get some solid wagering action down, then this weekend’s slate is as good as any. I’m here to help with that, looking at some of the series’ you will be handicapping while also revealing this weekend’s list of top StatFox Power Trends to consider.
As indicated earlier, the key series in baseball this weekend matches the Giants and Cardinals, the two teams closest to Philadelphia in the race for the N.L.’s wildcard position heading into the weekend. St. Louis is just a game back of the Phillies but has given up ground of late, losing its last four games. The Giants are two games out that wildcard spot, but like the Cardinals, have scuffled a bit of late, yielding ground during a current 6-9 swoon through August. This will be just the second meeting of the season between these teams, with San Francisco having taken two of three back in April at home. All three of those games went under the total, producing a combined nine runs.
The divisional leaders in the National League will all be on the road this weekend. Atlanta, which maintains a 2.5-game lead over Philadelphia in the East, will be in Chicago taking on the Cubs. The hosts have officially thrown in the towel on this season, and perhaps the current era, as they have unloaded their roster in trades for prospects and find themselves 20.5-games out of the Central lead behind Cincinnati. The Braves haven’t exactly set the world on fire on the road though this season, going just 27-33. The Reds are in Los Angeles where they have historically struggled, losing their last 12 games to the Dodgers. However, chances are much better they can get it done now, since they are on a 6-game winning streak in which they have scored 40 runs. Finally, the Padres, leading the West by 6-games, head to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers.
The most exciting race currently in the American League is being staged by the Yankees and Rays in the East. The teams are separated by a single game for both the division lead and the best overall record in the majors. On paper, the division leading Yankees have the big edge this weekend, playing host to the lowly Mariners, who are just 19-41 on the road this season. The Rays meanwhile, are in Oakland, facing the tough A’s pitching staff. The A’s already took game one of the 4-game set on Thursday night, 4-3, behind another solid starting outing from Trevor Cahill.
The Red Sox are starting to make some noise once again behind the Yankees & Rays but they are still 5.5-games behind Tampa for the A.L. Wildcard spot. Boston hosts Toronto this weekend, but the Jays are also playing well, having gone 22-15 since the 4th of July holiday. The Red Sox bats seem to have awoken from a slumber, as they have scored 5.4 runs per game during their current 6-4 surge. They host this series and another at home against Seattle before heading to Tampa next weekend for what could be a do or die set. Elsewhere, the other divisional leaders, Minnesota and Texas, will be at home versus the Angels, and at Baltimore, respectively.
Now, here’s a look at those top StatFox Power Trends promised earlier for this weekend’s action:
<b><i>ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS</b></i>
<li>CHICAGO CUBS are 12-30 (-15.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) in the second half of the last 2 seasons.
The average score was CHICAGO CUBS 3.8, OPPONENT 5.5 - (Rating = 1*)
<b><i>NY METS at PITTSBURGH</b></i>
<li>PITTSBURGH is 5-31 (-22.7 Units) against the money line vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better this season.
The average score was PITTSBURGH 2.8, OPPONENT 6.1 - (Rating = 4*)
<b><i>WASHINGTON at PHILADELPHIA</b></i>
<li>PHILADELPHIA is 13-2 (+11.5 Units) against the money line in home games vs. teams whose hitters strike out 7 or more times/game in the second half of this season.
The average score was PHILADELPHIA 5.7, OPPONENT 3.9 - (Rating = 1*)
<b><i>HOUSTON at FLORIDA</b></i>
<li>FLORIDA is 6-14 (-13.7 Units) against the money line in home games vs. an NL team with an on base percentage .315 or worse over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was FLORIDA 4.1, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 2*)
<b><i>SAN DIEGO at MILWAUKEE</b></i>
<li>SAN DIEGO is 22-5 (+16.4 Units) against the money line against NL Central opponents this season.
The average score was SAN DIEGO 4.6, OPPONENT 2.1 - (Rating = 3*)
<b><i>SAN FRANCISCO at ST LOUIS</b></i>
<li>SAN FRANCISCO is 24-10 UNDER (+12.1 Units) vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better this season.
The average score was SAN FRANCISCO 3.0, OPPONENT 3.2 - (Rating = 2*)
<b><i>COLORADO at ARIZONA</b></i>
<li>ARIZONA is 46-28 OVER (+16.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
The average score was ARIZONA 4.7, OPPONENT 5.5 - (Rating = 2*)
<b><i>CINCINNATI at LA DODGERS</b></i>
<li>LA DODGERS are 21-30 (-12.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) this season.
The average score was LA DODGERS 3.9, OPPONENT 4.2 - (Rating = 1*)
<b><i>SEATTLE at NY YANKEES</b></i>
<li>SEATTLE is 4-18 (-13.0 Units) against the money line in road games vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better this season.
The average score was SEATTLE 2.6, OPPONENT 5.0 - (Rating = 1*)
<b><i>TEXAS at BALTIMORE</b></i>
<li>BALTIMORE is 33-17 UNDER (+13.5 Units) vs. teams outscoring opp by 0.5 or more runs/game this season.
The average score was BALTIMORE 3.3, OPPONENT 4.7 - (Rating = 2*)
<b><i>CLEVELAND at DETROIT</b></i>
<li>DETROIT is 16-30 (-21.2 Units) against the money line vs. an AL team with a batting average of .260 or worse in the second half of the last 2 seasons.
The average score was DETROIT 3.7, OPPONENT 5.0 - (Rating = 2*)
<b><i>TORONTO at BOSTON</b></i>
<li>TORONTO is 32-26 (+10.7 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams allowing 4.7 or less runs/game on the season this season.
The average score was TORONTO 4.7, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 1*)
<b><i>LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA</b></i>
<li>MINNESOTA is 40-24 (+14.4 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams allowing 4.7 or less runs/game this season.
The average score was MINNESOTA 4.7, OPPONENT 4.1 - (Rating = 1*)
<b><i>CHI WHITE SOX at KANSAS CITY</b></i>
<li>CHI WHITE SOX are 22-13 OVER (+8.6 Units) vs. terrible power teams - averaging 0.75 or less HR's/game this season.
The average score was CHI WHITE SOX 4.9, OPPONENT 4.0 - (Rating = 1*)
<b><i>TAMPA BAY at OAKLAND</b></i>
<li>TAMPA BAY is 11-24 (-17.7 Units) against the money line in road games vs. a good bullpen that converts on 75%+ of their save opportunities over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was TAMPA BAY 4.1, OPPONENT 4.9 - (Rating = 2*)
MLB: Boston guns for season sweep of Angels
2010-08-19
The Angels are nearly a .500 team heading into Thursday’s game versus the Red Sox, but if not for the woeful season series versus Boston, they would be much better, perhaps even still in the playoff hunt. Los Angeles has lost all nine games to Boston in 2010, and a win by the Red Sox tonight would complete an unusual season sweep. Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com believe it will happen, with the Red Sox playing as -145 favorites behind Josh Beckett.
There may be enough reasons to suspect the season sweep won’t happen though. First off, Boston (69-52) hasn't won more than three straight games since June. Secondly, Beckett has been hit hard in both of his last two starts, yielding 13 runs in 9-2/3 innings against Texas and the Yankees. Thirdly, there are several strong StatFox Systems and/or Trends favoring the Angels in tonight’s matchup.
The system reads as follows and focuses on Beckett’s struggles:
•
Play On - Road underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher (LA ANGELS) - with a bullpen that averages less than 2.75 innings per game against opponent with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 6.20 or worse on the season (AL). (35-15 since 1997.) (70%, +31.5 units. Rating = 4*)
The Angels will turn to Ervin Santana (12-8, 3.99 ERA) to cool off the Boston bats. The right-hander pitched well at Fenway on May 4, limiting the Red Sox to one run over seven innings, but wound up without a decision in a 5-1 loss. He is 1-2 with a 4.61 ERA in seven starts versus Boston. Santana has won four of his last five starts overall, including a 7-2 home victory Saturday over Toronto in which he allowed one run, three hits and four walks in seven innings. He also boasts a strong performance record against the league’s best recently:
•
SANTANA is 15-5 (+10.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record) The average score was SANTANA 5.0, OPPONENT 3.0 - (Rating = 1*)
Besides the current opponent, the other good news for the Red Sox is that they got 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia back from a broken left foot Tuesday. They have been dealing with injury problems all season long and found out on Wednesday that Mike Cameron will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle. Fellow outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury also may not play again this year after re-aggravating a broken rib in his back last week.
The Red Sox won 7-5 on Wednesday night, improving to 9-0 in the season series with Los Angeles. Boston has averaged 7.3 runs while batting .327 in those games.
The Angels, meanwhile, will now try to avoid their fifth losing streak this season of at least four games. Two of the previous four skids concluded with sweeps at the hands of Boston.
The total for Thursday’s game is set at 9.5, and that wagering option also shows a unique trend relating to Boston’s dominance in the series:
•
SCIOSCIA is 14-4 OVER (+9.5 Units) in road games revenging 6 or more straight losses vs opponent in last 2 years as the manager of LA ANGELS. The average score was LA ANGELS 5.5, OPPONENT 6.2 - (Rating = 1*)
Look for the first pitch from Boston at 7:10 PM ET.
MLB: Handicapping signs point to Johnson, Florida
2010-08-19
The Marlins and Pirates continue a 4-game set in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night and so far the teams have split two 6-run decisions, with Florida taking the latest encounter in shutout fashion on Tuesday night. That win, a key system, several strong trends, and stud pitcher Josh Johnson going for the Marlins are good signs of a potential repeat performance on Wednesday night. This game is certainly worthy of your consideration, both on the money line and run line. Sportsbook.com currently lists Florida as a -162 favorite, with an accompanying run line of -1.5 (-105).
Johnson didn't look anything like a Cy Young Award contender his last time out, failing to escape the fourth inning in his worst start in more than three years. The right-hander gave up six runs and 10 hits over 3 2-3 innings, failing to record a strikeout in a 7-2 loss at Cincinnati.
Following that rough outing with another seems rather unlikely, as he faces the Pirates and their NL-worst offense. Johnson's ERA has dropped from easily the best in the majors to fourth, but the Marlins (58-60) won't be surprised if he rebounds Wednesday at PNC Park. Pittsburgh is averaging 3.43 runs and hitting .241, both last in the NL.
The Pirates (40-79) mustered six hits against Ricky Nolasco and two relievers in a 6-0 loss Tuesday that evened the four-game set at 1-all. The Marlins held a closed-door meeting after Monday's 7-1 loss.
It's no surprise Pittsburgh has struggled to hit the premier pitching in the NL, but the numbers are still staggering. The nine pitchers other than Johnson that make up the league's top 10 in ERA are 8-2 with a 1.22 ERA in 12 starts against the Pirates.
Aside from who Pittsburgh faces, the presence of Ross Ohlendorf (1-9, 3.95) on the mound seems to guarantee the Pirates' bats will go cold. No starter who has pitched 50 innings has received less support than the 2.24 runs Ohlendorf averages.
The following money line system from FoxSheets gives Florida about an 80% chance of winning tonight, based upon Johnson’s prowess and Pittsburgh’s offensive ineptitude.
Play Against - All underdogs with a money line of +125 to +175 (PITTSBURGH) - bad offensive team (<=4.1 runs/game) against a good starting pitcher (ERA<=3.70) (NL), with a decent bullpen whose WHIP is 1.350 to 1.450 on the season. (68-17 over the last 5 seasons.) (80%, +40.9 units. Rating = 3*)
As indicated earlier, this is also a good potential run line spot, and a completely separate StatFox system will be looking for its seventh straight win behind the Marlins this evening:
Play On - Road teams against a 1.5 run line (FLORIDA) - below average hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a decent starting pitcher (ERA=3.70 to 4.20) -NL, with a starting pitcher whose strikes out 5 or more batters per start. (47-13 over the last 5 seasons.) (78.3%, +33.5 units. Rating = 4*)
The situation's record this season is: (6-0, +6.1 units).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (40-8, +31.9 units).
Since 1997 the situation's record is: (95-46, +37.5 units).
The powerful information doesn’t stop there though, as numerous trends seem to indicate that Pittsburgh is in over its head for tonight’s game:
•
RUSSELL is 28-69 (-26.7 Units) against the money line vs. an NL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.250 or better as the manager of PITTSBURGH. The average score was PITTSBURGH 3.2, OPPONENT 5.1 - (Rating = 1*)
Of course, stranger things than a mild baseball upset on a Wednesday night in August have occurred in sports, but it certainly does look like as solid of a play as they come. We’ll see what happens when the Marlins and Pirates throw out the first pitch at 7:05 PM ET tonight from PNC Park.
AL Playoff Races
2010-08-19
Now that the All-Star game has passed and the trade deadline is approaching, all eyes in baseball are focused on the pennant races. As “the dog days of August” approach, here’s a look at what baseball fans can expect to see in the American League divisional and wild card races.
AL West: Texas has continued to separate from the rest of the pack, now holding a seven game lead over Los Angeles. Seattle has fallen 19 games back and is out of the race after a dismal offensive showing this season. For a while, it appeared to be a two-team race between Texas and Los Angeles, who has had a stranglehold on the division in recent years. However, Oakland has shown signs of life, winning 8 of their last 10 games to claw within 7 ½ games of Texas.
As of now, it appears to be the Rangers’ division to lose. Led by Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero, they have one of the best offenses in baseball. Their starting pitching has been decent but it got a huge boost with the addition of Cliff Lee, who will give them an undisputed ace with experience pitching in big games. The Angels figure to have a better shot than Oakland but they will need to start hitting and improve on their .257 team batting average. The bold acquisition of pitcher Dan Haren shows they haven’t given up. Despite this persistence, they can be expected to eventually fall short of Texas. The line at www.sportsbook.com on the Angles winning the AL West is +1500, and for a team who has won the division so many times as a baseball bettor you know they know how to win it.
AL Central: With three teams bunched within two games of the division lead, this may be the tightest division in all of baseball. The Chicago White Sox hold a very tenuous one game lead over Minnesota, with Detroit two back.
This one figures to be competitive all the way to the end as none of the three teams have a distinct advantage. The White Sox seem to be the most well rounded of any team, led by three very powerful bats and a well-balanced starting rotation. However, it’s been a few years since they’ve been in contention so there’s no telling how the inexperienced players will respond to the added pressure. Led by two of the best players in the American League, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, Minnesota knows what that feeling is like, too, having missed the playoffs every year since 2006. The Tigers have an MVP and Triple Crown candidate in Miguel Cabrera and will be desperately trying to atone for last year’s late-season collapse; the biggest question mark for them is inexperienced starting pitching. This division is so hard to call and it may even come down to the last day but in the end, I give a slight edge to Minnesota.
AL East: Few people would argue with the opinion that this is the best division in baseball, especially with three teams who can call themselves championship contenders. Unfortunately, only a maximum of two can make it to the playoffs so either New York, Boston, or Tampa Bay will be left out. The Yankees are currently in control of the division and it would be hard to envision them missing the playoffs altogether. They currently have the best record in baseball to go along with a potent lineup, a good corps of starting pitchers, and the best closer in baseball. Tampa Bay is three games behind them and holds baseball’s second best record. The Rays starting pitching has been outstanding and if their offensive production increases just a little, they could challenge the Yankees. The real unlucky team in this division is the Red Sox, who are eight games back but would be leading the AL Central with their 55-44 record.
The Red Sox could make a run at the division but in the end, their best chance will be to win the wild card.
Their line at www.sportsbook.com is +3000 to win the AL East this year, which is a very intriguing baseball bet. If they do end up as the wild card that leaves the Yankees and Rays for the division and I smell an upset here. The Rays have been one of the top two teams in baseball thus far with an offense that has largely underachieved. If players like Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, and Jason Bartlett can get things going, the Rays will win at a greater pace than before. The Yankees just lost Andy Pettitte to the DL and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out; he has been the Yankees best pitcher and his absence could really hurt. Also, the Yankees are an older team and in the past, they’ve begun to rest players once it’s clear they’ll make the playoffs. If they clinch a playoff spot early and the past holds, they may ultimately not care if they’re the AL East champion or Wild Card winners.
Wild Card: That effectively leaves the Red Sox and Yankees for the wild card.
Although other teams are within range of the Red Sox, it’s unlikely that they’ll sustain the same pace for an entire year. The Red Sox have tremendous team power and a good group of starting pitchers but they’ve simply had too many injuries this year. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett were supposed to be big contributors on the mound but have missed significant time, as have Jacoby Ellsbury and former MVP Dustin Pedroia. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Red Sox make a run but the injuries have caused a deficit to the Yankees that will ultimately be too much to overcome.