Rounding the bases: MLB best betting trends

Every week, we update you on who’s hot, who’s not and situational betting spots in Major League Baseball. HOT TEAM: TEXAS RANGERSTHIS SEASON: 55-41LAST WEEK: 4-0THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE: At the Angels for three, home to the Blue Jays for three.THE SKINNY: We try to spread the wealth around here, but you can’t ignore a hand when it’s as hot as the Rangers. Texas showed absolutely no post-All-Star-break blues, as they extended their winning streak to 11 games. What seemed like a good race between Anaheim and Texas now sees a four-game differential as they prepare to battle, and the Angels might just need to take two games here just to stay in it. The numbers are great in Texas no matter where you look. Three pitchers with at least nine wins C.J. Wilson (10), Colby Lewis (9), and Alexi Ogando (9) two pitchers with a sub-3.00 ERA Matt Harrison (2.91) and Ogando (2.92) and two with at least 100 strikeouts Wilson (124) and Lewis (104). Offensively, the wealth is spread around as Michael Young is hitting .321, Nelson Cruz has 21 homers, and Adrian Beltre has 72 RBIs. And just wait for Josh Hamilton to really find his second-half groove. It’s shaping up to be another scorching summer in Arlington. COLD TEAM: SEATTLE MARINERSTHIS SEASON: 43-52LAST WEEK: 0-4THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE: At the Blue Jays for three, at the Red Sox for three.THE SKINNY: The patchwork Mariners were humming right along at sea level for a while there. Without much offense, especially playing home games in a pitcher’s park, many considered Seattle a surprise to be flirting with the .500 mark through June. But July has been a disaster, as the Mariners have won just four games, and take a nine-game losing streak into Tuesday’s series opener in Toronto. When the Mariners hit these skids, the same theory usually applies: There’s just not enough bats, and this summer is no different. Even the great Ichiro Suzuki is hitting just .262, which happens to lead the team among regulars. Justin Smoak, the principle piece in the Mariners’ deal to Texas last summer involving Cliff Lee, is breaking out with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. But when Miguel Olivo (40) and Adam Kennedy (30) round out your top three in the runs-driven-in category, you’re in trouble, which is exactly what Seattle is. OVER TEAM: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIESO/U THIS SEASON: 43-43-8O/U LAST WEEK: 3-0THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE: At the Cubs for three, home to the Padres for four.THE SKINNY: Just goes to show you that in the marathon that is a Major League Baseball season, everythinges around. The Phillies, with their short-handed offense and unbelievable starting pitching, seemed like perhaps one of the best under bets in history back in April. But with pitcher Roy Oswalt on the disabled list, and manager Charlie Manuel mixing and matching to give some of his All-Star starters some rest, Philadelphia has gained some value as on over team. The Phillies, in fact, took a four-game over streak into Monday’s series opener at Wrigley Field, and the way the Cubs are giving up runs these days, a few more overs may be in store before the Phillies head home this weekend. The loss of Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino to the disabled list did not stop Philadelphia from scoring 17 runs over the weekend at the Mets. And in that four-game over stretch, they plated 31. Ryan Howard, with 18 homers and 73 RBIs through Sunday, is back to his old self, and Raul Ibanez (13 homers) is also showing some late life in his bat. Be careful this weekend, though, as the anemic Padres hit Philadelphia, and the Phillies are scheduled to throw Cole Hamels in the opener, and Roy Halladay in the third game.  UNDER TEAM: ST. LOUIS CARDINALSO/U THIS SEASON: 52-40-3O/U LAST WEEK: 1-2THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE: At the Mets for three, at the Pirates for three.THE SKINNY: The numbers say take the over when St. Louis takes the field, but the Cardinals have been light on offense of late, and they bear watching as an under team as the dog days of summer approach. They scored just 10 runs in a three-gamer vs. Cincinnati over the weekend, and have scored three or fewer six times in July as they prepare to open a series with New York on Tuesday. Again, with the names they have Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday, and Albert Pujols St. Louis screams out as an over team. But they’re not getting it done, and as the games get a little more serious in the NL Central with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh appearing like they’re going to hang around through the summer you might grab some serious value going the other way with the Cardinals. And the pitching figures to be there, so that will help, too. The Cardinals have three pitchers, in fact, with ERAs under 4.00: Jaime Garcia (3.11), Kyle Lohse (3.32), and Chris Carpenter (3.69).

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