Why many teams have been hit by injuries these two teams are different as when healthy these are two of the most talented rosters in the MLB betting action and both should be in the playoffs. However, with their rosters decimated by injuries these teams have done well simply to remain relevant in their division races.

Boston has been hit especially on both the mound and in the field. Ace Josh Beckett, MVP Dustin Pedroia, all star Victor Martinez and others have all missed big chunks of time. Combine that with the fact that the Sox play in the most difficult division in the baseball odds, the AL East, and the team just can’t catch a break.

However, against the Tigers, who are currently without sluggers Maglio Ordonez, Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen haven’t been to lucky in the MLB when it comes to injuries either. Although Detroit is still in the thick of the AL West title fight and sits just 4.0 games back of the division leading Chicago White Sox (55-44).

Friday’s game should be a showcase of all star talent as both rosters are dripping with talent and a chance for baseball odds fans to catch a legitimate Triple Crown contender in action. Tigers star Miguel Carbrerra is currently on an offensive tear (.349, 24 HR, 88 RBIs) and among the AL’s leaders in all the major offensive stats.

He’ll have a tough time though against the Sox who will start John Lester (11-5, 2.92 ERA) and has been superb at Fenway.

Combine that with the fact that the Tigers have lost 3 of their past 10 games and are just 16-31 on the road this season and it looks like a Red Sox win.

The defending World Series champs, the New York Yankees (63-36) have been the best team in the baseball odds for most of the season and in a stark contrast to previous seasons this year the team’s pitching has been outstanding. The starting rotation has 53 wins so far this season and all five starters are above 5.00. Three of the starters have 11 wins or more (CC Sabathia 13-4, Phil Hughes 12-3, Andy Pettitte 11-2) and that trio is nearly unbeatable with a collective record of 36-9.

And as usual the Yankees bats have been on fire abusing opposing pitchers with power at every position in the lineup and no easy outs from 1 spot to the 9 spot.

But the Rays are no slouch either. With a record of 61-38, Tampa Bay is just 2.0 games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings and could easily have the best record not only the division, but in all the MLB betting action by the time this series is over.

The Rays also have outstanding pitching led by ace David Price. Price (13-5, 2.90) might just be the best pitcher in baseball. He’s joined in the rotation by Matt Garza (11-5); James Shields (9-9) and Jeff Nieman (8-3) who is all have terrific statistical seasons.

For Friday’s game the Yanks’ Phil Hughes (12-3, 4.04) start against the Rays’ fifth starter Wade Davis who also happens to be the only Tampa starter with a losing record (8-9, 4.32). On paper Hughes is the better pitcher and the Yanks have the better closer in the legendary Mariano Rivera.

But for some reason you have to like the Rays in this game. Tampa has won four games in row, is 7-3 over its last 10 games and seems like a team that’s really playing well at the moment. Plus, they’ve got home field advantage and the team looks very comfortable inside the Big Juice Box at the moment.

SBG Global current line: Reds – 133, Total 8.5 Over – 115

Cueto is now 10-2 on the season and has turned into one of the best pitchers in baseball.  Cueto is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his career against the Braves. He will be up against an Atlanta team that could be hitting the wall. The Braves have struggled on the road this season and they are now feeling the heat from the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. The Braves are set to go with Kris Medlen on Friday.  He did not pitch well last time out against Florida as he gave up five runs on eight hits in six innings but the Braves still found a way to win.  Medlen has a 3.57 ERA this MLB betting season but he is 5-0 in his 12 starts.

Cincinnati had an off day on Thursday and it gave their bullpen a rest.  The Reds bullpen has been working hard but very effectively. They have now gone 15 consecutive innings without giving up a run.

Atlanta beat Cincinnati earlier this season in a two-game series at Turner Field. The Braves are 21-8 in their last 29 vs. the National League Central. The Braves are 35-16 in their last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Braves are 5-0 in Medlen’s last 5 road starts. The Braves are 3-9 in the last 12 meetings in Cincinnati.

The Reds are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Reds are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. the National League East. The Reds are 6-1 in Cueto’s last 7 home starts. The Reds are 12-4 in Cueto’s last 16 starts.

In regards to the total, the Over is 8-3 in the Braves last 11 overall. The Over is 4-0 in Medlen’s last 4 road starts. The Over is 12-2-3 in Cueto’s last 17 home starts. The Over is 25-11-1 in the last 37 meetings between the two teams.

Pitching for the Athletics tonight will be Vin Mazzaro who is 6-2 with an ERA of 3.45 with 46 Ks and 28 Walks and starting for the Rangers we will see C.J. Wilson who is 9-5 with an ERA of 3.03 with 95 Ks and 60 Walks. These two teams have the lowest ERA since the break for the All-Stars. See the MLB Odds and MLB Betting lines on tonight’s game from Texas!

As of now the Athletics are at 21-27 this 2010 season in the away games, while the Rangers are a strong 35-21 while playing on their home field. With that said, and considering all factors it appears that Rangers have the better chance of winning this matchup. Will this have an affect on the MLB Odds and MLB Betting lines tonight?

The Athletics and the Rangers Stats:
The Athletics are: 51-49 SU
The Rangers are: 59-42 SU

The Athletics lately:
While playing Thursday’s they are 5-5
Prior to playing the White Sox they were 7-3
After they played the Rangers they are 5-5
After their last win they are 6-4

The Rangers lately:
While playing Thursday’s they are 3-7
Prior to playing the Angels they were 5-5
After they played the Athletics they are 5-5
After their last loss they are 6-4

Their Next Opponent is:
The Athletics at the White Sox, on Friday, July 30
The Rangers at the Angels, on Friday, July 30
For Wednesday the Baseball Odds Makers have the lines at present for the Rangers at -1 ½ (+105) and the Athletics at +1 ½ (-125) and the Total – Over 8 ½ (-120) and under 8 ½ (EV). As of this time the Rangers are -185 and the Athletics are +175 on the Money Line. These lines are Subject to change.

The Colorado Rockies (51-48) are one of the better teams in the NL this year despite a retched post All Star performance that has seem them drop game after game and result in a 2-8 record in their past ten games –worst in the MLB betting action. Prior to this ugly slide this team was within a few games of the NL West leading San Diego Padres (58-39) and within spitting distance of the wildcard. But it’s been a costly losing streak and there’s no better way to get back on a winning track in the baseball betting than by hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates at home for a three-game stand.

No matter how bad your team is, or is playing at the moment, it’s almost certainly never as bad as the Pirates. This team is the MLB betting cure-all and a great way to get a team’s confidence level back where it needs to be.

Pittsburgh (34-64) has been the worst franchise in sports over the past two decades and Thursday MLB betting matchup against the Rockies isn’t going to do anything to rehab that image.

There are several things working against the Buckos in this game the first of which is the Rockies starting pitching. Colorado will send CY Young candidate and the pitcher with the most wins in baseball, Ubaldo Jimenez (15-2, 2.75 ERA) to the mound. Jimenez has been in a bit of a funk after a sensational start to the year, but again, the Pirates are the perfect remedy for that. He’s lost his last two starts and given up a combined 10 runs, but both games were on the road and he’ll get back on track versus the Pirates.

The Pirates will start Paul Maholm, who on a decent team might be able to put up decent numbers but he gets no run support and so far his 2010 numbers (6-8, 4.30) are hardly impressive.

Rockies will win at home behind a dominant pitching performance by Jimenez.

SBG Global current line: Padres -149, Total 6.5 – 125

The Dodgers are in the race in the National League West but they do not have the look of a playoff team.  With the ownership issues hanging over them and a lineup and starting rotation that is just average, Los Angeles doesn’t appear to be a team that will make a second half run.  The Padres could be vulnerable at the top of the division but unless the Dodgers make a deal at the trading deadline, they probably won’t catch San Diego or San Francisco.

The Dodgers have been playing some low scoring baseball betting games lately, especially when Padilla is on the mound.  They lost a pitcher’s duel in Padilla’s last start as he was up against the Mets Johan Santana.   Padilla is 1-1 in his last three starts with a 0.43 ERA. He is 2-1 in his career against the Padres with a 3.23 ERA.

The Padres go with their top pitcher on Thursday. Mat Latos is 11-4 with a 2.48 ERA this season.  He allowed two runs in six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts in his last start in Pittsburgh. In his last three starts, Latos is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA. He is 0-1 in his career against the Dodgers with a 6.00 ERA but he has only pitched three innings against them.

The Dodgers are 4-9 in their last 13 road MLB betting games vs. a right-handed starter. The Dodgers are 1-6 in Padilla’s last 7 road starts. The Padres are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Padres are 7-0 in Latos’ last 7 starts.

Looking at the total, the Under is 4-1-1 in the Dodgers last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Over is 5-1-1 in Padilla’s last 7 road starts. The Over is 4-1 in the Padres last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings between Los Angeles and San Diego.

As for the pitching, tonight we will see Trevor Cahill starting for the Athletics who is 9-4 with an ERA of 3.15 with 66 Ks and 34 Walks and for the Rangers you will see Colby Lewis starting who is 9-6 with an ERA of 3.52 with 117 Ks and 41 Walks. Cahill is 4-1 in his 6 starts against the Rangers while Lewis is 2-1 in his 6 starts with the Athletics. See the MLB Betting lines and MLB Odds for this game tonight.

As of now the Athletics are at 20-27 this 2010 season in the away games, while the Rangers are a strong 35-20 while playing on their home field. With that said, and considering all factors it appears that Rangers have the better chance of winning this matchup. Will this have an affect on the MLB Odds and MLB Betting lines tonight?

The Athletics and the Rangers Stats:
The Athletics are: 50-49 SU
The Rangers are: 59-41 SU
The Athletics lately:
While playing Wednesday’s they are 3-7
Prior to playing the Rangers they were 5-5
After they played the Rangers they are 5-5
After their last loss they are 6-4

The Rangers lately:
While playing Wednesday’s they are 3-7
Prior to playing the Athletics they were 7-3
After they played the Athletics they are 5-5
After their last win they are 6-4
Their Next Opponent is:
The Rangers at home vs. the Athletics, on Thursday, July 29
For Wednesday the MLB Odds Makers have the lines at present for the Rangers at -1 ½ (+135) and the Athletics at +1 ½ (-155) and the Total – Over 8 ½ (-110) and under 8 ½ (-110). As of this time the Rangers are -151 and the Athletics are +141 on the Money Line. These lines are Subject to change.

Going to the mound to start for the Marlins will be Alex Sanabia who is 1-1 with an ERA of 2.11 with 20 Ks and 7 Walks and to the mound for the Giants it will be Jonathan Sanchez who is 7-6 with an ERA of 3.35 with 119 Ks and 59 Walks. For Sanabia this is his 4th major league start. Sanchez has only one start against the Marlins which he lost so tonight he will attempt to redeem himself. See the MLB Odds and/or MLB Betting lines on this NL match-up!

The Giants will try to continue their hot spell as they have won 17 of their last 22 games and since the All-Star break one of the hottest teams in all MLB. It should also be noted that the Giants swept the Marlins in their last series back on May 4-6, 2010. It looks like this game may be an all Giants game but who knows? Will the MLB Betting lines or MLB Odds reflect that tonight?

As of now the Giants are a strong 29-19 while playing on their home field. The Marlins are a meek 22-24 while playing the away games. With that said, it appears that Giants will have a good chance of winning this matchup. Will this have an affect on the MLB Odds and MLB Betting lines tonight?
The Marlins and the Giants Stats:
The Marlins are: 50-50 SU
The Giants are: 57-44 SU
The Marlins as of late:
While playing Wednesday’s they are 4-6
Prior to playing the Giants they were 5-5
After they played the Giants they are 5-5
After their last loss they are 8-2

The Giants as of late:
While playing Wednesday’s they are 7-3
Prior to playing the Marlins they were 6-4
After they played the Marlins they are 7-3
After their last win they are 7-3
Their Next Opponent is:
The Giants at home vs. the Marlins, on Thursday, July 29

On Wednesday the Baseball Odds Makers have the lines at present for the Giants at -1 ½ (+145) and the Marlins at +1 ½ (-165) and the Total – Over 8 (-110) and under 8 (-110). At this time the Giants are -150 and the Marlins are +140 on the Money Line.

But the beauty of it all is that despite going 3-7 over their past 10 games and being no-hit by the Rays earlier in the week this Tigers team is just 3.0 games out first. Trailing, the red hot White Sox (54-44) and the Minnesota Twinkies (54-46).

The Rays (60-38) are also a team that sits 3.0 games back in their division. However, it’s a bit of different story as the Rays play in the ridiculously difficult AL East, the most competitive in MLB betting, and even though not in the lead, this team is far from slumping. Tampa has one of the best starting rotations in the AL baseball odds and seems to get better as the year progresses. This team seems a lock for the MLB betting playoffs, as either a division winner or a sure thing wildcard.

When these two teams meet on Tropicana Field on Wednesday July 28th this should be an excellent exhibition on baseball and a great chance to engage in some MLB betting action.

The Rays will start pitcher Jeff Nieman who has been superb the entire season. His 8-3 record and 2.95 ERA with 94 Ks in 129 innings would make him the star of most staffs but not the talent rich Rays where he’s merely a second or third option.

The Tigers will send out Eddie Bonine in a somewhat unusual move. Bonine is bull pen man who will get his first start of the season in an attempt to stop this team’s slide in the baseball betting action. But what he lacks in starts he makes up for in wins (4-0, 2.72 ERA). However coming in to clean up a starters mess in the middle innings is much different that starting a game an going 5+ innings.

Expect the Bonine experiment to backfire and the Rays and Nieman to get another win in their crappy baseball “stadium”.

The Giants (56-43) are having a great season far and are locked in a war of attrition in the NL West with every single game in play. The team currently trails the Padres (58-39) by 3.0 games and can’t afford to drop any games down the stretch. San Fran will be in good hands though as they send out ace Matt Cain (8-8, 3.10 ERA). Cain has been arguably the most underrated NL pitcher over the past two years as his pitching feats are generally overshadowed by CY Young winning teammate Tim Lincecum. He’s struggles a bit in June and early July but looks to have regained his form winning his last two starts and giving up just 2 ER in 15 innings.

But he’ll have to do better than that when he faces the Marlins.

Florida is a mediocre team (49-49) but with Josh Johnson on the mound this group has as good a chance in the baseball betting as any. Johnson has been the best pitcher in the baseball odds this season and what he’s doing on the mound is almost without president. He’s 10-3 with a miniscule ERA of 1.61, by far the best for a starting pitcher in the baseball betting action. He hasn’t given up more than 3 runs in a game yet this year and given up 2 runs just once in his past 10 starts and just 7 runs total over that stretch.

The Giants are a light hitting team to begin with but if Johnson goes out and pitches his typical game and can make it to the 7th inning, the Marlins will win this baseball betting matchup and improve to 8-2 over their past ten games.