The online sports betting surrounding the New York Yankees bid to defend their World Series title is getting interesting. At one point in time, the Yankees had a comfortable lead over their season-long nemesis the Tampa Bay Rays. But as NFL betting and NCAA football betting seasons approach, the Yankees find themselves falling apart and tangled in a dogfight with the Rays.
Right now the Rays and the Yankees have identical 73-46 records. The Yankees probably felt that the best record in baseball was enough to secure the AL East pennant, but they never counted on the Rays matching them game for game. The other problem for the Yankees is that the Rays are on a four-game winning streak and show no signs of letting up.
The Detroit Tigers were a factor in the AL Central most of the season, but in recent weeks the team has fallen off of the divisional pace. The Tigers are 11 games out of first place in the AL Central and they are 15 games out of the AL wild card race as well. The problem for the Tigers all season long was their inability to win on the road as they have racked up a 20-37 road record.
Because the Tigers were a factor in the MLB betting much of the season, it is assumed that the team will spend the rest of this season trying to find out which players can help them win the AL Central pennant next season. There is a lot of good, young talent on the Tigers, but they need to find that mix of veterans and young players that will help them win next year.
The Yankees will put their starting pitching ace Paul Hughes on the mound for this game. There is still some concern over Hughes and his control as the Yankees head towards the playoffs. While Hughes did manage to get his 14th win of the season in his last start against the Kansas City Royals, he gave up nine hits and three runs in the process. In the playoffs, that kind of performance will not be enough to win. Hughes’ ERA is 3.94, and it keeps climbing. The Yankees need Hughes to get straightened out before the playoffs begin.
Detroit will put Rick Porcello on the mound and Porcello’s problems are typical of the problems the entire Tigers’s starting rotation has been having. He has a 5-10 record with a 5.53 ERA, which makes it hard to believe that he started the season so strong. At this point, the Tigers are trying to map out their starting rotation for next season and games like this will help Detroit to see if Porcello should be a part of it.
The Yankees need every win they can get for the rest of the season. Alex Rodriguez is still nursing injuries that are hampering his hitting, and the Yankee bullpen has not been as reliable as it has been in years past. If the Yankees cannot start turning their play around soon, then they will be unable to defend their World Series title.
Pick: New York Yankees 5-1
