Bet On MLB Baseball: Los Angeles Aces Scheduled To Square Off Again On Saturday

If you’re betting on baseball this weekend, you should be in for a duel on Saturday night in Los Angeles as the Angels face off with the Dodgers, and a pair of pitchers who should garner consideration for the Cy Young in their respective leagues will be on the mound for the second time in less than a week.

Dodgers vs. Angels Betting – Saturday, 9:05 PM ET

Clayton Kershaw (8-3, 2.98) tossed his second straight complete game in a 3-2 win over the Angels at home last weekend, allowing a pair of runs on six hits, and for the second consecutive outing, he also whiffed 11 batters. Kershaw now leads the National League in strikeouts, and he has walked just one batter over those two starts. Those who bet on MLB baseball should definitely keep track of Kershaw’s progress, because he is going to win a Cy Young one of these years, and it could be in 2011. The 23-year-old southpaw is now 2-1 in four starts against the Angels with an ERA of 2.60, and he’s 1-1 in two starts at Angel Stadium, posting an ERA of 3.29. Kershaw is also 2-2 in seven road starts this year with a 4.36 ERA.

Jered Weaver (9-4, 1.97) was on the hill for that 3-2 loss, but he took a no-decision by allowing a run on seven hits over seven innings, along with four strikeouts and a walk. Weaver hasn’t lost in seven starts, and over that time, he has allowed three runs or more in a start only once. But he’s not getting great run support from his team as Weaver is second from the bottom of the American League in run support, which makes his ERA look even more impressive. The 28-year-old righty is 4-2 in eight starts against the Dodgers with a 2.89 ERA, and he is 3-1 at home with a 2.23 ERA in six starts.

This is a grudge match that even WWE Raw fans could get behind, and it’s tough to even figure out who will be the favorite in this contest as both pitchers can be lights out when they have to be. This is the third time that Weaver and Kershaw will meet as Weaver won at Dodger Stadium in May 2009, while Kershaw struck back last week. Both meetings fell under the posted total, and it’s a safe bet to assume that this game will come in under as well, even though there will probably be an extremely low total. There isn’t much to set these pitchers apart, and the edge has to go to Weaver and the Angels at home, so that’s the play to make in your online sports betting book.

Bet On MLB Baseball: Greinke Continues Inconsistent Season in New York

If you follow MLB baseball news, you probably paid attention to New York’s pursuit of Zack Greinke, the former Cy Young winner who was on the market in Kansas City last summer, but Greinke, who suffered from depression and anxiety issues, decided to shun the bright lights of the Bronx for Milwaukee. Greinke has been all over the place as of late, and now he’ll head to New York as the Brewers open a three-game set with the Yankees.

Brewers vs. Yankees Betting – Tuesday, 7:05 PM ET

Greinke (7-2, 4.77) whiffed 10 batters for the second straight game in a 5-1 win at home over Tampa Bay, scattering a run on four hits, and he never allowed a walk. That was coming off a six-run out in which he also struck out 10 in Chicago against the Cubs, and those who bet on MLB baseball wondered when Greinke was going to hit his stride after missing the beginning of the year with broken ribs. The 2009 Cy Young winner has shown glimpses of that form, and he just needs to be consistent, although Greinke has been receiving some great run support. The 27-year-old righty is 2-3 in 10 games (Seven starts) against the Yankees with a 5.27 ERA, and this is his first outing in the new Yankee Stadium.

Freddy Garcia (6-6, 3.30) gave up a pair of runs, but they weren’t earned in a 4-2 win in Cincinnati, and he also allowed three hits through seven innings, along with four strikeouts and a walk. Garcia has done an excellent job for the Yankees, who have suffered some injuries to their rotation, and you could make an argument that he has been the most consistent pitcher the Yankees have had all season. The 35-year-old has dropped both of his starts against the Brewers, posting a 3.38 ERA, and he is 4-4 in eight starts at home with a 3.68 ERA.

In what WWE fans would possibly label as a grudge match, look for the Yankees to be slight favorites at home on Tuesday as they would like to give Greinke a taste of what he has been missing in New York, although he has gotten some great support, both on and off the field, from his new teammates in Milwaukee. Greinke is also 2-2 in four road starts in 2011 with a 5.64 ERA, and he just hasn’t been steady away from Miller Park, where he is 5-0 despite an ERA of 4.26. If he doesn’t get the run support he needs on the road, Greinke has looked ordinary, while Garcia has been steady all season. Go with the Yankees at home in your betting picks.

Wimbledon Field Stacked With Nadal, Federer, Djokovic - Tennis Betting

Perhaps there has never been this many sports betting bonus players performing at such a high level as there is heading into the 2011 Wimbledon tournament. While Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer used this year’s French Open as a final warm up before the grand slam at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, and Robin Soderling have emerged with some brilliant play so far this tennis season and that has the competition as fierce as ever heading into the third grand slam of the season. There is also the emergence of names like Canada’s Milos Raonic as a potential dark horse to win it all. Here is a quick look at who to wager on at this year’s Wimbledon tournament.

Favorites

Rafa Nadal 3-1

The top-ranked player in the world flexed his muscle at this year’s French Open, but it was really no surprise that the king of clay court got the job done once again at his favorite grand slam. It won’t be as easy over the next couple of weeks as the 3-to-1 betting odds favorite faces one of the tougher roads to the finals and won’t have the advantage of playing on his favorite surface.

Roger Federer 3.25-1

The Swiss Star will shoot for grand slam title No. 17 once again when he lines up at Wimbledon, and if the French Open was any indication this could be his best chance to finally hit that record mark. Federer looked incredible in slaying Djokovic and ending his 2011 undefeated streak, and while he couldn’t keep up with Nadal on clay he should have no problem on the grass at Wimbledon.

Next in Line

Novak Djokovic 4.33-1

Djokovic took each of the first seven tournaments that he entered in 2011, and although he fell short at the hands of Federer with some surmountable pressure at the French Open, there is no reason to be betting against him bouncing back. The Joker will rebound as determined as ever and should be a lock to reach the final four. What he does from there is a mystery until it unfolds.

Andy Murray 6.5-1

Murray has never won a grand slam, but many agree that his best chance may very well be in front of adoring fans as England’s best hope to win Wimbledon. The young star hasn’t handled pressure situations well in the past, but with a little luck he could be a surprise to reach the finals.

Dark Horse

Robin Soderling 41-1

The online casino odds are against Soderling going all the way, but with one of the easiest paths to the final four anything can happen. Soderling has gotten there before but hasn’t been able to take down either Federer or Nadal so far. Perhaps this is the grand slam where that changes.

The Longshot

Milos Raonic 67-1

Many feel that the grass court may suit Raonic and his lethal serve more than any other court, and he has shown some promise in what has been a breakthrough season so far. The young Canadian will meet Nadal in the third round if everything plays out as it is projected to, and it will be interesting to see how he fares on the big stage against the best in the world with the MLB world back home watching from overseas.

MLB Betting: Gonzalez Feeds Off Excitement As He Faces Former Teammates For First Time

Not a single MLB betting fan will doubt that this week will be special for Boston Red Sox first basemen Adrian Gonzalez, as for the first time in his career he steps into the batter’s box to hit against the San Diego Padres. It will be an emotional reunion between the American League MVP candidate and his former teammates, and that excitement will only enhance Gonzalez’s play as he looks to help carry his new teammates to a division title.

San Diego Padres @ Boston Red Sox

Tuesday June 21, 2011 – 7:10 PM ET

Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Online Sports Betting Odds: Boston Red Sox – 130

While Boston has climbed the ranks in the AL East to take the division lead after looking lost at the beginning of the season, the Padres have trended in the opposite direction and are now stuck in the basement of the NL West. It was only a year ago that San Diego looked destined for a playoff spot as division leaders, but things have changed and it doesn’t look like it will get any easier this week at Fenway Park.

MLB Betting Preview: San Diego Padres

Without Gonzalez to turn to as the team’s most dominant offensive force, the Padres have struggled to get anything going this season and are ranked at the bottom of the league in runs scored. San Diego heads to Fenway Park on the heels of five straight sports betting bonus losses, and it is unlikely that 23-year old Mat Latos will be able to turn things around against one of the best offenses in the league, especially with Josh Beckett on the mound for Boston.

MLB Betting Preview: Boston Red Sox

Beckett has been one of the most pleasant surprises on a Red Sox team that has been full of them this season, leading one of the deepest and most talented starting rotation’s in the majors with a 6-2 record and 1.86 ERA. Beckett allowed just two runs combined in consecutive wins over the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, and if he can continue to pitch the way he did against those division rivals Boston will have no problem locking up a division title in the MLB news. Gonzalez is hitting a team-high .348 this season with 64 RBI, and with a rejuvenated David Ortiz there to keep him safe the Red Sox are rolling.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

Don’t expect the Red Sox to slow down anytime soon, especially not against the weakest offense in the majors in San Diego. Latos will be in big trouble as Gonzalez thrives against his former teammates, and Boston will continue to inch closer to becoming the first team in the AL to lock up their spot in the postseason as their surge continues with another big win against the Padres in the opener of a three-game set.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Boston Red Sox - 130

MLB Baseball Betting: Verlander Leads Tigers into Coors Field To Face Rockies

Those who bet horses know that some tracks just yield a certain type of race; some places are known for having a fast race, which means a quicker pace will be set. In baseball, Coors Field in Colorado has always been known as a hitter’s ballpark, but on Sunday, it’ll be host to arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball as Justin Verlander and Detroit wrap up a three-game set against the Rockies.

Tigers vs. Rockies Betting – Sunday, 3:10 PM ET

Verlander (8-3, 2.66) almost tossed his second no-hitter of the season, and even though it was broken up in the eighth inning, the Detroit ace still tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win over Cleveland at home. Verlander struck out a season-high 12 batters with a single walk, and MLB baseball betting players were five outs away from witnessing his third no-hitter, a feat that only five pitchers have achieved, and four of those made their way to the Hall of Fame. The 28-year-old righty has faced the Rockies once back in 2008 at home, and he gave up a pair of runs on five hits over 5.2 innings of a 7-6 win, taking a no-decision, and Verlander whiffed six with four walks.

The Rockies counter with Aaron Cook (0-1, 3.97), who will make his third start of the season after a 3-1 loss at home against San Diego at home, allowing two runs on five hits over 5.2 innings, and he had the same amount of walks as strikeouts (two). Cook spent the first two months of the season on the disabled list because of a broken finger, so it was probably best that he started the campaign with two starts against San Diego’s anemic offense, but he’ll have his hands full in this matchup. The 32-year-old righty has never faced the Tigers, and he took a no-decision in his first home game of the year, going 5.2 innings and giving up three runs on six hits in a 5-3 win, along with four walks and four strikeouts.

Even those who bet on NFL football picks would be able to guess that the Tigers will be favored in Colorado, where they have dropped three of four, most recently in 2005, and three of those games fell under the posted total. Verlander has been on a roll as of late, allowing two runs or less in his last four starts, and when he is on his game, he’s one of the top five pitchers in baseball. Cook is still shaking the rust off, and the Tigers have been heating up over the last month. Take Detroit away from home in your online sports betting picks on Sunday.

Betting On MLB: Kershaw Looks To Bounce Back Against Reds

Those betting on MLB odds may have had Clayton Kershaw has a darkhorse to win the Cy Young in the National League, but the Los Angeles ace has been roughed up in his last two starts. He will try to bounce back on Tuesday as the Dodgers host Cincinnati in a clash of two teams who have aspirations of winning the pennant.

Reds vs. Dodgers Betting – 10:10 PM ET

Johnny Cueto (3-2, 1.93) tossed seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 shutout in San Francisco, striking out eight and walking two. He started the season on the disabled list, but Cueto looks like he’s 100% healthy and has been the best pitcher in the Cincinnati rotation, which has been something like online casino gambling as you never know what you’re going to get. The 25-year-old righthander has never beaten the Dodgers in four starts, going 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA, although he did take a no-decision in an 11-8 loss at home two starts ago. He is also 0-2 at Dodger Stadium with a 7.88 ERA, but this looks like as good a time as any for Cueto to earn his first win in Los Angeles.

Kershaw (6-3, 3.44) allowed six runs for the second consecutive start in a 9-7 loss in Colorado, along with seven hits and three walks in six innings of work, while striking out six batters. Kershaw was also on the mound for that 11-8 win, taking a no-decision, and he has been fortunate to avoid losses in this past two starts because of a strong Los Angeles offense, but the Dodgers need him to get back to his best if they’re going to compete in the West. The 23-year-old southpaw is 1-1 in four starts against the Reds with a 3.86 ERA, and he’s 4-1 in seven starts at home with a 2.61 ERA.

The Dodgers should be favored in this contest as linesmakers will lean towards Kershaw, while Cueto may be remembered more for his WWE-style kick in a brawl with St. Louis last season, but he has been excellent to start the year since coming back from history. Kershaw will get his act together and not give up six runs again, and you can give him a little leeway as his last two starts have come in places that are considered “hitter’s parks”, like Colorado and Cincinnati. Heading into Monday’s series opener, the Dodgers had won eight of their last 10 at home against the Reds, with five games going over the posted total, along with a push, and they seem to have Cincinnati’s number on the west coast. In a quieter affair than their last meeting, take Kershaw over the Cueto as the Dodgers snatch a win when you’re betting online.

2011 Belmont Stakes Betting: Take Nehro Over Animal Kingdom, Shackleford

2011 Belmont Stakes betting is hitting high gear as the final race of the Triple Crown will be run this Saturday at Belmont Park, and even though we won’t have a winner of the Triple Crown, we should still get an exciting 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes, the longest of the races at 1.5 miles. While everyone is falling over themselves to wager on Animal Kingdom and Shackleford, the winner will be a horse that had a brilliant run at the Kentucky Derby, and sat out the Preakness.

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom (+200) should be running for the Crown now, but he came up just short in the Preakness Stakes against Shackleford (+450), who is probably the fastest horse out of the gates, which he proved at Churchill Downs and Pimlico. Mucho Macho Man (+600) will be in the mix after a third-place run in the Derby, and a sixth-place run in the Preakness, but his run at Pimlico was compromised by a lost shoe, the second time that has happened to Mucho Macho Man. He has new shoes that shouldn’t come off now, so look for this horse to push the lead group.

The longshots to watch for online horse betting players are Master of Hounds (+1200) and Santiva (+1500), and Master of Hounds is a horse from Ireland, where they bred horses for endurance rather than speed, so that should help for the Preakness. Santiva has been up and down when it comes to his most recent races, and he’s run against some pretty talented fields, so it all depends which Santiva decides to show up on Saturday. Both horses have been off since the Derby, so they’ll be rested.

But the horse to wager on is Nehro (+400), who would be the guy who sneaks into the ring out of nowhere to draw a comparison to WWE Monday Night Raw. Nehro finished second in the Derby, his third consecutive runner-up finish in a race, and along with Animal Kingdom, he made a late run to surge past the field. His handlers held him out of the Preakness in hopes that he’ll be 100% for the Belmont, and it appears as though he is in good shape heading into the final Triple Crown race. He was getting stronger as the Derby wore on, which is excellent when discussing the 1.5-mile Belmont, and he’ll hope to do it again. A saying goes in sports, if you put yourself in position to win enough times, eventually you’ll win, and Nehro has done that plenty in recent months. Get a little value and go with Nehro in your online sportsbook.

NHL Finals Betting Analysis: Canucks vs.Bruins

Sports Betting Overview

Game four of the Stanley Cup finals will be one of the most fiercely played games of the series. Considering how tight the games have been to this point, saying game four will be the most fierce is saying a lot. As the 2011 Belmont betting gets closer, the Vancouver Canucks are proving that they are just a little bit better and a little bit luckier in each game against the Boston Bruins. The NHL highlights show that Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo is ready to get the playoff monkey off his back with a Stanley Cup victory. Both Luongo and Boston goalie Tim Thomas have played extremely well in the finals. But it has been Luongo that has had the bounces go his way.

The pay per head Boston Bruins fans need to keep their heads up, because their team is not out of this series quite yet. There is a strong chance that this series could be a “homer” series where the home team wins every game. While that would create an exciting seven-game series, it would also mean that the Bruins lose the Cup. Boston needs to win one game on the road, but game four will not need to be that game. The Bruins have played the entire playoffs like this. Games that they should win, they are losing. The Bruins are keeping the scores close against the Canucks and, at some point, that will translate into wins. There is also a very strong chance that the Bruins will come out of games three and four tied in this series, and that could change everything.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have everything going for them. They are out-skating the Bruins, the puck is bouncing Vancouver’s way and Roberto Luongo is playing his best goal of the season. But the one big difference between the two teams in this series are those lucky bounces. Was the Vancouver Canucks player offsides in the only goal in game one? Do the Canucks have an advantage at home because they know the boards better than any team in the league? Whatever the real answers to those questions are, the fact is that the Canucks are seeing all of the lucky bounces come their way. Momentum is a funny thing, and when the only thing between you and your opponent is momentum then it can be a dangerous thing. The Canucks need to keep flying around the ice and forcing the Bruins to make mistakes. If the Canucks ever stop skating, the momentum will change.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have lost both games of this series by one goal, and both of those goals were strange to watch. But Boston’s game plan will not change. The Bruins will continue to hammer the Canucks and keep looking for chances to get shots on Luongo. Goalie Tim Thomas will continue to be an anchor in the Boston net, and the Boston defense will continue to keep players out from in front of Thomas. All Boston needs is that one good bounce of the puck to get back in this series and shift things in their favor.

The Bottom Line

The Canucks looked like they were living on borrowed time in game two. The heart-breaker for the Bruins was that quick overtime goal. But the Bruins need to pick themselves up and remember that they held the lead in that game going into the third period. Boston needs to get better at closing out games in this series or game four could be the last Stanley Cup finals game of 2011.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Boston Bruins

NHL Finals Betting: Canucks Have Enough To Edge Bruins To Stanley Cup Win

While 2011 Belmont Stakes betting players are getting ready for the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown on June 11th, the Stanley Cup finals are almost here as Vancouver will host Boston in Game 1 on Wednesday night. The Bruins haven’t won since 1972, while the Canucks haven’t won in their 40-year history. Can the Canucks take the Cup back to Canada?

Bruins vs. Canucks Betting – Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET

The Bruins are coming off a grueling seven-game series against Tampa Bay, their second series that has gone the distance, and they’re doing it with grit, physical play and the effort of goalie Tim Thomas, who helped the Bruins escape with a couple games against the Lightning, although he was poor in other games as well. The Bruins have been getting points from everyone as Nathan Horton and David Krejci have been in some NHL highlights thanks to seven combined game-winning goals, the defense is solid with Zdeno Chara leading the way, and Patrice Bergeron has done it all at both ends of the ice for the Bruins. Their major drawback is a power play that has been successful only 8.2% of the time.

The Canucks have been off since May 24th, when they ended a five-game series with San Jose, and the Sedin brothers, Henrik and Daniel, finally came back to life after a poor series against Nashville. Still, the MVP of the team is Ryan Kesler, who carried the team against the Predators, he has been phenomenal in the faceoff dot, and he has gone up against the likes of Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and San Jose’s Joe Thornton and shut them down, for the most part. The defense, powered by Kevin Bieksa, has been very good in front of Roberto Luongo, who still doesn’t get enough respect, but he stopped 54 shots in the Canucks’ clincher against San Jose.

The Canucks are a -240 NHL betting favorite according to your sports bookie software, while the Bruins are listed at +200, and Boston has won three of their last five meetings with Vancouver, with three games falling under the posted total (along with a push). The Bruins are a tough team, but they’re going to need their best performance of the playoffs to beat the Canucks. Preferably, they need Vancouver native Milan Lucic to be a disruptive force, and he had three points when the Bruins won 3-1 in Vancouver back in January 26th. But that may not even be enough. The Canucks are too deep, too fast, and they’re too good on special teams to lose this series. It’s going to be tough, but take Vancouver at your favorite betting website.