Hot & Not - AL Edition
By Mike Rose
VegasInsider.com
There are still eight teams in the thick of the playoff fight in the American League with just a month and a half of the season to play. This week, check out the teams in MLB betting action that are as hot as could be, or ice cold as we head towards the middle of August.
$$$-Makers
Detroit Tigers (17-3, +$1,290 in L/20) - Just as the Indians and the Royals started to make a charge in the AL Central, Detroit finally put its foot on the gas pedal and probably put the division title away. The big question? Will Jhonny Peralta get his job back when his suspension is over? The way Jose Iglesias is playing right now, the answer is no.
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On Deck: After taking on the White Sox on the South Side of Chicago for three games, a crucial four-day stretch against the Royals is up. There are five games in four days against one of the hottest teams in the league.
Kansas City Royals (16-3, +$1,281 in L/19) - Kansas City has really been a tremendous story over the course of the last few weeks. The pitching staff has been awesome, and historically, that was the problem with this team. Everything is clicking right now, and there is no doubt that this is a team that has made a huge charge towards the postseason.
On Deck: There is a good chance to be 19-3 in the last 22 games after taking on Miami at home to start the week, but as we already mentioned, all eyes are on the five games in four days in Detroit this weekend. Even if that series doesn't go well though, 16 of the next 17 are against teams that are out of it.
Texas Rangers (7-0, +$710 in L/7) - Acquiring OF Alex Rios came at the perfect time right after the suspension of OF Nelson Cruz for the Biogenesis scandal. The team has won seven in a row and is storming back in the AL West. Getting some losses from Oakland has helped, but this team is picking up its own slack for sure.
On Deck: Eight home games on deck this week, and the next time the Rangers have to play a team above .500 is September 2nd with a trip to Oakland. If this keeps up, Texas might have put away the AL West by the time that series rolls around.
$$$-Burners
Houston Astros (7-30, -$1,507 in L/37) - Ugh. The Astros are building towards the future, but they aren't doing anything now to help themselves. They are on a pace to barely win 50 games this season, and with the way that things have been going both offensively and defensively, Houston might not get there.
On Deck: It's not getting any easier. The Astros have nine straight road games against AL West teams coming up, and there is a real good chance that they are going to be on pace for around 45 wins for the season by the time this run is over with.
Seattle Mariners (5-10, -$754 in L/15) - The truth of the matter is that RHP Felix Hernandez has been the killer of the Mariners. Though he won on Sunday, He dropped his previous three, and two of those outings came as enormous favorites the size of which Seattle shouldn't be favored by under any circumstance.
On Deck: Tampa Bay, Texas, Oakland, LA, and Texas. That's the next five series for the Mariners. As is the case with Houston, matters are only going to get worse before they get better.
Tampa Bay Rays (0-5, -$589 in L/5) - Tampa Bay was the hottest team in the American League before dropping anchor on the West Coast. The team lost all five games, one of which was a devastating defeat at the hands of the Dodgers after going up 6-0 with LHP David Price on the mound.
On Deck: At least Tampa Bay is headed back home, where it can lick its wounds and have a chance to get back towards the top of the AL East. These six home games against Seattle and Toronto are crucial, and anything less than 4-2 in those outings is going to be a huge disappointment for Manager Joe Maddon and the gang.
By Mike Rose
VegasInsider.com
There are still eight teams in the thick of the playoff fight in the American League with just a month and a half of the season to play. This week, check out the teams in MLB betting action that are as hot as could be, or ice cold as we head towards the middle of August.
$$$-Makers
Detroit Tigers (17-3, +$1,290 in L/20) - Just as the Indians and the Royals started to make a charge in the AL Central, Detroit finally put its foot on the gas pedal and probably put the division title away. The big question? Will Jhonny Peralta get his job back when his suspension is over? The way Jose Iglesias is playing right now, the answer is no.
Advertisement
On Deck: After taking on the White Sox on the South Side of Chicago for three games, a crucial four-day stretch against the Royals is up. There are five games in four days against one of the hottest teams in the league.
Kansas City Royals (16-3, +$1,281 in L/19) - Kansas City has really been a tremendous story over the course of the last few weeks. The pitching staff has been awesome, and historically, that was the problem with this team. Everything is clicking right now, and there is no doubt that this is a team that has made a huge charge towards the postseason.
On Deck: There is a good chance to be 19-3 in the last 22 games after taking on Miami at home to start the week, but as we already mentioned, all eyes are on the five games in four days in Detroit this weekend. Even if that series doesn't go well though, 16 of the next 17 are against teams that are out of it.
Texas Rangers (7-0, +$710 in L/7) - Acquiring OF Alex Rios came at the perfect time right after the suspension of OF Nelson Cruz for the Biogenesis scandal. The team has won seven in a row and is storming back in the AL West. Getting some losses from Oakland has helped, but this team is picking up its own slack for sure.
On Deck: Eight home games on deck this week, and the next time the Rangers have to play a team above .500 is September 2nd with a trip to Oakland. If this keeps up, Texas might have put away the AL West by the time that series rolls around.
$$$-Burners
Houston Astros (7-30, -$1,507 in L/37) - Ugh. The Astros are building towards the future, but they aren't doing anything now to help themselves. They are on a pace to barely win 50 games this season, and with the way that things have been going both offensively and defensively, Houston might not get there.
On Deck: It's not getting any easier. The Astros have nine straight road games against AL West teams coming up, and there is a real good chance that they are going to be on pace for around 45 wins for the season by the time this run is over with.
Seattle Mariners (5-10, -$754 in L/15) - The truth of the matter is that RHP Felix Hernandez has been the killer of the Mariners. Though he won on Sunday, He dropped his previous three, and two of those outings came as enormous favorites the size of which Seattle shouldn't be favored by under any circumstance.
On Deck: Tampa Bay, Texas, Oakland, LA, and Texas. That's the next five series for the Mariners. As is the case with Houston, matters are only going to get worse before they get better.
Tampa Bay Rays (0-5, -$589 in L/5) - Tampa Bay was the hottest team in the American League before dropping anchor on the West Coast. The team lost all five games, one of which was a devastating defeat at the hands of the Dodgers after going up 6-0 with LHP David Price on the mound.
On Deck: At least Tampa Bay is headed back home, where it can lick its wounds and have a chance to get back towards the top of the AL East. These six home games against Seattle and Toronto are crucial, and anything less than 4-2 in those outings is going to be a huge disappointment for Manager Joe Maddon and the gang.
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