 Over the weekend MLB betting fans were treated to a piece of history. Philadelphia Phillies staff ace Roy Halladay, furthered his point for why he should be known as the greatest pitcher of our time, as Halladay, became just the 20 th pitcher in MLB history to record a perfect game. Long time Halladay fans frequently betting on his games, might remember that Halladay almost made history 12 years ago as a rookie with the Blue Jays, as in a game against the Detroit Tigers Halladay flirted with perfection. In that game Halladay was an inning away from perfection, when one of the Tigers hitters connected on a solo home run.
Throughout his career, Halladay had been known as a workhorse, as he has led the league in most complete games for the last decade. Further Halladay has one CY Young honour and has been a runner-up many times. However the two honors which had eluded Halladay for the majority of his career were a perfect game and a World Series ring. With the perfect game out of the way, and now playing on a stacked Phillies team, it is only a matter of time before Halladay accomplishes the latter feat. Many believe that if Halladay had perhaps been less loyal to the Blue Jays organization and gone to a better team earlier, he would have already won a World Series. Regardless of whether he wins a World Series ring or not, Blue Jays fans and now the rest of the league, can all agree that Halladay will go into the hall of fame as perhaps the best pitcher of the modern era. The only question is will he go into the hall of fame as a Toronto Blue Jay or a Philadelphia Philly? |
MLB betting players thought that John Lackey would affect Boston's pitching staff in a positive way, but he's still getting used to his surroundings. Lackey will go up against his former teammates, the Los Angeles Angels, on Wednesday. Angels vs Red Sox odds - Wednesday, May 5, 7:10 PM ET Joel Pineiro (2-3, 5.76) has lost his last two starts, allowing 16 runs on 21 hits in 9.1 innings of work, and Detroit nailed him for three homers in his previous outing. He's 3-5 with a 6.24 ERA in his 10 career starts against the Red Sox, but he is familiar with Fenway Park as he spent part of 2007 with the Red Sox. It isn't all positive though, as the 31-year-old righty is 1-3 in 20 appearances (five starts, but not with Boston) with a 5.36 ERA. Lackey (2-1, 4.50) threw a season-high 120 pitches in a no-decision in Baltimore, but he still doesn't have his stuff working 100%. So far, he's 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA in three starts this year, and Lackey has never fared well at Fenway Park, which the Red Sox must have known before they signed him. The Red Sox should be favored in this game, and they won the first of this four-game set by a score of 17-8 on Monday. This won't be as high-scoring, but neither pitcher has inspired confidence this year after switching teams, so hitters should have a good night. It'll be interesting to see how Lackey handles his former teammates, and Boston gets the online betting edge in this contest due to his knowledge of the Angels' lineup. |
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 With hockey, basketball, and golf all going on, there is plenty of opportunity to bet on sports. What's more, 2010 World Cup betting as the globe's biggest sporting event nears. Baseball too is in full swing, however in a long season it is important to keep track of the ups and downs in the league.
One of the hottest teams in the majors right now is the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have won eight straight, including a series swept over division rival San Diego. They have moved up the standings are now are only two games back in the West, trailing the Padres and the San Francisco Giants. The recent streak has been built on great team pitching; they have allowed only six runs in their past four games, ad no more than three in any of the games in their eight victories. However, despite their recent successes, the Dodgers suffered a big blow over the weekend. They have lost their best player to injury, as Andre Ethier fractured his pinky finger during batting practice on Saturday. He will be out for an unknown amount of time as the team decides whether to place him on the 15-day DL. Ethier is far and away their best hitter of the season, and irreplaceable in the middle of the lineup. He leads the NL in batting average and RBIs, and has hit 11 home runs, tying him for the league lead. If they are to continue their winning ways, Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and James Loney will have to step up at the plate. Ramirez in fact may be the key, with his carefree attitude and ability to summon power out of nowhere and remain unaffected by his surroundings. The NL West is incredibly tight, with Colorado in fourth place only two games back of the Dodgers. The schedule does not get any easier for the Dodgers while Ethier is out: the Padres, Tigers, Cubs, and Rockies are on the slate in the next 10 days. |
In MLB betting news, Major League Baseball has dropped its five-game suspension of Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee, following his appeal. Lee was disciplined by the league after being ejected from a March 15 grapefruit league game in Tucson against the Diamondbacks in which a pitch nearly hit Chris Snyder of the D-Backs. The Mariners stated that MLB vice president of administration John McHale made the ruling following last Wednesday's appeal hearing. McHale noted that difficulties in recovering from foot surgery and a serious muscle strain were sufficient evidence to withdraw the suspension and fine. Fans of sports betting know that the about-face opens the door for Lee to pitch as soon as he's able to come off the disabled list from his current issue with an abdominal strain. This week, Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said that Lee will pitch on May 2 against Texas if all goes well in an upcoming simulated game and then one rehab start in Tacoma. Lee was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 4, retroactive to March 26, with an abdominal muscle strain. The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Tuesday afternoon. In other league happenings, the fashion police have arrested Joe Maddon. Well, okay, they haven't arrested the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, but they have informed him he can no longer wear his famous hoodie. Maddon likes to put on the pullover during cold days at the ballpark, but MLB said it's not approved for use during games. Despite Maddon's love for the sweater, he insists he will abide by league rules. Thank goodness the league is on top of these things. |
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