Game 5 – Monday, October 24th, 8:05 PM ET The Ballpark, Arlington, TX

Chris Carpenter (3-0, 3.52) didnt have his best stuff in Game 1s 3-2 win at home, but he managed to get by, giving up a pair of runs on five hits over six innings of work. C.J. Wilson (0-3, 7.17) had trouble with his command, walking six and striking out four, but he only allowed three runs on four hits. Its been an inconsistent postseason for the 30-year-old Wilson, and this is his first appearance at home since Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit. You have to remember that this is only his second year as a starter and Wilson threw 223.1 innings in the regular season, along with 21.1 innings in the postseason, so fatigue is definitely a factor.

Carpenter is built for this and even when he doesnt have his best stuff, he does enough to keep the Cardinals in the game, and even though he has a 6.99 ERA in five starts at the Ballpark, he has a 2-2 record. You also should count on the St. Louis bats to wake up after a disappointing 4-0 loss in Game 4, and as a +113 MLB betting underdog on Monday night, they would be a smart bet.

Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals

Game 6 – Wednesday, October 26th, 8:05 PM ET Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Colby Lewis (1-1, 2.95) should be familiar with going out on the road as all three of his starts in the playoffs have been away from home, and he pitched 6.2 solid innings in Game 2s 2-1 win for the Rangers, allowing a run on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Jaime Garcia (0-2, 3.97) was on the other side, tossing a three-hitter over seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and a walk, but he was let down by Jason Motte, who blew the save in the 9th inning. That was his second straight no-decision, even though he has settled down since getting off to a rough start in the postseason.

Strangely, something similar will happen in this game as well as the Rangers try to stave off elimination with a big performance. Look for the Texas bats to come alive late in the game and in particular, one of their big bats, like Nelson Cruz or Josh Hamilton, who is battling what he thinks is a sports hernia. The Cardinals will probably be favored, but Texas is the MLB betting play on Wednesday night.

Betting Edge: Texas Rangers

Game 7 – Thursday, October 27th, 8:05 PM ET Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO (If necessary)

The Rangers Matt Harrison (1-1, 502) and the Cardinals Kyle Lohse (0-2, 7.82) have been penciled in as the starters for Game 7, and neither pitcher made it out of the fourth inning in a 16-7 win for St. Louis in Game 3, which was highlighted by Albert Pujols three-homer performance. Harrison gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits over 3.2 innings, while Lohse gave up three runs on five hits over three innings of work in a game for the offensive fans. Its doubtful that the two will have that type of game again in Game 7, especially in St. Louis where the games have been relatively low-scoring due to a few factors, but most likely the weather. It has been cold and damp in St. Louis, which makes the ball heavier. In Texas, the ball is much easier to hit and the Ballpark has always been known as a hitters park.

This is going to be up in the air and again, the bullpens will probably come into play as Harrison doesnt have much postseason experience and the Rangers are asking him to pitch a Game 7 in the World Series. Lohse, well, he isnt a very good pitcher and definitely pitched above his weight during the regular season. But at home, in a Game 7 setting and a managerial edge with St. Louis Tony LaRussa, St. Louis is the sports betting pick to make here.

Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers
Sunday, 4:05 PM ET

There could not have been a better ending to an NLDS than Nyjer Morgan pumping one in to the outfield for a walk off victory, and it will be interesting to see if the Brewers can provide their fans with another incredible finish. Milwaukee earned the chance to finish the series at Miller Park where they led the majors in home wins this season, and they got the pitching matchups that they wanted as well. Whether or not they can now turn those advantages into something tangible and end the Cardinals improbable run only time will tell, as players like Albert Pujols fight with everything they have in what could be their final game in a Cardinals uniform. Pujols is among a couple of potential free agents on the roster, and if he is going to go out then he might as well go out in style. The Brewers however have taken nothing for granted and have persevered every step of the way, and it wouldnt be a major surprise if St. Louis magical MLB betting run ends in Milwaukee.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Detroit Tigers @ Texas Rangers
Sunday, 8:05 PM ET

It is no surprise that if it reaches game seven the Tigers will want to give the ball to Doug Fister, who pitched them to a memorable sports betting bonus win in game seven of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and proved that he can handle the pressure. Texas will counter with Colby Lewis if it gets to that decisive game, although the Rangers would be happy to put it away in six if they can get the job done in the first of consecutive games at home. The Tigers have proven to be a worthy opponent so far, but Texas has been here before and have every intention of getting the job done. The way that players like Nelson Cruz have delivered in the clutch just makes you believe that this is a team of destiny, although Delmon Young and company may have something to say about that. The Rangers and Tigers both deserve their chance in the World Series but only one team can advance, and in this case experience and home field advantage will make the difference.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

His players, the manager thought, seemed calm and loose. There was no need to address them in detail; the Yankees anticipated that they would win Game 5 of the American League Division Series and move on to the next round.

Looking back, there was no reason to think any differently. Winning a championship is the goal that’s thumped into the Yankees through a steady drumbeat from Spring Training on, which makes ultimately falling short the most bitter taste of all.

“It’s terrible,” Girardi later spit out, sitting at a podium while the Tigers celebrated in Yankee Stadium’s visiting clubhouse. “As I said, we only accomplished one goal when the season ended.

“We had to fight like crazy to get there. It’s a really empty feeling. It’s an empty feeling for everyone in that room. And it hurts. You just got to remember this feeling, and we’ll be determined next year.”

The Yankees follow the model set by former owner George M. Steinbrenner over his 37 years at the helm, and The Boss would not be fully pleased by 97 regular-season victories, some wonderful individual accomplishments and his club’s 16th playoff berth in the past 17 years.

Falling short in the five-game ALDS, when the Yankees’ pitchers did more than enough, only to see their most vaunted bats go silent, will continue to sting and set the tone for the winter to come.

“The bar is set high, and it is set high for a reason,” said general manager Brian Cashman. “It’s the model that The Boss had built here, and trying to maintain it, an annual successful franchise. That’s what it has to be, and that’s what it always will be.”

It seems like months ago that the Yankees were savoring the third consecutive year of spraying sparkling bubbly around their posh clubhouse on Sept. 21, thumping their chests a little about how no one had picked them to win the AL East at the outset of the season.

“It’s pretty sweet, because we came into the season and a lot of people said we were the second- or third-best team in the division,” first baseman Mark Teixeira said that night. “We didn’t need to prove anything to ourselves, but it’s nice to prove it to the world that you can never count us out.”

Somehow, the $202 million Yankees were thinking of themselves as the league’s gritty underdogs. Laughable as that might be, they actually did enjoy a fine season considering the state of their pitching staff coming into the year.

“I wouldn’t say [we] overachieved,” Cashman said. “I would say there were certain areas that surprised us, and obviously we embraced those surprises very well.”

There were no big upgrades during the course of the season, as the club stuck with its horses through the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, but you wouldn’t expect that to be the case this winter.

The Yankees will be on the hunt for starting pitching, though they can start by trying to retain one of their own — ace CC Sabathia, who is expected to opt out of his contract and tear up the remaining four years and $92 million owed to him in search of a raise.

After New York’s defeat, Sabathia was in no mood to discuss his decision, which can come shortly after the conclusion of the World Series. He was more focused on what he hadn’t done to help the cause in the playoffs.

“The level of disappointment is through the roof,” Sabathia said. “We come into Spring Training with a goal to win the World Series every year. That’s not a goal for every team, but it is a goal of ours. And we didn’t get it done.”

Record: 97-65, first in AL East.

Defining moment: You could say the defining moment of the Yankees’ unsuccessful playoff run was the last recorded image — Alex Rodriguez striking out against Tigers closer Jose Valverde for the final out of Game 5, ending New York’s season for the second straight year and finishing the postseason 2-for-18 (.111). For the regular season, it’s difficult to top Derek Jeter’s dramatic 3,000th hit, which placed the captain alongside Wade Boggs as the only men in the 28-member club to homer for the milestone. That was on July 9 off the Rays’ David Price at Yankee Stadium, and the picture-perfect moment highlighted a renaissance that saw Jeter put together a line of .331/.384/.447 in 69 games after coming off the disabled list from a calf injury. But it wasn’t the only classic moment for a classic Yankee in 2011. The other enduring snapshot is Mariano Rivera standing alone on the mound at Yankee Stadium, a bemused smirk across his face and his cap tipped to the fans after his Major League record 602nd save on Sept. 19. He finished with 44 saves in 49 chances this year.

What went right: Robinson Cano continued to cement his standing as one of the best all-around second basemen in baseball — if not the unquestioned best, racking up a career-high 118 RBIs and ranking second in the Majors with 81 extra-base hits. … Curtis Granderson established himself as a legitimate AL Most Valuable Player Award candidate, setting career highs in runs (136), homers (41) and RBIs (119). … Teixeira reached 30 homers and 100 RBIs for the eighth straight season. … The Yankees were 52-29 (.642) at home, tying the Rangers for the best home winning percentage in the AL. … New York led the big leagues with 222 homers and scored 867 runs, the second most in the Majors. … Cano, Granderson and Russell Martin each hit grand slams on Aug. 25 vs. Oakland, as the Yankees became the first big league team to hit three grand slams in a game. … Brett Gardner was successful in 44 of his final 51 steal attempts. … Nick Swisher blasted 23 homers and collected 85 RBIs. … Sabathia won at least 19 games for the third straight year. … Rookie Ivan Nova won 16 games, while veteran Freddy Garcia won 12. … Granderson, Martin and David Robertson went to the All-Star Game in Phoenix. … Yankees relievers combined for an AL-best 3.12 ERA. … Jorge Posada had the game-winning hit to lock up the AL East on Sept. 21 and enjoyed a great ALDS. … Head athletic trainer Gene Monahan was honored for a career that started in 1962. … Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones were useful pieces off the bench. … Touted prospect Jesus Montero hit .328 as a September callup. … New York’s home attendance was an AL-best 3,653,680. … The Yankees were a Major League best 44-12 in day games.

What went wrong: A-Rod struggled through a challenging year and was sidelined in July for knee surgery that limited him down the stretch. … A.J. Burnett had an 11.91 ERA in August. … An 18-game winner last year, Phil Hughes was 5-5 with a 5.79 ERA. … $35 million import Rafael Soriano lost his grip on the eighth-inning job. … Eduardo Nunez committed a team-high 20 errors. … Posada asked out of the lineup before a May 14 game vs. Boston, sparking controversy. … Left-hander Pedro Feliciano was lost for the season without throwing a pitch, and could miss all of 2012 as well before his two-year, $8 million deal expires. Fellow southpaw Damaso Marte also missed the entire year. … Joba Chamberlain made just 27 appearances before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. … Catcher Francisco Cervelli suffered a concussion and did not play after Sept. 8. … The Yankees used the disabled list 20 times for 19 different players. … New York had 23 games affected by weather in 2011, including Game 1 of the ALDS.

Biggest surprise: Though he faded down the stretch, right-hander Bartolo Colon remains a lock in this category. The Yankees had no expectations in the spring for Colon, who hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2009, but he logged his most innings since an ’05 AL Cy Young Award-winning season and went 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA in 29 games (26 starts). A strike-throwing machine, Colon’s best game came on May 30 at Oakland, when he threw a four-hit shutout.

What: MLB Betting
When: October 9th-17th (Check best sportsbook for start times)
Where: Games 1, 2, 6, 7 (Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI); Games 3-5 (Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO)
Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Why Bet On St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have the most momentum of any team left in the postseason as they battled hard to put pressure on Atlanta, who collapsed down the stretch, then they managed to hold off Philadelphia, the World Series betting favorites, complete with a 1-0 win on the road in Game 5 in which Chris Carpenter outdueled Roy Halladay. St. Louis has a solid group of veteran players, led by Carpenter and Albert Pujols, who have been here before and relish the pressure of the playoffs. The hitting carried the team in the regular season as the Cardinals led the National League in runs scored and average, and there are few teams in the majors who can boast a mid-lineup order of Pujols, Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday. That isnt to say that their pitching is awful, as Carpenter, Jaime Garcia (despite a rocky Game 1), Edwin Jackson and Kyle Lohse can get the job done, especially the first two. Octavio Dotel, Arthur Rhodes and Marc Rzepczynski have bolstered the bullpen in middle relief, and they were very good down the stretch. The Cardinals have put Jason Motte in the closers role for now, but they can always fall back on Fernando Salas as well.

You have to wonder how much the Cardinals have left in the tank after their massive run to the playoffs, especially a veteran team that has battled some injuries this season. Two months ago, most MLB betting players put the Cardinals out to pasture and they expended a lot of energy just to get here. It actually may be beneficial to play the Brewers, a heated division rival with whom the Cardinals have been physical with, so it should be easy for them to get up for Milwaukee. Also, the bullpen is a worry as it was well below average for most of the season.

Why Bet On Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have homefield advantage, and this is huge for Milwaukee, who won an MLB-high 57 games at home in Miller Park during the regular season, then won all three of their home meetings with Arizona in the NLDS, and then Game 1 against the Cardinals. We know that homefield advantage plays a big role in most sports, but this Milwaukee team is like two different squads when theyre home and away. While the Cardinals have their power trio in the middle of their lineup, the Brewers may have the best one-two punch in the game in Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, and there is potential power throughout the lineup with Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks, who is finally healthy, and dont count out Yuniesky Betancourt. The Brewers can swing the bat with anyone in the majors, and that means theyre never out of a game. But they got to this point by improving their starting rotation with Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum, picking them up to go with Yovani Gallardo, who is one of the most underrated hurlers in the major leagues. Milwaukee also has a deadly late-inning duo in Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford, and their middle relief is effective as well. The Brewers feel like theyre a team of destiny, and one that may be broken up due to financial issues after this year, so theyre playing with urgency.

But that can backfire on the Brewers, who cant let their emotions get the best of them, especially against their division rivals. The Brewers have the edge in talent over the Cardinals, but its all about keeping their heads and not trying to do too much, especially away from home. Milwaukees trouble on the road is a head-scratcher, which puts a lot of pressure on them to maintain their perfection at home. If they dropped a game in Miller Park, can they get it back in St. Louis?

How It Will Play Out

Milwaukee should be the MLB betting favorites, and Game 1 was the 19th time that these two have met in 2011, so there arent many secrets left between them. Its been almost even as the Brewers are 10-9 against the Cardinals this year, with 10 games coming in under the posted total (along with a couple of pushes).

This has seven games written all over it, and the Brewers need to be able to take at least one game in St. Louis, where theyve lost six of their last 10. They should be able to snatch a game on the road and send their bitter rivals packing after a wild series. The Cardinals will make it interesting with their experience, but the Brewers have too many weapons and will break through to reach the World Series. Take Milwaukee with your online betting baseball picks.

Cardinals Brewers Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Why Bet on Detroit

The Tigers are favored to win game one of this series, and Detroit also stands as the favorite to become AL Champions. The betting sites consider that a neat trick when you remember that the Tigers were chasing the Cleveland Indians for half the season for the AL Central title. Detroit wasnt even a playoff favorite at the All-Star break. But there are plenty of good reasons to bet on the Detroit Tigers to win the AL pennant.

The Detroit Tigers come into the playoffs with the hottest pitching staff in baseball. It is more than just Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander (although he is a huge part of the reason why Detroit beat the Yankees). But there are other starters such as Doug Fister and Max Scherzer that also helped put the beat down on the Yankees. Detroits offense did not really help as it only scored 17 runs in the five games of the ALDS. But the pitching in Detroit should help carry the Tigers far.

Why Bet on Texas

The Rangers did not make it easy on themselves by getting blown out in the first game of its ALDS series against the Tampa Bay Rays 9-0. But the online wagering crowd in Texas relaxed when the Rangers starting pitching finally clicked in for the playoffs. The Rangers do not have the convenience of calling on a Cliff Lee to win games in the post-season. But the young Ranger pitching staff that enters the playoffs have shown that it is more than capable of winning big games.

How it Will Play Out

The Rangers young pitching staff has shown that it can respond to big games and make a difference in a series. After the game one blowout against the Rays, the Rangers staff settled in and allowed only 12 runs in the next three games before clinching the series. But questions still remain about the ability of the Rangers staff to be World Series-caliber.

The Tigers are really rolling both on the mound and on offense. Detroit came into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams down the stretch, and maintained its momentum into the playoffs. It will be a tall task to ask a young Rangers team to stop Detroit.

Pick: Detroit Tigers

Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays

Monday, 5:07 PM ET

The biggest handicap that the Rays faced heading in to this MLB betting series was the fact that needing a win in each of the final few days before the end of the regular season did not allow them to set up their starting rotation to be ready for the ALDS. That included All Star David Price getting the call in the finale against the Yankees, which meant that he would have to wait until this game three to have a chance to start. Tampa Bay was forced to go with rookie Matt Moore and James Shields though the first two contests, but will finally get their ace on the mound in hopes that they can take this one at home. The Rangers have been among the most consistent teams all season and have power in every aspect of the game, so the Rays need to capitalize on intangibles such as momentum if they are going to overcome once again. Tampa Bay has no business winning this series, but the same could have been said about them even getting in ahead of Boston.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

Monday, 8:37 PM ET

The Tigers will return home knowing exactly what they need to do to close out this series, and it continues with Max Scherzer on the mound against the veteran Freddy Garcia. If there is one MLB betting bonus area of this series where Detroit is projected to have the edge, it is the depth in the starting rotation, and they will need to take advantage of that here. Scherzer finished the regular season with a 15-9 record and 4.43 ERA, and he allowed more than four runs only twice over the final two months. He will need to bring his best stuff to the park on Monday to hold off a powerful Yankees offense, and prevent the veteran Garcia from stealing one on the road. Garcia and Bartolo Colon were two key signings for New York in the offseason that have really panned out better than expected, and if he can steal one here in this position, it will go a long way for the Yankees not only in this series but in the longer run.

MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers

Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays

Monday, 5:07 PM ET

The biggest handicap that the Rays faced heading in to this MLB betting series was the fact that needing a win in each of the final few days before the end of the regular season did not allow them to set up their starting rotation to be ready for the ALDS. That included All Star David Price getting the call in the finale against the Yankees, which meant that he would have to wait until this game three to have a chance to start. Tampa Bay was forced to go with rookie Matt Moore and James Shields though the first two contests, but will finally get their ace on the mound in hopes that they can take this one at home. The Rangers have been among the most consistent teams all season and have power in every aspect of the game, so the Rays need to capitalize on intangibles such as momentum if they are going to overcome once again. Tampa Bay has no business winning this series, but the same could have been said about them even getting in ahead of Boston.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

Monday, 8:37 PM ET

The Tigers will return home knowing exactly what they need to do to close out this series, and it continues with Max Scherzer on the mound against the veteran Freddy Garcia. If there is one MLB betting bonus area of this series where Detroit is projected to have the edge, it is the depth in the starting rotation, and they will need to take advantage of that here. Scherzer finished the regular season with a 15-9 record and 4.43 ERA, and he allowed more than four runs only twice over the final two months. He will need to bring his best stuff to the park on Monday to hold off a powerful Yankees offense, and prevent the veteran Garcia from stealing one on the road. Garcia and Bartolo Colon were two key signings for New York in the offseason that have really panned out better than expected, and if he can steal one here in this position, it will go a long way for the Yankees not only in this series but in the longer run.

MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Milwaukee Brewers
Saturday, TBS

The Diamondbacks broadcasters had a sense of uneasiness in their voice when they talked about preparing to face Milwaukee in the NLDS on Thursday, and it could be because of the way that the Brewers have dominated this season. With the All Star trio of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee will look to flex its muscle at home against an Arizona team that was able to win games despite not playing at an elite level in the NL West, and unless Ian Kennedy can carry out the unlikely task of shutting down the Brewers offense they will have a tough time opening the series with a win.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees
Saturday, TBS

The Yankees biggest problem heading in to this MLB betting season was a lack of pitching depth in their starting rotation, an area that Ivan Novas development has been crucial in. Nova goes second for New York behind CC Sabathia at the top of the rotation, and will counter veteran Doug Fister for Detroit as the pinstripes look to improve their standing in the series before the series shifts to the Motor City.

MLB Betting Pick: New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers
Saturday, TBS

The Rays will never stop believing after the incredible sequence of events that unfolded on the final day of the regular season, and if they can somehow work with the momentum and continue to play the way that they have as a unit, they do have a chance at an upset. Matt Holland will start the series for Texas with Tampa Bay expected to release their official decision sometime on Friday. The Rangers have unfinished business in the AL, and have no intention of letting the Rays Cinderella story continue.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

St. Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday, TBS

The Cardinals fought with everything that they had to complete the comeback and catch the Braves, but now face the even more daunting task of matching up with the Phillies in the NLDS. Philadelphia will have the edge in every pitching matchup as expected, and it may take another sports betting bonus miracle for St. Louis to rock the boat in these beginning with Roy Halladay on the mound Saturday against Jaime Garcia for the Cardinals.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia Phillies

Monday September 26, 2011
Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles 7:05PM EST
The only thing keeping the Boston Red Sox in the playoffs is the fact that the Tampa Bay Rays cannot beat the New York Yankees. The Red Sox have only beaten the Baltimore Orioles once in the month of September, but yet this is the second series the two teams have played against each other in the last two weeks. Boston needs to figure out a starting pitching rotation and determine what happened to its offense if it wants to find success in the playoffs.
Pick: Baltimore Orioles

Tuesday September 27, 2011
Texas Rangers @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 10:05PM EST
As of late last week, the Texas magic number to beat out the Angels for the AL West pennant was two games. But the Angels have been hanging in there and a head-to-head series against the Rangers is just what the Angels need. But many MLB betting experts feel that the Angels are just putting off the inevitable as opposed to being in control of its own destiny.
Pick: Texas Rangers

Wednesday September 28, 2011
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers 8:10PM EST
If the Brewers have not clinched the NL Central pennant by this time, then this should be the game where it happens. The Brewers magic number over the St. Louis Cardinals is two, and the Cardinals seem to be more wrapped up in the NL wild card race with the Atlanta Braves. The Pirates were a playoff contender prior to the All-Star break, but they have been a doormat ever since.
Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Wednesday September 28, 2011
St. Louis Cardinals @ Houston Astros 8:05PM EST
The St. Louis Cardinals have this one last game of the season to try and lay claim to the NL wild card spot. While the Atlanta Braves spend its last series of the season battling with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cardinals get the worst team in baseball in the Houston Astros. If the Cardinals want to stay in the World Series betting then they will have to win out and the Braves will have to keep losing. Considering how poorly the Braves have played in the stretch, it is not out of the question to think that the NL wild card could come down to this final day of the season.
Pick: St. Louis Cardinals

Wednesday September 28, 2011
Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves 7:10PM EST
The only thing going for the Braves in this game is that it is at home. Atlanta has allowed a sizeable lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL wild card race to shrink to two games. The Phillies are playing for real as it gets ready to enter the playoffs and that is just something that the Braves may not be able to handle.
Pick: Philadelphia Phillies

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees

Saturday, 4:10 PM ET

After watching the Rays struggle as the Yankees locked up their division, the Red Sox now make the trip to New York hoping to avoid the same embarrassment handed to them by the lowly Orioles this past week. Boston lost three of a possible four games including a 6-4 loss on Wednesday night in a game that they led 4-1 at one point, and are very fortunate that the Yankees took care of Tampa Bay. New York has already locked up the AL East title but has not confirmed its playoff rotation, which makes this an important sports betting start for AJ Burnett at home against Bostons Tim Wakefield.

MLB Betting Pick: New York Yankees

Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers

Saturday, 4:10 PM ET

The Rangers will not be able to close the gap between them and New York, but they should be able to lock up the AL West title as they host the Mariners this weekend. Texas faces a tough test against Felix Hernandez on Saturday, but with Alexei Ogando on the mound they should have a strong chance as long as they can punch in some runs.
MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

Toronto Blue Jays @ Tampa Bay Rays

Saturday, 7:10 PM ET

The Rays fought hard to remain in contention despite such a relatively small payroll, and while they may not have enough left in the tank to clinch a Wild Card spot, they will throw everything that they have at Toronto to close that gap this week. Tampa Bay will turn to the hot hand in veteran Jeff Niemann on Saturday to counter the Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero, and if he can parlay his performance from consecutive wins the Rays should be able to take advantage.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

Oakland Athletics @ Los Angeles Angels

Saturday, 10:10 PM ET

Although they will continue to go bass fishing for that top spot in the AL West this weekend, it will come down to a case of too little, too late for the Angels, who send the undefeated Jerome Williams to the mound on Saturday against the Athletics Guillermo Moscoso. Los Angeles has gone just 5-5 over their past 10 games entering this series, but they should be able to salvage a couple of key best sportsbook promo home games to go out on a high note.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Angels