Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies Series Overview

Game 1: Monday, May 21

If you are interested in betting on baseball this season, the upcoming three-game series between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies is going to prove to be challenging. One simply has to realize that these teams are not used to being in the positions they currently inhabit. Washingtons franchise has been firmly ensconced at the bottom of the National League East since it relocated to the American capital city from Montreal several years ago. Philadelphia used to be a sad-sack franchise, but over the past five years, few teams have won with the consistency displayed by the Phillies. Philadelphia has made the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, winning one World Series in 2008 and capturing the National League pennant as well in 2009.

Its jarring, to say the least, to look at the 2012 MLB standings and see Washington battling Atlanta for first place in the National League East while Philadelphia sits in the cellar. Does this mean that Washington is an elite team and that Philadelphia is going to fall short of the playoffs this year? Its possible, but then again, its only May. The season is still young, and theres plenty of time for the Phillies to find their footing. This series marks the very kind of occasion in which Philadelphia will try to begin to make a charge and show the Nationals whos still the boss in the N.L. East.

That last point Philadelphias desire to make a move will probably enter into game one of this three-game set on Monday in the City of Brotherly Love. Washington starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez brings a glowing 1.94 earned-run average into this game, while Philadelphia will go with starter Vance Worley, carrying a 3.07 ERA into battle. The raw numbers suggest that Washington has the advantage here, but Philadelphias hitters are going to be very motivated for this game. The Phillies will take pitches, work counts, and play with a little extra aggression in this contest. The Phillies need to win this series, and theyll take a big step in that direction in game one.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia

Game 2: Tuesday, May 22

The team that is a mystery for legions of MLB betting experts is the Philadelphia Phillies, and one source of the Phils problems this year has been starting pitcher Roy Halladay. The 3.20 ERA is decent, but its far below Halladays normal standards. The elite pitcher has lost velocity on his pitches this season, giving the Phillies cause for considerable concern. Washington will oppose Hallday in game two of this series with Jordan Zimmermann, who has posted a sharp 2.14 earned-run average. Zimmermann has simply been better and more consistent than Halladay this season. Take the Nationals in game two.

MLB Betting Pick: Washington

Game 3: Wednesday, May 23

The team that online betting sites are wondering about this season is Washington. Are the Nationals for real? Its hard to take that leap of faith just yet. Edwin Jackson will go to the mound for Washington in the finale of the series, bringing a 3.71 earned-run average to the ballyard. Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels has a 2.28 ERA, and hes likely to outduel Jackson in a pitching matchup that clearly favors the Phillies. Take Philadelphia in game three.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia

What: MLB Betting
When: Monday, May 21st-Thursday, May 24th
Where: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
Pick: Cincinnati Reds

Mike Minor (2-3, 7.09) vs. Mike Leake (0-5, 6.21) Monday, 7:00 PM ET

Leake will be hoping that he isnt winless by the time this start rolls around and it hasnt been a great start for the 24-year-old, who is 1-0 in two starts against Atlanta with an ERA of 1.50, but those numbers may not matter much as badly as Leake is struggling. Minor, although he has a couple of wins, is in the same boat as he hasnt had his best stuff and he is simply trying to get to this start without being sent to the minors (pun not intended). Minor, who is also 24, will be going up against the Reds for the first time in his career, but a 7.53 ERA on the road isnt encouraging and he has given up six runs or more in each of his last four starts.

Your best bet is to lean towards Cincinnati at home in this matchup.

free sports picks: Cincinnati Reds

Brandon Beachy (4-1, 1.60) vs. Mat Latos (2-2, 4.54) Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET

Beachy has been strong since losing in his 2012 debut, and he has made one start against the Reds in his career, taking a no-decision in Cincinnati last season. Latos had a rough start after he was acquired from San Diego, but he seems to be settling into his new surroundings and he has been good against the Braves with a 2-2 record in five starts to go with a 2.43 ERA.

Latos is 1-1 in four starts at home with a 3.91 ERA, and Beachy is 3-1 in five road starts with a 1.74 ERA. Even though those are great numbers, give the edge to an improving Latos in Cincinnati.

free sports picks: Cincinnati Reds

Tommy Hanson (4-3, 3.43) vs. Bronson Arroyo (2-1, 3.25) Wednesday, 7:10 PM ET

Arroyo has a ton of experience against the Braves with 15 appearances (14 starts), posting a record of 6-3, but he has a 5.68 ERA and is 0-1 in four home starts with an ERA of 4.94. Hanson has had his issues with the Reds in the past, going 1-2 in four starts with a 5.03 ERA, but he has been better away from home than at Turner Field, going 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA. Despite is record against the Reds, Hanson has been phenomenal in Cincinnati, splitting a pair of starts and posting an ERA of 0.68 ERA.

MLB betting sharps can never be too sure what theyre going to get from Arroyo; he is a little like A.J. Burnett in that respect. Some days he looks like a world-beater, and others he cant get out of the third, and he has been like that throughout his entire career, which makes it difficult to get behind him. Hanson has been throwing the ball well as of late, and the Braves should get their first win of the series.

free sports picks: Atlanta Braves

Randall Delgado (2-3, 3.79) Vs. Homer Bailey (1-3, 4.35) Thursday, 7:10 PM ET

Bailey hasnt had his best stuff this season, but he has also pitched well in spurts and its enough that hell be in the rotation for a while now. He is 1-0 in two starts against the Braves with an ERA of 2.13, but Bailey is 0-1 in his first three starts at home with a 4.50 ERA. The Braves, on the other hand, have started Randall Delgado in this spot the past two trips around the rotation and the rookie has done well; his last outing actually came against the Reds, and he didnt give up any earned runs in 6.2 innings of work. Delgado is eighth in the National League in walks, but that is to be expected of a young pitcher who is still figuring out what a major-league strike zone is.

However, that outing was in Atlanta and now Delgado will head out on the road to Cincinnati, and he hasnt gotten out of the sixth inning in all three of his road starts in 2012. This is the perfect game for Bailey to get on track and jumpstart his season, facing a team that he has been successful against in the past. Thats a big reason why you should take Cincinnati to end the series in your sports betting picks.

free sports picks: Cincinnati Reds

Boston Red Sox @ Philadelphia Phillies Series Overview

Game 1: Friday, May 18

If you are interested in betting on baseball this season, the upcoming three-game series between the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies presents the kinds of situations in which raw numbers arent all theyre cracked up to be. The first installment of this three-game series pits Boston starter Daniel Bard, with an earned-run average of 4.30, against Philadelphia hurler Cole Hamels, who totes a snappy 2.28 ERA at the moment. Hamels is a better pitcher than Bard; you wont get any argument on the matter from a baseball betting expert. However, one must also realize that earned-run averages in the American League and the National League have to be taken with a grain of salt. The American League, because of its use of the designated hitter, is a much tougher league in which to pitch. An ERA just above four runs per game is a lot worse in the National League than in the American League.

If Bard and Hamels switched leagues, their earned-run averages, currently two runs apart, would probably be within three-fourths of a run, maybe only half a run. The sense here is that Bostons better batting order will make Hamels work. Hamels relies on his mixture of speeds to get hitters out, so as long as Bostons hitters are patient, they will get hittable pitches in the strike zone. This game should be very close, but Boston is in a position where it can wear down the Phillies arms. The Red Sox will strike first and prove that ERAs dont tell the whole story in a baseball game not all the time, at least.

MLB Betting Pick: Boston

Game 2: Saturday, May 19

The team that is a mystery for a lot of online sportsbooks is the Philadelphia Phillies, and the big reason for the teams slump is that it has not produced at the plate. In Saturdays game, Jon Lester of the Red Sox, with a 3.71 ERA, will face the Phillies Joe Blanton, who brings a 2.96 earned-run average into Citizens Bank Park. Lester should be able to shut down the Phillies, while Blanton a reliable starter at the back end of the Phillies rotation does not have the overpowering stuff that can silence Bostons bats. Blanton will pitch well, but Lester will pitch better, and thats a recipe for a Red Sox victory in game two.

MLB Betting Pick: Boston

Game 3: Sunday, May 20

The team that online betting sites are not favoring at the moment is Boston. The Red Sox have more weaknesses than the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, and when they finish this Sunday game, theyre likely to have one more loss. The Red Sox will go with Josh Beckett, who carries a large 5.97 ERA into this game. Philadelphia will trot out its staff ace, Cliff Lee, who has been humming along this season with a 2.17 earned-run average. Lee will dominate, while Beckett immersed in a horrible season will find it hard to outduel his counterpart. Philadelphia will win the finale of this three-game set.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia

Cleveland Indians @ Minnesota Twins
Monday, 8:10 PM ET

One of the biggest reasons why the best sportsbook bookies are somewhat surprised that it is the Indians on top of the AL Central at this point in the season isnt because of the Tigers struggles, its because of Clevelands numbers. The Indians are the only division leaders in baseball with a scoring differential in the minus, and the only division leader with a sub-.500 record at home. Cleveland has somehow managed to win nine of its first 12 games on the road however, and considering how awful the Twins have been at Target Field the chances are very good that the Indians can improve their mark as the visiting team. Minnesota won just four of its first 14 home games, and with their run differential the absolute worst in the majors the blame can be passed around. Minnesota will send Carl Pavano to the mound to open the series following his shortest start of the season. Pavano lasted only four innings, giving up 10 hits and four earned runs in a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Indians will counter with 24-year old Jeanmar Gomez, and while he is coming off his worst start of the season, he should be fine to bounce back against a struggling Minnesota team as the betting sites favorite.

MLB Betting Pick: Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians @ Minnesota Twins
Tuesday, 1:10 PM ET

It wont get any prettier for the Twins with Jason Marquis on the mound for game No. 2, as he continues to walk too many batters and put himself in trouble early on. Marquis has managed to consistently get his ERA down from 7.20 all the way to 5.40 over his past four starts, but that will still be far too many runs to give up with Derek Lowe on the mound for Cleveland. Lowe is 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA this season, and if the Indians can get him some early offense there is no reason to think that he cant go at least seven innings and add to his win total for the online best sportsbook season. Lowe has not given up more than two earned runs in any of his last three starts, so three will be the golden number for the Cleveland offense.

MLB Betting Pick: Minnesota Twins

Tampa Bay Rays @ Toronto Blue Jays
Monday, 7:07 PM ET

Despite a solid record overall, the Rays have struggled on the road this season with just six wins in 14 games, compared to a 13-3 record at home. The Blue Jays have been absolutely thrilled so far this season with the play of starter Brandon Morrow, who has won each of his last three starts while allowing just one earned run over a combined 21.2 innings of work. Morrow went the distance in his last outing, throwing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out eight in a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Toronto is hoping that he can continue to maintain his consistency as they welcome in the Rays. Tampa Bay will counter with Jeff Niemann for the opener. Niemann has yet to pitch six full innings this year despite throwing over 100 pitches in each of his last two best best sportsbook starts.

MLB Betting Pick: Toronto Blue Jays

Tampa Bay Rays @ Toronto Blue Jays
Tuesday, 7:07 PM ET

Whatever it is that the Blue Jays pitchers have been doing through their last rotation, the players in Toronto have to hope it continues as Henderson Alvarez is another pitcher that threw a complete game shutout against the Angels, and he will start game two against the Rays. Alvarez struck out only three, but gave up just six hits and no runs in a 4-0 win over Los Angeles, bringing his ERA down to 2.83 on the season. Tampa Bay however should be much better equipped in a game that will likely come down to which team makes more mistakes, as they counter with All Star David Price. Price is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA on the year, and the Rays have won four-straight with him on the mound. Toronto has been the same team at home that it has been on the road, and settling for a split in this two-game mini set with Price pitching the online best sportsbook finale wont necessarily be a bad thing.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

Atlanta Braves @ St. Louis Cardinals Series Overview

Game 1: Friday, May 11

If you are interested in betting on baseball this season, the upcoming three-game weekend series between Atlanta and St. Louis should offer a compelling encounter that youll want to study. Mike Minor is Atlantas starter in the first game of this weekend set. He has a 5.97 earned-run average thanks to 15 earned runs allowed in his last two starts. St. Louis will go with starter Jaime Garcia, a lefty who has consistently performed much better at home than on the road. Garcia has a 3.76 ERA, which isnt exactly splashy but is certainly a lot better than anything Minor has been able to manage so far this season. The fact that Garcia is so comfortable pitching at Busch Stadium in St. Louis is what should give the Cardinals an extra advantage on Friday night. It would be hard to go against them in this specific spot.

MLB Betting Pick: St. Louis

Game 2: Saturday, May 12

The when you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this second game of the three-game series, you have to pay attention to the man who will take center stage, Brandon Beachy, the Braves ace of the future. Beachy has been rolling along this season, steaming to a microscopic 1.62 earned-run average with his live, young arm, which has been overwhelming opposing hitters. The Cardinals starter in this game, former staff ace Adam Wainwright, has been struggling to find his rhythm after sitting out the 2011 season due to injury. Wainwright carries a 5.61 ERA into this contest, and its going to be hard for him to match Beachy pitch for pitch. If one had to lay odds on this game, theyd definitely be stacked against the Cardinals. Atlanta is an irresistible choice on Saturday in game two of this highly-anticipated clash. If the starting pitchers gave St. Louis the clear nod on Friday, all indications would suggest that the pendulum is going to swing the other way on Saturday, lending balance to this battle in the Midwest.

MLB Betting Pick: Atlanta

Game 3: Sunday, May 13

The Braves will send right-handed starter Tommy Hanson to the bump. Hanson has posted a 3.63 earned-run average to this point in the season, being an entirely solid pitcher but not a shutdown force. On the other hand, Lance Lynn has dazzled as a new member of the Cardinals starting rotation, ringing up a 1.40 ERA and being a very effective innings-eater for new manager Mike Matheny. Lynns emergence has been one of the reasons the Cardinals have been able to maintain their hold on the National League Central Division through one month of play this season. It only stands to reason that in what could very well be the rubber game of this three-game series, Lynns pitching will be the difference maker, enabling the Cardinals to win this series and affirm their credentials as a betting sites National League favorite.

MLB Betting Pick: St. Louis

Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals
Friday, 7:05 PM ET

The Phillies wont have to wait long to face their toughest test in the series, as 23-year old phenom Stephen Strasburg starts the opener for Washington against Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick is sporting an awful 6.59 ERA on the season, and Philadelphia has lost all six games that he has started. It wont be any easier with Strasburg and his 1.13 ERA on the mound for the Nationals, as he has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his six starts. The Phillies offense has struggled all season and ranks 25th in runs scored, so it doesnt really make sense to take them in the opener regardless of their best sportsbook odds.

MLB Betting Pick: Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals
Saturday, 1:05 PM ET

The second time around doesnt get much easier for Philadelphia with Gio Gonzalez on the mound for the Nationals, but at least they have a weapon of their own to counter with in Vance Worley. Worley has looked dominant in his last three starts with just two earned runs allowed in a combined 20 innings, while striking out 22 batters. Gonzalez has been just as good for Washington, but he did lose a 2-0 game to the Los Angeles Dodgers his last time out and the Phillies really cant afford to drop this contest with the Kentucky Derby betting going on that first Saturday in May.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals
Sunday, 8:00 PM ET

Nobody projected at the beginning of the season that the Nationals would be in contention for the NL West title in early May, and now that they are there, Washington should fight like heck to stay in contention. A five-game losing streak may have hurt the teams confidence, but with Jordan Zimmermann set to pitch opposite Cole Hamels in front of a national audience for the season finale, the Nationals have a chance to bounce back in a major way. Zimmermann actually has the better numbers of the two starting pitchers and Washington has played some great baseball at home this season. The Phillies have a pitching staff that ranks among the best in the majors, but until they can start producing on offense look for the teams they play to continue to cause them problems.

MLB Betting Pick: Washington Nationals

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Monday, 8:40 PM ET

The Los Angeles has performed much better at home than on the road, and will need to find a way to put up some strong numbers in the high altitudes at Colorado if they are going to keep the Rockies from gaining on them in the National League West. Colorado has won games despite failing to record a ton of hits, so Dodgers starter Aaron Harang has to be better than he has been as he gets the call to open the series. Harang has allowed at least 3 earned runs in all four of his starts with the Los Angeles offense making the difference in whether he wins or loses, but Juan Nicasio is coming off of his best start of the season and could make things tough for the Dodgers bats as they get adjusted.

MLB Betting Pick: Colorado Rockies

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Monday, 8:40 PM ET

The Dodgers rank 10th in the majors in runs scored, and the majority of that work belongs to early MVP Candidate Matt Kemp, who hit .449 with 10 home runs and 23 RBI through his first 19 games of the season. Its obviously unlikely that Kemp will be able to continue to produce at such a torrid pace, which is why it is that much more important for depth guys like Mark Ellis and Juan Rivera to remain consistent, and the pitching continue to rank in the upper half of the league in nearly every category. Despite reigning NL Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw in the same clubhouse, veteran Ted Lilly has led the way early on for the starting rotation with just two earned runs allowed through 20 innings of work, picking up a pair of wins along the way. Lilly will get the call against Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, who has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his four starts this betting online season.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Monday, 3:10 PM ET

The deciding online best sportsbook game of this series will feature the matchup that Los Angeles wants with Kershaw getting the call against Colorados Drew Pomeranz, a 23-year old second-year pitcher who has struggled with consistency early on in his career. Kershaw has opened this season the way that he finish last, allowing just four earned runs in four games to help the Dodgers win all four of the games that he has started. Kershaw had to go seven innings to get his first recorded victory of the season in a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros in his last start, so look for Los Angeles to get him some more run support early on and help him improve to 2-0.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays
Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET

While the focus on the Angels heading in to this season was the big names they had signed, one of their biggest strengths was actually expected to be the solid starting rotation that was already in place, with Jared Weaver, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana joined by Wilson. However, the LA pitching staff hasnt lived up to expectations so far, with Santana experiencing the roughest start. The 29-year old is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA through three starts, and to make matters worse, he will be going up against David Price for the Rays in the series opener. Price has allowed more than three earned runs in any of his three starts, even though he hasnt brought his best stuff so far this betting year.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays
Wednesday, 7:00 PM ET

Wilson has lived up to expectations so far with just five earned runs allowed through three starts so far, and he will need to bring his best stuff against Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson in order for the Angels to even up this series. Hellickson is 2-0 already, but was tagged for five earned runs in just five innings in a 13-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox in which he escaped with the no decision.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays
Thursday, 1:10 PM ET

This series will wrap up with a MLB Betting matinee game on Thursday, with a couple of struggling starters getting the call. Tampa Bay has lost all three games that Matt Moore has pitched, even though he gave up more than three runs just once so far this season. Meanwhile, Jerome Williams gets the call for Los Angeles after earning his first win in a strong performance that saw him go 6.2 with only seven hits and three earned runs allowed after he lasted only 2.2 innings in an 11-5 loss to the New York Yankees in his season debut.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Angels

New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers
Monday, 7:00 PM ET

While the Rangers have the best record in baseball through the first couple of weeks, the Yankees have stumbled out of the gate with a record that has hovered around the .500 mark. New York split its first six road games, and will be in tough for its first game in Texas when it sends Hiroki Kuroda to the mound opposite Derek Holland. Holland has allowed just two earned runs in each of his last two starts, both of them wins, and is settling down nicely among a group of young starting Rangers pitchers that rank among the best in baseball. Kuroda on the other hand has allowed at least four runs in two of his three starts, and is coming off a horrible performance against the Minnesota Twins, in which he allowed eight earned in just 4.1 innings of work.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers
Monday, 8:05 PM ET

The Yankees might not be feeling any more comfortable about the second pitching matchup in this series, as Phil Hughes will get the call against Yu Darvish for Texas. Hughes last 5.1 innings against the Twins for his first win of the season in his last outing, but that was his longest of three appearances so far, and when he isnt throwing strikeouts he is giving up far too many hits. Darvish has settled in nicely for the Rangers after appearing shaky in his debut, and thats probably because the Texas bats have given him a ton of run support with 27 runs combined to win all three best sportsbook games he has started.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers
Monday, 8:05 PM ET

The scariest part about this best best sportsbook series is that while the Rangers have the pitching edge in each of the first two games, their best starter of the three so far this season wont get the call until the finale. 26-year old Matt Harrison allowed just a single run through his first 14 innings of work to win his first two starts, and has the best ERA in the American League with a 0.64 mark. If New York is going to have any chance at avoiding the sweep, they are going to need to find a way to manufacture some runs against the lefty, with the 2-0 Ivan Nova providing his best outing of the year to keep the Rangers from getting too many runs of their own. That could be easier said than done at this point, as Texas continues to play like a team desperate to get back to the World Series.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers