Baseball Betting – Lee Aims To Remain Perfect Against Nationals

If Cliff Lee were a Belmont Stakes betting option, he would be one of the favorites to win the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, and Washington can tell you all about his brilliance as they’ve never beat the former Cy Young winner in three attempts. They’ll try again on Tuesday in the nation’s capital when the Phillies are in town for the second of a three-game series.

Phillies Nationals Betting – Tuesday, 7:05 PM ET

Lee (4-4, 3.50) has now won two straight starts after a 10-4 victory at home over Cincinnati, and he didn’t just do with his arm; he had a pair of hits and three RBIs on the day to help his own cause, and if he can do that every few starts, the Phillies will see their baseball betting odds rise even more. He didn’t have his best stuff on the mound, allowing four runs on 10 hits over eight innings, while striking out eight, but Lee finally got some run support and when he gets that, he’s pretty tough to beat. The 32-year-old lefty tossed a three-hit complete-game shutout in a 4-0 victory in Washington earlier this year, taking his record to 3-0 in three starts against the Nationals with a 1.44 ERA.

Not even run support could save Jason Marquis (5-2, 4.26) in a 6-4 loss in Milwaukee, as he allowed four runs on five hits over six innings, walking four with a single walk. Marquis leads the National League in run support, and that has allowed him to hide some pretty poor performances, so his record looks a lot better than it really is. He gave up six runs in a 7-4 loss in Philadelphia in early May, and he’s now 5-8 in 25 games (18 starts) against the Phillies with a 5.61 ERA.

Those checking out MLB news will likely see the Phillies favored on the road in Washington, where they have split their last 10 meetings ahead of Monday’s series opener, and six of those games have gone over the posted total, although four of the last five have fallen under. Lee just looks to have the Nationals’ number and that can be a mental edge for a guy like him, and he’ll pound the strike zone against Washington, who had dropped eight of their last 10 as of Monday. Lee has shown glimpses of having his best stuff, and while he hasn’t always had it this season, he turns it up against the Nationals. Marquis has been fortunate to receive some great run support in 2011, but against the Phillies, he’ll need a lot of runs. Take Philadelphia in your online sports betting picks.

MLB Baseball Betting – Indians Host Surging Red Sox

MLB baseball betting players who know better probably didn’t panic when Boston got off to a slow start to the 2011 season, as they had a few new players who were getting used to their new teammates, and a new city. The Red Sox have won eight of their last 10 heading into Monday’s series opener in Cleveland, and they’ll have their ace on the hill on Tuesday.

Red Sox Indians Betting – 7:05 PM ET

Josh Beckett (3-1, 1.73) allowed his first run in four starts and left after six innings because of a pulled muscle in his neck, earning a no-decision in a 4-3 win over Detroit, but he says he’s fine and should be ready to go on Tuesday. Even though NHL hockey news is garnering a lot of attention in Boston with the Bruins still in the playoffs, the Red Sox rule the city and a healthy Beckett has been key to their resurgence. Beckett is 3-5 in eight starts against the Indians in his career, posting a 5.55 ERA, and he was on the wrong end of a 3-1 loss in Cleveland on April 5th, his only loss of the season, so he’ll be out for revenge.

The Indians counter with Fausto Carmona (3-4, 4.76), and you have no idea what you’re going to get from him. Either he’s tossing seven shutout innings of two-hit ball, which was what he did to Boston in a 1-0 win earlier this season, or he’s getting lit up as he did in his last start in Chicago as the White Sox rocked Carmona for eight runs on seven hits over five innings, striking out three and walking two in an 8-2 loss. After the game on April 7th, Carmona is now 2-3 in eight outings (six starts) against the Red Sox, including a pair of blown saves, with an ERA of 3.44.

The Red Sox could be the favorites in your sports bookie software, even though they’ve dropped five in a row in Cleveland and were swept there in April. Look for the Red Sox to come out and prove they’re a better team than they showed in that series, unless Beckett isn’t 100% in regards to his neck. He says he is, and it’s fair to be skeptical after the amount of injuries he’s suffered in the last few years. However, the Red Sox may not even need him at his best if they can get to Carmona, which is a good possibility. He’s been inconsistent since his 19-win season in 2007, and you have to err on the side of caution with him. Take the Red Sox in your online sportsbook.

Bet On MLB Baseball – Yankees Aim To Get Back On Track Against Rays

Even those betting on Preakness odds would have heard about the New York Yankees’ awful weekend, in which veteran Jorge Posada refused to play, and then they were swept at home by the rival Boston Red Sox. It doesn’t get easier for the Yankees as they head out on the road to face Tampa Bay, who are looking to expand their lead in the American League East.

Yankees Rays Betting – Tuesday, 6:40 PM ET

Ivan Nova (3-3, 4.70) is coming off the worst outing of his young career, although to be fair, the Yankees didn’t do him any favors with a couple of errors in an 11-5 loss at home against Kansas City. Nova was knocked for eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits over three innings, along with two strikeouts and two walks, and he was taken deep twice as well. Those who bet on MLB baseball know that the Yankees are looking for help in their starting rotation, and this will be a test to see how Nova bounces back from a bad performance. The 24-year-old righthander doesn’t have a decision in two starts against the Rays, posting a 6.97 ERA.

The Rays counter with James Shields (4-1, 2.08), who had another great showing in a 7-4 win at Cleveland, and Shields gave up a pair of runs on seven hits over seven innings of work, whiffing seven batters with a single walk. He was taken deep for the second straight start, but overall, Shields has been rolling and he’s back at home after two starts on the road. The 29-year-old has struggled against the Yankees in the past, going 3-8 in 15 starts with a 4.91 ERA, and he’s 1-1 in four starts at Tropicana Field with a 1.72 ERA.

Dealing with the Yankees often packs more drama than an episode of WWE Smackdown, and they may need a physical confrontation in snap themselves out of this funk. Look for the Rays to be favored at home, and as of Monday’s opener, the two had split their last 10 meetings at Tropicana Field, with six games going over the posted total. Shields has never pitched that well against the Yankees, but he should have some confidence after a trio of strong performances against them in the second half of 2010, and he surely will have some after his start to this season. Nova probably won’t allow another eight runs, but he is still a young pitcher, and with all of the pressure that the Yankees are under right now, he could be feeling the squeeze. Neither team played that well on the weekend, but the smart sports bet is with the Rays on Tuesday.

Bet On MLB – National League Central Rivals Clash In The Windy City

Kentucky Derby betting players don’t get much in the way of rivals, but there is always a rivalry of some sort going on in baseball, and two of the most bitter rivals over the years have been St. Louis and Chicago in the National League Central. The Cubs have the bigger market, but the Cardinals have more success and after a slow start, they seem to be coming around. The two kick off a three-game set a Wrigley Field on Tuesday night.

Cardinals Cubs Betting – Tuesday, 8:05 PM ET

Chris Carpenter (0-2, 4.19) is still searching for his first win of the 2011 campaign after an 8-7 loss at home against Florida, as he allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits over six innings, striking out four and walking three. The Cardinals have now lost six of Carpenter’s seven starts, and if you bet on MLB odds, you know St. Louis isn’t going to last long if this continues, especially with Adam Wainwright on the disabled list for the next year. Carpenter is 10-6 in 22 starts against the Cubs, posting a 3.10 ERA, and the 36-year-old righty is 7-3 at Wrigley Field with a 3.72 ERA in 13 starts.

The Cubs will send out Carlos Zambrano (4-1, 4.23), who tossed a gem in a 5-1 win in Los Angeles, and he scattered a run on five hits over eight innings, striking out four and walking one. Everyone in baseball knows that when Zambrano has his head in the game, he’s one of the top 15-20 pitchers in the majors, but often he lets his temper get the best of him, and the Cubs need him in the rotation as Matt Garza gets used to the National League, Ryan Dempster slumps and the rest of the rotation is up in the air. The 29-year-old righthander is 12-6 in 29 games against the Cardinals with a 3.42 ERA, and he’s still looking for his first win at Wrigley this year, posting a 0-1 mark in three starts with a 4.26 ERA.

If you’re a fan of WWE Monday Night Raw, you should check this matchup out as both pitchers have never been afraid to brush a hitter back, and neither are afraid to get into a confrontation. The Cubs head into this series training the first-place Cardinals by four games, and they’re also looking to get closer to .500 at home, where they are 7-10, while the Cardinals are 10-6 on the road and have won six of their last 10 at Wrigley Field. You get the feeling that Carpenter is going to break out at any moment, and the Cardinals would love to see it sooner than later, while it’s fair to still be skeptical of Zambrano. Go with St. Louis in Tuesday’s sports bet.

Bet On MLB Baseball – Tigers Try To Cool Off Hot Sabathia

Those who bet on the Kentucky Derby know that every stable needs a leading thoroughbred, and in the New York Yankees’ starting rotation, C.C. Sabathis is, far and away, the horse that leads the way in the Bronx. He has won two in a roll, but his performances this season have been on the side of superb, including in the season opener against Detroit at home. The Tigers will look to get to Sabathia when the Yankees come to Detroit on Tuesday night.

Yankees Tigers Betting – Tuesday, 7:05 PM ET

Sabathia (2-1, 2.25) allowed three runs, but none were earned in a 12-3 romp over Chicago at home, scattering seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and a walk. Sabathia has been getting some great run support as the Yankees have scored 27 runs for him over his last two starts, and if he gets a lead, those who bet on MLB baseball know you’re as good as done against the big lefty, who has given up more than three runs only one in six starts this season. The 30-year-old is 15-11 in 31 starts against the Tigers, posting a 4.52 ERA, and he’s 7-4 in 13 appearances at Comerica Park with a 4.24 ERA.

The Tigers will counter with Brad Penny (1-3, 6.11), who was knocked for four runs on nine hits in a 7-2 win at home against Seattle. Penny went seven innings to take some pressure off the Detroit bullpen, and he wasn’t that bad against the Mariners, the problem is, he wasn’t great either, especially after a one-hit performance in his last outing against Chicago. The 32-year-old righty has struggled against the Yankees, going 1-2 in four starts with an 8.84 ERA, and in his first appearance at the new Yankee Stadium in that season-opening series, Penny was pounded for eight runs on seven hits in just 4.1 innings in a 10-6 loss.

Your pay per head sportsbook will have the Yankees as a favorite on the road, and heading into Monday’s series opener, they had split their last 10 trips to Detroit with six going under the posted total. Sabathia has been getting a ton of run support, obviously, but that doesn’t discount the fact that he’s one of the top three pitchers in the American League and probably top five in all of baseball. Penny has been having troubles finding the strike zone (19 strikeouts to 15 walks), and the Yankee bats have been rolling, especially with Sabathia on the mound. Sabathia is used to playing in Detroit from his time in Cleveland and obviously his time in New York, so look for him to have a strong performance. Lay a sports bet on New York on Tuesday.