Angels at Rangers. You gotta be glad inter-league play is over and we can get back to games that matter more. Back to baseball betting rivalries that affect the standings. No better place to start that a pair of teams in a neck-in-neck race for first place in the AL West. It might just be, however, they’re only passing in the night here, as the Angels are on their way up, and have no intention of softening the Rangers’ quick descent out of first place. Joe Saunders takes the mound for the Angels. His wins (8) are more impressive than his ERA (3.66), but both are formidable numbers bolstered by a supportive offense. Saunders isn’t going to strike a lot of guys out, though, so the defense has to be sharp or a lot of bloops are going to get through the infield. And if there’s anything Texas can still do, it’s hit. On their side of the mound, they offer up Scott Feldman, with a similar stat line (6-2, 4.0 ERA). In fact, both pitchers have a WHIP right around 1.2, as well. A hot team trumps a home team, though, and I think the Angels will get a slight advantage in the money line. They’re the team to ride, also, when it comes to betting. Angels -110, Rangers +110.
Giants at Cardinals. You gotta be rooting for the Giants this year. Well-positioned in the wild card hunt, and not so far back of the Dodgers that they couldn’t make a run at their division crown. Bonds is gone, it’s all good on the bay. Except for the pitching situation, that is, which is currently undecided at the time of this article. Not that the Giants would have anyone to stand up to Chris Carpenter these days. 5-2 with a 1.7 ERA in 10 starts this season is incredible. And a minuscule 0.7 WHIP. He basically walks nobody. No MLB betting freebies from the pitcher or the Cardinals these days, who are sitting atop the NL Central and are a tough opponent for all-comers. Still, they’re only about 6 games over .500, and just can’t seem to pull away from a surprisingly mediocre division. If you let those Cubs hang around long enough, they might just get their act together. Not likely, but always possible. Both teams are a little above average in their last 10 games, so taking that into account, along with the strong pitching from Carpenter and the fact that the Cardinals are at home, they should be seen as a strong favorite. Cardinals -160, Giants +145. I think the Cards are a safe bet, even with the amount you’d have to put up. Take the under on this one, too. Neither offense has been in high gear lately. The pitchers should be able to keep it to a 6 or 7 run game.