The online betting realm, when applied to American League baseball for the coming weekend, offers a pair of appreciably interesting plays. Trust a couple of A.L. East powers at home.
American League Weekend Betting Picks:
Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees – Saturday, April 16 – 1:05 PM ET
The laws of physics – and of sports betting gurus as well – generally suggest that if a formidable team playing at home is facing a less-than-fully-proven starting pitcher on the other side of the divide, it should win. This is the situation that MLB baseball betting experts are confronting this weekend at the new Yankee Stadium, when the Pinstripes host the Texas Rangers in a rematch of last year’s American League Championship Series. The starting pitcher for the Yankees will be A.J. Burnett, a talented but inconsistent starter who normally delivers the goods but will flop on enough occasions to make his fan base (and manager Jo Girardi) worry. Yet, Burnett will not be the top point of focus for this Saturday afternoon encounter in the Bronx. Texas will be sending Matt Harrison to the hill to take on the Yankees. Harrison was not a core part of the Rangers’ march to the franchise’s first World Series last season. Harrison was mostly an observer, registering just six starts and taking in the ALCS from a sedentary position. Harrison will now step onto the rubber at Yankee Stadium, a new ballpark but still an intimidating venue for any youngster who is still learning how to pitch at a big-league level. Burnett might go only five and two-thirds innings and give up four runs, but Harrison could very well get shelled by the Yanks’ bats. When all is said and done, New York is a very attractive choice in this game. Veteran pitchers are normally better at handling themselves in the middle of April, when the season is still young and arms are still loosening up.
Texas New York Betting Pick: New York Yankees
Game Number Two:
Toronto Blue Jays @ Boston Red Sox – Saturday, April 16 – 1:10 PM ET
In many ways, the same issue betting analysts are facing in the above Texas-New York game is also a core part of the backdrop for this game between Toronto and Boston. The Blue Jays will be throwing Jo-Jo Reyes this Saturday afternoon in New England, while the Red Sox – who have struggled in the first week and a half of the season – will be sending reliable hand Josh Beckett to the mound. Yes, it’s true that Beckett has been injured in recent years and that the right-handed fireballer hasn’t possessed quite as much mustard or bite on his pitches. Nevertheless, Jo-Jo Reyes, a not-very-credentialed pitcher, is going to face a very tough challenge in Fenway Park against a good hitting team in a ballpark that’s very friendly to batsmen. The Red Sox should get healthy, at least for one day, and they should feast on Reyes’ offerings in a matchup that definitely tilts toward one side. Pick Boston.
Toronto Boston Betting Pick: Boston