With a week to go before the Major League Baseball season gets underway, the American League appears to be wide open. While the Boston Red Sox have made major improvements to last years team, the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers have all appeared to take a step back. The road to opening day 2011 continues with some key MLB betting matchups this weekend, beginning Saturday afternoon in Florida.
Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays
Saturday, 1:05 PM ET
For all that Orioles manager Buck Showalter has said in recent weeks, will his 2011 Orioles once fall to the AL East basement? Baltimore has been the worst team in the leagues most competitive division for far too long, and after his comments in the April edition of Mens Journal, Showalter has to be hoping that his team will back him up. The Orioles will get another solid test against a division rival on Saturday when they take on the Rays, who are hoping that Manny Ramirez can help fill the gap left by Carl Crawford in the order. Ramirez is joined by another former Red Sox hitter in Johnny Damon, who is projected to bat second behind Ben Zobrist.
MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays
Los Angeles Angels @ Chicago White Sox
Saturday, 4:05 PM ET
The Angels will have one of the deepest batting orders in the league this year, but it has still not been determined who will hit in the heart of the order. Vernon Wells could move back as far as sixth, with Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter taking the three and four. Los Angeles will be tough to beat in the AL West this season, while the White Sox continue to try and figure things out as one of the top contenders in the Central division. Chicago has had the sports betting bonus talent and depth to be one of the top teams in the AL for a couple of years, but have never been able to put it together.
MLB Betting Pick: Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins @ Boston Red Sox
Saturday, 7:05 PM ET
The Red Sox may have the most complete team in the league this year, and the fact that they managed to finish strong without Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkillis in the lineup down the stretch has provided even more depth for this year. Manager Terry Francona can adjust his hitting to match up against opposition pitchers, and this could be the year Boston finds its sports betting way back to the top.
MLB Betting Pick: Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners
Sunday, 4:05 PM ET
The defending AL champions lost Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies, but picked up Adrian Beltre to bolster their offense this season. Texas still has a solid young core capable of leading them back to the top of the AL West, and will give a preview of exactly why on Sunday afternoon against the division rival Mariners.
MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers