The long wait is finally over the MLB playoff baseball odds are finally in play.
Seven months, 162 games and several manager firings later the post season has finally arrived and the baseball fans everywhere are in a frenzy to catch the opening night of the post season on Wednesday.
In the AL, the early game featuring the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays versus the Texas Rangers looks intriguing. The late game featuring the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins lacks the same excitement due to the fact that that Twinkies are just 2-8 in their past ten games heading into the season and will be without their player Justin Morneau.
But both the Rays and Rangers will be at full speed on Wednesday in the big Juice Box in Tampa and we should see some exciting baseball.
The Rays are a better team and will send out their ace David Price to the mound. Price is leading Cy Young candidate in the AL with a 19-6 record and a 2.72 ERA. He’s been arguably the best pitcher in the baseball odds competition this season and hasn’t lost a game since August 27th. That’s not about to change in Game 1 of this series.
Texas will also send its ace to the mound but Cliff Lee is no David Price. Since coming over in a mid-season trade Lee has been good, even taking over the top spot in the rotation, but he hasn’t been Cy Young good. He’s 12-9 this season with a 3.12 ERA and has given up just 7 runs in his past 4 starts.
But against the Rays, a team with the best record in the MLB baseball lines, it won’t be enough.
Even though Texas has some great bats like Josh Hamilton and Vlad Guerrero Price is simply too dominant on the mound and should keep the Rangers in check. The Rays also have a sturdy bull pen and perhaps the best closer in the game in Rafael Soriano. This team also hits well at home and should finally have a packed house for this playoff series.
Look for the Rays to draw first blood and to take a 1-0 lead in this baseball odds series.