Mets and Orioles Wrap Up Spring Training in Baseball Gambling. Baseball gambling gets underway in the regular season tomorrow but there is still another day of Spring Training on Saturday. The Orioles host the Mets in MLB gambling on Saturday with the Orioles a small home favorite. Baseball gambling odds on the Mets are going to be interesting to watch early in the season. The team has some injury concerns that will affect their odds. One of the biggest questions surrounds shortstop Jose Reyes. The Mets are simply not as good offensively without Reyes in the lineup. He may not be ready for opening day. “I can’t tell you he’s not going to be ready,” general manager Omar Minaya said. At the same time Minaya also said the team is not going to rush Reyes. “We’re not going to rush for the sake of one game,” Minaya said. “Having him play the whole [or the vast majority of the games] is the most important thing.”
Another huge problem for the Mets is that Reyes has not seen any playing time in Spring Training. The exhibition games are used so that players can get ready for the regular season. Reyes has been working out and taking batting practice but that is not the same as playing in games. The Mets have other injury issues as well since Carlos Beltran will start the season on the DL. Pitcher Johan Santana is coming off an injury but at least with him some of the signs are encouraging. Overall though, the Mets don’t look like a team that can win consistently in baseball gambling.
The Orioles have issues as well heading into the regular season. They are trying to find a fifth starter. Chris Tillman was thought to be the favorite for that spot but Jason Berken and David Hernandez have pitched well. “What I was telling our staff is we got guys competing for our spots and we don’t have spots competing for guys,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. “And that is a pleasant development, particularly as it relates to our pitching.” Baltimore has a tough start to the season. In fact, the Orioles may have the toughest schedule of any team in the early part of the MLB gambling season. They play 16 straight games starting April 6 vs. Tampa Bay. In a 12 day stretch during the first month of the season they will play the Yankees and Red Sox in consecutive series.