Divisional Leaders Should Do Well in Sports Betting After the Break. The All-Star break in Major League Baseball is here and there are some definite sports betting trends to consider on certain teams. Teams that lead their division, normally make the playoffs while teams more than a few games out rarely make a run. Which teams lead their respective divisions and which ones are within range that could be the ones to watch in online sports betting?
Sports betting odds on the New York Yankees will continue to favor them in the second half. The Yankees lead the American League East and that should not change. Tampa Bay and Boston are right behind but the Yankees figure to win the division. The Rays may have more pitching than Boston but the Red Sox don’t figure to go away. It should be quite a battle for the Wild Card spot.
The Chicago White Sox lead the American League Central at the break, but just barely. They are just ahead of Detroit and Minnesota. Whichever teams goes out and makes a deal might end up winning this division. The American League West is led by Texas and with the addition of Cliff Lee they might have enough to hold off the Los Angeles Angels.
In the National League the Braves lead the East but the Mets and Phillies are within striking distance. Atlanta has the better pitching but they may not have the hitting to hold off those two teams. The Reds lead the Central but the Cardinals are right there and this might be the best race although the National League West could be just as good. The Padres and the Rockies are fighting for the division lead but the Dodgers and Giants are both in the picture. The Rockies could be the team poised to win the division as they will get Troy Tulowitzki back from injury in the second half plus they have the best pitcher in the league in Ubaldo Jimenez.
History is on the side of teams that lead their divisions at the All-Star break. Teams that lead their division at the break make the playoffs about 73% of the time. Teams that have losing records at the break almost never make the playoffs. Only two teams with below .500 records at the break have ever made the playoffs.