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The New York Yankees will send their ace to the mound on Thursday night as they close out their three-game home series against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays and try to pay off on the MLB betting lines for their supporters in the process.

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New York is slated to hand the ball to C.C. Sabathia (4-0, 4.15 ERA) on Thursday – with live play-by-play betting available for the contest at Bovada. The big lefthander has only been involved in one loss so far this season – but that was against Tampa Bay back in April.

Sabathia allowed five runs on eight hits in his six innings of work against the Rays on April 6, but got away with a no-decision in a 7-6 Yankees loss. In his career Sabathia is 9-7 with a 3.25 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 177 1-3 innings pitched against the Rays.

New York has managed to win each of Sabathia's five starts since that April outing against Tampa Bay, with the lefthander striking out 43 batters and walking nine in 43 1-3 innings.

David Price (5-1, 2.35 ERA) will start for the Rays on Thursday, and he picked up a win in that early-April series at home against the Yankees when he held them to just two runs on five hits over 6 1-3 innings. The lefthander only has one blemish on his record this season, falling to Boston on April 13 (three runs on four hits in just three innings of work).

In his career Price is 5-2 against New York with a 3.96 ERA in his 86 1-3 innings pitched.

On the MLB futures at Bovada heading into Wednesday's action the Yankees were listed at 9/1 on the odds to win the World Series, with the Rays behind them at 10/1 despite having a better record.

First pitch for Thursday is set for 7:05pm ET at Yankee Stadium, with Tampa Bay then opening a series in Baltimore on Friday. The Yankees will stay home to take on Seattle.

The New York Yankees starting rotation has been nothing short of a disaster this season. Thanks to one of baseball’s best offenses, the Yanks are still hanging around the lead in the American League East. But that won’t continue if the pitching doesn’t improve, and New York is hoping the return of left-hander Andy Pettitte is just what the rotation needs. He makes his first start in nearly two years Sunday vs. the Mariners. New York is a big -200 favorite on Bovada’s baseball odds.

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Pettitte last pitched a big-league game in the 2010 ALCS and then retired. But he changed his mind this spring and made four starts in the minors before being called up; he was 0-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 17 innings. Pettitte is 240-138 with a 3.38 ERA in 13 years with the Yankees and three with Houston. Those are likely Hall of Fame numbers, especially when you consider his postseason success as Pettitte ranks as the all-time leader in postseason wins (19), starts (42) and innings pitched (263).

Pettitte’s last big-league start was against the Rangers on Oct. 18, 2010 in Game 3 of the ALCS. He pitched well, allowing just two runs and five hits over seven innings, but the Yankees lost 8-0. In that regular season, Pettitte went 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA. He made the All-Star team, but missed much of the second half due to injuries.

When the Yankees signed Pettitte in the middle of March, it appeared he was the team's seventh legitimate starter. However, the starting pitching has performed well below expectations while dealing with injuries. Michael Pineda, the big offseason addition via trade, is out for the season after shoulder surgery. Freddy Garcia already has been demoted from the rotation and Phil Hughes has struggled mightily. Only CC Sabathia has been dependable.

Pettitte has had moderate success in his career vs. the Mariners, going 11-11 with a 4.33 ERA in 23 starts. This year’s Seattle team isn’t very good offensively, ranking near the bottom of the AL in batting average and runs. Ichiro has had some success vs. Pettitte, hitting .381 in his past 21 at-bats against the lefty.

Seattle starts struggling right-hander Kevin Millwood (0-4, 5.88). Millwood gave up five runs in five innings to pick up the loss against the Tigers on Tuesday. He allowed eight hits and five walks, striking out three. Blake Beavan was originally to start this game but left his last start after just three innings when a line drive hit him in the elbow. He will now go Tuesday.

The main reason the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in baseball at 24-11 and a six-game lead in the National League West – the biggest lead in MLB – is because of Matt Kemp, who is easily your early NL MVP. But Kemp went on the disabled list Monday night with a hamstring injury and will miss at least a few weeks. L.A. has won five straight heading into Tuesday night’s two-game series finale with Arizona and is a -130 favorite on Bovada’s MLB baseball odds.

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Kemp missed L.A.’s 3-1 win over the Snakes, ending his major-league best 399 consecutive games played streak. Kemp’s hamstring has been bothering him for more than a week and he tweaked the hammy on Sunday. The only other time Kemp has been placed on the disabled list was in 2007, when he suffered a slight shoulder separation running into the new out-of-town scoreboard in right field. He is hitting.359 average with 12 homers and 28 RBIs. However, he's 0 for 13 over his last four games and has hasn’t yet homered in May.

Mattingly said Tony Gwynn Jr. will be Kemp's primary replacement in center field, but Andre Ethier also might get a few starts in center with Jerry Sands, just up from Triple-A, playing right. Gwynn started in center on Monday and was 0-for-3 and is hitting .258 this season. Sands was hitting .257 and ranked second on Albuquerque with seven home runs while leading the Isotopes in RBIs (28) and runs scored (27).

The Dodgers also placed third baseman Juan Uribe on the DL on Monday. Adam Kennedy replaced Uribe in Monday night's lineup and was 0-for-2, dropping his average to .171. Mattingly mentioned Elian Herrera and Justin Sellers as possible replacements.

The Snakes start lefty Wade Miley against Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley. Last time out, Miley (3-1, 2.76) allowed three runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 7-2 loss to the Cardinals. Billingsley lasted just four innings in his last start, allowing seven hits and two runs vs. the Giants. He is 10-7 with a 3.60 ERA career vs. Arizona.

Have the Boston Red Sox finally figured things out this season? Boston remains in last place in the American League East Division but the Sox have won an MLB-high five games in a row as they start a series at Tampa Bay on Wednesday night. The Rays are -145 favorites on Bovada’s MLB baseball odds tonight with the total at 8.5

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Behind seven shutout innings from Josh Beckett on Tuesday, the Sox beat Seattle 5-0 to sweep their second series in a row. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks has been a sensation since being recalled and had and RBI single in Tuesday’s win for his 14th RBI in just 12 games.

This streak has drawn the Sox to within two games of .500 (17-19) after they'd begun the month of May with losses in eight of their first nine games. The Sox outscored the Mariners, 11-1, in this two-game set, and in their five wins against Cleveland and Seattle outscored their opponents, 34-8. But the schedule gets much harder starting with this two-game Rays series. Boston did beat Tampa Bay three of four games in a series at Fenway back in April.

Tampa Bay is tied for the AL East lead with Baltimore and has won three in a row. The Rays just swept a mini-series at the Blue Jays and starting tonight play 14 of their next 17 games at home. Tampa Bay is 13-3 at Tropicana Field, the best home record in the American League. The Rays have been able keep winning even without All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria on the DL and he’s not likely to return for at least another 4-6 weeks. In addition, outfielder Desmond Jennings and starting pitcher Jeff Niemann both were recently placed on the DL.

The pitching matchup tonight features Boston right-hander Clay Buchholz against Rays righty Jeremy Hellickson, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year. Buchholz (4-1, 8.31) is coming off a rare good outing, having allowed three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings to beat Cleveland on Friday. He faced the Rays on April 14 and got the win despite allowing five runs in seven innings.

Hellickson (3-0, 2.95) also last pitched Friday and got a no-decision vs. Baltimore when he allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, but he picked up a no-decision. Hellickson got a no-decision vs. Buchholz in that April 14 game, allowing five runs and three homers in five innings.

Major League Baseball’s interleague play resumes for the first time this season on Friday as 28 of baseball’s 30 teams will be going against a foe from the opposite league. Certainly one of the marquee matchups circled this spring was this weekend’s Red Sox at Phillies set, but both clubs have been vast disappointments and reside in the basement of their divisions. Philadelphia is a -145 favorite for Friday’s Game 1 on Bovada’s baseball odds with the total at 7.5 runs.

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The Sox and Phillies have the highest payrolls in baseball of teams not named the Yankees. Boston actually trimmed some payroll this offseason in large part by deciding not to re-sign closer Jonathan Papelbon despite his 219 career saves and 2.33 ERA in his career with Boston. So Philadelphia snapped up Papelbon this offseason for a four-year, $50 million deal. He has been pretty good this year, with 10 saves (none blown) and a 2.40 ERA entering Thursday.

Papelbon, who wears No. 58, said this about this series: "Of course I'm looking forward to it. I want bragging rights. I mean, it's simple. Cinco Ocho wants bragging rights."

Boston could use Papelbon as the back end of the Sox’s bullpen was a disaster for most of April with projected closer Andrew Bailey likely out until the All-Star break. Alfredo Aceves leads Boston with seven saves (but with a 5.74 ERA) and actually has been better the past few weeks after getting torched to start the season.

The Red Sox have been very good in interleague play, going 150-115 (.566) all-time, which is the third-best mark in MLB. The Phillies have struggled, going 115-135 (.460). Philadelphia took two of three at home vs. Boston last year. The American League has “won” interleague play for eight straight seasons.

The starters for Game 1 are scheduled to be Boston right-hander Daniel Bard, once considered a successor to Papelbon, and Phillies lefty Cole Hamels. Bard (3-4, 4.30) had one of his best starts the last time out, holding the Indians to one run on six hits over six innings. Hamels, meanwhile is 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA since losing his first start of the season. He is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 23 career innings vs. Boston.

The New York Yankees will open up their 2012 MLB interleague schedule at home on Friday night as the Cincinnati Reds head east to the Big Apple to begin a three-game series. Get your MLB odds for the series at Bovada.

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And the Yankees will be giving the ball to veteran lefthander Andy Pettitte for Friday's contest, as he makes his second start of the season. Pettitte came out of retirement over the winter and started the campaign in the minor leagues before making his return to the majors with a start against the Mariners at home last Sunday.

However, any MLB bettors who took a chance on Pettitte on the baseball betting lines for that contest came away disappointed, as he allowed four runs on seven hits in his 6 1-3 innings of work in a 6-2 Yankees defeat. Pettitte gave up two home runs and walked three batters in that defeat, while recording a pair of strikeouts.

Heading to the hill for the Reds in Friday's series opener is Bronson Arroyo. The righthander is just 2-1 through seven starts this season, but Cincinnati managed to pick up the win in five of those contests to pay off on the MLB betting lines at Bovada. Arroyo has a solid 3.25 ERA on the season, and he's fanned 33 while walking just five over 44 1-3 innings.

Saturday's Reds/Yankees contest is expected to be a matchup of Cincinnati's Homer Bailey (1-3, 4.35 ERA) against New York's Ivan Nova (4-1, 5.44 ERA), while on Sunday the probable pitchers are Johnny Cueto (4-1, 1.89 ERA) for the Reds and CC Sabathia (5-1, 3.77 ERA) for the Yankees.

The Yankees will be looking to take care of business against their National League opponent this weekend as they try to at least keep pace in the tight AL East; even though they currently trail both Tampa Bay and Baltimore in their division standings they're still high on the World Series futures at 17/2 to win the title this year. The Reds are at 20/1.

Things are not going well right now for the St. Louis Cardinals – not only have they gone 2-8 in their past 10 games entering Monday but they also likely lost first baseman Lance Berkman for the season to an expected ACL tear.

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Berkman was to have an MRI on his right knee Monday that was expected to confirm a preliminary diagnosis that he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament. He was hurt during Saturday night’s loss to the Dodgers. It’s quite possible that the 36-year-old, who was placed on the 15-day DL Sunday, has played the final game of his career. Berkman has had four knee surgeries already -- two on each knee.

The injury happened in the second inning, when Berkman made an inning-ending putout at first base. His knee buckled as he came off the base, as Berkman described it, and he fell onto the infield grass after briefly hobbling on his left leg. Berkman was making just his fifth start since coming off the disabled list last Sunday.

A left calf strain limited him to seven at-bats from April 10 to May 12. Including a first-inning popout on Saturday, Berkman was 6-for-19 since returning from the DL. He is hitting .333 with a homer and four RBIs this season. The best-case scenario is that the injury is just a torn meniscus. If that's the case, Berkman will have cleanup surgery and be out a few weeks.

Top prospect Matt Adams was called up from Triple-A Sunday when Berkman was placed on the DL. Adams started at first base Sunday against the Dodgers and had a pair of hits.

The Cardinals have already placed three players on the DL since last Monday -- outfielder Jon Jay (right shoulder sprain), outfielder/first baseman Allen Craig (left hamstring strain) and reliever Kyle McClellan (right elbow strain). Outfielder Carlos Beltran was also limited for part of the week, as he has been dealing with soreness in his right knee.

The Birds are big -180 Bovada favorites for the opener of their series tonight with San Diego. Jaime Garcia (3-2, 3.68) starts for St. Louis against the Padres’ Clayton Richard (2-5, 4.94).

The Philadelphia Phillies were the favorites on the World Series odds at Bovada back in spring training, but a sluggish start to the 2012 campaign has seen them slip on that list. They'll get a chance to assert themselves starting Monday when they begin a three-game home series against the Washington Nationals.

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The Nationals, who finished 21.5 games behind the division-winning Phillies last season, are ahead of Philadelphia in the NL East so far this year - although they suffered a setback over the weekend with an interleague series loss to the Orioles.

Still, Washington entered Sunday's action up to respectable 16/1 odds on the MLB futures at Bovada to win the 2012 World Series, and at 7/1 odds to win the NL Pennant. The Phillies sat at 10/1 on the odds to win the World Series, and as the 4/1 favorites to claim the NL Pennant in the fall.

For Monday the Phillies will be looking for a solid outing from starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick, who has yet to earn a win through four starts and nine overall appearances this season.

Righthander Kendrick is 0-3 with a 5.96 ERA on the season, and Philadelphia is 1-8 against the MLB odds at Bovada in games in which he's appeared in 2012. However, Kendrick was solid in a no-decision against the Cubs last time out (one earned run over six innings), and he held the Nationals to one run over five innings of work in a no-decision on May 4.

Philly will then turn to some higher-profile hurlers to close out the three-games series, with Roy Halladay (4-3, 3.22 ERA) slated to pitch on Tuesday and Cole Hamels (6-1, 2.48 ERA) expected to take to the mound on Wednesday.

Washington's probable pitchers for the series are Gio Gonzalez (5-1, 2.22 ERA), Jordan Zimmermann (2-4, 2.58 ERA), and Edwin Jackson (1-1, 3.31 ERA). Ace righthander Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 2.25 ERA) won't pitch against the Phillies; he was on the mound against the Orioles on Sunday.

The Boston Red Sox will continue their three-game road series at Baltimore's Camden Yards on Tuesday night as they take on the Orioles in the middle contest of the set. Get your MLB betting line for the game at Bovada.

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After a sluggish start to the season the Red Sox have been piling up the victories lately, winning eight of their past 10 games heading into their series opener with the Orioles on Monday – including taking two of three from the Phillies over the weekend.

That stretch has Boston back in the thick of things in the AL East division race, and has kept them from tumbling farther down the MLB futures at Bovada – heading into Monday the Red Sox were at 12/1 to win the AL Pennant and 20/1 to win the World Series.

The Orioles also won their interleague series over the weekend, beating the Nationals twice in three tries to retain their unexpected lead in the AL East standings. The O's are now at 18/1 to win the AL Pennant and at 35/1 to win the World Series.

Boston's probable pitcher for Tuesday night is lefthander Felix Doubront, who is 4-1 with a 4.09 ERA through eight starts this season. Doubrant, who is on a personal three-game winning streak, has pitched three innings of relief against Baltimore in his career, allowing a pair of home runs and posting an ERA of 6.00.

Brian Matusz is slated to hit the hill for the Orioles on Tuesday, and he's sitting at 3-4 on the season with a 5.36 ERA. Matusz has earned the win in each of his last two starts, and in six career outings against Boston he's 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA.

First pitch for the BoSox/Orioles game on Tuesday is set for 7:05pm ET, with the series coming to an end on Wednesday afternoon with a 12:35pm ET contest. Boston's Daniel Bard (3-5, 4.85 ERA) is set to take on Baltimore's Jake Arrieta (2-4, 4.72 ERA) that day.

Running away with the NL West division, the Los Angeles Dodgers will try to tag one of their rivals with another loss on Wednesday night as they close out their three-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bet on Major League Baseball at Bovada.

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The Dodgers finished 11.5 games back of the Diamondbacks in the division standings last season, but with 29 wins in their first 42 outings heading into Tuesday's action they have managed to build up a sizable lead in the NL West.

And that has Los Angeles up to 12/1 on the latest World Series odds at Bovada, well ahead of the 40/1 Diamondbacks. The Dodgers also sit at 5/1 to claim the National League Pennant this season, with Arizona at 20/1 on that odds list.

A month ago the Dodgers were at 20/1 to win the World Series, with Arizona at 22/1.

Ted Lilly will put his perfect 5-0 record on the line for the Dodgers on Wednesday night; the lefthander has posted a 1.79 ERA through seven starts this season, with his team picking up the win in six of those games. Lilly is 5-7 with a 4.14 ERA in his career against Arizona.

Arizona will send Joe Saunders to the mound on Wednesday, and he's 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA on the season. The lefthander hasn't won since pitching a shutout against the Marlins back on April 27, and he's 3-6 with a 3.89 ERA in 11 career starts against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles still won't have the services of star outfielder Matt Kemp (hamstring injury) on Wednesday; he's not eligible to be activated from the disabled list until May 29.

The good news for the sliding Chicago Cubs is Ryan Dempster is starting Friday’s series opener in Pittsburgh, and Dempster has one of the lowest ERAs in baseball of any starter. The bad news is that the Cubs are so bad that Dempster is still winless this season. Chicago takes a nine-game losing streak into Friday’s game and the Pirates are -115 favorites on Bovada’s MLB baseball odds

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The Cubs, who were off Thursday, were just swept by the Houston Astros to fall to 15-29 (.341), the worst record in baseball. Chicago is 6-14 on the road this year, which is among the worst marks in MLB. The Cubs’ nine-game skid is their longest since dropping the same number of games from May 8-18, 2002. A quarter of the way through the season, the Cubs are on pace to break the franchise records for losses (103) and worst winning percentage (.364).

For a while this season, Dempster (0-2, 2.28) had the best ERA in baseball but given up four runs in each of his past two outings. And he’s not likely to win allowing four runs considering the Cubs have scored three or fewer runs in six of his seven starts. Dempster is trying to end a 16-game winless streak. The entire Cubs rotation has a 5.68 ERA since May 10, second highest in baseball.

Pittsburgh has won just three of its past nine games and the Pirates are averaging just 2.86 runs per game after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Mets. Pittsburgh's offensive output is the lowest in baseball and it has scored more than five runs in a game just three times all season. The Pirates start former Yankee A.J. Burnett (2-2, 4.78). He has allowed just six runs in 22 innings over his last three outings and the Pirates have won all three.

Chicago is 4-0 in its past four meetings in Pittsburgh. But the Cubs are 1-4 in their past five openers of a series and 0-6 in Dempster’s past six starts vs. teams with a losing record.

A pair of clubs moving up the standings in the National League will meet on the diamond to open up a four-game series on Thursday night as the Miami Marlins play host to the San Francisco Giants. Get your MLB odds for the series at Bovada.

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Looking to make up further ground in their respective division races this weekend, the Giants and Marlins will kick things off on Thursday night with a pitching matchup between San Francisco's Ryan Vogelsong and Miami's Anibal Sanchez.

Vogelsong faced the Marlins in a start in San Francisco back on May 3, and he was the victim of a lack of run support as he allowed just two runs (one earned) on eight hits over seven innings of work but got tagged with the loss in a 3-2 Miami victory.

That is the lone blemish on Vogelsong's record over his past four starts, as he went 2-0 with a no-decision in the other three outings while allowing just two runs in 21 1-3 innings; the righthander overall is 2-2 on the season with a tidy 2.27 ERA.

Sanchez's numbers are almost the same as Vogelsong's this season, as he's 2-2 with a 2.32 ERA. That May 3 contest was kinder to Sanchez, as he earned the win that day by allowing just one run on seven hits in seven innings pitched.

On the World Series futures heading into the action on the diamond on Wednesday night the 25/1 Giants were just behind the 22/1 Marlins. Miami was also at 11/1 to win the National League Pennant, with San Francisco at 12/1 on that list.

First pitch for Thursday is set for 7:10pm ET in Miami, with the series continuing Friday with a matchup between struggling aces Tim Lincecum (2-4, 6.04 ERA) and Josh Johnson (2-3, 4.82 ERA). The series then wraps up with matinees on both Saturday and Sunday.

National League contenders meet on the diamond once again on Thursday night in Cincinnati as the Reds look to close out their four-game home series against the Braves with a victory behind the pitching of Homer Bailey. Get MLB odds for the game at Bovada.

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Bailey is 2-3 with a 4.34 ERA on the season, and he's coming off a winning performance against the Yankees last time out – allowing three runs on seven hits over 6 1-3 innings at Yankee Stadium while striking out a season-high seven batters.

The righthander will also be drawing on some recent success against the Braves in Thursday's start, as he took a no-decision against Atlanta on May 14 when he gave up just a single run on six hits in 6 2-3 innings of work; Cincinnati won that game by a 3-1 score.

Bailey's opponent that day was Braves righthander Randall Delgado, who also picked up a no-decision in the contest after surrendering only a single unearned run on four hits in 6 2-3 innings pitched. Delgado starts again on Thursday.

Delgado is 2-4 on the season with a 4.26 ERA, but he hasn't picked up a win since he earned back-to-back victories against the Astros and Mets to open the season. Against the Rays in Tampa Bay last time out Delgado gave up four runs in four innings in a loss.

In the pack at the top of the NL East division, the Braves sat at 12/1 on the World Series odds at Bovada and at 11/2 to win the NL Pennant heading into Wednesday night's action. The Reds were at 20/1 to win the World Series and at 9/1 to claim the NL Pennant.

After finishing up with the Reds on Thursday the Braves will head home to start a three-game series against the Nationals on Friday night. The Reds will remain at home to start a three-game series against the Rockies on Friday.

The big news in Major League Baseball on Thursday was a New York Daily News report that the Steinbrenner family was quietly kicking the tires on a sale of the most treasured property in sports: the New York Yankees. Could it happen? There is a yes-only prop on Bovada’s MLB baseball odds at 15/1 that the Bombers switch hands sometime in 2012.

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The thought of a Steinbrenner not owning the Yankees is probably foreign to anyone under the age of 50. George Steinbrenner became a worldwide name as the owner of the Yankees. “The Boss” headed a group that bought the Yankees from CBS Inc. in 1973 for about $8.7 million. But Steinbrenner died two years ago.

One reason the Steinbrenner family might have an interest now is because the Los Angeles Dodgers just sold for more than $2 billion. That means the Yankees, with their built-in YES cable network and new stadium, could easily fetch $3 billion or more – and suitors would be lining up around the block for this team.

Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner had this to say about the sale report: ''It is pure fiction. 'The Yankees are not for sale. I expect that the Yankees will be in my family for many years to come.''

From a competitive standpoint, a sale might make sense. This is an aging team with a bloated payroll – hello Alex Rodriguez – that could fall to the bottom of the AL East for the next few years behind younger teams with more talent like the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. All three of those clubs are ahead of the Yanks in the current standings.

In addition, Hal Steinbrenner has made no secret he wants to start cutting some payroll to get under the luxury tax penalty. New York’s only big free-agent addition this offseason was pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, and he only got a one-year deal.

The New York Times has reported that George Steinbrenner set up myriad trusts throughout the Yankees empire for his children and grandchildren that include restrictions that would make selling the team difficult, if not impossible. Thus if the family wanted to sell the team, all the Steinbrenner heirs would have to agree and present a plan to outside trustees to show that it benefited the family. Plus proceeds from any sale would be subject to the federal capital gains tax, which would be at a rate of 15 percent. However, President Obama is looking to raise that rate, so perhaps selling now would be the best time.

Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers (Flickr Creative Commons)

Floundering in the NL Central standings, the Milwaukee Brewers will be looking for some signs of life on Monday as they begin a four-game road series against a tough opponent – the NL-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Get odds for Major League Baseball at Bovada.

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Life without Prince Fielder hasn't been kind for the Brewers this season, as they head into Monday's action in fifth place in the NL Central – with only the skidding Chicago Cubs behind them in those standings.

And that means you have to scroll way down the MLB futures lists at Bovada to find the Brewers these days; heading into Sunday's action they were way back at 50/1 on the odds to win the World Series, and at 25/1 to claim the National League Pennant in the fall.

Shaun Marcum is Milwaukee's scheduled starter for Monday night, and he's coming off back-to-back losses to the Giants and Astros in which he allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits in just 11 innings pitched; that has Marcum 2-3 with a 3.93 ERA on the season.

Marcum's opponent on Monday will be the Dodgers' Aaron Harang, who is 3-2 with a 4.36 ERA in 2012. The righthander avoided a loss against the Diamondbacks last time out, giving up five runs on nine hits in 4 1-3 innings in an 8-7 win for the Dodgers.

Harang beat the Brewers in Milwaukee on April 19, surrendering three runs in six innings.

With a solid lead in the NL West standings heading into their series against the Brewers the Dodgers were set as the co-favorites with the Phillies at 9/2 on the odds to win the NL Pennant at last update. Los Angeles was also up to 10/1 on Bovada's World Series odds.

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Two teams that have been hot over the past week will meet on the diamond in Los Angeles on Monday as the Angels play host to the New York Yankees to start a three-game series. Bet on MLB with Bovada.

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The Yankees find themselves in third place in the American League East heading into their set against the Angels, but after winning back-to-back series against the Royals and Athletics they've made up some ground in the division on the Orioles and Rays.

And the Yankees have to be encouraged by the recent performances turned in by Monday's probable starter, Phil Hughes. The righthander is just 4-5 on the season with a pedestrian 4.94 ERA, but he's allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last three outings.

Hughes, though, won't be able to draw any inspiration from his start against the Angels earlier in the season, as he was pounded for six runs on eight hits in just 3 1-3 innings by Los Angeles in a loss back in April.

Yankees hitters will be in tough on Monday, as they'll be up against Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver. The righthander is a sparkling 6-1 on the season with a 2.61 ERA, and he's allowed three or fewer runs in all but two of his 10 outings so far in 2012.

Los Angeles still finds itself well back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West standings heading into the week, but at least pricey free agent first baseman Albert Pujols has found his power stroke again as the Angels try to get back into the division race.

On the MLB futures at Bovada heading into Sunday's action the Angels sat at 18/1 on the odds to win the World Series, with New York behind the Rangers and Rays at 19/2 on the list. Los Angeles was also at 10/1 to win the AL Pennant, with New York set at 19/4.

Philip Humber threw a perfect game in Seattle back on April 21, but that's the only win he's been able to pick up through eight starts this season. Humber will try again for a win on Tuesday night as his Chicago White Sox play on the road again in Tampa Bay.

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Humber is 0-2 with four no-decisions in his six starts since pitching that perfect game against the Mariners, and he's coming off a rough outing against the Twins in which he gave up five runs on six hits in just 4 1-3 innings of work. The righthander, though, escaped with a no-decision in that contest after his team put up 11 runs and got the win.

Overall Humber is 1-2 on the season with a 5.80 ERA, and in three career appearances against Tampa Bay he's 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA.

The Rays' probable pitcher for Tuesday is James Shields, who had to settle for a no-decision against the Blue Jays in his most recent start despite giving up just two earned runs over 7 1-3 innings of work and striking out 10 batters.

The righthander is 6-2 with a 3.63 ERA on the season, and he hasn't given up more than four earned runs in a start since his first outing of the year back on April 6. Shields has made nine career starts against the White Sox, going 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA in those games.

Tampa Bay is riding high on the MLB futures at Bovada, sitting tied with the Yankees at 9/1 on the odds to win the World Series heading into Monday's action – behind only the 5/1 Rangers. The Rays were also listed at 9/2 to claim the AL Pennant this fall.

The White Sox were back at 35/1 to win the World Series and 18/1 to win the AL Pennant.

After playing on Tuesday night (first pitch is 7:10pm ET) the Rays and White Sox will close out their three-game series with a matinee on Wednesday.

Don’t look now, but the preseason American League favorite Los Angeles Angels are the hottest team in baseball as the Halos take a seven-game winning streak into Tuesday night’s Game 2 of their series with the visiting New York Yankees. L.A. is a -130 favorite on Bovada’s MLB baseball odds and there will be live play-by-play betting at the book.

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The Angels won in dramatic style on Monday night as Mark Trumbo won it with a walk-off solo home run off Cory Wade for a 9-8 victory. After a horrible start to a season of high expectations, the Angels (25-25) are finally back to .500 for the first time since April 9. Howie Kendrick and Kendrys Morales drove in three runs apiece for the Angels, who snapped the Yankees' five-game winning streak. Mike Trout homered and Albert Pujols had two hits for the Angels, who got a hit from every batter.

The news wasn’t all good, however. Ace pitcher Jered Weaver left in the first inning after just 12 pitches with a lower back injury. He will have X-rays and an MRI today. The team won't make a decision about a possible stint on the disabled list until the test results are known. Weaver is 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA and a no-hitter this season.

Outfielder Torii Hunter rejoined his Angels teammates Monday after spending two weeks in Texas helping his family deal with sexual-assault charges against his 17-year-old son Darius. Hunter is hopeful he will be activated from the restricted list before tonight’s game. He was batting .256 with five home runs and 15 RBIs when he left the team and flew home.

Los Angeles turns to Dan Haren tonight against Yankees veteran lefty Andy Pettitte. Haren (2-5, 3.76) comes off the game of his life as he threw a complete-game four-hit shutout last time out vs. Seattle, striking out 14 and walking none. Pettitte (2-1, 2.53) has been a godsend for a struggling Yankee rotation. He has struck out 17 batters in his past 15 innings of work, permitting just two runs, two walks and 11 hits. Pettitte has faced Albert Pujols more than any other Angels hitter. In 31 plate appearances, the Yankees lefty has limited Pujols to a .214 average with no extra-base hits.

The struggling Joe Blanton is slated to get the ball for the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night as they continue their road series against the division-rival New York Mets. Get odds for MLB at Bovada.

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Blanton has been ineffective for the Phillies in each of his last two trips to the mound, giving up 14 runs on 19 hits (including six home runs) over 8 2-3 innings of work against the Cardinals and Red Sox. Philadelphia actually beat St. Louis by a score of 10-9 in that Blanton outing, while they lost 7-5 to Boston in the other contest.

The righthander faced the Mets at home on May 8, giving up four runs on five hits over 6 2-3 innings in a no-decision that the Phillies lost 7-4. Overall Blanton is 3-1 in 10 career starts against the Mets, posting a 3.71 ERA in those games.

Jeremy Hefner gets the ball for New York on Tuesday, making his fourth appearance for the team – but just his second start. The righthander is 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA on the season, getting knocked around for six runs in just 3 2-3 innings by the Padres last time out.

The Mets remain ahead of the Phillies in the NL East standings, but Philadelphia's pedigree still has them above New York in the current World Series futures at Bovada; the Phillies are at 12/1 to win the title right now, with the Mets at 40/1.

Philadelphia also sits at 9/2 to win the NL Pennant, with New York pegged at 22/1 odds.

First pitch for Tuesday night is set for 7:10pm ET, with the series then wrapping up on Wednesday night. The Phillies' Cliff Lee (0-2, 2.82 ERA) is set to take on the Mets' Dillon Gee (4-3, 4.92 ERA) on Wednesday.

The St. Louis Cardinals have remained contenders in the post-Pujols era, with their probable pitcher for Wednesday night on the road against the Atlanta Braves partly responsible for their success. Get odds for MLB at Bovada.

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Kyle Lohse went 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA for the Cardinals last season, and through 10 starts in 2012 he's been even better for the club and its supporters on the MLB lines – posting a 5-1 mark with a 2.90 ERA and just nine walks through 62 innings of work.

And the righthander's record would look even better if he hadn't had to settle for no-decisions in each of his last two starts despite his sold work on the mound, surrendering five earned runs over 12 innings pitched against the Phillies and Dodgers.

Overall the Cardinals are 7-3 in Lohse's 10 starts this season, and he's 3-1 with a 4.56 ERA through his nine career outings against the Braves.

Tim Hudson is slated to start for the Braves on Wednesday, with the team hoping he can shake off the ugly loss he suffered against the Nationals last week. The righthander gave up seven runs in 6 2-3 innings of work in that game, after allowing a combined three runs over his previous three starts.

Hudson is 3-2 on the season with a 4.12 ERA, and he's 3-4 with a 5.59 ERA over 11 career starts against the Cardinals.

On the latest World Series odds at Bovada the Cardinals were set at 14/1 to win the title this fall, with the Braves at 15/1 odds. St. Louis also has 6/1 odds to win the NL Pennant; Atlanta is set at 15/2 on that list.

The Braves and Cardinals are both off on Thursday; Atlanta will play three games against the first-place Washington Nationals on the weekend, while St. Louis will be in New York to take on the Mets.