An off-year for Albert Pujols? The St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman might not be hitting at his usual levels so far this season, but that hasn't stopped the fans from putting him in the lead at his position in the latest MLB All-Star vote returns.
Pujols led slugging Reds 1B Joey Votto by 300,000 votes in the latest tally released on Monday, with the Brewers' Prince Fielder and the Phillies' Ryan Howard sitting third and fourth, respectively, on that list.
Two other members of the Cardinals are in position to be elected to the All-Star Game right now as well, with Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday trailing only the Brewers' Ryan Braun in National League outfield votes.
The rest of the position leaders in the National League right now are the Braves' Brian McCann at catcher, the Reds' Brandon Phillips at second base, the Phillies' Placido Polanco at third base, and the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop.
Over in the American League it's easy to see which fans are doing the most voting right now, as the Yankees and Red Sox hold down first place at each of the five infield spots and at designated hitter.
Your leading AL vote-getters as of this week's latest results: Yankees catcher Russell Martin, Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, and Red Sox DH David Ortiz.
There's at least a bit of variety in the AL outfield vote tallies, with the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista and the Rangers' Josh Hamilton joining the Yankees' Curtis Granderson in the top three on that list.
The 2011 MLB All-Star Game will be played at Arizona's Chase Field on July 12; watch Bodog for All-Star Game lines and props as the event date approaches.
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At age 80, Jack McKeon will be officially named later Monday as the interim manager for the sliding Florida Marlins for the rest of the season. McKeon becomes the second-oldest man to ever manage a Major League Baseball team, behind only Connie Mack, who was 87 during his final season with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1950. McKeon led the Marlins to a World Series title over the New York Yankees in 2003 and replaces Edwin Rodriguez, who resigned on Sunday morning.
McKeon in 2003 took over in May for the fired Jeff Torborg. The Marlins went on to win the World Series and McKeon garnered National League Manager of the Year honors. He remained at the helm for two more season, logged 83-79 records both years. McKeon has a 1011-940 record in 15 seasons as a major league manager. He had been a special advisor with the club. McKeon's first big league managerial job came in 1973 with the Kansas City Royals when he was 42. He has also managed the A's, Padres and Reds and earned the nickname "Trader Jack" as general manager in San Diego.
It’s probably too late to make a difference this season as the Marlins lost again Sunday to extend their season-long skid to 10 games. The Marlins have lost 20 of their last 22 to fall from second to last place in the National League East. The team on June 8 fired hitting coach John Mallee, who worked closely with Rodriguez and several current players in the minors. Florida hosts the L.A. Angels in interleague play on Monday – bet on the game with Bodog’s MLB odds.
McKeon isn’t expected to manage the team after this season as Florida expects to go after White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen with the club set to move into a new ballpark for the 2012 season. Guillen is a Miami native.
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Thanks to a great pitching performance from rookie Ivan Nova, the New York Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Monday for their ninth win in 11 games to move a season-best 13 games over .500 at 42-29. The Yanks need to keep winning because the AL East-leading Red Sox simply rarely lose. Bet on tonight’s game with Bodog’s MLB odds.
One thing is for sure: If the Yanks have a lead in the ninth inning during interleague play, the games is over. Closer Mariano Rivera has now converted his last 21 chances against the NL and has a record 65 career interleague saves.
The Reds lead the NL in runs, but have struggled lately. They scored four runs — all off homers — while dropping two of three games against Toronto over the weekend. Interleague play has been a problem for the defending NL Central champions, who are 1-6 against the American League. Cleanup hitter Jay Bruce is hitting .160 over his last eight games and has driven in only two runs since June 3.
The Yanks go with 32-year-old journeyman Brian Gordon (0-3, 3.38) tonight. The former outfielder made his first MLB Start last week, allowing just two runs in just over five innings against the Rangers. Ironically he could now get his first MLB hit tonight as a pitcher. He'll face off against Reds ace Johnny Cueto (4-2, 1.68). Originally scheduled to pitch in Monday's opener, Cueto had a stiff neck, so Reds manager Dusty Baker decided to push the right-hander back a day. Cueto tossed seven innings against the Dodgers on Tuesday, giving up one unearned run on five hits for the win. He's 4-1 with a 3.82 ERA in his last five interleague starts.
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Maybe getting out of South Florida will be good tonic for the Florida Marlins. After all, the Fish have won once at home all month. Of course, they are 2-20 overall in June so perhaps the where doesn’t matter. But the Marlins will be the home team for a three-game series that starts Friday night in Seattle. Bet on the series with Bodog’s MLB odds.
Here’s the deal: The three-game interleague series was originally scheduled to be played in Miami. But because of a schedule conflict, the games have been relocated to Safeco Field in Seattle. And you know what the scheduling conflict was? The rock band U2 is scheduled to play at the stadium on June 29, and the Marlins had to vacate the stadium to allow setup time for the concert. Why it takes that long so set up is another story.
So the Marlins will be the "home" team, although they will occupy the visitor's dugout and clubhouse. The Marlins will wear their alternate black tops and white pants. The Mariners will wear road grays for the three games. The games will be played according to National League rules, meaning no designated hitter. For the just the second time in club history, Mariners pitchers will bat in Seattle. (Mike Schooler grounded out in an extra innings game against Boston in 1990.)
If Friday’s game is a one-run affair, count on the Mariners winning. Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss to the Angels was Florida’s 12th consecutive loss in a one-run game. Over the last 30 years, only three other teams have lost 12 straight one-run games in one season: the 2005 Nationals (13), 2004 Diamondbacks (13) and 2000 Astros (12).
The Marlins start Ricky Nolasco (4-3, 4.48) tonight. Nolasco allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings in his last start against the Rays. The M’s counter with ace Felix Hernandez (7-6, 3.34). King Felix, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, has received one run or fewer in support in 19 of his past 50 starts.
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The Red Sox and Phillies begin an interleague series in Philadelphia on Tuesday with a top-notch pitching matchup for MLB betting enthusiasts.
Boston sends ace Josh Beckett (6-2, 1.86 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday, and he swaggers into the contest having just dominated the Rays (one hit over nine shutout innings) for his sixth victory of the season.
Righthander Beckett should have more than six wins this season – in his 14 trips to the mound he's given up three or more runs only three times – but he's been a victim of poor run support on occasion.
Overall on the season the Red Sox are 10-4 in Beckett's 14 starts as he continues to put money in the pockets of his supporters.
Heading to the hill for the Phillies on Tuesday will be Cliff Lee (8-5, 2.87 ERA), who is actually coming off back-to-back shutout victories over the Marlins and Cardinals.
Lefthander Lee has been a sure thing so far in the month of June, holding four opponents to a combined one run over his 33 innings of work. Philadelphia is 7-3 in Lee's last 10 starts, as he's fanned 114 batters while walking just 25 this season.
The Phillies held a five-game lead on the Braves in the NL East division standings heading into play on Monday night, and with the best record in baseball they're the 3/1 World Series and 5/4 NL Pennant favorites at Bodog right now.
The Red Sox, trailing the Yankees by a half-game in the AL East standings, are at 7/2 odds to win the World Series this season, and at 8/5 to claim the AL Pennant. Head over to Bodog for all the latest MLB futures as interleague play continues this week.
Two teams looking to crawl back over the .500 mark hit the field in Colorado on Tuesday as the Rockies host the White Sox in an MLB betting matchup.
Gavin Floyd (6-7, 4.31 ERA) will get the ball for the White Sox on Tuesday, and that hasn't been a good thing for the team lately. Righthander Floyd is coming off back-to-back losses to the Twins and Cubs, allowing 10 runs over his 13 innings pitched.
Overall, Floyd has just one win in his past six trips to the mound, and Chicago has grabbed a victory only three times in his last 10 outings.
Jason Hammel (4-7, 4.13 ERA) was beaten in his most recent start as well, allowing four runs on five hits over six innings of work against the Indians in Cleveland. Hammel also issued five walks in that contest.
Hammel starts have been black holes for Colorado supporters lately, as the team is an ugly 1-9 in his 10 most recent outings. As well, the Rockies' lone win in that span came despite Hammel's performance – he allowed six runs in 6 1-3 innings against the Tigers on June 17, but his team managed to score 13 runs for him that day.
Sitting in third place in the NL West standings, the Rockies are pegged at 28/1 odds to win the World Series this season, and at 14/1 to perform a second-half surge and claim the NL Pennant.
The White Sox, currently third in the AL Central standings, are slightly behind Colorado at 30/1 on the World Series odds list. The ChiSox are also at 16/1 odds to win this year's AL Pennant. Check the Bodog MLB futures for all the latest baseball lines.
Major League Baseball’s stretch of interleague games ends this weekend, and the top series remaining has to be in Detroit, where the AL Central-leading Tigers host the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants in what could be a World Series preview. Detroit opened as a slight Bodog betting favorite for tonight’s opener.
The Giants have followed a seven-game winning streak with back-to-back losses in Chicago to the lousy Cubs, scoring just three total runs in 22 innings over those two games. There was one major bright spot in Thursday’s loss as Pablo Sandoval went 2-for-6 on Thursday and hit his first homer since coming off the disabled list. He had been struggling since coming back with 11 straight games without an extra-base hit. But he now has four doubles and a homer in his last five games. The offensively challenged Giants need his bat. Thursday’s loss had to sting has San Francisco had a 1-0 leading heading into the bottom of the ninth and a 2-1 lead going to the bottom of the 13th.
Detroit enters off losing two of three at home to the Mets. Tigers pitchers allowed 30 runs combined in the first two games, but then Justin Verlander beat the Mets 5-2 on Thursday. He finished June with a 6-0 record and a 0.92 ERA and tied the Yankees CC Sabathia for the major league lead in wins this season. But the Giants won’t have to see Verlander at all in this series.
The pitching matchup tonight is Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner (4-9, 3.84) against Tigers veteran righty Brad Penny (5-6, 4.66). Bumgarner struck out 11 on Sunday in his last outing, picking up his first home win of the season. He threw seven strong innings, allowing one run on six hits and a walk. Penny is winless in his last four outings, but has three quality starts in that stretch.
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The Major League Baseball game to watch on Sunday afternoon is definitely in Toronto when the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Jays – bet on the game with Bodog’s MLB odds.
All eyes will certainly be on Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee. All the left-hander has done is pitch three straight complete game shutouts after blanking the Red Sox 5-0 earlier this week. Lee held the hot-hitting Red Sox to just two hits while fanning five and walking two. He is the first Phillies’ pitcher to throw three consecutive shutouts since Robin Roberts in 1950.
Lee was frankly a joke in June. Over his five starts (all wins) in the month, Lee gave up one run in 42 innings. It’s the best month by a pitcher since former L.A. Dodger Orel Hershiser's historic September in 1988 when he allowed no runs in 55 innings. Lee actually hasn’t allowed a run over his last 32 innings dating back to June 11, which represents a new career-best. His ERA in June was 0.21, lowering his season ERA from 3.94 to 2.66. No pitcher has thrown four straight complete game shutouts since Hershiser had five in a row in 1988. Lee is just the sixth pitcher since Hershiser to have three in a row.
Scarily, Lee actually knocked in more runs in June (two) than he allowed. And of the seven National League starting pitchers since 1912 to have an ERA of 0.21 or better in a calendar month (with at least 40 innings pitched), Lee is only the third to drive in more runs than he let in. The others were Dwight Gooden in September 1985 (one unearned run allowed, seven RBIs) and Fernando Valenzuela in April 1981 (one run allowed, two RBIs). Lee hit .250 during the month and allowed batters to hit just .152.
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New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter needed six hits to finally reach 3,000 hits. Unfortunately, after his return on the 4th of July he still needs six.
Returning after straining his right calf on June 13, Jeter went 0-4 as the Yankees leadoff hitter. What's worse is the Yankees fell to the Cleveland Indians 6-3.
"I felt fine, no problems, no issues," Jeter said. "I was nervous at the beginning, almost like it was Opening Day again. It was just nerves. Three weeks is definitely a long time to be out. I felt better as the game went on."
Hitting just .256 this season Jeter has struggled to earn the recent fat payday the Yankees gave him in the offseason. However, if he reaches 3,000 hits he'll be worth every penny, as he'll be the first Yankee ever to do so.
The game was a pitcher's duel through six innings. Shelley Duncan got the Indians on the board with a single off pitcher A.J. Burnett that scored Grady Sizemore. Austin Kearns followed up with a two-out, two-on homerun to give the Indians a four run lead. The Indians scored two more in the 8th to seal the first of three games.
This was an especially big moment for Kearns. In his 10 years in Major League Baseball the outfielder had just two hits against Burnett.
"It's a funny game," Kearns said. "I was just glad to get it done."
Jeter gets another shot at history on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
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Against all MLB odds, Albert Pujols has been activated by the St. Louis Cardinals. He'll be coming off the bench Tuesday night.
The fact Pujols is back so soon can only cause one to conclude he heals like Wolverine. Pujols broke his wrist in a collision at first base trying to make a tag with his glove against the Kansas City Royals. The doctors said it would take 4-6 weeks before he healed. Pujols did it in two, and has been hitting for the last week.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told ESPN that he would be available to pinch hit Tuesday night, a smart move considering the All-Star break draws near and the Cards will need Pujols for the second half. Playing full-time isn't a requirement right now.
The Cards are facing the hard-hitting Cincinnati Reds tonight, and may need Pujols services if the score gets out of hand. Jamie Garcia (7-3, 3.33 ERA) will start for the Cards, while Edison Volquez (5-3, 5.65 ERA) will start for the Reds.
Pujols struggled to start the 2011 season but became his usual dominant self before getting injured. On the year he has an .855 OPS, 17 home runs and 45 RBI. Plus, just having him in the lineup changes the way pitchers throw to other elite hitters Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday.
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After Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Indians MLB odds are Derek Jeter is going to hit No. 3000 at home before the all-star break. The New York Yankee captain got another hit the Indians and needs just three more going into a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
"I’m looking forward to it," Jeter said of his return to the Bronx. "I wanted more today, but that wasn’t the case. I’m definitely looking forward to going back to New York. Our fans have always been pretty good when they have an opportunity to witness something that hasn't happened."
Jeter went 1 for 3 on the day, unfortunately the Yankees lost their second in three games against the Indians 5-3. Phil Hughes, fresh off a stint on the 60-day disabled list got pelted by Cleveland bats early. In the first Travis Hafner singled and scored Michael Brantley and Cord Phelps, and a fielding error brought Asdrubal Cabrera home later in the inning. The Indians piled on some more runs in the 7th and the 8th to seal the win. Hughes only lasted five innings and left with a 10.57 ERA.
Yankees attempted a comeback in the 9th. Nick Swisher, Jorge Posada and Martin all grabbed RBIs but the reliever Chris Perez was was able to close the door to grab his 20th save.
Watch Jeter chase history starting at home against the Rays on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
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Another hit down for Derek Jeter; another loss for the New York Yankees.
Jeter got the hit 2,998 early in the game, doubling off Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeff Niemann on his first at bat as the leadoff hitter. Jeter finished 1 of 4, going hitless for the rest of the game.
"It was a couple of years ago when I was approaching Gehrig, the crowd was outstanding," Jeter said. "I remember the day I did it how much it rained. The fans actually stayed in the stadium and stuck around for the game. So I would anticipate it being pretty animated."
Unfortunately amidst the Jeter hoopla the Yankees dropped its second straight to an AL East opponent. New York fell 1.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox with the 5-1 loss. We're sure Jeter's big moment will feel a lot better if a Yankee win comes along with it.
"We are going to try to wrap this up this weekend," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Girardi's guarantee doesn't seem too far off base. Though Jeter hasn't been outstanding since his return, hitting 4 for 18 in four games, his consistency at the plate make two more hits in three games a probability.
“After the first one, I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t think it was attainable today,” Jeter said.
Jeter chases history in New York Friday at 7 p.m. ET versus the Tampa Bay Rays.
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The New York Mets are likely to put star shortstop Jose Reyes, who might be the National League MVP this season, on the disabled list either Thursday or Friday, which means Reyes would miss next week’s All-Star Game.
Reyes strained his left hamstring Saturday in a game against the Yankees. After taking ground balls and working on a stationary bicycle and treadmill earlier this week, Reyes was unable to do any physical activity on Wednesday. The team will wait to see if Reyes can do any running before Thursday’s game with the Dodgers before deciding on a DL stint, but that is considered likely.
It’s possible the Mets just sit Reyes through this weekend – New York heads to San Francisco after finishing the Dodgers series – and that he would miss the All-Star Game but return for next weekend's series against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Once Reyes is placed on the disabled list, he would be ineligible for that July 15-17 series. The Mets will be overly cautious because Reyes underwent surgery in 2009 after returning too quickly from a similar leg injury.
The Mets have actually won four straight games since Reyes, who leads the majors with a .354 average, has been idle. With Wednesday's victory against the Dodgers, the Mets (45-42) climbed three games over .500 for the first time since July 23, 2010. Reyes is set to become a free agent after this season, and there are reports the Mets have begun secret negotiations with Reyes’ agent on a contract extension before he hits free agency. But it’s unlikely the cash-strapped Mets can afford him and it’s not out of the question Reyes is traded before the July 31 deadline. The team is already shopping outfielder Carlos Beltran.
You could make an argument for guys like the Angels’ Jered Weaver, Braves’ Jair Jurrjens and Phillies’ Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, but the numbers say that Detroit Tigers fireballer Justin Verlander has been the most dominant pitcher of the first half. He takes the hill against the Royals on Sunday in MLB’s final day before the All-Star Break. The Tigers are solid favorites on Bodog’s baseball odds.
Verlander is 11-4 with a 2.26 ERA. He enters this start in Kansas City tied with the Angels’ Weaver in wins. But Verlander leads the American League in innings (143.1), strikeouts (138) and WHIP (MLB-best 0.88). He has allowed a total of six runs in his past eight starts. And until a 1-0 loss Tuesday, Verlander had won nine consecutive decisions, including a no-hitter and a game in which he didn't allow a hit until the eighth inning.
The guy is a workhorse. If Verlander throws 114 pitches Sunday — he averages a major league-high 116.3 a start — he'll reach 10,000 in-game pitches since the beginning of the 2009 season. He threw 304 more pitches than anyone else in the majors in '09 and missed leading the majors last season by five pitches. Verlander has thrown more consecutive 100-pitch games than anyone else since 1999, the earliest year that pitch count data is complete. That streak is at 37 straight starts, which began on June 27 of last year. The last time he didn't make it to 100 pitches was June 22, 2010 against the New York Mets. And the only reason he didn’t make it then was that he was pulled after a long rain delay. If Verlander had thrown just 39 more pitches that game, he would be at 50 straight starts with 100. He is 11-2 in his career vs. Kansas City with a 2.47 ERA.
It should be a mismatch as the Royals start lefty Jeff Francis (3-9, 4.69). He struck out four and did not walk a batter while holding the White Sox to two runs on seven hits over six innings in his last start. He took a loss at Detroit back on May 13, allowing three runs on seven hits in eight innings.
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Jose Bautista has never participated in the Home Run Derby before, but the league leader in dingers is still pegged as the 3/1 favorite at Bodog on the MLB betting lines to win that event on Monday night.
And Bautista seems to be finding his home run stroke again in advance of the competition, smashing seven long balls in the past 10 games to put his total at a league-high 31 heading into the All-Star Break.
But will raw power be trumped by experience in the Home Run Derby on Monday? Two past winners of the event join Bautista in the field – David Ortiz of the Red Sox, and Prince Fielder of the Brewers.
Fielder made his Home Run Derby debut in 2007, getting knocked out in the first round after slugging just three home runs. He bounced back in 2009, though, hitting a total of 23 home runs to edge Nelson Cruz for the crown.
Ortiz hit three home runs in this event in 2004 to finish dead last, ended up tied for second with 20 in 2005, was fourth with 13 in 2006, then finally broke through with 32 to win the competition last season.
Fielder, with 22 home runs so far this season, is at 15/4 Home Run Derby odds on Monday, while Ortiz, who has 19 home runs heading into the break, is the third-favorite on the list at 9/2 odds.
Also at 9/2 odds is Matt Holliday, who finished third in this event in 2007 with 13 home runs and fifth in 2010 with five home runs. Holliday has 14 home runs so far this season, albeit in just 66 games.
The other hitters in this year's Home Run Derby and their odds to win on Monday: Adrian Gonzalez (11/2), Matt Kemp (15/2), Robinson Cano (15/2), and Rickie Weeks (12/1). Of that group only Gonzalez has prior experience in the event, hitting just two home runs in end up in seventh place in 2009.
The top teams on the MLB betting board to win the NL Pennant this season will be well-represented in the All-Star Game at Arizona's Chase Field on Tuesday night. Bet on the MLB All-Star Game with Bodog.
The Phillies, who sit as Bodog's 1/1 favorite to claim the NL Pennant this season, had third baseman Placido Polanco in the NL's starting lineup until he pulled out due to injury, and starters Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels are all on the pitching staff. Another Phillie, outfielder Shane Victorino, won the Final Vote but will miss the game due to injury as well.
Tied for second at 7/1 odds to win the NL Pennant at Bodog are the Brewers and Giants, and their players are all over the All-Star team as well. Three Brewers were voted into the starting lineup: First baseman Prince Fielder, second baseman Rickie Weeks, and outfielder Ryan Braun (Braun will also miss the game due to injury).
As for the Giants, they dominant the NL's pitching staff, with each of starters Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Ryan Vogelsong and closer Brian Wilson named to the squad. Plus, third baseman Pablo Sandoval was added to the roster on Sunday.
The Braves have catcher Brian McCann in the starting lineup for the NL squad, with Jair Jurrjens, Jonny Venters, and Craig Kimbrel on the pitching staff, and third baseman Chipper Jones (injured and not participating) selected as a reserve. Those All-Star players have the Braves fourth at 8/1 odds to win the NL Pennant this season.
And rounding out the Top 5 on the NL Pennant odds at Bodog right now are the Cardinals at 9/1, and they have outfielder Lance Berkman in the starting lineup for Tuesday plus catcher Yadier Molina and outfielder Matt Holliday on the bench.
On the World Series futures the Phillies lead the way at 11/4 odds at Bodog, with the Braves and Brewers both at 15/1, the Giants at 16/1, and the Cardinals at 20/1. Head over to Bodog's MLB betting page for the latest baseball futures.
The Red Sox and Yankees are far ahead of the rest of the American League on the AL Pennant MLB betting odds right now, and they'll have plenty of players in uniform at the All-Star Game on Tuesday night. Bet on the MLB All-Star Game with Bodog.
Boston, the 3/2 favorite on the AL Pennant odds, has both first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and designated hitter David Ortiz in the starting lineup for the AL squad, with third baseman Kevin Youkilis and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on the bench, and Josh Beckett on the pitching staff.
The Yankees, second at 3/1 on the AL Pennant odds, had four players elected to the AL starting lineup – second baseman Robinson Cano, third baseman Alex Rodriguez, shortstop Derek Jeter, and outfielder Curtis Granderson. Rodriguez, Jeter, and reliever Mariano Rivera, though, have chosen to skip the game. New York catcher Russell Martin also made the AL team as a reserve along with reliever David Robertson.
Next on the AL Pennant odds at Bodog are the Rangers at 15/2, and they have outfielder Josh Hamilton as a starter for Tuesday night. Third baseman Adrian Beltre, designated hitter Michael Young, and pitchers C.J. Wilson and Alexi Ogando complete the Texas contingent at the All-Star Game.
And rounding out the top tier of contenders on the AL Pennant odds are the Tigers at 11/1. Detroit catcher Alex Avila surged in the fan voting to win the starting job for Tuesday night, while first baseman Miguel Cabrera, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, and pitchers Justin Verlander and Jose Valverde were selected to the team as well.
As for the World Series odds chart at Bodog, the Red Sox are the top AL team at 7/2, with the Yankees at 6/1, the Rangers at 14/1, and the Tigers at 18/1. Check out the sportsbook at Bodog for the updated baseball futures as the MLB season heads into its second half.
Yes, there actually are some players who will be participating in Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Phoenix. While all the talk has been about the mass withdrawals from the game, at least we know who the starting pitchers will be: the Phillies’ Roy Halladay and the Angels’ Jered Weaver.
Both are certainly Cy Young candidates in their respective leagues, although Weaver is probably behind Detroit’s Justin Verlander, who can’t pitch in the game because he started Sunday. Halladay is 11-3 with a 2.45 ERA and will make his second All-Star start, having done so in 2009 while with the Blue Jays. He will be the fourth pitcher to make an All-Star start for both leagues, following Vida Blue, Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. Halladay is the first Philadelphia pitcher to start since Curt Schilling in 1999. Weaver, 11-4 with a 1.86 ERA, is the third Angels pitcher to start, following Nolan Ryan in 1979 and Mark Langston in 1993.
The batting orders have been set as well. The American League, which is the visiting team, has Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson leading off, followed by Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista, Texas left fielder Josh Hamilton, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Detroit catcher Alex Avila.
For the NL, it’s Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks leading off and playing second base, followed by designated hitter Carlos Beltran ran of the Mets, Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp, Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder, Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, St. Louis right fielder Lance Berkman, Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Cincinnati third baseman Scott Rolen.
The National League has opened as a -122 favorite on Bodog’s baseball odds.
After over a decade of losing to the American League, the National League has put together back-to-back All-Star victories.
A fourth inning blast by Prince Fielder gave the National League control of the game, Andre Ethier and Pablo Sandoval added RBIs to secure an NL 5-1 win. The NL broke a 13-year losing streak last season with a 3-1 win over the AL. The last time they went back-to-back was 1996.
On the AL side Adrian Gonzalez got the ball rolling with a solo home run off Cliff Lee in the top of the 4th, however the NL's solid pitching staff held off the AL bats to just five hits the rest of the way. They made a run in the top of the 9th getting in scoring position off two NL errors, but San Francisco closer Brian Wilson was able to come in and shut the door. Washington National Tyler Clippard received the win, Wilson the save while C.J. Wilson, of the American League Texas Rangers, takes the loss. Fielder was the game's MVP; the first ever Milwaukee Brewer to win the award.
Once again, the NL will have home field in the world series. This should help any MLB odds to win the 2011 World Series on National League teams. Last year, with home field advantage, the San Francisco Giants won the World Series.
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The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers open their second half of the season tonight in Chicago, and you have to think the chances are quite good for a Tiger win considering they start AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander against the White Sox. And Detroit did open as a big -200 favorite on Bodog’s baseball odds.
Verlander has been obscenely good and probably would have started for the AL in the All-Star Game but was ineligible to pitch since he had last Sunday. Verlander is 12-4 with a 2.15 ERA; he is second in the AL in wins and complete games (four) and leads the all of baseball in innings (151.0) and strikeouts (147, tied with the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw). He is the first Tigers pitcher to accumulate 12 wins prior to the All-Star break since Jack Morris in 1987. Verlander has an active streak of seven starts in which he has gone at least seven innings while allowing one earned run or fewer. That is tied with Chris Carpenter in 2005 for the longest streak of its kind since 2000.
Meanwhile, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera will play tonight. Cabrera left Tuesday night’s All-Star Game with a mild oblique strain, but manager Jim Leyland said he is star was fine. The first baseman is hitting .311 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs this season.
The White Sox are 44-48 entering the second half and five games out of first in the division. It’s the first time since 2007 that Chicago entered the break below .500. Tonight’s game marks the eighth of 19 straight games against the Central for the White Sox. They are 2-5 through the first seven. The Pale Hose start Gavin Floyd (6-9, 4.59) tonight. He has been slumping as he is in a six-start winless skid, in which he is 0-4 with a 6.14 ERA.
Pujols led slugging Reds 1B Joey Votto by 300,000 votes in the latest tally released on Monday, with the Brewers' Prince Fielder and the Phillies' Ryan Howard sitting third and fourth, respectively, on that list.
Two other members of the Cardinals are in position to be elected to the All-Star Game right now as well, with Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday trailing only the Brewers' Ryan Braun in National League outfield votes.
The rest of the position leaders in the National League right now are the Braves' Brian McCann at catcher, the Reds' Brandon Phillips at second base, the Phillies' Placido Polanco at third base, and the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop.
Over in the American League it's easy to see which fans are doing the most voting right now, as the Yankees and Red Sox hold down first place at each of the five infield spots and at designated hitter.
Your leading AL vote-getters as of this week's latest results: Yankees catcher Russell Martin, Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, and Red Sox DH David Ortiz.
There's at least a bit of variety in the AL outfield vote tallies, with the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista and the Rangers' Josh Hamilton joining the Yankees' Curtis Granderson in the top three on that list.
The 2011 MLB All-Star Game will be played at Arizona's Chase Field on July 12; watch Bodog for All-Star Game lines and props as the event date approaches.
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