MLB Betting Advice: Best and Worst Teams to Wager on Thus Far 7/1/2016

by Victor Ryan - 7/1/2016

Every team in MLB will have completed half its schedule by the end of the weekend. This is a good time to take stock on which have been the most- and least-profitable teams to bet through the first three months of the season.

For handicappers, this season has been all about the Texas Rangers. At a league-high +29.2 units for the season, the Rangers have nearly doubled the profits of their closest pursuer (Orioles, +15.9 units). Can this run of fortune with the Rangers continue in the second half? Read on for our thoughts.

Best Bets in MLB (through 6/30)

Texas Rangers	51-29	+29.2 Units
Baltimore Orioles	47-31	+15.9 Units
San Francisco Giants	50-31	+13.9 Units
Cleveland Indians	48-30	+11.8 Units
Kansas City Royals	42-36	+7.7 Units

Texas Rangers

The Rangers have been getting it done in all phases of the game. Consider this: the deep and talented lineup has posted the sixth-most runs in MLB (4.9 per game), the starting rotation has the league's sixth-lowest ERA (3.60), and the bullpen has converted 77.0 percent of save opportunities, which is the third-best rate in MLB.

Texas has the looks of being a special club this season. Though there figures to be some regression to the mean after such an incredible first half, look for the profits to continue in Arlington.

Next up for Texas is a three-game weekend set in Minnesota followed by three in Boston.

Cleveland Indians

The Tribe (48-30) have won 13 consecutive games entering Friday's action, which has lifted them to six games up in the AL Central and among the Top 5 most profitable bets in baseball.

The offense ranks 10th in MLB in scoring and has largely done its part, but it has really been the pitching staff that has led the Indians' charge. Cleveland sports the league's fourth-lowest ERA (3.42) while posting the second-most complete games (5).

Furthermore, the Indians success has come mostly without the services of All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley. The sweet-swinging lefty has played just 11 games so far and hasn't been in the lineup since May 9. However, that could be changing shortly after the All-Star break. Brantley is reportedly hitting off a tee and nearing a return to game action. That would be a major boon for the Indians.

Next up for Cleveland is a three-game weekend set in Toronto followed by three at home against Detroit.

Worst Bets in MLB (through 6/30)

Minnesota Twins	25-53	-22.9 Units
Los Angeles Angels	32-47	-16.6 Units
Tampa Bay Rays	33-45	-16.0 Units
Cincinnati Reds	29-51	-15.2 Units
Atlanta Braves	27-52	-11.8 Units

Los Angeles Angels

The wheels have come off in Anaheim as the Angels closed June with a 1-9 stretch to plummet to the AL West cellar. A combination of injuries, poor starting pitching and lack of offensive firepower (Mike Trout notwithstanding) has put manager Mike Scioscia's club in this position.

Things don't figure to get much better, either, as a fire sale could be forthcoming. With no hope for this season, the Angels are likely desperate to restock with prospects from a minor-league system that's considered to be among the worst in baseball at this point. Could the Angels go as far as trading Trout, arguably the best player in baseball? Word out of Anaheim is that it's a possibility.

In any event, bettors will want to stay far away from the Halos in the second half.

Next up for the Angels are three in Boston followed by a four-game set in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Rays

Speaking of the Rays, an 11-game losing streak in June has left them buried in last place in the AL East and one of the worst bets in MLB. Tampa Bay has had a rash of injuries this season, and the pitching has been poor; but the biggest disappointment has been the overall lack of fundamentals. The Rays simply make too many basic mistakes and a lack the talent makes it difficult to recover from these transgressions. Look for the disappointment to continue in Tampa Bay this month.

The Rays start a seven-game home stand Friday with three against Detroit followed by a four-game set against the Angels.

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Start:	November 23, 2024 @ 2:30 PM
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