Major League Baseball: Weekend Preview
Posted on May 05, 2009 | 3:12 PM ET Filed under:This baseball season hits the 30-game mark this weekend with a slate full of interesting series, at least a couple of which involve good divisional rivalries.
In a re-match of last year's AL championship series, the Tampa Bay Rays visit Boston for a three-game series with the Red Sox beginning Friday. And over in the National League, the Chicago Cubs hit Milwaukee for three games with the Brewers starting Friday.
If all goes as planned, the Rays will throw James Shields at the Sox on Friday (7:10pm Eastern), vs. Brad Penny for Boston. Saturday, two lefties square off when Scott Kazmir goes for Tampa against Jon Lester (3:40 Eastern, FOX) for the Sox. And Sunday, Matt Garza hits the hill for the Rays vs. Josh Beckett for Boston (8:05 Eastern, ESPN).
The Cubs will send righty rookie Randy Wells to the mound Friday, in place of the injured Carlos Zambrano, vs. Dave Bush for the Brewers (8 Eastern, WGN). Saturday Chicago will go with Ryan Dempster against Yovani Gallardo for Milwaukee (7:05 Eastern). And Sean Marshall gets the call Sunday for the Cubbies vs. Jeff Suppan for the Brew Crew (2:05 Eastern, WGN).
Going into a Thursday game at Yankee Stadium, the Rays had won five of their last seven games, and took three of four games from the Red Sox in Tampa last weekend. Meanwhile, going into their game Thursday vs. Cleveland, Boston had gone just 4-5 over its last nine games. So through Wednesday the Sox trailed first-place Toronto by two games in the AL East, while the Rays were in fourth place, 6.5 games back of the Jays.
Going into their game in Houston on Thursday, the Cubs had won five of their last six games. And going into their game Thursday in Cincinnati, the Brewers had won four in a row, eight of their last 10, and 12 of their last 15. Through Wednesday, Milwaukee sat in second place in the NL Central, two games behind first-place St. Louis, while Chicago lurked 2.5 back of first.
As of Thursday morning, Oddsmaker.com is listing the Cubs at +125 to win the NL Central this season, +400 to win the NL pennant, and +1000 to win the World Series. Milwaukee is getting +800 to win the NL Central at Oddsmaker.com, +2000 to win the pennant, and +4000 to win the Series.
Oddsmaker.com is also listing Boston as a -150 favorite to win the AL East this season, +200 faves to win the AL pennant, and +600 to win the World Series. Meanwhile, Tampa is getting +1000 at Oddsmaker.com to repeat as champs of the AL East, +800 to repeat as American League champions, and +2000 to win the Series.
Bettors should check back at Oddsmaker.com for updated odds on this weekend's series and games, and updated baseball futures prices.
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