MLB Weekend Preview - HUGE Playoff Implications

Baseball betting is in for a memorable weekend. There are a few division leaders out there that can put some distance between themselves and teams hot on their heels. Will this weekend be the final nail in the coffin for clubs clinging to postseason hopes, or can they keep the playoffs in sight with some timely wins?

Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers

The Rangers are struggling down the stretch, winning just once in the last six games. The offense has sputtered, scoring just one run in the last four outings. The Rangers are hitting a baffling .190 and have an on-base percentage of .231 during this stretch.

Los Angeles' bats have also gone cold. While not at the sub-zero temperatures of Texas' offense, the Halos are averaging only four runs per game in the last week. Los Angeles did show signs of life at the plate in a 9-8 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. This power outage had led to three straight losses heading into Thursday's finale with the Red Sox. The Angels send their three top pitchers to the bump this weekend, including recently acquired Scott Kazmir who has been lights-out since joining the team in August.

Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins

The Tigers can build on their lead over the Twins in the American League Central this weekend. Minnesota. Detroit’s pitching has struggled in opposing parks, posting a 4.74 ERA.

Minnesota has punished the Tigers’ pitching this season. The Twins are hitting .315 and have totaled 15 home runs for an average of over seven runs per game versus their divisional rival. Heading into this weekend, Minnesota is dealing with the loss of All-Star first baseman Justin Morneau; he has been shut down for the season with a nagging back injury. Morneau was one of the biggest thorns in the Tigers' side, hitting .340 with 10 RBI and three home runs in his 11 games against Detroit this year.

San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers

The Giants dropped two of three games against the Dodgers last weekend, getting outscored 21-11. San Francisco will have star pitcher Tim Lincecum on the mound for Sunday's finale. The hard-throwing lefthander wasn't slowed by a bad back in his most recent start, allowing just one run and striking out 11 batters against the Rockies on Monday.

The Dodgers are picking up steam with October just around the corner. Los Angeles has won seven of its last 10 games, including picking up a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. The Dodgers will be without ace Chad Billingsley this weekend. Manager Joe Torre decided to skip the righthander's scheduled start after his recent slump. Billingsley is 0-4 in his last five starts and was shelled by San Francisco for three runs on eight hits in just four innings last Sunday. Lefthander Randy Wolf will take his place in Sunday's series finale.