Yankees are the Hottest UNDER Team?
by Mike Rose
Even though the summer months are here, the run production in baseball doesn’t seem to be picking up any. That’s a recipe for an ‘under’ bettors delight! Check out this week’s list of the best ‘under’ teams in baseball over the L/5 days…
1: New York Yankees (53-54-6) (1-4 in L/5) If the Yankees start getting some legitimate pitching, they’re going to be the scariest team in baseball. With a lineup that features names like Jeter, Damon, A-Rod, Teixeira, Matsui, Posada, and Cano, there’s no doubt they can mash with the best teams in baseball; especially in that launching pad known as New Yankee Stadium. Everyone knows that closer Mariano Rivera is money, so if the Yankees are winning in the ninth inning, the odds of more runs being scored are slim to none. The trick has been getting the middle relief and the starting pitching in line. It all came together against the Red Sox, as New York’s pitching held the Beantown Bombers scoreless for 31 straight frames, which was a big reason why it swept the four game set and took a commanding lead that it likely won’t give up in the AL East.
2: Cincinnati Reds (45-61-6) (1-3-1 in L/5) Cincinnati’s struggles at the plate just seem to get worse and worse as the season wears on. The unit still isn’t averaging four runs per game and is batting just a shade above .240 as a team for the season. The Reds’ team OPS of .691 is downright embarrassing, and is easily the worst mark in the majors. They notched their fourth straight win for ‘under’ bettors on Tuesday night against St. Louis, but in spite of the fact that they scored five runs in victory, it was the 13th time in their L/14 games that they failed to exceed that five run mark. Save for Joey Votto, no one on the team is batting anywhere near .300, and the biggest disappointment has been OF Jay Bruce. The slugger is only batting .207 for the season, and though his 18 homers lead the team, that’s a far cry from what anyone in Cincinnati was expecting this year.
3: Boston Red Sox (48-56-8) (2-3 in L/5) When you go on a stretch of 31 innings without scoring a run, it’s really easy to end up being on the Who’s Hot list for ‘under’ bettors. Unfortunately for manager Terry Francona, Boston’s lineup just appears to be in shambles right now. No one is hitting the baseball, particularly with runners in scoring position. Now, 1B/3B/LF Kevin Youkilis is probably set to serve a lengthy suspension after he charged the mound when Detroit’s Rick Porcello plunked him in last night’s 7-3 win. That may not help Boston’s offense right now, but perhaps it’ll provide a spark to a team that has been playing miserable baseball since the All-Star Break.
And the rest…
4: San Francisco Giants (45-59-8) (2-3 in L/5)
5: New York Mets (50-56-8) (2-3 in L/5)
(Rank) (Team) (O/U Record) (O/U Record in L/5)
