in MLB Props
Back to the Futures – Handicapping the NL Cy Young
by BetUS Staff
online wagering on major league baseball realize that great starting pitchers are at a premium. Even the top starters on a big league team aren't likely to go a lot of innings, and in this era, having an earned run average of less than 4.00 is considered to be outstanding.
That's why it's particularly pleasurable to review the better pitchers in the National League as we handicap the front-runners for the NL Cy Young award, as they are posted in a special proposition available through BetUS.
First, here are the MLB odds:
BetUS MLB Baseball Futures Odds
To Win NL Cy Young Award
Ryan Dempster 8/1
Cole Hamels 9/2
Tim Lincecum 5/2
Johan Santana 8/1
Ben Sheets 9/2
Edinson Volquez 5/2
Brandon Webb 3/1
Carlos Zambrano 5/1
Field 5/1
Let's take a quick look at each of them (statistics presented reflect games through Monday):
Ryan Dempster 8/1 at BetUS -- He's won 11 games thus far, and brings some heat, with 111 strikeouts. He gets some points for being on a team that will likely find its way into the post-season. But his strikeout-walk ratio is just a little over 2-to-1, and he is likely to split that "Cubs vote" with fellow standout Carlos Zambrano.
Cole Hamels 9/2 at BetUS -- Hamels is allowing only about a base runner per inning, and is the one bright shining light on the starting staff of a team that is, at least at the moment, holding on to a share of a division lead (the NL East). So he'll get credit for that, as well as the fact that he leads the league in innings pitched. But the won-lost record is not mind-blowing (9-6).
Tim Lincecum 5/2 at BetUS -- Some people are of the school of thought that pitchers from pennant contenders should get preference for this award. As for me, I feel that when your team is awful, it's an even greater feat to be winning in spite of all that. Lincecum would seem to have no business being 11-3 for a team that can't score runs. Interestingly, though, the Giants score almost five runs a game for him. He strikes out more than a batter an inning, and the 2.79 ERA is among the league's best.
Johan Santana 8/1 at BetUS -- The Mets have been surging lately, and Santana's been a part of it. But not necessarily a huge part of it. Sure, he's giving up less than a hit per inning and his strikeout totals are extremely respectable. His 3.10 ERA is more than solid. But the Mets have won just two of his last eight starts, And his 8-7 record indicates that he's not outdistanced his team to the extent you want an ideal Cy Young contender to do. All in all, nothing that blows me away here.
Ben Sheets 9/2 at BetUS -- The NL All-Star starter was one of the people holding Milwaukee's staff together when it wasn't doing too well. His 2.88 ERA reflects consistency all year long. And with ten wins, 128 innings, 111 whiffs and a 2.88 ERA, he posts by far the best numbers on the staff of a team that has stamped itself a genuine contender. Him and C.C Sabathia make a scary combo.
Edinson Volquez 5/2 at BetUS -- I like Volquez because, like Lincecum, he out-performed his team considerably. He's got a 12-3 record (.800 winning percentage) for a club that is five games under .500. he's allowed just 7.2 hits per nine innings (wow!). His 2.49 ERA was best in the NL, last I looked. Opposing batters were hitting just .220 against him. And he was striking out more than one man per inning. The only real negative about Volquez is that after a sizzling start where he gave up two runs or less in each of his first 12 starts, he's come back closer to earth.
Brandon Webb 3/1 at BetUS -- Webb also got off to a great start, then cooled off. He's been coming strong lately, giving up just three runs in his last 21 innings. On the year, he's 13-4 with a 3.11 ERA, and is one of the league's leaders in innings pitched. But he may get beaten out by someone from his own staff, like Dan Haren.
Carlos Zambrano 5/1 at BetUS -- Zambrano's ERA, at 2.98, is sixth in the NL. And he's achieved double-digit wins. But he doesn't even have a 2-to-1 ratio of strikeouts to walks. And who will get the support of the people who want to pay tribute to the Cubs' success - him or Ryan Dempster?
Field 5/1 -- One of the guys who stands out here is Haren, who is 9-5 with a 2.58 ERA and has a strikeout-walk ratio of about 5-to-1. Kyle Lohse is 12-2 with a 3.35 ERA for the Cardinals. And there are at least a couple of relief pitchers who could merit consideration, including Billy Wagner of the Mets and Brad Lidge of the Phillies.
If you're looking for JAY'S PLAYS on this one, I'd say Volquez and Lincecum, who have risen above the level of their teams, are the two favorites, right in line with the BetUS odds. But for value, I wonder whether there might be a better bet than the "Field," especially as a guy like Haren is sitting there with a WHIP ratio under the 1.00 mark. And don't forget, a healthy number of relievers have won the Cy Young.
Go to the BetUS Join BetUS to experience the best in online sports betting action!
(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com touches all the bases as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)
