Matt Martz | Sportsbook Reviews | Sportsbooklists.com

Dodgers stun Cards to take a two game lead

October 10, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

The Dodgers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth beating St. Louis 3-2 in Game 2 of the NLDS playoffs on Thursday, taking a 2-0 series lead.

The walk-off win should have been little surprise to Los Angeles who has 41 come-from-behind victories, including 12 walk-offs this season. The Dodgers were one of the hottest teams in MLB the first half of the season, before struggling to keep the wild-card Colorado Rockies from taking the NL west division title from them with just four games remaining.

Now the Dodgers have a chance to end the series against the Cardinals in Game 3 on Saturday at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals on the other hand need a three-game winning streak. Only four teams in MLB history have come back to win a divisional series after falling behind by two games.

In their 5-3 loss in Game 1, the Cardinals didn’t help themselves, issuing eight walks and additionally hitting two Dodgers with one of the hit batters eventually scoring, and another coming with the bases loaded to force in a run.

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Rockies pull even with Phillies

October 9, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

After the Phillies cruised to a 5-1 victory over the wild-card Rockies in game one behind a solid performance from postseason rookie starter Cliff Lee, Colorado edged out Philadelphia 5-4 in Game 2 to even the series, snapping the Phillies eight postseason game-winning streak and tagging World Series and NLCS MVP starter Cole Hamels for seven hits and four earned runs (including a solo homer) in just five innings on the mound.

Before Thursday’s win at Philadelphia, the Rockies had lost five consecutive postseason games, dating back to 2007, when the Red Sox swept them in the World Series. This was Colorado’s first win in the postseason since they completed a four-game sweep of the Diamondbacks in the 2007 NLCS.

The best-of-five series shifts to Coors Field for Game 2 on Saturday where the forecast calls for freezing drizzle and flurries possible with temperatures in the upper 20s and lower 30s during the game. The Rockies went 51-30 during the regular season at Coors Field, but lost one of two season series at home to the Phillies in early April.

Jason Hammel (10-8) will start for the Rockies against Pedro Martinez (5-1) as the Phillies try to become the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three World Series in a row from 1998-2000. No NL team has done it since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76. Hammel is 1-1 lifetime against the Phillies with an 8-3 win on Aug. 4 (6.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 0 BB). Martinez has a career record of 10-9 against the Rockies but none of those in a Phillies uniform. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 29, throwing 130 pitches through seven innings against the Mets. However, his postseason experience has earned him the start

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: Baseball, baseball betting, Baseball Lines, Baseball Odds, Bet on Baseball, Bet on MLB, Betting on Sports, Colorado Rockies, MLB, MLB Baseball, MLB Betting, MLB Lines, MLB Odds, NL Division Series, Philadelphia Phillies, Sports Betting, Sports Lines

Angels Blank Boston in Game 1; Look to end streak

October 9, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

Torii Hunter’s three-run home run in the fifth broke a scoreless deadlock and propelled the Angels to a 5-0 shut out over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday night.

Anaheim took the lead in a playoff series with the Red Sox for the first time since 1986, as starter John Lackey recorded his first postseason victory since Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and helped the Angels to their first shutout in a 53 postseason games.

It seems like deja vuos as the Red Sox and Angels meet for the third straight time in a divisional series and the fourth time in the last six seasons. Anaheim is 1-9 in their last 10 postseason appearances against Boston, scoring just 29 runs. Will they finally be able to beat the Red Sox?

The Angels took the season series 5-4 from the Red Sox, holding them to about 4.5 runs per game while scoring about five runs per game.

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: AL Division Series, Anaheim Angels, Baseball, baseball betting, Baseball Lines, Baseball Odds, Bet on Baseball, Bet on MLB, Betting on Sports, Boston Red Sox, MLB, MLB Baseball, MLB Betting, MLB Lines, MLB Odds, Sports Betting, Sports Lines

“David vs. Goliath” American League Playoff Update

October 8, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins

After wining a marathon single elimination playoff game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, a an exhausted Minnesota Twins traveled to New York to take on the Yankees in game one of the ALDS on Wednesday.

The effect of the 21-hour turnaround appeared to have little affect on the Twins as they jumped out to an early lead in the top of the third. But it all fell apart as New York rallied for seven runs beating Minnesota 7-2, taking a one game lead in the series.

No one was surprised by Wednesday’s outcome and the odds Gods were happy. In fact Minnesota is lucky to be here, right? Wrong.

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: American League Playoffs, Baseball, baseball betting, Baseball Lines, Baseball Odds, Bet on Baseball, Bet on MLB, Betting on Sports, MLB, MLB Baseball, MLB Betting, MLB Championship Odds, MLB Lines, MLB Odds, MLB Pennant, MLB World Series, Sports Betting, Sports Lines

Tigers and Twins set for game 163

October 6, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

A preview of the upcoming Tigers vs Twins AL playoff game.

The red-hot Minnesota Twins will host the Detroit Tigers in a single elimination tiebreaker for the American League Central title and a trip the playoffs in Tuesday night. It is the second straight year that the Twins have needed a 163rd game to finish the season, and a first in MLB history.

The Twins (86-76) lost a one-game playoff to the Chicago White Sox in 2008, but are –1-½ point favorites in this year’s match up against the Tigers. Minnesota leads the season series 11-7, including seven wins in nine games at the Metrodome.

Minnesota has won 16 of its last 20 games including four straight wins to close the season, while Detroit, who led by seven games on Sept. 6, went a modest 11-15 down the stretch. The Twins are 48-33 at home and will also have history on their side, as four of the five one-game playoffs in the Wild Card Era have been won at home.

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: Baseball, baseball betting, Baseball Lines, Baseball Odds, Bet on Baseball, Bet on MLB, Betting on Sports, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, MLB, MLB Baseball, MLB Betting, MLB Championship Odds, MLB Lines, MLB Odds, MLB Pennant, MLB World Series, Sports Betting, Sports Lines

Still some unsettled business in the National League Playoffs race

October 2, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

The MLB playoffs are closing in fast and there is still some unsettled business in the National League pennant race. As teams still jockey for home-field advantage and division titles, the playoff picture hangs in the balance.

Expectations are high as the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies clinched the NL east division title and are looking forward to a repeat performance of the 2008 postseason. Unlike the two previous years when Philadelphia clinched late in the season, this division championship was hardly in doubt as the Phillies (92-66) were in first place back on May 30 and had a comfortable lead throughout the season. The biggest question mark for the Phillies entering this years playoffs has to be the bullpen, which was the team’s strength last October. The Phillies enter Thursday a half-game behind Los Angeles for best record in the NL. They can secure home-field advantage in the first round with any combination of two wins or losses by NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals (91-68) are the odds on favorite to win the National League pennant but have lost five of their last six and 11 of their last 17 games, lowering their chances at having home-field advantage for the playoffs. If the season ended as it stands today, the Cardinals would open the playoffs at home against LA, but if they can catch the Dodgers in their last four, the Cardinals would open the playoffs at home against the Dodgers because the Cardinals won the season series. The Dodgers are an impressive 48-30 at Dodger Stadium so securing home-field advantage could be key for the Cardinals.

Out in the NL west there is a shoot out between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colorado (91-68) knocked out the Braves with a 903 win over the Brewers on Thursday and no have set their sights on catching the Dodgers for the NL West title. The Rockies will need to sweep a three-game series against the Dodgers (93-66) this weekend if they wish to claim the crown. Los Angeles has lost four straight, while the Rockies have one four straight. Colorado has been red-hot heading down the stretch reminiscent of their NL wild card runs in 1995 and 2007, when they went an 21-1 during a stunning run to the World Series, where they were eliminated by the Red Sox. All eyes will be focused on this weekends match ups as the NL playoff picture is framed.

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: 2009 MLB Playoffs, Baseball, baseball betting, Baseball Lines, Baseball Odds, Bet on Baseball, Bet on MLB, Betting on Sports, MLB, MLB Baseball, MLB Betting, MLB Lines, MLB Odds, National League Playoffs, NL Playoffs, Sports Betting, Sports Lines

American League MLB Playoffs Preview

October 1, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

MLB 2009 American League Playoffs

The Major League Baseball playoffs are set to begin in less than a week and the stage is just about set. Here we take a look at the match ups in the American League and see how the teams stack up with one another in round one.

We start out in the AL east where the New York Yankees (102-57) pretty much had the division locked up in by late August. They have had plenty of time to rest their starting rotation, and review scouting reports as they await the winner of the AL central division. After falling to the Twins on Thursday, the Detroit Tigers (85-73) still have not clinched the AL central division title, as the pesky Minnesota Twins (82-76) are still in the hunt. The winner won’t be decided until this weekend or early next week if a tiebreaker is necessary. If Detroit beats the Chicago White Sox twice at home, it will win the division. If not, the Tigers will hope for a little help from the Kansas City Royals, in ending Minnesota’s season. My prediction is the Tigers hang on to open the first round of the playoffs at Yankee Stadium next Wednesday.

If they do, the Tigers will have their hands full with the Yankees and New York will need to remember the 2006 playoffs when the Tigers eliminated Yankees in just four games. The playoffs come down to strong pitching. Detroit may increase their chances with a strong performance from starter Justin Verlander in Game 1. If the Tigers can win one early, they may put a little pressure on New York making the series interesting, otherwise the Yanks when this one in four.

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: 2009 MLB Playoffs, American League Playoffs, Baseball, baseball betting, Baseball Lines, Baseball Odds, Bet on Baseball, Bet on MLB, Betting on Sports, MLB, MLB Baseball, MLB Betting, MLB Lines, MLB Odds, Sports Betting, Sports Lines

MLB Pennant and Championship Odds

September 28, 2009 By Matt Martz Leave a Comment

With Major League Baseball playoffs just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about whom you will bet on to be this year’s World Series champions, or maybe place a wager on who will be this year’s American and National League pennant winners.

First up is the American League. The Yankees has an overall record of (97-56), the best in the league to date and are the first that has secured their bid for post-season action. The Yankees are a big favorite to win the World Series, at +180 odds.

The Detroit Tigers are in first place in the AL Central (82-20) +1500, and the Los Angeles Angels (90-62) sit atop the AL West at +500 odds.

Over in the National League the three favorites are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals, all sitting at +550 odds.

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