MLB Betting Tips

If you are planning on betting on the upcoming MLB (Major League Baseball) season, the most important single tip is to get as much information about it as you can. This means finding out what kind of quality the teams have when it comes to pitchers and hitters, and whether there are issues such as injuries or off-field problems that might have a negative impact. It is also worth looking at statistics, but make sure that they are up to date, because things change regularly in professional sports – due to the simple fact that MLB players, like other athletes, become less effective with age.

It is also well worth looking at the odds when you are making a future bet on the winners of either the American or National Leagues, or the World Series, but these should only be treated as a guide. Current pre-season favourites for the new season include the likes of Nationals, the Dodgers and the Tigers, and it should be borne in mind that teams do not get awarded this favourite status for no good reason – it generally reflects the quality they have in their sides. Of course betting a low odds favourite will not make you as much money should it prove a winning bet, but there will be some variance in odds between sports betting sites – so you should look around for the best odds you can get.

Of course one tip for limiting the risk involved is to wait and see how the MLB season progresses before you make your bet, to see if one of the teams outside of the favourites shows strong form. While you are waiting you have the option of playing a game such as Hot Shot - which is a slots game devoted to baseball – at an online casino like Gaming Club. Hot Shot has five reels and nine pay lines, and the presence of a wild symbol (a fiery baseball) can stand in for other symbols to create winning combinations – which greatly increases your chances of winning a payout. All of the reel icons are baseball related, including players like pitchers and hitters, while the sound effects of crowd noise and bats hitting baseballs really make Hot Shot come alive for any lover of the game and betting.

Can The Blue Jays Make An Orioles-Like Run In 2013?

Fans of the Blue Jays are well aware of the AL East Division they have to deal with on a yearly basis. The Yankees and Red Sox are bad enough, but the past few years the Tampa Bay Rays have done it with young talent. Now, in 2012, the Orioles are battling the Yankees for the AL East crown, while also keeping an eye on their Wild Card lead just to get into the playoffs.

Is the AL East now tougher than ever? Possibly, but when you step back and look at things, there is no reason not to think that the Blue Jays could make a similar surprise run next season. The extra Wild Card slot certainly helps, but it’s not like the Blue Jays don’t have talent on their roster and in their system.

The first step to a successful run next season is to make a decision one way or another on John Farrell. Reports are that the Red Sox want him as their next manager. The Blue Jays have him signed to a contract. The team needs to make a decision early in the off-season to either give him up (with some sort of compensation) or hold on to him.

As far as players are concerned, the Blue Jays do not have to be major players in the free agent market, but one thing they do need is better starting pitching. Ricky Romero was supposed to emerge as an ace, but instead he’s struggled all season. Same goes for Henderson Alvarez. All of their other promising pitchers were sidelined by injuries. It would help to go out and get a veteran or two who can be dependable for a full workload. They don’t have to be aces, they just need to give the bullpen a rest.

Speaking of injuries, it’s hard to look at the Blue Jays this season and not feel badly for them. This team has talent when healthy. Brandon Morrow and Kyle Drabek are still young enough to emerge as potential aces, but they have to be on the mound to do that. As far as the offense is concerned, any time Brett Lawrie and Jose Bautista spend a huge chunk of time on the disabled list, you know you are in for some struggles.

Last season, the Orioles won all of 69 games. The Blue Jays will most likely finish with more than that. It seems improbable to make a huge turnaround in just one season, but it can be done. The Red Sox will be down next season, the Rays will most likely end up losing some key free agents and people are still not completely sold on the Orioles. Yes, the Yankees will always be the Yankees, but with a few subtle off-season moves and a clean bill of health for their stars, the Blue Jays could return to the postseason and be the surprise story of 2013.

FanDuel.com has provided this guest article, check them out if you play fantasy baseball leagues for daily fantasy baseball action.