Divisional Battles Heat Up This Weekend

When the legal online sports betting experts look at the MLB standings at this point in the season, there are several divisional races that stand out. The AL East is so tight that only nine games separates the top team from the bottom team. In the NL West, only three games keep the last place San Francisco Giants from vaulting into first place. It has been a long time since the sports betting services have seen close battles like this and they are definitely fun to watch.

There are only a couple of weekends left before the All-Star game and the midway point of the season. The All-Star break is usually a turning point for many teams and that turn can go bad or good. As this weekend approaches, the top sports betting sites have several games that they are keeping a very close eye on.

Saturday – Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees

Even though the New York Yankees are five games above .500 and have more wins than every team in the NL West, they still trail the AL East leading Boston Red Sox by six games. The Baltimore Orioles are in second place in the AL East and trail the Red Sox by three and a half games. Not only do the Yankees have to worry about trying to leapfrog the Orioles, but the Red Sox keep winning as well. The Yankees have a starting pitching rotation that has been extremely inconsistent all season long. But this is the time of the year when New York usually pulls things together.

Pick: New York Yankees

Saturday – Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks

The sports betting websites are still getting used to the idea that the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks are battling for the NL West pennant with the All-Star break only a couple of weeks away. Both the Diamondbacks and the Rockies have been struggling as of late, but the Diamondbacks are really having problems winning ball games. With the NL West divisional race getting tighter every day, it is important for the Rockies and the Diamondbacks to take advantage of every opportunity they are given. In this game, the Rockies take it to the Diamondbacks and hand Arizona a loss in their own ball park.

Pick: Colorado Rockies

Sunday – Los Angeles Dodgers @ San Francisco Giants

When an entire division is struggling like the NL West is, it can make sub-.500 records look impressive. The Dodgers have a 39-43 record, but only trail the first place Arizona Diamondbacks by two and a half games. At 39-44, the Giants are only three games back of first place. At this point, the NL West is a mad dash to reach a .500 record and the team that can get there by the All-Star break will be in a good position to win the pennant. The Giants have made late-season pushes before, but the Dodgers are playing too well right now to be denied.

Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers