The 2012 MLB season is just about to enter the month of June, allowing baseball bettors to compile a ton of data on each team up to this point. A couple of teams produced some healthy returns for their backers last week, while others simply torched their supporter’s bankrolls. Here’s a look at some of the hottest and coldest teams in the league post Memorial Day.
Money-Makers
Los Angeles Angels (7-1, $619): The team most everyone expected to take the field at the start of the 2012 season looks to have finally found its groove, as manager Mike Scioscia’s squad checks in at 17-10 ($400) in the month of May. After winning Monday night’s slugfest with the Yankees at home, Anaheim has gotten back to the .500 mark. The addition of rookie Mike Trout into the everyday starting line-up has sparked the offense in a big way, and it’s also helped that Albert Pujols has finally rediscovered his slugging ways. As it is, LA sits 6.5-games in back of the 1st place Texas Rangers, but there’s still plenty of season remaining for this club to get back into the playoff picture.
On The Docket: The Halos got two more with the Evil Empire before hosting the Rangers in the division rivals second series of the season; LA dropped two of three when it paid a visit to Arlington a couple weeks back.
Chicago White Sox (6-1, $461): The Palehose got the job done with their pitching last week to reach the top of this list, but Manager Robin Ventura’s troops busted out the bats this past week en route to securing five wins in six tries against the division rival Twins and Indians. They racked up a total of 54 runs in those games and went yard 12 times before Chris Sale picked up his sixth win of the season after striking out 15 Rays in Tampa Monday afternoon. In doing so, the White Sox now sit just a half-game in back of the Tribe for the top spot in the AL Central.
On The Docket: Paul Konerko and his mates have two games remaining with Tampa Bay before returning home to face the Seattle Mariners for three. They’ve profited $786 as visitors but are $301 in the red as hosts.
Philadelphia Phillies (5-3, $234): Don’t look now, but the Phillies are making a charge within the highly competitive NL East even though their two big boppers – Chase Utley and Ryan Howard - continue to rehab in an attempt to get healthy for a late season run. After dropping two of three at home to the division leading Nationals, manager Charlie Manuel’s troops went into St. Louis and took three of four from the Redbirds and then went into New York and took the series opener from the Mets. Recent injuries to Carlos Ruiz and Roy Halladay are concerning, but this club has been getting unexpected contributions all season long.
On The Docket: The Phillies got two more with the Mets at Citi Field before returning home to face the Marlins through the weekend; Philly’s been at its worst at home where it’s 11-13 and -$893 for its betting backers.
Money-Burners
Atlanta Braves (0-8, -$907): Every team endures a prolonged losing stretch throughout the regular season, so it’s best to get it out of the way early as opposed to late when contending teams are all fighting for playoff spots. The Braves are currently in the midst of theirs, and it’s cost them the lead atop the NL East. That said; manager Fredi Gonzalez has been forced to deal with a myriad of injuries. The list includes Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, and Freddie Freeman – all of the team’s main RBI guys. The losing streak reached eight in a row on Memorial Day after Lance Lynn dominated them en route to securing his eighth win of the season.
On The Docket: Atlanta has two remaining with the Redbirds at home before hitting the road to battle the 1st place Nats through the weekend; they’re 16-13 ($311) as visitors to date.
Oakland A’s (1-6, -$496): The losing streak increased to six in a row for manager Bob Melvin’s Athletics who got swept at home by the New York Yankees before dropping the series opener with the Minnesota Twins Monday afternoon. It’s been painful to watch this team attempt to score all season long (#28 at 3.31 runs per game), but some added punch could be right around the corner with Yeonis Cespedes and Manny Ramirez both expected to return to the team over the course of the next week.
On The Docket: The A’s will close out the week on the road at Minnesota and Kansas City before returning home to host the Texas Rangers for four. They’ve dropped 10 of their 25 games played at home (-$515) but stand 12-12 as visitors ($613).
Seattle Mariners (2-6, -$383): After sweeping the Rockies at Coors in Interleague play and following it up by taking two of three from the AL West leading Rangers at home, it looked as if manager Eric Wedge’s Mariners were onto something. Then they dropped all four of their home clashes with the Angels and that idea was quickly scrapped from the drawing board. This team’s offense is frustratingly inconsistent, and while the pitching staff has churned out 28 quality starts (#12), the M’s sit nine-games under .500 because of it.
On The Docket: The Mariners got two more in Arlington before heading to Chicago to battle the red hot White Sox at “The Cell.” If their batting lineup continues to struggle in that venue, there’s simply no hope for this team offensively!
