MLB Wild Card Race Better Than Expected In 2011

Just over a month ago, MLB betting enthusiasts and casual fans alike, could both agree that the 2011 playoff picture would be decided by the beginning of September. However, two weeks into September, we can happily say, that the Wild Card spots in both the AL and NL are far from being decided. Both the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox have stumbled into the final fishing games month of the season. As a result of their stumbling ways, teams such asSt. Louis, andTampaBay, who appeared to be dead in the water as recently as the start of August, have climbed back into the thick of things. Here is a sports betting look at the MLB Wild Card race in both leagues.

Over the last couple of weeks, sports betting enthusiasts wagering on the MLB have been entrenched in the AL Wild Card race, featuring the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. The Boston Red Sox were considered on paper to be the one team to give the Philadelphia Phillies a run for their money as World Series betting champions in 2011. However, the Red Sox got off to a slow start, losing their first six games of the season, and have been streaky ever since. The team’s Achilles heel, is their pitching rotation, as aside from staff Josh Beckett and second starter Jon Lester, the rest of the rotation has either been inconsistent, or shut down for the season due to injury.

On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Rays like a distance racehorse, has slowly stocked their way back into the playoff hunt, after also getting off to a slow start.Tampais anchored by an unbelievable pitching rotation, that includes possible CY Young award winner James Shields and staff ace David Price. Tonight the Rays face off with the New York Yankees, in a series that could decide if the Rays are able to catchBostonin the playoff chase. With 10 games remaining, the Rays must go undefeated if they hope to make it to the playoffs.

In the National League on the other hand, the Atlanta Braves have been the Wild Card holders essentially by default since the start of the season. The Braves are in the MLB toughest division, the NL East, led by the Philadelphia Phillies.  With only 10 games to go, the St. Louis Cardinals led by veteran fielders Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman, has climbed to within two and a half games of the Braves for the aforementioned wild card spot.

Hot on both teams heels, are the San Francisco Giants, who are looking to avoid missing the playoffs the year after they won the World Series.  The Giants have gone on an eight game win streak but may be too late, as they still sit three and a half games back. Similar to the Rays, the Giants need to win out. But the Rays only need to jump one team, while the Giants need to jump two.