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2008 American League Playoff Predictions & MLB Picks

Written by Jimmy Boyd

The Major League Baseball season is more then halfway done and it is nearing an end. We now have a good feel for how each team plays, as well as what their biggest strengths and weaknesses are. Each team is different then the other and I am going to discuss who I feel has a chance to make it into the playoffs and possibly win a World Series Championship. Let’s take a look:

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Tampa Bay Devil Rays – This season has been a very magical one for the Devil Rays. They have already had the best season in franchise history and are currently leading the American League East division. Tampa Bay is now considered to be a powerhouse team and hold the second best home record in MLB. The Rays are 47-18 at home this season and have been on a tear after the all star break. They are 24-10 since then and look to make a deep playoff run. Tampa has a great mix of solid hitting, starting pitching and a great bullpen. Their starting 5 pitchers have combined for 53 wins this season and at times looked very dominate. None of these 5 has an era of over 4.5, while the lowest strikeout total of the bunch is 88. Carlos Pena leads the way on the offensive end with 26 home runs and 78 RBI’s. As for the bullpen they have been very solid this year led by names like, Howell, Balfour, Percival, and Reyes. I feel like Tampa has a legitimate shot of going all the way if they stay focused. JustBet has Tampa Bay’s odds to win the 2008 World Series at +500.

Boston Red Sox – The Boston Red Sox are always a top contender every year. They are the defending champions of last season and look very strong again this year. They sit second in the American League East with a record of 75-55. Boston has always been very dominate at home and this year is no different. They hold a 42-18 mark this year and are looking to make a big playoff push. The Red Sox are very stacked on both end of the baseball. For starters they have one of the best offenses out there. Kevin Youkillis and Dustin Pedroia both have averages of .318 and have combined for 38 home runs and 153 RBI’s. David Ortiz is having an off year, but come playoff time he will be ready to go. The Red Sox also have excellent pitching. Dice-K Matsuzaka leads the team with a record of 15-2 and has 117 strikeouts. Josh Beckett and John Lester have also had a good season and with the new acquisition of Paul Byrd from Cleveland they can only get better. We also can’t forget how dominate closer Jonathan Papelbon has been. He has 33 saves this season to go along with an era of 1.75 in 56.2 innings pitched. Look for Boston to be right in the thick of things this year as they always produce a quality playoff team. JustBet has Boston’s odds to win the 2008 World Series at +540

Los Angeles Angels – Currently the Angels sit a top the American League West, holding a record of 79-50. Believe it or not, they actually play better on the road them at home. Los Angeles has the best road record in the entire MLB at 40-25. They are fairly good at home holding a record of 39-25. The Angels have never really been known for their big offense. They went out and got big hitter Mark Texiera from Atlanta and he has made a drastic improvement to their offense. Add in Vladimir Guerrero and Howie Kendrick to the mix and your all set. The Angels also have a very good base running game. They have a very quick lineup which can lead to many stolen bases. Their pitching is also phenomenal. John Lackey, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, John Garland and Jarred Weaver all have 10 wins or more. This is a very deadly combination and leads to instant success. Francisco Rodriguez anchors the team and just got his 50th save of the season. If you take everything that I have just discussed into account then the Angels are set for a very deep playoff run this season. JustBet has the Angels’s odds to win the 2008 World Series at +325

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on August 25, 2008 · Filed Under Baseball Betting Articles

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