2012 MLB Early Season Betting Tips: Favorites to Avoid Betting On

2012 MLB Power Rankings: Top 10 Teams Thru April 20:2012 MLB Early Season Betting Tips – Sleepers to Bet On: The 2012 MLB season is only about 25 games old for most teams, but there are already some preseason favorites that find themselves in an early hole. That being said, there is still more than enough time to recover, assuming the struggles are nothing more than a slow start. The trick for bettors is to recognize which of these teams have a fatal flaw and is going to be struggling the rest of the year, as well. After all, the last thing anyone wants to do is waste a bet on a team that wasn’t going to provide a big payoff to begin with. With that in mind, here are few teams still considered favorites in the eyes of the oddsmakers that could be headed for a bad season.

2012 MLB Early Season Betting Tips: Favorites to Avoid Betting On

1.      New York Yankees (17/2 odds)

Why Mariano Rivera has been allowed to shag flyballs during batting practices is beyond me, but the ACL tear that resulted has left the Yankees without the best closer in the history of baseball. David Robertson is a qualified replacement, but moving him to the ninth inning hurts shifts everyone else’s role in the bullpen. With CC Sabathia as the team’s only reliable starter, the Yankees need to be able to shorten the game. Without Rivera, it becomes a lot harder to do that. Sure, the lineup is incredible, but New York has been an offensive juggernaut for years. Pitching has been the problem, and thanks to the dreaded injury bug, the Yankees have their worst rotation and bullpen in several seasons.

2.      Detroit Tigers (8/1 odds)

Justin Verlander is the defending Cy Young winner and Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are MVP candidates. The problem for the Tigers is that it is becoming increasingly obvious that they don’t have much in the way of talent outside of their three stars. Unless guys are getting on pace in front of the two sluggers, there is only so much damage they can do. More importantly, it’s tough to win with any kind of consistency when Verlander is the only dependable starter. Depth is a big issue for Detroit, and it could come back to bit them.

3.      Los Angeles Angels (15/1 odds)

Albert Pujols isn’t going to go the entire season without hitting a home run, but his slow start isn’t the only issue. Outside of Kendrys Morales, the Angels’ lineup is filled with players that are past their prime or are young and still developing. Granted, C.J. Wilson has bolstered a starting rotation that already features Jared Weaver, but the bullpen is a complete mess. Los Angeles entered the year with a big payroll and big expectations, but the Angels are sitting in the cellar of the American League West. Even if Pujols goes on a tear, there is no way they are overtaking Texas for the AL West crown. Heck, a wild card spot is going to be tough to come by without a complete overhaul of their lead-squandering bullpen.

4.      Philadelphia Phillies (9/1 odds)

Assuming Cliff Lee’s injury as minor as expected, the starting staff is still arguably the best in baseball. However, the Phillies are currently sitting in the cellar of the National League East because of their joke of an offense. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are still out, and who knows how long it will take the veterans to get back into game shot once they do return. Outside of outfielder Hunter Pence and catcher Carlos Ruiz, this is an older lineup in general. Great pitching will cover up a lot of issues, but Philadelphia’s poor offense will be long-lasting hurdle in a loaded NL East.

5.      Boston Red Sox (16/1 odds)

With the Red Sox currently the only team in the American League East under .500, the clock is already ticking on Bobby Valentine’s tenure as manager in Boston. Losing Jacoby Ellsbury for a while was a blow, but the offense isn’t the problem. Boston has the second-worst ERA in the league, and a mediocre starting staff is backed by an even worse bullpen. Even with a strong lineup, the Red Sox won’t be able to compete in the toughest division in baseball unless the front office can somehow retool the pitching staff.

Get extra FREE MLB Picks and Tips daily from expert handicappers and tipsters on NSAwins.com’s MLB Baseball Tips and Predictions page.