2012 MLB Early Season Betting Tips: Sleepers to Bet 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 approaching a little more than a month old, and there have already been plenty of surprises. For bettors, processing the initial batch of information is crucial to hitting it big on long-term wagers. The quicker bettors are able to identify the surprise teams that are going to be contenders for the long haul and those that are merely off to fast starts, the more money that can be made. Teams that start the year as presumed underdogs don’t see a dramatic change in their odds after only 25 games, even if they start strong. The same can’t be said a month from now. Jumping on the bandwagon early can be beneficial, but bettors have to know what wagon to jump on first.

2012 MLB Early Season Betting Tips: Sleepers to Bet On

1.      Cincinnati Reds (25/1 odds)

They lost their closer Ryan Madson before the start of the year, and former MVP Joey Votto hasn’t been living up to his massive contract. That being said, the Reds are easily the most-talented team in the National League Central, even though the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals are off to a fast start. After all, outfielder Jay Bruce is blossoming, and starter Johnny Cueto is looking like a Cy Young candidate. An inconsistent offense has been the only thing hold Cincinnati back, and once Votto gets dialed in, the Reds should start piling up some wins and easily make the playoffs. Why not take a chance on a team getting 25/1 odds that has a dominant starter and two legitimate stars in a lineup loaded with young talent.

2.      Chicago White Sox (40/1 odds)

Although they are currently under .500, there is lot to love about the White Sox this season. The starting rotation has been bolstered thanks to Jake Peavy being at 100 percent for his first time since joining the team and the smooth transition of former reliever Chris Sale. The lineup has also improved thanks to bounce-back years from Adam Dunn and Alex Rios. If the White Sox can straighten out there bullpen, there is no reason they can’t live up to the lofty expectations they had just one year ago.

3.      Toronto Blue Jays (22/1 odds)

The Blue Jays are used to being the fourth-best team in their own division, but there is light at the end of the tunnel this season. Sure, the Tampa Rays are probably going to win the American League East, but the New York Yankees lost Mariano Rivera for the year, and the Boston Red Sox have a disaster for a bullpen. More importantly, Toronto has a ton of talent. Ricky Romero leads a young, improving rotation, and homer machine Jose Bautista leads a lineup that has a rising star in Brett Lawrie and has seen Edwin Encarnacion finally reach his potential. With the New York and Boston reeling, the Blue Jays are no fluke.

4.      Cleveland Indians (40/1 odds)

Cleveland is the early leader in the American League Central, and the Indians may be there for a while. With everyone in Detroit’s rotation not named Justin Verlander struggling, the division is up for grabs. Cleveland’s rotation has also been inconsistent, but the young players in the lineup all seem to be maturing at once. Jack Hannahan, Jason Kipinis and Asdrubal Cabrera are all hitting over .300, allowing sluggers Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner to have plenty of RBI opportunities. As long as the Indians’ pitching doesn’t collapse completely, this team has more than enough firepower to compete in the AL Central.

5.      Milwaukee Brewers (35/1 odds)

No, the Milwaukee offense is not as good as it was when Prince Fielder was in the lineup. However, Ryan Braun’s overturned suspension made the Brewers a factor in the National League Central once again. A lineup that features the defending MVP, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart is far from weak, and the team’s starting rotation is one of the best with Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum at the top. Throw in a solid bullpen, and Milwaukee has the balance to compete in a division that doesn’t appear to have a dominant team.

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