MLB Weekend Top 10

by Bodog Sportsbook | Jul 9 2009

Did you draft Ben Zobrist onto your fantasy baseball team? You lucky, lucky dog. Thanks in part to the knee injury suffered by Tampa Bay Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura, Zobrist has gone from utility player to his first All-Star Game. The numbers are gaudy: a 1.017 OPS and 17 homers in 77 games. Zobrist cleared the fences yet again on Wednesday versus the Toronto Blue Jays, and then he drove in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The final score: 10-9.

The Rays may have won 10 of their last 15 games, but they still have some work to do before they crack our Top 10 money list. All stats are at press time; for the latest betting lines, visit Bodog Sports.

Top 10 paying teams

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (53-31, 17.28 units)
2. Texas Rangers (47-36, 13.11 units)
3. San Francisco Giants (46-38, 8.95 units)
4. Boston Red Sox (51-33, 8.85 units)
4. Los Angeles Angels (46-37, 8.85 units)
6. Colorado Rockies (45-39, 7.64 units)
7. Detroit Tigers (46-38, 6.04 units)
8. Chicago White Sox (44-40, 5.25 units)
9. Seattle Mariners (43-41, 4.49 units)
10. Florida Marlins (44-42, 3.10 units)

Top 10 paying pitchers

1. Matt Palmer, L.A. Angels (9-2 team record, 10.64 units)
2. Tim Wakefield, Boston (13-4, 9.22 units)
3. Jason Marquis, Colorado (12-5, 8.86 units)
4. Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay (11-4, 7.99 units)
5. Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox (13-4, 7.60 units)
5. Josh Johnson, Florida (13-5, 7.60 units)
7. Josh Beckett, Boston (13-4, 7.41 units)
8. Matt Cain, San Francisco (12-5, 6.19 units)
9. Vicente Padilla, Texas (10-5, 6.06 units)
10. Eric Stults, L.A. Dodgers (7-2, 5.85 units)

This weekend's top 10 storylines

1. Angels OFs Torii Hunter (groin), Vladimir Guerrero (knee) undergo MRI exams
2. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster out 3-4 weeks after breaking toe during celebration
3. Cubs catcher Geovany Soto strains left oblique; MRI results expected Friday
4. All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez (hip flexor) still uncertain for Marlins
5. Marlins set-up man Kiko Calero to be activated Thursday
6. Blue Jays activate closer Scott Downs, release former closer B.J. Ryan
7. Baltimore 1B Aubrey Huff leaves game with strained groin
8. OF Raul Ibanez expects to return to Phillies on Friday
9. A's designate pitcher Dana Eveland for assignment
10. Braves 3B Chipper Jones (groin) misses Wednesday’s game; considered day-to-day
 
This weekend's top 10 games to bet on

1. Sunday: St. Louis at Chicago Cubs (8:05 p.m. Eastern, ESPN)

The Cubs may be without Soto for their Sunday Night Baseball matchup with the Cards. It should be a doozy with Carlos Zambrano (9-6 team record, +2.17 units) and Adam Wainwright (12-6, +3.69 units) taking the mound.

2. Saturday: N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels (4:10 p.m., FOX)

The over is 13-4 in the last 17 games between these two clubs. Andy Pettitte (under 11-6) and Jered Weaver (under 9-6-2) will try to do something about it.

3. Sunday: L.A. Dodgers at Milwaukee (2:05 p.m., TBS)

Manny Ramirez is 3-for-11 with two dingers and a .879 OPS (down from 1.133) in five games since returning from his drug suspension. The Dodgers are 3-2.

4. Friday: Cleveland at Detroit (7:05 p.m.)

Thanks to teams tweaking their rotations around Tuesday’s All-Star Game, we had conflicting reports at press time whether Carl Pavano (8-9, +0.52 units) or Cliff Lee (5-13, -11.69 units and worst in the majors) would start for Cleveland against Edwin Jackson (9-8, +0.47 units).

5. Saturday: Kansas City at Boston (7:10 p.m.)

John Smoltz will make his fourth career start for the Red Sox after three straight team losses at a combined 4.19 units in the hole.

6. Friday: Cincinnati at N.Y. Mets (7:10 p.m.)

It appears converted reliever Fernando Nieve (3-2, +1.97 units) will keep his spot in the Mets rotation despite the return of Oliver Perez to the big club.

7. Sunday: Texas at Seattle (4:10 p.m.)

This is the second start of the year for Dustin Nippert, who cashed in the Rangers at +165 in his first start despite allowing three runs to the Angels in 3.2 innings.

8. Friday: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m.)

The Phillies are 10-4 in their last 14 games against their Pennsylvania rivals, and 7-1 in their last eight at Citizens Bank Park.

9. Sunday: San Diego at San Francisco (4:05 p.m.)

Barry Zito (8-9, 1.36 units) blanked the Marlins over 8.1 innings in Tuesday's start; the Giants won 3-0 to record their fifth shutout in 10 games.

10. Saturday: Oakland at Tampa Bay (6:08 p.m.)

It appears that Matt Garza (8-9, -2.85 units) will get the start for the Rays with Niemann taking the hill on Friday. The under is 10-1 in Garza's last 11 starts and 12-4-1 on the season.