MLB Betting Odds – Can Burnett Find his Fastball Against the D’Backs Tonight?

The New York Yankees are one of the best teams in MLB. The baseball odds makers have reflected that fact by making the Yankees big time favorites in the MLB sportsbook tonight when they travel to Arizona to take on one of the worst teams in baseball, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The D’Backs, with their 27 and 43 record, should fall with ease to the mighty Yankees with their 43 and 26 record. Arizona has a sliver of hope, however, because New York sends pitcher A.J. Burnett to the mound. Burnett just hasn’t been very good in 2010 when racking up a 6 and 5 record with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

He’s been even worse lately. Yankee manager Joe Girardi believes he’s having “trouble with his fastball”. Will Burnett be able to correct those fastball issues tonight?

New York Yankees vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Where: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

When: June 21st, 2010 at 10:10 pm EST

TV: Yankees – YES, ESPN
Arizona – FS-A, ESPN

Radio: Yankees – WCBS 880, WADO 1280
Arizona – KTAR 620, KSUN 1400

MLB Betting Odds

New York Yankees
A.J. Burnett – R -1 ½ -120 -175

Arizona Diamondbacks
Rodrigo Lopez – R +1 ½ Ev +155

• The baseball betting trends favor the Yankees in this game.
• The New York Yankees are 8 and 2 in A.J. Burnett’s last 10 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
• The New York Yankees are 7 and 1 in A.J. Burnett’s last 8 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks are 0 and 5 in Rodrigo Lopez’s last 5 starts.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks are 2 and 10 in their last 12 interleague games as a favorite of +151 to +200.

Burnett hasn’t been very good in his last 4 games allowing 19 runs off of 25 hits. He only lasted 3.1 innings in his last start and when your manager points out your fastball issues, well, that means that there really are issues.

But Burnett’s issues aren’t that bad compared to Rodrigo Lopez’s. Lopez is 2 and 6 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He’s given up 16 hits and 11 runs in his last 14 innings pitched. He’s also lost 4 out of his last 5 starts and has given up 8 home runs in his last 6 starts.

Even with both Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada ailing and the lack of a DH in this game, the Yankees should have enough bats to get to Lopez early. New York averages 5.37 runs per game. They bat .276 as a team.

Lopez appears to be in trouble in this game while Burnett has a chance of bouncing back and providing a solid effort. I see this as a blowout and I will bet it accordingly. The baseball bet is on the Yankees on the run line.

MLB Sportsbook Pick: New York Yankees -1 ½ -120