MLB Sportsbook – Baltimore v Tampa Bay, Boston v Texas and Seattle v Oakland on Sat

The Baltimore Orioles travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays as likely big time underdogs in the MLB online sportsbook while the Boston Red Sox battle the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners travel to Oakland to take on the Athletics.

Keep reading for previews of all three Saturday games below!

April 2 – MLB American League

** Records and stats not counting Friday games.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

When: 1:00 pm EST

Starting Pitchers: BAL B.Matusz-L, TB J.Shields-R

MLB Odds Pick: Baltimore moneyline

Analysis: There’s been a lot of talk about Jamie Shields bouncing back and having a very good season after a horrible 2010. I’m not sold on that, but I am sold on the fact that a lot of other baseball handicappers are sold on the idea that Shields will bounce back. What I mean is that the MLB online odds are going to be grossly in favor of TB in this game. Matusz turned into an excellent, awesome pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles towards the end of last season. In his final 11 starts, Matusz posted a 2.18 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 62 innings. I’ll take Matusz and Baltimore to pull off the upset on Saturday.

Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers

Where: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

When: 8:05 pm EST

Starting Pitchers: BOS J.Lackey-R, TEX C.Lewis-R

MLB Odds Pick: Texas moneyline

Analysis: Everybody’s in love with Boston in the baseball sports betting futures. I really don’t know why. Boston will probably be overvalued by more than one baseball handicapping fan in this Saturday contest. I’m not saying that I believe that the Red Sox will be the favorite in this game; I’m just saying that Lewis and the Rangers won’t be as big of favorites in this contest. I see Texas getting to Lacky early and often in this one and Lewis having success keeping the Boston bats under control. I see the Rangers possibly winning this game by 2 or more runs meaning that a run line wager might be possible.

Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics

Where: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

When: 9:05 pm EST

Starting Pitchers: SEA J.Vargas-L, OAK B.Anderson-L

MLB Odds Pick: Oakland run line

Analysis: Vargas shouldn’t be nearly as effective in 2011 as he was in 2010 and, besides, Vargas’s ERA was almost 2 runs higher on the road than it was at home in 2010. He starts on the road on Saturday giving MLB online betting fans plenty of reason to like the run line in this contest. Oakland’s Anderson should be more dominant than he usually is versus an anemic Seattle offense. If Anderson absolutely shuts down the Mariners, then Oakland could win this one by upwards of 4 or 5 runs. Yes, that’s how much better Oakland is than Seattle this season. I’m definitely going with the run line in this contest because the moneyline odds will be too much in favor of the Athletics on Saturday.