Category: MLB Baseball

MLB is back, and it’s bringing the DH with it

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Baseball is coming back towards the end of July, officially on the 23rd or 24th. I am genuinely really looking forward to it, it’s going to be great to have competitive team sports getting back.
We are getting a much shorter season, of 60 games, I feel cutting the season down to less than 40% of the normal season will give it more importance in regular season play. Baseball is a traditional summer sport, and has always been a great American pastime, but, for me, it’s slow patient pace has always left it behind football, basketball, and hockey.
All much faster paced sports.
But, here I am, and I couldn’t be happier about baseball coming back, sure it is going to be a strange season, with just 60 games. We are getting sports back, and that’s great!
Now, not to be “that guy” – but players did come off pretty greedy during the negotiations – the entire labor negotiation between everyone involved, actually, was pretty derisive to the fans. Personally, I was turned off by the greed on all sides, with players saying that they just wanted to play, and then blaming the owners. Meanwhile, then saying they won’t play – unless they get their 30 million. The whole thing was a mess and didn’t paint the players in a good light – but, I digress. I think in the end, we are long overdue for a serious salary cap to be put in place.
But, anyway, in the end, they were able to hammer it out, and get us games on the field.
The season is going to be bringing in a big change and some are not looked at in the most favorable light. The one I think is the most intriguing and bugs traditionalists the most, is the universal designated hitter.
There will be a DH on every team.
Personally, I love the universal DH idea. For years, we have been watching pitchers struggle to make any sort of contact with the ball – it is beyond embarrassing. When you have .135 and .156 averages coming to the plate, it is not competitive, and it is extremely downtrodden when there are 2 outs already. I feel the DH is better for the game, bringing a player who you know can swing the stick.
I feel the introduction and coming of the DH to the National League was coming either way, so I am all for the universal DH adjustment. And I don’t think anyone should be shocked if it sticks around after this season is over. I think this is going to be the norm, going forward, after this is over. The players seem like they all want it – and it is great for guys that can’t really play a position on the field anymore, but can still hit.
Especially the older guys, like Ken Griffey Jr. and Albert Pujols played parts of their great careers at DH. Does anyone think any less of them?
I don’t think so.
It seems that the ones that don’t want it – are the traditional baseball fans. I understand the culture – but maybe it is time for a change.
A change to improve upon a sport that America holds dear, but can use some changes and upgrades. And, as far as a batting pitcher goes – when a team is paying a guy $30 million a year to pitch – it’s irresponsible to risk losing him to injury from running the bases or going to bat.
Don’t get me wrong – change isn’t always good.
But, sometimes it isn’t so bad.
After all this quarantine and absurdity that we have been dealing with for the last 3 months and then with no sports, for sports fans, it has been rough. It is inspirational and outstanding that we’re slowly trying to get back to normalcy, Japan and China have been playing baseball for some time now – so, so can the MLB.
I strongly think that every team has a chance to get in, if I were a team, I wouldn’t even focus on looking to get the best record, I would aim more for about 35 wins. I think that will be a solid number to get to the postseason. The MLB didn’t have to bring back the season – I am grateful that they are bringing us something. I will truly appreciate having some baseball in this weird year – even with all the complaints that are coming with it.

MLB is coming back, and it’s bringing the DH with it

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The 2020 Major League Baseball season will begin on July 23 and is scheduled to end on September 27. The postseason will begin on September 29. The World Series is set to begin on October 20 and a potential Game 7 will be played on October 28.

I am genuinely really looking forward to it, it’s going to be great to have competitive team sports getting back.
We are getting a much shorter season, of 60 games, I feel cutting the season down to less than 40% of the normal season will give it more importance in regular season play. Baseball is a traditional summer sport, and has always been a great American pastime, but, for me, it’s slow patient pace has always left it behind football, basketball, and hockey.
All much faster paced sports.
But, here I am, and I couldn’t be happier about baseball coming back, sure it is going to be a strange season, with just 60 games. We are getting sports back, and that’s great!
Now, not to be “that guy” – but players did come off pretty greedy during the negotiations – the entire labor negotiation between everyone involved, actually, was pretty derisive to the fans. Personally, I was turned off by the greed on all sides, with players saying that they just wanted to play, and then blaming the owners. Meanwhile, then saying they won’t play – unless they get their 30 million. The whole thing was a mess and didn’t paint the players in a good light – but, I digress. I think in the end, we are long overdue for a serious salary cap to be put in place.
But, anyway, in the end, they were able to hammer it out, and get us games on the field.
The season is going to be bringing in a big change and some are not looked at in the most favorable light. The one I think is the most intriguing and bugs traditionalists the most, is the universal designated hitter.
There will be a DH on every team.
Personally, I love the universal DH idea. For years, we have been watching pitchers struggle to make any sort of contact with the ball – it is beyond embarrassing. When you have .135 and .156 averages coming to the plate, it is not competitive, and it is extremely downtrodden when there are 2 outs already. I feel the DH is better for the game, bringing a player who you know can swing the stick.
I feel the introduction and coming of the DH to the National League was coming either way, so I am all for the universal DH adjustment. And I don’t think anyone should be shocked if it sticks around after this season is over. I think this is going to be the norm, going forward, after this is over. The players seem like they all want it – and it is great for guys that can’t really play a position on the field anymore, but can still hit.
Especially the older guys, like Ken Griffey Jr. and Albert Pujols played parts of their great careers at DH. Does anyone think any less of them?
I don’t think so.
It seems that the ones that don’t want it – are the traditional baseball fans. I understand the culture – but maybe it is time for a change.
A change to improve upon a sport that America holds dear, but can use some changes and upgrades. And, as far as a batting pitcher goes – when a team is paying a guy $30 million a year to pitch – it’s irresponsible to risk losing him to injury from running the bases or going to bat.
Don’t get me wrong – change isn’t always good.
But, sometimes it isn’t so bad.
After all this quarantine and absurdity that we have been dealing with for the last 3 months and then with no sports, for sports fans, it has been rough. It is inspirational and outstanding that we’re slowly trying to get back to normalcy, Japan and China have been playing baseball for some time now – so, so can the MLB.
I strongly think that every team has a chance to get in, if I were a team, I wouldn’t even focus on looking to get the best record, I would aim more for about 35 wins. I think that will be a solid number to get to the postseason. The MLB didn’t have to bring back the season – I am grateful that they are bringing us something. I will truly appreciate having some baseball in this weird year – even with all the complaints that are coming with it.

How can you get clients

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If you’re a bookie on any level, then you want to know how to get clients. The search is always ongoing, and it can be daunting. The biggest problem; going it alone. Many bookies struggle with getting new clients simply because they are one guy and it’s extremely difficult for one guy to do a job that takes many guys! It’s time to search for an alternative and it’s time to catch up with the ever-changing times. The pay per head sports books can have you online with a custom-built website, in a day or two.

 

Why does a pay per head matter?

 

  • The PPH provider gives you a service that can’t be found anywhere else. What they offer is a turnkey operation that includes a fantastic sportsbook with all the bells and whistles, a world-class racebook, and a Las Vegas-style casino. You get all three for the great low price of around $7-$10 per head, per week.

 

  • You say you “can’t afford” to pay the fees. Are you sure? Let’s double-check how this works. The PPH charges you the bookie an average price between $7 and $10 per head, per week. You are charged just one time per week for active players only. Your players can place as many wagers as they choose during the week for the one-time fee. They may place one bet, or they may place 300 bets, you will only be charged the one-time price per head, per week.

 

  • Let’s suppose that you are being charged $7 per head and you have 100-active players. Those players all play at least one wager per week, so, you are indeed on the hook for all 100 of them. At 7 X 100, this means you will be paying $700 per week per head. This sounds like a big number but listen – Most bookies set a minimum wager amount. Meaning, for every wager placed in your sportsbook, the minimum amount that can be wagered is $10, $15, $20, or whatever amount that you feel comfortable with. This means that you are covering the cost of the PPH fee with one wager. In essence, the service is free.

 

  • You may be thinking, how can a PPH provider provide a free service? They are getting their money and they don’t care how you earn yours! You are paying the PPH fee and that’s what matters. The good news, they will never treat you as if they don’t care about helping to grow your business.

 

  • The PPH itself is the drawing card for new clients because you are online. This attracts new players by word of mouth. Sure, you get some of this as a street bookie, but let’s face the facts, not much. The best part about all of this… You are getting a custom-built website with the power of a parent company that’s Google ranked and well-known across the internet. You get free advertising.

 

  • What the PPH does is push you bookie business with SEO built language, meta tags that draw the right audience, and a blueprint for internet traffic. You couldn’t possibly expect this by building a personal bookie website. Number one, the cost alone is simply not worth it. Building a website will cost you a small fortune.

 

  • With a PPH you get a readymade website that’s customized for you and your gaming wants. The PPH has thought of it all and they offer the best software for operating a gaming website.

 

  • You can spend untold thousands of dollars on advertising and attract very few clients. The key is having a great website that appeals to bettors and that appeals to new bettors. Most bookies have no idea how to get this done. Don’t spend a small fortune. Stick with what works and what’s affordable. The PPH is easily the best value for any bookie’s money.

 

You need clients, you need cross action, and you need casino and racebook players. The best way to find these players is with a fantastic online gaming website. Now you can have that website for $7-$10 per head and recoup the cost through the use of a minimum wager amount in the sportsbook. Call the PPH today and start winning big.

Mike Handzelek’s Late Summer MLB’s & Football Summary

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Late season MLB action.

Clayton Kershaw’s has been MORE than excellent @ home. He’s been even tougher against the patsies! The Los Angeles Dodgers can hit much better than last year’s rendition. In fact, they’ve pulverized RHP over the long haul going 42-9 @ home. There’s no Monday hangovers for Kershaw as witnessed by a superb 23-7 record on Tuesdays. He’s also looked super-sharp his last 3 outings posting a 3-0 slate accompanied by a get-out-of-my-way 1.35 ERA! On the flip side, the Blue Jays are a PERFECT 0-6 in inter-league play along with a no-show 2-12 versus the NL West. With Toronto 26-54 versus LHP, we’ll gladly go to Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine to lay & play the LOS ANGELES DODGERS as my 8* MLB Earlybird Dependable!

The St. Louis Cardinals look to solidify their momentary percentage-point hold on 1st place in the NL Central over Chicago. They have MORE than a great chance here when they take on a team with an exhausted pen – the Milwaukee Brewers. Things are looking up with Dakota Hudson & the Cards who are 4-0 their last 4 when he takes the hill. Over the long haul, Hudson is responsible for a super-solid 13-3 St. Louie run in his last 16 starts. The flip side of the coin finds Zach Davies on the mound for the Brew Crew. Davies’ mechanics have looked more than shabby over his last 3 starts posting a ballooned 11.77 ERA. When it counts, he not only struggles mightily versus winning teams going a putrid 4-12 his last 16 but also has lost his last 3 starts versus these same Red Birds. The kicker for us has to be St. Louis being the 2nd-best team in overall pitching among the NL along with holding bragging rights to the #1 bullpen in ERA in the Senior Circuit. Let’s gladly go to Busch Stadium to play the ST. LOUIS CARDINALS as my 9* MLB Earlybird Dependable!

Don’t forget to sign up for a football package that best suits your needs. Last season, we finished 1st in NFL win percentage @ VegasTopDogs with 64% (31-18) along with ALSO ending the CFB season in a 3-way tie for best win percentage @ 62% (29-18). Review articles from Week 1 on for accurate records.

Mike’s MLB Record the last 6: 6-0 100%

The Best Things in Life are Free

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Sportsbooks are always looking for an effective way in which to cut costs’ while maintaining the level of service that betting clients have come to expect. Now you can do just that, not only can you maintain a superior level of service, and experience phenomenal growth, you can enjoy the good things in life; you can finally take some much-needed time off! Work is good for the soul and most folks thrive on what they do, they thrive on building a brand, and what you do, is who you are. However, most folks want to enjoy life, after all, what is life worth if there is no time to relax?

 

*Learn how to make your life easy, while earning a fantastic income as a bookie.

 

Exploring What Betting Clients Expect of You—

 

  • Reliable service, dependability. Are you there for them every time they call, show up, or email? If not, you need to be, or they will find a bookie that is. Remember; there are a lot of fish in the sea! Clients will drop you like a hot potato because they can, there are dozens more out there at the click of a mouse. Offer them what they want, and they will never leave you.

 

  • Are you offering competitive lines and odds? You are not in this business to give your product away, you are a bookie because you want to earn a great deal of money and you are putting your bankroll on the line in order to do just that; make money. Always keep this in mind… You are in the business to build a brand, along with a solid client base that returns the goods. You must stay competitive when it comes to lines and odds or you are dead in the water. Bettors will put up with many things they don’t like in order to get a better line on a game, or to get a better payout on a money line, etc.

 

  • Clients want paid! You want paid, so have some empathy, put yourself in your clients shoes. If you are a bookie, then at some point in your life you have been a gambler, you can empathize.

 

  • Clients want their bet graded within five minutes after a game has ended, are you delivering?

 

*Life as a bookie can be overwhelming, knowing how to manage your business is the key to success or failure. The best part – you have a support system that’s free of charge if you decide to use it.

 

Steps to Freedom – How to Cash in on Bookie Freebies—

 

  • If you are a bookie on any level (you take at least one bet per week from a paying-betting client) then you must discover what a Pay Per Head provider can do for you.

 

  • A Pay Per Head (PPH) is a service that’s provided to bookies for free. If you want to grow your client base and have all the support of an experienced bookie-making service, then you must find a great PPH provider. They do not charge for the support they offer you and your clients.

 

  • Every PPH charges a per head fee for every client that you bring to the betting table, but the cost is deferred.

 

  • A PPH makes their income by charging a nominal fee for each betting client that bets with you per week. Usually the cost is around $10-$15 per client, once per week. This charge comes with unlimited betting and unlimited customer service for you and the client.

 

Example: You have 10 clients, you sign up with a PPH and all 10 clients bet with you at least once per week – the cost to you, for your betting clients would be in the $100-$150 range, depending on the level of service you elect.

 

What Do You Get?

 

 

  • A full-on, turnkey sportsbook and casino that will be fully functional, and operational within a day or so.

 

 

  • A toll-free client services number that’s accessible from the United State, for both you, and your client.

 

  • A fully functional sportsbook website that’s accessible for online gambling from the comforts of home and mobile devices for your client.

 

  • Full accounting services. Now you can know exactly how every dollar is spent, where every dollar goes, and you have access to on demand financial, and betting reports.

 

  • Preset lines and odds that you have the ability to change at any time you deem necessary.

 

  • Grading service – every bet is graded for you and your client within a few minutes after the contest has finished

 

 

Open your free online sportsbook and casino today. Don’t go this alone. A fully functional gaming website is expensive and difficult to maintain. With a PPH, you get all of this thrown in for free! Your focus as a bookie should be building your client base, not doing administrative work. Stop the hassle and start making real money today.

 

Learn more about Pay Per Head:

 

1.Ways to Expand Your Current Pay Per Head Bookie Business Model

2.Common Bookie Questions For Pay Per Head Services

  1. Let Pay Per Head Help Promote your services

4 Real Time Betting Alerts with Pay Per Head Bookie Software

Do You Need Sports Betting Software?

Posted in College Football, Daily Sports Newsletter, MLB Baseball, NBA Basketball, NFL Football, NHL Hockey, SoccerTagged , , , , 1 Comment

One of the most common questions we receive is whether or not a bookie needs to utilize betting software to run their business. The answer is absolutely. If you expect to compete with other bookies you need to ensure you can offer the same features. Sports bettors are used to technology nowadays and you’ll need betting software to retain your clients.

 

Benefits of Using Betting Software

 

  • Automation

Bettors expect to have their bets graded immediately after the result is final. The big PPH betting software providers also have other benefits such as clerks working 24/7 to ensure everything is automated for you, including grading wagers.

Plus, do you know how long it would take you each day to grade all of your clients bets? It takes a long time, especially once you begin to grow. You won’t have the time to focus on grading wagers or setting lines for every betting market. Bettors require the ability to bet on a wide range of sports and markets, which isn’t feasible if the process isn’t automated.

There are numerous other ways automation will help you out as a bookie. Your clients can open accounts instantly and securely. Privacy is important to bettors and most don’t want to have their betting history connected to their mobile phone number or email.

 

  • Reports

The leading betting software providers all generate automatic reports when requested. If you want to take a financial snapshot of your operation you can instantly with the dozens of reports available to you. You’ll be able to see player balances, credit limits, exposure (overall, by sport or by betting market), weekly/monthly reports and much more.

Trying to keep all of this data up to date using Excel or a similar program would take you hours upon hours every week. If you don’t have betting software to perform these tasks you’ll limit your growth in several ways. First off, maintaining balances, payouts, etc. takes too long for every client. Plus, spending time on these tasks takes marketing time away.

 

  • Technology

Betting software has come a long way in the last ten years. When you use betting software your clients will be able to wager on sports, but also gamble in an online casino and bet on horses in the racebook. Having more betting options for your players is a great way to increase your revenue per player and to retain your clients who expect these options.

 

The best betting software will also allow your players to bet 24/7 from anywhere. All of the top PPH shops are mobile accessible meaning your clients can access their accounts on their smartphone from anywhere in the world. Many bettors are busy individuals and won’t always have the time to get on a computer to place their bets.

 

In conclusion, you definitely need betting software to become a bookie. I’ve listed several of the main reasons why you need software to be a successful bookmaker. Keep in mind, there are numerous other benefits too, which we discuss further on this website. Attaining betting software is no longer expensive either, so you really don’t have a reason not to.

Are you interested in Pay Per Head?

 

  1. Per Head Sportsbook
  2. Vast Online Casino Options For the Crowd Adverse
  3. Find more about our PPH Sportsbook
  4. Why choose A1PPH
  5. Reliability in Our Pay Per Head Services

Jeff’s 2019 MLB Predictions and Awards

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AL EAST

1) New York Yankees (97-65)

2) Boston Red Sox (89-73) WILD CARD

3) Tampa Bay Rays (85-77) WILD CARD

4) Toronto Blue Jays (76-86)

5) Baltimore Orioles (59-103)

AL Central

1) Cleveland Indians (97-65)

2) Minnesota Twins (82-80)

3) Chicago White Sox (73-89)

4) Kansas City Royals (68-94)

5) Detroit Tigers (66-96)

AL WEST

1) Houston Astros (97-65)

2) LA Angels (81-81)

3) Oakland A’s (79-83)

4) Seattle Mariners (78-84)

5) Texas Rangers (70-92)

NL EAST

1) Washington Nationals (92-70)

2) Philadelphia Phillies (90-72) WILD CARD

3) New York Mets (87-75)

4) Atlanta Braves (84-78)

5) Miami Marlins (67-95)

NL Central

1) St. Louis Cardinals (90-72)

2) Milwaukee Brewers (88-74) WILD CARD

3) Chicago Cubs (84-78)

4) Cincinnati Reds (81-81)

5) Pittsburgh Pirates (79-83)

NL WEST

1) Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)

2) Colorado Rockies (85-77)

3) San Francisco Giants (80-82)

4) San Diego Padres (79-83)

5) Arizona D-bax (73-89)

AL Champion: New York Yankees

NL Champion: LA Dodgers

World Series winner: LA Dodgers in 7

AL MVP: Mike Trout (LA Angels)

NL MVP: Bryce Harper (Philadelphia)

AL CY Young: James Paxton (NY Yankees)

NL CY Young: Aaron Nola (Philly)

AL Rookie of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero Jr…….Easily! (Tor)

NL Rookie of the Year: Victor Robles (Wash)

AL Comeback player: Carlos Correa (Hou)

NL Comeback player: Corey Seager (LAD)

AL Manager of the Year: Kevin Cash (Tampa Bay)

NL Manager of the Year: Gabe Kapler (Philly)

Good Luck this baseball season!

Follow Jeff on Twitter @ jhsportsline

2019 NL Best Bet for Baseball

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Look for 2nd year manager Dave Martinez to have a big season for the Washington Nationals.

Washington slumped to 82-80 last year, its worst mark since 2011.

The Nats have still yet to get past the NLDS since moving to Washington despite arguably having the best team in the majors in a couple of those four seasons.

Washington opens the regular season March 28th at home vs. the rival Mets.

Nationals have one of the best offensive outfields in baseball in left fielder Juan Soto, mega-prospect Victor Robles in center and Adam Eaton in right. Soto was runner-up to Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. for NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2018. All Soto did at age 19 (now 20) was hit .292 with 22 homers, 70 RBIs, a .406 OBP and 79 walks in just 414 at-bats.
The sky is the limit for Soto. Robles, who is currently 21, tore up the minors and hit .288 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 59 big-league at-bats. Eaton is also a great offensive player.

Washington took a one-year flier on former Twins and Dodgers second baseman Brian Dozier this off-season. He hit 21 dingers last year but just .215. During the 2016 and ’17 seasons, Dozier finished in the Top 13 in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player award. He can’t play defense, but neither could incumbent Daniel Murphy (traded to Cubs last August). The team also upgraded at catcher – Washington’s backstops had a combined WAR of 0.5 last year – in trading for Indians All-Star Yan Gomes and signing free-agent Kurt Suzuki. Gomes posted a .762 OPS with a career-best 26 doubles, 16 home runs and 2.2 WAR, seventh best in MLB in 2018. Suzuki hit .271 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs, good for a WAR of 2.1. That’s a great duo.

The projected lineup will be: OF Eaton, SS Trea Turner (a solid longer-shot MVP bet), 3B Anthony Rendon (poised for big season with free agency on tap), OF Soto, 1B Ryan Zimmerman, 2B Dozier, OF Robles, C Gomes/Suzuki. Strong!

As good as that lineup looks, the rotation has a chance to be the best in baseball. It’s led by the incomparable Max Scherzer (18-7, 2.53). It looked as if he might win a third straight Cy Young last year and fourth overall, but he was passed down the stretch by the Mets’ Jacob deGrom. All Scherzer did was lead all NL pitchers in strikeouts (300), strikeouts per nine innings (12.24), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.88), WHIP (0.91) and innings (220 2/3). He also became just the fifth pitcher since 2001 to strike out 300 in a season.

Stephen Strasburg is fabulous when healthy, but at this point we have to assume he will spend at least one stint on the DL. He finished 10-7 with a 3.74 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 130 innings last year.

The Nats took some of the Harper money and signed the top free-agent pitcher on the market in former Arizona lefty Patrick Corbin. He got six years and $140 million. Corbin comes off his best season, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA and 246 strikeouts to just 48 walks. He made the NL All-Star team for a second time and finished fifth in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award.

The back end featured free-agent addition Anibal Sanchez, who had a terrific bounce-back season in 2018 for the Braves, and the solid Joe Ross.

The Washington win total is 88.5 and I love this to go OVER THE TOTAL.

Be sure to grab our MLB Early Bird Baseball deal.

Top 5 MLB Left-handed Starting Pitchers age 27 or Younger

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The elite left-handed starters have a big advantage just for the simple fact that most players see a lot more right-handed pitching. Look for teams that have not faced a Quality Left-handed starter for some time (five games or more) and you will have a nice winning investment. Here are my Top 5 Left-handed starting pitchers age 27 or younger going forward for the 2019 MLB season.

No. 1 Blake Snell (Tampa Bay Rays) Age: 26 (2018: 21-5, 1.89 ERA, 0.97 WHIP)

Blake was #2 on this list last season and he came thru by winning the AL Cy Young award. Not too shabby. Snell struckout 221 batters in only 180.2 innings last year. Blake Snell was the Minor League Player of the Year back in 2015, which goes to show you his skill-set is for real. Snell can reach the mid to upper 90s on the radar gun along with sharp sinking action. Very tough pitch to hit when he keeps it down in the zone. His Slider has shown tremendous break away from left-handed batters. His changeup is now considered to be well above average. Snell has 438 strikeouts in 399 career innings. Very impressive. Blake will be Rays’ opening day starter this season. The Rays play in a pitchers park. Tropicana Field was the 7th toughest (tied) stadium in runs according to ESPN park factors last season. Snell should be drafted as a dependable #1 starter this season.

No. 2 Sean Newcomb (Atlanta Braves) Age: 25 (2018: 12-9, 3.90 ERA, 1.33 WHIP)

Sean was #3 on this list last season. He started strong and than faded in the second half. He also spent some time on the DL. This will be his third season with the big club. Sean certainty looks the part standing 6′ 5″ and weighing 255 pounds. Sean Newcomb could be a nice sleeper this season after posting 160 strikeouts in 164 IP last year. He held opposing hitters to a .226 batting average. Sean will need to cut down on his walks (81) to become a dependable starter. Sean throws in the mid to upper 90s, but also has tremendous downward movement on his four-seamer. His curveball ranks higher than his changeup and there is room for improvement with both off-speed pitches. This guy has been compared to Chris Sale, who appeared on this list for 5 seasons before turning 27. That’s good enough for me. Mid round sleeper and potential breakout in his third season. He’s currently listed as the team’s 2nd starter. Huge upside!

No. 3 Robbie Ray (Arizona Diamondbacks) Age: 27 (2018: 6-2, 3.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP)

This will be the final time Robby Ray appears on this list. Robbie spent a lot of time on the DL last season. I don’t think he was healthy all year. Robbie Ray had his best season of his young career in 2017. Ray posted a 15-5 record, 2.89 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP. He held opposing hitters to a .199 batting average in 28 starts. Ray is primed for a bounce back season even though the Dbax figure to take a step back. Robbie has 739 strikeouts in 616 career innings. Really good! Don’t hesitate to grab him as a solid #2 or #3 SP on your fantasy squad this year. Ray is currently being drafted in rounds 8-15. Great value. He’s currently listed as the team’s 3rd starter.

No. 4 Joey Lucchesi (San Diego Padres) Age: 25 (2018: 8-9, 4.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP)

Joey is physically opposing on the bump standing 6″5. He should improve quite a bit in his sophomore season. Had 145 strikeouts in 130 IP. Joey held opposing hitters to a .228 batting average before the All-Star break and .280 after the break. He wore down in his rookie season, but has the skill set to be an ACE. Joey has a drop-and-drive delivery and extreme overhand arm slot, two opposing forces which creates an odd look for batters. His fastball sits in the low 90s, maybe touching 94 MPH at times. I would like to see more first pitch offspeed pitches this season. Players have been sitting on his fastball especially after the All-Star break. This guy has the potential to reach double-digit wins with lots of strikeouts. The Padres offense looks better with Manny Machado in the middle of it. Steal him in the mid rounds. He is listed as the team’s ACE. Should start opening day.

No. 5 Justus Sheffield (Seattle Mariners) Age: 22 (2018: 0-0, 10.13 ERA, 2.63 WHIP)

Might be #1 on this list in the very near future. The Mariners received Sheffield in the James Paxton trade to the Yankees. He is ranked #9 on Keith Law’s Top 20 Impact players for 2019. It’s easier for rookie pitchers to succeed over rookie hitters. Had 84 strikeouts in 88 innings with a 2.56 ERA and 1.16 WHIP for AAA Scranton last season. He has nothing left to prove in AAA, although the Mariners have him listed as the team’s 6th starter according MLB.com depth charts. You will love his Mid 90s fastball, mid 80s slider, low 80s changeup. All three pitches are elite. Great athlete and he can field his position. Keep an eye on Sheffield as we get closer to opening day. Justus should crack the Mariners’ rotation at some point this season. One of my top MLB starting pitcher sleepers for the 2019 season. Pitchers park alert. T-Mobile stadium ranked 4th toughest in runs scored last season according to MLB park factors. Low risk, high reward.

Jeff’s success in MLB is well-documented here, The Sports Monitor of OK and Sports Watch Monitor. Jeff was ranked #3 last season at TSM of OK. Early Bird MLB package is now available.

Good Luck this Baseball Season!

Written by expert handicapper Jeff Hochman of VegasTopDogs.

MLB World Series Pick

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World Series Picks

October is in full swing and while some of the sports world is tuned into the NFL other fans are concentrating on the old classic of fall baseball. Since this is the case, it is important to realize the battle for the World Series berth is definitely going to be a great struggle and one that only one team from the AL and one from the NL will reach. So which two of the teams are going to be making it to the World Series and which ones are going to be left sitting to watch the rest of the series?

AL Winner – Cleveland Indians

The Indians are not a favorite team for a lot of expert handicappers or even the odds makers in Vegas. However, the scrappy way the Indians were playing in the games all season definitely will lend to some credence of the Indians being able to pick up a few wins and make it to the series. Not to mention, the Indians have a fairly well balanced offense that is not relying on a single hitter to get the winning runs in for them. With the way the Indians play small ball as well, it will really help the Indians out as the ball will not fly out of the part as often in October.

The Red Sox and Yankees  are good teams and could pose a serious threat for the Indians, but they are teams that really seem to have worn themselves out in the regular season. You just have to look at some of the Yankees starters to see they lost a lot of velocity on pitches in September to see the long season wore on the pitchers.

NL Winner – Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have been able to battle through a lot of teams this year and even had to win a one game championship win for the NL West title. Not to mention the Dodgers have a younger pitching staff that was not really overworked at all during the regular season. Not to mention the Dodgers have been consistent in hitting on the year so far it is easy to see the Dodgers coming out of the NL swinging.

When you look at the Brewers or the Rockies you will notice that the only team between them that could challenge the Dodgers would be the Rockies. However, the Rockies were dominated in the regular season by the Dodgers and the Brewers, they simple to not have a pitching staff that will be able to stand up to the rigors that are seen in the playoffs.