There are three teams that have delivered more baseball betting value than any others to this point in the season. Usually, when that’s the case, it’s because that team has exceeded expectations. That’s exactly what’s happened for each of them as the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers were not expected to this good.
Here’s a closer look at those three and why they’ve been so profitable:
1. San Francisco Giants (+1455)
In 2010 and 2012, the Giants went all the way and won the World Series. In 2011 and 2013, the Giants looked tired and suffered plenty of injuries, falling out of the playoffs altogether. It’s now an even-numbered year again, so the Giants are continuing their pattern of making a big run and looking like a really good team. What’s perhaps surprising is that the Giants are not getting the very best out of their big-money starting pitcher, Matt Cain. He’s been solid, but an ace is supposed to be dominant. No problem, however: Tim Hudson, whose career was thought to be in grave danger after a nasty injury suffered last year as a member of the Atlanta Braves, has rebounded and has become a strong starter for the Giants, with an ERA just over two runs. San Francisco’s pitching has held opponents to 171 runs in 50 games. That’s getting it done.
2. Toronto Blue Jays (+1024)
The Blue Jays are seeing Edwin Encarnacion go wild. This is part of their identity as one of the highest scoring teams in Major League Baseball. The Blue Jays have scored 246 runs in 51 games, for an average of almost five runs per game. That’s going to produce a lot of wins if maintained over the course of the full season. Only one team has scored at least four more runs than the Jays (Colorado with 260). Toronto is just two runs behind the second-highest scoring team in the bigs (Oakland, 248; the Chicago White Sox are third at 247). The other big thing for this team is that Mark Buehrle, who had a bad 2013, has been outstanding in 2014, with an ERA under 2.20. Lots of things are coming together in Canada.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (+1000)
This is a team that remains on top in the National League Central, ahead of the mighty St. Louis Cardinals. The key for the Brewers has been the improvement of starting pitcher Wily Peralta, whose ERA is lingering around 2.10. Peralta has become an ace-level pitcher, giving strength and depth to a staff that already has Yovani Gallardo and Kyle Lohse. The Brewers are also getting a great season out of closer Francisco Rodriguez, whose best days were supposed to have been behind him. After knocking around with a few teams following his glory days with the Angels, K-Rod has been a beast in Milwaukee. Pitching is holding up for the Brewers, and that’s why this team is still in good shape.
