The Philadelphia Phillies will be the team to beat in 2011, not only in the National League East Division or for the National League Pennant, but for a 2011 World Series Championship. The Phillies few weaknesses became fewer when they signed former Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee in the off season making their starting pitching rotation the best in baseball – bar none. Odds makers at SBGglobal.com and other offshore sports shops seem to be impressed, tagging the Phillies with the best odds (+200) to win the 2011 World Series.
Keeping up to date on current MLB odds, will equip baseball fans with the best tools for smart betting – All the way through the 162 game season, playoffs and 2011 World Series.
The Phillies are such heavy favorites to win the National League East, odds makers at Sportsbook.com have set the betting price at -450, a very expensive futures wager. Of course if the Phillies live up to expectations and win the NL East, the betting player gets it all back plus $100. The Phillies are also giving odds (-110) to win the NL Pennant.
The beginning of the 2011 Major League Baseball season is right around the corner. MLB baseball expert handicapper Benton Vale will be providing 2011 MLB Predictions through the entire regular season, playoffs and World Series.
Cliff Lee, the best left handed starting pitcher in baseball, joins a pitching rotation that includes another former Cy Young Award winner and one of the best right handers in any league, Roy Halladay. In 2010 Halladay led all Phillies starters with a 21-10 record and a 2.44 ERA. One knows the Phillies rotation is solid when a quality righty as Roy Oswalt is projected to be the No. 3 starter. Oswalt came to the Phillies at mid-season last year from the Houston Astros. Oswalt ended 2010 with a 13-13 record, many of those losses with woeful Houston. However, his ERA was an ace worthy 2.76. Left hander Cole Hamels, who would be the ace starter on most staffs, is the projected fourth starter. Hamels finished last season with a 12-11 record and a 3.06 ERA. Joe Blanton, 9-6, 4.82 ERA in 2010 will probably be the No. 5 starter. Again this season, veteran Brad Lidge is the projected closer with Ryan Madson (2.55 ERA) and J.C.Romero (3.68 ERA) as his top set-up men.
If the Phillies have question marks it will be in the lineup where two or three players had down years partly due to injuries. The Phillies lost one of the leagues best outfielders, Jason Werth, to the Washington Nationals in the off season and will need to find a suitable replacement. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel hopes Ben Francisco can fill the void Werth left.
Getting former MVP Ryan Howard back to form will help the Phillies pop significantly. Howard's numbers were off the mark compared to the previous four years when he averaged 49.5 home runs. Last year Howard hit 31 home runs and drove in 108 RBI compared to averaging in the mid-140's the previous four years.
Other keys to the Phillies success will be getting short stop Jimmy Rollins and second baseman Chase Utley back to form after an injury plagued years. Over at third base the aging Placido Polanco will be a question mark.
If the Phillies can remain healthy, especially in their pitching rotation then the sky is the limit. Of course it's a long season and anything can happen. Regardless, the Philadelphia Phillies are the team to beat in the National League and baseball.
Benton Vale is now on record with his pre-season 2011 World Series Picks. Now is a great time to test your handicapping skills with a little pre-season MLB World Series wager. The fun is just beginning.
