Wednesday MLB Playoffs Betting Doubleheader Betting Preview

Baseball betting fans have plenty to wager on today as both Championship Series will be in action. The early game features the New York Yankees playing in a ‘must win’ situation as they host the Texas Rangers. In the night game, the Philadelphia Phillies need a win to even the series up 2-2.

Let’s take a look at each game a little more closely and see if we can’t expose some profitable baseball betting angles.

TEXAS RANGERS at NEW YORK YANKEES

ALCS Game 5, Texas leads series 3-1

Wednesday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Sportsbook.com Betting Odds: New York -165, Texas +155, Total: 8

If the Yankees are to continue their season past Wednesday they’ll need a big-time performance from CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18 ERA) who gets the ball in Game 5. He’ll be opposed by C.J. Wilson (15-8, 3.35 ERA). The two left-handers squared off in Game 1 of the series, a 6-5 New York victory.

Sabathia struggled in the series opener, going four innings and allowing five runs on six hits while walking four and striking out three. The offense bailed him out with a five-run eighth inning as the Yankees erased a 5-0 deficit en route to the win. In his two playoff starts this year, Sabathia’s ERA is a hefty 7.20. Wednesday marks his first home postseason start this year and Sabathia pitched well at Yankee Stadium in 2010, going 11-2 with a 3.00 ERA.

Wilson pitched well enough to win Game 1, allowing three runs on six hits over seven innings. He’s pitched well lately too, going 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA over his last three starts, which includes a 1-0 record and a 2.03 ERA in two playoff starts. He’s also been strong on road this season, going 5-5 with a 2.72 ERA (including postseason). The Rangers have won six of his past eight road starts. <P>

The following MLB betting trend seems to indicate that the Rangers will finish off the Yankees tonight:

Play On - Any team (TEXAS) - when leading in a playoff series. (61-27 over the last 5 seasons.) (69.3%, +37.6 units. Rating = 4*).

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

NLCS Game 4, San Francisco leads series 2-1

Wednesday, 7:55 p.m. EDT

 Sportsbook.com Betting Odds: San Francisco -108, Philadelphia -102, Total: 7.5

San Francisco looks to take a commanding three-games-to-one lead when it sends Madison Bumgarner (7-6, 3.00) to the mound in Game 4. Philadelphia counters with Joe Blanton (9-6, 4.82 ERA).

Bumgarner picked up the win in the series-clinching Game 4 of the NLDS against Atlanta, throwing six innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five. The southpaw is 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA over his past three starts. Bumgarner struggled a bit at home this year, going 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA. By contrast, his ERA on the road during the regular season was 1.91. Wednesday marks his first career start against Philadelphia.

Blanton makes his first playoff start of the year in Game 4. The right-hander hasn’t pitched since September 29 where he went seven innings, surrendering only an unearned run and three hits in a 7-1 win over the Nationals. The Phillies have won Blanton’s past seven starts and 10 of his past 11 outings. He struggled a bit on the road this year, going 4-4 with a 5.31 ERA. Blanton hasn’t fared very well against the Giants in his career either, taking a 2-3 mark and a 4.73 ERA into Wednesday’s matchup. However, his lone 2010 start against San Francisco was encouraging. Blanton picked up the win after scattering eight hits and two runs over 6.1 innings.

According to this key baseball betting trend, those betting on the Giants appear to be on the right side:

Play On - Home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (SAN FRANCISCO) - cold hitting team - batting .225 or worse over their last 5 games against opponent starting a pitcher who gave up <=2 earned runs in his last 2 outings. (125-78 over the last 5 seasons.) (61.6%, +49.3 units. Rating = 3*).

Now that you have the key numbers for tonight’s MLB Playoff games, head over to Sportsbook.com to place your bets.