Who's Hot - NL Edition
July 1, 2014
We're in the midst of the dog days of summer, and this is the time of year when we are really going to be separating the pretenders from the contenders. Join us today as we look at the teams in the National League who are really tearing it up as we head into the month of July.
Milwaukee Brewers (51-33, +$1,571) – We're really not all that sure why and how the Brewers have been competing in the rough and tumble NL Central, but they are still hanging in there and clearly will have staying power for the rest of the year. Francisco Rodriguez has completely revived his career this year and is one of the best closers in the game, while Jonathan Lucroy, Scooter Gennett, and Carlos Gomez are all having career types of years. Ryan Braun is slugging over .500 as well, while Khris Davis isn't all that far away. Better yet? There has only been a total of one missed start this year due to injury out of the rotation. Wily Peralta and Kyle Lohse are pitching beyond their abilities right now as we see it though, so the Brew Crew could be ready to take a step in the wrong direction if these starters don't keep it up.
San Francisco Giants (46-36, +$669) – And this is why the Giants can't be trusted on a regular basis. The team was just swept for four games at home against Cincinnati, and the offense scored a grand total of just six runs in those four games, including getting virtually no hit by Homer Bailey and the Reds. The only game that the team has won since June 22nd was the no-no by Tim Lincecum. It was only a matter of time until these bats cooled down, but this has been borderline ridiculous. The schedule ahead isn't friendly for the bats either, as there are three games at home against the Cards before a trip to Petco Park. Things really need to improve in a hurry, because these pitchers can't be tasked with throwing no-hitters in order to get wins all the time.
Cincinnati Reds (43-39, +$380) – It's a long dip down to the Reds, and it's proof of just how wide open the National League is this year. Cincinnati is only on this list because of its four-game sweep against the Giants at AT&T Park, and that took it from a losing team to a winning one both SU and for betting purposes. The Reds have had six straight quality starts out of their starters, but will that really continue? Here's the caution: Only five teams have winning money records in the NL, and the only one we feel good about staying that way for the whole season is Milwaukee. Anything can, and frequently will change in the NL for the rest of the season. Cincinnati is just the team du jour right now.
July 1, 2014
We're in the midst of the dog days of summer, and this is the time of year when we are really going to be separating the pretenders from the contenders. Join us today as we look at the teams in the National League who are really tearing it up as we head into the month of July.
Milwaukee Brewers (51-33, +$1,571) – We're really not all that sure why and how the Brewers have been competing in the rough and tumble NL Central, but they are still hanging in there and clearly will have staying power for the rest of the year. Francisco Rodriguez has completely revived his career this year and is one of the best closers in the game, while Jonathan Lucroy, Scooter Gennett, and Carlos Gomez are all having career types of years. Ryan Braun is slugging over .500 as well, while Khris Davis isn't all that far away. Better yet? There has only been a total of one missed start this year due to injury out of the rotation. Wily Peralta and Kyle Lohse are pitching beyond their abilities right now as we see it though, so the Brew Crew could be ready to take a step in the wrong direction if these starters don't keep it up.
San Francisco Giants (46-36, +$669) – And this is why the Giants can't be trusted on a regular basis. The team was just swept for four games at home against Cincinnati, and the offense scored a grand total of just six runs in those four games, including getting virtually no hit by Homer Bailey and the Reds. The only game that the team has won since June 22nd was the no-no by Tim Lincecum. It was only a matter of time until these bats cooled down, but this has been borderline ridiculous. The schedule ahead isn't friendly for the bats either, as there are three games at home against the Cards before a trip to Petco Park. Things really need to improve in a hurry, because these pitchers can't be tasked with throwing no-hitters in order to get wins all the time.
Cincinnati Reds (43-39, +$380) – It's a long dip down to the Reds, and it's proof of just how wide open the National League is this year. Cincinnati is only on this list because of its four-game sweep against the Giants at AT&T Park, and that took it from a losing team to a winning one both SU and for betting purposes. The Reds have had six straight quality starts out of their starters, but will that really continue? Here's the caution: Only five teams have winning money records in the NL, and the only one we feel good about staying that way for the whole season is Milwaukee. Anything can, and frequently will change in the NL for the rest of the season. Cincinnati is just the team du jour right now.