The 2011 MLB playoffs will get underway tomorrow, following what might have been the best MLB regular season finale ever. The drama and excitement was unbelievable as Baltimore beat Boston in the bottom of the 9th inning and a few minutes later Evan Longoria hit a walk-off home run as the Rays overcame a 7-0 deficit against the New York Yankees. Boston led Tampa 9 games in September and will go down as one of the bigger collapses in the history of the game
In the NL, the Cardinals were behind Atlanta 8.5 in September. A Cardinals win and Braves loss completed a collapse in the National League almost as big as Boston.
Now we get to the 2011 MLB playoffs and the oddsmakers have installed the Philadelphia Phillies as the overall favorite to win the World Series. Philadelphia is +170, followed by the New York Yankees +355, Texas Rangers +725, Milwaukee Brewers +850, Detroit Tigers +875, Tampa Bay Rays +900, Arizona Diamondbacks +1450 and St. Louis Cardinals +1500.
Odds to win the National League Pennant are Phillies -150, Brewers +375 and both the Cards and Diamondbacks +625.
Odds to win the American League Pennant are Yankees +125, Rangers +250, Tigers +350, Rays +475.
The series prices for the divisional series are Texas -165 over Tampa Bay +145 and Ny Yankees -150 over Detroit Tigers +130.
In the National League, Phillies are -265 over the Cardinals +225 and Milwaukee is -160 over Arizona +140
In game one the Rangers are -174 behind CJ Wilson. Tampa +164 will throw M Moore on the mound.
In Friday's other matchup, it will be CC Sabathia against the soon to be Cy Young winner, Justin Verlander. The Yankees are -128 favorites.
On Saturday the Brewers (Gallardo) are -136 over Arizona (Kennedy) and the Phillies behind Roy Halladay are -215 over Kyle Lohse and the Cardinals.
