Tag: National League

The ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ writers have really outdone themselves

A 40-year-old goalkeeper coming out of retirement to make the biggest play of the season? Cliché, but we’ll allow it

The next season of “Welcome to Wrexham” looks like it’s going to be a doozy.

The latest plot twist (spoiler alert!) involves a 40-year-old goalkeeper coming out of retirement to make a heroic penalty save in the last second of the biggest game of the season.

A little cliché, we know, but sometimes you can’t beat a classic.

Wrexham was tied with Notts County atop the National League table entering Monday’s showdown at Racecourse Ground. The game had all the makings of a promotion-decider, with only the first-place finisher gaining automatic passage to League Two for next season.

Notts County took the lead on the stroke of halftime, but a wild second half saw Wrexham emerge with a 3-2 lead as the game entered stoppage time.

The visitors were given a chance to level with the last kick of the match, but Ben Foster, a former England international who only came out of retirement last month, stepped up to deliver the save of the season — and a play that could ensure Wrexham’s promotion.

Wrexham won 3-2 and now have a three-point lead over Notts County with a game in hand, and just four games left to play.

The Welsh club’s incredible rise under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney shows no sign of slowing down. You could barely script it.

Watch Foster’s heroic save for Wrexham

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Ex-England goalkeeper Foster comes out of retirement to join Wrexham

The 39-year-old retired after last season with Watford

For Wrexham, it was nice to have Ben Foster’s name in the club’s rolodex.

With first-choice goalkeeper Rob Lainton out for six weeks due to a knee injury, the National League leaders have brought Foster out of retirement, signing the 39-year-old to a contract through the end of the season.

Foster returns to a club where he starred on loan 18 years ago, before he went on to a stellar career that included stops at Manchester United, Birmingham City, West Brom and Watford. He also earned eight caps for England, including an appearance at the 2014 World Cup.

“I’m over the moon. I’ve been at the club an hour this morning and it seems a really nice place. Everyone is down to earth and the manager’s top class,” Foster said in a club statement.

“It’s changed a lot since I was last here, but it’s nice to be back and it’s nice to be back as a player too. It will be interesting to see how my body feels after training today! I’m looking forward to getting started.

“If you’d told me 18 years ago that I’d have gone on to have the career that I have had, I probably wouldn’t have believed you to be honest so I do owe a lot to Wrexham.”

Wrexham, who have of course risen to fame after being taken over by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are currently three points ahead of second-place Notts County in the National League table with a game in hand.

Only the champion gains automatic promotion to League Two, with teams in second through seventh place entering a playoff to determine the second promoted team.

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Bet on these MLB pitchers to win the 2020 NL Cy Young Award

Making our picks and best bets to win the NL Cy Young Award in the shortened 2020 MLB season.

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Our 2020 MLB award previews at SportsbookWire continue with a look at the National League Cy Young. NL pitchers won’t be required to hit in the shortened 2020 season, meaning they’ll each need to face a designated hitter every time through the opponent’s batting order. Below, we make our picks and best bets to win the 2020 NL Cy Young Award.

2020 NL Cy Young best bets: Favorite

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, July 11 at 2:35 p.m. ET.

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (+450)

Scherzer leads all National League pitchers with an average of 12.60 strikeouts per nine innings in the first half of the season since 2017. His 2.30 first-half ERA ranks third over the last three season and his 129 1/3 innings pitched are the most of all starters.

Scherzer has three career Cy Young Awards, including back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017. He hasn’t finished outside of the top five in voting since 2012 while still with the Detroit Tigers in the American League. His odds are nearly twice as high as those of reigning back-to-back winner Jacob deGrom (+280).

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Scherzer (+450) to win the NL Cy Young would return a profit of $45. The same bet on deGrom fetches a return of just $28.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

2020 NL Cy Young best bets: Contender

Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers (+3300)

I’ve been down on Hader as a 2020 Fantasy Baseball target, but his versatility and importance out of the Brewers bullpen could have him in the running for the 2020 NL Cy Young in a season expected to shake up conventional pitcher roles.

Hader ranked ninth among all Brewers pitchers with 75 2/3 innings pitched last year. Top-two starters Zach Davies and Chase Anderson left this offseason. De facto No. 1 starter Brandon Woodruff tossed just 121 2/3 frames in his breakout 2019 campaign.

Hader went 3-5 with 37 saves last year. He enters the 2020 campaign as the Brewers’ closer, but he could also make some starts as an opener this year. The modified extra-inning rules, which will see each team start every half-inning with a runner on second base, could give Hader more win opportunities this season.

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2020 NL Cy Young best bets: Long shot

Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks (+5000)

Ray ranks second to Scherzer with an 11.78 strikeout rate over the first half of the last three seasons. He finished 2019 with a 4.34 ERA but a career-best 12.13 K/9. He even cut down on his walk rate from 2018.

He’s the incumbent ace of an improved Diamondbacks team entering the season. SP Madison Bumgarner was signed in free agency, and his experience could help Ray, who enters just his sixth full season.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Bet on these MLB players to win the 2020 NL MVP award

Making our picks and best bets to win the NL MVP award in the shortened 2020 MLB season.

The 2020 MLB season is nearing its start as teams are less than two weeks away from playing their first games of this modified season. The National League is loaded with talent and stars across several teams, many of whom are good picks to win MVP.

Unlike the American League, there isn’t a clear-cut favorite to take home the award, but rather a cluster of excellent candidates. Below, we dive into the betting odds at BetMGM and make out best picks to win the 2020 NL MVP award.

2020 NL MVP best bets: Favorite

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 13 at 12:40 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles Dodgers OF Mookie Betts (+500)

Mookie Betts is the favorite to win the award after being dealt to the NL by the Red Boston Sox, joining a loaded Dodgers team in this shortened season. Betts has been one of the most productive and consistent players in MLB for the last four years, finishing in the top eight of MVP voting each season since 2016.

At +500, his payout for winning MVP is still rewarding despite being the favorite, unlike Mike Trout (+130) of the Los Angeles Angels in the AL. Injury risk is a concern with teams only playing 60 games and little ramp-up period before the season starts, but Betts hasn’t missed more than 26 games in a single season.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

2020 NL MVP best bets: Contender

Los Angeles Dodgers OF Cody Bellinger (+800)

Betts’ teammate, Cody Bellinger, is also a great bet for MVP. Bellinger’s odds are slightly longer, but he’s certainly deserving of being among the favorites after winning the award last year. He was scorching hot in the first half of the season, too, which bodes well in a shortened season. He hit 30 home runs and had 71 RBI in the first half before cooling off slightly in the later months.

Bellinger can hit for average and power and is always available – he missed just six games in the last two seasons. With Betts ahead of him now in the lineup, the opportunities to drive in runs will be even greater.

Also see:

Washington Nationals OF Juan Soto (+1100)

Juan Soto would’ve been a tougher bet to make if his odds were around teammate Ronald Acuna Jr.’s (+600), but at +1100, the risk is worth the potential reward. Soto finished ninth in MVP voting last year after hitting 34 home runs, driving in 110, stealing 12 bases and hitting .282. He’s the new star in Washington after Bryce Harper’s departure, and as the star of the reigning world champions, Soto should be in a great spot to continue progressing.

His average dipped in the second half of last season just as his power numbers went up, but he shouldn’t have any trouble heating up quickly this year.

Playing fantasy baseball? A Draft Day like no other deserves a fantasy baseball Cheat Sheet like no other. Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ is $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Sign up now!

Philadelphia Phillies OF Bryce Harper (+2000)

Harper has been one of the most inconsistently great players in the majors lately, hitting .319 in 2017 before his average dipped to .249 the following year. It rose to .260 last season and his power numbers have remained strong, but he’s simply not getting on base as much as he used to.

The Phillies should be in contention in 2020 with a solid roster, especially if Harper plays up to his contract’s standards. He hasn’t finished in the top 15 of MVP voting since he was 12th in 2017, but in his second season in Philly, he should turn things around.

2020 NL MVP best bets: Long shot

New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso (+4000)

Pete Alonso is my long-shot pick after a remarkable rookie year with the Mets in 2019. He won NL Rookie of the Year with an MLB-best 53 homers and finished seventh in NL MVP voting. So why is he only +4000 to win MVP, which is tied for 14th? There are a lot of studs in the NL with a more proven track record than Alonso, but the Mets star will continue rising in Year 2.

He dominated the first half of last season with 30 homers and a .280 average. A hot start will be important with 102 games cut from the schedule, so that bodes well for the young power hitter. It’ll help his case if the Mets are in contention, too.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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How many games will the Cincinnati Reds win in 2020?

Analyzing the Cincinnati Reds’ projected win total for the 2020 MLB season, along with their odds to win the NL Central and World Series.

The Cincinnati Reds come into the 2020 season looking to end a six-year playoff drought. Hopes are high for the Reds despite finishing fourth in the National League Central in 2019 and last the previous four seasons. Today, we focus on the Cincinnati Reds’ 2020 regular-season win totals and World Series odds. Do the Cincinnati Reds have what it takes? Let’s analyze:

Cincinnati Reds 2019 wins

The Reds are looking to improve on a 2019 campaign that was their winningest (75-87) since 2014. After winning on Opening Day, the Reds lost eight straight and were never above .500 again in 2019. The Reds had only one winning month — May when they went 15-13 — but were never in contention for the NL Central crown.

Cincinnati Reds offseason

There was a lot of moving and shaking for the Reds this offseason. They added three new bats to the lineup: five-time Japanese All-Star OF Shogo Akiyama, 2017 American League Comeback Player of the Year 2B Mike Moustakas and former DetroiNick CCt Tigers/Chicago Cubs OF Nick Castellanos. The Reds also signed free-agent and former Houston Astros LHP Wade Miley, and they should receive a full season from former All-Star RHP Trevor Bauer.

Baseball season is right around the corner! Get some action on this season with MLB futures bets at BetMGM. Bet now!

Cincinnati Reds odds to win NL Central division

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Lines last updated on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.

I LIKE REDS +380 as a value play to steal the NL Central. First, the defending champ St. Louis Cardinals had the least wins (91) of any MLB division winner last year. Second, the Reds have four quality starting pitchers in their rotation and their fifth — Anthony DeSclafani — is coming off a respectable 2019 where he was 9-9 with a 3.89 ERA.

Cincinnati Reds World Series odds

Baby steps should be the expectation for a Reds team that hasn’t appeared in a World Series since 1990 when they swept the Oakland A’s. There would be some value if it was +6000, but their line to win the World Series is +3000, so I’ll PASS.

How many games will Cincinnati Reds win in 2020?

If the Reds can avoid injuries and have 1B Joey Votto return to his MVP-caliber form in 2020, watch out for the Reds to make a surprise run at the NL Central title. Since I like their chances of winning the division, I LOVE OVER REDS 83.5 (-115) WINS. BetMGM is trying to scare you by setting the Reds’ regular-season win total at 83.5 and pricing the Over a little higher. But we aren’t falling for it. The Reds pitching staff was top 10 in ERA, runs allowed per game and strikeouts, so when you factor in a revamped lineup, Over 83.5 wins is a relative lock.

Want some action on the MLB season or other sports? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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