MLB bettors most likely will turn their attention out west this weekend as the drama continues to revolve around the N.L. West Division. The San Francisco Giants, desperately in need of victories to keep themselves in the N.L. Wildcard hunt, host their most hated rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The G-Men understand that in order for them to grab the final playoff spot in the N.L. they will have to beat the Dodgers. The quest starts tonight as Matt Cain, a -1 ½ +170 favorite, takes on Hiroki Kuroda tonight.

Cain will attempt to shut down that fantastic L.A. offense. On Saturday, Vicente Padilla, a late addition to the Dodgers’ rotation, takes on Jonathan Sanchez, and on Sunday Chad Billingsley for L.A. steps onto the mound to take on former Dodgers pitcher, Brad Penny.

Because the Colorado Rockies, who the Giants are battling for that wildcard spot, travel to difficult to hit in Petco Park this weekend, the Giants have a legitimate chance to make inroads into that final playoff spot. Whether they will or not remains to be seen.

Boston and Tampa Bay Rivalry Resumes This Weekend

The roles are switched in 2009 from 2008 as the Boston Red Sox will attempt to beat the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year, the Tampa Bay Rays, and put themselves a step closer to the A.L. Wildcard spot.

In 2008, Tampa Bay knocked Boston out of the playoffs. In 2009, the Red Sox have a chance to end any idea that the Rays have of leapfrogging both the BoSox and the Texas Rangers and making it into the A.L. Playoffs. Boston sends Jon Lester to the mound on Friday night and will start Josh Beckett on Saturday and Clay Bucholz on Sunday.

The BoSox are a -200 favorite in the sportsbook to take down Tampa Bay tonight. Expect those types of odds to continue well into the weekend as Boston gets to play the Rays at home and, at least in 2009, have a superior pitching staff to the Rays’.

Texas Could Falter Against Seattle

Chasing the Red Sox are the Texas Rangers who the BoSox have had difficulty shaking off because of the Rangers’ incredible scrappiness.

The Rangers should continue to win this weekend when they face the Seattle Mariners, a team that they have owned in 2009, but the pressure is on as Seattle does have a decent pitching staff.

If the Rangers falter at all, then the race to the A.L. Wildcard will probably be over as Texas won’t be able to catch the Red Sox as the Red Sox face the L.A. Angels, a team they have dominated in recent years, and the Rangers face the Oakland Athletics, a team that they have struggled against in 2009, next week.

This weekend could be a “Sayonara!” weekend for the tough Rangers.

This information is provided in partnership with BetUs Sportsbook

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