College football betting players are getting ready for the beginning of their season, but in Major League Baseball, the postseason is on the horizon, and that means awards will be handed out. The race for the Cy Young award in the National League is as close as it has been in recent years, and with San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum struggling, there will surely be a new winner. Here are the top five candidates.
Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado
Jimenez looked to be a lock after the first half of the season, but he’s slowed down after the All-Star break. Still, Jimenez is tied for the league lead in wins and winning percentage, and his “slump” is still as good as most pitchers in the majors. Jimenez is 26 years old, so he also has time to work on command as he’s sixth in the league in walks.
Adam Wainwright, St. Louis
NFL betting players watch for their players to go through slumps. In St. Louis, they don’t have to worry about that with Wainwright, who has been as steady as anyone all year long. He’s tied with Jimenez for the league lead in wins with 17, he’s fourth in the league in innings, first in ERA and fourth in strikeouts. At 28, Wainwright could be the Roy Halladay of the next decade.
Roy Halladay, Philadelphia
Speaking of Doc, he’d have more wins than 16 if he didn’t have the fourth-lowest run support of any pitcher with 160 innings or more. Since coming from Toronto, Halladay has been a monster in Philadelphia, leading the league in innings, complete games and strikeouts, and he’s second to Wainwright in ERA. And at 33 years old, he’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Tim Hudson, Atlanta
Hudson should get the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award as a consolation, and many thought the 35-year-old was done after he got Tommy John surgery last August. Quite the contrary. All MLB betting players have watched Hudson do is rank in the top 10 in wins, innings, ERA and winning percentage, and possibly lead the Braves to a surprising division title.
Chris Carpenter, St. Louis
Speaking of comeback players, the 35-year-old Carpenter won the award last year after a number of injury-plagued seasons, competing with Lincecum and Wainwright for last year’s Cy Young award. He hasn’t taken his foot off the gas, coming in the top 10 in all the major categories, and like his St. Louis teammate, he’s an absolute innings-eater. Again, Carpenter probably won’t win his second Cy Young award, but to be pitching the way he is at 35, awards must be secondary to him.
Online sports betting pick: Adam Wainwright
