Baseball - Bullpens Equal Easy Money

Baseball odds are not formulated with enough emphasis on a team's bullpen. Such a property is factored in as a byproduct of a team's overall record. Good teams generally have good bullpens and vice versa. But going against teams with a tired bullpen represents one of the strongest baseball betting angles a handicapper could utilize.

Here are the reasons why you would want to go against teams with a tired bullpen.

1. When games are tied in the late innings, the game becomes a battle of bullpens. Your team has a higher likelihood of winning considering the fact that you would be going against a tired pen. Whether it is coming from behind against a saves pitcher that pitched 3 consecutive times or blasting off against a below average middle reliever pitching only because his compatriots need rest.

2. Managers are more likely to expect their pitchers to get themselves out of jams than attempt to use a battered bullpen. A classic case occurred on Wednesday June 21, 2006 in the White Sox - Cardinals match. The White Sox blasted the Cardinals for 20 runs the night before in a night where the Cardinals used up 5 relievers. On Wednesday, the following day, Jason Marquis found himself in early trouble giving up 9 runs in 2 innings. A manager with a rested bullpen probably would have taken the pitcher out early in the second inning just so that he could save face and hopefully salvage the game. Instead, La Russa had him pitch for another 3 full innings!

3. When teams have strong division rivalry games coming up, managers find themselves trying to get their battered bullpen some rest because bullpens factor into those series' much more. So if the game is somewhat "meaningless", value can be had.