In a remarkable pitching duel, The Chicago White Sox saw off the Minnesota Twins 1-0 last night to secure the final place in the Post-season..
In the American League the Tampa Bay Rays face the Chicago White Sox and the LA Angels face the Boston Red Sox, whilst in the National League the Philadelphia Phillies take on the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs will take on the LA Dodgers. Each contest is a best of five series with the winners progressing the final of their league in order to play a best of seven series to contest the World Series with champion of the other league.

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES
 
TAMPA BAY RAYS VS CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Begins 2nd October 19:35 BST

There is limited appeal in this series for me because I cannot see past a Rays win because they have been a significantly better team than the Sox throughout the season and by now the Chicago south-siders must be completely tired out. As such the price on the Rays is too low really for me to entertain thoughts of betting on this one.
The Rays have a significantly better pitching rotation than their opponents here but do give away some ground in terms of offense. The Sox hitters will not be served like they have on so many occasions by weaker opposition this season, this is the big time now.
One more thing to consider is the Rays lack of experience at this level. I wouldn't feel necessarily comfortable backing a short priced team if they haven't really got much of a pedigree, however convinced I am.

RECOMMENDATION - NO BET

LA ANGELS VS BOSTON RED SOX
Begins 2nd October 03:05 BST

The bookies seem to overrate the Red Sox here and that opens up a nice punting opportunity potentially. The LA Angels have the best record throughout the 2008 season and are rightfully favourites for the series, but quite marginally on the whole.
Anybody would be a fool to totally write the Boston side off here but to have to start with two matches away from Fenway in a best of five shoot-out against the best team around is a bit like drawing the short straw. That is only fair given that they slipped in through the Wildcard route.
With John Lackey set to take to the mound for the opener they have an absolutely outstanding pitcher and someone who relishes the big occasion. And with the rest of the rotation in place as, if and when required, the Red Sox better hope that their much vaunted batting line up catches fire.
If they were facing any other team here, I would have to thing long and hard about tipping against the Red Sox but this Angels team have the best all round team and I thoroughly expect them to justify series favouritism.

STATS

RECOMMENDATIONS - 4 Points on LA Angels to win Series @ 1.83 (Paddy Power)
1 Point on LA Angels 3-1 Series Correct Score @ 4.8 (Canbet)
 
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES
 
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Begins 1st October 20:05 BST

This series is an interesting one really because the Brewers seemed destined to fall short of the play offs and the Phillies would have been playing the Dodgers instead but we they can thank the Mets for generously choking again in order for this contest to happen..
The Brewers are an all-round team really whilst the Phillies are all about blistering offense with several power bats amongst them and one ace pitcher.
With sending out Gallardo for the opener I really do fear that the Brewers could be giving up game one in what could have been a pretty competitive series.
If I were forced into picking a winner of this one I would have to go with the Phillies really because they showed a lot more consistency this season than the Brewers and have this handy home advantage for the first two matches, and for a decider if required.
Despite my assertion that I think that the Phillies are likely winners, a best available price of 1.57 to take the series really does not appeal.

STATS

RECOMMENDATION - NO BET
 
CHICAGO CUBS V LA DODGERS
Begins 1st October 23:35 BST

If this series were based simply on the ability of the two teams then the Cubs would win this one for sure because they have a better pitching rotation and a better batting line up but sometimes at this stage of the season funny things can happen to you from a mental side of things.
Joe Torre masterminded many successes during his time at the Yankees and will be looking to get some sort of winning mentality drilled into the heads of the Dodgers as they go into this series. Amongst some young players there are some experienced heads like Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake and Jeff Kent who will be key to potential success because when things get tight you always want some wise heads around.
The Cubs are looking to shake off the one hundred year curse tag that is around their necks by winning the World Series this year and I am firmly of the belief that if they play to their potential in every contest, they will either win it or go very close. My big problem is that I fear that the mental strength of the Cubs will falter at some stage along the way and old doubts will surface once again. At a best price of 1.45 for this series, there is absolutely no way that I will be recommending a bet on them and to be honest I am looking at quite the opposite.
2.9 on The Dodgers looks massive value to me really and whilst it is by no means the most likely result in the series, the Dodgers deserve a lot more respect than that. A mark nearer 2.5 would have been more appropriate.

STATS

RECOMMENDATION - 1.5 Points on LA Dodgers to win Series @ 2.9 (Bet365)
 
WORLD SERIES OUTRIGHT
There are two teams that interest me in the outright market, they are the LA Angels and Philadelphia Phillies.
The Angels have proved their superiority over rivals time and again this season and they are impossible to ignore. If the market reflected the actual probability of World Series success then the Los Angeles club would head the market for sure but a supposed weaker National League draw sees the Cubs head the market and reputation sees the Red Sox second in the betting. Yes there is the bizarre occurrence that the Angels are considered more likely to win the series against Boston but less likely to claim the overall title, how odd.
At the vital stage of the season it is usually about pitching and with a terrific rotation, strong bullpen along with metronomic closer 'K-Rod', the Angels have every angle covered.
Look no further than the team from Anaheim!
Now I'm going to completely contradict myself here but it is all part of the game of making some cash. You always need a backup plan and I have one right here in case it all goes belly up for the Angels.
Lets imagine that the pitchers do not take control of these play offs and a lot of matches come to down to good old fashioned slugging then the best possible alternative for me in the market is the Phillies because with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Pat Burrell in their ranks, they will always score runs.
At a price of 9, the Phillies represent much greater value than the National League alternatives and although their pitching rotation isn't the greatest around they do have a very consistent starter in Cole Hamels and two guys improving all of the time in Brett Myers and Joe Blanton. Brad Lidge has been a terrific closer for a decent bullpen on the whole.
Either way works for me but my more firm choice would be the Angels.

RECOMMENDATIONS - 3 Points on LA Angels to win World Series 2008 @ 6 (Extrabet )
2 Points on Philadelphia Phillies to win World Series 2008 @ 9 (Sportingbet, Paddy Power)