MLB ALL STAR GAME - Why is the AL favored so heavily? Take a look at the numbers

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Why is the AL favored so heavily? Take a look at the numbers By Tim Roberts Sun, Jul 9, 2006 The National League must have been a hell of a mean older brother in years past. At least that would explain the regular beatings the American League lays on the senior circuit these days. The AL has become the alpha league, going 154-98 in 2006 interleague battles and winning 29 of the last 41 World Series games. It’s no surprise then, that books have established the AL as favorites to win the 77th edition of the Midsummer Classic tonight in Pittsburgh. The NL hasn’t won an All-Star Game since 1996 and the recent interleague slaughter suggests they aren’t prepared to change things at PNC Park. But the AL is favored more for its superior roster than its fantastic interleague record. “We’ve set the AL as –141 favorites,†says Trevor at BetUS.com. “The interleague results might have a small effect on the line, but it’s different with a collection of individual players, as opposed to a team that’s actually played together.†Starting pitching is almost always the key factor in determining MLB lines. In the glorified exhibition game that is the Midsummer Classic, however, books have to look beyond the starters and take the entire pitching staff into account due to the two or three inning limit on All-Star arms. The NL has already lost the services of Tom Glavine and Pedro Martinez, with both Met starters requiring replacements. Despite the loss of the duo the NL starters picked for Tuesday’s game seem to stand up remarkably well when compared to their AL counterparts. Both teams` starting staffs boast a winning percentage around the .700 mark, but the NL starters’ ERA is a half-run better than that of the AL starters. Enough to jump on the tempting underdog odds? “A lot of the NL starters have nice numbers at the mid-way point,†says Covers Expert Ted Sevransky. “But as a unit they’ve looked vulnerable lately.†Sevransky notes the line as a reasonable price to pay for the AL win. “[The AL] has all the best teams, they’ve dominated this game recently, they dominated in interleague play, and top to bottom they have the stronger roster.†And don`t forget to look beyond the starters. Just ask a team like the Blue Jays how important bullpens are this season. “Look at the four closers in the AL. I’ll take them in a New York minute. [Jon] Papelbon, [Mariano] Rivera, [bobby] Jenks and [b.J.] Ryan have been nearly unhittable,†Sevransky says, adding that he certainly won`t give that status to the NL’s Danny Turnbow or Brian Fuentes. The numbers back Sevransky up. The four AL closers have successfully converted 94 percent of their save opportunities, thanks to a combined 1.38 ERA. The NL relievers’ success rate sits at 88 percent and their combined ERA sites at 2.79. AL manager Ozzie Guillen is leaning towards Kenny Rogers as his starter and has tipped Rivera as his go-to guy if the game requires a true closer. Rogers is the leading money pitcher in the AL, winning Tiger backers 9.81 units during his starts this year. No matter how you look at it, the AL comes out on top when the leagues are compared. After playing 20 games above .500 in the first eight years of interleague play, the NL is 76 games under .500 in interleague play over the past two years. The New York Mets are the only NL team with a winning percentage above .550. The AL East and AL Central have three teams apiece winning at such a clip. AL teams held the broom in 17 of the 22 sweeps during this year’s interleague matchups. Junior circuit players also stole the show when it came to offensive firepower. A number of AL stars must be licking their chops at the prospect of facing NL pitching again. David Ortiz led MLB with nine home runs and 21 RBIs in interleague play, while Joe Mauer hit a ridiculous .492 against NL pitchers. I hope this helps! Majid