Baseball Betting News: Rangers Closer a Narrow Favorite in AL Rookie of the Year Race

With just two months to go in the 2010 regular season, there is a tight battle emerging in the chase for the 2010 American League Rookie of the Year award. Texas Rangers closer Neftali Feliz is a slight -125 choice to capture this year's award. Through August 2nd, the 22-year-old is tied for second in the league in saves with 29. Feliz has blown only 2 of his 31 save opportunities in 2010. He has helped the Rangers gain a commanding eight-game lead in the AL West. In the last decade, three closers won the AL Rookie of the Year award. Last year, Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey won the honor. A couple of Detroit Tigers hitters are also in the running. Left fielder Brennan Boesch is just behind Feliz at +100. He has a .290 batting average for Detroit with 12 homers and 51 runs batted in. However, Boesch has struggled lately after a hot start. In the months of May and June, he had a .340 batting average. Since July, Boesch has posted a .200 average. Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson (+250) has also helped Detroit in his debut season. He has posted a .306 batting average and scored 61 runs for the Tigers. Giants rookie emerging in NL In a strong field of National League newcomers, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is a -125 favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year award. In 55 games, Posey has a .350 average with 8 homers and 34 runs batted in. His hot bat has helped the Giants gain the lead in the NL Wild Card chase. Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is the next choice at +200. However, Strasburg's current stint on the disabled list could hurt his chances. Baseball's most hyped rookie has posted a 5-2 record with a 2.32 earned run average in nine starts for the Nats. St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia (+250) is also a contender from the mound. He has helped to keep the Cards in playoff contention by recording a 9-4 record with a dazzling 2.33 E.R.A. Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward (+500) has gained plenty of notice in his debut year after being voted into the All-Star Game. He has clubbed 11 homers with 50 runs batted in for a Braves squad that leads the NL East.