Baseball betting: Tigers are Most Productive and Cubs are Least Profitable

With the second half of the Major League Baseball season set to get underway on Thursday, the Detroit Tigers will attempt to continue its dominance at home in a bid to win the AL Central division title. At the All-Star break, Detroit has been the most profitable home squad for MLB bettors at +16.8 units. The Tigers are just a half game behind the Chicago White Sox in the division race due in part to a 32-13 record at Comerica Park. The Atlanta Braves (30-10 home record) are the next most profitable team at +15.7 units. With its strong play at Turner Field, Atlanta has a four-game lead in the NL East at the break. The team that trails the Braves in the NL East is next on the list. The New York Mets (30-16 home record) have banked +11.4 units at Citi Field in 2010. New York's pitching staff has allowed the fewest runs at home of any team in the majors at an even three runs per outing. The Colorado Rockies are fourth on the list at +8.0 units. Colorado has posted a 31-16 mark at Coors Field this season. The Boston Red Sox (29-17 home record) round out the top five at +5.6 units. Over the last decade, Boston has been one of the most consistent home teams in all of baseball. Cubs are least profitable at home The Chicago Cubs have ranked as one of baseball's biggest disappointments in the first half of the season. The club's inability to play sound baseball at Wrigley Field has been a part of the problem. The Cubs are the least profitable home team in the majors at -13.4 units. While Chicago (20-23 home record) is just slightly under .500 at home, the squad has been a favorite more often than not at Wrigley in 2010. Another team in the NL Central has also struggled at home this season. The Milwaukee Brewers have dropped -11.6 units at Miller Park this year with a 20-26 record. Only the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff has allowed more runs in its home ballpark this season than the 5.7 runs per game allowed by Milwaukee's hurlers. In a surprise, the Tampa Bay Rays (26-20 home record) have been the least profitable team in the AL at -9.3 units. While Tampa Bay has put together the best road mark in baseball this season, the club has lost a number of games at home as a large favorite in 2010.