AP – Major League Baseball implemented random blood testing for human growth hormone in the minor leagues on Thursday, the first professional sports league in the United States to take the aggressive step against doping.

AP – Major League Baseball has started random blood testing for human growth hormone in the minor leagues, the first professional sports league in the United States to take the aggressive step against doping.

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AP – Tiger Woods has been interviewed by federal authorities investigating a Canadian doctor accused of distributing human growth hormone, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

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This coming Sunday, after the Easter Bunny has left the scene, the New York Yankees will begin their World Series defense against the hated Boston Red Sox, opening the 2010 Major League Baseball season.

Sportsbook have the Yanks listed as the odds-on favorites to repeat as champs at +300 and of course, to win the American League East division.

Let’s look at the MLB future odds and the betting action for the American League:

AL East

The New York Yankees are listed at -200 to claim another division crown.

Last year at this time, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was embroiled in his “steroid” scandal and what you know, this year he’s still making human growth hormone-related news.

Rodriguez was treated by a Canadian doctor, Dr. Anthony Galea, who is charged with giving HGHs and Actovegin to athletes according to the Associated Press.

A-Rod received treatment from Dr. Galea after undergoing hip surgery last year and postponed a recent meeting with Feds the AP went on to say.

Galea says that he didn’t provide Rodriguez with human growth hormones or steroids, rather anti-inflammatory medication.

This could be just a side note or it could develop into something more and could be a distraction.

Last week, the New York Yankees announced that Phil Hughes had secured the fifth and final spot in the team’s starting rotation and he together with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Javier Vazquez and Andy Pettitte will be starting pitchers for the Yankees.

AL Central

The Detroit Tigers are the odds-on to take the Central at -125, with the Minnesota Twins also one of the favorites at +150 — the Twins beat the Tigers in a one-game playoff for that honor last season and are defending division champs.

The Twins are moving into a new stadium and another playoff appearance and a division title would go nicely with their new home.

With sights set on on-field success, not just for this season, but in the future as well, the team announced the signing of catcher Joe Mauer to an eight-year contract extension.

Mauer was instrumental in the team’s push for the playoffs last season and finished the season with an MLB-best batting average of .365 with an AL MVP award to boot.

The Twins relief situation is up in the air however, as regular closer Joe Nathan had Tommy John surgery last week and will be out for the entire regular season.

Twinkies skip Ron Gardenhire says he will use a variety of pitchers to close games.

AL West

The Seattle Mariners had 61 wins in 2008, jumped to 85 wins last season and are once again looking to add to the win total in 2010.

The Mariners made a lot of offseason moves and will be looking to conquer the division for the first time since 2001; they are listed at +175 to do just that.

One of the team’s offseason acquisitions expected to make a significant contribution, southpaw Cliff Lee, might have to delay the start of his regular season though.

Lee is suffering from a strained abdomen and could be placed on the disabled list, however, he underwent an experimental procedure with the hopes of speeding the recovery process.

According to the AP, a doctor used “platelet-rich plasma injection therapy” which will “[injected] Lee’s own blood into the injured area to focus its healing powers on his ailing midsection.”

Lee also faces suspension for throwing at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Snyder in a spring training game in mid-March.

The Mariners’ lefty was initially suspended for five games but is in the process of appealing; his hearing scheduled for March 29 was postponed.

We’ll take a look at the National League later this week.

You can check all the baseball betting odds at SPORTSBETTING.com

Let’s play ball!

AP – Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss told a small group of teammates last week that he received treatments from the Canadian doctor charged with smuggling and supplying human growth hormone.

AP – Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss told a small group of teammates last week that he received treatments from the Canadian doctor charged with smuggling and supplying human growth hormone.

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AP – Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss has told teammates he received three treatments from the Canadian doctor who was charged last week with smuggling and supplying human growth hormone.

AP – Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is taking a “wait and see” approach to reports that receiver Santana Moss is linked to a Canadian doctor charged with smuggling and supplying human growth hormone.

AP – A sports doctor facing drug charges on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border made multiple trips to U.S. cities to meet with professional athletes and injected at least seven with human growth hormone, according to Canadian court documents.

AP – American tennis player Wayne Odesnik was banned for two years on Wednesday, two months after pleading guilty to importing human growth hormone into Australia.

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