Red Sox aim to stay in playoff mix, take series from O's
Baseball Betting Lines
09/02/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox have missed the playoffs only once in
the previous seven years, but are in danger of being left out for the first
time since the 2006 campaign.
The Red Sox are seven games off the wild card lead and eight games behind for
the top spot in the American League East Division, and will shoot for a series
win tonight against the division-foe Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. They
were able to even the set with Wednesday's 9-6 come-from-behind victory in
which Boston scored six runs during the seventh inning.
Marco Scutaro hit a two-run homer, Victor Martinez plated a run with a double
and Adrian Beltre capped the scoring with a three-run blast for the Red Sox,
who rebounded from Tuesday's series opening loss and improved to 2-3 on a six-
game road trip. J.D. Drew also homered in the win. Beltre needs three RBI for
1,000 in his career and leads the Red Sox with 91 for the season.
Jon Lester started for the victors and recorded the win, despite allowing
eight hits and five runs over six innings. The lefty, who fanned 10 batters,
is now 13-0 lifetime against the Orioles.
"I don't think it really matters how many losses in a row we have or wins,"
Lester said. "We just need to chip away and get some wins. It's obviously nice
to come back tonight and do that."
Jonathan Papelbon posted a scoreless ninth for his 34th save.
Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka has allowed four runs in three straight and
four of five starts, and is expected to take the mound Thursday night. He is
0-1 with a 5.31 earned run average in his last three trips to the hill and did
not record a decision in his last start on August 21 versus Toronto.
The right-hander lasted eight innings and was reached for four runs and six
hits with eight strikeouts. He has struck out at least six batters in four
straight starts and is 8-4 in 19 outings this season. Matsuzaka, who is 4-2 in
11 road appearances this season, made his 2010 debut at Baltimore on May 1 and
suffered the loss in the 12-9 decision. The Orioles posted seven runs -- six
earned -- in 4 2/3 innings against the Japanese hurler.
Matsuzaka is 3-2 with a 5.65 ERA in seven career starts against the O's.
Baltimore scored four runs in the first inning and had a 5-3 lead before
surrendering six runs in the seventh. Mark Hendrickson took the loss for his
contributions to the explosion, as he allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Jake Arrieta tossed the first five innings and allowed three runs on six hits
with five strikeouts, while Alfredo Simon was also touched for three runs in
relief for the Orioles, who had a four-game winning streak halted.
"Jake battled his way through five innings and kept the damage to a minimum,
but there are a lot of good players over there with a track record, and they
make you pay for the mistakes you do make," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter
said on the club's website.
Showalter is still one win away from 900 career victories. He will become the
64th manager in baseball history to achieve the feat.
Adam Jones drove in two runs in last night's loss, and both Ty Wigginton and
Felix Pie finished with two hits and an RBI. Jones left the game in the
seventh inning with back soreness, but should be able to play today. Jake Fox
took over for Jones in the outfield.
Since losing five consecutive starts more than a month ago, Orioles starter
Brad Bergesen has turned things around to the tune of a 3-0 mark with a 2.70
ERA in his last six starts, with his team going 5-1 in that span. He is slated
to make his 25th appearance (23rd start) Thursday night.
In his most recent start at Angel Stadium last Friday, Bergesen held the
homestanding Angels to only a run and four hits in eight innings. The righty
improved to 6-9 with a 5.55 ERA this season.
Bergesen is 1-1 in two starts against Boston this season and 1-2 lifetime with
a 3.71 ERA in four starts in this series.
Boston and Baltimore have split 14 matchups this season.
<< Golf Tidbits: Too little, too late for PGA Tour?
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A week after Jim Furyk overslept and
missed his pro-am tee time, the PGA Tour suspended its own rule that
disqualifies a player for missing a pro-am.
But has the damage been done? Furyk would probably argu
<< Sharks make it official with Niemi
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks officially added former
Chicago netminder Antti Niemi on Thursday, signing him to a one-year deal.
While financial terms were undisclosed, earlier reports indicated it is for $2
million.
<< Sharks sign G Antti Niemi
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -The San Jose Sharks have signed the goalie who helped knock them out of the playoffs, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with Antti Niemi.The team announced the deal Thursday.Niemi stopped 129 of 136 shots in the Western
<< 2010 World Basketball Championship update - September 2nd
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
Group C: Puerto Rico vs. Ivory Coast, 9 a.m. (Kayseri)
Group D: Spain vs. Canada, 9 a.m. (Izmir)
Group A: Angola vs. Australia, 9:30 a.m. (Kayseri)
Group B: USA vs. Tunisia, 9:30 a.m. (Istanbul)
Group C: Greece v
<< Buffalo Bills 2010 Season Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Bills and Chan Gailey have both been absent from
the NFL playoffs for a long time. Almost exactly the same amount of time,
actually.
The Bills' last playoff foray came on Jan. 8, 2000, when they were 22-16 lose
Twins seek to sweep Tigers out of Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins will
continue their homestand tonight and try for a second sweep of the Detroit
Tigers this season in the finale of a three-game series at Target Field.
The Twins have wo
Skidding Indians head out west to battle Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians will take their four-game losing
streak out west for seven straight games starting with tonight's opener of a
four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
The Indians are coming off
LPGA Taiwan to start in 2011 >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The LPGA Tour announced Thursday that the
LPGA Taiwan has been scheduled for October 2011 at Sunrise Golf & Country
Club.
The LPGA-sanctioned event will be co-sponsored by the Golf Associati
Mound Presence: A's lefty Braden faces Yankees again >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oakland Athletics starter Dallas Braden won't have to worry
about Alex Rodriguez running across his pitching mound this afternoon due to
the slugging third baseman currently being on the disabled list.
Braden, making hi
Phillies make a quick stop at Colorado >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Given how well the Phillies have played out west over the
last week, they certainly won't mind staying there for an extra game. It
doesn't hurt that its a matchup against the Rockies either.
Philadelphia will try
NFL Sports Betting
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North.
Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash. NFL Betting
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.
Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.
Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.
Memphis vs. Ohio State
Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.
UCLA vs. Kansas
In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.
With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action. Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards
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