Cards hope to revive postseason hopes in opener with Reds
Baseball Betting Lines
09/03/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Cardinals faced the Reds, they completed
a three-game sweep that gave them sole possession of first place in the
National League Central.
The teams have drastically gone in opposite directions since.
First-place Cincinnati will try to extend its eight-game lead over second-
place St. Louis this evening in the opener of a three-game series at Busch
Stadium that by the end could put the division crown out of reach for the
hosts.
The Cardinals have won four straight and 10 of 15 versus the Reds this year
and they posted a three-game sweep in the last meeting from Aug. 8-11 -- a
series that featured a benches-clearing brawl thanks to some unkind words
towards St. Louis by Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips -- to take a one-game edge
for the top spot in the division.
"They silenced our bats a little bit and we didn't pitch that great," Reds
starter Bronson Arroyo said after the sweep. "It's not even close to being
over. We have plenty of games left."
The Reds have made the most of their games since the series, winning 14 of 18,
while the Cardinals have gone 5-13 and have matched a season high with five
straight losses to give the Reds their largest division lead of the season.
Arroyo lost the finale of that sweep but gets the first chance at extending
his team's current division lead. The right-hander yielded four runs over five
innings back on Aug. 11 to fall to 1-2 with a 4.78 earned run average in four
starts this year versus the Cardinals. That includes an outing at Busch
Stadium on May 31 when he was drilled for seven runs over 4 1/3 frames.
Arroyo has a 2.61 ERA over his last seven starts though and is 14-8 with a
3.82 ERA on the season. The 33-year-old is coming off just his second loss in
six starts (4-2) as he gave up three runs on five hits over seven innings
against the Cubs on Saturday.
While Arroyo has had his troubles with the Cardinals this year, St. Louis
rookie Jaime Garcia has won all three of his starts in 2010 against the Reds
with a 4.08 ERA. His latest win in the series came on Aug. 10 despite giving
up four runs on two hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings.
Garcia, though, hasn't allowed an earned run in 20 1/3 consecutive innings,
fanning 19 in that span. His run began in a loss to the Brewers on Aug. 17 in
which he was touched for three unearned runs over six innings.
The 24-year-old southpaw responded with his first career shutout, a three-
hitter versus the Giants on Aug. 22 and then won his second straight start
last Friday after posting 5 1/3 scoreless innings in Washington while working
around eight hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.
Garcia is 12-6 with a 2.33 ERA this year and sports a 1.55 ERA in 12 starts at
home. He'll be looking tonight to halt a four-game winning streak by the Reds,
a burst that includes a three-game sweep of the Brewers.
Cincinnati wrapped the series with Wednesday's 6-1 victory, scoring all of its
runs in the seventh inning. Ryan Hanigan blasted a three-run homer in the
frame, while Scott Rolen capped the burst with a two-run single.
The victory also featured the first win of Aroldis Chapman's major league
career. The 22-year-old Cuban lefty has yet to allow a hit over his two
appearances, striking out three over two inning while unleashing a fastball
that has gone over 100 mph.
Fans would be in for a treat if Chapman faces the Cardinals' Albert Pujols,
who is hitting .358 (19-for-53) in 15 games this year against the Reds with
three homers and 14 RBI. However, Pujols went hitless in 10 at-bats in St.
Louis' three-game sweep at the hands of Houston.
The Cardinals were bested, 5-2, in Wednesday's finale. Matt Holliday drilled a
two-run homer as St. Louis wrapped a 10-game road trip 2-8.
"We have to play better, obviously, but you just have to focus on the next
game," Holliday said. "Sometimes if you get out and look at the big picture
instead of focusing on the job at hand, you lose focus."
<< Myers opposes red-hot Hudson in the desert
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<< North Carolina to keep 12 players out of Saturday's opener
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of North Carolina has
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while t
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to-be-shorthanded Washington Nationals visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the
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Greinke goes for Royals in opener with Tigers >>
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Greinke can continue a recent hot streak tonight when the Kansas City Royals
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Kauffman Stadium.
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays need all the wins they can get if the
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League playoffs. With Matt Garza on the mound against the Baltimore Orioles,
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Playoff-hopeful Phils return home to battle Brewers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley
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Rockies visit Padres for clash of slumping contenders >>
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Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Bet on NFL Football
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
NFL football gambling
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Bet NFL Sports Lines
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
Betting Line
To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.
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