Phils seek offensive breakout in latest visit to Mets
Baseball Betting Lines
09/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back on top in the NL East for the first time in more than three months, the Philadelphia Phillies return to the venue where runs have been scarce this evening in the opener of a three-game set against the rival New York Mets.
The Phillies have scored just seven runs in six games at Citi Field this season, but their recent surge may reap better results. Having won three straight and 11 of its last 14 games, Philadelphia is a game ahead of Atlanta for the division lead and has scored 25 runs during its current win streak.
Spirits are high for the Phils entering Friday's series opener, especially with Roy Halladay set to take on a Mets team he has dominated this season. He is 3-0 with a 1.88 earned run average in three starts against tonight's opponent and previously beat New York on August 8 at Citizens Bank Park, as he fired eight shutout innings and struck out seven.
Halladay, who is 5-2 in seven career starts against the Mets, ended a two- start skid his last time out Saturday versus Milwaukee. The right-hander did allow four runs in seven innings of the 5-4 win, but improved to 17-10 with a 2.36 ERA in 29 starts this season. The 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner has won seven of his past nine starts and is 6-5 in 12 road outings in 2010.
The Phils have been getting solid pitching lately and went 5-2 on a recent homestand which was capped by Wednesday's 10-6 triumph over the visiting Florida Marlins in south Philadelphia. Cole Hamels continued his impressive run towards the postseason by holding the Marlins to only four hits in seven scoreless innings of work.
Hamels benefited from a huge night by first baseman Ryan Howard, who ended with three hits, including a three-run homer, and tied a season high with six RBI.
"It just happens to be September, but it's one of those things where you're coming down the stretch and knowing that every game counts, and I'm just trying to do my part," Howard said.
Chase Utley added two hits, two runs scored and drove in two for the Phillies, while Shane Victorino went 3-for-6 with an RBI and three runs scored. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins left the game with a sore hamstring, however, and is listed as day-to-day.
The Phillies will also visit the Marlins for three games in south Florida on the trek.
Meanwhile, the Mets are back in Queens for a 10-game homestand versus the Phillies, Pirates and Braves and just went 4-6 on a recent road trip. They won the final two portions of a three-game series in Washington and recorded a 3-2 victory Wednesday from Nationals Park.
Nick Evans came on as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh and stroked and RBI double to score Josh Thole, putting the Mets ahead for good. Luis Hernandez and Carlos Beltran also drove in a run for New York, which got two hits and six productive innings out of winning pitcher R.A. Dickey.
Dickey (10-6) held the Nats to a pair of runs and five hits for his 10th win of the season. Hisanori Takahashi earned his fifth save by retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.
"I just tried to slow the game down," Dickey said. "I've found the more I'm able to do that, the better results I've been having. It takes a long time to learn how to do that. It has for me at least."
The Mets, who are 10 1/2 games off the NL Wild Card lead, will send promising rookie Jenrry Mejia to the mound Friday for his second career start. Mejia was the losing pitcher in last Saturday's 5-3 loss at Chicago and permitted four runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings. The Dominican right-hander fell to 0-3 this season with a 3.86 ERA in 31 games (one start).
Mejia has pitched two separate innings of relief against Philadelphia this season and has no record or ERA in those games.
The 2010 season series between the Phillies and Mets is tied at six games apiece, but Philadelphia has won three of the last four matchups between the two ballclubs.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though a sweep would have been better, a series victory in Boston's most recent set has kept its slim playoff hopes alive. Hoping to make up more ground in the American League Wild Card race, the Red Sox will send the
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Cardinals co-ace Chris Carpenter has recorded 16 wins in a season only twice in his career, He'll be looking to reach that mark again tonight in the second installment of a four-game series against the Atlanta Brave
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Playoff Pickups >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's playoff time in the world of fantasy
baseball and if your lineup needs a little boost because some of your veterans
haven't performed up to par, then you should be scouring the waiver wire.
Fortunate
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING
NCAA Football BettingMany fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS
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.
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