Rookie hurlers face off in Anaheim
Baseball Betting Lines
07/04/2009 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will take to the field
this evening, as they host the Baltimore Orioles in the second matchup of a
three-game stint at Angel Stadium.
Sean O'Sullivan has been a solid fill in for an Angels rotation that has been
depleted by injuries. O'Sullivan has made three starts since being called up
to the majors, and in those outings he has complied a 2-0 mark with a 3.00
earned run average.
The last time the right-hander was on the hill he tossed six solid innings
against Texas, surrendering just two runs on six hits, while also striking out
five batters.
The Orioles will turn to their own rookie pitcher when they send Jason Berken
to the rubber. Berken won his season debut, but since then the right-hander
has lost five of his last six starts.
The last time Berken was on the hill he allowed four runs on eight hits in
five innings of work against Boston.
On Friday, Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, as Baltimore
hung on to edge the Angels, 6-4. Luke Scott stroked a two-run double for the
Orioles, who won for just the second time in their last six tries.
Nick Markakis went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
David Hernandez (2-2) lasted 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits
with two strikeouts and two walks to collect his second win in his fourth
start in the majors. George Sherrill picked up his 18th save of the year.
"Impressive. He was throwing strikes and used all his pitches really well. He
commanded his fastball and showed great poise," Orioles manager David Trembley
said about Hernandez.
Kendry Morales belted a two-run homer for the Angels, who have dropped three
of their last four. Maicer Izturis went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI,
while Vladimir Guerrero drove in the other run for Los Angeles, which won,
5-2, in the opener of the series on Thursday.
Ervin Santana (1-4) went five frames, allowing six runs -- four earned -- on
eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks to take the loss for LA.
Santana was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game.
"I felt good. My location was okay, but I made a few mistakes. My arm felt
good, but I just want to win," Santana said.
The Angels swept a two-game series from the Orioles at Camden Yards back in
April and went 6-3 against Baltimore last season. The O's are just 5-13 in
Anaheim since the start of the 2006 campaign.
<< Lincecum goes after third straight complete game against Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Lincecum hopes for the same type of run support San
Francisco provided Ryan Sadowski in the opener of this set when the Giants
play the middle test of their three-game series with the Houston Astros at
AT&T Park.
<< Report: Clemens' lawyer claims he passed steroid test in '03
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens
was reportedly not among the 100-plus players who tested positive for
performance-enhancing substances in 2003, when the league conducted an
anonymo
<< Giants option INF Downs; activate INF Aurilia
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Following the Giants' 13-0 win over the
Astros, the team optioned infielder Matt Downs to Triple-A Fresno to make room
for infielder Rich Aurilia, who was activated from the bereavement list.
The 25-ye
<< Twins place Slowey on DL; recall Swarzak
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Following the Twins' 16-inning 11-9 loss to
the Tigers, Minnesota placed pitcher Kevin Slowey on the 15-day disabled list
with a strained right wrist.
Slowey started on the mound for the Twins Friday bu
<< Raburn, Tigers use three-run 16th to edge Twins
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Raburn's RBI single in the 16th
proved to be the game-winner as the Detroit Tigers took an 11-9 win over the
Minnesota Twins in a 16-inning contest to open a three-get set at the
Metrodo
Rays hope the Price is right in Arlington >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still trying to work out some kinks, the Tampa Bay's
phenom lefty David Price will take the hill this evening against the hard-
hitting Texas Rangers in the second contest of a three-game stint.
Price, a playoff hero for
Last place teams continue set in Cleveland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The cellar dwellers from the AL Central and AL West will
collide once again this evening when the Cleveland Indians host the Oakland
Athletics at Progressive Field.
Toeing the rubber this evening for Oakland will be Vin Ma
Halladay, Wang square off in Bronx >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In his second start since coming off the disabled list, Roy
Halladay will take the mound for the Blue Jays when Toronto takes on the New
York Yankees in the second matchup of a four-game stint at Yankee Stadium.
The strong
Moyer shoots for third straight win in middle tilt with Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies hope Jamie Moyer can give them
the same type of effort that Rodrigo Lopez did on Friday, when they continue
their three-game series against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park.
Lopez (1-0), w
Duke goes for win No. 9 against Fish >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Duke goes after his ninth win of the season this
evening when the Pittsburgh Pirates continue their three-game series with the
Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium.
Duke has been one of the best left-handers in the l
Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions
Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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