08/27/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto has had little luck offensively when facing Tampa Bay's Matt Garza this year. The Blue Jays will try to plate some runs against the Rays young gun tonight in the middle portion of three-game series at Tropicana Field.
Garza has allowed just one earned run in 23 1/3 innings versus the Blue Jays this year, though he is 2-1 against them. He tossed a shutout versus Toronto on July 29, the first of his career, and also threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a victory versus the Blue Jays on July 19. The loss came on May 7 in Toronto, when he allowed just a run over 6 2/3 innings of a 6-2 setback.
The 24-year-old righty hurled his second career shutout versus Texas on August 15, but then got a no-decision on Wednesday versus the Angels after allowing four runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. On the season, Garza is 10-7 with a 3.71 earned run average.
He has been better at home, going 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 12 starts.
Garza will try to halt Tampa Bay's two-game skid tonight, as the Rays dropped the opener of this set, 6-2, on Tuesday. Vernon Wells homered and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays, giving him four homers and nine RBI over his last three games.
Roy Halladay defeated Tampa Bay for the first time this year thanks to six strong innings, while Lyle Overbay added two RBI in Toronto's ninth win in its last 13 games. The Blue Jays are eight back of Boston for the American League wild card.
Toronto got a little healthier prior to the game, activating third baseman Scott Rolen from the 15-day disabled list. Rolen, who had been struggling with a left shoulder injury, did not play in last night's win and is unlikely to start tonight as well.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, saw starting catcher Dioner Navarro leave yesterday's game due to cramping in his hamstrings. He is day-to-day and his status for tonight's game is unknown. The Rays are already without star outfielder Carl Crawford (finger surgery), rookie Evan Longoria (wrist) and closer Troy Percival (knee) due to injury.
Eric Hinske drove in both runs last night for Tampa Bay, which saw its lead over Boston in the AL East shrink to 3 1/2 games. The setback was also just the Rays' third in their last 11 home games.
Tampa Bay takes its swings tonight against rookie David Purcey for the first time in his career. The lefty is 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts since returning from the minors, losing to the Yankees on Wednesday. Purcey allowed five runs on seven hits over just four innings in what was the seventh start of his career.
Tampa Bay has won nine of 13 versus Toronto this year, winning two of three at home in mid-July. The Rays also swept a three-game set in Orlando from April 22-24.
<< Report: Red Sox close to getting Kotsay from Braves
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox are reportedly close to a
deal that will land outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that the Braves will
continue the
<< Cardinals place OF Barton on DL
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder
Brian Barton on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to Monday, with
a strained right oblique.
In 69 games this season, the rookie Barton is hitting .26
<< Angels' Anderson has tendinitis in knee
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Angels left fielder Garret Anderson underwent
an MRI on Tuesday that revealed tendinitis in his left knee.
Anderson injured the knee when he made an outfield assist in the first inning
of Sunday's 5-3 win ov
<< Lackey and Angels cruise past A's
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Lackey recorded his 13th career complete
game to help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim down the Oakland Athletics in a
5-1 victory in the second of a three-game set.
Lackey (11-2) scattered seven hits
Chiefs cut K Jay Feely >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chiefs have released kicker Jay Feely,
ending his stint with Kansas City after only two days of practice.
Feely was released by the Miami Dolphins earlier this month after losing his
job to rookie
Verlander hopes to slow down red-hot Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hard-throwing but inconsistent righty Justin Verlander
tries for a third straight win tonight when the Detroit Tigers host the
Cleveland Indians in the third and final game of a three-game series at
Comerica Park.
Verlan
White Sox, O's close set in Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Radhames Liz makes his second start since
returning from a stint in the minors tonight when the Baltimore Orioles
entertain the visiting Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game series
at Camden Yards.
Phils try to extend NL East lead over Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phillies' rally last year to overtake the Mets for the
National League East crown was pretty impressive. Last night's comeback to
recapture first place in the division wasn't too bad either.
After rallying from
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
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Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook
Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds. The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.
Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.
Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).
Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.
World Series odds
Adam Dunn 15-1
Albert Pujols 5-1
Alex Rodriguez 12-1
Alfonso Soriano 15-1
Andruw Jones 25-1
Barry Bonds 50-1
Carlos Delgado 40-1
David Ortiz 8-1
Jermaine Dye 40-1
Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1
Lance Berkman 40-1
Manny Ramirez 20-1
Richie Sexson 40-1
Ryan Howard 6-1
Travis Hafner 20-1
Vladimir Guerrero 40-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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