Dodgers take losing streak into Houston
Baseball Betting Lines
09/09/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid a season-high sixth
consecutive loss this evening when they open a four-game series against the
Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
The Dodgers' playoff chances took a big hit this week, as they dropped two of
three at home to the San Francisco Giants, then lost all three games of their
series to the National League West-leading San Diego Padres, falling 4-0 on
Wednesday to drop 11 games back of the division leaders.
Matt Kemp doubled for the Dodgers, who have dropped seven of eight to fall two
games below .500 (69-71). Chad Billingsley (11-9) surrendered four runs, six
hits and five walks in just 5 1/3 frames to take the loss.
"(Billingsley) certainly deserved a better fate, but we didn't score any
runs," said Los Angeles manager Joe Torre.
Tonight, the Dodgers will turn to lefty Ted Lilly, who is 8-9 on the season
with a 3.55 earned run average. Lilly did not get a decision on Saturday
against the Giants, as he allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings of
his team's 5-4 loss.
Since being acquired from the Cubs, Lilly has gone 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA over
seven starts.
Lilly has dominated the Astros over the course of his career, going 7-1
against them with a 2.19 ERA in 12 starts.
Lilly will be opposed by righty Bud Norris, who is winless in his last three
starts. Norris did not get a decision on Saturday in Arizona, but was hit
hard, as he surrendered five runs and eight hits with three walks in just 4
2/3 innings of his team's 6-5 triumph. He is 6-8 on the year with a 5.34 ERA.
Norris lost to the Dodgers the only other time he faced them, allowing six
runs in 4 1/3 frames back on May 18.
Houston comes into tonight's tilt red-hot after taking two of three from the
Chicago Cubs. On Wednesday, Brett Myers struck out eight in seven shutout
innings to continue his dominance of the Cubs and lead the Astros to a 4-0
win.
Myers (11-7) allowed just three hits and walked one, improving to 3-0 in four
starts against Chicago this season. He has given up only four earned runs in
those outings (1.21 ERA) and struck out 34 in 29 2/3 innings.
Additionally, Myers extended his franchise record by pitching at least six
innings for the 29th consecutive start.
Houston got a home run from Hunter Pence and run-scoring hits out of Humberto
Quintero and Chris Johnson to win for the fourth time in five games and for
the eighth time in its last 10 tries.
"Every time he goes out there, as you've seen, he's given us six innings or
more every outing," Pence said of Myers. "Just gives you a great chance to
win. He competes, he knows what he's doing out there. It's fun to play behind
him."
The Dodgers swept a two-game series from the Astros back in May.
<< Tigers eye series win over White Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers try to play spoiler this afternoon and
go for a series win when they wrap up a four-game set against the playoff
hopeful Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park.
The White Sox won the first seven gam
<< Rangers, Blue Jays conclude set in Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colby Lewis tries to put the breaks on a personal seven-
game losing streak this evening when the Texas Rangers conclude a four-game
series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Lewis hasn't won since Jul
<< Cardinals start series in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When St. Louis and Atlanta last met in April, the Cardinals
ran away with a four-game sweep at Busch Stadium. They will attempt to do that
again in the first of four consecutive matchups tonight from Turner Field.
The Card
<< Rockies go for sweep of Reds
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot Colorado Rockies look to sweep a four-game set
from the Cincinnati Reds when the two teams collide tonight in the series
finale from Coors Field.
Colorado has won six straight overall and recorded a 9-2 victory
<< NL West supremacy on line in San Diego
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - First place in the National League West will be on the line
as the top two teams in the division, San Francisco and San Diego, kick off an
important four-game series tonight at Petco Park.
The Padres currently lead the div
NBA opens office in Moscow >>
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Basketball Association has
opened a new office in Moscow, as announced by deputy commissioner and COO
Adam Silver on Thursday.
Moscow joins the ever-expanding international umbrella ho
NCAA steps up and cracks down >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The old adage "better late than never" does
not always ring true. However, after years of turning a blind eye to the seedy
practices at play in college sports, the NCAA has recently gone on a crusade
for whic
Dolphins cut C Grove; sign G Procter >>
Davie, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins released veteran center Jake
Grove three days before the start of the 2010 regular season.
Grove, 30, missed time in the preseason due to a shoulder injury and lost his
starting spot to Joe
White Sox welcome back Putz from DL >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox activated reliever J.J.
Putz off the 15-day disabled list on Thursday.
Putz left an August 24 game against Baltimore after throwing three pitches and
was diagnosed with right knee pat
Report: Toronto police help in Clemens case >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto police have reportedly helped the FBI
and United States prosecutors in the case against Roger Clemens.
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Toronto police obtained
medical informati
“You play to win the game!”
Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.
The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.
The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.
Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?
Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.
New York Giants betting lines
Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.
Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.
Dallas Cowboys betting lines
Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.
The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.
Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.
Oakland Raiders betting lines
This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.
First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”
The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason.
Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.
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