Indians take aim at sixth straight win in middle tilt with Minnesota

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians are beginning to atone for a miserable first half of the season with a terrific start to their second.

The rejuvenated Indians take aim at a sixth consecutive victory following the All-Star break when they resume a three-game series with the American League Central contending Minnesota Twins this evening at Target Field.

Cleveland found itself buried in last place in the AL Central with a brutal 34-54 record at the break, but have been on fire since returning from the hiatus. The Indians began their streak with a surprising four-game home sweep of playoff-hopeful Detroit, then kept rolling with a 10-4 battering of the Twins in last night's opener of this set.

The Indians pounded out a season-best 20 hits in Monday's triumph, with Trevor Crowe going 4-for-5 with two RBI to lead the outburst. Jayson Nix finished with three hits and also knocked in two runs for the Tribe, with Jason Donald contributing two hits and a pair of RBI to the winning effort.

Cleveland has scored 31 runs and batted .311 as a team over the course of its five-game surge.

"They're hot right now," said Twins outfielder Delmon Young after yesterday's game. "You don't want to play a team that's hot right now. Everything is going to go their way."

The Indians also received effective pitching from Aaron Laffey in the opener, as the left-hander yielded just one unearned run despite walking four batters over the first five innings.

"Obviously you're going to be frustrated about the walks, but I was able to minimize the damage and get out of a big jam in the fourth," Laffey said. "I made big pitches when I needed to and get the outs when they were the most important."

Minnesota went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and fell to 2 1/2 games behind current AL Central leader Chicago with Monday's defeat. The Twins entered this series off three straight wins over the White Sox.

Twins starter Scott Baker (7-9) was hit hard in his first outing of the second half, surrendering six runs and 10 hits before exiting after 4 2/3 innings. Former Indians star Jim Thome had a solo homer for Minnesota, while Orlando Hudson ended 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the setback.

Young collected three hits, including a run-scoring single, and is hitting .440 (11-for-25) with six RBI over his last six contests. The effort has raised the former No. 1 overall draft pick's season average to .313.

The Twins will try to bounce back tonight behind the struggling Kevin Slowey, who's notched just one win since June 13 and has allowed five runs or more in five of his past six starts. The right-hander has posted a poor 9.11 earned run average over that bad stretch.

Slowey wasn't sharp once again in Thursday's encounter with the White Sox, permitting five runs and nine hits in only three innings of work. He wound up being bailed out by his offense, though, and finished with a no-decision in an eventual 8-7 Minnesota loss.

The 26-year-old does have a track record of success against the Indians, however. Slowey has won both of his previous meetings with Cleveland this season, including an April 20 verdict at Target Field in which he fired eight innings of one-run ball, and has come out on top in each of his last four starts in this series. In eight lifetime appearances against the Tribe, he's 5-2 with a 3.73 ERA.

Justin Masterson gets the call for Cleveland tonight in a delayed second-half debut. The tall right-hander was initially slated to pitch Sunday against the Tigers, but was pushed back a couple of days with a sore ankle.

Like his team, Masterson has endured a rough 2010 campaign. He went 3-8 with a 5.31 ERA in 18 starts prior to the All-Star break and has especially had problems on the road, where the 25-year-old has produced a 1-5 record with a subpar 6.75 ERA in 10 mound trips. One of those defeats came against Slowey at Target Field, where Masterson was reached for five runs (two earned) and walked five batters in four innings back on April 20.

Masterson, who's 0-3 with a 5.01 ERA through four starts and one relief appearance versus Minnesota, last pitched on July 11 and allowed five runs (four earned) in a five-inning no-decision at Tampa Bay.

These divisional foes have split four meetings at Target Field so far in 2010, with the Twins having won four of the seven overall games played between the clubs this season.

Wallstreeetcasino Baseball Betting News


<< White Sox hope to pad lead in Seattle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox will be vying to further pad their lead atop the American League's Central Division when the resurgent club resumes a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners this evening at Safeco Field. Chica

<< Brewers vie to stay hot against Pirates
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One day after starter Chris Capuano earned his first victory in over three years, the Milwaukee Brewers will try to extend their series winning streak over the Pittsburgh Pirates to six games this evening in the sec

<< Marlins try to top another Rockies pitcher in south Florida
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins survived a meeting with Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez in last night's opener of a four-game series at Sun Life Stadium. The Marlins figure to have an easier chance of matching their longes

<< Red Sox hand ball to Wakefield in Oakland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After getting an important West Coast road trip off to a good start, the Boston Red Sox shoot for a second straight win over the Oakland Athletics when the teams continue a three-game series tonight at the Coliseum. Bosto

<< Hughes goes for 12th win in Yankees-Angels opener
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Hughes takes aim at win No. 12 when the New York Yankees open a brief two-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this evening at Yankee Stadium. Hughes, the loser in last Tuesday's All-Star Game, won six o

Black takes new deal into Padres/Braves series >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Under Bud Black, the Padres have become one of the biggest successful surprises in 2010. The San Diego manager is now reaping the rewards of that achievement. The Padres take the field for the first time since Black wa

Hurricanes sign D Carson >>
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terms with defenseman Brett Carson on a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 24-year-old completed his first full NHL season in 2009-10 with two goals and 12 points i

Tigers place Inge on DL >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers on Tuesday placed third baseman Brandon Inge on the 15-day disabled list with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his left hand. Inge was hit on the hand by a pitch

Russell pleads not guilty to drug charge in Alabama >>
Mobile, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell made an appearance in a Mobile courtroom Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Russell was arrested

Alouettes tangle with Tiger-Cats in home opener >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ranked fifth in the most recent power rankings in the CFL, the Montreal Alouettes hope to move up as they contend against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their 2010 home opener at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium this

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


March Madness odds and printable March Madness brackets

With the field of 64/65 set, MySportsbook.com has the Florida Gators as the 4-1 favorite to successfully defend their National Championship.  Men’s Division-1 College Basketball has not seen a team repeat as National Champions since Duke won back to back championships in ’91 & ‘92.  After losing three out of four late in the season, the Gators are full of momentum as they won their last four games by an average of 18 points.  Not surprisingly, right behind the Gators are the other three top seeds: Kansas 5-1, UNC 6-1, and Ohio State 7-1.  Many consider Kansas to be the hottest team in the country, having won 11 straight. With Kansas, it is hard to ignore all of the early exits from the “dance” in recent years.  With an impressive ACC Tournament, UNC ensured themselves the other top seed.  UNC has about as much talent as any other team in the tournament but with a team that’s best players are primarily freshman and sophomores, could youth be a concern.  Behind freshman sensation, Greg Oden, OSU will look to do what their football team failed to do just a few months earlier.  OSU seems to have peeked at the right time, as they currently have a 17 game winning streak.  Since the tournament field was expanded in 1985, there has never been an instance where all four #1 seeds advanced to the Final Four.  It is obvious that each of the top seeds have the talent to make it through to Atlanta.  But as everyone knows, when makes the NCAA Tournament so special are all of the spoilers and “Cinderella” stories that knock off the favorites on a daily basis.

Be sure to logon to MySportsbook.com to see check out all of the early lines and “March Madness” props.  Also be sure to enter the “$10,000,000 Perfect Bracket Contest”. If someone has the skills to predict every winner, they will be set for life and walk away with $10,000,000.  Even if no one can cash in on the Grand Prize, with a $35,000 guaranteed prize pool and a Mazda RX-8 to the first prize winner, Sportsbook.com’s bracket is a must for all “March Madness” fans.

MySportsbook.com’s odds to win the Championship and Regions:

EAST National Championship Region
Arkansas 300-1 50-1
Belmont 1000-1
Boston College 100-1 40-1
Eastern KY 1000-1
George Washington 75-1
Georgetown 10-1 3-2
Marquette 100-1 40-1
Michigan State 100-1 25-1
New Mexico St. 500-1 200-1
UNC 6-1 6-5
Oral Roberts  500-1
Texas 15-1 5-1
Texas Tech 200-1 5-1
USC 75-1 20-1
Vanderbilt 100-1 30-1
Washington State 40-1 15-1
WEST
Duke 50-1 10-1
Florida A&M 1000-1
Gonzaga 200-1  40-1
Holy Cross 300-1
Illinois 300-1 60-1
Indiana 75-1 40-1
Kansas 5-1 13-10
Kentucky 100-1 40-1
Niagara 1000-1
Pittsburgh 40-1 8-1
Southern Ill. 50-1 12-1
UCLA 10-1 3-2
VCU 500-1 100-1
Villanova 100-1 40-1
VA Tech 50-1 15-1
Weber St 1000-1
Wright St 1000-1 300-1
MIDWEST
Arizona 50-1 30-1
Butler 40-1 30-1
Davidson 300-1
Florida 4-1 4-5
Georgia Tech 75-1 25-1
Jackson State 1000-1
Maryland 30-1 6-1
Miami-OH 300-1
Notre Dame 100-1 20-1
ODU 500-1 100-1
Oregon 40-1 6-1
Purdue 300-1 60-1
Texas A&M CC 1000-1
UNLV 100-1 30-1
Winthrop 500-1 100-1
Wisconsin 15-1 7-2
SOUTH
Albany 200-1
BYU 200-1 40-1
Central CT St. 1000-1
Creighton 100-1 35-1
Long Beach St. 500-1 200-1
Louisville 40-1 10-1
Memphis 30-1 4-1
Nevada 75-1 35-1
North Texas 500-1
Ohio State 7-1 6-5
Penn 500-1
Stanford 200-1 50-1
Tennessee 100-1 20-1
Texas A&M 12-1 11-5
Virginia 75-1 18-1
Xavier 100-1 40-1

Field                                              100-1

About MySportsbook.com MySportsbook.com  is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best US Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, MySportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, MySportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets--achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.