Twins aim to extend win streak versus Royals
Baseball Betting Lines
09/06/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- The Minnesota Twins will attempt to extend their current
winning streak to four games when the American League Central front-runners
take on a team they've had plenty of success against this season, the Kansas City Royals, this afternoon in a Labor Day matinee from Target Field.
The Twins head into the opener of this three-game series off an impressive
home sweep of AL West-leading Texas over the weekend, taking all three
matchups with the Rangers to continue their tremendous recent play at Target
Field. In Sunday's finale, Denard Span and Michael Cuddyer both knocked in two
runs and Minnesota staved off a late Texas rally to hold on for a 6-5 victory.
Twins starter Nick Blackburn did his part as well, yielding just two runs and
six hits over the first seven innings to even his season record at 9-9. The
right-hander had to sweat out the win, however, after the Rangers scored three
times off relievers Jon Rauch and Matt Capps in the top of the ninth.
An RBI double by Julio Borbon and Cristian Guzman's run-scoring single off
Capps in the ninth brought Texas within 6-4, and Michael Young followed with a
two-out base hit before David Murphy walked to load the bases. Vladimir
Guerrero then delivered an infield single to plate Guzman for a one-run game,
but Young was called out for runner's interference on the play after making
incidental contact with third-base coach Dave Anderson while rounding the bag.
The controversial call enabled the Twins to win for the 16th time in their
last 19 games at Target Field, where the team has amassed an excellent 45-23
record for the season, and remain 3 1/2 games ahead of Chicago for first place
in the AL Central. The White Sox swept a three-game set at Boston this past
weekend.
"They're a really good team," Minnesota shortstop J.J. Hardy said of the
Rangers. "These weren't easy games. Two of them were one-run ballgames. It was
really nice to get out there and get that win [Sunday]."
Kansas City, on the other hand, is an unimpressive 26-42 on the road so far in
2010 and has lost eight of its past 12 overall. The non-contending Royals were
able to halt a three-game skid, however, by edging Detroit by a 2-1 count
Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
Alex Gordon's leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth inning snapped a 1-1
deadlock and rewarded teammate and starting pitcher Kyle Davies (7-9), who
worked the first six frames and surrendered just one run and three hits. The
blast came on the first pitch Gordon saw from Tigers reliever Brad Thomas.
"Just be aggressive," Gordon said when asked of his approach during the at-
bat. "That's what I did. I got my fastball to hit and I was able to do
something with it."
Gil Meche and Robinson Tejeda protected the one-run lead with a scoreless
inning of relief each, with closer Joakim Soria retiring the side in order in
the ninth to register his 37th save of the season.
Soria hasn't had too many save opportunities when facing the Twins this
season, however. Minnesota is 9-3 against the Royals in 2010 and has won four
of six meetings with Kansas City held in Minneapolis as well. In the last
series between these divisional foes, the Twins outscored the Royals by a 36-7
in taking all three tests from July 26-28.
Kevin Slowey, who'll be toeing the rubber for Minnesota this afternoon, has
also fared well when facing the Royals in the past. The right-hander owns a
5-1 record with a 3.19 earned run average in seven career appearances (six
starts) against today's opponent and tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit
ball to defeat Kansas City at Target Field back on June 8.
Slowey will be making his first start since an August 21 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, having spent the past two-plus weeks on the
disabled list with a strained triceps. He lasted only three innings in that
outing and was reached for four runs on seven hits, two of which were homers.
Prior to that setback, Slowey had no-hit the Oakland Athletics through seven
innings in an August 15 win, but was removed by manager Ron Gardenhire after
exceeding his pitch limit.
Sean O'Sullivan gets the call for Kansas City today for his first-ever
encounter with the Twins. The young right-hander, acquired in a trade with the
Angels in late July, hasn't made a very good impression on his new club during
his short stay in Kansas City
O'Sullivan is 1-4 with a bloated 6.59 ERA in eight games (seven starts) since
the swap and allowed four or more runs in five of those assignments. He's also
served up nine homers -- including three in a no-decision against Texas on
Tuesday -- in a combined 41 innings pitched with the Royals.
The 23-year-old permitted six runs total in five innings versus the Rangers
and is 1-3 with a 5.45 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance on the
road this year.
<< Braves head to Pittsburgh for key set with Bucs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A loss today could push the National League East-leading
Atlanta Braves out of first place for the first time since May 30.
They probably couldn't be happier to see the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Atlanta aims to maintain its ed
<< Mets resume rough road trip in Washington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After breaking out of a prolonged slump with four solid
starts, New York Mets hurler Mike Pelfrey fell back into his struggling ways
last time out.
That is sort of how his team has been all season long.
Pelfrey will try
<< Phils eye first place in doubleheader with Marlins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Even when Roy Oswalt is off his game, he is still pretty
darn good. The Philadelphia Phillies pitcher might get a chance tonight to put
his team back into sole possession of first place in the National League East.
Set to
<< The biggest threat to the U.S. Ryder Cup team
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While I was busy searching for the best line to describe
Miguel Angel Jimenez, someone I don't know beat me to it.
In the Internet age, it isn't hard to believe how it happened.
Sports Illustrated writer Alan Shipnuck po
<< Leinart finds new home with Texans
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans have agreed to a one-year
contract with quarterback Matt Leinart, according to the player's agent.
The Houston Chronicle cited Leinart's agent, Tom Condon, as confirming the
move, which comes
Angels send Haren to the hill for matchup with Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In-season acquisition Dan Haren makes the ninth start in a
so-far unsuccessful stint with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight when
they host the Cleveland Indians to begin a three-game series at Angel Stadium.
A 14-g
Hunter steps in for ailing Lee in Toronto >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tommy Hunter steps in for the ailing Cliff Lee this
afternoon when the Texas Rangers open a four-game series with the Toronto Blue
Jays at Rogers Centre.
The original plan was to have Lee get an extra day of rest because o
O's, Yanks open set in the Bronx >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees have to be wondering which A.J.
Burnett will show up this afternoon when they open a three-game series with
the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
After an awful August that saw him go 0-4 with a 7.8
Tigers hope to play spoiler against White Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers' postseason chances have probably gone
by the wayside. However, they will get a chance to play spoiler this week and
open a four-game series with the playoff-hopeful Chicago White Sox at Comerica
Park.
Rays, Red Sox start series at Fenway >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays can deal the final blow to the Boston
Red Sox' playoff hopes this week, as the American League East rivals open a
three-game set at Fenway Park.
The Rays come into tonight's opener trailing the New York
MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect
LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.
Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.
Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
LaDainian Tomlinson Favorite to be 2007 NFL MVP
With the first NFL preseason game less than two weeks away, it is time to start thinking about football once again at MySportsbook.com. Reigning NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson is currently the 5-1 co-favorite to win the award again alongside Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone after his all out assault on the record books last season. For those suffering from amnesia or were under a rock last football season, all L.T. did last season was set the NFL record for rushing touchdowns (28), total touchdowns (31) and total points scored (186) to go along with his 1815 rushing yards and 508 receiving yards. At 6-1, Tom Brady is next in line which isn’t surprising considering all of the firepower the Pats added over the off-season. With the addition of Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker; it would be quite difficult for Brady’s numbers not to improve from last years 3529 yards and 24 touchdowns. There appears to be some decent value in Drew Bees at 10-1 considering he probably would have won the award last year if it wasn’t for L.T.’s record breaking season.
There is no reason to think the Saints will come back to earth this season and playing in a weak NFC, they should have as good a shot as any to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. At 15-1, Donovan McNabb could also be worth a look. Remember, many felt he was the MVP of the first half of the season before going down with a season ending injury. Reportedly, he is in great shape and well ahead of schedule to return to form. Also, he could have some added motivation to put up big numbers this season with the Eagles using their first pick in the draft on McNabb’s future successor Kevin Kolb.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to check out the complete odds for NFL MVP as well as all of the new football related futures. With the popularity of NFL futures, these betting lines will be sure to change as the money comes in; get the early sports lines now.
MySportsbook is considered one of the finest football sportsbooks according to several surveys performed by independent industry analysts considering such factors as payout accuracy and timeliness, overall quality of website, and bettor satisfaction.
MySportsbook is a large company with strong financial backing. Considered the best sportsbook for betting football online You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football gambling needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
|