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06/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros hope to post their second winning series in more than a month when they close out a four-game set Thursday afternoon versus the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park.
After losing the opener of this series on Monday by 10 runs, the Astros have rebounded with consecutive victories and recorded a 5-1 victory last night behind five decent innings from starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez. Rodriguez improved to 3-7 on the season with five innings of one-run ball and eight strikeouts.
"Tonight I felt comfortable with my breaking ball," Rodriguez said. "It was the best I had all year."
Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and Hunter Pence knocked in a pair of runs for the Astros, who walked off with an 8-7 win in the bottom of the ninth of Tuesday's matchup on Lance Berkman's two-run single.
The Astros have won three of four contests and are aiming for their second series triumph since sweeping St. Louis in three games from May 11-13. Their previous series win was a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh from April 23-25.
Taking the mound for Houston Thursday will be Brian Moehler, who will make his second straight start and 14th appearance of the season. Moehler was destroyed in his previous outing on Saturday in a 12-2 loss at Cincinnati, as he was reached for eight runs and 10 hits in only 2 2/3 innings. The righty fell to 0-2 this season and raised his earned run average to 7.29. Moehler is 3-4 with a 4.97 ERA in 14 career meetings (9 starts) with Washington.
Meanwhile, the Nationals have dropped two in a row and four of their last five games. In last night's four-run setback in the Lone Star State, Adam Dunn went 3-for-4 with the team's lone RBI and Nyjer Morgan had a pair of hits.
Washington starter John Lannan was sent packing with his fifth loss of the season, permitting five runs -- two earned -- on eight hits and two walks.
"It was an OK outing," Lannan said on the Nats' website. "I wish I could have done better. Changeup felt good. When I needed to throw a strike, I did. The curveball felt pretty good."
Lannan didn't get much help with three errors from shortstop Ian Desmond and 13 strikeouts from his hitters. Washington has fanned 13 times in each of the previous two games.
Taking the ball for the Nationals today will be J.D. Martin, who is set to make his second start of the season. The second-year righty made his 2010 debut in last Saturday's 4-2 loss at San Diego and gave up four runs -- one earned -- in six innings. He also struck out five batters.
Martin has never faced the Astros in his career.
Washington and Houston split six meetings a season ago.
<< Red Sox hope to get brooms out on A's at Fenway
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Both the Athletics and Red Sox put together solid months
of May, but only one team has so far been able to carry that success over into
June.
That would be Boston, which tries for a sweep of Oakland this afternoon in the
<< Huff returns to hill, but talk still surrounds blown call in Detroit
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fans in Detroit were one out and an admitted blown call
away from seeing something special last night at Comerica Park. Less than 24
hours later, they'll get to see another special moment, although one that
means a little mor
<< Sabathia, Millwood both try to get off schneid in Bronx
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It has been a month since Yankees ace CC Sabathia last
won a start. Kevin Millwood, the Orioles' top hurler, would probably give
anything to have a losing streak as short.
Sabathia will aim to end his winless drought vers
<< Lakers, Celtics renew rivalry in Game 1 of NBA Finals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The latest chapter in one of the most storied rivalries in
sports tips off tonight as the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers welcome
the Boston Celtics to Staples Center for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The league's two ma
Mariners go for series win over Twins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One day after the best player in the history of their
franchise called it a career, the Seattle Mariners will try for a series win
when they close out a four-game set against the Minnesota Twins tonight at
Safeco
Rangers aim for rare road sweep of White Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers take aim at their first three-game sweep
in Chicago in 24 years this evening when they wrap up their set against the
White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Texas moved to the brink of a sweep on Wednesday
Angels send Weaver to mound in finale with Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jered Weaver can get the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim back
to .500 this afternoon when they go for a series win in the finale of their
four-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Anaheim, whic
Summer Bird retired from racing >>
Stanton, DE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Champion colt Summer Bird has been retired from
racing and will enter stud service. Trainer Tim Ritchey made the announcement
Thursday at Delaware Park.
Ritchey said that the four-year-old has been retired b
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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