Tigers seeking to bounce back in trip to Toronto
Baseball Betting Lines
08/26/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers attempt to start another winning streak when they open a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays this evening at Rogers Centre.
The Tigers had their five-game winning streak stopped by Kansas City on Wednesday, as Jose Valverde was unable to hold a late lead and Detroit fell, 4-3, to the Royals in 12 innings. Ramon Santiago went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for Detroit, which finished a six-game homestand with a 5-1 record.
Detroit led 3-0 before Kansas City cut the deficit to two with a run in the top of the seventh. The Royals evened the game the following inning, scoring twice with Valverde on the hill.
"You have to be ready for the hitters," Valverde said. "And these guys hit my best pitch, a split-finger. Nothing I can do. What I can do -- we have one more series with these guys -- is do the best I can to get all my pitches working better and better."
Tigers starter Armando Galarraga was solid in 6 1/3 frames, giving up one run on five hits. Alfredo Figaro (0-1) allowed three hits and walked two over three innings of relief to take the loss.
Getting the call for the Tigers tonight will be righty Max Scherzer, who has won his last two starts. Scherzer evened his record at 9-9 on the year Saturday against Cleveland, as he allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in seven frames. He also fanned eight and walked a pair in the win.
Scherzer, who has never faced the Blue Jays, has allowed more than one earned run just twice in his last seven starts and has lowered his earned run average on the year to 3.73.
Toronto, meanwhile, comes into tonight's tilt on the heels of taking two of three from the New York Yankees. The Jays won Wednesday's rubber match, as Vernon Wells finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle and drove in four runs to power his team to a 6-3 win.
Wells finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Aaron Hill added a solo home run and scored twice for the Jays, who have won just three of their last eight games.
Brett Cecil (11-6) turned in a strong eight-inning performance to grab the win, permitting two runs on seven hits while walking two and fanning five.
"He's probably pitched as well as anybody on this club all year," manager Cito Gaston said of Cecil. "I keep thinking and saying that I think this kid, he belongs here. He feels like he belongs here and he's got some confidence going."
Kevin Gregg came on to squash a ninth-inning comeback attempt from the Yankees and record his 29th save.
Heading to the hill for the Jays tonight will be left-hander Ricky Romero, who is 10-7 with a 3.50 ERA. Battling a sore throat, Romero did not get a decision Saturday in Boston, as the Red Sox managed four runs and nine hits in seven innings against him in a 5-4 Toronto loss.
Romero lost to the Tigers the last time he faced them and is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against them.
Toronto has split its four matchups with the Tigers this season after taking five of the eight matchups between the teams a year ago.
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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
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