Cellar-dwellers wrap up set at PNC Park
Baseball Betting Lines
09/05/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of struggling one-win pitchers square off today at PNC Park when the host Pittsburgh Pirates and visiting Washington Nationals meet in the rubber game of a three-game weekend series.
The Nationals dropped Friday's opener but came back to win game two on Saturday, as Ivan Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and knocked in four en route to a 9-2 verdict. John Lannan (7-6) struck out seven in seven strong innings, walked one and allowed a run on five hits to win for the fifth time in six starts for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Ian Desmond added three hits and an RBI to the win.
Paul Maholm's (7-14) troubles continued, as the southpaw slid to a fifth loss in six starts after surrendering eight hits and seven runs in 4 1/3 frames.
Andrew McCutchen's 13th home run of the season highlighted the Pirates' offense on the way to their sixth loss in the last eight games. Pittsburgh, which has not finished a season above .500 since 1992, has now lost at least 90 games for the sixth straight season.
New Jersey-born right-hander Charlie Morton gets the call for Pittsburgh with a chance to earn his first since early May. The 26-year-old defeated the Chicago Cubs to improve to 1-5 back on May 5, but has since gone 0-5 while also spending time in the minors.
He was recalled in time for an Aug. 29 outing at Milwaukee, in which he was ripped for nine hits and eight runs in just 3 1/3 innings of an 8-4 loss.
Morton, a third-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2002, lost his lone career start against Washington after allowing six hits and four runs in six innings.
For the Nationals, fellow former Atlanta draft pick Jason Marquis also aims for his second win of 2010. Marquis, a supplemental draft selection of the Braves in 1996, was a 15-game winner for Colorado last season before signing a deal with Washington as a free agent. It hasn't worked out so well on the East Coast, with Marquis battling injury and ineffectiveness while going 1-7 through eight starts.
He did win in his most recent outing, however, scattering seven hits and allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 9-3 triumph at Florida on Aug. 30. It was just the third time in eight starts that Marquis pitched at least five innings.
He is 10-6 lifetime against the Pirates in 25 appearances with a 3.66 earned run average.
Washington swept a three-game set from the Pirates back in June .
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie Mike Minor goes for a fourth straight win this afternoon when the Atlanta Braves play the rubber match of their three-game series against the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium. After getting a no-decision in his b
<< Yanks should have A-Rod back for finale with Jays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees have put together their longest
winning streak of the season without the presence of Alex Rodriguez in their
lineup. The All-Star third baseman hopes to provide the American League East
leaders a further
<< White Sox target rare sweep at Fenway
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After putting what could be the final nail in the coffin
in regards to the Boston Red Sox' playoff hopes with Saturday's performance,
the Chicago White Sox now set their sights on earning their first series sweep
in Fenway Pa
<< Davis goes for seventh straight win in Baltimore
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wade Davis has been awfully tough to beat over the past
two-plus months. Against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher has
been just about invincible during his brief tenure in the majors.
Davis tries to extend
<< Tigers pin hopes on Galarraga in finale with Royals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Streaking righty Armando Galarraga can stay perfect for his
career against Kansas City today when the Detroit Tigers visit the Royals in
the finale of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
The Tigers won Friday's opener
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies shoot for their sixth straight win and try to complete season sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies, who also swept the Brewers in a three-game set back
Cubs, Mets conclude series at Wrigley >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs try to continue their resurgence under
interim manager Mike Quade this afternoon when they go for a sweep in their
three-game series with the New York Mets at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs improved to 8-3 under
A's try to break out the brooms on Angels >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim haven't been swept in a
series of at least three games by the Oakland Athletics in more than six
years, partly due to the success Ervin Santana has produced against the team's
American League
Jimenez holds off Molinari to win European Masters >>
Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After nearly coughing up a six-
stroke lead, Miguel Angel Jimenez birdied the 17th hole Sunday to fend off
Ryder Cup teammate Edoardo Molinari and win the European Masters.
Jimenez closed w
Wilson, Rangers hope to avoid sweep in Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoping to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the
Minnesota Twins, the Texas Rangers may have the right pitcher on the mound
today to accomplish that goal.
C.J. Wilson will attempt to register his eighth consecutive winni
Football Betting Lines
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.
For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.