Nats, Pirates open set in the Steel City
Baseball Betting Lines
09/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ageless right-hander Livan Hernandez can reach double- digit wins for the 11th time in his big-league career tonight when the soon- to-be-shorthanded Washington Nationals visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first of three games at PNC Park.
Hernandez, a 35-year-old Cuban native, picked up the ninth win of a resurgent 2010 season on Aug. 28 against St. Louis, when he allowed eight hits and five runs in 6 1/3 innings of Washington's 14-5 defeat of the Cardinals.
He reached 10 wins for the first time as a 23-year-old Florida Marlin in 1998, then reached 10 or more for nine consecutive seasons between 2000 and 2008.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder skidded to nine wins while making 31 starts with the Nationals and New York Mets last season and carrying a plus-5.00 earned run average across 183 2/3 innings.
He is 5-4 in 15 lifetime starts against the Pirates, including a 4-2 win on June 10 in Washington, where he surrendered five hits and two runs in six innings.
The Nationals expect to get a decision today on outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who faces suspension after charging the mound during Wednesday's game against Florida. Morgan had already appealed a seven-game penalty incurred when he threw a ball into the stands in Philadelphia in August.
For Pittsburgh, Texas-born lefty Zach Duke can make it two straight victories in a season where he's lost twice as much as he's won. The 27-year-old beat the Mets, 2-1, in an Aug. 22 start at PNC Park, allowing five hits and one run in seven innings.
He's started once since and picked up a no-decision in the Pirates' 8-7 loss at Milwaukee on Aug. 28.
Duke, who is 1-2 in five starts against Washington, was on the losing side of the June 10 matchup with Hernandez after being touched for eight hits and three runs in five innings.
He's won just four of 16 decisions since starting the season with two straight wins and the Pirates are 8-15 in the 22 games he's pitched.
On Wednesday in Chicago, Kosuke Fukudome finished 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI as the Cubs set aside Pittsburgh, 5-3, in the finale of a three-game set from Wrigley Field.
Neal Walker had three hits including a solo homer while Andrew McCutchen drove in two runs for the Pirates, who have lost five of six.
James McDonald (2-5) took the loss after yielding eight hits and three runs, fanning six and walking two over five full frames.
In Miami, Wes Helms drove in five runs and Florida blew out the Nationals, 16-10, in a game marred by the aforementioned sixth-inning fracas.
Ian Desmond ended with three hits and two RBI for Washington.
Nationals starter Scott Olsen (3-8) allowed eight hits and nine runs in 1 2/3 innings and lost his sixth straight start.
Washington swept a three-game set from the Pirates back in June.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Cardinals faced the Reds, they completed a three-game sweep that gave them sole possession of first place in the National League Central. The teams have drastically gone in opposite directions since. F
<< Myers opposes red-hot Hudson in the desert
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trade deadline pick-up Daniel Hudson can continue a
sterling National League debut tonight when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the
Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series at Chase Field.
A 23-year-old from Lynch
<< Zito hopes to get on track at Chavez Ravine
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The door has been left open for the Giants to make a run at
the National League West title. That means now would be a good time for Barry
Zito to get back on track.
The struggling former Cy Young Award winner will try to s
<< Nationwide to sponsor Memorial Tournament
Dublin, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nationwide Insurance will become the presenting
sponsor of the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament beginning in 2011.
The company has committed to sponsor Jack Nicklaus' popular tournament, held
annually at Muirfi
<< North Carolina to keep 12 players out of Saturday's opener
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of North Carolina has
declared six players ineligible for Saturday's game against LSU for violations
of school or NCAA rules and will keep six others out of the season-opener
while t
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke can continue a recent hot streak tonight when the Kansas City Royals host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Kauffman Stadium.
Rays hope Garza can stay hot against O's >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays need all the wins they can get if the
team is going to capture home-field advantage throughout the upcoming American
League playoffs. With Matt Garza on the mound against the Baltimore Orioles,
the po
Playoff-hopeful Phils return home to battle Brewers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley
recorded just four runs batted in during August. At the pace Utley's at so far
in September, his RBI total for the month will be astronomical.
Utley and the Nationa
Rockies visit Padres for clash of slumping contenders >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Colorado Rockies are going to return to the
postseason, they need to turn it around soon. This weekend would be a good
start, as they begin a three-game series against the National League West-
leading San Diego Padres
A's seeking to get back on track against Angels >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics are coming off a beating in the Bronx
and are back in the Bay Area to kick off a nine-game homestand starting with
Friday's opener of a three-game series versus the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim.
The
Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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