Blue Jays try for fifth victory in a row in opener with Twins
Baseball Betting Lines
05/17/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays shoot for their fifth straight win
this evening when they open a two-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Rogers
Centre.
On Sunday, Toronto completed a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers, as John
Buck's three-run double capped a four-run fourth inning rally that lifted the
Blue Jays to a 5-2 win.
Jose Bautista homered and scored a pair of runs. Brandon Morrow (3-3) worked
six-plus innings to earn the victory for Toronto, which has won six of seven
at home and 11 of 14 overall.
"The biggest thing was I was throwing strikes," Morrow said when asked to
comment on his successful outing. "Even if I started off with a ball, I was
able to come back and throw strike one to even the count."
The Blue Jays hit eight homers in the series, with 14 of their 28 hits this
weekend going for extra bases. They lead the majors with 60 home runs and 169
extra-base hits.
Hoping to keep the Jays rolling tonight will be left-hander Dana Eveland, who
is 3-2 with a 4.81 ERA. Eveland lost for the second time in three starts on
Tuesday in Boston, as he allowed six runs and six hits in only four innings.
Eveland has faced the Twins three times (one start) but has yet to receive a
decision against them, despite pitching to a 1.80 ERA.
Minnesota, meanwhile, avoided a sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees on
Sunday, as Jason Kubel belted a grand slam off of Mariano Rivera and the Twins
scored five times in the eighth inning to pull out a 6-3 win at Yankee
Stadium.
"I realized it was off the plate and this time I kept my hands inside of one
and made some contact," said Kubel, who came into the series hitting just
.213. "It was a good pitch. It was in enough where I usually don't even make
contact with that pitch. I just tried to relax as much as possible. I felt
like I was on the first one (pitch) pretty good and was looking for pretty
much that pitch."
Justin Morneau added a solo home run, while Nick Blackburn (4-1) pitched a
steady seven innings to earn the win, allowing three runs on nine hits.
Getting the call for the Twins tonight will be righty Kevin Slowey, who is 4-3
with a 4.62 ERA. Slowey was charged with the loss on Tuesday against Chicago,
as the White Sox reached him for five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Slowey is 0-2 lifetime versus the Jays with a 6.23 ERA in four starts.
Toronto took five of its eight matchups with the Twins last season.
<< In the FCS Huddle: Top 10 FCS Running Backs
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It was all so familiar: Chase Reynolds got
out ahead of the opposition and crossed over the goal line untouched.
Only this wasn't Reynolds running with the ball during another victory for the
University of
<< Tigers send Porcello to the mound against White Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rick Porcello tries to follow up his best start of the
season this evening when the Detroit Tigers open a brief two-game home set
with the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park.
Porcello won for the second time in his last th
<< Rested Lakers, Suns begin West finals at Staples Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Both the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers must have
thought they were getting paid by the hour in the second round of the NBA
playoffs.
The result was a pair of sweeps with the Suns besting their long-time nemesis,
the
<< Canadian MLB report: Francis impresses in big league return
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rockies lefty Jeff Francis made his
first major league start since Sept. 12, 2008 on Sunday, lasting seven innings
in the Rockies' 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Francis did not factor
<< Welcome back, Adam Scott
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Scott was a staple in the world top-10 before a balky
putting stroke corrupted his game and knocked the talented Australian from his
perch as perhaps the best player under 30 years old.
What, you thought it was Kate H
Orioles host Royals in battle of last-place clubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the American League's three cellar-dwelling teams
get together to open a two-game series tonight when the Kansas City Royals
visit the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
The Royals make the trip after winning two of
Hughes aims for sixth win as Yankees and Red Sox meet in NY >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Hughes tries to become the American League's first
six-game winner this evening when the New York Yankees welcome the Boston Red
Sox to the Bronx for a brief two-game series at Yankee Stadium.
Hughes was again terrifi
Rays, Niemann kick off series with Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Niemann tries to remain unbeaten on the season this
evening when the Tampa Bay Rays open a brief two-game set with the Cleveland
Indians at Tropicana Field.
Niemann won his second straight start on Tuesday in Anaheim,
Dodgers go for eighth straight win in opener with Astros >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Not even the loss of their best hitter has been able to
slow down the Los Angeles Dodgers, who'll be taking aim at an eighth
consecutive victory when they host the Houston Astros tonight in the opener of
a brief two-game seri
Giants, Padres battle for first place in NL West >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - First place in the National League's West Division will be
at stake when the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres play a two-game
series that begins this evening at Petco Park.
San Diego recently held a 3 1/2-game lea
Pacific-10 Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Stanford
 Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State
 It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do:
Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.
Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.
Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.
Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com
Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.
|
