Hard-charging Phils continue key series with Marlins
Baseball Betting Lines
09/07/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies have been inconsistent on offense
all year, and it was never more evident than during Monday's doubleheader
versus the Florida Marlins. That still didn't stop the club from pulling
within a half-game of first place in the National League East.
The Phillies will try to grab sole possession of first place for the first
time since late May as Joe Blanton aims to extend an eight-start unbeaten
streak in tonight's third contest of a four-game series versus the Marlins at
Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia entered Monday's twinbill one game back of the front-running
Braves for the NL East's top spot and had the opportunity to move ahead of
Atlanta after it lost to the Pirates yesterday.
However, the Phillies were out hit 13-3 in dropping the first game, 7-1,
before responding with a 7-4 triumph in the nightcap.
Florida's Adalberto Mendez pitched six shutout innings in his MLB debut in the
first game, though he did leave with a strained right quad suffered while
running to first in the seventh. However, Philadelphia managed just Jayson
Werth's RBI single off the rookie.
Marlins rookie Mike Stanton entered the series in a 3-for-45 slump, but
homered in both contests and had four hits in nine at-bats. His solo homer in
the second inning of the nightcap was one of three homers allowed by Phils
starter Roy Oswalt, who also yielded home-run balls to Hanley Ramirez and
Cameron Maybin.
Oswalt, though, still got the win thanks in part to a five-run second inning
by his offense.
"The pitches I threw to Hanley and Maybin were just poor pitch selection,"
Oswalt admitted. "Played right into their hands,"
Chase Utley and Placido Polanco combined to drive in three runs in the second
frame, and both ended with a pair of hits and two RBI in game two. Carlos Ruiz
got the run started with a bases-loaded walk off Anibal Sanchez.
"The worst of it was a lot of walks, a lot of balls, a lot of being behind in
the count," Sanchez said after giving up seven runs over four-plus innings.
"That's not good for me."
Philadelphia has now won nine of 12 since a four-game losing streak and pulled
within a half-game of Atlanta. A victory tonight coupled with another loss by
the Braves would put the Phillies, who also lead the Giants by 1 1/2 games for
the NL Wild Card spot, back into sole possession of first place for the first
time since May 30.
If the Phillies are to do their part, they will need a better effort out of
Blanton than the one he gave last time out.
The righty hasn't lost since July 21, having gone 3-0 in eight starts since,
and had notched a 2.81 earned run average over his previous five starts before
getting tagged for six runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits, three homers and two
walks in just 4 1/3 innings versus Colorado on Thursday. However, his offense
rallied for a 12-11 win to take Blanton off the hook.
The 29-year-old is 6-6 with a 5.25 ERA in 23 starts this year and has yet to
face Florida in 2010. Lifetime versus the Marlins, he is 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA.
The Marlins, who had won four of five prior to Monday's doubleheader, will try
to get a fourth straight win tonight out of Chris Volstad, who left his last
start on Wednesday versus Washington after five innings.
Volstad allowed six runs in the 16-10 victory, but was ejected after he threw
behind the Nationals' Nyjer Morgan, sparking a benches-clearing brawl. Morgan
charged the mound after the pitch and connected with a left to Volstad's neck.
"Obviously, he's not coming out there to talk," Volstad said. "I had to defend
myself and not to get hurt."
The 23-year-old righty, who earned his career high-tying ninth win to match
his total from last year, was fined and suspended for six games but is
appealing.
Volstad is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in three starts versus the Phillies this year
and was beat up for six runs -- five earned -- over four innings in his last
start at Philadelphia on June 8.
He'll look for some help from the offense tonight, especially from Ramirez,
seeing as the shortstop is hitting .471 (24-for-51) with five homers and 14
RBI over a 14-game hitting streak.
The Phillies notched a three-game sweep in Miami the last time these clubs
met and own an 8-5 edge in the season series.
<< Skidding Rangers resume set at Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers try to avoid a fifth straight loss this
evening when they continue their four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays
at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays drew first blood in this series on Monday, as Verno
<< Rays try again to snap slide against Red Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to avoid their fourth straight loss
this evening when they continue a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox kept their fleeting postseason hopes alive in the ope
<< White Sox send Garcia to mound in Detroit
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Freddy Garcia tries to win his ninth straight decision as
an opposing pitcher at Comerica Park this evening when the Chicago White Sox
and Detroit Tigers continue their four-game series.
In his last nine starts as a vi
<< Sabathia goes for 20th win vs. O's in the Bronx
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - CC Sabathia tries to win 20 games for the first time in his
career this evening when the New York Yankees continue their three-game series
with the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia won his sixth straight sta
<< Silva set to return as Cubs battle Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cubs starter Carlos Silva displayed a lot of heart in
beginning the season 8-0 over his first 11 starts. In an odd twist, that's
exactly what has kept Silva off the mound since August 1.
Silva is scheduled to take the moun
Giants eye first place as they continue series in Arizona >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -Runs were hard to come by in Monday's opener of a three-
game series between the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks, and
another pitcher's duel could be in the works when the two National League West
foes square off
Braves seek to bounce back in second test with Pirates >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta's offense has been mostly shut down during its
current stretch of four losses in five games. That is exactly what starter Tim
Hudson has done to Pittsburgh over the last few years, though.
Hudson looks to extend a
Padres try to string back-to-back wins together against LA >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After finally being able to end a potentially-costly 10-
game skid on Monday, the San Diego Padres will try to start up a winning
streak behind their best pitcher when the National League West leaders resume
a three-game seri
Rockies hope to stay hot versus Reds >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies have put together a couple of strong
Septembers over the past few years. They've been even more successful in
recent meetings with the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field.
Colorado shoots for an eighth cons
Week One Highlights >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Could the 2010 college football season
gotten off to a better start? It began with some of the nation's top teams
flexing their muscles. There were shootouts, defensive struggles and thrilling
overtime affair
NCAA Football Betting
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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