Angels strive for another Twin Killing

Baseball Betting Lines

08/11/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The LA Angels of Anaheim will try to maintain their lead atop the American League West as they battle the Minnesota Twins in the second matchup of a three-game set tonight at Angel Stadium.

John Lackey takes the rubber tonight for the Angels looking to post his third consecutive win. The last time Lackey was on the hill, he defeated Oakland on Sunday.

In the victory the right-hander tossed 6 2/3 strong innings, surrendering just three runs on nine hits while striking out five batters.

Lackey had trouble against the Twins earlier this season, surrendering six runs on seven hits in seven innings of work during a loss on July 20. He has posted a meager 4-5 record with a lackluster 4.35 ERA in 11 career starts against Minnesota.

As for the Twins, they will send the inconsistent Carlos Silva to the mound tonight. Silva has been up and down all year and heads into this contest with a 9-12 ledger and a 4.51 ERA.

In his last start, the right-hander suffered a 4-0 loss to Cleveland on Monday. In that outing, Silva tossed seven innings and allowed just two runs while striking out six batters despite finishing with the loss.

In his career against the Angels, Silva is 7-5 with a 4.06 ERA. The native Venezuelan has tossed 51 innings against Anaheim and allowed 25 runs on 64 hits over that span.

Last night, Maicer Izturis hit his first career grand slam and Kelvim Escobar hurled six solid innings as the Angels dumped Minnesota, 10-1.

Izturis finished 1-for-2 and also scored a pair of runs for the Angels, who have won four of five games and extended their lead in the AL West to 3 1/2 games over second-place Seattle.

Escobar (12-6) allowed just one run on five hits in six innings to halt a personal three-game losing streak. Chone Figgins, Casey Kotchman and Reggie Willits each chipped in with two hits and an RBI for Los Angeles.

Rondell White was 1-for-4 and drove in a run for the Twins, who have dropped four of five. Scott Baker (6-5) was touched for six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings en route to the loss.

Anaheim has won 19 of the last 32 meetings against Minnesota dating back to the start of the 2004 season.

Waskjeeves Baseball Betting News

<< Rangers, Devil Rays resume battle of cellar-dwellers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two last place teams will square off again this evening, when the Texas Rangers host the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second contest of a three-game set from Ranger Park. The Devil Rays will send Edwin Jackson to the hi

<< Nats face another challenge in D-Backs' red-hot Webb
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Webb puts an impressive personal streak on the line when the Arizona ace takes the mound for the Diamondbacks in tonight's second test of a three-games series with the visiting Washington Nationals. Webb, the Nati

<< Cubs try for another Rocking in Mile High City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs hope to continue their recent dominance of the Colorado Rockies when the two postseason contenders resume a four-game series this evening at Coors Field. The Cubs entered this set on a stretch of six l

<< Astros vie to end season-long struggles vs. Brewers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers may be struggling at the moment, but they've had little trouble when facing the Houston Astros this season. The current National League Central leaders aim for a fifth consecutive victory over t

<< Phillies, Braves continue pivotal East showdown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Adam Eaton will try to reach double digits in wins for the third time in his career tonight, when the Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves in game two of a key National League East divisional series

Busch edges Montoya for Busch pole >>
Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kurt Busch won the pole for Saturday afternoon's Zippo 200 Busch Series race at the Watkins Glen International road course. The No.39 Penske Dodge circled the 2.45-mile circuit in one minute, 12.569

Judge rules Pacman can participate, just not wrestle >>
Franklin, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A Williamson County judge reportedly ruled Saturday morning that Tennessee Titans suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones can participate in wrestling, but he is restricted from being involved in any

Reds option Belisle to minors >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds optioned pitcher Matt Belisle to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. In 23 starts this season, Belisle is 6-8 with a 5.40 earned run average and one complete game. In a correspond

Blackhawks acquire Adams from Coyotes >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks acquired center Kevyn Adams from the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday in exchange for forward Radim Vrbata. The 32-year-old Adams spent last season with Carolina and Phoenix and tota

Broncos LB Holdman out three months with spinal cord injury >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Broncos linebacker Warrick Holdman will be sidelined at least three months due to a spinal-cord concussion suffered in early August. On August 2, Holdman was injured in training camp wh

Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.

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.