Orioles, Nationals open set at Camden Yards
Baseball Betting Lines
06/25/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The woeful Baltimore Orioles enter the weekend with
momentum - sort of - when they begin a three-game interleague series with the
nearby Washington Nationals tonight at Camden Yards.
Baltimore, which has five fewer wins than any team in the majors and has won
just 12 times in 35 home games, picked up a rare 'W' on Thursday night when it
downed Florida, 11-5, to wrap up a three-game series.
Miguel Tejada hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI and three runs
scored as the Orioles avoided a sweep.
Craig Tatum posted three hits, two runs scored and an RBI while Julio Lugo
scored twice with an RBI for the Orioles, who put the brakes on a three-game
skid. Adam Jones homered and Luke Scott drove in two runs in the victory.
Kevin Millwood (2-8) started for Baltimore and picked up the win after he
tossed five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits.
Precocious right-hander Jake Arrieta, who turned 24 in March, makes the fourth
start of his brief major-league career for the Orioles, who trail the first-
place New York Yankees by 25 games in the American League's East Division.
A fifth-round draft pick in 2007 out of Texas Christian, Arrieta debuted on
June 10 against the Yankees and picked up a 4-3 win after allowing four hits
and three runs in six innings.
He made it two straight with an interleague road win at San Francisco five
days later, before losing for the first time on June 20 at San Diego after
allowing five hits and six runs in just three innings.
Overall, in 16 big-league innings, Arrieta has walked nine and struck out nine
while surrendering 12 hits and nine earned runs.
Washington, which has won 13 times in 37 road tries, counters with 27-year-old
righty J.D. Martin, who made 15 starts as a rookie last season and is still
seeking win No. 1 in 2010.
The California native was 5-4 with a 4.44 earned run average in his 2009
unveiling, allowing an opposition batting average of .279 and striking out 37
batters in 77 innings.
He reached the rotation this season on May 29 against San Diego and dropped a
4-2 verdict, and has since lost two of three with a no-decision in spite of
allowing only 10 earned runs in 25 1/3 innings and walking one batter with 18
strikeouts.
Martin, who's been charged with two road losses in three starts, has never
faced the Orioles.
On Wednesday, Jose Guillen's single in the fifth inning scored David DeJesus
with the only run of the game, as the Kansas City Royals defeated Stephen
Strasburg and the Nationals, 1-0, in the finale of a three-game interleague
series.
Adam Dunn had two of the six hits for the Nationals, who despite winning the
series, have dropped seven of nine.
Strasburg (2-1) was saddled with his first major league loss in his fourth
career start. The rookie right-hander worked six innings, allowing one run on
nine hits and fanning nine without issuing a walk. He threw 95 pitches, 75 for
strikes.
The former No. 1 overall pick lowered his earned run average to 1.78 and has
now struck out 41 batters in 25 1/3 innings this season.
Washington took two of three from the O's earlier in the year.
<< With Valentine rumors swirling, Marlins open set with Padres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place San Diego Padres continue their early-
summer tour of Florida tonight when they venture to Miami to open a three-game
set with the Marlins at Sun Life Stadium.
Leading by 2 1/2 games over the San Francisco
<< Clijsters, Henin among third-round winners at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin were
each third-round winners on Friday at Wimbledon and will meet next Monday in
the round of 16 at the All England Club.
The eighth-seeded Clijsters rolled to a
<< Isner bows out quickly after marathon match
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Isner's second match at Wimbledon
didn't last nearly as long as his first and it also marked the American's exit
at the All England Club.
Thiemo De Bakker of the Netherlands took advantage of an o
<< Clijsters cruises into fourth round at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Belgium's Kim Clijsters met little
resistance in her third-round match against Maria Kirilenko at Wimbledon and
posted a straight-set victory on Friday at the All England Club.
The eighth-seeded
<< Inside the NBA Draft: CBA is league's biggest problem
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Television productions tend to embellish on
a fairly regular basis so I must confess snickering a little bit when I
overheard the Worldwide Leader call the 2010 NBA Draft historic from my perch
above its set at M
No shortage of storylines in opener between Diamondbacks and Rays >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are plenty of storylines to choose from this evening
when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays begin a three-game set at
Tropicana Field.
Edwin Jackson will be facing the Rays for the first time since being de
Red-hot Rangers go for a dozen in clash with Astros >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers and Josh Hamilton both try to continue
impressive streaks this evening, when the team opens a three-game set against
the Lone Star State-rival Houston Astros at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Hamilton has
Angels, Rockies hope to make some noise in Anaheim >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of 2009 postseason participants seeking to get back
to the top of their respective divisions square off in a three-game series
that begins tonight at Anaheim's Angel Stadium, where the defending American
League West-ch
Pelfrey tries to pitch Mets past Twins at Citi Field >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mets have shown signs of cooling off over the past week
and that includes starter Mike Pelfrey.
Pelfrey will try to begin a new win streak and win his 10th game of the season
this evening in the opener of a three-ga
Greinke to go for Royals in opener with Cards >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke can only
hope to finish his 2010 campaign with a winning record, considering the way
things have gone this season. With a ledger six games below .500, Greinke will
try to get clo
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
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