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07/11/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim close out a three-game weekend set from the Coliseum this afternoon.
These teams have split the first two meetings of this series, with the Athletics rebounding from a loss on Friday with a 15-1 rout last night. Rajai Davis' grand slam capped an eight-run third inning for Oakland, with the outfielder finishing 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored.
"It's just nice to get an opportunity to play," Davis said. "To get some hits and get them early, it takes a lot of pressure off yourself."
Adam Rosales went 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored for the Athletics, who snapped a four-game skid. Ben Sheets (4-8) threw six shutout innings and gave up just two hits and a walk with four strikeouts for the win.
Cory Aldridge drove in the lone run for the Angels, who have lost five of six. Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (7-9) was blown up for a franchise-record 13 runs on 11 hits and walked three over five innings to drop his fourth straight start
"Between he's pitched some good baseball, and there's been some games that have gotten away from him," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Kazmir. "[Saturday], obviously he struggled with a lot of things."
Jered Weaver has been outstanding for Anaheim this season, and the righty will take the mound for this afternoon's rubber match. Through 18 starts, Weaver is 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA and has posted 130 strikeouts and only 27 walks through 115 innings, while yielding 96 hits.
In his most recent start, Weaver allowed four earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against the White Sox on Tuesday en route to defeat.
Weaver is 0-1 against Oakland this season and 3-4 with a 3.10 ERA lifetime against the A's.
As for Oakland, it will give the ball to Trevor Cahill today. Cahill lost his last outing, permitting six earned runs in six innings against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, but still is an impressive 8-3 overall with a 3.17 ERA. He has only allowed 65 hits through 88 innings.
Cahill has yet to face the Angels this season and is 2-1 with a 2.56 ERA in his career against them.
The Angels have won seven of 12 meetings with Oakland this season and are 11-5 in the 16 most recent contests between the AL West foes.
<< Red-hot Rockies attempt to draw even with sliding Padres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies appear to be putting together one of
those long winning stretches they've become known for during the past few
seasons, much to the chagrin of the rest of the National League West.
The resurgent Rockie
<< Brewers ready brooms for skidding Bucs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran lefty Randy Wolf pitches for the sweep when the
Milwaukee Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates today in the finale of their
three-game series at Miller Park.
Milwaukee has taken one-run verdicts in each of the first
<< Cardinals try to end first half with needed win over Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The skidding St. Louis Cardinals can climb within a game of
first place to end the season's unofficial first half today, when they visit
Minute Maid Park for the finale of a three-game series with the Houston
Astros.
The
<< Nalbandian sends Argentina past Russia in Davis Cup quarters
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Nalbandian gave Argentina a Davis Cup
quarterfinal victory over Russia with a straight-set triumph over Mikhail
Youzhny in Sunday's fifth and decisive singles rubber.
After Nikolay Davydenko ke
Rookie arms on display in Diamondbacks-Marlins clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie right-hander Barry Enright aims for a series
clincher in just his third start as a big-leaguer today, when the Arizona
Diamondbacks host the Florida Marlins in the finale of their four-game series
at Chase Field.
T
Ryall wins Van Lanschot Senior Open >>
The Hague, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - George Ryall birdied the final hole
Sunday to come from behind and win the Van Lanschot Senior Open on the
European Senior Tour.
Ryall finished with a six-under 66 and won the title by a st
Silva tries to send Cubs to split with Dodgers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- In a first half filled with disappointment, Carlos Silva
has been an unexpected source of joy for the Chicago Cubs. Tonight the
rejuvenated pitcher takes aim at a 10th victory of 2010 when he takes the
mound for the North Si
Orioles have chance for surprising sweep of West-leading Texas >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers, who continue to lead the American League
West, will close out a four-game weekend series with the lowly Baltimore
Orioles today in Arlington.
The Orioles may have the worst record in baseball at 28-59, b
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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