08/21/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - MLB earned run average leader Cliff Lee will take the hill today, when the Cleveland Indians host the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
Lee, who has won his last six decisions to pull within one of his career best of 18, has posted a 2.43 ERA through 170 2/3 innings of work thus far in 2008, continuing a remarkable turnaround after a mediocre 5-8 mark in just 20 outings in 2007.
The southpaw won 18 games in 2005 while posting a 3.79 ERA in 202 innings, then returned to win 14 games in 2006. His 2008 total so far is tops in the AL and is one behind Arizona's Brandon Webb, who leads all of baseball with 18 wins.
Lee is 9-4 in 16 lifetime starts against the Royals, and is 7-0 in 10 starts this season in Cleveland.
For Kansas City, former first-round pick Zack Greinke makes his 16th career appearance on Thursday.
The sixth overall pick in 2002, Greinke is 3-6 in 15 games -- 10 starts -- against Cleveland, allowing 61 hits and 27 earned runs in 58 2/3 innings.
He strung together consecutive defeats against the Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox on July 28 and August 3, but has dropped a verdict to the Minnesota Twins and recorded a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last two starts, allowing 15 hits and five earned runs in 11 2/3 innings.
He is 5-6 in 15 road starts this season, posting a 4.30 ERA in 92 innings.
On Wednesday, Franklin Gutierrez's three-run homer sparked a five-run eighth and the Indians battled back to top the Royals, 8-5.
Kelly Shoppach added a pair of solo home runs while Jhonny Peralta launched a two-run blast for the Indians, who have won four of their last five.
Zach Jackson, in his second start with Cleveland since being traded from the Brewers in the CC Sabathia deal, served up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits in seven innings for a no-decision. Juan Rincon (3-3) hurled a perfect eighth to pick up the win.
Joakim Soria (1-3) had a rare breakdown out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on two hits and a pair of walks while recording just one out in taking the loss behind Gil Meche, who gave up just two hits and three runs -- only one earned -- while striking out nine in his seven-inning start.
Mike Aviles was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI for Kansas City, which has lost seven of eight.
Cleveland has won six of its 10 matchups with the Royals this season.
<< Aiming for career-high 19th win, Webb takes on Padres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona ace Brandon Webb aims for his major league-leading
and personal-best 19th win of the season tonight, when the NL West-leading
Diamondbacks close out a three-game series versus the San Diego Padres at
Chase Field.
<< Mets go for sweep of rival Braves
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League East-leading New York Mets shoot for
their second sweep in less than two weeks this evening, when they close out a
three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium.
The Mets swept the Washing
<< Dodgers end homestand aiming to get on track versus Rockies
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers are slipping fast in the NL West
race and will try to close out a lengthy homestand on a positive note this
afternoon in the finale of a three-game set versus the Colorado Rockies at
Dodger Stadium.
<< Zambrano tries to dominate Reds again in finale
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Carlos Zambrano can replicate a July
masterpiece in August when the Chicago Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds in the
finale of a three-game series today at Wrigley Field.
A 13-time winner in his career against the
Twins kick off lengthy road trip in Anaheim >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's bad enough that Minnesota is leaving the Twin Cities
for its longest road trip in almost 40 years. The cherry on top is that the
Twins open the trek against the best team in baseball.
Minnesota heads out west t
ATP chairman to step down >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Executive chairman and president of the ATP
Etienne de Villiers announced on Thursday that he will not renew his contract
at the end of this 2008 season.
Executive chairman since June 2005, de Villier
A's open four-game series in Seattle >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The good news for Oakland is that the last time it won a
series, it was facing Seattle, its opponent tonight in the opener of a four-
game series at Safeco Field.
The bad news is that four-game series took place from
Phils try to hand Nats 13th straight loss >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phillies have had their share of offensive problems
this year, but they have paled in comparison to the Nationals' struggles.
Philadelphia will try to hand Washington its 13th straight loss and sweep a
three-g
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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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.
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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