Playoff hopeful Tigers and Mariners begin big set in Detroit

Baseball Betting Lines

09/07/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams with playoff aspirations square off this weekend when the Detroit Tigers welcome the Seattle Mariners to Comerica Park for the opener of a three-game series.

Both teams enter the critical series three games back of the wild card-leading New York Yankees.

The Tigers moved into a tie for the second spot on Thursday, as Placido Polanco singled home the winning run to cap a two-run rally in Detroit's 3-2 win. Inge homered for the Tigers, who won the final two games of this series with the White Sox, but posted only the fourth victory in their last nine games and, with Cleveland's loss to the Angels, now trail the Tribe by six games in the American League Central

Gary Sheffield, who ended 0-for-3, returned from the disabled list where he had been sidelined since August 21 because of a sore shoulder. The Tigers had been just 6-8 without him.

Right-hander Chad Durbin, who got the start in place of the injured Jair Jurrjens, gave up just four hits with a walk and strikeout over five frames for the Tigers. Bobby Seay (3-0) earned the win with a perfect ninth.

Justin Verlander gets the call this evening, as he tries to win his third straight start. Verlander won for the fourth time in his last five starts on Saturday against the Oakland Athletics, as he allowed a run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings to improve to 15-5, while lowering his earned run average to 3.67.

Verlander has defeated the Mariners twice already this year and is a perfect 3-0 against them with 3.26 ERA in three starts.

Seattle, meanwhile, comes into this series as cold as can be after dropping the final two games of their three-game series with the Yankees. The Mariners fell 10-2 in Wednesday's finale and were outscored 22-5 in the final two contests.

The Mariners have been in a tailspin since climbing to within a game of the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West. They have dropped 11 of their last 12 and now find themselves eight games back of the Halos.

Hoping to get the Mariners back in the win column tonight will be right-hander Miguel Batista, who is 13-10 with a 4.59 ERA on the year. Batista received a no-decision on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, despite giving up just one run and five hits in seven innings of a 2-1 loss.

Batista beat the Tigers the last time he faced them and is 1-2 lifetime against them with two saves and a 3.72 ERA in eight games, four of which have been starts.

Detroit has won four of seven from the Mariners this season and is 20-14 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. Seattle, though, has split its last six in the Motor City.

Wwwaudiofind Baseball Betting News

<< Red Sox send Lester to the hill against Orioles
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Lester tries to win his third straight start this evening when the Boston Red Sox continue their four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles. Lester got the best of Baltimore in his last start on Sunday, as he allowed

<< Haren hopes to stop slide in Arlington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oakland Athletics ace Dan Haren will try to stop a personal two-game losing streak when he takes the mound tonight in the opener of a three-game series against AL West-rival Texas at Rangers Ballpark. Haren is 14-6 with a

<< Mets start nine-game homestand against Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League East-leading New York Mets had their six-game winning streak stopped this week and will try get back on track when they open a nine-game homestand with the first of three straight games versus the Houston

<< Jays try to keep slim postseason hopes alive in St. Pete
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays still have a mathematical shot at the playoffs and will open a three-game series against the AL East-rival Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field. Toronto is 6 1/2 games off the wild card lead and ha

<< Cubs open set with Pirates in Steel City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs hope a trip to Pittsburgh will solve their recent woes, as they play the first of three straight games tonight against the Pirates at PNC Park. Chicago is now tied with Milwaukee atop the National League C

Kennedy tries to follow up solid debut as Yanks battle Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Kennedy tries to follow up a brilliant major league debut this evening when the New York Yankees kick off a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Kennedy, a first round pick of the Yankees

Twins try to halt skid against White Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins try to put the brakes on a four-game losing streak this evening when they open a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The Twins enter this series on the heels of getting

Angels, Indians resume series >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Garret Anderson ties to extend his club record of games with at least one RBI this evening when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim resume their four-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Angel Stadium. Anderson finished

Braves try to carry momentum into series vs. Nats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After rallying for a big win two days ago, the Atlanta Braves will hope for an easier time tonight when they begin a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. The Braves trailed 8-2 on W

Padres, Rockies to get wild at Coors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies will try to make up ground in the wild card race this evening when they play the first of three straight games versus the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. The Rockies had a three-game winning strea

MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.