09/06/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Doomed once again to the role of spoilers, the Reds are at least embracing their duty. Cincinnati tries to hand the Chicago Cubs a seventh straight loss tonight in the middle portion of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
At 63-78, the Reds aren't going to the postseason for a 13th straight season. However, the future in Cincinnati is bright after Friday's 10-2 win in this series opener.
Jay Bruce hit a grand slam -- the first of his career -- and Joey Votto homered for a third straight game to lift the Reds. Votto's blast was a two- run shot and he finished with three RBI and two runs scored in the victory, the Reds' fifth in seven games.
Koyie Hill doubled and knocked in a run for the Cubs, who began a nine-game road trip by extending their losing streak to a season-high six games. Ted Lilly took the loss, while Jon Lieber served up Bruce's grand slam.
Chicago has been shutout twice, and despite leading the league in runs scored has crossed the plate just 14 times during its current skid.
Also, the first-place Cubs' lead in the National League Central fell to four games over Milwaukee.
The top home team in the NL, the Cubs have won six of nine versus the Reds at home this year, but are just 1-3 at Great American Ball Park.
Chicago turns to Jason Marquis tonight. The right-hander suffered a tough-luck loss last time out to halt a three-decision winning streak, taking the loss versus Houston on Monday despite allowing just two runs on five hits over six innings of a 3-0 setback. Marquis also struck out a season-high eight.
Marquis is 9-8 with a 4.46 earned run average this year, but his ERA in 11 road starts is much better at 3.12. He is 5-3 away from the Windy City.
The 30-year-old has yet to face the Reds this year, but is 5-3 lifetime against them with a 5.06 ERA in 13 games (12 starts).
Reds rookie Johnny Cueto takes the hill tonight for the first time since August 24 in Colorado. Cueto lasted just three innings on that day, allowing an unearned run on three walks and zero hits. He has given up just two earned runs in his last three outings, but was sidelined due to a right elbow ailment.
The 22-year-old righty is 8-12 with a 4.65 ERA this year and 1-2 with a 3.66 ERA versus the Cubs. He lost to them on August 19 despite seven innings of one-run ball.
<< Indians continue set with Royals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians try to continue their recent mastery
of the Kansas City Royals this evening when the AL Central rivals resume a
three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
Cleveland has won its last four against the Royal
<< Mets, Phillies continue NL East battle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to make their last
trip to Shea Stadium a memorable one. One day after cutting into the New York
Mets' lead for the top spot in the division, the two clubs play the middle
portion of a thr
<< Pujols tries to continue torrid pace in middle tilt with Fish
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite Albert Pujols' continued hot-hitting, the St.
Louis Cardinals have been unable to come up with a winning streak. The club
will try to avoid falling further back in the National League wild card race
in the continuat
<< Francis hopes to keep Rox rolling against Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Francis is starting to show signs of being a pitcher
who won 17 games last season. Francis takes the hill for the Colorado Rockies
tonight in the middle portion of a three-game series with the Houston Astros
at Coors F
Tropical Storm Hanna postpones Mets/Phils >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saturday's game between the Philadelphia
Phillies and New York Mets has been postponed due to rain as Tropical Storm
Hanna makes its way up the East Coast.
The game will be made up as part of a day
Setzer grabs pole for truck race at Gateway >>
Madison, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dennis Setzer captured his first pole in the
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in seven years by winning Saturday's qualifying
for the Camping World 200 at the Gateway International Raceway just outside
St. Lo
Federer rolls into another U.S. Open final >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roger Federer outlasted Novak Djokovic
Saturday and kept alive his chances for a fifth straight U.S. Open title.
The second-seeded and reigning four-time champion Federer downed the third-
seeded N
Bills Pro Bowl T Peters ends holdout >>
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl left tackle
Jason Peters ended his holdout and reported to the team on Saturday.
Peters declined comment on the holdout, but he did take a physical on
Saturday. He
Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook
Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds. The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.
Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.
Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).
Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.
World Series odds
Adam Dunn 15-1
Albert Pujols 5-1
Alex Rodriguez 12-1
Alfonso Soriano 15-1
Andruw Jones 25-1
Barry Bonds 50-1
Carlos Delgado 40-1
David Ortiz 8-1
Jermaine Dye 40-1
Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1
Lance Berkman 40-1
Manny Ramirez 20-1
Richie Sexson 40-1
Ryan Howard 6-1
Travis Hafner 20-1
Vladimir Guerrero 40-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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