Cards hope to revive postseason hopes in opener with Reds
Baseball Betting Lines
09/03/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Cardinals faced the Reds, they completed
a three-game sweep that gave them sole possession of first place in the
National League Central.
The teams have drastically gone in opposite directions since.
First-place Cincinnati will try to extend its eight-game lead over second-
place St. Louis this evening in the opener of a three-game series at Busch
Stadium that by the end could put the division crown out of reach for the
hosts.
The Cardinals have won four straight and 10 of 15 versus the Reds this year
and they posted a three-game sweep in the last meeting from Aug. 8-11 -- a
series that featured a benches-clearing brawl thanks to some unkind words
towards St. Louis by Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips -- to take a one-game edge
for the top spot in the division.
"They silenced our bats a little bit and we didn't pitch that great," Reds
starter Bronson Arroyo said after the sweep. "It's not even close to being
over. We have plenty of games left."
The Reds have made the most of their games since the series, winning 14 of 18,
while the Cardinals have gone 5-13 and have matched a season high with five
straight losses to give the Reds their largest division lead of the season.
Arroyo lost the finale of that sweep but gets the first chance at extending
his team's current division lead. The right-hander yielded four runs over five
innings back on Aug. 11 to fall to 1-2 with a 4.78 earned run average in four
starts this year versus the Cardinals. That includes an outing at Busch
Stadium on May 31 when he was drilled for seven runs over 4 1/3 frames.
Arroyo has a 2.61 ERA over his last seven starts though and is 14-8 with a
3.82 ERA on the season. The 33-year-old is coming off just his second loss in
six starts (4-2) as he gave up three runs on five hits over seven innings
against the Cubs on Saturday.
While Arroyo has had his troubles with the Cardinals this year, St. Louis
rookie Jaime Garcia has won all three of his starts in 2010 against the Reds
with a 4.08 ERA. His latest win in the series came on Aug. 10 despite giving
up four runs on two hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings.
Garcia, though, hasn't allowed an earned run in 20 1/3 consecutive innings,
fanning 19 in that span. His run began in a loss to the Brewers on Aug. 17 in
which he was touched for three unearned runs over six innings.
The 24-year-old southpaw responded with his first career shutout, a three-
hitter versus the Giants on Aug. 22 and then won his second straight start
last Friday after posting 5 1/3 scoreless innings in Washington while working
around eight hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.
Garcia is 12-6 with a 2.33 ERA this year and sports a 1.55 ERA in 12 starts at
home. He'll be looking tonight to halt a four-game winning streak by the Reds,
a burst that includes a three-game sweep of the Brewers.
Cincinnati wrapped the series with Wednesday's 6-1 victory, scoring all of its
runs in the seventh inning. Ryan Hanigan blasted a three-run homer in the
frame, while Scott Rolen capped the burst with a two-run single.
The victory also featured the first win of Aroldis Chapman's major league
career. The 22-year-old Cuban lefty has yet to allow a hit over his two
appearances, striking out three over two inning while unleashing a fastball
that has gone over 100 mph.
Fans would be in for a treat if Chapman faces the Cardinals' Albert Pujols,
who is hitting .358 (19-for-53) in 15 games this year against the Reds with
three homers and 14 RBI. However, Pujols went hitless in 10 at-bats in St.
Louis' three-game sweep at the hands of Houston.
The Cardinals were bested, 5-2, in Wednesday's finale. Matt Holliday drilled a
two-run homer as St. Louis wrapped a 10-game road trip 2-8.
"We have to play better, obviously, but you just have to focus on the next
game," Holliday said. "Sometimes if you get out and look at the big picture
instead of focusing on the job at hand, you lose focus."
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Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.
Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.
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