07/06/2008 - (Baseball Betting) - The St. Louis Cardinals can gain some more ground on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central standings, as the division rivals wrap up a three-game series this afternoon from Busch Stadium.
St. Louis has won five of its last eight to pull within 2 1/2 games of the Cubs for the top spot in the NL Central. It ended a two-game slide with a 5-4 triumph over Chicago in the second installment of this series, as Rick Ankiel ripped a game-winning two-run single in the ninth and hit a solo home run in the sixth to power the Cards to victory.
Adam Kennedy had an RBI double and added a run during a three-run ninth inning, while Albert Pujols was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for the Cardinals, whose three-run ninth made a winner of Kyle McClellan. He hurled two shutout innings of relief and starter Kyle Lohse allowed two runs in seven frames to post the no-decision.
The Cardinals will send Todd Wellemeyer to the mound on Sunday, and he is 7-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 starts this season. Wellemeyer, though, is 0-2 with a 9.45 earned run average in his previous three starts, suffering a loss the last time out on Tuesday versus the New York Mets.
Wellemeyer was rocked for six runs and 12 hits in five innings of a 7-4 setback at home to the Mets. Wellemeyer, a former Cubs reliever, is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career games (one start) against his former employer.
Chicago has lost seven of its last 10 games and has alternated wins and defeats over the past seven tries. In Saturday's close loss at Busch, Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer and Mark DeRosa chipped in a solo home run and scored twice in a losing effort.
Ryan Theriot added an RBI single for the Cubs, who got six subpar innings out of starter Ted Lilly. Lilly permitted two runs and seven hits in six innings before Kerry Wood suffered the loss after allowing all three runs in the St. Louis half of the ninth inning.
Sean Marshall will make his third start of the season for the Cubs on Sunday. He has lost consecutive trips to the mound, including a June 29 setback at the Chicago White Sox. Marshall was decent through seven frames, allowing three runs and five hits, but fell to 0-2 with a 4.87 ERA in 15 games (two starts) on the season.
The lanky left-hander is 1-1 with a 4.66 earned run average in six career games, four starts, against St. Louis.
St. Louis took two of three from the Cubs earlier in the season, but Chicago has won nine of its last 14 at Busch.
<< Volquez leads Reds vs. Nationals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals will wrap up a
four-game series this afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds have won the first three tests of this series, including Saturday's
3-2 victory. Jerry Ha
<< Dodgers take on Giants in finale by the bay
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to stay within striking
distance of the top spot in the NL West division today, when they conclude a
three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
Los Angeles h
<< Phillies get another crack at Mets in South Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies will try to rebound from last
night's loss when they resume a four-game set Sunday with the NL East-rival
New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies had their four-game winning st
<< Rain again delays men's final at Wimbledon
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The rain has returned to the All England
Club and the men's Wimbledon final is being delayed in the third set.
Rafael Nadal is trying to dethrone five-time Wimbledon champ Roger Federer and
has a lead of
Phillies sign closer Lidge to three-year extension >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies announced on
Sunday they have agreed to terms with closer Brad Lidge on a contract
extension through 2011.
Lidge will get $37.5 million over the next three years wit
Angels, Jays wrap up set in Anaheim >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American League West-leading LA Angels of Anaheim are
set to play the rubber match of a three-game weekend set against the Toronto
Blue Jays.
On Saturday, Alex Rios went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs, and Vernon
Lee leads Tribe in finale at Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians have lost seven consecutive games,
and they will attempt to avoid a weekend sweep at the hands of the red-hot
Minnesota Twins today at the Metrodome.
At this point, it would be surprising i
A's wrap up set with White Sox in Windy City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics conclude a
four-game series this afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field.
In Saturday's game, Nick Swisher, Brian Anderson and Alexi Ramirez each
homered to back a terrific
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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
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