Rays ride hot streak into Arlington
Baseball Betting Lines
07/03/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays take their hot streak into the Lone Star State, where the defending American League champions will start up an intriguing three-game series with the Texas Rangers this evening.
With wins in 15 of their last 20 games, the Rays have climbed right back into contention in the AL East and league Wild Card races. Tampa Bay enters tonight's play trailing first-place Boston by five games in the division standings, while sitting two back of the New York Yankees for the Wild Card.
The Rays had ripped off a season-high seven straight wins before being shut down by Toronto's Ricky Romero on Wednesday, with the Blue Jays' rookie yielding just four hits over eight shutout innings to lead his team to a 5-0 victory.
Romero got more than enough support in the form of solo homers from Scott Rolen, Rod Barajas and Adam Lind, with each of the blasts coming off Rays starter James Shields (6-6). The right-hander lasted 7 1/3 innings and was reached for five runs (4 earned) on seven hits while striking out eight batters.
"I feel terrible when [Shields is] out there just battling his butt off and we can't give him enough runs to win," said second baseman Ben Zobrist, who collected two of the Rays' four hits. "We know it's going to come around."
The Rangers are embroiled in a tight race of their own at the moment, with the club currently one game behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for first place in the AL West. Texas closed the gap on its rival by winning the final two tests of a recent three-game series at Rangers Ballpark, including a wild 9-7 triumph in Wednesday's finale.
After squandering a three-run lead in the top of the ninth, the Rangers prevailed when Hank Blalock socked a game-winning two-run homer with two outs in their half of the frame.
Blalock also had a solo homer in the fourth inning and finished 3-for-5 on the night. Michael Young also collected three hits for Texas, while Chris Davis drove in a pair of runs in the win.
The walkoff blast made a winner out of Frank Francisco (2-1), despite the closer surrendering a game-tying three-run homer to Juan Rivera in the top of the ninth. Rangers starter Kevin Millwood worked the first 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits.
"When a guy doesn't have his stuff that night, it's up to the offense to pick him up," Blalock said. "Michael (Young) got on base for us and I was fortunate enough to drive him in."
Texas has scored nine runs or more in each of its last four wins and will take its swings tonight against the recently-activated Scott Kazmir. The Tampa hurler returned from a five-week stint on the disabled list due to a strained right quadriceps and pitched well despite not receiving a decision.
Kazmir held Florida to two runs on four hits over five innings and exhibited good control, throwing 61 of his 92 pitches for strikes.
The hard-throwing lefty had struggled badly with command prior to being put on the DL. Kazmir walked 29 batters in 45 2/3 innings over his first nine starts of the year and brought an unwanted 7.69 earned run average into Friday's appearance.
The native Texan has had little trouble when facing the Rangers in the past, however. In seven career starts against tonight's opponent, Kazmir is 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA and has amassed 56 strikeouts in a combined 43 innings.
The Rangers counter with Tommy Hunter, who goes in search of his first big- league victory as he makes his sixth start in the majors.
Hunter has pitched twice for Texas this season, with the most recent coming in Sunday's 2-0 home loss to San Diego. The young right-hander had a solid performance in a losing cause, giving up just a pair of runs on seven hits and walking none in 6 1/3 innings.
The University of Alabama product, who will be celebrating his 23rd birthday today, also made an emergency start in a May 29 doubleheader against Oakland and allowed three runs in a 5 1/3-inning no-decision.
Hunter is taking the place of Matt Harrison, sent to the disabled list last week with biceps inflammation, in the Texas rotation.
Tonight's clash is the first meeting of the season between these teams. The Rays won six of nine matchups with Texas a year ago, including four of six tilts held in Arlington.
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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.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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