09/05/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates head west for the second leg of a 10-game road trip this evening, where the National League Central cellar- dwellers will play the first of three straight meetings with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
Pittsburgh got its trek off to a fine start, as the club took the first two tilts of a three-game set at Cincinnati before falling in Thursday's finale.
In yesterday's 8-6 loss to the Reds, the Pirates took a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning before the bullpen gave up three runs and the lead. All three were charged to Craig Hansen (0-3), who recorded just one out while surrendering two walks, a single and a wild pitch.
Chris Gomez and Nate McLouth both homered for Pittsburgh, with Gomez and Steve Pearce each knocking in a pair of runs in the loss.
The Pirates will send out Zach Duke, who hopes to put an end to a long and painful winless streak, out to the mound in tonight's opener. The left-hander has lost nine consecutive decisions and hasn't won in 14 starts since downing Arizona at home on June 9.
Duke did pitch very well his last time out, however, although he still found himself on the losing end. The 25-year-old held the Cubs to two runs and seven hits through eight innings in Pittsburgh's 2-0 setback to Chicago on August 27.
One of Duke's four victories in 2008 did come at the expense of San Francisco, which managed just three runs off of him in 7 1/3 innings in a May 6 matchup in Pittsburgh. That moved Duke to 1-1 with a 5.40 earned run average in four overall starts against the Giants.
San Francisco counters with Kevin Correia, who was reached for six runs in six innings during a no-decision at Cincinnati in his most recent start last Saturday. That effort raised the right-hander's season ERA to 5.35 in 19 games (18 starts).
Correia did win his most recent home start when he delivered six innings of three-run ball in an August 24 victory over San Diego. He has allowed one run in three innings over a trio of previous relief appearances against the Pirates.
The Giants halted a five-game losing streak with Wednesday's 9-2 triumph at Colorado on Wednesday. Barry Zito came through with eight excellent innings on the mound to lead the way, while Scott McClain and Travis Ishikawa each knocked in three runs to pace San Francisco offensively.
Zito (9-16) gave up just two runs and four hits while striking out five and was aided by a 14-hit attack by his teammates. Pablo Sandoval finished 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, while McClain also went deep in the win.
McClain's homer was the 36-year-old longtime minor-leaguer's first in the bigs. The third baseman has belted 362 lifetime home runs in the minors.
Pittsburgh swept a three-game series from the Giants at PNC Park back in May and is 13-3 against San Francisco since the start of the 2006 season. That includes a 6-1 mark at AT&T Park.
<< Rays start important road trip in Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their lead atop the American League's East Division
not as comfortable as it once was, the Tampa Bay Rays begin an important nine-
game road trip tonight with the first of three consecutive meetings with a
surging Toron
<< Orioles welcome A's to Camden Yards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phoenix-born lefty Dallas Braden makes his ninth start of
the season tonight when the Oakland Athletics open a three-game weekend series
with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Braden began 2008 in the Oakland bullpen
<< Yankees head out west to battle Mariners
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees take their fleeting postseason hopes
to Seattle, where they will start a three-game series with the lowly Mariners
at Safeco Field.
New York comes into tonight's matchup 11 games back of the Tampa Bay
<< Closing in on AL West title, Angels take on White Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hope to move one step
closer to their fourth AL West title in the last five years when they open a
three-game series this evening with the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox
at U.S. Cellula
Cubs head to Cincinnati hoping to end rough stretch >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With two injured aces, a season-high losing streak and a
horrid homestand despite having the best record as the host in the National
League this season -- maybe the Chicago Cubs really are cursed.
Chicago will try t
CC tries to stop Brewers' skid in game two with Padres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Southpaw CC Sabathia can continue a masterful streak in the
National League when the Milwaukee Brewers host the San Diego Padres tonight
in game two of a four-game series from Miller Park.
The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Sabat
Marlins get chance to end recent woes against Cardinals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It has been over a month since the Florida Marlins won
back-to-back games. It's been over five years since they posted consecutive
wins over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Marlins start up a three-game set with
Torrid Astros head to Colorado for key series >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have had to put together a pair of
lengthy winning streaks to stay in the National League wild-card race, while
the Colorado Rockies are still in the hunt due to a weak NL West.
The Astros and
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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