Mariners, Indians to wrap up series between cellar-dwellers

Baseball Betting Lines

08/15/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two last-place teams will do battle this afternoon in the series finale of a three-game set at Progressive Field, where the Cleveland Indians will host the Seattle Mariners.

Seattle, which is currently in the bottom spot of the AL West, has won the first two games of this series. On Saturday, Josh Bard's first career grand slam capped a five-run fifth inning that helped the Mariners pummel the Indians, 9-3.

Bard had a season-high four hits and scored twice for the Mariners, who won their first road series since June 29-July 1 against the Yankees. They had lost their last four series away from Safeco Field.

Russell Branyan and Casey Kotchman also homered as Seattle recorded its highest offensive output since scoring 15 runs on May 21. Starting pitcher Jason Vargas (9-5) lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while fanning four.

Jayson Nix homered and drove in two runs for the Indians, who have lost six of seven. Asdrubal Cabrera added two hits and a run scored in defeat.

Mitch Talbot (8-10), who was activated off the disabled list earlier Saturday, gave up six runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and three walks in four-plus innings for Cleveland to receive the loss.

In hopes of recording a sweep, Seattle will turn to its best pitcher in Felix Hernandez this afternoon. The hard-throwing right-hander snapped a three-game slide with an outstanding victory over Oakland earlier this week.

The young hurler was dominant in Tuesday's win over the A's, striking out 13 batters in eight scoreless innings. Hernandez walked just one batter and scattered five hits in the win.

Hernandez has posted a solid 2.99 earned run average on the road this season, but that has not translated into many victories, as the Mariners' prized pitcher is just 2-5 away from home.

In seven career outings against Cleveland, Hernandez has posted a 3-2 ledger with a 3.71 ERA.

As for the Indians, they will turn to Justin Masterson, who has dropped three of his last four starts. The most recent setback for the young hurler came Monday against Baltimore.

In that setback Masterson surrendered seven runs -- four earned -- on six hits in five innings. It was the 11th loss on the year for the San Diego State product, who comes into this matchup with a poor 5.47 earned run average.

In front of Cleveland fans, the 25-year-old is just 2-5 with a 4.18 earned run average in 10 starts. However, in five career appearances (two starts) against the Mariners, Masterson has been outstanding, allowing three runs in over 17 innings of duty. He has only walked four batters and recorded 16 strikeouts in that time.

Friday's series opener was the first meeting between the teams this season. Cleveland won six of 10 against Seattle last year.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

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