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08/29/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Cardinals co-ace Adam Wainwright will try to become the first 18-game winner in the National League when he takes the ball Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series from Nationals Park.
Wainwright is 17-8 with a splendid 2.18 earned run average in 27 starts this season, but has dropped back-to-back outings after winning three straight trips to the mound. He has lasted seven innings in each of the setbacks and was previously in action during Tuesday's 4-3 loss at Pittsburgh. He gave up four runs and seven hits, while fanning six batters.
The right-hander is only 6-7 in 14 road starts as opposed to his 11-1 mark in 13 home appearances this season. Wainwright has pitched well in his career against the Nationals, going 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA in seven games (5 starts).
A win today by Wainwright would tie him with CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees for the major league lead.
St. Louis could use another solid performance from Wainwright in this series after it dropped a 14-5 decision on Saturday. Kyle Lohse started for the Cardinals and was touched for eight runs and 11 hits in five innings. Mike MacDougal permitted six runs in only 1 2/3 innings of relief.
"I feel good," Lohse noted on the team's site. "The ball's coming out good. The command within the strike zone just wasn't as good this time as last. The ball is moving, it's just moving in the wrong spot. I don't like to make excuses about that. You can't do those things. I feel physically fine."
Albert Pujols stroked an RBI ground-rule double and Jon Jay later followed with a two-run homer to give St. Louis a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The offense didn't do much from there and the Cardinals fell two games behind Philadelphia for the wild card lead. Cincinnati also lost on Saturday and remain four games ahead of the Cards for NL Central bragging rights.
Washington used a 16-9 advantage in hits to post its second win in three tries last night following a four-game slide. Starter Livan Hernandez took advantage of the hits and run support, and picked up the win even though he allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs, while Roger Bernadina belted a two-run shot for the Nationals, who got four hits, two runs scored and an RBI out of Mike Morse.
"We needed a win. The bats came alive which is great," Morse said.
The Nationals hope John Lannan can bounce back from a recent loss when he takes the ball this afternoon. Lannan had a personal three-start winning streak halted with Tuesday's 5-4 loss versus the Chicago Cubs in DC. He permitted five runs -- four earned -- and seven hits in five innings.
Lannan, who is just 1-3 in nine home starts, fell to 5-6 with a 5.23 ERA in 19 starts this season. He is still in search of his first win against St. Louis as evidenced by his 0-2 mark in four career starts.
Washington halted a six-game losing streak in this series with Thursday's triumph. St. Louis has still prevailed in 14 of the last 18 meetings between the teams and swept a two-game set from the Nationals at Busch Stadium in May.
<< Dickey leads Mets into finale vs. Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Resurgent knuckleballer R.A. Dickey aims for a second
straight win and third in four decisions today, when the New York Mets close
out a three-game series with the visiting Houston Astros at Citi Field.
The Mets
<< Braves go for a series win over Marlins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League East-leading Atlanta Braves were able
to end their four-game slide with last night's win versus the Florida Marlins.
This afternoon they'll try for a series victory over their division rivals in
the fin
<< Brewers' Bush takes on Pirates at Miller Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pittsburgh native Dave Bush faces his hometown team for the
16th time today, when the Milwaukee Brewers close out a three-game weekend set
with the visiting Pirates at Miller Park.
A 30-year-old product of Wake Forest, B
<< LA sends Lilly to mound in Colorado
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ted Lilly will try to stay unbeaten in Dodger blue this
afternoon, as he takes the hill in the finale of a three-game series against
the NL West-rival Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Lilly has won all five starts
Twins have brooms ready for Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins will attempt to complete a three-game
road sweep of the lowly Seattle Mariners today at Safeco Field.
Carl Pavano, one of the majors' most surprising performers in 2010, will take
the ball for Minn
Orioles shoot for sweep of Angels >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles have an opportunity to earn a rare
sweep today as they visit the LA Angels of Anaheim in the final of three
weekend games.
Baltimore will give the ball to Jeremy Guthrie, and like the vast m
White Sox, Yankees close out series in Windy City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Cellular Field is the site of this afternoon's rubber
match of a three-game series between the hometown White Sox and visiting New
York Yankees.
Ivan Nova will make his second Major League start today against Chi
Rangers, A's set for another Arlington battle >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers will continue their journey to an AL West
title tonight, when they close out a three-game series with second-place
Oakland in Arlington.
Gio Gonzalez will get the ball for the Athletics this after
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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