08/19/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-handed reclamation project Anthony Reyes makes his third start in an American League uniform tonight when the Cleveland Indians host the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
Reyes, who made 17 starts for the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in 2006, tumbled to 2-14 in 22 appearances for the Cardinals last season and had made just 10 trips from the bullpen this year before being dealt to Cleveland late last month.
He pitched 6 1/3 strong innings and scattered seven hits in a 5-2 win at Toronto in his AL debut on Aug. 8, then followed it up with a tough-luck loss to Baltimore on Aug. 13 after allowing six hits and two runs in six innings of a 6-1 loss.
In the 10 relief outings with St. Louis, Reyes had gone 2-1 with a save and a 4.91 earned run average in 14 2/3 innings.
He won his lone career start against the Royals while with the Cardinals, allowing four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
Reyes will be opposed by recent first-round draft pick Luke Hochevar, who's lost four straight decisions since the All-Star break for Kansas City.
The first overall pick in the 2006 draft, Hochevar was 5-5 after beating Colorado on June 25 and was 6-7 after a downing of Seattle on July 11, but has since allowed 34 hits and 21 runs in 28 2/3 innings in five starts.
Hochevar reached the majors with four appearances - one start - at the close of last season and was 0-1 with a 2.13 ERA in 12 2/3 innings.
He's 1-1 in two career starts against the Indians, allowing six hits and four runs in nine innings.
On Sunday in New York, Alex Rodriguez finished 3-for-3, homered, scored three times and drove in five as the Yankees used an early barrage to subdue Kansas City, 15-6, in the series finale of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.
Billy Butler and Ross Gload each knocked in two runs for the Royals, who have dropped five of six.
Royals starter Brian Bannister (7-12) suffered the loss, shelled for 10 hits and 10 runs over one-plus innings. He is now 0-6 with three no-decisions in his last nine starts.
In Cleveland, Franklin Gutierrez was 3-for-3 and added a two-run single, as the Indians managed a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Jeremy Sowers (2-6) picked up his first home victory since Aug. 25, 2006, giving up three runs - two earned - on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. Grady Sizemore and Ryan Garko each had two hits and an RBI for the Indians, who had dropped three of four.
Cleveland has split its eight matchups with the Royals this season.
<< Rays, Angels hope to resume key set in wake of storm
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tropical Storm Fay could be the only thing that slows down
the upstart Tampa Bay Rays at this point. Weather permitting, the Rays will
play the second of three matchups with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
tonight
<< Boston's Dice-K puts road mark on line in Baltimore
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daisuke Matsuzaka tries to remain unbeaten on the road this
season when the Boston Red Sox play the middle test of their three-game series
with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Matsuzaka is a perfect 6-0 in his n
<< Twins vie for rebound in game two with A's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins picked a bad time to post a rare home
loss to the Oakland Athletics. Now second in the American League Central, the
Twins resume a three-game series with the visiting A's tonight at the
Metrodo
<< Tigers' Galarraga tries to make Rangers pay
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Needless to say, the Texas Rangers are happy with the
offseason trade that brought Josh Hamilton to town. They might want to have
the one that sent Armando Galarraga packing back, though.
Galarraga faces his for
Looper goes for Cards in opener with Pittsburgh >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rugged right-hander Braden Looper can make it six quality
starts in a row tonight when the St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh
Pirates in the first game of an abbreviated two-game mid-week series at Busch
Stadium.
Loo
Cubs welcome Reds to Wrigley >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Worst visits first tonight at Wrigley Field when a pair of
National League Central rivals get together for the first of a three-game
series.
The front-running Chicago Cubs - holders of a 5 1/2-game bulge in the six-team
l
Marlins open trek with three games in San Francisco >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins begin a very important stretch of road
games when the struggling National League East contenders head to San
Francisco's AT&T Park tonight for the first of three straight matchups with
the
Bengals take another chance on Henry >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals signed troubled wide
receiver Chris Henry on Tuesday.
The Bengals released Henry on April 3 after his fifth arrest since the club
made him their third-round pick in the 2005 NFL Dr
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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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.
Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.
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