Davis goes for seventh straight win in Baltimore

Baseball Betting Lines

09/05/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wade Davis has been awfully tough to beat over the past two-plus months. Against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher has been just about invincible during his brief tenure in the majors.

Davis tries to extend a club rookie record for consecutive victories and lead the Rays to a series win over the Orioles when the two American League East inhabitants play the rubber match of a three-game set this afternoon at Camden Yards.

In an eight-start stretch beginning on July 3, Davis has won six times without a loss and posted a solid 3.66 earned run average over the course of his unbeaten run. The young right-hander has allowed two runs or less in each of those six wins and now owns an 11-9 mark over 23 outings during his first full season in the big leagues.

The soon-to-be 25-year-old wasn't slowed down by a brief stint on the disabled list last month due to a strained shoulder. Davis has won both of his two starts since being activated and pitched very well in Monday's home triumph over Toronto, yielding just two runs on six hits over 7 2/3 innings.

Davis' best work has come against the Orioles, however, and especially so on the road. He's 3-0 in three career meetings with Baltimore and permitted a mere two runs over a combined 24 innings versus today's opponent, while holding the O's to one run over eight stellar frames in a July 19 matchup at Camden Yards.

The Florida native's first major league win also took place in Baltimore during September of last season, with Davis surrendering just four hits and striking out 10 batters in a complete-game shutout that night.

Tampa Bay has also fared quite well as a team against the Orioles in 2010. The Rays have prevailed in 10 of 14 matchups between the clubs this year and are 6-2 at Camden Yards for the season.

Baltimore was able to best the playoff-hopeful Rays on Saturday, though, with the Orioles pounding out 15 hits and receiving seven strong innings out of Jeremy Guthrie to come through with an 8-4 verdict.

Nick Markakis belted a two-run homer in the first inning and Matt Wieters knocked in two more men with a double during a three-run third that gave Baltimore an early 5-1 advantage. Both players finished with two hits on the night, with Felix Pie going 2-for-5 with two RBI to aid the Orioles as well.

Guthrie (9-13) didn't need all that much support, as the right-hander limited Tampa Bay to two runs and struck out seven to improve to 6-2 in 10 starts since the All-Star break.

Baltimore halted a three-game losing streak with last night's result and is now 5-3 over its last eight contests overall.

"It's been going good so far," said Markakis after the game. "We've just got to keep it going against the teams that we're going to be facing for awhile."

The loss was a costly one for Tampa Bay. With the Yankees defeating Toronto earlier in the day, the Rays fell to 2 1/2 games behind New York in the battle for first place in the AL East. The team still managed to lengthen its lead over Boston in the league's Wild Card standings, though, after the Red Sox lost both ends of a doubleheader with Chicago on Saturday.

Matt Joyce ended 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI and recently-acquired Brad Hawpe also went deep for Tampa Bay, which had won five of its last six coming in.

Rays starter James Shields (13-12) struggled through 4 1/3 innings, with the right-hander reached for six runs on eight hits.

"I don't think I did a very good job of getting ahead in the count today," he stated afterward.

The Rays will attempt to bounce back in today's clash with O's rookie Chris Tillman, a pitcher whom the club battered in a showdown at Camden Yards earlier in the year. The highly-regarded rookie was rocked for eight runs on seven hits and issued four walks in that loss, while lasting only 2 2/3 innings.

Tillman was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk immediately following that disaster and received a promotion when rosters expanded in September. The young righty finished with an 11-7 record and a 3.34 ERA in 21 starts with the Orioles' International League affiliate.

The 22-year-old also took a loss against the Rays last season and is 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA over three career encounters with Tampa Bay. Tillman has also lost all three of his Camden Yards assignments this season and given up 15 runs (14 earned) in just 10 innings, with the opposition batting .435 against him.

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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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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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