Yankees, Rays close key series; A-Rod still aiming for 600th HR

Baseball Betting Lines

08/01/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays continue to battle for supremacy in the AL East and will close out a three-game series with the rubber match this afternoon at Tropicana Field.

The Yankees are 66-37, good for first place, while Tampa is only two games back in what many consider to be baseball's best division.

New York got even deeper on Saturday. One day after acquiring Austin Kearns in a trade with Cleveland, the Yankees made their deal for Houston first baseman Lance Berkman official while also getting Kerry Wood from Cleveland in another deadline move.

CC Sabathia will be on the mound for New York today in what will be his 23rd start of the season. The workhorse has compiled a 13-4 record and a 3.15 ERA with 124 strikeouts. He is, however, coming off a loss to Cleveland on Tuesday despite allowing just two earned runs in seven innings.

Sabathia is 1-0 in two appearances against Tampa this season and 8-3 lifetime versus the Rays with a 3.03 ERA.

James Shields will get the ball for Tampa Bay this afternoon, hoping to improve his mediocre 9-9 record and 4.79 ERA. Shields has allowed 154 hits in 135 1/3 innings of action and has been touched for a high total of 22 home runs. He was most recently in action on Tuesday when he managed to knock off Detroit in front of the home crowd.

Shields is 1-0 this season versus New York, but he is a lackluster 2-7 lifetime against the Yankees with a 5.45 ERA.

Just after Alex Rodriguez failed to club career homer No. 600 on Saturday, Robinson Cano belted a solo shot to right field with one out in the ninth inning, providing the New York Yankees with a 5-4 win over the Rays, snapping Tampa Bay's seven-game winning streak.

Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with a walk and scored once, but he hasn't gone deep since July 22 against Kansas City as he attempts to become the seventh member of the 600-homer club.

"The way I'm swinging now it's probably going to take a while," Rodriguez said of his home run quest. "Everybody get comfortable. I just have to be out there and help the team win somehow."

Mark Teixeira added a two-run homer and Nick Swisher a solo blast for the Yankees, who won for the eighth time in 11 games. Berkman went 0-for-4 in his debut.

Matt Garza, pitching for the first time since his no-hitter against Detroit on Monday, lasted seven innings, allowing five hits and four runs while fanning nine batters.

"This one falls on me," Garza said. "They spot me a two-run lead and I give it away. I had these guys beat and I gave it away."

Javier Vazquez yielded eight hits and four runs over 6 1/3 innings. David Robertson (2-3) pitched the eighth inning to get the win and Mariano Rivera recorded his 22nd save.

Rays first baseman Carlos Pena is day-to-day after leaving in the seventh inning with a sore right foot.

Carl Crawford stole the 400th base of his career, becoming only the seventh player to reach that mark before the age of 29.

Before Saturday, Tampa Bay's bullpen had allowed one run in the previous 19 innings.

These teams have split their 10 matchups this season.

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Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament odds  
As of February 9, MySportsbook.com has released its coveted 2007 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds. “March Madness betting ” only a month away, the top ranked Florida Gators are favorite at 7-2 to win it all. The defending champs have not disappointed at all this season and currently have a 22-2 record and are undefeated (9-0) in SEC play. The Gators’ thrive off of their extremely balanced, experienced and versatile attack. All five starters started in last seasons National Championship game. What is most impressive with this group is their balance; the five starters all average between 10.7 and 13.6 PPG. The Gators have been on an absolute roll having won 15 straight by an average of 16.4 PPG.

Right behind the Gators are the 5th ranked UNC Tar Heels at 9-2. The Heels (21-3, 7-2) are absolutely loaded with top notch talent and are as deep as any team in the country. A concern for the Tar Heels might be inexperience. Of their top four scorers/ minute earners, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The rest of the regular season, the Tar Heels play only one team that is currently ranked (Duke). Their remaining opponents do combine for an impressive 107-58 record though.

Other teams that the MySportsbook.com members seem to believe will win it all include the west coasts’ top team #2 UCLA (6-1), #3 OSU behind man-child Greg Oden (8-1), and #4 Wisconsin (10-1) behind their defense which has given up 70+ points only three times all season.

Below is a list of some of the favorites to win the 2007 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship lines. For the full list of teams and March Madness odds be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com. If you want to use your credit card to bet on college hoops or any other event, MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

Arizona 20-1

Butler 20-1

Duke 30-1

Florida 7-2

Georgetown 30-1

Indiana 35-1

Kansas 15-1

Marquette 25-1

Maryland 40-1

Memphis 50-1

Nevada 50-1

UNC 9-2

OSU 8-1

Oregon 30-1

Pittsburgh 15-1

Texas 30-1

Texas A&M 18-1

UCLA 6-1

Wisconsin 10-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook betting needs.

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

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