Braves try to carry momentum into series vs. Nats

Baseball Betting Lines

09/07/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After rallying for a big win two days ago, the Atlanta Braves will hope for an easier time tonight when they begin a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Turner Field.

The Braves trailed 8-2 on Wednesday against the Phillies before plating four runs in the eighth. Matt Diaz then sent the club home winners as he hit a bases-clearing double in the ninth with two outs to lift Atlanta to a 9-8 victory.

Willie Harris homered for the Braves, who improved to just 2-4 on their current nine-game homestand. The club is 7 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top spot in the NL East and 5 1/2 games off the pace in the wild card race.

Atlanta starting pitcher Tim Hudson surrendered five runs on a season-high 11 hits with two walks and four strikeouts over five frames. Rafael Soriano (3-3) earned the win with a scoreless ninth.

Brian McCann, though, left the game in the eighth with a bruised left ankle and is questionable for tonight's game.

The Braves are set to send John Smoltz to the hill tonight. Smoltz is 12-7 this year with a 3.09 earned run average and is coming off a loss last time out on Sunday versus the Mets. He allowed three runs on nine hits over seven innings in that one.

Smoltz has faced the Washington franchise 65 times in his career, 38 of them starts, and is 19-11 with 17 saves and four complete games. The right-hander also has a stellar 2.63 ERA against the Expos/Nationals after besting the club on June 27 behind five shutout frames.

Washington comes into Friday's game red hot, as the club has won five straight games. The Nationals just completed a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins with a 6-4 victory on Wednesday.

Austin Kearns homered and scored three times in the win, while Brian Schneider drove in a pair of runs.

Tim Redding started but left in the third inning after getting hit on his right elbow by a sharp grounder. Jonathan Albaladejo made his major-league debut in relief of Redding and tossed 1 2/3 hitless frames, while Luis Ayala (1-2) picked up the win after working a flawless seventh. Chad Cordero took care of the ninth for his 31st save of the campaign.

Joel Hanrahan will try to turn in his second solid outing when he toes the rubber for the Nationals tonight. Hanrahan picked up a win Saturday over the Giants behind six innings of one-hit, one-run ball. He also walked just one batter to improve to 4-2 with a 5.14 ERA.

The right-hander will be making just his eighth career start tonight and first against the Braves.

Atlanta holds a 7-5 edge over Washington this season and has won five of six at Turner Field.

Vasketball Baseball Betting News

<< Angels, Indians resume series
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Garret Anderson ties to extend his club record of games with at least one RBI this evening when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim resume their four-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Angel Stadium. Anderson finished

<< Twins try to halt skid against White Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins try to put the brakes on a four-game losing streak this evening when they open a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The Twins enter this series on the heels of getting

<< Kennedy tries to follow up solid debut as Yanks battle Royals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Kennedy tries to follow up a brilliant major league debut this evening when the New York Yankees kick off a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Kennedy, a first round pick of the Yankees

<< Playoff hopeful Tigers and Mariners begin big set in Detroit
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams with playoff aspirations square off this weekend when the Detroit Tigers welcome the Seattle Mariners to Comerica Park for the opener of a three-game series. Both teams enter the critical series three games back

<< Red Sox send Lester to the hill against Orioles
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Lester tries to win his third straight start this evening when the Boston Red Sox continue their four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles. Lester got the best of Baltimore in his last start on Sunday, as he allowed

Padres, Rockies to get wild at Coors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies will try to make up ground in the wild card race this evening when they play the first of three straight games versus the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. The Rockies had a three-game winning strea

Reds welcome Brewers to town for three >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off their best offensive performance of the season. They will try to keep swinging their big bats tonight in the first of three straight games against the Cincinnati Reds at Great A

NL West-leading D'backs host upstart Cardinals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks have reclaimed the top spot in the National League West. Now they will try to stay there, as the club begins a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Chase Field. The Diamond

LA, San Fran go at it again by the Bay >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers are sticking around in the playoff picture. The club will try to stay on the winning track and in the hunt tonight when they open a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

France and Italy square off in World Cup rematch >>
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two teams in Group B get together at the San Siro on Saturday as France visits Italy in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup final. Zinedine Zidane, the most famous figure from last summer's encounter, wi

Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.

MySportsbook.com offers Blackjack contest and $10,000.00 in Free Prize money!

Every month MySportsbook.com's casino host, Jack Black, gives away $10,000.00 in free casino prize money. To Enter - All you have to do is play at least 10 hands (total) of Blackjack on one of the specified dates of the blackjack contest. The online casino host randomly hands out free bonuses ranging from $50 - $500, and one lucky player who will receive a free $2,500.00 bonus.

"We have been running this monthly free blackjack contest to our active mebers for 5 years now, and the players just love it," says Jack Black, online casino host at MySportsbook.com. "And why wouldn't they love a free chance to win some extra online blackjack cash."

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