Rangers-Blue Jays test set to feature young lefties

Baseball Betting Lines

04/22/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two young left-handers will go head-to-head when the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers continue a three-game series tonight at the Rogers Centre.

David Purcey gets the call for the homestanding Jays tonight and will make another attempt at earning his first victory of 2009. The former first-round pick, who turns 27 today, is 0-1 with a pair of no-decisions over his first three starts, but he's pitched to a subpar 6.46 earned run average during those outings.

Walks have been a problem for Purcey in the early going, as he's issued 13 free passes in just 15 1/3 innings of work. He walked four batters in a poor 3 2/3-inning stint against Oakland this past Friday, a game in which the University of Oklahoma product allowed five runs in a no-decision.

Purcey faced the Rangers once as a rookie last season and took the loss in an 8-4 verdict in Arlington on August 3. He served up three home runs in that game and was charged with five runs allowed in five innings.

Matt Harrison gets the call for Texas tonight and is also seeking his first win of the young season. The 23-year-old has suffered the loss in each of his initial two starts of 2009, including a home setback to Kansas City on Friday.

Harrison worked five innings against the Royals but was reached for six runs on eight hits, including a pair of homers, while walking four batters. He doled out five free passes in his season debut at Detroit on April 11, while surrendering four runs over 5 2/3 frames.

A third-round selection by Atlanta in the 2003 draft, Harrison posted a 9-3 record in 15 starts as a rookie for the Rangers last season. He will be opposing Toronto for the first time.

Texas won Tuesday's opener of this set by a 5-4 score, with Ian Kinsler's two- run homer in the top of the seventh inning snapping a 3-3 tie.

Nelson Cruz also had a two-run blast for the Rangers, who were coming off a 6-5 victory over Kansas City on Sunday, while starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy (2-0) held the Jays to three runs over six innings to record the win.

Roy Halladay (3-1) was handed his first defeat of 2009 after the Toronto ace permitted all five Texas runs in an eight-inning stint. Halladay did strikeout nine without a walk, however.

Aaron Hill finished 2-for-5 with a solo homer for the AL East-leading Blue Jays, who had won four of five coming in.

Texas split its eight games with the Blue Jays last season, but won both matchups held at the Rogers Centre.

Vasketball Baseball Betting News

<< Struggling Rays continue set with Mariners
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The reeling Tampa Bay Rays will try to avoid a fourth straight loss when the defending American League champions continue a three- game series with the Seattle Mariners tonight at Safeco Field. Tampa Bay suffered its sixth

<< Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009 Draft Preview (Revised)
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After acquiring Byron Leftwich via free agency, Tampa Bay can now concentrate on a position other than quarterback with its only selection among the first 80 picks. The Buccaneers front four played very poorly down the stretc

<< Giants, Padres wrap brief set
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants have had their problems on the road during the early part of this season, but they've been quite good at home so far. The Giants shoot for a sweep of a brief two-game series with the San Diego Pad

<< Haren hopes for a little support versus Rockies
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Haren hopes his string of hard-luck starts comes to an end when the Arizona hurler takes the hill for the Diamondbacks in today's rubber match of a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Haren has

<< Pirates go for sweep of Marlins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Marlins haven't managed many runs versus the Pirates and they haven't even faced their top pitcher yet. Pittsburgh's Paul Maholm looks to extend his torrid start today in the finale of a three-game set with Florida at PNC

Jacksonville Jaguars 2009 Draft Preview (Revised) >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though a number of mock drafts have the Jaguars selecting a quarterback at No. 8 in order to eventually replace the inconsistent David Garrard, taking Mark Sanchez (assuming Matthew Stafford will be gone) would not be the pru

Cubs' Lilly takes hill vs. Reds >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago's Ted Lilly will try for a rare win over Cincinnati tonight, when the Cubs resume their three-game set with the Reds at Wrigley Field. Lilly is just 1-5 with a 5.24 earned run average in nine career starts vers

Phils, Brewers resume set in South Philly >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time Joe Blanton faced the Brewers, he pitched the Phillies into the NLDS. Getting the Phillies over .500 tonight would be a nice encore. Philadelphia sends Blanton to the hill tonight in the second game of a thr

Nats aim for sweep of Braves in DC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals will try to continue their sudden surge this evening, as they aim for a sweep of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. The Nationals began the season just 1-10, a star

Philadelphia Eagles 2009 Draft Preview (Revised) >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eagles took care of a major offseason need last week, when they acquired Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters from the Bills in a package that sent the team's No. 28 overall pick to Buffalo. With that need out of the way, Ph

Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.