Surging Astros head to Big Apple to take on Mets

Baseball Betting Lines

08/27/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brooklyn-born righty Nelson Figueroa returns to his hometown for a starting assignment when the Houston Astros visit the New York Mets tonight to open a three-game series at Citi Field.

The 36-year-old Figueroa, who's pitched for six major league teams, was a member of the Mets from 2008-09 and went 6-11 over 32 appearances while starting 16 times. He's also pitched for Arizona, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh in addition to the Mets and Astros.

The former 30th-round draft pick of New York in 1995 faced the Mets in Houston on Aug. 17 in Houston and got a no-decision after allowing an earned run on four hits in five innings. The Astros won the game, 4-3.

He's posted a 3.32 earned run average in seven lifetime appearances (two starts) against the Mets while allowing 22 hits and nine runs in 21 2/3 innings.

New York counters with 6-foot-7 righty Mike Pelfrey, who's won two of three since a midseason drought. The former first-round pick (ninth overall, 2005) downed Pittsburgh, 7-2, on Aug. 20 while giving up six hits and an earned run in eight innings.

Pelfrey was 10-2 on the season after beating Minnesota on June 25, but lost four straight decisions between July 5 and Aug. 4.

He is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in four career starts against Houston.

On Thursday in New York, Hanley Ramirez had three hits -- including a home run -- scored three times and drove in a pair as Florida stormed back from an early deficit to dismantle the Mets, 11-4, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

New York starter Jonathon Niese (8-6) started strong but wound up suffering the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks while fanning eight in 5 2/3 innings.

Houston comes into this series off an impressive four-game road sweep of Philadelphia. In Thursday's finale, Wandy Rodriguez stymied the Phillies hitters over seven innings and helped his own cause with an RBI single as the Astros posted a 5-1 win.

Rodriguez (10-12) struck out six and walked one. His lone mistake came in the sixth inning, when Chase Utley doubled home Jimmy Rollins.

Carlos Lee hit an RBI double in the first inning and added a solo home run off Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick (8-7) in the third. Kendrick, who was celebrating his 26th birthday on Thursday, gave up four runs and nine hits in six full frames.

The last time Houston swept the Phillies in a four-game series in Philadelphia was Sept. 6-9, 1999 at Veterans Stadium.

These teams split a four-game series in Houston earlier this month. The Mets won five of six meetings with the Astros last season, including a three-game sweep at Citi Field.

Hitboz Baseball Betting News

<< Indians, Royals to begin set between divisional foes
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals will pay a visit to the American League Central-rival Cleveland Indians tonight for the first of three straight games at Progressive Field. The Royals have won five of eight meetings with the Tribe t

<< Yankees invade Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams in the midst of heated playoff races will square off tonight at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field, where the New York Yankees invade the Windy City for the first of three straight meetings with the White Sox.

<< Twins hope Baker can cook up win at Seattle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Baker tries to win his fifth straight decision this evening when the Minnesota Twins open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Baker was terrific in beating the Los Angeles Angels of

<< Verlander leads Tigers into second test at Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Verlander takes aim at win No. 15 this evening when the Detroit Tigers continue their four-game set at the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Verlander won for the second time in three starts on Sunday against

<< Rays welcome Red Sox to the Trop
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A terrific pitching matchup is on tap this evening when David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays welcome Jon Lester and the Boston Red Sox to town for the start of an important three-game series at Tropicana Field. Tampa

Braves seeking to bounce back in opener with Marlins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The suddenly-slumping Atlanta Braves hope to maintain a seemingly comfortable lead atop the National League East standings when they begin a three-game series versus the Florida Marlins tonight at Turner Field. Atlanta was

Dodgers ready for big series with Rockies >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of NL West foes trying to keep their postseason hopes intact collide tonight in the Rocky Mountains, where the Colorado Rockies begin a three-game series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Colorado has

Slumping Phils to get test from Latos, Padres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League West-leading San Diego Padres have been pleased with how well Mat Latos has pitched this season and will send the young right-hander to the mound Friday in the opener of a three-game series versus the visi

Giants aim to maintain mastery of Diamondbacks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League Wild Card-leading San Francisco Giants will try to continue their dominance of the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks when the two clubs open a three-game series tonight at AT&T Park. The Giants ho

City, Juve drawn together in Europa League >>
Monaco, Monaco (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Juventus and Manchester City were drawn into Group A of the UEFA Europa League on Friday, when defending champions Atletico Madrid also received a tough pairing in Group B with Bayer Leverkusen. Juventus, a

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.