Rockies aim for sixth straight win vs. LA

Baseball Betting Lines

05/28/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies go for a sixth straight win this evening when they open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field.

The Rockies continued to roll on Thursday, as Seth Smith, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs hit consecutive home runs in the seventh inning off Arizona starter Dan Haren, helping the Rockies take an 8-2 win over the Diamondbacks to complete a three-game sweep.

"Those things just happen," said Spilborghs. "You get opportunities to hit back-to-back-to-back but nobody ever plans it that way. We got good hits."

Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run shot for Colorado, which extended its season- best win streak to five games. Gonzalez and Spilborghs each finished with three hits, while Tulowitzki had two to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Rockies starter Jason Hammel (2-3) got the win after limiting Arizona to two runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He also struck out a season-high eight.

Tonight the Rockies turn to veteran left-hander Jeff Francis, who has been terrific in his two starts this season. After missing all of last season recovering from elbow surgery, Francis has resembled the pitcher who won 17 games in 2007, as he is 1-0, surrendering just one earned run in 13 1/3 innings.

Francis, who is 5-3 lifetime against the Dodgers, picked up his first win since 2008 on Saturday in Kansas City, holding the Royals to five hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, was on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field. Casey Blake had two of the five hits for the Dodgers, who have dropped three of their previous four games but have still won 15 of the last 20 contests overall.

John Ely (3-2) was the hard-luck loser for allowing one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. The rookie righty, who was making his first career start against the Cubs, struck out four and walked a pair.

"We put together a pretty good defensive game, but sometimes you just come up on the short end," Ely said.

LA will pin its hopes tonight on Carlos Monasterios, who will come out of the bullpen to make his second start. Monasterios allowed a run and three hits in four innings against Pittsburgh back in May, but did not get a decision. He is 1-0 on the season with a 1.90 ERA.

The Dodgers took two of three from the Rockies earlier in the year after winning the season series, 14-4, in 2009.

Casinoplauer Baseball Betting News

<< Giants seek to deal Diamondbacks fifth straight loss
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants got their nine-game homestand off to a good start, but could experience some trouble tonight with struggling starter Matt Cain on the hill for the opener of a three-games series versus the Arizona Dia

<< West-leading Padres resume homestand with visit from Nats
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League West-leading San Diego Padres need just one more win to secure a fourth straight month of at least .500 baseball. They have a good shot at doing that tonight, with the Washington Nationals in town for the

<< Mets aim to continue pitching prowess in Milwaukee
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets try to continue their incredible run of starting pitching this evening, when they open a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. New York finished off an impressive three-game swee

<< Tigers, A's commence four-game set in Motown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A late-inning collapse by Detroit on Wednesday was the difference between a winning and losing road trip. The Athletics hope that heart-breaking road loss will make the Tigers vulnerable tonight at Comerica Park gi

<< Mariners send Lee to hill in opener at Angel Stadium
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mariners picked up a win in Cliff Lee's last start despite the former American League Cy Young Award winner turning in his worst outing in nearly three years. Seattle doesn't want to play with fire again tonight

Blue Jays, Orioles set to begin stretch of divisional games >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Already 18 games out of first place in the American League East, the Baltimore Orioles can at least try to have some fun by shaking up the standings with 12 straight matchups against their division opponents. The Orioles w

Carmona, Indians open road series in the Bronx >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time Fausto Carmona stepped on the mound at new Yankee Stadium, the Indians' offense erupted in a record-tying performance. Given how Cleveland's offense struggled in its last game, the club hopes its hurler

UConn basketball charged with eight violations >>
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Connecticut has received a notice of allegations from the NCAA in regard to possible recruiting violations in the men's basketball program. UConn officials and the NCAA have be

Hurricanes agree to one-year deal with Tlusty >>
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with forward Jiri Tlusty on a one-year contract worth $500,000. Tlusty was acquired by the Hurricanes from Toronto last December in exchange for the rights to

Many early entries will likely go undrafted >>
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -A record wave of college basketball players have left school early for the chance to get paid by the NBA - despite the league's uncertain labor situation.For some, like Kentucky's John Wall and Ohio State's Evan Turner, it's p

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.