Let's play two: Tigers, Indians set for doubleheader

Baseball Betting Lines

07/17/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers get two cracks at the last-place Cleveland Indians today, as the AL Central squads hookup for a doubleheader at Progressive Field.

On Friday, Andy Marte and Austin Kearns each hit a two-run homer, leading the Indians in an 8-2 rout of the Tigers to begin a four-game series.

Travis Hafner and Trevor Crowe both added two hits and an RBI for the Indians, who had lost five of six to end the first half of the season. Carlos Santana also drove in a run and stole a base for Cleveland, which is still 15 games back in the AL Central.

"We got some key hits, especially the one by Marte," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta. "That two-run homer was big for us, and then the cushion that was provided by Austin Kearns."

Jake Westbrook (6-5) pitched 5 2/3 effective innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while fanning five.

Miguel Cabrera and Brennan Boesch each drove in a run for the Tigers, who have lost two straight following a five-game win streak. Austin Jackson registered a triple among two hits for Detroit, which trails Chicago by one game for the AL Central lead.

Max Scherzer (6-7), who was 4-0 in his last five starts and allowed just three runs in his previous 27 2/3 innings, yielded four runs, five hits and a season-high five walks in five frames. He struck out seven.

"We have to play better in all phases," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "We were sloppy defensively. We were sloppy on the bases. The pitching wasn't good. We didn't hit good. We didn't manage good. We didn't do anything good."

The Tigers will send Justin Verlander to the hill in today's first game. The hard throwing right-hander has been hot of late, winning three straight and six of his last seven starts. On July 9th, Verlander gave up two earned runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 7-3 win over Minnesota.

Verlander is just 9-10 with a 5.39 ERA in 21 career starts versus the Indians, but he has won his last five decisions against them. He yielded three runs and fanned nine in six innings of a 6-4 triumph at Progressive Field on May 8th.

Detroit brought back Rick Porcello from Triple-A Toledo to start the second game. The young right-hander last made an appearance for the Tigers on June 19th, when he gave up five runs - four earned - in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 loss to Arizona.

Porcello has never lost to Cleveland in six career starts, posting a 4-0 record and a 2.55 ERA. In two appearances versus Cleveland this season, Porcello is 1-0, allowing five earned runs over 10 1/3 innings.

Fausto Carmona gets the nod for the Indians in the first game and he has put together three straight quality starts. On July 9th, the right-hander surrendered two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings of a 9-3 triumph at Tampa Bay.

In 13 lifetime starts against the Tigers, Carmona is 6-3 with a 3.34 ERA. He, however, is 0-2 in his past five appearances against them. On June 2nd, Carmona gave up just two earned runs over eight innings against Detroit, but was the on short end of a 3-0 decision.

Mitch Talbot toes the rubber in the nightcap for the Indians and he has fallen in two straight and four of his last five starts. In his most recent appearance on July 7th, the rookie right-hander permitted four earned runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-3 loss at Texas.

This is Talbot's fourth career appearance against the Tigers and he is 1-1 with a 9.49 ERA against them. He is 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two starts versus Detroit this season.

The Tigers split a two-game set in Cleveland in May, but they are 8-4 there since the start of last season, while going 20-7 overall in the last 27 meetings.

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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.

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