Rangers host Mariners at the Ballpark

Baseball Betting Lines

06/07/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers will attempt to continue their season- long success at home when the current American League West leaders welcome one of the worst road teams in the majors, the Seattle Mariners, to Rangers Ballpark at Arlington tonight for the opener of a four-game divisional series.

A 20-10 record at home has helped the Rangers seize the top spot in the AL West, where the club presently owns a half-game edge on the hard-charging Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Texas is coming off a pair of victories in its three-game series with AL East-leading Tampa Bay at Rangers Ballpark over the weekend, although the Rays were able to claim the finale with a 9-5 decision yesterday afternoon.

The Rangers received shaky pitching on Sunday, with starter Rich Harden (3-2) serving up a pair of homers and allowing four runs (three earned) in a five- inning stint in which he labored through 111 pitches. Relievers Frank Francisco and Darren O'Day combined to give up three runs in the eighth, enabling the Rays to pull away in what had been a close contest.

"[Harden] still has to figure out a way to get us deeper into ball games," said Rangers manager Ron Washington afterward. "He left the game, we were still in the game, but he still has to get us deeper into the game and he's gotta keep working at it."

Matt Treanor belted a pair of solo home runs for Texas, with Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton each delivering RBI singles in a losing cause.

The Angels closed the gap on the Rangers in the standings with Sunday's 9-4 victory at Seattle, which completed a sweep of the three-game series. Mike Napoli's two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning snapped a 4-4 tie, and Anaheim later tacked on three more runs against the Mariners bullpen to put the game out of reach.

Hideki Matsui reached base with a one-out single off Seattle reliever Shawn Kelley (3-1) and Napoli followed with an opposite-field blast over the wall in right to give Anaheim a 6-4 advantage.

Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Lopez and Josh Wilson each had two hits and an RBI for the Mariners, who entered the series off three consecutive home wins over AL Central leader Minnesota. Seattle starter Jason Vargas worked the first six innings and was reached for four runs (three earned) on 10 hits.

"I think it's always disappointing when you get swept," Vargas said following the loss. "I thought we had some good momentum going in and let some games slip away at the end."

Seattle now heads to the road, where the team has gone a woeful 7-17 thus far in 2010, for a 10-game trip against three teams (Texas, San Diego, St. Louis) currently leading their respective divisions.

The Mariners also haven't fared well in Arlington in the recent past, with the Rangers having won 11 of the last 15 matchups between the AL West foes as the host. In addition, Texas has taken five of its previous six overall encounters with Seattle this season.

Seattle hopes to reverse its fortunes behind Cliff Lee, but the former AL Cy Young Award winner has had a rough go of it at Rangers Ballpark as well over his career. The accomplished left-hander does own a 3-3 record in six lifetime starts in Arlington, but has surrendered 35 runs (33 earned) in 32 1/3 innings over those games, as well as a .338 batting average against.

Lee does enter tonight's assignment on an excellent roll, though. He held the red-hot Angels to three runs -- two earned -- on just four hits and struck out 10 over eight innings in a May 28 victory, then followed up by yielding just one run on five hits and fanning eight through eight frames this past Wednesday against Minnesota. Lee did not receive a decision that night, but the Mariners were able to come away with a 2-1 triumph.

The 31-year-old was also outstanding in his season debut, which took place against the Rangers at Safeco Field. Lee permitted just three hits and struck out eight without a walk in seven scoreless innings in that April 30 clash, although he did not get a decision after exiting a scoreless tie.

In nine overall starts versus Texas, Lee is 5-3 with a 6.15 earned run average.

Scott Feldman gets the call for the Rangers this evening and looks to maintain his career mastery of the Mariners. The right-hander owns a 3-1 record with a 2.67 ERA in 16 games (seven starts) against Seattle and dealt the M's a defeat in Arlington by permitting two runs -- one earned -- over seven sharp innings back on April 11.

Feldman also enters tonight's tilt having won two of his last three starts and pitched a season-high eight innings in Wednesday's victory at Chicago. He was touched for five runs that night, but received plenty of offensive support in a 9-5 verdict.

A surprise 17-game winner for the Rangers last year, Feldman is just 3-5 with a 5.82 ERA through his first 11 starts of this season, but has gone 2-1 in six home starts so far in 2010.

Lesseters Baseball Betting News

<< Braves' trip continues with stop in Arizona
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves cooled off a bit out West at the start of their 11-game road trip. A trip to Arizona to facing the struggling Diamondbacks should be enough to get them rolling again. National League East-leading Atlanta

<< Martinez, Red Sox invade Cleveland's Progressive Field
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Outstanding play over the past three weeks has made the Boston Red Sox a factor once again in the American League East race. If the team's performance against the Cleveland Indians in recent years is any indicat

<< Astros head to Colorado hoping to continue strong stretch
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Offense hasn't been the Houston Astros' strength this season, but they were able to swing the bats well over a recently-completed homestand. That has Houston looking for a sixth victory in seven games this evening, when i

<< Reds' Cueto aims to keep win streak intact in opener vs. Giants
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cincinnati Reds starter Johnny Cueto was bailed out by an offensive surge his last time out to keep his current unbeaten streak intact. He'll try not to rely on the bats tonight in his first career appearance against the San

<< Phillies shoot for much-needed series win over Padres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies have won just two series since mid-May and have a chance to make it three tonight, when they close out a four-game set versus the San Diego Padres from Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies swept Milwa

Dodgers, Cardinals to face off in NLDS rematch >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing in close games has become a habit of the Los Angeles Dodgers as of late. That wasn't the case the last time they faced the St. Louis Cardinals. Los Angeles and St. Louis square off for the first time since last sea

Selig and MLB slow to stifle replay controversy >>
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - To say Jim Joyce feels bad for costing Armando Galarraga's chance at history would be a gross understatement. But consider the silver lining that came from one of the game's all-time gaffes; the realization th

Drosselmeyer: Not the best horse last Saturday >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drosselmeyer won the 142nd Belmont Stakes but the most promising colt that ran at Belmont Park was not even entered in a stakes race. The fourth race on the card gave horseplayers a glimpse of future grea

NBA finals are Boston bound tied at a game apiece >>
BOSTON (AP) -Chin resting in his hand, mouth barely moving as he spoke, Kobe Bryant had the look of someone who would have rather been anywhere but Staples Center.The next few nights might make him long to be back home.The NBA's best rivalry is retu

Allen's sweet stroke saves Celtics >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There is nothing more deflating for an NBA team than watching a great shooter get a good look from the three-point line. The ball comes off the hand and almost seems frozen in time for a second or two before splashing thro

Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting