Zambrano returns to rotation in finale with Bucs

Baseball Betting Lines

06/02/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs hope to get a needed spark from Carlos Zambrano when the fiery pitcher returns to a starting role for tonight's finale of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates from PNC Park.

Zambrano, a three-time National League All-Star who's averaged better than 14 wins over the past seven seasons, was shifted to the bullpen in late April after going 1-2 with a subpar 7.45 earned run average in four starts. The excitable Venezuelan has pitched significantly better as a reliever lately, having not allowed a run in any of his last five appearances, which prompted manager Lou Piniella to insert him back in the rotation in place of the struggling Tom Gorzelanny.

The accomplished right-hander is 11-8 with a 4.16 ERA in 29 lifetime games (25 starts) against Pittsburgh, but was dealt a loss by the Pirates in relief back on May 14 after giving up a go-ahead three-run homer to Garrett Jones in the eighth inning.

Piniella hopes the switch can help his club solve its continued recent struggles against Pittsburgh. The Pirates have won seven of the eight matchups between the NL Central foes this season, including the first two tests of this three-game set, and are 9-1 in their last 10 encounters with the Cubs. Chicago has lost all five of its games played in the Steel City so far this year as well.

Pittsburgh's mastery of the Cubs continued with last night's 3-2 decision, in which the Bucs went in front on Neil Walker's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.

With the Pirates trailing 2-1, Andrew McCutchen drew a one-out walk off Cubs starter Ted Lilly and Walker followed by clubbing an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left for his first major league home run.

"I thought [Lilly] was about to get pulled," Walker said. "I didn't think he was going to face me. Fortunately I had three terrible at-bats against him, so I think that's one of the reasons he stayed in the game. I wanted to be aggressive there, I got a pitch over the plate and I was able to drive it."

Jones also homered in the win and finished 2-for-4 for Pittsburgh, which had lost five in a row prior to rallying for a 2-1 decision in Monday's opener of this series. Octavio Dotel worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 12th save of the season.

The Cubs suffered their third straight defeat and now have dropped five of their last seven tilts to fall to a disappointing 24-29 on the season.

"It's frustrating on everyone," said outfielder Xavier Nady, who went 4-for-4 and accounted for all of Chicago's scoring with a two-run homer in the third inning. "You plan on getting big hits and getting things going. But offensively, we're not doing it, there's no way around it.

Lilly (1-5) worked 7 2/3 innings and surrendered all three runs on six hits, while striking out six and walking four.

While the Pirates have enjoyed great success against the Cubs as of late, that trend hasn't carried over to Zach Duke's starts in this series. The left- hander has lost eight consecutive decisions to Chicago and is winless in his last 13 starts versus the Cubs, having last topped the club back on May 2, 2006.

Duke will also be seeking to bounce back from an awful performance his last time out, when the 2009 All-Star was rocked for seven runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Atlanta last Friday. He had been very sharp in his previous two outings, yielding just two runs -- one earned -- over a combined 13 frames in a May 18 win at Philadelphia and a no-decision against the Braves five days later.

The 27-year-old, who's 4-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 17 career starts against Chicago, has compiled a 3-5 mark with a 5.09 ERA in 11 games this season.

Wwwmacauslot Baseball Betting News

<< Sheets, Dice-K square off in Boston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After coming through with a comeback victory in Tuesday's opener of this three-game series, the Boston Red Sox will attempt to maintain that momentum when the resurgent club takes on the Oakland Athletics again this evening

<< Hughes goes for Yanks against woeful O's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of American League East rivals continue a series that's been rather one-sided as of late tonight at New York's Yankee Stadium, where the defending world champion Yankees set their sights on a seventh consecutive vict

<< Price goes for win No. 8 in Rays' finale with Jays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Price tries to become the American League's first eight-game winner this evening, when the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays play the rubber match of their three-game series at Rogers Centre. Price, the first over

<< Twins to renew acquaintainces with Mariners' Lee
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Lee targets his third straight win when the Seattle Mariners continue their four-game set with the Minnesota Twins this evening at Safeco Field. Lee won for the third time in four starts Friday in Anaheim, as he held

<< Mets' Santana takes hill in finale at San Diego
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mets got a Cy Young-worthy performance out of starter Mike Pelfrey on Tuesday night. Given how it has struggled on the road this season, New York could use another one out of Johan Santana. Santana aims to pitc

Tigers hope to reverse fortunes against Tribe >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The slumping Detroit Tigers will try to reverse their recent fortunes when the American League Central's last-place team, the Cleveland Indians, invades Comerica Park tonight for the first of three straight meetings between t

Muirfield Village to host 2013 Presidents Cup >>
Dublin, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Muirfield Village Golf Club has been selected as the host of the 2013 Presidents Cup. Jack Nicklaus' course in Ohio will become the first venue to host three of golf's most prestigious international team competi

Phoenix's Maloney named NHL GM of the year >>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The NHL says Don Maloney of the Phoenix Coyotes has been chosen as the league's top general manager this season.Maloney became the award's first winner on Wednesday during a meeting of the NHL's general managers at the Stanley Cup

Harper seems headed for our nation's capital >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft gets underway on June 7th, with the Washington Nationals holding the top pick for the second straight year. It is just the second time since the inception

Ice Box heads Belmont field of 12 >>
Elmont, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box has been installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. Neither Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver

Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.

NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.