07/04/2008 - (Baseball Betting) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have had problems scoring runs for Derek Lowe this season. However, with two big-name players set to return from the disabled list today, that may not be a problem.
Los Angeles is expected to get both Nomar Garciaparra and Andruw Jones back in the lineup when it begins a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants today at AT&T Park.
The Dodgers' offense had found some momentum in the last three games, as the team plated 16 runs after scoring just twice in its previous three contests and eight times in the last five.
Now the club gets both Garciaparra and Jones back. Garciaparra has been out since April 26 due to a torn left calf muscle and has been slowly making his way back. Jones, meanwhile, is returning to action about two weeks ahead of time from right knee surgery on May 27.
The two have been rehabbing in Triple-A Las Vegas, playing three games and going a combined 9-for-16 with Jones adding a homer. Also of note is that Garciaparra, who started the year at third base, will return today to shortstop due to Rafael Furcal undergoing back surgery on Thursday that will keep him out another eight weeks.
Jones, meanwhile, takes over center field for the injured Juan Pierre (left knee).
The Dodgers hope those returns will make a winner out of Lowe this afternoon. He has lost two straight starts and three of his last four despite a 3.04 earned run average in that span. In fact, the righty is just 5-8 on the season despite a 3.88 ERA.
LA has scored only seven runs in Lowe's last four outings, including six in one game. That contest did not take place on Sunday, when Lowe held the Angels to just a run on five hits before dropping a 1-0 decision in a test the Dodgers managed just three hits.
The 35-year-old faced the Giants on April 1 and got a no-decision after yielding two runs on nine hits over six innings of a 3-2 Dodgers win. Lowe is 3-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 career starts versus the Giants, including 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in five outings at AT&T Park.
The Dodgers have won three straight and five of seven overall to get within 1 1/2 games of first-place Arizona in the National League West. James Loney and Andre Ethier each homered in Thursday's 5-2 win over Houston to back eight strong innings by Chad Billingsley.
However, second baseman Jeff Kent left the game in the middle of the fifth inning due to back stiffness. He is day-to-day. Luis Maza slid over from short to second to replace Kent, while Angel Berroa came off the bench to play short.
The Giants send Jonathan Sanchez to the hill today, and the lefty has won two straight starts while going 6-1 with a 3.09 ERA over his last seven outings. He has given up just one run in each of his last two starts, including Sunday's win over Oakland. Sanchez fanned six in that outing, giving him 102 strikeouts -- tied for seventh in the NL -- in 102 innings of work.
The 25-year-old is 8-4 with a 3.79 ERA this year and has posted a 3.72 ERA in four games, including one start, lifetime versus the Dodgers without a decision.
San Francisco just split a four-game set with the Cubs, winning Thursday's finale 8-3 for its fourth win in six games. Rich Aurilia drilled a three-run homer for the Giants, while Aaron Rowand and Jose Castillo each had two hits and scored twice. Castillo also drove in a run.
Tim Lincecum (10-1) gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings to win his sixth straight decision.
The Dodgers took two of three from the Giants in LA from March 31-April 2 and have won 14 of their last 18 at San Francisco.
<< Mets, Phillies to renew rivalry with key weekend set
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fireworks are sure to fly in South Philadelphia tonight, as
the Phillies and New York Mets renew their National League East rivalry with
the opener of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies and Mets ba
<< Rays try to keep shining in opener with Royals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays will try to run their winning streak to
five games this evening, when they begin a four-game series with the Kansas
City Royals at Tropicana Field.
The Rays' current winning run includes a three-g
<< Mariners try again to tame surging Tigers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers try to continue their recent dominance
of the Seattle Mariners when the two teams continue their four-game series
this afternoon at Safeco Field.
Detroit has won six of seven from the Mariners th
<< Serena, Venus prepare for Saturday's all-sister Wimbledon final
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the third time in seven years
the mighty Williams sisters -- Serena and Venus -- will square off in an all-
American, all-sister final on the Wimbledon grass.
The sixth-seeded former world
Red Sox send Beckett to hill in holiday matinee with Yankees >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For an offense that hasn't produced many fireworks lately,
a matchup with Josh Beckett might be the last thing the New York Yankees want
to see right now. The Boston Red Sox ace will attempt to pitch his team to a
second stra
Buehrle, White Sox host Athletics and Blanton >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two pitchers who have delivered vastly different results
over the last month go head-to-head when the Chicago White Sox and Oakland
Athletics resume a four-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.
Mark Buehrle is slated
Federer reaches sixth Wimbledon final >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Roger Federer, seeking a
sixth straight title here, was an easy semifinal winner Friday at Wimbledon.
The reigning five-time champion from Switzerland extended his Wimbledon
winning streak
Red-hot Twins hope to keep rolling versus Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins hope to keep their recent hot streak
going tonight, when the resurgent club begins a three-game home series against
a Cleveland Indians squad desperate to end a five-game slide.
Minnesota has amassed an
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Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back
With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.
"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."
Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .
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