07/04/2008 - (Baseball Betting) - Atlanta right-hander Tim Hudson makes his fourth career start against Houston today when the host Braves open a three-game series against the Astros at Turner Field.
The Georgia native, who'll turn 33 in 10 days, is 1-0 in three lifetime starts against the Astros, allowing 14 hits and just three runs in 24 innings, walking five batters and striking out 20 while opponents hit just .173 against him.
He defeated the New York Mets on May 22 to improve to 7-3 this season, but has since won just once and lost three times in seven starts.
Hudson took a 9-5 loss to Toronto in his most recent start on June 28, allowing seven hits and six runs in five innings while his earned run average rose from 2.96 to 3.31.
For the Astros, veteran right-hander Brian Moehler looks to make it four straight starts without a loss.
The 36-year-old, a 1993 draft pick of the Detroit Tigers, was touched for seven hits and seven runs in a 9-6 loss to Milwaukee on June 12, but has since allowed just 18 hits and three runs in 18 1/3 innings over three outings.
He gave up six hits and a run in Houston's 2-1 loss to Baltimore on June 18, defeated Texas with 6 1/3 innings of five-hit, one-run ball on June 24 and allowed seven hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings of the Astros' 3-2 win against Boston on June 29.
Moehler is 1-4 with a save in 12 lifetime appearances against the Braves - five starts - surrendering 40 hits and 22 earned runs in 38 2/3 innings.
On Thursday in Houston, Chad Billingsley tossed eight strong innings and James Loney went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored as the Los Angeles Dodgers topped the Astros, 5-2, in the finale of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
J.R. Towles had a two-run double for the Astros, losers of three straight after a three-game win streak. Mark Loretta and Carlos Lee each went 2-for-4, while Brandon Backe (5-9) allowed all five runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 frames to take the loss.
In Atlanta, Cole Hamels was brilliant on the mound, as the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Braves, 4-1, to complete another three-game sweep.
The 24-year-old Hamels (9-5) gave up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 8 2/3 innings for Philadelphia, which has won seven straight against the Braves. The Phillies have also won their last six games in Atlanta, the longest streak since a six-game stretch from August 20-24, 1976.
Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens (8-4) allowed four runs on eight hits in seven innings, while walking one and fanning six.
Brian McCann doubled in the Braves only run with two away in the bottom of the ninth. Yunel Escobar, Gregor Blanco and Chipper Jones also doubled for Atlanta, which has dropped five in a row.
This is the first series of the season between these teams.
<< 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
<< Dodgers should get reinforcements for latest battle with Giants
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - 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
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
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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