Reds send Wood to the hill in the desert

Baseball Betting Lines

08/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their lead atop the National League's Central Division beginning to swell, the Cincinnati Reds will make an adjustment to their starting rotation for this evening's clash with the Arizona Diamondbacks from Chase Field.

Tonight had been Mike Leake's turn to start for the Reds, but the team has opted to move the rookie to the bullpen in the short term in order to conserve the prized prospect's innings for the stretch run. In Leake's place will be Travis Wood, another youngster who's made a positive impression during his short time in the majors.

Wood has compiled a 3-1 record with an outstanding 2.65 earned run average during an eight-start span from July 1-August 8, but was briefly sent back to Triple-A Louisville afterward because the Reds weren't in need of an fifth starter. The rookie had won three consecutive outings prior to being sent down.

In his most recent start in the majors, Wood picked up a victory at Chicago on August 8 after allowing four runs (three earned) and just four hits over 6 1/3 innings. Seven of the 23-year-old's eight big-league appearances have come on the road, and he's 3-0 with a solid 2.80 ERA over those games.

Wood will be attempting to extend Cincinnati's present win streak to a season- high six games and earn a sweep of this three-game set when he toes the rubber tonight. The Reds kept up their unbeaten run by putting forth a big late rally on Wednesday, scoring eight times over the final two innings to post an 11-7 come-from-behind triumph over the Diamondbacks.

Trailing 7-3 after seven innings, Cincinnati erupted for four runs in the top of the eighth to draw even and scored four more times in the ninth to forge ahead. The Reds took an 8-7 lead when Chris Heisey's pinch-hit bunt single plated Jim Edmonds, who began the ninth with a double, while Laynce Nix capped the big inning with a two-RBI double and knocked in three runs total on the evening.

Both Edmonds and Bruce had homered for Cincinnati earlier in the game, with Bruce ending 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored for the contest. Ramon Hernandez finished 3-for-4 with a run-scoring double for the Reds, who racked up 18 hits as a team.

The win gave Cincinnati a three-game advantage over slumping St. Louis in the NL Central standings, with the Cardinals' suffering their fourth straight loss in last night's defeat to Milwaukee.

The Reds will put another streak on the line when they take the diamond tonight. Cincinnati has now won seven consecutive times at Chase Field since a 3-2 loss on September 12, 2008 and is 15-3 in its past 18 overall matchups with the Diamondbacks.

Arizona relievers Sam Demel and Aaron Heilman were rocked for eight runs over a combined 2 2/3 innings on Wednesday, with Heilman (3-4) taking the loss after permitting four runs and five hits in just 1 1/3 frames.

"I can be critical of myself the way I handled the bullpen tonight," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said afterward. "I just don't put it on those guys. As a team, we didn't stand up to it when it was on the line. I was just as responsible as the rest of the team."

Chris Young and Adam LaRoche each hit two-run homers and had a pair of hits apiece for Arizona, losers of five of its last six tilts.

Joe Saunders will attempt to get the Diamondbacks back on track, while ending a personal two-start skid in the process, when the midseason acquisition takes the mound for tonight's finale.

After delivering strong performances in his first two assignments since coming over from the Angels in the late-July trade involving former Arizona ace Dan Haren, Saunders has struggled in back-to-back starts. The 2008 All-Star was tagged for six runs (five earned) in six innings in a home setback to San Diego on August 8, then surrendered four runs and 10 hits through six frames in Friday's 4-2 loss at Washington.

Since being acquired by the D-Backs, Saunders is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts. The 29-year-old will be opposing the Reds for the first time tonight.

Saunders may not have to deal with one of Cincinnati's top hitters in this evening's showdown. All-Star first baseman Joey Votto was scratched from Wednesday's lineup after experiencing tightness in his back, and it's uncertain whether he'll in the Reds' lineup tonight.

Collegesoccerbetting Baseball Betting News

<< Mets seek rare road series win at Minute Maid Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets have an opportunity to record their first road series win in two months in tonight's finale of a four-game set with the Houston Astros from Minute Maid Park. The road has not been kind to the Mets this se

<< Hamels hopes for better luck in Phils' finale with Giants
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lately Cole Hamels has been the poster boy for lack of run support for the surging Philadelphia Phillies, who will send their left-handed ace to the mound tonight with intentions of securing a three-game sweep of the San Fran

<< AL West-leading Rangers aim to snap skid in Baltimore
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers try to snap a three-game losing streak this evening when they open a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. After splitting a two-game set with the New York Yankees, then taki

<< Davies attempts to pitch Royals to sweep of Tribe
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals will leave it up to Kyle Davies to hopes of completing a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians tonight from Kauffman Stadium, where the two AL Central also-rans close out their series. Kansas Cit

<< Yankees turn to Hughes in series finale vs. Tigers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Hughes goes after win No. 15 this afternoon when the New York Yankees close out their four-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Hughes has alternated wins and losses in his last seven outings, bu

Marseille to add French striker Remy from Nice >>
Marseille, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marseille agreed on a deal with Nice on Thursday to acquire French national team striker Loic Remy. Remy, 23, scored 26 goals in 68 Ligue 1 matches for Nice. He has played twice for France, and will jo

Rockies release OF Hawpe >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies released outfielder Brad Hawpe on Thursday. The 31-year-old was to become a free agent at the end of the season, during which he has batted .255 with seven home runs and 37 RBI

Golf Tidbits: Kaymer, Watson overshadowed by Johnson >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dustin Johnson walked away from the PGA Championship as the big story because of his final-hole penalty. What was overlooked was the fact that the penalty gave him a one-over 73 for the final round. Had Jo

Mainz acquires Rasmussen on loan from Celtic >>
Mainz, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mainz signed Celtic striker Morten Rasmussen to a one-year loan deal Thursday, with an option to buy the 25-year-old Danish international. Rasmussen previously played for Aarhus and Brondby in Denmark befo

Thrashers sign D Meyer >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent defenseman Freddy Meyer on Thursday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Last season with the Islanders, he played in a career-high 64

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.

MySportsbook.com - The World's Leading Online Sportsbook

For more than 11 years now, MySportsbook.com has been the World’s BEST online sports book website, providing a safe and secure place for sports wagering. Our world-class level of experience and industry sportsbook expertise is unmatched.

Offering a wide array of sports to wager on, MySportsbook.com leaves no stone unturned in our search to provide you with great football betting lines and online blackjack options. From teasers to parlays, from futures to wacky propositions, we add more game excitement than any other sportsbook. Fully licensed in two gaming jurisdictions, MySportsbook.com is open and eager to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Whatever the sporting event, this online sportsbook has you covered. Enjoy some of sport’s most memorable moments that much more with MySportsbook.com. With increased interest, follow the game-winning field goal, the walk-off homerun, the buzzer-beater or the hole-in-one shot. Bank on that clutch glove save, the upset TKO or an incredible Hail Mary pass. MySportsbook.com quenches your thirst for action.

To visit this online blackjack got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts credit cards needs.