Aces to go head-to-head as Mets, Braves begin key series

Baseball Betting Lines

08/02/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With both the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets' respective offenses not carrying much momentum, tonight's opener of a three-game series between the clubs could come down to pitching.

Atlanta might surprisingly have the edge, as Tim Hudson goes for a third straight win while New York starter Johan Santana will be looking to rebound from one of his worst starts of the season Monday at Turner Field.

The first-place Braves have lost two straight and five of their last seven games to see their edge over the second-place Phillies fall to 2 1/2 games in the National League East. The Mets are 6 1/2 games off the pace, so this figures to be a big series and homestand for the club.

New York will also visit Philadelphia for three games following this set as it looks to make up ground in the division.

To do that, the Mets will need Santana to shake off his disastrous start versus the Cardinals last Wednesday. The former Cy Young Award winner had gone 3-0 with a 0.71 earned run average in five July starts before closing the month by yielding seven runs on a season-high 13 hits over 5 2/3 innings. Santana did get a no-decision in his team's extra-inning loss despite posting his worst start since giving up 10 runs in a loss to the Phillies on May 2.

The 31-year-old lefty is 8-5 with a 3.11 ERA this year and 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts versus the Braves. In 10 career starts against the franchise, he is 2-5 with a 2.01 ERA.

Hudson, meanwhile, has won consecutive outings for the first time since a three-start win streak from May 11-21 and has yielded just one run over his current unbeaten stretch.

The right-hander notched seven scoreless innings versus San Diego on July 22 before holding Washington to a run on seven hits over 7 2/3 frames on Wednesday. He improved to 11-5 with a 2.40 ERA on the season.

Hudson, 35, faced the Mets just once previously this season, earning a victory on July 10 with seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball. He is 11-5 with a 3.54 ERA in his career versus New York.

Hudson will hope his team's offense can get on track after notching just four hits in a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. Alex Gonzalez snapped an 0-for-18 drought with a solo homer in the second inning for Atlanta, his first home run since being acquired in a trade with Toronto on July 14.

Atlanta is expected to decide today if it is going to place second baseman Martin Prado on the disabled list. The All-Star suffered a fractured right pinky on Friday.

"It doesn't feel good," Prado told Atlanta's website. "It's just sore, and I can't do anything right now. Whatever their decision is, I can't control that."

New York's offense didn't fare much better in its Sunday finale with the last- place Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mets posted just five hits in a 14-1 pounding, with Ike Davis' sacrifice fly in the fourth inning accounting for the only run.

"This team had our number all year," Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur said of Arizona. "We got blown out by them."

The loss gave the Mets a split of a six-game homestand and dropped them to just 5-12 since the All-Star break.

Though New York has won four of six this year with Atlanta, the Braves have beaten the Mets in 11 of the last 16 overall meetings and are 15-5 at home versus them since the 2008 season.

Nikkansport Baseball Betting News

<< Reds hit road for clash with bumbling Bucs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Travis Wood has been a huge boost to the Cincinnati Reds' rotation and finally has a win to show for it. The Pittsburgh Pirates hope to get a similar lift tonight from Ross Ohlendorf, who has to feel lucky he can even make hi

<< Westbrook makes Cardinals debut in opener with Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros may have parted ways with a couple of longtime stalwarts over the past few days, but it looks as if Brett Myers will be around for quite a while longer. One day after signing a contract extension, Myers

<< Cahill eyes 11th victory as A's battle Royals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trevor Cahill goes after win No. 11 this evening when the Oakland Athletics open a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at the Coliseum. Cahill was brilliant in beating the American League West-leading Texas Ra

<< Red Sox open set against visiting Indians
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox shoot for a third straight win this evening when they open a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. The Red Sox took two of three over the weekend from the Detroit Tigers, winning t

<< Rolling Twins send out red-hot Pavano to face Rays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams with first place on their minds start a three- game series this evening, as the red-hot Minnesota Twins visit the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a four-game set at Tropicana Field. Minnesota has won eight straig

Cubs, Brewers to battle in matchup of Central disappointments >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Both the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs were expected to contend for a playoff spot this year. Instead, the two clubs will both be looking to snap five-game losing streaks in this evening's opener of a three- game series

GM Cashman would be lost without the cash >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is often referred to as "Cash" as an abbreviation for his last name. And how appropriate that is, because without the ability to spend the Steinbrenners' huge boatlo

Breakers continue to stay hot >>
Cambridge, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jordan Angeli and Lauren Cheney each scored a goal and assisted on another as the Boston Breakers downed the Washington Freedom, 3-1, at Harvard Stadium. Boston's Kelly Smith put her team in front in

Fabiano to remain at Sevilla >>
Seville, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sevilla's Brazil striker Luis Fabiano is adamant that he will remain in Spain this summer, despite continuing talk of interest in him from Italy and England. The 29-year-old South American has been

Marchena completes Villarreal switch >>
Villarreal, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Villarreal have completed the signing of Spanish defender Carlos Marchena from La Liga rivals Valencia. The 31-year-old has signed a three-year contract at El Madrigal, changing clubs for an undiscl

NFL Football Betting


BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES

It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.

BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES

All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.

COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES

Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.

TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES

Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.

RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.

PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.

JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.

SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.

VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES

Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.

DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES

Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.

SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES

I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.

BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES

Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.

BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES

Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.

RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES

A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.

PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers

Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.