McCarthy, Rangers set to host Athletics

Baseball Betting Lines

04/20/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Young right-hander Brandon McCarthy looks to recover from the shortest start of his career tonight when the Texas Rangers host the Oakland Athletics to begin a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.

The 23-year-old, who was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the offseason, was tagged for six hits and six runs in just two innings on April 15, losing a 14-6 decision to Seattle.

Previously, he'd lasted six full innings in two straight 2007 starts, allowing a combined 15 hits and five earned runs while losing to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and beating Tampa Bay.

McCarthy has made two career relief appearances against Oakland, pitching 3 2/3 innings of scoreless, three-hit ball while getting a pair of no-decisions.

The Athletics will start burly right-hander Joe Blanton, who's allowed 15 hits and eight runs in 18 innings over three starts in 2007.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder defeated the Angels on April 8 and got no-decisions against Seattle and the New York Yankees.

Blanton won a career-best 16 games in 2006, posting a 4.82 earned run average over 194 1/3 innings. Lifetime against the Rangers, he is 4-2 in nine games -- eight starts -- with a 4.91 ERA in 47 2/3 innings.

On Thursday in Chicago, Joe Crede singled in the go-ahead run in a three-run eighth inning for the White Sox, who completed a three-game set with a 6-4 win over the Rangers.

Javier Vazquez followed up Mark Buehrle's no-hitter by allowing three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk in six innings. Matt Thornton (1-1) tossed a perfect eighth for the win.

Sammy Sosa homered for the Rangers. Texas starter Vicente Padilla allowed three runs on four hits with six walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Chicago scored three runs in the eighth off reliever Scott Feldman (1-1).

On Wednesday in Oakland, Dan Haren tossed seven innings of scoreless ball to earn his first win of the season as the Athletics topped the Angels, 3-0.

Haren (1-2) fanned three and walking none while allowing only four hits. Huston Street pitched the scoreless ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Eric Chavez knocked in two runs on two hits for the A's. Shannon Stewart and Todd Walker each collected two hits for Oakland.

Texas held a slim 10-9 edge in its season series with Oakland last year. The clubs split 10 meetings in Texas, where the Athletics are 12-7 over the past two seasons.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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