AL West-leading Rangers aim to snap skid in Baltimore

Baseball Betting Lines

08/19/2010 - (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 taking two of three from the Boston Red Sox, the Rangers' recent success against the American League East ran out this week, as they were swept in three games by the Tampa Bay Rays, falling 8-6 in Wednesday's finale at Tropicana Field.

Mitch Moreland clubbed a two-run homer and Taylor Teagarden contributed a solo shot for the AL West-leading Rangers, who have dropped five of seven and sit eight games in front of both Anaheim and Oakland in the division.

Derek Holland (2-2), who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to the game to make the start in place of Rich Harden, yielded five runs on six hits with four walks and struck out eight over 4 1/3 innings.

A series against the woeful Baltimore Orioles could be just what the Rangers need. However, it was the Orioles who handed Texas its longest losing streak of the year earlier in the season when it swept a four-game set in Arlington just before the All-Star break.

Texas is actually just 4-12 against teams from the AL East on the road with all four victories coming at Fenway Park.

Hoping to avoid another four-game slide for the Rangers tonight will be righty Colby Lewis, who has lost his last four decisions. Lewis' latest setback came on Saturday against the Red Sox, despite a solid effort that saw him surrender a run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 3-1 loss. Lewis also struck out nine, but still fell to 9-9, while lowering his earned run average to 3.28.

"It is what it is," Lewis said. "You just roll with the punches. I'm used to one-run games. Last year I was 11-9 in Japan with a [2.96] ERA. That's the way it goes. If you do what you can to keep your team in the game, you're doing your job. That's the way it is."

Lewis will be making his second start against the Orioles and is 0-1 in three appearances against them with a 6.75 ERA.

Baltimore will counter with young lefty Brian Matusz, who is 4-12 with a 5.28 ERA. Matusz absorbed the loss on Saturday against the Rays, who battered him for five runs and nine hits in just four innings.

Matusz has faced the Rangers three times and is 1-1, despite a 10.95 ERA.

The Orioles enter tonight's opener on the heels of dropping two of three to the Seattle Mariners, culminating with a 6-5 loss in Wednesday's rubber match.

Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer and Luke Scott added a two-run single for the Orioles, who have dropped five of seven. Jeremy Guthrie (7-12) was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits over eight innings.

"It came down to a couple of pitches," Guthrie said. "It's unfortunate on a night like this that I couldn't pitch better."

Still and all, the Orioles are 10-6 in 16 games under new manager Buck Showalter, the team's best stretch of baseball since 2008.

Baltimore has won six of its last eight meetings with the Rangers.

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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup

September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com.  The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. 

Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to  name a  few.  Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR.  They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.

The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer.  Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.

Ryder Cup Odds

Europe
Tie
USA
4-5
10-1
6-5


Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1


Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com