AL Central resume set in Motown

Baseball Betting Lines

07/11/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-handed surprise Armando Galarraga goes for a ninth start without a loss tonight when the Detroit Tigers host the Minnesota Twins in game two of a four-game matchup between the American League Central Division's second- and third-place teams at Comerica Park.

The 25-year-old, who'd entered the season with just three major-league appearances and no victories, was 3-2 after a 9-4 loss to the Twins in Detroit on May 23.

He's not lost since, going 4-0 with four no-decisions in eight starts, including a second matchup with Minnesota on June 30 at the Metrodome.

In that game, a 5-4 Tigers win, Galarraga scattered nine hits and allowed three earned runs in six innings but wound up with a no-decision.

He's 2-1 in six home starts this year with a 4.41 earned run average.

For Minnesota, southpaw Glen Perkins will be looking for a fourth straight victory.

A veteran of 23 big-league appearances before 2008, Perkins split his initial four decisions this season before beginning a seven start unbeaten streak in early June. He's 3-0 with four no-decisions in that run, including a no- decision in the June 30 matchup with Galarraga, in which he allowed seven hits and two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

He defeated the Tigers on May 25 in Detroit after allowing seven hits and a run in 7 2//3 innings of Minnesota's 6-1 win.

On Thursday, Justin Morneau capped his five-hit day with the go-ahead home run in the top of the 11th for Minnesota, which edged Detroit, 7-6.

The Twins trailed by two in the top of the ninth, but took advantage of a fielding error to force extra innings.

Nick Punto singled off of Todd Jones to begin the frame, and came home to score on a Denard Span single one batter later. Span's single went through the legs of right fielder Matt Joyce and all the way to the right field wall, plating Punto and allowing Span to reach third with no outs.

Pinch-hitter Joe Mauer followed with a sacrifice fly down the left field line to drive in Span and tie the game at 6-6, as Jones blew his second save.

The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Joe Nathan got both Jeff Larish and Ivan Rodriguez to strike out swinging.

After a scoreless 10th, Morneau came up with one out in the 11th and blasted Freddy Dolsi's pitch over the wall in right for the lead. Matt Guerrier (5-4) worked around a Joyce double in the home half to finish the game and earn the win for the Twins, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Guerrier threw the final two innings for Minnesota, and was the last of five Twins relievers who didn't give up a run following Kevin Slowey's rough start. Slowey went just 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on nine hits with a pair of walks, and just one strikeout.

Morneau had his second career five-hit day, and along with the homer hit two doubles and walked once. Span finished 4-for-4 with a triple, and Punto had three hits.

Dolsi (1-3) took the loss despite a solid relief outing, as he threw 2 1/3 innings and allowed just the one run on two hits. Kenny Rogers scattered nine hits and two walks over seven innings, allowing three runs with one strikeout for the Tigers, who had won three in a row.

Larish was 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Marcus Thames went 3-for-4 and Joyce homered.

The Twins have won eight of their 12 contests with the Tigers this season.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

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