Cards, Pirates set to continue series between Central foes

Baseball Betting Lines

05/08/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals hope to carry over the momentum from a late-inning victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday into tonight's clash between the National League Central teams from PNC Park.

The division-leading Cardinals snapped a string of three straight losses with a 4-3 triumph over the Bucs in Friday's opener of this three-game set. Yadier Molina went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs, including the go-ahead RBI double in the ninth inning.

Molina stepped up and hit a liner to the right-field gap off Evan Meek (1-1) to score pinch-runner Joe Mather to snap a 3-3 deadlock. Closer Ryan Franklin (2-0) then worked around a one-out single in the bottom half to nail down the win.

Matt Holliday also had four hits for St. Louis, while starter Chris Carpenter allowed two runs over seven strong innings in a no-decision.

Lastings Milledge had two hits and an RBI for the Pirates, who were coming off a three-game home sweep of the Chicago Cubs. Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-4 in the loss, while Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke gave up three unearned runs over the first 6 1/3 innings.

"They're tough. They kept coming," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of the Pirates. "It was a very tough, competitive game."

Pittsburgh could be in for a challenge again tonight, with the impressive Jaime Garcia set to take the mound for St. Louis. The rookie southpaw has been sensational thus far in 2010, having amassed a 3-1 record with a 1.12 earned run average over five starts. He's surrendered one run or fewer in four of those outings.

Garcia was outstanding once again in Monday's 6-3 victory over defending NL champion Philadelphia, holding the Phillies to one run and three hits while fanning six over six frames.

The 23-year-old did face the Pirates in relief during a brief major league stint with the Cardinals in 2008, allowing no runs over a combined 3 1/3 innings of work.

Garcia will be opposed by Jeff Karstens, who makes his third start for the Pirates after being called up from the minors in late April. The right-hander was sharp in his first appearance, tossing 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball in an April 27 no-decision at Milwaukee, but struggled badly in a loss at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.

Karstens was rocked for six runs on 11 hits in five innings against Los Angeles, while striking out three and walking one.

The 27-year-old lost his only career start against St. Louis, which took place at PNC Park on May 14 of last season. He gave up three runs over six innings in that 5-1 setback.

The Cardinals won 10 of their 15 meetings with the Pirates last season, winning six of the nine games contested in Pittsburgh.

Roolingstone Baseball Betting News

<< Surging Blue Jays strive to stay hot in Chicago
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Riding the longest current winning streak in the majors, the Toronto Blue Jays go for seven in a row when they take on the Chicago White Sox tonight in third test of a four-game set. Last night, Alex Gonzalez blasted a thr

<< Cilic, Youzhny to meet in BMW final
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Croat Marin Cilic and two-time runner-up Mikhail Youzhny of Russia were both semifinal winners Saturday to reach the title match at the clay-court BMW Open, a French Open tune-up. The Aussi

<< Road-warrior Rays aim to take down Athletics once again
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays seek their 14th road win of the season today as they take on the Oakland Athletics in the second installment of a three-game set at the Coliseum. Courtesy of their success on the road, the Rays own the b

<< Red Sox try to draw even with ailing Yanks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The injury-riddled New York Yankees gun for their sixth win in a row today, when they resume a three-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Despite playing without catcher Jorge Posada and outfielder Curtis Grand

<< Bayern seals title in style
Berlin, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich officially clinched its 22nd Bundesliga title on Saturday as they recorded a 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion. Bayern had all but secured the crown last weekend as they ent

Angels attempt to pin eighth straight loss on Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Seattle Mariners will try to snap out of their rut tonight as they host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the middle bout of a three-game set at Safeco Field. After last night's 8-0 setback to the Angels,

Rockies' youngster to try to knock off improving Dodgers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers set their sights on a third consecutive victory when the reigning National League West champions host the Colorado Rockies tonight in the second test of a three-game series between 2009 postseason part

Braves' bats hope to break out in middle test with Phils >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Injuries to a number of key regulars have rendered the Atlanta Braves' offense punchless over the last few games, a trend the slumping club would like to end in this afternoon's divisional showdown with the National League Ea

Rolling Rangers set sights on another win over Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers take aim at a third straight win over the Kansas City Royals tonight, when the teams lock up in the third test of a four-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. On Friday, C.J. Wilson gave up one ru

Kentucky's Orton, Bledsoe staying in NBA Draft >>
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -Kentucky freshmen Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton are choosing to remain in the NBA Draft.Orton and Bledsoe announced Saturday they will not return to school for their sophomore seasons. They'll join fellow underclassmen John Wall

MySportsbook features easy-to-use online betting software that’s the most reliable in the industry. If you’re looking to bet underdogs, then this Sportsbook is the place - we have the best betting lines in the business. MySportsbook is your one-stop shop for all your betting needs - sports betting, poker, casino, and horse betting . MySportsbook offers every bet type with lightning fast settlement of wagers. Take advantage of free statistical analysis - including against-the-spread and straight-up trends - in MySportsbook’s game previews section. With MySportsbook there are unlimited free deposits and payouts - and no transaction fees!

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

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.