08/13/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pittsburgh lefty Paul Maholm will try to continue a recent run of quality pitching at home tonight, when the Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds in the middle contest of a three-game series at PNC Park.
Maholm, a first-round draft choice in 2003 (eighth overall), has performed superbly in front of the home faithful this season, going 5-1 with a 3.14 earned run average over 77 1/3 innings at PNC Park.
He got a tough-luck no-decision in his most recent Steel City outing, allowing just four hits and a run in seven innings of his team's 3-1 loss to San Diego.
In Maholm's last 10 starts, however, he has gone 3-2 and has allowed three runs or fewer eight times, while completing at least six innings in all 10 outings.
The southpaw is 2-3 in 10 lifetime starts against the Reds and last faced them on June 30, when he allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings for another no-decision in a 4-3 Pirates loss.
Maholm will be opposed by veteran Josh Fogg, who has won just once in six starts since returning to the rotation after early season bouts with ineffectiveness and injury.
The 31-year-old product of the University of Florida was 1-2 with a 9.85 ERA in his initial 28 1/3 innings this season before missing more than a month of time between late May and early July.
Fogg returned on July 5 for a no-decision against Washington, beat the New York Mets on July 19 and has gone 0-2 in three more starts since then.
In the six most recent outings combined, the Massachusetts native has been touched for 37 hits and 21 earned runs in 30 1/3 innings.
He is 1-1 in three lifetime starts against the Pirates.
The Reds, who have unloaded Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn since the All-Star break, are bringing up the rear in the National League's Central Division, trailing the first-place Chicago Cubs by 19 1/2 games.
The Pirates, meanwhile, are just one spot better in fifth, leading the Reds by 2 1/2 games but trailing the Cubs by a full 17 contests.
On Tuesday, Brandon Phillips belted a two-run homer to lift the Reds over the Pirates, 5-1. Javier Valentin added a solo shot and Corey Patterson drove in two runs on two hits as the Reds halted a season-high six-game slide.
The Reds continued their youth movement on Monday, shipping Dunn to the Arizona Diamondbacks for three prospects, including minor league pitcher Dallas Buck.
Andy LaRoche drove in the only run for the Pirates, who have dropped three of their last four.
Edinson Volquez (14-5) picked up the win after yielding one run on five hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. Volquez had five strikeouts along the way.
Jeff Karstens (2-1) suffered his first defeat as he surrendered four runs, one of which was unearned, in seven innings.
In his third career National League start, the 2003 Yankees' draft choice allowed seven hits and two walks, while striking out two.
Pittsburgh is 6-4 versus the Reds this season and swept a three-game series at PNC Park from April 11 - 13.
<< White Sox aim to stay atop Central versus KC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After regaining the top spot in the American League Central
on Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox hope to stay there following tonight's clash
with the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago moved a half-game in f
<< Lester tries to do more for Red Sox vs. Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox have been one of baseball's best teams
at home this season, while Jon Lester has been nearly unbeatable when he has
taken the Fenway Park mound.
Lester tries to pitch the Red Sox to a second straigh
<< Cubs, Braves set to play two in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After having a day off due to inclement weather in the
Atlanta area on Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs will try again for their sixth
straight road win when they kick off a six-game trek this afternoon with a
day-night doubleheader
<< Red-hot Angels go for sixth straight in finale with Mariners
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are going to try and make
their short series with Seattle a good one. The club concludes a two-game set
with the Mariners tonight at Angel Stadium.
Tonight's test brings to a close an e
Marlins continue series with Cardinals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies are
floundering out west in LA, the Florida Marlins are slowly climbing their way
back to the top of the division.
The Marlins will try to gain more ground on the Phillies to
Maine set for return as Mets battle Nationals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets hope that John Maine can make a
successful return from the disabled list tonight, when he takes the ball in
the second test of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.
Maine exited early in h
Blue Jays shoot for another win over troubled Tigers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a healthy Vernon Wells, the Toronto Blue Jays aren't
ready to give up on the American League Wild Card just yet. The Blue Jays try
for their third straight win over the Detroit Tigers tonight in the
continu
Astros send Wolf to hill to take on Giants >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - California-born left-hander Randy Wolf can stay unbeaten
during his brief stint with Houston tonight, when the Astros host the San
Francisco Giants in the third game of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros en
It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.
As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.
Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.
Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.
Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.
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Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back
With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.
"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."
Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .
Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.
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