Tigers hope to reverse fortunes against Tribe

Baseball Betting Lines

06/02/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The slumping Detroit Tigers will try to reverse their recent fortunes when the American League Central's last-place team, the Cleveland Indians, invades Comerica Park tonight for the first of three straight meetings between the divisional foes.

Detroit enters this evening's clash having lost seven of its last nine games and began its current seven-game homestand by dropping three of four bouts with AL West-leading Oakland over the Memorial Day weekend. The Tigers have scored four runs or less in each of those seven defeats.

Producing offense shouldn't be much of a problem against a Cleveland club that ranks last in the AL with a 4.89 earned run average and was battered for 37 runs in its just-completed four-game series with the New York Yankees. The Tribe lost three of those contests and 11 of their last 14 overall.

Cleveland did trail 2-1 after 6 1/2 innings of Monday's game, but New York's Alex Rodriguez socked a game-breaking grand slam off reliever Chris Perez during a six-run bottom of the seventh that paved the way for an 11-2 Yankees' victory.

Indians relievers surrendered eight runs in just 1 2/3 innings of work for the game, spoiling a solid performance out of starter Mitch Talbot. The rookie pitched 6 1/3 innings and was charged with three runs on nine hits while not walking a batter.

"I was happy with the overall results," Talbot told the Indians' official site afterward. "I had to battle without my best stuff."

Jhonny Peralta went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for Cleveland, with Shelley Duncan adding a ninth-inning RBI single in a losing cause.

Detroit is coming off a 4-1 setback to the Athletics on Memorial Day, in which Oakland Trevor Cahill combined with three relievers on a seven-hitter. Austin Jackson knocked in the Tigers' only run with a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning.

The A's jumped out to a quick lead by scoring twice off Justin Verlander (5-4) in the top of the first. The Detroit ace regrouped to hold Oakland to just one more run over the remainder of his seven-inning stint, and struck out eight in the tough-luck loss.

"The first inning was a disaster for us, we gave up a couple runs," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "We had chances to get back in it and we didn't."

Detroit will be seeking to bounce back against a Cleveland team it's dominated as of late. The Tigers have taken four of the first five matchups in this year's season series and are 18-4 in their last 22 overall games against the Indians. They've also won 10 of their last 11 versus the Tribe in the Motor City and swept a three-game set from Cleveland at Comerica Park between April 9-11.

Jeremy Bonderman gets the ball for Detroit in the opener and attempts to continue an impressive stretch of strong starts. The right-hander has yielded two runs or less in each of his last four assignments, posting an outstanding 1.38 ERA over that span, and he's thrown at least six innings in every one of those games.

Bonderman picked up his second victory of 2010 by firing six innings of one- run ball to best Oakland on May 20, then followed up by limiting Seattle to one unearned run and five hits through seven frames this past Wednesday. He wound up taking a no-decision, however, after the Mariners scored four times against the Detroit bullpen in the eighth.

The former first-round pick has rebounded strongly after a pair of injury- shortened seasons, having recorded a 3.78 ERA over eight starts and one relief appearance and giving up only two homers in 47 2/3 innings pitched.

Bonderman is just 8-9 with a 5.68 ERA in 23 career encounters (21 starts) with Cleveland, but did beat the Indians in his season debut back on April 9 by permitting one run and just a single hit over the first five innings.

Jake Westbrook takes the mound for Cleveland tonight and makes his 11th start following his comeback from Tommy John surgery, a procedure which caused him to miss all of last season and nearly the entire 2008 campaign. The veteran righty is 2-3 with a 4.78 ERA so far this year, with both of his wins taking place on the road.

Westbrook has struggled in each of his past two starts, although both came in his home park. After allowing four runs in a five-inning no-decision versus Cincinnati on May 21, the sinker specialist was tagged for five runs in seven frames in a loss to the White Sox last Wednesday.

The 32-year-old garnered a no-decision as well in an April 11 showdown at Comerica Park, a game in which he was reached for three runs in 5 2/3 innings and struck out seven Tigers. For his career, Westbrook is 4-8 with a 5.99 ERA in 21 games (18 starts) against Detroit.

Nikkanspots Baseball Betting News

<< Zambrano returns to rotation in finale with Bucs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs hope to get a needed spark from Carlos Zambrano when the fiery pitcher returns to a starting role for tonight's finale of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates from PNC Park. Zambrano, a three-ti

<< Sheets, Dice-K square off in Boston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After coming through with a comeback victory in Tuesday's opener of this three-game series, the Boston Red Sox will attempt to maintain that momentum when the resurgent club takes on the Oakland Athletics again this evening

<< Hughes goes for Yanks against woeful O's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of American League East rivals continue a series that's been rather one-sided as of late tonight at New York's Yankee Stadium, where the defending world champion Yankees set their sights on a seventh consecutive vict

<< Price goes for win No. 8 in Rays' finale with Jays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Price tries to become the American League's first eight-game winner this evening, when the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays play the rubber match of their three-game series at Rogers Centre. Price, the first over

<< Twins to renew acquaintainces with Mariners' Lee
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Lee targets his third straight win when the Seattle Mariners continue their four-game set with the Minnesota Twins this evening at Safeco Field. Lee won for the third time in four starts Friday in Anaheim, as he held

Muirfield Village to host 2013 Presidents Cup >>
Dublin, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Muirfield Village Golf Club has been selected as the host of the 2013 Presidents Cup. Jack Nicklaus' course in Ohio will become the first venue to host three of golf's most prestigious international team competi

Phoenix's Maloney named NHL GM of the year >>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The NHL says Don Maloney of the Phoenix Coyotes has been chosen as the league's top general manager this season.Maloney became the award's first winner on Wednesday during a meeting of the NHL's general managers at the Stanley Cup

Harper seems headed for our nation's capital >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft gets underway on June 7th, with the Washington Nationals holding the top pick for the second straight year. It is just the second time since the inception

Ice Box heads Belmont field of 12 >>
Elmont, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box has been installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. Neither Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver

Redknapp expects Cole departure from Chelsea >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp does not expect to sign Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole this summer but believes the out-of-contract player will be leaving Stamford Bridge. Redknapp work

Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.