07/05/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot Texas Rangers will try to collect a three- game sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays when the two teams collide this evening in Arlington.
The Rangers will send Scott Feldman to the hill, who is coming off a solid performance against the Angels. In the 9-5 win over Anaheim, the right-hander held the Angels to just three runs on six hits in six innings of work. The victory snapped a four-game winless streak for Feldman, and boosted his ledger to 6-2 on the season.
The 26-year-old has made five appearances against the Rays, but only one of those outings was as a starter. In 12 innings of work against Tampa, he has allowed four runs on 10 hits, but was able to strike out six batters.
As for the Rays they will try to jump on the shoulders of Matt Garza, who has won his last two starts. In his last outing the right-hander overpowered Toronto, holding the Blue Jays to just one run on seven hits in seven innings of work.
Garza has been impressive against Texas in four career starts, posting a 3-1 mark with an outstanding 1.98 earned run average.
Last night, Andruw Jones' three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, as Texas went on to dismantle young David Price and the Rays, 12-4.
Jones doubled in another run and Michael Young added a three-run double in the second inning for the Rangers, who have strung together four straight wins. Taylor Teagarden and Nelson Cruz each had two RBI, while David Murphy finished a home run shy of the cycle.
Derek Holland (2-5) gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
"We had an offensive explosion," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "Jones led the way with three runs in the first inning. It was definitely a team effort."
Dioner Navarro clubbed a three-run homer and Jason Bartlett also went deep for Tampa Bay, which has dropped three in a row on the heels of a season-high, seven-game win streak.
Price (2-3) couldn't make it out of the second inning, surrendering six runs on three hits and five walks while recording just four outs. The former No. 1 overall pick saw his earned run average balloon from 3.93 to 5.21.
"I let us down. I've got to be able to get back out there with that mindset and that attitude that I know I belong," Price said.
Lance Cormier was charged with three runs in three innings of relief.
The Rays won six of nine matchups with Texas a year ago, including four of six tilts held in Arlington.
A win tonight would give the Rangers their first three-game sweep of the Rays since turning the trick from April 21-23 in Arlington.
<< Billingsley goes for win No. 10 in rubber match against Padres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Billingsley tries to win his 10th game of the season
this afternoon when the Los Angeles Dodgers play the rubber match of their
three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Billingsley, though, is winles
<< Phils hope to break out the brooms on the Mets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Santana goes for the New York Mets this afternoon,
as they try and avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the NL East-leading
Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
With wins in just three of its last 15 gam
<< Brewers, Cubs close series at Wrigley Field
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Burns hopes the Milwaukee Brewers have some runs
left in them this afternoon when they close out a four-game series with the
Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
After being shutout twice in their last six games and manag
<< Nolasco tries to win fourth straight decision in finale with Bucs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Nolasco tries to win his fourth consecutive start
this afternoon when the Florida Marlins play the rubber match of their three-
game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Land Shark Stadium.
Nolasco stretched his unbea
Kaymer beats Westwood in Paris playoff >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Kaymer defeated Lee Westwood in a
playoff Sunday to win the Open de France, rolling in a lengthy par putt on the
first extra hole to claim his third European Tour victory.
Kaymer closed with a th
Yankees place Wang on DL, recall Albaladejo >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang was
placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain, the club
announced on Sunday.
The right-hander left Saturday's 6-5, 12-inning victo
Federer tops Roddick in epic Wimbledon final for 15th major title >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roger Federer captured his sixth
Wimbledon title Sunday with a thrilling five-set victory over Andy Roddick and
established a record with his 15th career Grand Slam title.
Federer earned a 5-7,
Marlins' Ramirez scratched from lineup with tight hip flexor >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was
scratched from Sunday's lineup versus the Pittsburgh Pirates due to a tight
right hip flexor.
Ramirez tweaked the injury rounding first base on a single in the
(This is an update of a sportsbook for the May 4th issue of ESPN The Magazine).
The Kentucky Derby's post-position draw happened on Wednesday. And, as is always the case, shortly afterwards, a buzz raced around Churchill Downs. It was a low rumble at first, nothing that the squares in the mint julep crowd pick up right away. But by the time the sun set over the twin spires, the chatter was impossible to ignore. Everyone -- sharps, trainers, owners -- was talking about one thing: the wise guy horse, the pre-draw long shot us mopes didn't have on our radar until it was too late.
"You think you're hearing the scoop," says handicapper Lane Gold. "Then you get to the window, the odds are short, and you missed it."
Recognizing a wise-guy horse early is as hard as picking a Derby bonnet. That's because handicappers don't like hype (see ya, I Want Revenge). They want Thoroughbreds who look good losing prep races like the Santa Anita Derby. They eye horses who ate up the field after starting wide or made an easy transition from synthetic tracks to dirt. They look for ponies who showed muscle gain race to race and those who ran hard after several weeks' rest.
"A wise guy," says John Avello, a bookmaker at Wynn Las Vegas, "looks for a horse who can improve."
When I first wrote Horse Betting for The Mag, which I turned in a three weeks before Wednesday's draw, I predicted these three horses had wise guy potential:
CHOCOLATE CANDY (15-1 in mid-April, currently 20-1 according to Avello): His second-place finish at Santa Anita, following a seven-week layoff, proved two things: He can run after resting, and -- by losing a high-profile prep race -- he wouldn't be overhyped.
DESERT PARTY (15-1; 15-1): He was upset in the UAE Derby by a horse he had beaten twice. The public remembers his loss, but the wise guys his wins.
PIONEEROF THE NILE (8-1; 4-1): The big favorite at Santa Anita struggled to win, so he initially got less hype than Quality Road and I Want Revenge.
You may have noticed that the odds on Pioneerof the Nile have been cut in half, from 8-1 to 4-1. Which means the wise guys took a shine to him long before the post-position draw. But, to be honest, this is one of those years with four elite horses getting everyone's attention, squares and sharps alike.
"You're not gonna get a lot of chatter about a horse that isn't in that group, which includes Pioneer, I Want Revenge, Dunkirk and Friesan Fire," Avello told me Wednesday. "We don't have a group of horses behind those top four who look like real legit contenders."
Come Derby week, the final two elements in picking a wise guy horse are how he's working out and what gate he's coming out of.
(By the way, picking a Preakness favorite is a whole different bale of hay, partially based on how horses finish in the Derby. You can see my analysis of who has the best shot at Pimlico on Insider Sunday morning.)
Well, early in the week I Want Revenge, Pioneerof the Nile and Friesan Fire were working out better than anyone. Some thought Friesan Fire, currently 6-1, might have run too fast, burning a five-furlong run in :57 4/5. "When you are running that fast you have the sense that it took something out of him," says Gold. "The Derby is longer than any horse has run, and if they need that extra surge you worry they won't have it because they burned it in the workout."
But, Gold points out, Friesan Fire's trainer is Larry Jones, Two years ago his horse Hard Spun did a five-eighths workout in :57 3/5 and then went on to finish second, behind Street Sense, in the Derby. "Every trainer has different methods," says Gold. "And clearly he knows what he's doing."
Now, as for starting position, Gold says to remember this: Churchill Downs traditionally has 14 starting gates. For the Derby, it brings out auxiliary gates and between the original 14th gate and the new 15th gate, there is a little more space than there is between gates 1-14. "That 15 position will give you a precious second or two to sort out what's happening to your inside," says Gold. "Sixteen is also okay because you can follow the horse in front of you."
Dunkirk, one of the race favorites, is coming out of gate 15. In 16 is Baffert's Pioneerof the Nile. I Want Revenge drew 13, where Smarty Jones won from in 2004, and Friesan Fire picked the sixth position. "He doesn't have a lot of speed to the inside of him," says Gold. "So he will get a clear shot to be near the front."
All the jibber-jabber means this: Pioneerof the Nile has leapfrogged from 8-1 to being the second favorite, along with Dunkirk, behind I Want Revenge. Meanwhile, Friesan Fire, with a good trainer, a strong week of training and a decent post position, is still at 6-1. "By Saturday, it's possible he could go from fourth to the favorite," says Gold.
In other words, meet Friesan Fire, your 2009 wise guy horse.
"Now," says Avello, "it's time for action."
To visit this horse betting site go to MySportsbook.com for all your horse racing betting needs.
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