Cain hopes to get Giants on track against San Diego
Baseball Betting Lines
04/04/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Young Matt Cain officially takes hold of the No. 2 starting slot in the San Francisco Giants rotation tonight when they host the San Diego Padres in game two of their three-game curtain-raising series at AT&T Park.
Cain, who won't turn 23 until October, was a first-round choice of the Giants - 25th overall - in the 2002 draft. He made his debut with seven late-season starts in 2005, then moved to the rotation full- time last year and was 13-12 with a 4.15 earned run average in 32 appearances - 31 starts. Cain also had 179 strikeouts and 157 hits allowed in 190 2/3 innings.
He's made five career starts against the Padres and is unbeaten, going 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA and just 15 hits allowed in 33 innings of work. The right- hander has also struck out 31 and walked 20 against San Diego.
Starting for the Padres will be towering right-hander Chris Young, who recorded his second straight double-digit win total last season and will try to give the Padres their first 2-0 start since their NL Championship season of 1998.
Young, a 6-foot-10, 260-pounder, went 12-7 with Texas in 2005 before heading to California and going 11-5 in 31 starts for San Diego last year. He also ranked sixth in the NL last season with a 3.46 ERA.
The 27-year-old Young has faced San Francisco twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA over 12 2/3 innings pitched. He's allowed 12 hits and six earned runs while striking out 11 and walking three.
On Tuesday, Jake Peavy won the battle of the aces, tossing six scoreless innings to guide the Padres past Barry Zito and the Giants, 7-0. Jose Cruz Jr. finished with three RBI while Josh Bard went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Zito (0-1) took the loss in his Giants debut, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on four hits over five frames.
Peavy (1-0), meanwhile, scattered three hits over his solid outing while striking out six for the Padres.
The Giants, who have not opened a year 0-2 since 1996, won 12 of their 19 matchups with the Padres last season, but are just 25-32 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For all the speculation about the Lions taking Brady Quinn, Calvin Johnson, or trading down for multiple picks, it would still fly in the face of the logic if GM Matt Millen does anything other than draft Wisconsin left tackl
<< Washington Redskins 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington places little to no value on the draft, as
evidenced by the fact that it has one pick among the first 142 and has an NFL-
low five selections overall. Which isn't to say that the Redskins are without
needs, particu
<< Pettitte's return to the Bronx rained out
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Pettitte's much anticipated return to the
Bronx will have to wait as Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and
Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Yankee Stadium has been postponed due to rain.
No makeup da
<< New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Saints defense was held together with duct tape last
season, and the New Orleans brass wasn't delusional enough to believe the team
could get by under similar circumstances in 2007. Head coach Sean Payton has
spoken publi
<< Carolina Panthers 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Panthers had glaring weaknesses at linebacker and on
the offensive line last year, and though both positions should be healthier in
2007, upgrades are also needed. With top tackler Chris Draft now a member of
the Rams and
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Giants have two gaping holes to fill. One is at left tackle, where Luke Petitgout was released (and subsequently became a Buccaneer), and Bob Whitfield retired. Trouble is, the only two tackles with bona fide first-round
Burnett ready to go to work as Blue Jays battle Tigers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Burnett hopes to put an injury-plagued 2006 behind
him this afternoon when the Toronto Blue Jays play the middle contest of their
season-opening three-game set against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
After signi
Wizards, Bobcats close out home-and-home set >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards are caught in a funk and will try to
right the ship tonight versus the Charlotte Bobcats in the back end of a home-
and-home series at the Verizon Center.
Washington dropped a 122-102 decision on
White Sox aim to rebound against Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Garland hopes to give Chicago a better effort than
Jose Contreras did on Opening Day when the White Sox play the middle contest
of their three-game season-opening series with the Cleveland Indians at U.S.
Cellular Field.
Magic host Raptors at Amway Arena >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic try to keep their playoff hopes
moving in the right direction this evening, as they resume a four-game
homestand versus the Toronto Raptors at Amway Arena.
Orlando currently owns the
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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