Tigers hope to build a win streak versus Blue Jays

Baseball Betting Lines

07/22/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After finally putting an end to their worst skid of the season, the Detroit Tigers will turn to their ace pitcher in hopes of starting a winning streak in this afternoon's opener of a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays from Comerica Park.

Detroit lost its final game prior to the All-Star break and six straight contests to begin the second half before coming through with a victory over American League West-leading Texas last night. Max Scherzer got the Tigers off the schneid by throwing seven shutout innings, while one-time Ranger Gerald Laird belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the second to help stake his team to a much-needed 4-1 win.

Laird finished 2-for-4 and gave Detroit an early 2-0 advantage with a blast off Texas starter Colby Lewis in his first at-bat. That was all Scherzer (7-7) would need, as the former first-round pick limited the Rangers to four hits and struck out five in a determined performance.

"I came in with the mentality that I was gonna end this seven-game losing streak," said Scherzer. "It's been bad, starting off since the All-Star break. For me to go out there and put up seven zeroes was a serious matter."

Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera also knocked in runs for the Tigers, who closed within 2 1/2 games of first-place Chicago in the AL Central standings, while Austin Jackson contributed three hits and a run scored to the winning effort.

Detroit could get a similar strong showing on the hill this afternoon, considering the way Justin Verlander has pitched as of late. The All-Star hurler has won three straight and six of his last seven decisions to run his 2010 record to 11-5 in 19 starts.

Verlander's three-start win streak did come to an end when he was reached for three runs in a six-inning no-decision at Cleveland on Saturday, but the hard- throwing righty did register nine strikeouts and did not allow a home run for the fifth consecutive outing.

Most of Verlander's recent success has come at Comerica Park, where he's won in each of his last four assignments and sports a 6-2 record with a 2.70 earned run average in nine starts this season. The 27-year-old has not fared well when facing the Blue Jays in the past, however. In three prior meetings with Toronto, Verlander is 0-2 and been roughed up for 19 runs and 25 hits over a span of 15 innings.

The Blue Jays should present a challenge for the Tigers' No. 1 starter. After all, Toronto does overwhelmingly lead the majors with 143 home runs and had gone deep in 13 straight games before failing to do so in yesterday's 5-2 loss at Kansas City. Outfielder Jose Bautista presently tops all of baseball with 26 individual homers, two more than the Tigers' Cabrera.

Toronto's powerful offense was held in check by the Royals' Zack Greinke on Wednesday, however, as the Jays mustered just a pair of runs and six hits in the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner's eight innings of work.

"He pounds the zone and he locates so well with his fastball," Toronto's Aaron Hill said of Greinke. "If he could get ahead with his fastball, you never know what's coming next. It's what has always has made him good."

Vernon Wells did finish 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Jays, while Adam Lind singled in the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. The designated hitter is batting .293 (17-for-58) with four homers during that sequence.

Toronto lost two of three bouts in its series with the Royals, but is 4-2 thus far on a 10-game road trip that continues tonight.

The Blue Jays will send out one of their top pitchers as well for tonight's clash, with Ricky Romero aiming to build off a terrific first appearance following the break. The talented left-hander held Baltimore to two unearned runs and five hits over seven innings in a 4-2 victory this past Friday, snapping a string of three straight losing starts in the process.

Romero had been lousy in each of his final two mound trips of the first half. The 25-year-old was battered for eight runs and seven hits by the New York Yankees in a forgettable 2 2/3-inning stint on July 3, then lasted only 2 1/3 frames while surrendering nine runs (five earned) in a loss to fellow AL Central member Boston six days later.

A 13-game winner as a rookie in 2009, Romero opposed the Tigers twice last season and went 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. The defeat took place at Comerica Park in September, when he was touched for four runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Toronto did prevail in five of eight matchups against the Tigers in 2009, with the clubs splitting a four-game set in the Motor City from September 11-14.

Wwimustlotto Baseball Betting News

<< Henry not the solution as MLS seeks legitimacy
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Major League Soccer has long been hoping to acquire a sense of legitimacy within the soccer world. The acquisition of players with marketing appeal has long been a tenet the league has used in order to gain su

<< Struggling Tigers in need of deadline help
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the MLB non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching and the post-all-star break blues in full effect, the Detroit Tigers have some serious soul-searching to do before July 31st. Heading into the Mid-Su

<< Rockets feel ready to contend in West
HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Rockets think they are ready to contend in the Western Conference, even after striking out on the big names in this summer's free-agent bonanza.When their main target, Chris Bosh, opted to join LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

<< D-Backs edge Mets in 14 to complete rare sweep
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Snyder's hit to the gap in left-center field scored Justin Upton with the winning run in the 14th inning, boosting Arizona to a 4-3 win over the New York Mets, as the Diamondbacks completed their f

<< Billingsley tosses shutout as Dodgers avoid sweep
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Casey Blake hit a solo homer and drove in another run with a single to back Chad Billingsley's second career shutout, as the Los Angeles Dodgers snuck past the San Francisco Giants, 2-0, in a pitcher

Reds' Volquez takes mound in finale with Nationals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nationals' rotation has gotten a jolt ever since Stephen Strasburg joined the club in June. The Reds are hoping for a similar result from Edinson Volquez. Volquez will make his second start since returning

Rockies hope to solve Marlins ace Johnson >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Rockies struggled against one Marlins starter last night. Their offensive scuffle could be extended another day as Colorado is set to face Florida's Josh Johnson this afternoon in the finale of a four-game set at

Padres go for series win over Braves in Dixie >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Outstanding play at home and the ability to hold late leads are the main reasons why the Braves own the top spot in the National League East. The Padres overcame both last night. After an extra-inning victory on W

Twins hope to solve road struggles in trip to Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins have had their problems when playing on the road in recent weeks, but a visit to Baltimore's Camden Yards could help solve those struggles. Minnesota starts up a week-long trek with tonight's opener of

Pirates, red-hot Alvarez close out set vs. Brewers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Led by Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh's offense has exploded since the All-Star break. Seems that Milwaukee ace Yovani Gallardo is coming back at just the right time. Gallardo is set to make his first start in nearly th

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.