Dirty Dozen: Royals take long slide into matchup with Tribe

Baseball Betting Lines

05/31/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals' losing skid has reached 12 games, and the club will try desperately to put one in the win column when it continues a three-game set against the Cleveland Indians tonight at Kauffman Stadium.

On Friday, Grady Sizemore smacked two home runs and made a game-saving catch in the ninth inning, helping the Indians edge the Royals, 5-4, in the series opener.

Casey Blake added the eventual game-winning two-run homer in the sixth inning, helping send the Tribe to their second win in their last three tests.

Cliff Lee (8-1) earned the win after allowing four runs on 10 hits over six innings, while Joe Borowski notched his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

John Buck had two runs batted in on two doubles and Mark Teahen had two hits and scored twice for Kansas City. Esteban German added three hits for the hard-luck Royals.

Royals starter Gil Meche worked five innings of three-run ball, allowing six hits and two walks while fanning six. Brett Tomko (2-7) relieved Meche in the sixth and promptly gave up the lead.

This is Kansas City's longest losing streak since dropping 13 straight from May 12-25, 2006.

Before Friday's game, Cleveland placed struggling designated hitter Travis Hafner on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain and activated outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from the 15-day disabled list.

After a Cy Young season in 2007, C.C. Sabathia has struggled thus far in 2008. The Cleveland ace is 3-6 with a 4.74 ERA and allowed 73 hits in 68 1/3 innings of work.

The left-hander did not figure in the decision of Sunday's game against Texas despite permitting just one earned run in seven innings.

Sabathia is 1-1 this season against Kansas City with a 2.92 ERA. In his career, he is 14-9 with a 3.35 ERA against the Royals.

Kansas City is expected to give the ball to Kyle Davies, who will be making his season debut for the Royals. The young righty has three years of major league experience to his credit.

With an 0-3 record and a 12.27 ERA in his career against the Indians, Davies doesn't have much reason for confidence entering this contest.

Cleveland has won four of six from the Royals this season and swept a three- game series in Kansas City from April 22-24.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL lines


Now that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow.  Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season.   Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints.  These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order.  As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS.  The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens.  The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers.

MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:

Saints +6 @ Colts -6

Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)

Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)

Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5

Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1

Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3

Patriots -5 @ Jets +5

Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5

Steelers -4 @ Browns +4

Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6

Bears +6 @ Chargers -6

Lions +3 @ Raiders -3

Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5

Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4

Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3

Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3

 Super Bowl line (2008)

NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5

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To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.