Dodgers hope to push win streak to nine in Houston

Baseball Betting Lines

04/21/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Young right-hander Clayton Kershaw can make it nine straight wins for the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight when they head to Minute Maid Park to begin a three-game series with the Houston Astros.

The Dodgers haven't won nine straight since an 11-game tear from July 28- August 8, 2006.

A 21-year-old native of Dallas, Texas, Kershaw is without a decision in two sterling 105-pitch efforts thus far in 2009, tossing five innings of two-hit ball against San Diego and seven innings of one-hit ball against San Francisco.

In 12 innings overall, he's allowed two earned runs, walked five and has struck out 19.

Against the Astros in 2008, Kershaw failed to get a decision in his only start against them while allowing eight hits and a single earned run in six innings.

Overall in 2008, he was 5-5 in 22 appearances - 21 starts - with a 4.26 earned run average in 107 2/3 innings.

For Houston, veteran Russ Ortiz makes his second start of the season.

A 110-game winner in the major leagues, Ortiz joined the Astros in April after signing a minor-league deal during the offseason.

Ortiz began 2009 with a pair of relief appearances, tossing a combined five hits and three runs in four innings in Houston's losses to the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

He returned against the Pirates three days later, getting a no-decision after a 4 2/3-inning outing in which he surrendered five hits and three runs, walking two and striking out two.

Ortiz last faced the Dodgers in 2008, going 0-1 in two starts while giving up 15 hits and six runs in 10 1/3 innings.

On Monday in Houston, Joey Votto hit a two-run double in the seventh inning and the Cincinnati Reds held on to edge the Astros, 4-3. Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning for the Astros, who have split their last six contests.

Mike Hampton got the starting nod for Houston and gave up three runs on eight hits, while striking out five and walking one over 6 1/3 innings. Geoff Geary (0-2) suffered the loss after surrendering the eventual game-winning run in the seventh.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the Dodgers continued to roll, as Matt Kemp belted a grand slam and hit a solo home run, as Joe Torre's crew routed the Colorado Rockies, 14-2, to sweep a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Kemp has now hit safely in all 13 games this season.

Orlando Hudson and Andre Ethier each had three RBI for the Dodgers, who have won 10 of their first 13 games.

Right-hander James McDonald allowed just four hits while fanning two and walking three in the second start of his career for the Dodgers. Scott Elbert (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two runs on three hits to collect the win.

Houston took four of seven from the Dodgers last season, but LA won the final three meetings.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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