Astros, Brewers to begin NL Central clash

Baseball Betting Lines

04/24/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bottom-feeders in the NL Central Division get together this evening in Houston, where the Astros will entertain the rival Milwaukee Brewers for the first of three straight games at Minute Maid Park.

Milwaukee enters Friday's opener of the series fresh off a dazzling performance by starting pitcher Dave Bush, who hurled 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball in Thursday's 6-1 decision over the Philadelphia Phillies. He lost the bid on Matt Stairs' pinch-hit homer to right with one out in the eighth.

Bush (1-0) gave up two hits in 7 2/3 innings of work, while striking out four batters and walking three. Mitch Stetter pitched the rest of the way to preserve the victory and help Milwaukee to its second straight win and third in four tries.

Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer and Bill Hall added a solo shot for the Brewers, who got two hits and three RBI out of Prince Fielder. Milwaukee is now 3-3 on a nine-game road trip.

Braun is batting .327 with 11 homers and 30 runs batted in through 25 games against Houston.

Yovani Gallardo gets the nod for the Brewers on Friday and is 1-1 with a 4.58 earned run average in three starts this season. Gallardo posted a no-decision his previous time out against the New York Mets, allowing just five hits over six shutout innings of his team's 1-0 loss. Gallardo, who split his first two starts of the season, struck out seven and walked two batters.

The righty owns a perfect 2-0 mark and a 0.00 ERA through 15 innings pitched in two career starts against Houston.

Houston will continue its 10-game homestand tonight and had its bid for a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers stopped with Thursday's 2-0 setback in the series finale.

Miguel Tejada finished 2-for-4, while Darin Erstad and Michael Bourn collected the other two hits for the Astros, who got a strong showing from starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez. Rodriguez (1-2) surrendered one run on five hits in six frames with a pair of walks and four K's to suffer the loss.

The Astros are 3-4 so far on the residency and will send Felipe Paulino to the mound Friday for his second start of the season. Paulino took the hill on Sunday versus Cincinnati and did not record a decision despite tossing six scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a 4-2 loss.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 12.86 ERA in two career appearances (1 start) against Milwaukee.

The Brewers went 8-7 against the Astros last season, but compiled a 2-4 ledger at Minute Maid Park. These two teams have split the last six matchups in the series.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.