Braves try to stay ahead of Padres in clash of division leaders

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - By drawing first blood in this three-game series with the San Diego Padres last night, the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves again own the league's best record.

Atlanta will try to keep its grip on that accolade and record a fourth straight victory over NL West-leading San Diego tonight at Turner Field.

The Braves claimed a 4-1 victory on Monday to up their season record to 55-38. That has them just ahead of the Padres (54-38) for the top mark in the league and 6 1/2 games up on the second-place New York Mets in the NL East standings.

Atlanta got contributions from across the board last night, as Matt Diaz homered for a third straight game, Jason Heyward finished with three hits and starter Jair Jurrjens gave up just a run on five hits over seven innings of work. That helped the Braves win for the seventh time in their last 10 games overall, and the club has also won 23 of its last 28 at home.

"He worked us pretty good," San Diego's Chris Denorfia said of Jurrjens. "He got ahead most of the time. He didn't give in. He made his pitches."

Denorfia did homer off Jurrjens, his third long ball in two games. All five of his home runs this season have come in his last seven games.

The rest of San Diego's lineup was shut down, leading to Wade LeBlanc taking the loss event though he allowed just five hits and two runs over his six- inning start. LeBlanc hasn't won since June 12 and the Padres had a four-game win streak halted last night. They lead San Francisco by three games for the top spot in the NL West.

The Padres go tonight with Jon Garland, who has won three of his last four decisions after besting the Diamondbacks on Friday. He held them to a run on three hits and two walks over six innings, striking out five while improving to 9-6 with a 3.45 earned run average on the season.

The 30-year-old right hander has struggled in two career starts versus the Braves, allowing 13 earned runs over just 8 1/3 innings. He last faced them on May 29, 2009 while with Arizona and was tagged for eight earned runs over just 2 2/3 innings of work.

While San Diego second baseman David Eckstein is likely headed to the disabled list after suffering a right calf strain running the bases last night, the Braves are expected to activate center fielder Nate McLouth from the DL today. McLouth has been out since June 9 after suffering a concussion during a collision with Heyward.

Chipper Jones, who pinch hit on Monday, was also held out of Atlanta's starting lineup for a third consecutive game due to a left hamstring strain, but he could also return to the field tonight.

Diaz should remain in the outfield along with McLouth tonight, seeing as he is hitting .432 (16-for-37) with four homers and 11 RBI over his last 10 games played after missing time with a right thumb infection.

"I feel like I have a real good approach [at the plate] right now," said Diaz, who also had an RBI single last night.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson will seek some consistency in tonight's outing, as he is 8-6 with a 4.19 ERA on the season. The 23-year-old lost to the Brewers on Friday after giving up four runs -- three earned -- on six hits over just five innings of a 9-3 setback.

Hanson has won both of career starts against the Padres, with the right-hander pitching to a 2.25 ERA. That includes a win on April 14 in which Hanson gave up one run over six innings while striking out seven.

The Braves took two of three from the Padres in San Diego from April 12-15 and have won eight of the last 10 played at Turner Field in the series.

Wwwlelgordo Baseball Betting News

<< Pirates, Brewers to go back it at after slugfest
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though it went from a laugher to a nail-biter, the Pittsburgh Pirates were still able to snap their five-game losing streak to Milwaukee last night. Another offensive outburst might be needed, given Zach Duke's history agains

<< Tigers aim to snap seven-game slide, avoid sweep versus the Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers hope to put an end to their seven-game losing streak and salvage the finale of a three-game series tonight versus the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park. The Tigers, who were swept in four games at Cleveland

<< Dodgers try to avoid seventh straight loss in finale with Giants
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers won their division after being at least six games back this late in the season was 1983, when the club battled back from a 6 1/2-game deficit to win the NL West. Los Angeles is current

<< Indians seek seventh straight win in finale at Minnesota
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the American League's worst teams during the season's first half, the Cleveland Indians, have suddenly become one of baseball's hottest clubs since the All-Star break. The red-hot Tribe will attempt

<< D-Backs, Haren hope to sweep Mets out of Arizona
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost all of Dan Haren's last six starts and hope that trend ends tonight in the finale of a three-game series versus the New York Mets at Chase Field. Haren is 0-4 with a 4.58 earned run avera

Rockies seek to build off rout of Marlins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Francis showed last night that he still belongs in Colorado's rotation. That hasn't been an issue for Jason Hammel for most of this season. Coming off his first loss in nearly two months, Hammel will try to pitch the

Nats turn to Strasburg in hopes of stopping slide versus Reds >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Who knows what sort of goodies Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg received yesterday for his 22nd birthday. The rookie will try to give Washington a gift this evening, when he attempts to end his club's four- game skid in the

Orioles reinstate Gonzalez from DL in roster shuffle >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles announced a series of moves Wednesday, including the reinstatement of reliever Mike Gonzalez from the 60-day disabled list. Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list in April wit

Hemphill returns to Delaware coaching staff >>
Newark, DE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former University of Delaware football graduate assistant Lyle Hemphill has returned to the staff as its new cornerbacks coach, head coach K.C. Keeler announced today. Hemphill, a Delaware native, served on the

Parker to return to Clemson football team >>
Clemson, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Parker announced Wednesday he will return to Clemson to play for its football team for the 2010 season. Parker, who helped Clemson's baseball team reach the final four of the 2010 College World Series

FOOTBALL BETTING

Sportsbook Betting

After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

NFL Betting Lines

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