First-place Dodgers begin road swing in Houston

Baseball Betting Lines

07/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been struggling as of late, will try to stay atop the NL West standings when they open a three-game series against the Houston Astros this evening at Minute Maid Park.

The Dodgers are only a game ahead of the San Diego Padres in the division standings, but just lost three of four games to the New York Mets. In Sunday's 5-4, 10-inning loss at Dodger Stadium, Chip Ambres hit a two-out RBI single in the extra frame to lift the Mets to victory.

Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run homer while Rafael Furcal and James Loney each had an RBI for Los Angeles. Eric Stults started for the Dodgers and allowed two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no decision.

Reliever D.J. Houlton was saddled with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the 10th.

Chad Billingsley gets the call tonight for the Dodgers and is 6-0 with a 3.56 ERA in 29 games (six starts) this season. In his last outing on Wednesday against Philadelphia, Billingsley did not factor in the outcome of a 5-4 victory after yielding four runs in five innings.

The right-hander, who is 4-0 in 16 games (three starts) on the road this season, has never faced Houston in his career.

Houston has alternated wins and losses over its last six games and posted a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sunday's finale of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Luke Scott singled home the only run of the game in the sixth inning and Astros starter Woody Williams pitched eight innings of five-hit ball for the win. Williams surrendered five hits, struck out three batters and did not issue a walk.

Brad Lidge preserved the shutout with a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Brad Ausmus had two hits for the Astros, who won a road series for the first time since June 8-10 against the Chicago White Sox and concluded a nine-game road trip with a 3-6 record.

Houston, which is 13 games off the lead in the NL Central standings, will hand the ball to Chris Sampson in Monday's series opener. Sampson is 7-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season and won his last outing on Tuesday against Washington.

Sampson was reached for two runs and six hits over six innings during a 4-2 triumph at RFK Stadium in his last start. The right-hander will pitch against Los Angeles for the first time in his career tonight.

Los Angeles and Houston are meeting for the first time since splitting six encounters during the 2006 campaign. The Astros went 4-2 against LA in 2005.

Sportbettinggamble Baseball Betting News

<< Slumping Angels host struggling A's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of struggling American League West teams start up a three-game series tonight in southern California, where the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim welcome the reeling Oakland Athletics. Oakland comes in

<< Bombs away: Power-swinging Yanks charge into Kansas City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees bring their powerful bats into Kansas City for a four-game series with an improving Royals club that begins this evening at Kauffman Stadium. After enduring a disappointing 14-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Fr

<< Mariners hope to shake offensive woes in Texas
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners hope a visit to hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark in Arlington will enable them to cure their recent offensive struggles as they open up a four-game series with fellow American League West member Texas thi

<< Santana, Twins open set with Blue Jays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Standout left-hander Johan Santana looks to begin another win streak tonight when the Minnesota Twins visit Rogers Centre for the first game of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. A 19-game winner last season,

<< Isles re-sign Simon
Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders re-signed veteran forward Chris Simon to a one-year contract Monday. Simon played in 67 games for the Islanders in 2006-07 and had ten goals with 17 assists for 27 points. Last

Slumping Padres head to Colorado for divisional showdown >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres will try and stop a three-game slide when they play the first of three contests against the NL West-rival Colorado Rockies tonight at Coors Field. San Diego just dropped three of four to the Phila

Tigers, White Sox open five-game set in Windy City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams will get a very good look at each other over the next couple of days, as the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox begin a rare five-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. Thanks to a rain out back on Apr

Red Sox turn to Lester in opener against Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Red Sox are sure to receive an emotional boost in the form of Jon Lester tonight, when Boston begins a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field. Lester is expected to be recalled from Triple

Mason back with the Bucks >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Less than two years after being traded to the New Orleans Hornets, Desmond Mason is returning to Milwaukee. The Bucks inked the former Oklahoma State star to a multi-year contract Monday as they attempt to a

Saratoga opens with titles up for grab >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Historic Saratoga Race Track opens this week, marking the start of the second-half of the thoroughbred racing year. Divisional titles are on the line as none of the major runners have establi

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard