Mets' Pelfrey seeks turnaround against Diamondbacks

Baseball Betting Lines

07/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After winning 10 of his first 15 starts of the season, New York Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey has fallen on hard times. Pelfrey will try to bounce back when he takes the mound Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks from Chase Field.

Pelfrey was 10-2 with a 2.71 earned run average after a win over the Minnesota Twins on June 25, but is just 0-2 with a less desirable 10.13 ERA over his past three starts. He has dropped back-to-back appearances and previously took the mound in last Saturday's 4-0 setback versus Atlanta, allowing all four runs and 12 hits in only four innings. He hasn't been able to pitch past the fifth inning in each of his previous three outings.

The right-hander, who is 4-2 on the road this season and was slated to pitch Saturday before neck stiffness pushed his start back, will face Arizona for the sixth time in his career. He is 0-4 with a 5.22 ERA over the first five appearances in this series, and went 0-2 in two starts a year ago.

New York hopes Pelfrey will be at full strength when it resume an 11-game road trip in the desert. The Mets salvaged the finale of a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants over the weekend with Sunday's 4-3 victory in 10 innings at AT&T Park. Ike Davis put the visitors ahead for good with an RBI double in the 10th inning that plated Jason Bay, who reached on a single.

Davis had three hits and two RBI, while Bay also ended with a trio of hits for the Mets, who won for just the second time in eight games. David Wright homered for the 15th time in a winning effort and starter Johan Santana fired eight innings of one-run ball for the no-decision. Closer Francisco Rodriguez blew the save in the ninth, but came back for the win in the 10th.

"This locker room would have been a lot different right now [if we had lost]," right fielder Jeff Francoeur said on the team's website.

The Mets hope to carry the momentum over into this series with Arizona and will visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for four games afterwards. In injury news for the Mets, second baseman Luis Castillo (heel/foot) is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list Monday, while shortstop Jose Reyes (oblique) is listed as probable. Wright is also probable with a balky knee.

Arizona has dropped four in a row and was swept in three games by the NL West- leading San Diego Padres over the weekend. In Sunday's 6-4 setback in the series finale, Edwin Jackson was dealt the loss for allowing four runs and nine hits in six innings with seven K's and four walks.

Kelly Johnson and Justin Upton both homered and finished with two RBI for the Diamondbacks, who have lost 10 of their last 12 games. Upton finished with a team-best three hits and is riding a modest five-game hitting streak. He has hit safely in 20 of his last 28 contests, including 11 multi-hit games.

"We battled to the end and that's all you can ask for," said Upton, who had an RBI double in the ninth. "Heath Bell is an All-Star for a reason."

Bell then got D'Backs catcher Miguel Montero to ground out to end the game.

The Diamondbacks will also host NL West-rival San Francisco for four games after this set with New York.

Ian Kennedy has put together back-to-back wins just once this season and hopes to do it again when he toes the rubber Monday for the D'Backs. Kennedy was 0-5 with a 5.29 earned run average in eight starts before ending the slide in a 5-4 win over Florida on July 10. He allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings, struck out five and walked two batters to improve to 4-7 in 18 starts.

The right-hander, who is 2-2 in eight home starts this season, has never faced the Mets in his career.

New York and Arizona are meeting for the first time since the Diamondbacks won five of seven meetings a year ago.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout

An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.

Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off.  Randy was not impressed though.  Paula thought he started off fantastic.  "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either. 

Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed.  Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact.  He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition. 

Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula.  Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.

Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next.  Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential.  Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell.  He sang "Careless Whisper".

22 year old Chris Richardson was up next.  He was listed with +1100 odds coming in.  He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great. 

Nick was boring and pitchy.  Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week.  Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition. 

Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds .  These of course were the early odds.  He was considered original for picking an "odd song".  He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night. 

Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good. 

Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds.  Great voice and a great sense of humor.  He's a real standout.  Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit.  Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig". 

Jared Cotter followed.  He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition.  The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good. 

22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next.  "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon.  Though the judges felt he performed okay.  Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.

Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition.  He was the last to perform.  He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start. 

Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys.  Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.