07/04/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have had problems scoring runs for Derek Lowe this season. However, with two big-name players set to return from the disabled list today, that may not be a problem.
Los Angeles is expected to get both Nomar Garciaparra and Andruw Jones back in the lineup when it begins a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants today at AT&T Park.
The Dodgers' offense had found some momentum in the last three games, as the team plated 16 runs after scoring just twice in its previous three contests and eight times in the last five.
Now the club gets both Garciaparra and Jones back. Garciaparra has been out since April 26 due to a torn left calf muscle and has been slowly making his way back. Jones, meanwhile, is returning to action about two weeks ahead of time from right knee surgery on May 27.
The two have been rehabbing in Triple-A Las Vegas, playing three games and going a combined 9-for-16 with Jones adding a homer. Also of note is that Garciaparra, who started the year at third base, will return today to shortstop due to Rafael Furcal undergoing back surgery on Thursday that will keep him out another eight weeks.
Jones, meanwhile, takes over center field for the injured Juan Pierre (left knee).
The Dodgers hope those returns will make a winner out of Lowe this afternoon. He has lost two straight starts and three of his last four despite a 3.04 earned run average in that span. In fact, the righty is just 5-8 on the season despite a 3.88 ERA.
LA has scored only seven runs in Lowe's last four outings, including six in one game. That contest did not take place on Sunday, when Lowe held the Angels to just a run on five hits before dropping a 1-0 decision in a test the Dodgers managed just three hits.
The 35-year-old faced the Giants on April 1 and got a no-decision after yielding two runs on nine hits over six innings of a 3-2 Dodgers win. Lowe is 3-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 career starts versus the Giants, including 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in five outings at AT&T Park.
The Dodgers have won three straight and five of seven overall to get within 1 1/2 games of first-place Arizona in the National League West. James Loney and Andre Ethier each homered in Thursday's 5-2 win over Houston to back eight strong innings by Chad Billingsley.
However, second baseman Jeff Kent left the game in the middle of the fifth inning due to back stiffness. He is day-to-day. Luis Maza slid over from short to second to replace Kent, while Angel Berroa came off the bench to play short.
The Giants send Jonathan Sanchez to the hill today, and the lefty has won two straight starts while going 6-1 with a 3.09 ERA over his last seven outings. He has given up just one run in each of his last two starts, including Sunday's win over Oakland. Sanchez fanned six in that outing, giving him 102 strikeouts -- tied for seventh in the NL -- in 102 innings of work.
The 25-year-old is 8-4 with a 3.79 ERA this year and has posted a 3.72 ERA in four games, including one start, lifetime versus the Dodgers without a decision.
San Francisco just split a four-game set with the Cubs, winning Thursday's finale 8-3 for its fourth win in six games. Rich Aurilia drilled a three-run homer for the Giants, while Aaron Rowand and Jose Castillo each had two hits and scored twice. Castillo also drove in a run.
Tim Lincecum (10-1) gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings to win his sixth straight decision.
The Dodgers took two of three from the Giants in LA from March 31-April 2 and have won 14 of their last 18 at San Francisco.
<< Hudson goes for Braves against Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta right-hander Tim Hudson makes his fourth career
start against Houston today when the host Braves open a three-game series
against the Astros at Turner Field.
The Georgia native, who'll turn 33 in 10 days, is 1-0 i
<< Nats, Reds resume four-game set in Cincy
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Up-and-down right-hander Bronson Arroyo goes for a second
straight victory today when the Cincinnati Reds continue a four-game series
against the visiting Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park.
Arroyo, a native
<< Gorzelanny, Sheets square off at Miller Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ace Ben Sheets tries to regain his winning ways today when
the Milwaukee Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-
game series at Miller Park.
Sheets, who's 7-8 in 21 career starts against Pittsburgh, h
<< Rangers head to Baltimore for three
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers will pay a visit to the Baltimore
Orioles this weekend, starting with the first of three straight games today
from Camden Yards.
Texas will try to get back on track after having its three-game winning st
Rays try to keep shining in opener with Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays will try to run their winning streak to
five games this evening, when they begin a four-game series with the Kansas
City Royals at Tropicana Field.
The Rays' current winning run includes a three-g
Mets, Phillies to renew rivalry with key weekend set >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fireworks are sure to fly in South Philadelphia tonight, as
the Phillies and New York Mets renew their National League East rivalry with
the opener of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies and Mets ba
Blue Jays resume western swing with visit to Angels >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American League West-leading Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim will open a three-game series this evening against the Toronto Blue
Jays at Angel Stadium.
The Angels, who are five games ahead of Oakland in the divi
Report: Boyle waives no-trade clause, headed to San Jose >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning have reportedly agreed
to trade veteran defenseman Dan Boyle to the San Jose Sharks.
According to TSN of Canada, Boyle waived his no-trade clause and agreed to the
deal, which is pendin
It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.
As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.
Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.
Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.
Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.
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