07/04/2008 - (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 battled down the stretch last year for the NL East crown, with Philadelphia beating New York in each of the final eight meetings between the clubs. Those setbacks helped spark an epic collapse by the Mets, who blew a seven-game advantage with 17 games to play and lost 12 of their final 17 games. That allowed Philadelphia to capture the division title on the season's final day.
New York has gotten some payback this year, beating Philadelphia in four of the six meetings so far, but it is the Phillies who lead the NL East by 2 1/2 games over Florida. The Mets are third, 4 1/2 games off the pace.
New York sends its big offseason pickup to the hill tonight, as Johan Santana faces the Phillies for the second time this season. He defeated them on April 18 after allowing three runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts over seven innings.
Santana has a 3.09 earned run average in two career starts versus Philadelphia.
The left-hander has lost three straight starts and four consecutive decisions, however, going 1-4 in June despite a 2.27 ERA. New York scored fewer than three runs in four of Santana's six June starts, including Saturday's matchup against the Yankees.
Santana gave up three runs on four hits and four walks over six innings versus the Yanks, while striking out eight in a 3-2 loss. On the season, the 29-year- old is 7-7 with a 3.01 ERA.
New York has managed to score 25 runs over its last three games, while also allowing just 13. The club had little problem in its series finale with St. Louis on Thursday, rolling to an 11-1 rout.
Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer and had three total RBI, while Jose Reyes smacked a bases-loaded triple as part of a six-run third inning. Endy Chavez, Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson each collected a pair of hits and an RBI for the Mets, who earned the split of the four-game series and have won three of five overall.
Easley is filling in at second base after starter Luis Castillo landed on the 15-day disabled list due to a quadriceps injury.
Philadelphia's once-struggling offense has also gotten back on track. The club has scored 35 runs over its last six tests -- going 4-2 in that span -- after plating only 15 runs in its previous eight games.
The Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Braves on Thursday with a 4-1 victory. Starter Cole Hamels tossed 8 2/3 excellent innings, narrowly missing his second straight shutout over Atlanta, while Pedro Feliz, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard all homered in the win.
Utley smacked his major league-leading 24th homer of the season, while Howard went deep for the second straight game and is tops in the NL with 72 RBI. Also, Pat Burrell went 2-for-4 with a double for Philadelphia and is hitting .429 (6-for-14) over his last four games.
Burrell has clubbed Mets pitching throughout his career, blasting 41 homers while driving in 102 runs in 140 career games against them. However, he is hitting just .211 (4-for-19) without a homer in six games this year against New York.
Hamels was to pitch tonight, but was moved up a day to replace Brett Myers after the struggling hurler was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday to work out of his slump. In need of a starter tonight, the Phils have turned to J.A. Happ.
Happ has made just one start in his career, and that actually came last year versus the Mets on June 30. It wasn't a day to remember for the 25-year-old, who allowed five runs on seven hits -- including three homers -- in four innings to take the loss.
The left-hander is 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 starts at Lehigh Valley this season.
<< Mariners try again to tame surging Tigers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers try to continue their recent dominance
of the Seattle Mariners when the two teams continue their four-game series
this afternoon at Safeco Field.
Detroit has won six of seven from the Mariners th
<< Dodgers should get reinforcements for latest battle with Giants
(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
<< Diamondbacks welcome Padres to Chase Field
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks are finally back
at the .500 mark and will try to maintain their division lead tonight, when
they open a three-game series versus the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.
Arizona sits j
<< 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
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
Indians designate Borowski for assignment >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians designated closer
Joe Borowski for assignment Friday, days after he blew a save against the
Chicago White Sox.
Borowski went 1-3 on the season with a 7.56 earned run averag
Federer, Nadal to meet in third straight Wimbledon final >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Roger Federer, seeking a
sixth straight title here, and two-time runner-up Rafael Nadal were Friday's
semifinal winners at The Championships, Wimbledon. The two superstars will
meet in
Martin signs with HMS for 2009 >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Martin will replace Casey Mears in
the No.5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports starting with the 2009 Sprint Cup
Series season.
After two years of semi-retirement, Martin declared he is ready
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds
Will he or won't he? Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.
Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.
"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."
Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.
Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.
But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.
Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback. It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.
Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Baltimore Ravens 15-1
Buffalo Bills 50-1
Carolina Panthers 18-1
Chicago Bears 10-1
Cincinnati Bengals 15-1
Cleveland Browns 100-1
Dallas Cowboys 15-1
Denver Broncos 15-1
Detroit Lions 100-1
Green Bay Packers 50-1
Houston Texans 100-1
Indianapolis Colts 6-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1
Kansas City Chiefs 30-1
Miami Dolphins 40-1
Minnesota Vikings 75-1
New England Patriots 10-1
New Orleans Saints 18-1
New York Giants 20-1
New York Jets 30-1
Oakland Raiders 100-1
Philadelphia Eagles 18-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1
Saint Louis Rams 60-1
San Diego Chargers 6-1
San Francisco 49ers 75-1
Seattle Seahawks 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1
Tennessee Titans 40-1
Washington Redskins 50-1
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