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09/16/2011 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Beckett can ease a lot of minds in Boston this evening when he returns to the hill to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the second test of a key four-game series at Fenway Park.
Beckett hasn't pitched since injuring his ankle in a start in Toronto back on September 5. He had won his previous three outings before getting a no- decision in that 3 2/3 inning effort against the Jays and is 12-5 on the year with a 2.49 earned run average.
"He hasn't been out very long," said manager Terry Francona. "I guess we reserve the right to see how he's feeling. That's one of those days where we'll check with him. Because he might look like he's cruising, I wouldn't want to just send him back out or assume that he's cruising if he's really laboring inside. So we'll keep an eye on him."
Beckett didn't get a decision the last time he faced the Rays, but put forth one of the best efforts of his career in that one, as he allowed just one hit in eight scoreless innings. He is 8-4 lifetime against them with a 2.94 ERA in 18 starts.
In fact Beckett hasn't surrendered a run to the Rays in 21 innings dating back to last season. He's also 5-0 with a 2.47 ERA in his last eight outings against them at Fenway.
Boston could certainly use a big start from Beckett tonight if it wants to slow down a Rays team that has now gotten themselves back into the wild card picture thanks to four wins against the Red Sox in less than a week.
Tampa continued to put the heat on Boston in Thursday's opener, as Evan Longoria, Casey Kotchman and B.J. Upton all homered and the Rays moved within three games of the wild card-leading Red Sox with a 9-2 victory.
It was Tampa Bay's sixth straight win over Boston.
The Red Sox, after mustering just six hits against starter Jeremy Hellickson and four Rays relievers, fell to 3-11 in September.
Longoria hit a three-run homer in the third inning to cap a four-run rally that proved to be all the offense Tampa Bay needed to improve to 9-3 in its last 12 games.
Hellickson (13-10) surrendered three hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out as many in his fourth game against Boston this season.
"Pitching and defense, that's the way we're built," Upton said. "Up and down the lineup, we're not going to beat you with home runs. The rest of it, I think your pitching has been consistent and our defense has been consistent."
Red Sox rookie Kyle Weiland (0-2) took the loss Thursday and was charged with four runs on three hits and two walks in just three-plus innings.
It won't get any easier for Boston tonight, as it goes up against right-hander James Shields, who has won his last four starts, while allowing just three runs in a span of 34 1/3 innings. Shields was terrific against the Red Sox on Sunday, as he allowed a run and seven hits in 8 1/3 frames to run his record to 15-10 on the year to go along with a 2.70 ERA.
"We're back in the hunt," Shields said. "Every time we play (the Red Sox), it's a big game. We're playing good baseball right now. We're feeling pretty good and confident."
Shields' last loss, though, came at Fenway on August 16 and he is 7-11 lifetime versus the Red Sox with a 4.58 ERA in 20 starts.
"I feel good," said Shields, who is 6-1 in his last eight starts. "I feel really good. No matter where I've pitched this entire season, I've felt great. I don't really think about what I've done in the past, anywhere. Right now, all I'm really worried about is the way I'm pitching right now and how I feel right now -- and I feel really good right now."
Tampa has won 10 of its 15 matchups with the Red Sox this season and is 5-1 at Fenway, where it won six of nine a year ago.
<< Nats welcome Marlins to D.C.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty John Lannan takes the mound for the streaking
Washington Nationals tonight when they return home for the opener of a three-
game weekend series with the visiting Florida Marlins.
On Thursday in New York, Ian Desmond
<< Continental Europe storms back at Seve Trophy
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Continental Europe team took 3 1/2 points
out of five in Friday's fourball matches to close the gap against the Great
Britain & Ireland team at the Seve Trophy.
The GB&I team owns a 5 1/2 - 4
<< Giants, Rockies continue set in Colorado
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty Madison Bumgarner makes the 50th start of his big-
league career tonight when the defending World Series champion San Francisco
Giants return to Coors Field to continue a four-game weekend series with the
Colorado Rocki
<< Indians hope to avoid elimination in Minnesota
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Central Division rivals playing out the string meet in
Minneapolis on Friday when the last place Twins open up a three-game set by
hosting the reeling Cleveland Indians.
The hapless Twins lost their fifth straight game and
Rangers and Mariners kick off set at Safeco >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - C.J. Wilson goes after his fourth straight win this evening
when the Texas Rangers open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners
at Safeco Field.
Wilson was terrific once again on Sunday against Oakland, as he scat
Hard-luck Kuroda, Dodgers host Pirates at Chavez Ravine >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hiroki Kuroda tries to avoid his 17th loss of the season
this evening when the Los Angeles Dodgers continue a four-game series with the
Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium.
Kuroda lost his second straight start on Sunday
Haren, Angels open series with O's >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Haren tries to match a career-high by winning his 16th
game of the season this evening when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim open a
three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Haren was magnificent i
Tigers aim to clinch Central crown in Oakland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers can wrap up their first division crown
in 24 years this evening when they continue a four-game set with the Oakland
Athletics at the Coliseum.
The Tigers' champagne was held on ice Thursday when it had i
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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