05/09/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NL East-leading Florida Marlins will try to extend their current winning streak to a season-high five games tonight, when they begin a seven-game road trip with the first of three straight meetings with Washington at Nationals Park.
Florida has won four in a row and completed a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers at Dolphin Stadium with a 7-2 victory on Thursday. Matt Treanor finished 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and Jorge Cantu added a two- run shot to lead the way.
Luis Gonzalez went 3-for-3 and Hanley Ramirez had two hits and an RBI for the Marlins, who outscored the Brewers 16-4 in the series and sit one game ahead of Philadelphia in the division standings.
Marlins starter Mark Hendrickson gave up one run on seven hits, but lasted just 4 1/3 innings. Logan Kensing then pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the victory.
Florida will also visit Cincinnati for four games at Great American Ball Park on the current trek.
Ricky Nolasco gets the nod for the Marlins tonight and is 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA in seven games (5 starts) this season. Nolasco is 0-3 in his previous four outings, and was pounded for six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work during a 7-2 loss versus San Diego on Saturday.
Nolasco, a right-hander, has enjoyed success against the Nationals in his career, having gone 3-1 with a 4.37 ERA in six games (four starts).
Washington put the brakes on a two-game slide with an 8-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Rob Mackowiak went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and starter John Lannan tossed six strong innings, giving up just one run on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Ryan Zimmerman had three hits and Cristian Guzman scored three times as the Nats won for the seventh time in 10 tries.
Tim Redding will take the mound for Washington on Friday and is 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in seven starts. The righty last toed the rubber on Sunday versus Pittsburgh and recorded the win with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
Redding is 1-1 in two starts against Florida in 2008, and owns a 4-1 mark with a 2.68 earned run average through seven career appearances versus the Marlins.
Florida is 5-1 so far against the Nationals this season, with a 3-0 record at Nationals Park.
<< Dodgers open series with Astros in LA
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers try to get back on the winning
track this evening when they begin a three-game series with the Houston Astros
at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles enters this series on the heels of getting routed b
<< Reds, Mets open series at Shea
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Belisle tries to help the Cincinnati Reds string back-
to-back wins together this evening when they open a three-game series with the
New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
Belisle lost for the second time in his three star
<< Rays try to extend home win streak vs. Angels
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to match a franchise record by
winning their seventh straight home game this evening when they kick off a
three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Tropicana Field.
Tampa, w
<< Sabathia leads Tribe vs. Halladay, Jays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Cy Young Award winners square off this evening at
Progressive Field when C.C. Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians welcome Roy
Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays to town for the start of a four-game
series.
A pair of aces to highlight Padres-Rockies opener >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A solid pitching matchup is on tap tonight at Petco Park,
where Jake Peavy will lead the San Diego Padres against Aaron Cook and the NL
West-rival Colorado Rockies.
Peavy is 4-1 with a 2.22 earned run average in seven
Phillies continue western swing in San Francisco >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling San Francisco Giants will open a 10-game
homestand this evening, when they welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to AT&T
Park for the first of three straight games.
San Francisco has lost four in a
Maggert's brother killed in CO plane crash >>
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Professional golfer Jeff Maggert's
brother was killed Thursday when a single-engine plane he was piloting crashed
in a mountainous area in Colorado.
The plane went down in a rugged, wooded area a
Golf Tidbits: Inkster's major streak to end >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There have been significant winning
streaks in golf over the years, and there have also been plenty of players who
have stressed family over golf. Occasionally the two intersect.
Consider the case of Juli
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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