Blue Jays aim to extend series win streak over Orioles

Baseball Betting Lines

07/26/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays may have had their share of trouble against the top teams in the American League's East Division, but they sure know how to handle the Baltimore Orioles.

The Blue Jays will be seeking to extend a nine-game winning streak over Baltimore when these two AL East foes play the first of three consecutive meetings from the Rogers Centre this evening.

Toronto has swept a trio of three-game sets from the lowly Orioles this season, one of which took place at the Rogers Centre from May 28-30. The Blue Jays have also won eight straight and 13 of their 14 matchups with Baltimore as the home team.

The Jays haven't fared nearly as well against the other AL East inhabitants, having gone a combined 8-16 versus the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox.

Toronto did acquit itself fairly well in its most recent series, however, splitting four bouts on the road with struggling Detroit over the weekend. The Blue Jays nearly came through with a series win, but the Tigers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out a 6-5 victory in Sunday's finale of a doubleheader.

The Blue Jays posted a 5-3 win in the opener of the twinbill, with Lyle Overbay's tie-breaking two-run homer off Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the top of the ninth providing the difference.

Jose Molina had a two-run homer earlier in the game for Toronto, while Vernon Wells belted a solo shot and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Reliever Scott Downs (4-5) was awarded the win after pitching out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the eighth, with Kevin Gregg tossing a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his 23rd save.

Toronto's bullpen couldn't get the job done in the nightcap, however, as Brian Tallet and Jason Frasor were tagged for four runs in the eighth as Detroit rallied from a 4-2 deficit. Frasor (3-3) took the loss after allowing a pair of two-run doubles in the frame, including Ryan Raburn's go-ahead shot with one out.

Jays starter Jesse Litsch was in line for the win after holding the Tigers to two runs over the first 5 1/3 innings. Jose Bautista hit his major league- leading 27th homer of the season in the loss, while Dewayne Wise finished 3- for-4 with a solo blast and knocked in two runs for Toronto.

The Blue Jays will attempt to bounce back tonight behind Brandon Morrow, with the young right-hander hoping to duplicate a quality performance during his last time out. The converted reliever beat the Orioles in Baltimore back on July 17, yielding just two runs on five hits and striking out eight batters over seven innings.

Morrow has not pitched since that game, with Toronto skipping his next turn in order to limit his workload for the year. The former first-round pick has logged a career-high 107 innings thus far and has compiled a 6-6 record with a 4.71 earned run average in 19 starts, while striking out an impressive 119 batters.

The offseason acquisition, who turns 26 years old today, has done his best work at the Rogers Centre, having recorded a 5-1 mark with a 3.27 ERA in nine home starts.

Morrow's win over the Orioles earlier this month was his only decision in nine career appearances, two of which have been starts, against Baltimore. He sports a 3.26 ERA through 19 1/3 innings over those outings.

Baltimore registered the worst overall record in baseball prior to the All- Star break and hasn't shown any improvement so far in the second half. The Orioles have dropped eight of 10 games since the hiatus and enter tonight's tilt off back-to-back home setbacks to Minnesota on Saturday and Sunday.

Orioles pitching was hit hard in yesterday's 10-4 defeat, with the Twins banging out 19 hits and swatting four homers in the rout. Baltimore starter Jake Arrieta (3-3) struggled badly during his four-inning stint, with the rookie tagged for five runs on seven hits and walking four batters.

"It's pretty embarrassing to go out there and not be able to give your team a quality start," said Arrieta. "I prepare myself too well to allow these kind of things to happen."

Baltimore will be hoping for a better showing out of tonight's starter, Brad Bergesen, but may have to keep its fingers crossed considering how he's pitched as of late. The sophomore hurler has lost four consecutive starts and surrendered four or more runs in four of his past five assignments, producing a poor 6.52 ERA over that stretch.

In reality, this entire season has been a struggle for Bergesen, who brings a 3-8 record and 6.51 overall ERA into tonight's matchup. Opposing hitters are batting a robust .327 off of him for the year.

Bergesen did strike out seven batters over 5 1/3 innings in his last mound trip, but was still reached for five runs and nine hits in a loss to Tampa Bay this past Wednesday. That effort followed a 4-2 defeat to the Blue Jays on July 21 in which he permitted all four runs while lasting six frames.

The 24-year-old is 1-1 over four career starts against Toronto, but has allowed a total of nine runs in a combined 10 2/3 innings during his two previous encounters with the Blue Jays this season.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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