Phils rest hopes on Blanton in second test vs. Reds

Baseball Betting Lines

07/09/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Many assume that the Phillies will be in the hunt for pitching prior to the non-waiver trade deadline at the end of this month. That need will be lessened a bit if Joe Blanton can get on track.

Blanton will try to pitch Philadelphia to a second victory in a row this evening when his club continues a four-game set versus the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

After beginning the season on the disabled list because of an oblique injury, Blanton has gone 3-5 with a 6.27 earned run average in 12 starts and has allowed at least three runs in every outing this year. He was able to lock down consecutive wins near the end of June, but has posted two straight no- decisions, including on Sunday versus the Pirates. The right-hander gave up five runs on six hits without a walk and seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings of his team's 8-5 setback.

"Kind of the way it's gone for me," Blanton told Philadelphia's website. "[I] was throwing the ball great and still find a way to give up three or five runs. That's hard to take."

Blanton won his first two career decisions versus the Reds before getting a no-decision in a June 29 victory for the Phillies. The 29-year-old gave up three runs over 7 2/3 innings of a game his club won 9-6.

Despite blowing two leads after starter Kyle Kendrick left Thursday's series opener, including one by closer Brad Lidge on Miguel Cairo's pinch-hit double in the ninth, the Phillies claimed a 4-3 triumph in 12 innings thanks to Brian Schneider's walk-off solo homer against the Reds' Jordan Smith.

"You don't go up there trying to hit a home run," Schneider said. "I was just trying to hit the ball hard."

Shane Victorino had three hits and hit his career-high-tying 14th homer of the season for the Phillies, who won for just the third time in nine games but did move within 5 1/2 games of idle Atlanta for first place in the National League East.

On the same day he locked down a spot on the NL All-Star roster through the league's Final Vote contest, Joey Votto hit his league-leading 22nd homer and scored the game-tying run on Cairo's hit. However, the Reds fell to 5-3 on an 11-game road trip that closes out their first half.

Cincinnati, which still leads St. Louis by three games for first place in the NL Central, hopes that rookie Mike Leake can build off his last start as he held the Cubs to three runs and eight hits over six innings of a 14-3 victory on Sunday. The 22-year-old was 0-1 with a 6.85 ERA in four starts prior to that outing but did allow two homers for the third time in five starts.

That includes an outing versus the Phillies and Blanton in which Schneider and Wilson Valdez connected on three-run homers off the right-handed Arizona State product. Leake got a no-decision in that outing, his first ever versus Philadelphia.

Leake is 6-1 with a 3.38 ERA on the season and 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in six road starts.

The Phillies and Reds have split four meetings this season after Cincinnati took two of three at home earlier this week, but the Philadelphia has still won 11 of 16 and 16 of the last 24 meetings in the series.

Casono Baseball Betting News

<< Dodgers hope for more pitching prowess in second test with Cubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley has to be motivated by what staff mate Clayton Kershaw did in last night's series- opening win versus the Chicago Cubs. He'll try to give his team another dominating mound performa

<< Red Sox resume trek at Toronto's Rogers Centre
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After beginning a six-game road trip with three straight losses to one division rival, the Boston Red Sox head to Toronto in search of some momentum. The Rogers Centre is a good place to look for some. The Red Sox, h

<< Angels visit A's in clash of slumping division foes
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of struggling AL West inhabitants get together this evening in Oakland, as the Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim kick off a three-game series from the Coliseum. The Angels have dropped four straight and th

<< Twins have sights set on dethroning Tigers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins will try and gain some ground in the American League Central this weekend, as they close the first half of their season with a three-game set against the division-leading Detroit Tigers at Comeric

<< Yanks to take on Mariners as Lee rumors swirl
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - As the old adage goes, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." In this case for the New York Yankees, it has been reported they are interested in acquiring the services of Seattle Mariners left-hander Cliff Lee, who is schedule

White Sox begin series with resurgent Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - White Sox starter Mark Buehrle has lost just once in his last five starts. That setback came versus the Royals and the left-hander can get a measure of revenge tonight when Chicago opens a three-game series versus Kansas

Decision 2010: James leaves Cleveland behind >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LeBron James made the right decision the wrong way. I first realized James had officially lost touch with reality on Wednesday when the ESPN press release announcing "The Decision," the hour-long vehicle in which the NBA's

Norman withdraws from British Open Championship >>
St. Andrews, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Greg Norman has withdrawn from next week's British Open Championship at St. Andrews. Norman, a two-time winner of the Claret Jug, has been unable to get back into competitive form after shoulder su

AHL extends president's contract >>
Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American Hockey League president David Andrews has agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep him in his position through June, 2015. "All of us with an interest in the American Hockey L

Rangers re-sign D Girardi >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers have re-signed defenseman Daniel Girardi to an undisclosed contract. The 26-year-old registered six goals and 18 points with a minus-two rating over a full 82-game schedule in 2009-1

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.