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**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:30 AM

Texas Rangers Take On Trevor Cahill And A's

The Texas Rangers will look to continue their recent dominance of the Oakland Athletics on Saturday and keep plugging away toward their second straight American League West title. The Rangers had beaten the A’s five straight times and won five of seven overall heading into Friday’s series opener at the Coliseum.

Opening pitch for the second game of three games in the series is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. (PT) with television coverage provided by FOX.

Texas opened a 10-game road trip in Oakland on Friday and must be careful not to look past the A’s and ahead to a critical four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels beginning Monday.

Oakland won four of the first five meetings this season before Texas reeled off its five consecutive victories. The Rangers won 10 of the 19 meetings in 2010, and the teams split their 10 games in Oakland.

The Rangers will send Colby Lewis (10-8, 4.12 ERA) to the mound in search of his first win in four starts. The big righty is 0-1 during that stretch, but Texas has lost two of those games after winning five straight with him on the hill.

He has surrendered 12 runs and 23 hits in 18 innings over his past three outings, walking six and striking out 11.

Lewis has pitched better on the road this season with a 6-4 mark in 11 starts to go along with a solid 3.08 ERA.

He is also 5-3 lifetime against the A’s with a 3.25 ERA and has been favored in seven of his last eight outings overall. This will be his third start vs. Oakland this season with Texas winning the previous two. Lewis worked a combined 13 1/3 innings in the other two and allowed five earned runs (3.37).

Oakland’s Trevor Cahill (9-10, 3.93) has enjoyed past success against his opposition as well, going 8-3 against the Rangers with an impressive 2.19 ERA. All three of his starts vs. Texas this season have eben solid with Oakland winning twice and Cahill's ERA at 1.24 in the 21 2/3 combined innings.

The main problem for Cahill this year has been a lack of run support, although his pitching lately has also left a lot to be desired.

Two of Cahill’s worst starts of the year have come over the past three weeks, although both of them came on the road. He gave up a season-worst 10 runs in a 17-7 loss to the New York Yankees on July 22 and then gave up a season-high 12 hits and seven runs in an 8-4 setback at Seattle on August 1.

However, Cahill was outstanding in his last home start on July 27, allowing only four hits in seven scoreless innings of a 13-4 win over Tampa Bay. That remains his lone victory since June 25. The ‘over’ has cashed in each of Cahill’s last four outings, and he has been an underdog in three of those games with the A’s winning twice.

The weather forecast for Saturday afternoon in Oakland calls for a high temperature of 74 degrees under partly sunny skies.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:32 AM

Tampa Bay Rays At NY Yankees MLB Betting preview

The New York Yankees have a stranglehold on the AL wild card and can continue strengthening their grip this weekend when hosting the Tampa Bay Rays. Saturday’s first pitch at Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. (PT) and will be televised on FOX.

New York took two of three games against the Los Angeles Angels leading into this series, the a club that sits directly behind the Yankees in the wild-card race. The third-place team in that group is Tampa Bay.

The Yankees were just a game back in the American League East entering Friday's series opener that matched up left-handers David Price for Tampa Bay and CC Sabathia for New York. MLB betting lines were -175 on the Yankees with a 7½-run total.

Phil Hughes (2-4, 7.11 ERA) is scheduled to make his 10th appearance (ninth start) of the season, picking up a 3-2 loss in relief against the Red Sox last time out. He is aiming to record his first home victory of the season, coming in with an 0-2 mark and 9.16 ERA, with opponents are hitting .366 against him at Yankee Stadium.

The right-hander has registered an even 3-3 record and 4.50 ERA in 10 lifetime outings (five starts) versus the Rays, including a 1-2 mark and 4.74 ERA in three starts in 2010. He has kept Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria relatively quite, allowing three hits in 10 at bats with just a single RBI.

Bettors have been expecting the former first-round selection to turn things around in front of the home faithful, as the Yankees have won 24 of his last 32 starts in the Bronx. He may gain confidence in knowing the Bronx Bombers own a major league-best 32-8 record in day games this year.

Tampa Bay knows it will be a steep climb at this point to make the postseason, but the team is not going to give up without a fight under manager Joe Maddon. The Rays just picked up their eighth four-game sweep in club history against the Kansas City Royals.

Longoria has been leading the charge offensively, hitting safely in eight straight games, including six RBIs over the last three. He is a career .271 hitter against the Yankees.

Jeremy Hellickson (10-7, 3.05 ERA) has led the club to wins in four of his last five outings. That includes a no-decision in his last start, a 2-1 home victory over the Royals when he surrendered just a single run and six hits over 7 1/3 innings.

Hellickson proved victorious in his only career start against New York four starts back, giving up two runs and five hits in seven frames of a 3-2 win at Tropicana Field. In three lifetime outings versus the pinstripes, the rookie is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA.

Total players will find that the ‘over’ is 9-3 in his last 12 road starts.

It should be a perfect day in the Bronx with game-time temperatures in the mid-80s. A slight south breeze of 5-10 mph will also be present throughout the contest (right to left). The ‘over’ is 6-2 at Yankee Stadium under those conditions.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:37 AM

Around the Horn - Saturday

August 12, 2011

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee - 4:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Correia (12-10, 4.78 ERA) 2-12 L14 1-7 away on Saturdays
Estrada (2-7, 4.80 ERA) 14-2 L16 7-2 home on Saturdays

Brewers beat Pirates, 7-2 on Friday

Washington at Philadelphia - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Lannan (8-7, 3.56 ERA) 7-4 L11 3-7 away on Saturdays
Oswalt (4-7, 3.84 ERA) 12-2 L14 13-3 home vs LHP

Nationals beat Phillies, 4-2 on Friday

San Francisco at Florida - 7:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Lincecum (10-9, 2.69 ERA) 3-8 L11 UNDER 11-3 L14 away Game 2's
Vazquez (7-9, 4.72 ERA) 1-7 L8 4-1 L5 home on Saturdays

Marlins beat Giants, 2-1 on Friday

San Diego at Cincinnati - 7:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Stauffer (7-8, 3.06 ERA) 6-3 L9 5-2 L7 home Game 2's
Bailey (6-5, 4.72 ERA) 3-5 L8 3-8 L11 home Game 2's

Reds beat Padres, 5-3 on Friday

Chicago at Atlanta - 7:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Wells (3-4, 6.05 ERA) 9-3 L12 2-8 L10 away Game 2's
Lowe (7-10, 4.78 ERA) 7-1 L8 5-1 L6 home Game 2's

Braves beat Cubs, 10-4 on Friday

Colorado at St. Louis - 7:15 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Hammel (6-11, 5.14 ERA) 4-7 L11 4-8 L12 away vs LHP
Garcia (10-5, 3.23 ERA) 7-3 L10 11-6 home Game 2's

Cardinals beat Rockies, 6-1 on Friday

N.Y. Mets at Arizona - 8:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Pelfrey (6-9, 4.53 ERA) 3-9 L12 2-9 away on Saturdays
Hudson (11-8, 3.83 ERA) 8-4 L12 UNDER 7-2 home Game 2's

Diamondbacks beat Mets, 4-3 on Friday

Houston at Los Angeles - 10:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Rodriguez (8-8, 3.52 ERA) 2-8 L10 1-7 L8 away vs LHP
Kershaw (13-5, 2.79 ERA) 3-5 L8 1-8 L9 home vs LHP

Dodgers beat Astros, 1-0 on Friday

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Los Angeles at Toronto - 1:05 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Weaver (14-5, 1.78 ERA) 3-6 L9 4-8 L12 away vs LHP
Romero (10-9, 2.94 ERA) 5-5 L10 3-9 L12 home during day

Angels beat Blue Jays, 5-1 on Friday

Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees - 4:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Hellickson (10-7, 3.05 ERA) 8-2 L10 14-6 L20 away during day
Hughes (2-4, 7.11 ERA) 7-4 L11 10-2 L12 home Game 2's

Rays beat Yankees, 5-1 on Friday

Texas at Oakland - 4:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Lewis (10-8, 4.12 ERA) 6-2 L8 UNDER 10-3 L13 away during day
Cahill (9-10, 3.93 ERA) 4-2 L6 OVER 5-2 L7 home during day

Rangers beat Athletics, 9-1 on Friday

Minnesota at Cleveland - 7:05 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Duensing (8-10, 4.56 ERA) 2-7 L9 OVER 5-0 L5 away Game 2's
Tomlin (11-5, 4.08 ERA) 5-2 L7 UNDER 5-1 L6 home on Saturdays

Indians beat Twins, 3-2 on Friday

Detroit at Baltimore - 7:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Scherzer (11-7, 4.33 ERA) 5-5 L10 3-7 away on Saturdays
Guthrie (5-15, 4.38 ERA) 2-8 L10 5-2 L7 home on Saturdays

Tigers beat Orioles, 5-4 on Friday

Kansas City at Chicago - 7:10 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Hochevar (8-8, 4.79 ERA) 2-6 L8 2-11 L13 away Game 2's
Peavy (5-5, 4.63 ERA) 6-2 L8 2-10 L12 home vs RHP

Royals beat White Sox, 5-1 on Friday

Boston at Seattle - 10:05 PM EST (Game 2/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Beckett (9-4, 2.17 ERA) 7-3 L10 6-2 away on Saturdays
Hernandez (10-10, 3.31 ERA) 5-5 L10 2-7 home on Saturdays

Red Sox beat Mariners, 6-4 on Friday

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:39 AM

MLB Series Outlook: Chicago Cubs at Atlanta

CHICAGO CUBS (51-67, -13.7 Units)

at ATLANTA BRAVES (69-49, +9.0 Units)

Sportsbook.com Series Line: TBD

Like every year, the Cubs seem to be a disappointment and the Braves are at the center of the playoff picture. At 51-67, Chicago sits 16 games behind the N.L. Central lead while Atlanta sits comfortably atop the N.L. Wild Card race at 69-49. The Cubs have been hot however, entering the weekend with an 8-2 record in August. With the trade deadline addition of speedy Michael Bourn in center field, the Braves have a true leadoff presence to jump-start them now.

Play on favored ATLANTA to take this series, with too much of a starting pitching and lineup edge in this series to give the lovable loser Cubs a chance. Chicago has the second-fewest road wins in the NL (22), while the Braves have been dominant against N.L. Central teams this year, winning 62.1% of the games (18-11).

The FoxSheets give another reason to take the Braves, who are not facing a lefty starter this weekend.ATLANTA is 51-32 (61.4%, +11.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season. The average score was ATLANTA 4.2, OPPONENT 3.4 - (Rating = 1*).

Pitching Probables for Saturday, August 13 - 7:10 EDT
Saturday line: TBD
CHC: 5-9 (-3.25 Units) when Randy Wells starts
ATL: 13-12 (-0.05 Units) when Derek Lowe starts
Wells (3-4, 6.05 ERA) has been a disaster for the Cubs, evidenced by his last start. In that outing he allowed six runs over seven innings, serving up three home runs. In just 77.1 innings this year, he’s allowed 15 long balls (including 9 HR in past six starts), something the Braves lineup should be licking their chops over.
Lowe (7-10, 4.78 ERA) finally ended his string of six straight non-quality starts, with a strong outing in Florida his last time out (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER). He’s also had success against the Cubs, going 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in nine starts against them since 2006. Although Turner Field has not been a safe haven for Lowe this year (5.07 ERA), he is still the favorable play over the struggling Wells.

Pitching Probables for Sunday, August 14 - 1:35 EDT
Sunday line: TBD
CHC: 8-14 (-7.65 Units) when Matt Garza starts
ATL: 9-8 (-0.55 Units) when Brandon Beachy starts
Garza (5-9, 3.81 ERA) has been the lone Cubs starter to be in the rotation the entire year and pitch with a strong level of consistency. He’s far worse away from Wrigley Field though, with a 5.20 road ERA. Against the K-machine Beachy, play against the Cubs’ ace.
Beachy’s (5-2, 3.43 ERA) last start embodied his entire season: he allowed two runs over 6.2 innings with 10 K in a no-decision. He is averaging 9.74 K per 9 innings, but only has seven decisions in 17 starts this year. Although not nearly as bad as the Braves, the Cubs are strikeout-prone as well, ranking tied for 10th in the majors with 860 whiffs. Beachy has never faced the Cubs in his career.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:40 AM

MLB Series Outlook: Boston at Seattle

BOSTON RED SOX (72-44, +6.7 Units)

at SEATTLE MARINERS (50-66, -13.6 Units)

Sportsbook.com Series Line: TBD

The Red Sox and Mariners are heading in opposite directions right now, with Boston fighting to keep the A.L. East lead and the Mariners sinking to the bottom of the A.L. West. Their deadline deal together embodied that, with the Red Sox receiving starting pitcher Erik Bedard as a part of a three-team trade. Although he does not pitch this series, the Red Sox will aim to build on their one-game lead over the Yankees with a sweep over a weaker opponent.

Bet on SEATTLE to win the series as heavy underdogs who should receive great lines against the juggernaut Red Sox. The Mariners have strong pitching matchups in the first two games of the series, and despite their division-worst record, play near .500-ball at home (27-28) and are 5-4 in August.

The FoxSheets show another trend siding with the Mariners to take two out of three games.

TERRY FRANCONA is 66-77 (-25.3 Units) against the money line in road games against AL West opponents as the manager of BOSTON. The average score was BOSTON 4.4, OPPONENT 4.6 - (Rating = 1*).

Pitching Probables for Saturday, August 13 - 10:10 EDT
Saturday line: TBD
BOS: 16-6 (+7.25 Units) when Josh Beckett starts
SEA: 13-12 (-1.40 Units) when Felix Hernandez starts
Beckett (9-4, 2.17 ERA) has returned to elite status this year and is the favorable play against almost any pitcher. Unfortunately, Felix Hernandez may be one of those exceptions. Still, the Boston right-hander has been consistently dominant, never allowing more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts since July (2.11 ERA, 0.96 WHIP). This will be a great pitcher’s duel.
Hernandez (10-10, 3.31 ERA) has been slightly less consistent than Beckett, but is unhittable when he’s on top of his game. He has six starts this year with 10 or more strikeouts, and in his past 14.1 innings over two starts he’s fanned 21 and allowed just four runs. “King Felix,” how he is affectionately known, is 4-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 10 career starts versus Boston.

Pitching Probables for Sunday, August 14 - 4:10 EDT
Sunday line: TBD
BOS: 11-5 (+4.85 Units) when Tim Wakefield starts
Team: 1-3 (+1.60 Units) when Charlie Furbush starts
Never spectacular, the 45-year-old Wakefield (6-4, 4.92 ERA) is a reliable veteran who should be counted on to grind out this matchup. He’ll be trying to win his 200th career game on Sunday. Still, he has struggled against the Mariners with a 6.00 ERA in 12 innings against them this year, and is no sure thing, with nine straight starts of allowing at least three earned runs (5.43 ERA in this span).
Furbush (2-4, 4.46 ERA) excelled in 26 innings as a reliever with a 2.42 ERA but has struggled in the rotation with a 7.71 ERA and .343 opponents’ BA in four starts. He’s also a lefty, which doesn’t bode well for him on Sunday because the Red Sox are one of three teams in baseball with an OPS above .800 against left-handed pitching.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:42 AM

MLB Series Outlook: Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees

TAMPA BAY RAYS (63-54)

at NEW YORK YANKEES (71-45)

Sportsbook.com Series Line: TBD

The Yankees can all but officially knock Tampa Bay out of playoff contention when they host the Rays for a three-game set starting Friday night.

New York enters the weekend with an 8½-game lead over Tampa for the A.L. Wild Card spot. But the Rays are an even 6-6 over the past two years at the new Yankee Stadium, and they have clear advantages in the Saturday and Sunday pitching matchups. Plus, at 32-26 (+7.5 Units), Tampa has the third-best road record in the American League. The FoxSheets provide another trend about the Yankees that sides with TAMPA BAY to steal the weekend series:

TAMPA BAY is 32-20 (61.5%, +13.2 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 2 seasons. The average score was TAMPA BAY 6.2, OPPONENT 4.7 - (Rating = 1*).

Pitching Probables for Saturday, August 13 - 4:10 ET
Saturday line: TBD
TB: 11-9 (+1.0 Units) when Jeremy Hellickson starts
NYY: 4-4 (-1.1 Units) when Phil Hughes starts
Hellickson (10-7, 3.05 ERA) has quality starts in seven of his past eight outings, and is coming off back-to-back gems (albeit against weak opponents), holding the Mariners to one run over seven innings and the Royals to one run over 7.1. He was excellent in his only career start against the Yankees, holding them to two runs and five hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking one on July 19.
Manager Joe Girardi has said he’d like to go back to a five-man rotation, so Hughes (2-4, 7.11 ERA) is likely pitching for his rotation spot. He pitched out of the bullpen in their 10-inning loss in Boston on Sunday (taking the loss by allowing a run in the 10th), but he threw a rain-shortened, six-inning shutout against the White Sox in his previous start. His velocity is better than it was early in the year, and he’s 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA as a starter since returning from the minors, allowing more than two runs just once in five starts.

Pitching Probables for Sunday, August 14 - 1:05 ET
Sunday line: TBD
TB: 15-9 (+3.4 Units) when James Shields starts
NYY: 11-9 (+0.3 Units) when Freddy Garcia starts
Shields (11-9, 2.80 ERA) has bounced back strong since a disastrous start in Oakland to close out July (10 runs, 14 base runners in four innings). He held the Blue Jays to one run over 7.1 innings on August 3, then threw a six-hit shutout, striking out eight, against the Royals on Tuesday. Despite a 6-5 record at home (Tampa is 8-5 in his starts), Shields has been magnificent at Tropicana Field, posting a 2.15 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and recording quality starts in 11 of his 13 outings. He beat the Yankees at home on July 21, holding them to one run over 7.2 innings. In three starts against New York in 2011, he has a 1.59 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 22.2 innings.
Garcia (10-7, 3.16 ERA) is chugging along nicely of late, going 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his past four starts. He threw 6.2 shutout innings, striking out seven and walking none, in a victory in Tampa on July 20. He’s won both of his starts against the Rays over the past two seasons, allowing just two runs, striking out 14 and walking only two over 13.2 innings.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:44 AM

MLB Series Outlook: San Francisco at Florida

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (64-54, +3.0 Units)

at FLORIDA MARLINS (55-62, -7.8 Units)

Sportsbook.com Series Line: TBD

The streaky Marlins are on a bad run again, while the Giants are struggling themselves. Florida will be trying to snap a seven-game losing streak when it hosts San Francisco for a three-game set starting Friday night. Meanwhile, the Giants are just 4-10 since adding Carlos Beltran, who is now battling a wrist injury, to their lineup.

Florida pulled off a sweep in San Francisco the last time these teams met, back in May, and took out star catcher Buster Posey in the process. It took the Giants some time to recover then, just as they’re adjusting to the arrival of Beltran now. They pulled off a three-game sweep the last time they visited Miami, in May 2010, and they’ll have their three best pitchers on the mound this weekend: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong. That, plus this pair of three-star trends from the FoxSheets, is enough to make SAN FRANCISCO the pick to win the series.

FLORIDA is 20-35 (36.4%, -20.8 Units) against the money line in home games vs. teams averaging 2.75 or less extra base hits per game this season. The average score was FLORIDA 3.9, OPPONENT 4.5 - (Rating = 3*).

JACK McKEON is 1-12 (7.7%, -13.3 Units) against the money line in home games vs. a good bullpen whose WHIP is 1.350 or better as the manager of FLORIDA. The average score was FLORIDA 2.8, OPPONENT 6.3 - (Rating = 3*).

Pitching Probables for Saturday, August 13 - 7:10 ET
Saturday line: TBD
SF: 14-10 (-0.5 Units) when Tim Lincecum starts
FLA: 11-12 (+1.0 Units) when Javier Vazquez starts
Lincecum (10-9, 2.69 ERA) has been lights out over the past month, posting a 1.36 ERA over his past six starts and allowing more than one run in just one of them (2 ER vs. Arizona). However, his K-to-BB ratio is a surprisingly middling 39-to-19 over 39.2 innings during that span. He’s faced the Marlins only twice, both times in Miami, posting a 3.14 ERA and .160 opponents’ BA as the Giants won both of those outings.
Despite a weak stat line for the season, Vazquez (7-9, 4.72 ERA) has been much better over his past 10 starts: 4-3, 2.19 ERA (though six unearned runs allowed as well), 47 strikeouts and only 13 walks over 61.2 innings. He was a little shaky against St. Louis on Sunday, allowing four runs (one earned) over six innings. He has only faced the Giants once since 2005, when he allowed five runs in 5.2 innings during his Cy Young-caliber 2009 season for Atlanta.

Pitching Probables for Sunday, August 14 - 1:10 ET
Sunday line: TBD
SF: 12-7 (+4.3 Units) when Ryan Vogelsong starts
FLA: 10-10 (+0.5 Units) when Chris Volstad starts
He’s been one of the surprise stories of 2011, but Vogelsong (9-2, 2.48 ERA) is coming off a brutal outing against the Phillies. He struck out eight in five innings on Monday, but also gave up five runs and 11 base runners. He’s also been a little shakier in road starts this year, where he’s 3-0, but has a 3.55 ERA and 1.45 WHIP (as opposed to 1.82 ERA and 1.18 WHIP at home). He pitched very well against Florida in May, holding them to one run over eight innings in a tough loss.
The struggles continue for Volstad (5-8, 5.58 ERA). After posting an 8.50 ERA over four starts in July, he was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans where he threw seven shutout innings in his first start, but allowed nine runs and 22 base runners over 11.1 innings in his next two. He has a strong track record against the Giants (1.71 ERA, 17 K, 3 BB over three career starts), including six innings of two-run ball in a no-decision at San Francisco in May (a Florida win).

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:46 AM

Cape Blanco Morning-Line Favorite For Arlington Million

The 29th running of the Grade I Arlington Million is set for Saturday, August 13. WGN America will be providing live television coverage of the event from Arlington Park Racetrack with the post time set for 3:15 p.m. (PT).

Ten horses are currently entered for the 1 1/4-mile grass event that is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” series, as the winner gains an automatic spot in the Breeders Cup’ Turf at Churchill Downs Nov. 5.

A familiar face is currently the second-choice on the morning line, as Gio Ponti (2/1) is making his record-tying third Million start. The six-year-old is aiming for his second career victory in the prestigious race and has drawn the No. 5 post position.

The Christophe Clement-trained horse finished second in a six-wide trip in last year’s event, losing to winner Debussy by a half length.

If he happens to turn the tables and hit the wire first this weekend, the Kentucky-bred will join John Henry as the only horses to have won the Million twice.

Cape Blanco (9/5) has been established as the early favorite and will be making his second trip to the United States in as many months after capturing the Grade I Man o’ War at Belmont Park on July 9. The son of Galileo defeated Gio Ponti by 2 1/4-lengths in that particular race and has won seven times in 13 starts.

Trainer Aiden O’Brien led the four-year-old colt to victories in the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes last year. Jockey Jamie Spencer will be aboard for the fifth-straight time and will be breaking from the gate out of the No. 7 post.

Mission Approved (6/1) is the third-choice and will be making his first career start over this turf course. He finished a well-beaten fourth behind the two main betting favorites of this race in the Man o’ War and pilot Jose Espinoza will be onboard for a fourth consecutive time.

The son of Canadian Triple Crown winner With Approval could turn the tables in this particular race, defeating Gio Ponti in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap at Belmont June 11 on Belmont Stakes Day.

Tajaaweed (12/1) deserves some betting attention due to finishing in the money four of five races when racing around Chicago’s famed track. He was the winner of this season’s Arlington Handicap July 9 and finished sixth in last year’s Arlington Million.

He beat a field of 10 horses in the Grade III event last month, shifting out four-wide and making a move down the homestretch with jockey James Graham aboard. The six-year-old out of Dynaformer is trained by Daniel Peltz and has taken a picture in all three starts this year.

The race continues to attract the best grass runners in the world and has drawn three European entries to cement that fact. Along with the morning-line favorite, Europe will be represented by another Irish-bred Wigmore Hall (8/1) and French-bred Zack Hall (10/1).

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:47 AM

Toronto Argonauts Road 'Dogs At Tiger-Cats

The CFL’s Toronto Argonauts look to end an awful 5-game losing streak when they visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

The Don Best odds screen has Hamilton as 7 ½-point home favorites with a total of 50 points. Only 44 miles separate these rivals and the meeting in Hamilton is usually played during Canada’s Labour Day Classic in September.

TSN in Canada will broadcast from Ivor Wynne Stadium starting at 4:00 p.m. (PT). Weather is expected to be in the high 60s, low 70s, with showers likely.

Toronto is at the bottom of the East Division at 1-5 SU (2-4 ATS). That’s just a year removed from going 9-9 in the regular season and making the playoffs. Winnipeg (5-1) is the current surprise leader in the East, followed by Montreal (4-2) and Hamilton (3-3).

The Argonauts had a chance to make a statement hosting Montreal last Thursday. Instead, they put up another dud, losing 36-23 as 4 ½-point ‘dogs. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo ripped apart the Toronto pass defense, going 30-of-36 for 349 yards. Brandon Whitaker added 150 yards on the ground.

Toronto now has a 5-game losing streak (1-4 ATS) after opening the season with an impressive 23-21 upset at Calgary.

Coach Jim Barker was really angry after the Montreal game. Not only did his team come out flat in the second half, giving up 16 unanswered points, but the defense allowed 521 total yards.

Barker fired defensive coordinator Chip Garber the next day and replaced him with defensive backs coach Orlondo Steinauer. The team’s 178 points (29.7 PPG) allowed this year is second-worst in the league.

The ‘over’ is 4-0 in Toronto’s last four games, surrendering a big 33.8 PPG.

Offensively, Toronto is scoring 21.3 PPG, seventh out of eight teams. Quarterback Cleo Lemon threw for 314 yards and two TDs last week after missing time with a tooth injury. However, he needs to come through at the crucial times and covert yards into points.

Hamilton (3-3 SU and ATS) had a recent 3-game winning streak, including a home win (34-26) over Montreal in Week 5, but couldn’t carry over the momentum into Calgary last Saturday. The result was a 32-20 loss as 3 ½-point underdogs.

The Tiger-Cats’ had a couple of things in common with Toronto last week. First, they had a brutal second half, getting outscored 19-0. Second, their pass defense was disappointing with Calgary’s Henry Burris going 27-of-39 for 341 yards and a touchdown.

Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn had his worst output since opening week with just 211 yards. He’s currently fifth in the league in passing (1,449 yards) and third in touchdown passes (10).

Both teams want to run the ball Saturday even though this is a passing league. Hamilton’s Avon Cobourne (398 yards) is third in the league in rushing, while Toronto’s Chad Kackert (314 yards) is fifth despite no carries in the first two games.

Toronto is expecting running back Cory Boyd (knee) to return this week, a good boost to the offense even with Kackert playing well. Kevin Eiben (pectoral muscle) is out for the year after getting hurt last week and the linebacker unit also has Anthony Cannon (quad) questionable.

Hamilton has receiver Maurice Mann (foot) and defensive back Carlos Thomas (undisclosed) listed as questionable.

Hamilton has won and ‘covered’ its last two home games after dropping the opener to Winnipeg. The ‘under’ is 2-1 in those three games and 17-5 in its last 22 at home.

This is the first meeting between the teams this year. Hamilton was 3-0 SU and ATS against Toronto in the regular season last year, but the Argonauts won the one that mattered in the playoffs (16-13 as 6 ½-point road ‘dogs).

The ‘under’ is 6-0 in the last six meetings between the squads, with an average total of 36.8 points.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 10:51 AM

Books, Bettors excited with NFL

August 12, 2011

The first day of football in Las Vegas sports books made it feel like fall, despite the 100 degree temperature outside. Between the lines at the window to make wagers and the sounds of bettors ‘ohhing’ and ‘awing’ with each play, it was clear that a season has definitely passed.
In the pro basketball preseason, or the pro baseball training camps, the games go off in the sports books without much of a peep. But this is the NFL, a much different element and America’s favorite betting pastime.

“It was Unbelievable!“ said Cantor Gaming Sports Book Director Mike Colbert from his M Resort office. “I expected the action and excitement to be better than the last two years just because of the anticipated season with all the surrounding labor issues, but it even surpassed those expectations. The volume was crazy and we only took one sharp high limit bet.”

The sports books had mixed results after the first day of football action was posted, but all will be in the same boat with plenty of spillover parlay risk through Mondays Jets-Texans game. Even though two underdogs won outright with another covering among of the five games on Thursday, the two favorites that did cover seemed to be a key link for most of the bettors and their parlays.

The Patriots blew out the Jaguars 47-12 as three-point favorites while everyone’s favorite new NFL topic, the Philadelphia Eagles, won 13-6 as three-point favorites against the Ravens. The Eagles definitely have the look and feel of a champion. It’s not only them, but the fans as well. You can sense a buzz of sorts that something special may be happening. The Eagles displayed a confident, cocky arrogance that is seen with quite a few teams who eventually win it all.

The one big sharp bet Colbert alluded to was on the Cardinals-Raiders game and the individual took the Arizona and the 3 ½-points, winning 24-18 outright on the road.

Helping parlays on the day was also four of the five totals going OVER the number. Most respected limit players bet the majority of all Week 1 preseason games UNDER the numbers, but the casual bettors with parlays always play the OVER no matter what the number is.

The total that moved the most was the Broncos-Cowboys game which moved from an opener of 37 to closing at 34. The Cowboys won a thriller 24-23, a game that Denver led 9-3 at halftime.

The M sports book was just like everywhere else in the city where the first glimpse of football bumped it up as the lead house sound. Football, preseason or not, is now priority one over major league baseball and it will stay that way all season when comes to baseball vs. the NFL. “The only thing I could see where baseball was shown over football is if it was the Red Sox-Yankees against a bad pre-season game with little betting interest,“ explained Colbert.

Colbert will have to come to that decision on Sept. 1, the last week of preseason, when the Red Sox welcome the Yankees. However, each of the preseason games will have considerable betting interest helping Colbert to an easy decision.

Las Vegas Hilton Super Book Executive Director Jay Kornegay says he’s got that portion figured out already. “I’d say that over 90% of all preseason games will be showing will sound on in our book, but we have the option of also sending those people who want to hear baseball, or the game not being shown with sound, in the non-smoking ’man cave’.”

The ‘man cave’ is a segment in the casino bigger than a lot of Nevada sports books which is adjacent and in full view of the large Super Book. If viewers bring their own ipod or radio ear piece, they can tune into any game they want this season. The Hilton will have all the games posted on an FM frequency giving sound for any game to those that want it.

Also, it's fair to point out that the NFL Network did a terrific job of coverage of all five games giving bettors at home and in the book all the relevant information of each game they waned to see. They tried to ensure that each team’s first-team offense was shown and they had all the key moments fans wanted to see live, such as Tim Tebow’s first half and the Eagles as a unit in general.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 11:45 AM

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
08/12/11 6-*4-*0 60.00% +*800 Detail
08/11/11 5-*5-*0 50.00% -*250 Detail
Totals 11-*9-*0 55.00% +550

Saturday, August 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Green Bay - 7:30 PM ET Cleveland +1.5 500
Cleveland - Under 35.5 500

Minnesota - 8:00 PM ET Minnesota +3 500
Tennessee - Under 33 500

Indianapolis - 8:00 PM ET St. Louis -7 500
St. Louis - Over 34 500

N.Y. Giants - 8:00 PM ET N.Y. Giants +2 500
Carolina - Over 33 500

Buffalo - 8:00 PM ET Buffalo +3 500
Chicago - Over 34.5 500

===============================================
CFL

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
08/12/11 2-*0-*0 100.00% +*1000 Detail
08/11/11 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
08/06/11 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
08/05/11 3-*1-*0 75.00% +*950 Detail
Totals 7-*3-*0 70.00% +1850

Saturday, August 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Toronto - 7:00 PM ET Hamilton -7.5 500
Hamilton - Under 50 500

Winnipeg - 10:00 PM ET Winnipeg +1.5 500
BC Lions - Under 49.5 500

===============================================
MLB.....No line on SF/FLA as of now

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
08/12/11 15-*14-*1 51.72% -*940 Detail
08/11/11 10-*9-*0 52.63% +*550 Detail
08/10/11 11-*17-*0 39.29% -*3415 Detail
08/09/11 18-*11-*1 62.07% +*3355 Detail
08/08/11 9-*11-*0 45.00% -*1075 Detail
08/07/11 10-*18-*2 35.71% -*4485 Detail
08/06/11 13-*16-*1 44.83% -*1425 Detail
08/05/11 16-*12-*0 57.14% +*1335 Detail
08/04/11 6-*13-*1 31.58% -*3945 Detail
08/03/11 14-*13-*1 51.85% +*125 Detail
08/02/11 11-*17-*1 39.29% -*3480 Detail
08/01/11 10-*12-*0 45.45% -*1605 Detail
Totals 143-*163-*8 46.73% -*15005 ( All Plays ) Best Bets no included

Saturday, August 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

LA Angels - 1:07 PM ET Toronto +113 500
Toronto - Under 7 500

Tampa Bay - 4:10 PM ET Tampa Bay +131 500
NY Yankees - Under 9.5 500

Pittsburgh - 4:10 PM ET Milwaukee -162 500
Milwaukee - Under 8.5 500

Texas - 4:10 PM ET Texas -113 500
Oakland - Over 7.5 500

Detroit - 7:05 PM ET Detroit -126 500
Baltimore - Over 9 500

Minnesota - 7:05 PM ET Cleveland -137 500
Cleveland - Over 8 500

Washington - 7:05 PM ET Washington +182 500
Philadelphia - Under 8.5 500

Kansas City - 7:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox -150 500
Chi. White Sox - Under 8.5 500

Chi. Cubs - 7:10 PM ET Chi. Cubs +163 500
Atlanta - Over 8.5 500

San Diego - 7:10 PM ET San Diego +122 500
Cincinnati - Over 8.5 500

Colorado - 7:15 PM ET St. Louis -176 500
St. Louis - Over 8.5 500

NY Mets - 8:10 PM ET NY Mets +158 500
Arizona - Under 8.5 500

Boston - 10:10 PM ET Boston -147 500
Seattle - Over 6.5 500

Houston - 10:10 PM ET LA Dodgers -215 500
LA Dodgers - Over 6 500

==============================================
WNBA:

7:00 PM ETWashington at Connecticut

Teams ROT Record Consensus Odds

WAS 603 5-15 (2-7 V) - 150.5 UNDER

CONN 604 14-8 (9-2 H) - -10 UCONN

Stats: Matchup | Preview | Trends | Line Moves My Scores
Opinion: Consensus | Team Experts

7:00 PM ETNew York at Indiana

Teams ROT Record Consensus Odds

NY 601 13-10 (5-6 V) - 145 OVER

IND 602 16-7 (10-2 H) - -7 ( NEW YORK + 7 )

Stats: Matchup | Preview | Trends | Line Moves My Scores
Opinion: Consensus | Team Experts

10:00 PM ETAtlanta at Seattle

Teams ROT Record Consensus Odds

ATL 605 10-12 (4-6 V) - 152.5 UNDER

SEA 606 13-10 (9-1 H) - -6.5 ( ATL + 6.5 )

Stats: Matchup | Preview | Trends | Line Moves My Scores
Opinion: Consensus | Team Experts

**Udog** · 08-13-2011, 01:56 PM

I wasn't around to catch Friday's CFL winners. Great job, as usual, Bum! I'll sure be aboard today! Good luck, Bum! Thanks!

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2011, 05:09 PM

Here's hoping for a sweep for you Dog......since you missed yesterday's winners.............

**Udog** · 08-14-2011, 02:04 PM

Well, we split last night but, with the 2-0 Friday night, it's another profitable week! Way to go, Bum! Thanks! I won't be late next week!

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