Sputtering Yanks seeking turnaround against Royals

Baseball Betting Lines

08/16/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees try to get their fading playoff hopes back on track this afternoon, when they play the second of three weekend games against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium.

New York fell further behind in the playoff races on Friday, when Esteban German had two doubles and scored twice -- including the go-ahead run in the ninth inning -- to lead the Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Yankees in the opener of this three-game set.

The Royals went ahead for good in the ninth off Mariano Rivera (4-5). German doubled with one out and Mitch Maier followed with a single. Rivera then uncorked his first wild pitch of the season, allowing German to score and give Kansas City a one-run edge.

New York loaded the bases off Joakim Soria in the ninth, but the Royals closer managed to pick up his 33th save of the season after getting Jason Giambi to fly out and end the game.

The Yankees left 11 men on base and were just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Mark Teahen drove in two runs for the Royals, who have recorded wins in just two of their last nine contests. Leo Nunez (4-1) picked up the win after he tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Jeter, who sat out Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Minnesota with a bruised instep, went 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Yankees, who have dropped six of their last seven games to fall 10 1/2 back of first-place Tampa Bay in the American League East and seven behind Boston in the wild-card standings.

Hoping to resuscitate the Yankees' fleeting hopes this afternoon will be right-hander Sidney Ponson, who is 7-3 with a 4.27 ERA. Ponson was charged with the loss on Monday in Minnesota, when he surrendered four runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Ponson defeated Kansas City earlier in the year while with Texas and is 10-7 lifetime against the Royals with a 4.38 ERA in 20 starts.

The Royals will counter with righty Zack Greinke, who has dropped four of his last six decisions. Greinke was hit hard by the Twins last Saturday, as he allowed six runs (5 earned) and nine hits in five innings to fall to 9-8 with a 4.09 ERA on the year.

Following that contest, Greinke served a five-game suspension for throwing at Chicago's Nick Swisher following a bench-clearing brawl with the White Sox on August 3.

The 24-year-old right-hander lost to Ponson, who was then pitching for the Rangers, on May 1 and fell to the Yankees the last time he faced them on June 8. He is 2-3 in his young career against the Yanks with a 6.25 ERA in nine games, six of which have been starts.

Kansas City has won five of its eight matchups with the Yankees this season.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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