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05/11/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers have taken over the top spot in the American League West standings, and they have their bullpen to thank.
Overall, the Rangers (18-14) have won 10 of their last 13 games. They leapfrogged Oakland into first place this weekend after sweeping a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals. On Sunday, four Rangers' relievers combined to pitch five shutout innings after starter Scott Feldman lasted just four innings. That quartet allowed just two hits from the fifth inning to the ninth, preserving Texas' 6-4 victory.
During the team's current run, the headliner has been Neftali Feliz, who on Sunday picked up his seventh save in his last seven outings to earn his ninth save of the season. And he is picking up steam with each appearance. Feliz hasn't allowed a run over his last six appearances, and he has retired 17 of the last 18 batters he has faced.
But it isn't just Feliz putting up zeroes. All told, the Texas bullpen has notched 10 consecutive scoreless innings and has retired 28 of the 36 batters faced since Thursday, when the Kansas City series began. So far in the month of May, the Rangers' relievers have combined for a Major League-best four wins and six saves.
But while teams often prefer to keep playing day-in, day-out when things are going well, Monday's idle day provided the Rangers' taxed bullpen some much needed rest. After all, it marked their first day off in three weeks. Still, there are some on the team who would love to keep the momentum going.
"You can feel it around the clubhouse, confidence building," starting pitcher Rich Harden told the Star-Telegram on Sunday. "The way things have been going, the way we've been feeling, you want to keep on going."
Later this week, the offense will get a boost from the return of right fielder Nelson Cruz, who has been on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Cruz begins a two-game rehab assignment Tuesday night with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The team could reactivate him as early as Thursday's day game against Oakland, or wait until Friday's series-opener in Toronto. In 19 games before the injury, Cruz was hitting .323 with seven homers and 17 RBI.
BRADEN'S MOTHER'S DAY GIFT
Oakland starter Dallas Braden couldn't have scripted it any better himself.
By now, most of the baseball-following world is well aware of Braden's recent run-in with Yankees' slugger Alex Rodriguez regarding the unwritten rules of baseball etiquette. But until Sunday, most fans knew very little about Braden's upbringing, about how his grandmother cared for him after his mother died of skin cancer during Braden's senior year in high school.
So it was only fitting that on Sunday, Mother's Day, Braden tossed the 19th perfect game in big league history in Oakland's 4-0 win over red-hot Tampa Bay. And of course, Braden's grandmother, Peggy Lindsey, was there to see it in person.
"It's a more important day for my grandmother than anything," said Braden, moments after a tearful embrace with his grandmother. "That's the biggest thing to be able to give her something like this on a day of this magnitude, considering everything we've been through together. It's more about her for me.
"It hasn't been a joyous day for me in a while. But to know that I still get to come out and compete and play a game on that day, that makes it a little better. With my grandma in the stands, that makes it a lot better. To be able to give her this today was perfect."
Braden's perfecto was only the second in team history, as Catfish Hunter accomplished the feat in May of 1968 against Minnesota. And thanks to Braden, the A's improve to 17-15 on the year, just one game back of division-leading Texas. Tonight, the team hits the road for a three-game series with the Rangers, followed by a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The A's are tied for the Major League lead with 13 wins at home, though they are just 4-8 on the road.
ANGELS LOOKING TO REGROUP FROM DISASTROUS ROAD TRIP
With their abysmal road trip now in the rearview mirror, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim look to get back to business this week at cozy Angel Stadium.
To recap, the Angels went just 2-8 on their recent trip, which began with a three-game sweep at Detroit and continued with a four-game sweep at Boston, before the Halos were able to salvage a series victory over the Seattle Mariners this past weekend.
As a team, the Angels are hitting just .220 in the month of May, which ranks fourth-worst in the majors for the current month. Meanwhile, the pitching staff has posted a combined 5.53 ERA, third-worst in the majors for the month of May. Be it at the plate or on the mound, something eventually has to give, doesn't it?
The team returned home on Monday to kick off a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the best record in baseball. Only, for the second time in five games, the Angels blew a 4-0 lead when closer Brian Fuentes gave up three runs in the top of the ninth. But later, in the bottom of the 11th, Juan Rivera delivered a sacrifice fly to preserve the win for the Angels and, hopefully, some of the momentum that had been lost during the 10-game road trip.
MARINERS STILL WAITING ON BATS TO HEAT UP, GRIFFEY TO WAKE UP
Mariners' general manager Jack Zduriencik received plenty of praise for his offseason moves to bolster an already solid starting rotation, trading for former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee and resigning Erik Bedard. With Felix Hernandez atop the rotation and Doug Fister (2-1, 1.71) bursting onto the scene, Seattle's rotation ranks third in the American League with a 3.69 ERA, albeit with a combined 7-11 record to show for it.
However, all of that pitching prowess is in danger of being wasted this season if Seattle's lineup continues along its current path. At the moment, Seattle's offense ranks last in the AL in batting average, hits, runs, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. In other words, virtually every significant offensive category.
Already this week, rumors have been swirling that 40-year-old Ken Griffey Jr.'s Seattle reunion is in danger of ending much earlier than anyone in the organization had hoped. Griffey is hitting just .208 with zero home runs and only five RBI as the team's designated hitter and, according to a couple of teammates, was asleep in the clubhouse recently when manager Don Wakamatsu was looking for a pinch-hitter.
The team's struggles boiled over on Sunday, when hitting coach Alan Cockrell was relieved of his duties and replaced by Triple-A Tacoma hitting coach Alonzo Powell. Powell is familiar with a lot of the hitters who came up through the team's minor league system. Zduriencik's hope is that "sometimes, just the same message from a different messenger carries some weight."
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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