Astros, Pirates start series in Steel City

Baseball Betting Lines

06/03/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty Phil Dumatrait will try to make it two strong starts in a row tonight when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Houston Astros in the first game of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Dumatrait entered 2008 without a major league victory, but picked up his second of the season with seven innings of two-hit ball against Cincinnati on May 29, allowing an unearned run and striking out nine in a 7-2 Pirates win.

The 26-year-old had reached the big leagues with the Reds last season but was 0-4 with a 15.00 earned run average in six starts over 18 innings.

He dropped his first decision with the Pirates this year, but has since won two of three, including a scoreless 5 2/3-inning effort against St. Louis on May 7, in which he allowed three hits and struck out five.

Dumatrait has never faced the Astros.

Lefty Wandy Rodriguez made his second start in a month-in-a-half for Houston.

The 29-year-old was touched for six hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Cardinals on May 28, dropping a 6-1 decision.

Rodriguez downed Florida for his lone win of the season on April 13, scattering five hits and allowing a single run over seven innings of a 5-1 Astros triumph.

He's made eight lifetime starts against the Pirates and is 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA in 43 innings, walking 15 batters and striking out 46.

On Monday in St. Louis, Adam Wainwright was well on his way to another dominant start, but Pittsburgh scored four runs in the seventh and added the game-winning tally on Jason Bay's RBI single in the eighth to post a 5-4 victory over St. Louis in the finale of a four-game series.

Matt Capps collected his 11th save of the season with a scoreless ninth, while Franquelis Osoria (3-1) picked up the victory with 1 2/3 scoreless frames. Wainwright, meanwhile, went eight innings and gave up five runs on seven hits to take the loss.

Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny gave up four runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over six frames.

On Sunday in Milwaukee, Dave Bush threw seven stellar innings to lead the Brewers to a 10-1 victory over the Astros to complete a three-game sweep.

Mark Loretta provided Houston's only offense with his first home run of the season. Shawn Chacon (2-1) lasted just one inning and allowed four runs on two hits.

The Astros have lost five in a row on their nine-game road trip and were outscored 19-3 during the sweep at Miller Park.

Pittsburgh won 10 of its 15 matchups with the Astros last season.

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MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds

With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.

Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season.  Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money. 

This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)		 5-2
7-2
7-1
10-1
10-1
12-1
12-1
18-1
18-1
20-1
30-1
35-1
35-1
40-1
50-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1

For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.