Tigers, White Sox open five-game set in Windy City

Baseball Betting Lines

07/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams will get a very good look at each other over the next couple of days, as the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox begin a rare five-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.

Thanks to a rain out back on April 26, the two teams added an extra game to this original four-game series, as the clubs will play a double-header on Tuesday.

However, Detroit and Chicago will first get reacquainted with one game tonight.

Andrew Miller will start for the Tigers and has alternated wins and losses over his last seven outings. That includes a win over Minnesota on Wednesday, as Miller improved to 5-3 on the season with a 3.18 earned run average after tossing five innings of one-run ball with four hits, four walks and five strikeouts.

The left-hander faced the White Sox once last season in relief, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a Detroit loss on September 19.

The first-place Tigers come into this set on a sour note after dropping two of three to the lowly Kansas City Royals after dropping the rubber match, 5-2, on Sunday.

Nate Robertson (6-7) was battered for 11 hits and five runs -- four earned -- with five strikeouts and one walk over six-plus innings.

Craig Monroe homered in the loss, while Magglio Ordonez had an RBI double for the Tigers, who begin an 11-game road trip tonight and lead Cleveland by just one game for the top spot in the American League Central.

The White Sox, meanwhile, won the opener of their four-game set with Boston on Thursday, but then dropped the next three games.

On Sunday, Josh Fields had two hits and a pair of RBI in the club's 8-5 loss. Juan Uribe had three hits, while Rob Mackowiak, Alex Cintron and Jim Thome knocked in a run apiece.

Chicago starter Jon Garland (7-7) was charged with six runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings, fanning three but walking five in the loss.

Mark Buehrle starts for the White Sox tonight. The left-hander is 3-1 over his last five starts and has pitched particularly well over his last three outings, winning twice while throwing to a 1.21 ERA.

He was last in action on Wednesday when he allowed one runs on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings in a win over Cleveland. The victory improved Buehrle to 7-5 on the year with a 2.91 ERA.

The 28-year-old has faced Detroit 21 times in his career (20 starts) and is a solid 11-7 against them with a 2.92 ERA and four complete games that includes a pair of shutouts.

Chicago and Detroit have split four games so far this season, with the Tigers winning the lone meeting at U.S. Cellular Field on April 25. The White Sox won 12 of the 19 meetings last year.

Freeporm Baseball Betting News

<< Slumping Padres head to Colorado for divisional showdown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres will try and stop a three-game slide when they play the first of three contests against the NL West-rival Colorado Rockies tonight at Coors Field. San Diego just dropped three of four to the Phila

<< First-place Dodgers begin road swing in Houston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been struggling as of late, will try to stay atop the NL West standings when they open a three-game series against the Houston Astros this evening at Minute Maid Park. The Dodgers a

<< Slumping Angels host struggling A's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of struggling American League West teams start up a three-game series tonight in southern California, where the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim welcome the reeling Oakland Athletics. Oakland comes in

<< Bombs away: Power-swinging Yanks charge into Kansas City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees bring their powerful bats into Kansas City for a four-game series with an improving Royals club that begins this evening at Kauffman Stadium. After enduring a disappointing 14-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Fr

<< Mariners hope to shake offensive woes in Texas
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners hope a visit to hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark in Arlington will enable them to cure their recent offensive struggles as they open up a four-game series with fellow American League West member Texas thi

Red Sox turn to Lester in opener against Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Red Sox are sure to receive an emotional boost in the form of Jon Lester tonight, when Boston begins a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field. Lester is expected to be recalled from Triple

Mason back with the Bucks >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Less than two years after being traded to the New Orleans Hornets, Desmond Mason is returning to Milwaukee. The Bucks inked the former Oklahoma State star to a multi-year contract Monday as they attempt to a

Saratoga opens with titles up for grab >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Historic Saratoga Race Track opens this week, marking the start of the second-half of the thoroughbred racing year. Divisional titles are on the line as none of the major runners have establi

Summerhays turns pro, joins Nationwide Tour >>
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daniel Summerhays won the Children's Hospital Invitational two weeks ago as an amateur and has announced that he is foregoing his senior year at Brigham Young University to turn professional. Summerh

Dolphins sign QB Beck >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback John Beck, the first of their two second-round draft picks this season, to a four-year contract on Monday. Beck, the 40th selection overall and fourth quarterback taken,

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.