With Valentine rumors swirling, Marlins open set with Padres

Baseball Betting Lines

06/25/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place San Diego Padres continue their early- summer tour of Florida tonight when they venture to Miami to open a three-game set with the Marlins at Sun Life Stadium.

Leading by 2 1/2 games over the San Francisco Giants in the National League's West Division, the Padres won two of three games on the initial stop of the Sunshine State trip in a midweek series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays salvaged the finale of the series on Thursday, when Kelly Shoppach went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in a 5-3 win.

Oscar Salazar hit a two-run home run while Jerry Hairston Jr. drove in the other run for the Padres, who had a three-game winning streak stopped. Wade LeBlanc (4-5) was tagged with the loss as he gave up four runs on 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Left-hander Clayton Richard gets the call on the mound for the opener with the Marlins and seeks to end a winless drought that's stretched to five starts. The 26-year-old's last win came May 22 at Seattle, when he scattered seven hits and allowed just one run in a 2-1 defeat of the Mariners.

He's 0-2 with three decisions since, including a 5-4 loss to Baltimore on June 19, in which he gave up eight hits and four earned runs in six innings.

Richard, who's 2-1 in five road starts in 2010, has never faced the Marlins.

Florida counters with former first-round pick Chris Volstad, who's won just once in eight starts since May 7. The 16th overall selection in 2005 was 3-2 on the season after a 4-2 win in Washington, but subsequently lost four straight starts in May and has beaten only the Rays in four June outings.

Volstad gave up seven hits and four runs in a no-decision his last time out, lasting 5 2/3 innings in a game the Marlins lost, 9-8, to Tampa Bay on June 19.

Tonight will mark the third game at the helm for interim manager Edwin Rodriguez, who took over when Fredi Gonzalez was fired earlier in the week. His stay, though, could be coming to an end soon, as reports are circulating that the club and Bobby Valentine are on the verge of a deal. One report suggests that Valentine could take over the team as early as Monday.

On Thursday, in Rodriguez's second game, Miguel Tejada hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI and three runs scored as the Baltimore Orioles avoided a sweep and defeated the Marlins, 11-5, in the finale of a series at Camden Yards.

Dan Uggla finished 4-for-5 and recorded three runs batted in for Florida, which saw its three-game win streak halted. Gaby Sanchez added three hits and two runs scored in the loss.

Florida starter Nate Robertson (5-6) lasted only 2 1/3 innings and was charged with five runs on seven hits.

San Diego took two of three from the Marlins earlier in the year and has won four of the last six meetings.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

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