A's to open key road trip in Cleveland

Baseball Betting Lines

08/24/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics are still alive in the playoff race and will kick off a lengthy 10-game road trip tonight with the first of three straight games against the Cleveland Indians from Progressive Field.

The A's are 8 1/2 games behind Texas for the top spot in the American League West Division and lost the last two portions of a four-game weekend series versus Tampa Bay at the Coliseum. In Sunday's 3-2 defeat to the Rays, Dallas Braden absorbed the loss for giving up three runs in six decent innings of work.

Gabe Gross had two hits and an RBI while Landon Powell finished 2-for-4 with a run scored for Oakland, which has lost two straight since a four-game winning streak and will also visit the Rangers and Yankees on the trek.

"He went out there and gave us six strong innings but we just didn't back him [Sunday]," Gross said of Braden. "A lot of times you're going to win games when your starter throws like that."

Gio Gonzalez hopes to get some run support when he takes the mound for the A's in tonight's series opener. Gonzalez is 1-2 over his last three decisions and did not figure into the outcome of a 5-4 win versus Toronto last Wednesday, when he delivered seven innings of one-run ball.

Gonzalez, who is 10-8 with a 3.39 earned run average in 25 starts, hopes to stay perfect in his career against the Indians. The lefty is 3-0 with a sparkling 1.16 ERA in four career meetings -- all starts -- with Cleveland.

The Indians have lost seven of their last nine contests and were just swept in three games at Detroit over the weekend. In an 8-1 setback in Sunday's series finale, Jeanmar Gomez was saddled with the loss for permitting eight runs -- seven earned -- and 11 hits in only three innings.

Shin-Soo Choo had three hits -- including a home run -- for the Indians, who will begin a nine-game homestand versus the A's, Royals and White Sox on Tuesday.

"We were overmatched by their pitching staff in these three games," said Tribe skipper Manny Acta after the loss. "Those three arms [the Tigers] threw at us, we couldn't do anything against them offensively and that was the difference."

Taking the mound for Acta's club tonight will be Fausto Carmona, who has dropped three straight starts and four of his last five outings. In last Wednesday's 9-7 defeat at Kansas City, Carmona was battered for seven runs and nine hits in five innings.

Carmona fell to 11-11 in 25 starts this season and saw his earned run average rise from 3.87 to 4.14. The right-hander is 3-4 in nine career games (eight starts) against the Athletics. Oakland beat Carmona on July 4 of this season.

The A's are 4-2 against Cleveland this season and have won nine of the past 13 matchups between the two teams.

Wmozilla Baseball Betting News

<< Tigers await Damon's decision; resume set with KC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johnny Damon could be playing his final game with Detroit this evening when the Tigers continue their three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Damon was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red So

<< NL playoff hopefuls continue set in San Francisco
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants will be vying to build off a big win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday when the two postseason contenders continue an intriguing three-game series from AT&T Park this evening. The Giants ente

<< Yankees, Jays continue series up north
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dustin Moseley will try to slow down Jose Bautista this evening when the New York Yankees continue their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Bautista hit home runs 39 and 40 on the season,

<< Red Sox hope Beckett can pitch past Mariners
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Boston Red Sox are going to get back to the postseason, they are going to need Josh Beckett to start pitching like Josh Beckett. The right-hander takes the hill this evening when the Red Sox continu

<< Lewis leads Rangers into second test vs. Twins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colby Lewis will try to duplicate the terrific pitching performance the Texas Rangers received on Monday when they play the second test of their four-game series with the Minnesota Twins tonight at Rangers Ballpar

Desperate Dodgers make a stop in Milwaukee >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive tonight, when they kick off a six-game road trip with the first of three straight matchups against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Los Angeles is 7

White Sox seeking to bounce back against Orioles >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox are hoping an upcoming series with the Baltimore Orioles will catapult them back into the playoff mix. The two teams collide tonight in the opener of a three-game set at US Cellular Field. Chicago is

Padres return home to battle Diamondbacks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres will try to pad their lead atop the National League West standings when they open a three-game series versus the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks tonight from Petco Park. San Diego is 5 1/2 games in

Mets to face Marlins ace in divisional clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson will try to win consecutive starts for the first time in over a month when he takes the mound tonight in the opener of a three-game road series versus the New York Mets. Johnson was 0-2 wit

Report: Bobcats sign Kwame Brown >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats have reportedly reunited former No. 1 pick Kwame Brown and new team owner Michael Jordan. The Charlotte Observer reports the Bobcats have brought in Brown on a one- year, $1

MySportsbook features easy-to-use online betting software that’s the most reliable in the industry. If you’re looking to bet underdogs, then this Sportsbook is the place - we have the best betting lines in the business. MySportsbook is your one-stop shop for all your betting needs - sports betting, poker, casino, and horse racing . MySportsbook offers every bet type with lightning fast settlement of wagers. Take advantage of free statistical analysis - including against-the-spread and straight-up trends - in MySportsbook’s game previews section. With MySportsbook there are unlimited free deposits and payouts - and no transaction fees!

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