Slumping Angels host struggling A's

Baseball Betting Lines

07/23/2007 - (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 having dropped 11 of its last 13 contests, a stretch that began with a season-long nine-game losing streak from July 6-17. Anaheim hasn't been much better lately, as the Angels have lost five of their last seven and seen their lead over Seattle atop the division dwindle to two games.

The Angels did pick up a needed win on Sunday, however. Joe Saunders tossed seven strong innings and Garret Anderson ended his club's lengthy homerless drought to help Los Angeles post a 7-2 victory at Minnesota.

Anderson finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer, the first by an Anaheim player in 14 games. Robb Quinlan and Casey Kotchman each drove in two runs as the Angels averted a three-game sweep at the hands of the Twins.

Saunders (4-0), who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game to take the spot in the rotation previously held by Ervin Santana, allowed just two runs on six hits while walking one and fanning five.

The Angels hope to receive a similar mound performance tonight out of former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon. The right-hander is enduring a five-start winless streak in which he has recorded three losses, two no decisions and a 7.92 earned run average.

Colon is coming off Wednesday's loss at Tampa Bay, where he was touched for three runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. That outing was a major improvement over his previous start, when the Dominican was rocked for seven runs and seven hits in just two innings July 6 at Yankee Stadium.

The 34-year-old does own a 6-3 record and 3.38 ERA in 13 career starts against Oakland, but has not faced the A's since September 29, 2005.

Oakland's recent misery continued on Sunday, as the club was shut down by Jeremy Guthrie and the Baltimore Orioles. The Athletics managed just two hits -- both singles -- during a 2-0 setback in the rubber match of a three-game series from McAfee Coliseum.

The loss spoiled an outstanding effort from Oakland starter Dallas Braden (1-5), who held Baltimore to one run and four hits over seven quality innings.

The A's scored just five runs during the three meetings with the Orioles and have averaged a mere 2.4 runs over their rough 13-game stretch.

Oakland pitcher Chad Gaudin has also had his troubles as of late. The converted reliever has surrendered 10 runs and 11 walks over a 10-inning span in back-to-back defeats to Minnesota and Texas.

Gaudin issued six walks in six innings during Tuesday's 11-4 loss to the Rangers and was charged with five runs on the evening.

Despite those recent struggles, Gaudin has put together a nice season in the Oakland rotation. The 24-year-old is 8-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 20 starts.

Gaudin faced the Angels twice in April and posted a 1-0 record with a 2.13 ERA against Anaheim, yielding just three runs over 12 2/3 innings of work. He is 2-0 with a 3.38 in nine lifetime appearances (two starts) versus tonight's opponent.

Oakland owns a 4-2 advantage in this year's season series thus far, with the rivals having split a four-game set at Angel Stadium back in April.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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