Byrd flying high as Indians host Royals

Baseball Betting Lines

06/06/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After receiving a brilliant performance from C.C. Sabathia on Tuesday, the Cleveland Indians send out another pitcher who's currently in a groove when the American League Central leaders resume a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals this evening.

Paul Byrd has won four consecutive starts for the Tribe and is 5-0 in seven outings since he suffered his lone loss of the season April 21 at Tampa Bay.

Byrd's streak of 43 consecutive innings without issuing a walk is even more impressive. The battle-tested right-hander has given away only three free passes in 58 innings so far this season.

The 36-year-old put forth another strong start last Wednesday in Boston, where Byrd held the Red Sox to two runs -- one earned -- over six innings to help Cleveland post an 8-4 win.

Byrd, who won a career-best 17 games for Kansas City in 2002, is just 1-3 with a 5.10 earned run average in eight previous starts against his former team. He went 0-2 with an ugly 7.30 ERA over five appearances and 24 2/3 innings versus the Royals last season.

The veteran has won all four of his starts at Jacobs Field in 2007, however, while the Indians boast a major-league best 20-6 home record for the year.

Byrd will be attempting to duplicate Sabathia's gem on Tuesday. The standout lefty became the second nine-game winner in the majors this season when he tossed a five-hit shutout to lead Cleveland to a 1-0 victory.

Sabathia (9-1) struck out eight and did not walk a batter in his fifth career shutout. He is now tied with the Angels' John Lackey for the major-league lead in wins.

The game's only run came via a solo homer by Franklin Gutierrez in the third inning off Royals starter Jorge De La Rosa.

Jorge De La Rosa was outstanding in a losing cause, as the young southpaw yielded only five hits and fanned seven over 7 1/3 innings.

Cleveland third baseman Casey Blake extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in his final at-bat.

Brian Bannister, who is coming off his best start of the 2007 campaign, will take the mound for Kansas City tonight.

The second-year hurler tossed eight terrific innings to defeat Tampa Bay Friday at Tropicana Field. Bannister held the Devil Rays to a run on only two hits and struck out six batters without issuing a walk. It was the first career American League victory for the 26-year-old, who went 2-1 in eight games (six starts) for the Mets as a rookie in 2006.

Bannister will be facing the Indians for the first time this evening.

The Royals won two of three games from Cleveland in Kansas City last month, the only series against an AL Central opponent that the Indians have lost this season.

Cleveland has taken 11 of the last 16 overall meetings between the divisional foes, however, while the Royals have lost 12 of their last 14 games at Jacobs Field.

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Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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