First-place teams collide as Rangers visit Twins

Baseball Betting Lines

09/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Texas Rangers appear to be headed to their first American League West title since 1999, the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins still have some work to do.

The two division leaders will square off tonight in the opener of a three-game series at Minnesota's Target Field.

Texas won the AL West in 1999, the last time it reached the postseason, and will resume a 10-game road trip Friday in the Twin Cities. The Rangers, who are 10 games ahead of Oakland and 10 1/2 games in front of Anaheim in the division standings, will also visit Toronto for four games on the swing.

The Rangers won for the seventh time in 11 tries with Wednesday's 4-3 triumph over Kansas City in the finale of a three-game series from Kauffman Stadium, as Mitch Moreland homered and Nelson Cruz drove in a pair of runs. Andres Blanco had two hits and an RBI and David Murphy ended with three hits for Texas, which evened its road mark at 32-32 this season.

Tommy Hunter started for Texas and improved to 12-2 by holding the Royals to two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Neftali Feliz later recorded his 34th save with a scoreless ninth.

"Tommy was in and out," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He was getting the ball up a little bit, but he stayed out there and battled. That's all you can ask from him. He didn't have his best stuff but he had good enough stuff."

Derek Holland will try for similar results when he gets the nod Friday. He is 2-2 with a 4.76 ERA in seven games (5 starts) and hasn't won since May 17 versus the LA Angels of Anaheim. Holland did not factor in the outcome of a 5-0 loss versus Oakland last Saturday, as he permitted only one run in 4 2/3 innings of work.

The left-hander suffered a loss to Minnesota on May 30 at Target Field, where he allowed three runs and three hits in an inning of work. Holland is 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA in three career starts against the Twins.

Minnesota will continue a nine-game homestand Friday and lost out on a chance for a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with Thursday's 10-9 loss in 13 innings. Delmon Young grounded into a fielder's choice to score a run in the bottom of the 11th inning, but Twins hurler Nick Blackburn gave up a solo home run to Gerald Laird in the 13th to absorb the loss.

The Twins, who went down in order in the bottom half, got just two innings out of starter Scott Baker because of elbow pain. He allowed two runs in two innings for the no-decision, while Danny Valencia and Jose Morales finished with three hits and two RBI apiece in defeat.

Minnesota was coming off a 2-1 win in 10 innings on Wednesday.

"It's disappointing, you know," said Twins relief pitcher Brian Duensing, who allowed a run over two innings and was one of seven relievers used. "We had a lot of chances to win the ballgame, just couldn't get it done."

Minnesota's lead atop the AL Central is now 3 1/2 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox. The club will also host Kansas City on the homestand.

In other team news, Michael Cuddyer has 497 RBI for his career and is three away from becoming the 10th player to collect 500 in a Twins uniform.

Blackburn was slated to pitch Friday's game, but was pushed back until Sunday after appearing in yesterday's loss. Manager Rod Gardenhire scoured the minor league system and is scheduled to go with Matt Fox from Triple-A Rochester. Fox, a right-hander, compiled a 6-9 record and a 3.95 ERA in 35 games (21 starts) for the Red Wings this season.

Fox was originally selected by the Twins in the supplemental first round of the 2004 draft.

The Twins have won four of seven meetings with Texas this season and swept a three-game series between the teams at Target Field from May 28-30.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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