White Sox target rare sweep at Fenway

Baseball Betting Lines

09/05/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After putting what could be the final nail in the coffin in regards to the Boston Red Sox' playoff hopes with Saturday's performance, the Chicago White Sox now set their sights on earning their first series sweep in Fenway Park in 19 years when they take the field this afternoon.

Chicago took both ends of yesterday's doubleheader between these teams by identical 3-1 scores, with the two losses moving Boston 7 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the lead in the American League Wild Card standings with under a month to go in the regular season.

The White Sox received terrific starting pitching in both contests. John Danks (13-9) held Boston to a run and six hits over seven innings of work in the opener, while Gavin Floyd (10-11) yielded just one run and five hits through six frames in game two to help Chicago register its fifth straight win on its current road trip.

Bobby Jenks closed out both wins for the White Sox, tossing a scoreless ninth in game one and retiring all four batters he faced in the nightcap.

Chicago banged out 13 hits in taking the opener, with Paul Konerko going 3- for-4 with two runs scored to lead the way. Carlos Quentin was the hitting star in the second test, delivering a double and a triple and crossing the plate twice.

Former Red Sox great Manny Ramirez, acquired by Chicago in a waiver claim from the Dodgers on Monday, served as the White Sox' designated hitter in both games and went 3-for-8 over the course of the twinbill.

The White Sox closed within 3 1/2 games of first-place Minnesota in the AL Central race with Saturday's results and will be shooting for their first road sweep of Boston since July 27-28, 1991.

"If you're not winning the other games, when you play the Twins it's not going to matter," said Jenks. "It doesn't seem like they're going to lose any time soon either."

The White Sox, who had last won a series in Fenway Park back in 2004, have now prevailed in six of their last seven matchups with Boston dating back to last season.

Chicago turns to Mark Buehrle this afternoon in hopes of continuing its winning ways. The steady veteran owns a 12-10 record with a respectable 3.95 earned run average over 27 starts this season, but hasn't been able to pick up a win in either of his last two outings.

Buehrle allowed three runs in a six-inning no-decision this past Monday in Cleveland, five days after the left-hander was reached for four runs and walked four over seven frames in a home loss to Baltimore on August 25.

The four-time All-Star is 6-5 with a 4.43 ERA in 14 lifetime appearances (13 starts) against Boston and 3-2 in four career trips to the Fenway Park mound. Buehrle has lost in each of his past two starts at the historic venue, however, including a lopsided defeat in 2008 in which he was tagged for seven runs and 11 hits in only 4 2/3 innings of work.

Boston mustered only seven hits in the opener and six in the nightcap and has now dropped five of its last seven games. Marco Scutaro drove in both of the Red Sox' runs on the day with a pair of RBI singles.

"We're in a tough spot for sure," said starting pitcher John Lackey, who surrendered three runs (one earned) over seven innings in losing game two. "We're in a tough division with two real quality teams in front of us. We have to keep battling the rest of the way. It's frustrating."

Josh Beckett has endured his share of frustration during what's been a subpar and injury-plagued season for the Red Sox hurler. The right-hander enters today's assignment with a 6.21 ERA over 16 starts in 2010 and has let up six runs or more in three of his past five times out.

Beckett has been significantly better as of late, however. After halting a three-start winless skid by limiting Seattle to three runs and fanning seven over 6 1/3 innings on August 25, the former World Series MVP allowed three runs -- two earned -- through seven frames of Tuesday's start at Baltimore. He did end up with a loss in that game, though, as Boston fell by a 5-2 count.

The 30-year-old does sport a 4-1 lifetime record along with a 3.72 ERA over six meetings with the White Sox, although the lone loss took place in his only start against the club last season.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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