Nationals, Marlins to wrap up charged-up set
Baseball Betting Lines
09/01/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's tough to get excited about a September matchup between the Nationals and Marlins, but Nyjer Morgan's actions last night may have given this series some extra juice.
Morgan and Washington will conclude what could end up being a heated three- game set with Florida this evening at Sun Life Stadium.
After combining for 12 runs in Monday's opener, won 9-3 by the Nationals, the two clubs totaled just one run and seven hits on Tuesday. Florida plated that lone run in the bottom of the 10th inning, when Chad Tracy's hit to left scored a sliding Hanley Ramirez on a close play at the plate.
Morgan, meanwhile, nearly scored in the top of the frame, but he elected to barrel into Florida catcher Brett Hayes at the plate on a high throw home and was called out when Hayes held onto the ball. Hayes suffered a left shoulder injury on the play, one that could sideline him for some time and had him angry after the game.
"Obviously [Morgan's] track record doesn't help himself," Hayes told Florida's website. "Somebody who does that is looking to hurt somebody."
Morgan was also involved in controversy last Saturday, when he unnecessarily threw an elbow to a St. Louis catcher when coming home during the game. There wasn't even a throw to the plate, and Morgan actually missed home while throwing the elbow and was eventually called out.
He defended last night's actions after the game.
"I was thinking that they were going to turn two and I got the [sign to go home from the third base coach] and it was just one of those plays," said Morgan. "I was trying to jar the ball loose and score."
While Washington wasted six scoreless innings of one-hit ball and nine strikeouts from Jordan Zimmermann in his second start since having Tommy John surgery and failed to win a season-high fourth straight game, Florida halted a three-game slide.
The Marlins were without Dan Uggla for a second game in a row due to a groin strain, and he may sit out again tonight. They might not need his bat, given how Chris Volstad has pitched as of late.
The right-hander is 3-1 over his last four starts and has yielded just three runs over back-to-back wins. That includes eight frames of one-run ball versus Atlanta on Friday, when he scattered six hits without a walk to improve to 8-9 with a 4.61 earned run average on the season.
The 23-year-old Volstad is 4-1 with a 4.54 ERA in seven career starts versus Washington, which he beat on Aug. 11 despite lasting just five innings and allowing four runs.
Former Marlin Scott Olsen took the loss that day for the Nationals after giving up seven runs over 1 2/3 innings. That loss, which dropped him to 1-2 with a 6.93 ERA in five career starts versus the Marlins, is part of a five- start losing streak by the left-hander in which he is pitching to a 7.40 ERA.
Olsen, 26, took a tough loss on Friday, though, as he gave up three runs -- one earned -- over six innings of a 4-2 setback to the Cardinals. On the season, he is 3-7 with a 4.91 ERA in 14 games.
The Marlins had a five-game winning streak in the series halted with Monday's loss, but last night's win was their 21st in their last 28 at home versus the Nationals.
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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds
Will he or won't he? Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.
Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.
"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."
Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.
Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.
But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.
Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback. It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.
Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Baltimore Ravens 15-1
Buffalo Bills 50-1
Carolina Panthers 18-1
Chicago Bears 10-1
Cincinnati Bengals 15-1
Cleveland Browns 100-1
Dallas Cowboys 15-1
Denver Broncos 15-1
Detroit Lions 100-1
Green Bay Packers 50-1
Houston Texans 100-1
Indianapolis Colts 6-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1
Kansas City Chiefs 30-1
Miami Dolphins 40-1
Minnesota Vikings 75-1
New England Patriots 10-1
New Orleans Saints 18-1
New York Giants 20-1
New York Jets 30-1
Oakland Raiders 100-1
Philadelphia Eagles 18-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1
Saint Louis Rams 60-1
San Diego Chargers 6-1
San Francisco 49ers 75-1
Seattle Seahawks 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1
Tennessee Titans 40-1
Washington Redskins 50-1
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