Reds hand ball to rookie Leake vs. Nationals

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Reds are going to be careful with how many innings rookie Mike Leake racks up this season. They might be tempted to take the leash off tonight given how well he pitched against the Nationals last time.

Leake will try to stretch his unbeaten streak to five straight starts this evening when Cincinnati continues a four-game series with Washington at Great American Ball Park.

The eighth overall pick of the 2009 draft, Leake skipped the minors and jumped right into the Reds' rotation this season, going 6-1 with a 3.53 earned run average over the first half while throwing 109 2/3 innings. That includes a victory against the Nationals on June 5 as he limited the club to just one unearned run on seven hits over seven innings, striking out five batters without a walk.

Though he hasn't lost since June 16, the 22-year-old righty is just 1-0 with a 5.13 ERA over his unbeaten run. Leake did not get a decision on July 9 versus the Phillies, hurling 8 1/3 innings while giving up five runs -- four in the ninth inning -- on nine hits.

The Reds have won three of four since the All-Star break and took last night's series opener, 7-2. Johnny Cueto allowed just two runs and four hits over six innings, winning his ninth game of the season while lowering his season ERA to 3.39. Cueto has allowed two runs or less in each of his last six starts.

"He's learning to back off the mound, take the ball out of the air some, regroup and get his composure back," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He's learning and he's winning while he's learning."

Jonny Gomes and Miguel Cairo both connected on solo homers, with Gomes ending with three hits and three runs scored. Drew Stubbs added a two-run double for the Reds, who remained a half-game back of first-place St. Louis in the National League Central despite playing without Scott Rolen for a third straight game.

The All-Star third baseman had been battling the flu, but also revealed he has a right hamstring injury. He received a cortisone shot and could land on the disabled list.

Even without Rolen, the Reds put up six runs and six hits over J.D. Martin's 5 1/3-inning outing for the Nationals, who have lost three in a row and five of six.

Washington was coming off back-to-back shutouts versus Florida and has only scored eight runs over its last five games. Nyjer Morgan and Cristian Guzman had one RBI each last night.

"As a manager that's what you do, you worry," Washington manager Jim Riggleman said of the recent offensive slump. "You never take anything for granted. I'm positive we'll come out here [Tuesday] and try to win a ballgame."

The Nats recalled right-hander Luis Atilano last night from Triple-A Syracuse and he will start tonight.

Atilano is 6-6 with a 4.85 ERA and he lost his final two starts before getting sent down to the minors. He last pitched on July 8 versus the Padres and was charged with four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 7-1 setback.

The 25-year-old made his first career start versus the Reds on June 5, squaring off with Leake, and gave up two runs, only one earned, over seven innings in a tough-luck loss.

The Reds took two of three in Washington on June 4-6, but it was the Nationals who took three of four at Cincinnati last season.

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MySportsbook.com: NBA Championship Odds

With the playoffs about two months away, the top two teams in the Western Conference are the clear cut leaders to win the NBA Championship. The Dallas Mavericks have the best record in the NBA (44-9) and have been absolutely scorching since the second week of the season.  What makes the Mavs’ record more impressive is the fact that they dropped their first four games of the season.  Currently they have won 17 out of their last 18 and are MySportsbook.com’s favorite (2-1) to win it all.  Right behind the Mavs are the Pacific leading Phoenix Suns (39-13).  Last season, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals to non-other then the Mavericks four games to two.  Of course the Suns were without center Amare Stoudemire who has is averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG since coming back from his knee injury.  Unlike the Mavs, the Suns have struggled a bit lately having lost their last three and four out of their last seven.  Of course the main reason for their three straight loses is due to the absence of two time MVP Steve Nash, who is out with a shoulder injury.  Heads-up, the Mavs have beaten the Suns in both of their meetings this season.

In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons (32-19) are the favorites to win it all at 6-1. The addition of Chris Webber seems to have been a good move for the Pistons.  Since coming over from the 76ers, Webber has averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG and the Pistons are 11-4.  Even though the defending champion Heat are currently on the playoff making cusp, they are the Eastern Conference team that is getting the most action to win it all (9-1).  The fact that Shaquille O’Neal is back in the starting lineup after missing 39 games probably has something to do with this.  No doubt, Shaq makes a difference when in the lineup as their winning six out of their last seven would indicate.

Just because it is the All-Star break doesn’t mean that you can’t bet on NBA hoops this weekend.  Be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com to bet on who you think will cut down the nets this July. Also, be sure to check out all of the lines and props for All-Star weekend.  With the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry, there are plenty of ways to cash in on the NBA this weekend.

MySportsbook.com’s NBA Championship odds:

Atlanta Hawks 1000-1

Boston Celtics 5000-1

Charlotte Bobcats 5000-1

Chicago Bulls 20-1

Cleveland Cavaliers 20-1

Dallas Mavericks 2-1

Denver Nuggets 25-1

Detroit Pistons 6-1

Golden State Warriors 250-1

Houston Rockets 12-1

Indiana Pacers 60-1

Los Angeles Clippers 45-1

Memphis Grizzlies 5000-1

Miami Heat 9-1

Milwaukee Bucks 1000-1

Minnesota T-Wolves 200-1

New Jersey Nets 50-1

New Orleans Hornets 150-1

New York Knicks 150-1

Orlando Magic 75-1

Philadelphia 76ers 1000-1

Phoenix Suns 5-2

Portland TrailBlazers 1000-1

Sacramento Kings 250-1

San Antonio Spurs 9-1

Seattle Sonics 5000-1

Toronto Raptors 35-1

Utah Jazz 20-1

Washington Wizards 25-1

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