Cardinals finally back in contention

Baseball Betting Lines

08/24/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just when it seemed as though the St. Louis Cardinals were done for the season, the defending World Series champions have found a way to climb back into contention and are now just three games out of first place in the National League Central.

St. Louis has gone 11-5 since August 6th, including a series sweep over the then first-place Milwaukee Brewers. However, St. Louis must now focus its attention on the division, as it is still six games back in the NL wild card race.

St. Louis bounced back from last weekend's series loss to the Cubs by taking two out of three games from the Florida Marlins. The Cardinals got off to a quick start in Tuesday night's opener, grabbing a 5-2 win. Right-hander Adam Wainwright was solid for St. Louis, limiting the Marlins to just two runs through six innings. However, it was reliever Troy Percival who came away with the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning. The Cardinals collected 12 hits on the night, including home runs from Albert Pujols and Adam Ludwick.

The Cardinals came right back on Wednesday night, capturing a 6-4 victory. Once again the Cardinals received a strong outing from their starting pitcher, as Braden Looper allowed just two runs on four hits through six innings. However, it was the Cardinals lineup that stole the show, as Pujols, Yadier Molina and Jim Edmonds all homered in the win.

Wednesday night's win would be the last of the series for St. Louis, as it dropped Thursday night's series finale 11-3.

PERCIVAL PROVING TO BE SPECIAL ADDITION

When the Cardinals added Percival to their roster in July many saw it as a sign of desperation. At the time, St. Louis was 10 1/2 games out of first and seemed destined for a disappointing season. Percival, meanwhile, was coming off a two-year hiatus in the majors due to injury and it was unknown what he would bring to the Cardinals injury-riddled bullpen.

Six weeks later, both Percival and St. Louis are glad to be working together. The Cardinals are right back in the NL Central race and Percival is pitching meaningful innings for his team. The right-hander has served as a late-inning reliever for St. Louis, posting a 2.70 ERA in 21 appearances this season.

Closer Jason Isringhausen is thrilled to have a veteran like Percival in the clubhouse.

"That's a pretty big name to bring in the way we did," said Isringhausen. "It was kind of unknown how he was going to do, and he's done a great job. He's been able to pick up the big innings when we needed him. And off the field, he's a guy that everybody looks up to. He's good to have around."

The Cardinals may have clawed their way out a hole, but they are still a far cry from overtaking the Cubs in the central. As for Percival, he is enjoying his time with St. Louis.

"I didn't come in with a lot of expectations, other than getting people out," he said. "I knew if I stayed healthy, I could do that. And I've been doing that, a little better than I expected. My velocity at times has been 94-95 [mph], and some nights it's not. But I've been pretty happy with the way it's gone."

RYAN READY TO SETTLE IN

Infielder Brendan Ryan has gotten a small taste of the big leagues and has no plans of leaving any time soon. Ryan has spent the better part of two months being bussed back and forth from Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis. Despite the uncertainty and never-ending travel, Ryan has been very productive for St. Louis this season, batting .344 with 10 RBI in 35 games this season.

Ryan has seen much more playing time over the past two weeks, appearing in every game since being recalled on August 12th. The infielder has split time between second base and shortstop, and has taken on a more formidable role since Adam Kennedy went down with a knee injury. Ryan has also developed into a reliable pinch-hitter, which will only increase his playing time during the final weeks of the season.

For now Ryan is focused on getting better everyday and helping his team win. His recent history with the club has taught him that anything can happen on any day.

"You have to come ready to play, that's the bottom line," Ryan said. "Tony [La Russa] has all kinds of strategies, so you have to be ready for everything. I don't expect to be in the lineup every night, but I'm ready if I am in there."

INJURY NEWS

Southpaw starter Mark Mulder continues to take strides in his rehabilitation. Mulder made his second rehab start on Tuesday night for the Cardinals' Single- A affiliate in Palm Beach. The left-hander appeared strong in the start, allowing just two hits while tossing 48 pitchers over four innings.

Mulder is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery that has kept him out of the Cardinals lineup for the entire season. St. Louis expects Mulder to make at least two more rehab starts before rejoining the team. If the club is still in the hunt after Mulder's two starts, he could be inserted into the starting rotation for the final stretch.

WHO'S HOT

Pujols is tearing through opposing pitchers, having gone 16-for-39 at the plate with six home runs over his last 10 games. Pujols has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, registering eight RBI and just two strikeouts. The first baseman has rebounded from a slow start and is currently batting .320 with 30 home runs and 83 RBI on the season.

WHO'S NOT

Outfielder Chris Duncan is fighting through a slump, going just 3-for-21 at the plate over his last 10 games. He has struck out nine times during that time, while knocking in just one run. Duncan is batting .269 with 20 home runs and 60 RBI this season.

ON DECK

The Cardinals will welcome the Atlanta Braves to town for a three-game set from Busch Stadium. Kip Wells (6-13, 5.24) and John Smoltz (11-6, 3.05) will kick things off in Friday night's opener. Joel Pineiro (4-2, 4.34) and Tim Hudson (15-5, 3.07) will take the mound for Saturday night's contest before Wainwright (11-9, 3.97) and southpaw Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1, 9.62) close out Sunday's series finale.

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NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.

Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.

Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.

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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&amp;M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6

For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com