Braves try to bounce back in key series with Marlins

Baseball Betting Lines

09/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Johnson hopes for a better result than the last time he faced Atlanta when he and the Florida Marlins continue their three-game set with the Braves tonight at Sun Life Stadium.

Johnson surrendered just three hits and an unearned run in six innings against the Braves on Sunday, but received a no-decision in his team's 7-6 loss. It was the seventh time this season that he left with a lead only to settle for a no-decision.

"I would have liked to get a little bit deeper," said Johnson, who is 11-5 with a 2.28 earned run average on the year and has struck out 174 batters in 177 2/3 innings, after the game. "I just didn't."

Johnson has faced the Braves 14 times (13 starts) and is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA against them.

The Marlins kept their fleeting postseason hopes alive in the opener of this set on Friday, as Logan Morrison tripled twice, scored two times and drove in a run in support of five solid innings from Andrew Miller to post a 6-1 win.

"The story is Andrew Miller and how he is gaining confidence," said Florida acting manager Brandon Hyde. "It was awesome to see. He was throwing strikes, working ahead and putting away guys. It was an impressive performance."

Chad Tracy had a key two-run double and Hanley Ramirez went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored, two walks, a stolen base and an RBI for the Marlins, who claimed their third win in a row and have now alternated three-game winning and losing streaks over their last nine games.

However, they still trail the Braves by nine games in the National League East and are eight back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card race.

Miller (1-0) allowed the lone run on seven hits while walking three and fanning six to pick up his first win since July 4 of last season. Four different hurlers came out of the bullpen to blank the Braves over the final four frames.

Kenshin Kawakami (1-10) took the loss after lasting only three innings in his first start since June 26. The right-hander yielded five runs on five hits and four walks while fanning two for the Braves, who lost their second straight and saw their lead over Philadelphia in the division trimmed to a single game after the Phillies blanked Milwaukee, 1-0, earlier in the night.

"It was the worst ballgame I've ever seen him pitch," said Braves skipper Bobby Cox about his struggling starter. "He just couldn't get his stuff going, couldn't get his location going. He just never got into a good rhythm."

Hoping for a better effort tonight, Atlanta will turn to righty Jair Jurrjens, who has won his last three decisions and is 6-4 with a 4.38 ERA on the year. Jurrjens overcame six walks to beat the New York Mets on Monday, as he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Jurrjens is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts against the Marlins.

Atlanta has won seven of its 13 matchups with the Marlins this season.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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