Astros send Albers against Olsen, Marlins

Baseball Betting Lines

08/05/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Matt Albers gets his ninth start of the season today when the Houston Astros complete a three-game weekend series with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium.

A 24-year-old Houston native, Albers has made 11 trips from the bullpen and eight starts over 19 appearances in 2007.

He pitched in relief on July 31 and August 1, allowing five hits and seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in a pair of Astros losses to Atlanta. His last start came July 25 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He posted a no-decision after allowing just three hits over five scoreless innings in a 2-1 Houston victory.

Albers, who is 1-4 with a 5.54 earned run average in his eight starts, has never faced the Marlins.

He reached the major leagues last season with the Astros, going 0-2 in four appearances -- two starts -- while posting a 6.00 ERA in 15 innings.

Lefty Scott Olsen tries to snap a two-start losing streak for the Marlins.

The 23-year-old has been touched for 18 hits and 13 runs in just 10 innings over those two outings, dropping decisions to Arizona and Colorado in July 25 and 31, respectively.

He was mired in off-the-field trouble late in the month as well, including a team suspension handed down by manager Fredi Gonzalez and an arrest in connection with a traffic incident.

Olsen has made one career start against the Astros, winning it after allowing six hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. He is 6-3 in 12 home starts in 2007, with a 4.65 ERA.

On Saturday, Miguel Cabrera belted the tying homer in the seventh inning and scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 12th, as Florida edged Houston, 6-5.

Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla also homered for the Marlins, who snapped a two- game skid. Ramirez had three RBI, as Florida beat Houston for just the fourth time in the last 13 meetings.

Jason Lane hit a three-run homer for the Astros, losers in four of their last six contests.

Cabrera was intentionally walked by Stephen Randolph (0-1) with two outs in the 12th, and went to second on a wild pitch that hit catcher Eric Munson in the throat. Cabrera scored all the way from second on another wild pitch on a ball that bounced into the Florida dugout.

Lee Gardner (3-2) threw the top of the 12th to get the victory.

Houston swept a two-game set from Florida at Minute Maid Park back in April and has taken nine of the last 13 matchups between the clubs.

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Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds

Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds

Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.

The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.

The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.

Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.

MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:

Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)

Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)

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