Cardinals turn to rookie in test with Pirates

Baseball Betting Lines

05/31/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals have received all sorts of unexpected contributions during the team's strong two-month stretch. The surprising club is hoping for another lift out of rookie Mike Parisi in tonight's encounter with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals had to place starting pitcher Joel Pineiro on the 15-day disabled list earlier this week due to a groin strain, with Parisi getting the call to fill the right-hander's spot in the rotation.

Parisi, a ninth-round selection by St. Louis in the 2004 draft, was promoted to the majors in early May and recorded a 2.87 earned run average in eight appearances out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old right-hander's most recent outing was a stint of two scoreless innings in Tuesday's 8-2 home loss to Houston.

The Long Island native had been working as a starter at Triple-A Memphis prior to his callup and went 2-1 with a 4.41 ERA in six games with the Redbirds. This will be Parisi's first career appearance against Pittsburgh.

The surging Cardinals have won three straight games and nine of their last 12 contests following Friday's 5-4 victory over the Pirates in the opener of this four-game set. Albert Pujols once again led the way for St. Louis, as the All- Star first baseman went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer.

Todd Wellemeyer turned in another strong start for the Cardinals, with the right-hander limiting Pittsburgh to one run on six hits over seven innings to improve to 6-1 on the season.

The Pirates scored three times in the top of the ninth against relievers Randy Flores and Ryan Franklin, but Franklin retired Nate McLouth on a grounder with the tying run at second base to register his fifth save.

All three late Pittsburgh runs came via a bases-clearing pinch-hit double by Jason Michaels. McLouth hit his 13th homer of the year earlier in the night for the Pirates, who are now 1-3 thus far on a seven-game road trip.

Bucs starter Zach Duke (2-4) was hung with the loss after surrendering three runs -- two earned -- on five hits through the first six innings.

Paul Maholm gets the starting assignment for Pittsburgh tonight and will be vying to halt a string of three straight losing decisions. The left-hander has not won in five starts since turning in a complete-game gem in a 5-1 triumph over Philadelphia on April 27.

One of those defeats came at the hands of the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on May 14. In that game Maholm was touched for four runs and 11 hits over six innings.

The 25-year-old has posted a solid 3.03 ERA in five lifetime starts against St. Louis but has just a 1-3 record to show for his efforts.

Maholm's most recent start game against the Cubs on Sunday, a no-decision in which he struck out seven over eight innings and allowed five runs.

These NL Central foes have split six meetings so far this season, with the Pirates having won two of three games in St. Louis prior to Friday's setback.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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