Ed Scimia – OnlineGambling.com | OG News https://www.onlinegambling.com/news Inspiring every gambler in the world to beat the odds Thu, 04 Aug 2022 20:44:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.13 141637385 Jamahal Hill Sees Potential for Breakthrough Win vs. Veteran Thiago Santos https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/hill-santos-odds-whos-favored-in-showdown-at-ufc-on-espn-40/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 20:44:44 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90676 Light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill will attempt to move himself into the elite of the division when he battles former title contender Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC on ESPN 40 this Saturday night in Las Vegas. Hill comes in as a commanding -300 favorite over the 38-year-old […]

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Light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill will attempt to move himself into the elite of the division when he battles former title contender Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC on ESPN 40 this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Hill Santos odds UFC
Jamahal Hill (pictured) will look to advance towards a light heavyweight title fight when he takes on Thiago Santos on Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN 40. (Image: Getty)

Hill comes in as a commanding -300 favorite over the 38-year-old Santos (+250), according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Hill sees opportunity in Santos fight

The 32-year-old Hill (10-1) has impressed in his UFC run, winning four of five fights. It would be five of six, if not for a no contest after he tested positive for marijuana following a TKO victory over Klidson Abreu back in 2020.

Hill suffered his only career loss last year to Paul Craig, who finished him in just under two minutes. Since then, Hill has bounced back with quick, decisive victories over Jimmy Crute and Johnny Walker. Now at No. 10 in the UFC’s light heavyweight rankings, Hill sees a path to title relevance if he can get past the aging Santos.

“This fight is exactly what I’ve been waiting for,” Hill told Sports Illustrated. “After this fight and one against another top-five guy, I’ll get my title shot.”

Meanwhile, Santos (22-10) sits in the No. 6 position in the light heavyweight rankings despite losing four of his past five fights. To be fair, those four losses have come against serious competition. It started with a split decision loss to Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 239 in 2019. Since then, he has also lost to Glover Teixeira (the No. 1 contender in the division), Aleksander Rakic (No. 4), and – most recently – Magomed Ankalaev (No. 3).

One last ride for light heavyweight veteran

Those losses might show that Santos can no longer compete with the light heavyweight elite in the UFC. Santos sees it differently. Like Hill, he believes that an impressive win on Saturday could propel him back into the title picture one last time.

“If I stop this guy, I do believe that they probably are going to have one more fight to go again to the title,” Santos told The New York Post. “First, I need to do a good win this Saturday, a good victory, and show that I deserve something more.”

Fans should get an exciting and entertaining fight on Saturday, if nothing else. Both Santos and Hill are knockout artists: Santos has won 15 of his 22 career fights by knockout, while Hill has stopped six of his 10 victims. In the end, however, Hill believes that he can dish out enough punishment to overwhelm Santos, no matter how much the veteran is prepared to absorb.

“I’m going to finish Santos,” Hill said. “I can’t control how much he can take, but I can control how much I can put on him. So it doesn’t matter how long it takes, but I’m going to put pressure on him until he breaks.”

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Sandy Alcantara Solidifies Status as Cy Young Favorite with Shutout Over Reds https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/sandy-alcantara-solidifies-status-as-cy-young-favorite-with-shutout/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 20:13:57 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90672 Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara continued his brilliant 2022 season on Wednesday night by throwing a complete game shutout in a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Alcantara (10-4) allowed just six hits while striking out three batters and walking one on the way to picking up his third complete […]

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Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara continued his brilliant 2022 season on Wednesday night by throwing a complete game shutout in a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Sandy Alcantara Cy Young odds
Sandy Alcantara pitched a complete game shutout against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in a 3-0 win for the Miami Marlins. (Image: Wilfredo Lee/AP)

Alcantara (10-4) allowed just six hits while striking out three batters and walking one on the way to picking up his third complete game of the year.

Alcantara continues ‘historical’ season

That moved Alcantara ahead of Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez for the most complete games in the majors. In reality, Alcantara could have a fourth complete game: he once threw nine innings in a game that went to extra innings, meaning he didn’t get credit for finishing the contest.

Alcantara has now thrown an MLB-leading 158.1 innings while pitching to a 1.88 ERA, the lowest mark among qualified National League pitchers. FanDuel Sportsbook now lists Alcantara as a clear -210 favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award, ahead of other leading candidates like Corbin Burnes (+700) and Max Fried (+1200).

“Sandy has been kind of historical this year from what he’s been able to do,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly told reporters. “I think he’s getting seven days [rest] this next time. So he’s going to get a little breather here. We’ve been talking about it, we’ve got his schedule set up for the rest of the way. So just kind of watch it, let it go. Let the season pass, and it’ll be fun to watch.”

Alcantara faced adversity on Wednesday night. In the first inning, the Reds laded the bases with just one out. However, he got out of the inning without allowing a run, and even the 22 pitches he threw in the first weren’t enough to stop him from going the distance.

“I said this before: This is like an elevator,” Alcantara told reporters after the game. “You’re going to have up and down. Doesn’t matter what happens in any situation, just have to keep positive, and keep competing. I got a couple bad outings, and I don’t have to worry, because I’ve got time to improve and time to improve my pitches and time to go outside and compete.”

Complete games nearly extinct in MLB

Alcantara’s season has been especially impressive given the environment in which he is pitching. Starting pitchers are averaging just 5.2 innings per game this year, and there have been only 18 complete games across all of Major League Baseball. Alcantara doesn’t just lead the league in innings pitched, but he is nearly 20 innings ahead of Aaron Nola, who sits in second at 138.2.


NL Cy Young Award Odds (via FanDuel Sportsbook)
Sandy Alcantara: -210
Corbin Burnes: +700
Max Fried: +1200
Jos Musgrove: +2000
Carlos Rodon: +2300
Zack Wheeler: +3000

The combination of volume and effectiveness should make Alcantara a shoe-in for NL Cy Young, provided he stays healthy. It could also raise questions over whether he should receive at least some MVP consideration – though his chances in that regard are far longer. FanDuel is offering +15000 odds on Alcantara to win the NL MVP, a sign that he’ll likely receive some down ballot votes, but little more.

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Russian Court Sentences Brittney Griner to Nine Years in Prison https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/brittney-griner-sentence-russian-judge-gives-9-years-to-wnba-star/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 19:23:28 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90667 Brittney Griner is facing nine years in prison after a Russian court convicted the basketball star of drug possession and smuggling on Thursday. Judge Anna Sotnikova announced the sentence, which also included a fine of one million rubles ($16,700). Griner sentence prelude to further negotiation Legal observers expected Griner to […]

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Brittney Griner is facing nine years in prison after a Russian court convicted the basketball star of drug possession and smuggling on Thursday.

Brittney Griner sentence Russia
Brittney Griner received a nine-year sentence from a Russian judge on Thursday for drug possession and smuggling. (Image: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty)

Judge Anna Sotnikova announced the sentence, which also included a fine of one million rubles ($16,700).

Griner sentence prelude to further negotiation

Legal observers expected Griner to receive a guilty verdict and jail time as a necessary step before any potential prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. The verdict was relatively harsh by Russian legal standards: it came near the maximum punishment of ten years in prison, while most Russians spend up to five years in prison for possessing small quantities of illegal drugs.

Russian police said they found vape cartridges with cannabis oil in Griner’s luggage when she landed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on Feb. 17. Griner was traveling to Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Yekaterinburg, where she competes in the WNBA’s offseason.

US President Joe Biden released a statement decrying the verdict.

“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” Biden said in the statement. “I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.”

US officials have offered a prisoner exchange with Russia. Many have speculated that the United States would send Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner and Paul Whelan, who has remained in Russian custody since an arrest in December 2018 on espionage charges.

Russia looks for leverage in prisoner swap

The guilty verdict also opens up other avenues for Griner’s release. She could appeal the verdict, or appear to Russian President Vladimir Putin for an appeal. However, a prisoner swap remains the most likely outcome, something Griner tangentially acknowledged in court.

“I made an honest mistake, and I hope that in your ruling, that it doesn’t end my life here,” Griner said on Thursday. “I know that everybody keeps talking about ‘political pawn’ and ‘politics,’ but I hope that is far from this courtroom.”

Griner’s trial proceeded quickly for a politically charged case involving a foreigner, raising hopes that Russia may move for an exchange sooner rather than later. However, the severity of Griner’s sentence could also be a tactic to gain leverage against the United States.

“I think that the harsher the sentence, the more pressure there will be on the Biden administration to make a deal,” lawyer Tom Firestone told the Associated Press. “Obviously they like leveraging that pressure.”

Griner is a seven-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who has spent her entire professional career with the Phoenix Mercury. She has twice led the league in scoring, and is the all-time career leader in blocks per game, averaging 2.8 for her career.

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Wyndham Championship Odds: Can Will Zalatoris Claim His First PGA Tour Win? https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/wyndham-championship-odds-can-will-zalatoris-claim-his-first-win/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:34:39 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90639 Twice this season, Will Zalatoris has reached a playoff in a PGA Tour event. Both times, he came up short, including in the PGA Championship. That means Zalatoris will still be looking for his first big league win when he tees it up at the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country […]

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Twice this season, Will Zalatoris has reached a playoff in a PGA Tour event. Both times, he came up short, including in the PGA Championship. That means Zalatoris will still be looking for his first big league win when he tees it up at the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina starting Thursday.

Wyndham Championship odds Zalatoris
Will Zalatoris comes into the Wyndham Championship as a favorite, as he continues to search for his first PGA Tour win. (Image: Alastair Grant/AP)

DraftKings Sportsbook lists Zalatoris as the +1200 co-favorite to win the Wyndham Championship, alongside Shane Lowry.

Zalatoris closing in on elusive victory

The 25-year-old Zalatoris has already made a major impact on the PGA Tour. Since qualifying for the US Open in 2020 – and ultimately finishing tied for sixth there – he has finished in the top 10 of six majors in just nine opportunities. That includes three runner-up finishes.

Results like those have pushed Zalatoris up to 14th on the Official World Golf Ranking. However, a tour win still eludes him. It’s what every reporter asks Zalatoris about before each tournament he enters, including the Wyndham Championship.

“I haven’t even played in 10 majors yet, and we’re talking about me finishing second in all of them,” Zalatoris told reporters. “So we kind of need to just stay patient and keep doing what we’re doing.”

Zalatoris has pointed out that he’s playing well late in these tournaments – not losing because of final hole collapses, or anything like that.

“I think it’s something that just has to come,” Zalatoris said. “I’ve kind of been very close and, if anything, it’s been Thursday through Saturday, not really Sunday.”

Wyndham Championship closes out regular season

If Lowry stands as Zalatoris’ greatest obstacle at the Wyndham Championship, he’ll be more prepared now that he has his equipment back. Lowry lost his clubs on a fight from Dublin Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, where he connected to Charlotte, North Carolina. Lowry later learned the clubs were still in Chicago, and he recovered them in time for this week’s tournament.

“Back in business,” Lowry wrote on Twitter. “Thanks to everyone who helped me get those back before tomorrow’s opening round.”

The Wyndham Championship marks the end of the PGA Tour’s regular season. That means that this is the final opportunity for golfers on the bubble to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs. Only the top 125 players in the FedExCup standings will advance to the postseason, and several competitors in the field at Sedgefield need a good result to go through.

For many of those players, simply making the cut and putting up a solid result could propel them to greater things. Meanwhile, however, there are a slew of notable players who want to add a Wyndham Championship to their resume to close out the regular season before the playoffs begin. Other top contenders include Sungjae Im (+1400), Billy Horschel (+1400), and Webb Simpson (+2200).

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MLB Trade Deadline: The Five Biggest Moves on a Busy Tuesday for Baseball https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/mlb-trade-deadline-the-five-biggest-moves-on-tuesday/ Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:25:38 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90561 Contenders across Major League Baseball made a flurry of moves on Tuesday, as teams raced to beat the MLB trade deadline and fill holes before the final push for the playoffs. One deal in particular dominated the conversation today, but it was far from the only impactful move. Here’s a […]

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Contenders across Major League Baseball made a flurry of moves on Tuesday, as teams raced to beat the MLB trade deadline and fill holes before the final push for the playoffs.

MLB Trade Deadline 2022
The Padres made the biggest deal of the MLB trade deadline by picking up Juan Soto. San Diego also added Josh Bell and Brandon Drury. (Image: Rob Tringali/MLB/Getty)

One deal in particular dominated the conversation today, but it was far from the only impactful move. Here’s a look at the five biggest deadline trades made on Tuesday.

No. 1: Padres acquire Soto in trade deadline blockbuster

There’s no doubt about it: the San Diego Padres’ acquisition of young superstar Juan Soto ranks not only the top of this year’s list, but also among the most significant trade deadline deals in MLB history. Not only that, but the Padres picked up Josh Bell in the deal, as well.

The move immediately turns San Diego into a top tier World Series contender both this year and for the next two seasons. Meanwhile, the Nationals took in a huge haul of prospects and young MLB players, which could ultimately satisfy Washington fans – though probably not for a few years.

No. 2: Padres add Drury to loaded lineup

San Diego wasn’t satisfied with only adding Soto and Bell to their lineup. They also picked up Cincinnati Reds third baseman Brandon Drury, sending back shortstop prospect Victor Acosta.

The Padres will likely find some way to fit Drury into an increasingly stacked lineup. Drury is hitting .274 with 20 homers and a .855 OPS, and is enjoying the best season of his career. Opposing pitchers are going to have to deal with a long, deep lineup when taking on San Diego for the rest of 2022.

No. 3: Merrifield moves to Toronto

The Toronto Blue Jays made a trade with the Kansas City Royals to acquire two-time All-Star Whit Merrifield on Tuesday. That might seem like a normal move for a contending team to make with a struggling, small market squad that’s building for the future. But Merrifield recently missed a series in Toronto because he never received a vaccination against COVID-19 – something that would make it effectively impossible for him to play for the Blue Jays, due to Canadian health laws.

However, Merrifield said he might change his vaccination status if he had the chance to play with or against Toronto in the postseason, and presumably the Blue Jays are satisfied that he will take a vaccine. Merrifield has struggled somewhat this season, hitting just .240 with six homers and 15 stolen bases, though his numbers improved in July.

No. 4: Phillies trade for Syndergaard, Robertson

I’m combining two separate deals but related deals here, as the Philadelphia Phillies significantly improved their pitching staff at the trade deadline. First, the Phillies picked up reliever David Robertson from the Cubs to solidify their bullpen. Philadelphia then grabbed right-handed starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard from the struggling Los Angeles Angels.

The Phillies were already in position to win one of the NL wild card spots. These additions, along with another move to add outfielder Brandon Marsh from the Angels, should help them separate from the pack and try to make a postseason run.

No. 5: Atlanta lands a closer in Iglesias

The Braves have had a solid bullpen over the last few years, but haven’t necessarily been among the strongest teams in the late innings. Atlanta looked to fill that hole by trading for Angels closer Raisel Iglesias.

While Iglesias has a 4.04 ERA this year, he has struck out 48 batters in 35.2 innings and recorded 16 saves. That means he can not only serve as a setup man for current Atlanta closer Kenley Jansen, but also gives the Braves a second great option to finish off games or get high-leverage outs down the stretch.

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San Diego Padres Acquire Juan Soto, Josh Bell from Washington Nationals https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/padres-trade-for-juan-soto-josh-bell-from-nationals/ Tue, 02 Aug 2022 18:06:41 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90515 The San Diego Padres bolstered their chances of winning a World Series this year by picking up Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto, according to multiple media reports. The Padres will also acquire first baseman Josh Bell in the deal. Nationals pick up prospect haul In exchange, San Diego is sending […]

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The San Diego Padres bolstered their chances of winning a World Series this year by picking up Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto, according to multiple media reports.

Juan Soto Padres trade
The San Diego Padres have picked up superstar Juan Soto in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Nationals. (Image: Alex Brandon/AP)

The Padres will also acquire first baseman Josh Bell in the deal.

Nationals pick up prospect haul

In exchange, San Diego is sending lefthander MacKenzie Gore and first baseman Eric Hosmer to Washington. The Nationals will also pick up shortstop CJ Abrams, and three top Padres prospects: outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood, along with right-handed pitcher Jarlin Susana.

Last month, Soto turned down a potential 15-year, $440 million contract from the Nationals. While Washington had Soto under contract through the 2024 season, the failure to reach an extension turned Soto into an unusually valuable trade chip.

Every contender showed at least some interest in Soto, though the Padres and St. Louis Cardinals emerged as the leading candidates to land the 23-year-old.

FanDuel Sportsbook now lists the Padres as a +1000 pick to win the World Series in 2022. That places them fifth on the board, behind only the Yankees (+330), Dodgers (+350), Astros (+450), and the Mets (+650).

Soto, Bell join powerful San Diego lineup

Most pundits regard Soto as a generational talent. He has already established himself as one the best hitters in the majors, and even though he has not put up the best numbers of his career this year, he will make a massive impact on the Padres lineup.

Soto is hitting .246 this season, but has belted 21 home runs. He has also drawn a league-leading 91 walks, pushing his on-base percentage up to .408 and his OPS to a strong .894.

Bell rates as far more than a throw-in piece for San Diego. The 29-year-old is hitting .301 with 14 home runs on the year.

Meanwhile, the Nationals will pick up a mix of young talent that will help them build for the future. They also pick up a large contract in Hosmer, who is owed $13 million a year through 2025. (Update: Hosmer rejected a trade to the Nationals. The Padres instead sent him to the Boston Red Sox.)

When the Padres get back injured shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., they’ll be able to stack him with Soto, Manny Machado, and Bell to create a deep and powerful lineup that lines up well against any team in the majors.

Currently, the Padres hold a 58-46 record. They are 12 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West race, but hold one of the National League wild card positions. Washington is 35-69 – the worst record in the majors – and in last place in the NL East.

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MMA Notebook: Nunes, Moreno Win Titles at UFC 277; MMA Rules Update https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/amanda-nunes-regains-bantamweight-title-at-ufc-277/ Mon, 01 Aug 2022 19:30:33 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90478 Amanda Nunes avenged her surprising loss to Julianna Pena last December with a dominant performance to reclaim her bantamweight title on Saturday night at UFC 277 in Dallas. Nunes (22-5) won a unanimous decision over Pena (12-5), with judges scoring the bout 50-45, 50-44, and 50-43 in her favor. Southpaw […]

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Amanda Nunes avenged her surprising loss to Julianna Pena last December with a dominant performance to reclaim her bantamweight title on Saturday night at UFC 277 in Dallas.

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Amanda Nunes soundly defeated Julianna Pena at UFC 277 on Saturday to reclaim her women’s bantamweight title. (Image: Carmen Mandato/Getty)

Nunes (22-5) won a unanimous decision over Pena (12-5), with judges scoring the bout 50-45, 50-44, and 50-43 in her favor.

Southpaw stance leads Nunes to clear victory

Judge Sal D’Amato gave Nunes a 10-8 score in the second round. Judge Douglas Crosby did also while adding another 10-8 score in the fifth and final round.

Nunes used a southpaw stance and improved wrestling to confound Pena. She dropped Pena three times in the second round alone, setting a record for most knockdowns in a single round by a woman in the UFC.

“The main thing was my southpaw,” Nunes said afterward. “I knew she was not going to be able to adjust to that. She’s not a striker.”

While Nunes dominated throughout, she never found a way to finish Pena. UFC President Dana White found room to critique Nunes’ performance because of this.

“As dominant as Amanda was, and she was dominant tonight – I don’t think it was close in any way, shape, or form, I thought it was a complete shutout – she still looked a little gun-shy to me,” White told reporters. “She had Julianna hurt many times, had her on crazy legs many times, and never really went in for the kill.”

Nunes once again holds two titles in the UFC, as she is also the promotion’s women’s featherweight champion.

Moreno earns interim flyweight title

Brandon Moreno reclaimed some hardware on Saturday night, stopping Kai Kara-France in the third round of their interim flyweight title fight at UFC 277.

Moreno (20-6-2) scored a TKO win at 4:34 of the third round after dropping Kara-France (24-10) with a left body kick, then following up with ground and pound to force the stoppage.

The win will likely give Moreno a chance to fight Deiveson Figueiredo for the fourth time. The two split three fights between 2020 and January 2022. The first ended in a draw; Moreno won the second to take the flyweight title at UFC 263 before Figueiredo won it back by decision at UFC 270.

“This guy right here, tonight is his night and he is the champion,” Figueiredo said via an interpreter after the fight. “I have a lot of respect for him … I want to take this fight home to Brazil.”

UFC officials initially planned for Moreno and Figueiredo to fight for a fourth time this summer. However, Figueiredo had to drop out of those plans due to injury.

Commissions updates rules on eye pokes, sleeves

The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) updated its MMA rules on Wednesday, changing the way referees will handle eye pokes going forward.

The new ABC rules will give fighters five minutes to recover after taking an eye poke, provided ringside doctors say the fighter might possibly continue. Previously, referees typically stopped the fight as soon as a fighter said they couldn’t see. Referees also had discretion on how much time to give a fighter to recover, rather than the standardized five minutes for low blows. The new rule may allow more fights to continue after eye pokes.

In addition, the ABC approved the use of soft sleeves on knees and ankle joints, a rule that was currently inconsistent across various promotions and commissions. The ABC will also publish and distribute an MMA “scoring ladder” chart to help clarify judging criteria in the sport.

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MLB Injury Report: J-Rod Moves to DL; Trout Optimistic on Back Issues https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/julio-rodriguez-injury-mariners-rookie-moves-to-10-day-il/ Mon, 01 Aug 2022 18:41:56 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90466 The Seattle Mariners placed rookie outfielder Julio Rodriguez on the 10-day injured list after he suffered a right wrist contusion during a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday. Rodriguez hurt his wrist when a pitch hit him in the eighth inning of the Saturday game. Seattle planning cautious […]

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The Seattle Mariners placed rookie outfielder Julio Rodriguez on the 10-day injured list after he suffered a right wrist contusion during a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Julio Rodriguez injury Trout deGrom
Julio Rodriguez will spend a stint on the injured list after injuring his wrist on Saturday in a Seattle Mariners win over the Houston Astros. (Image: Eric Christian Smith/AP)

Rodriguez hurt his wrist when a pitch hit him in the eighth inning of the Saturday game.

Seattle planning cautious approach to Rodriguez injury

The Mariners say Rodriguez won’t be able to swing a bat for at least five days due to swelling and weakness in the wrist.

Seattle has no intentions of rushing back its young star. The 21-year-old Rodriguez is hitting .271 with 17 homers and 21 stolen bases in his rookie season. Rodriguez established himself as the +100 favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year in mid-June at FanDuel Sportsbook, and had maintained that position through July. Most major books have taken down their AL Rookie of the Year odds following the Rodriguez injury.

“We will do everything the right way to make sure that he and our medical staff have a clear idea of what it is,” Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters.

The Mariners are currently 55-48, and are in control of an American League wild-card position, despite sitting 12 games behind the Astros in the AL West. FanDuel lists Seattle as a +3000 pick to win the World Series this year.

Mike Trout bullish on return

Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout downplayed reports of the severity of his back issues, saying he may start swinging a bat again as early as this week.

Angels trainer Mike Frostad raised concerns over Trout’s future after sharing that the three-time MVP was dealing with a rare spinal condition that he may have to deal with for the rest of his career. Some interpreted that as though Trout’s career was in jeopardy. The outfielder says that’s not the case.

“It went from my career is over to now hopefully I’m going to play here soon,” Trout told reporters. “I think that’s what Frosty was initially getting at – keeping a routine so that it doesn’t come back. Once you let it settle down, get the inflammation out of there and build the muscles up around, it’ll be good.”

Trout was enjoying another outstanding season for yet another disappointing Angels team prior to the injury. He’s hitting .270 with 24 homers and a .967 OPS over 79 games in 2022. Trout has largely fallen out of the AL MVP race due to the injury, with FanDuel listing him as a +25000 long shot.

deGrom set to make first start on Tuesday

Jacob deGrom will make his first start of the 2022 season for the New York Mets on Tuesday when they take on the Washington Nationals. deGrom last took the mound on July 7, 2021. After missing the rest of the season due to various arm issues, the Mets shut him down in spring training this year with a stress reaction in his right scapula.

“I’m definitely excited,” deGrom told reporters. “This has been a pretty slow process of coming back, so excited to be out there. Nerves haven’t really set in yet, but I’m sure Tuesday I’ll be pretty nervous.”

The 34-year-old deGrom has won two NL Cy Young Awards. He will bolster a Mets rotation that already features Max Scherzer, essentially giving the team two top-tier aces. New York leads the NL East by three games over the Atlanta Braves with a 64-37 record, and are a +700 choice to win the World Series this year.

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Tony Finau Picks Up Second Straight Victory, Wins Rocket Mortgage Classic by Five Strokes https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/tony-finau-wins-rocket-mortgage-classic-for-2nd-straight-tour-title/ Mon, 01 Aug 2022 17:48:36 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90463 If golf fans questioned whether Tony Finau could close out professional tournaments, those questions have rapidly come to an end over the past two weeks. Finau won the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club this past weekend to pick up his second consecutive victory on the PGA Tour. […]

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If golf fans questioned whether Tony Finau could close out professional tournaments, those questions have rapidly come to an end over the past two weeks.

Tony Finau two wins odds
Tony Finau scored his second consecutive PGA Tour victory this weekend by winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club. (Image: Carlos Osorio/AP)

Finau won the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club this past weekend to pick up his second consecutive victory on the PGA Tour.

Finau gets third win in less than a year

The victory made Finau the first player in three years to win two straight regular-season tournaments on the PGA Tour. Brendon Todd last accomplished the feat in 2019. Finau shot a 5-under-par 67 to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic by five strokes over Patrick Cantlay, Taylor Pendrith, and Cameron Young.

A week earlier, Finau won the 3M Open. DraftKings Sportsbook listed Finau as a +1400 pick to go back-to-back at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, and he lived up to the challenge.

“I’m proud of the way that I fought though adversity through my career,” Finau said after the win. “They say a winner is just a loser that just kept on trying, and that’s me to a T. How many times do I lose? But one thing I won’t do is give up and I’m only here as a winner because I chose not to give up and just keep going.”

Prior to his current streak, Finau had won just twice on tour. He took down the Puerto Rico Open back in 2016, then broke a five-year drought by winning the Northern Trust during last year’s FedExCup playoffs.

Playoff positioning critical as tour season comes to close

Those three wins ended any talk that Finau is a talented golfer who doesn’t win events. Before Sunday, Finau had also never won a tournament after having or sharing the 54-hole lead, something he did at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

“Tony put on a show,” Young said after the tournament. “I’d be lying if I said it was easy to just watch other people win. Obviously, today Tony beat us all by a lot.”

Finau has now moved up to No. 7 in the FedExCup Playoffs standings. He sits at No. 13 on the Official World Golf Ranking as well.

“A week can change your life,” Finau said. “When you look at mine, two weeks have changed my life.”

While Finau will be in great shape to make a playoff run, he won’t be a winner three weeks in a row. He isn’t playing at the Wyndham Championship this weekend, which is also the last regular-season tournament on the PGA Tour. Will Zalatoris and Shane Lowry are the early favorites at the Wyndham, with DraftKings giving each +1200 odds of victory.

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Danny Garcia Fighting for First Time Since 2020 in Super Welterweight Clash vs. Jose Benavidez Jr. https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/garcia-benavidez-odds-whos-favored-in-154-pound-contest/ Sat, 30 Jul 2022 02:58:32 +0000 https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/?p=90257 Danny Garcia will step into the boxing ring for the first time in 19 months on Saturday night when he takes on Jose Benavidez Jr. in a super welterweight matchup at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Garcia, who is coming off of a welterweight title loss to Errol Spence Jr., […]

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Danny Garcia will step into the boxing ring for the first time in 19 months on Saturday night when he takes on Jose Benavidez Jr. in a super welterweight matchup at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Garcia Benavidez odds boxing
Danny Garcia (left) will make his super welterweight debut on Saturday when he takes on Jose Benavidez Jr. (right) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. (Image: Amanda Westcott/Showtime)

Garcia, who is coming off of a welterweight title loss to Errol Spence Jr., comes in as an imposing -800 favorite over Benavidez (+500) at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Garcia refreshed mind during boxing break

After Garcia (36-3, 21 KOs) lost to Spence by unanimous decision, he made the decision to take an extended break from training. He used that opportunity to refocus and regain his passion for the sport.

“After you’ve been fighting for a long time, I’ve been fighting world champions for the last ten years, I realized that my body felt great, but my mind felt foggy,” Garcia said during a recent open workout. “I knew that I needed my mind to rest, have some fun, and spend some time with my family. I needed time to enjoy everything that I worked so hard for, start to miss the game of boxing and then come back strong.”

Garcia sees Saturday’s fight as a stepping stone in the 154-pound division. If he can get past Benavidez, he is eying a matchup against undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs). Accomplishing that, he says, would cap off his career in style.

“There’s nothing else to do after that,” Garcia told Fight Hub TV. “That’s the goal, that’s the dream. We’re going to walk away healthy and as a champion.

But Garcia isn’t the only man who sees Saturday’s fight as a path to bigger things. Benavidez (27-1-1, 18 KOs) will fight for only the second time since 2018, when he lost to pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford by 12th-round TKO. He didn’t impress in his return last year against Francisco Emanual Torres, achieving only a majority draw.

Fighters see championship opportunities with win

But if Benavidez can beat Garcia and look good doing it, the doors to a title fight will open wide yet again.

“We have to look impressive,” Benavidez’s father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., told the Arizona Republic. “At the end of the day, man, we need this fight in order to get back in the rankings and get back in boxing with Jose Benavidez Jr. We need to impress. We need to give it all, and I guarantee you someone’s going to get knocked out.”

DraftKings believes there’s a solid chance at a stoppage, as it is only offering +150 on the fight to not go the distance. Benavidez agrees with that assessment and says he’s going to stop the smaller Garcia from successfully moving up in weight.

“He’s going to find out on Saturday that 154 pounds isn’t for him,” Benavidez Jr. told reporters. “I fought Terence Crawford on one leg and gave him a fight. I know what I’m capable of and I’m going to fiht like that.”

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