Reds hanging on in Central

Baseball Betting Lines

04/22/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Reds are 9-9 and good enough for third place in the National League's Central Division entering their series finale with the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

One last game with the Phillies remains and the Reds will send Matt Belisle (2-0, 3.63 ERA) to the hill against Freddy Garcia (0-1, 5.79 ERA).

After the Phillies leave town the team is off on Monday and then will travel to face the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals for a three game set. In the first game, Aaron Harang (2-0, 4.37 ERA) will battle against Kip Wells (1-3, 3.12 ERA). The Reds hope that Wells will continue to struggle against them as he is just 2-8 in 17 starts.

In the second game, the Reds send Kyle Lohse (1-0, 1.91 ERA) against Randy Keisler (0-0, 4.09 ERA). Lohse hasn't given up an earned run in 18 innings.

INJURIES

Ken Griffey is listed as day-to-day with an illness that has sidelined him for the Phillies series. Eddie Guardado isn't expected to return to the team until sometime in late May or early June. Guardado's return will help boost the team's bullpen and improve the closer spot.

WHO'S HOT

Adam Dunn is batting .299 and has four home runs and nine RBI. Rule 5 pick up Josh Hamilton leads the team with five home runs and has driven in 11 runs.

As for the pitching, Adam Harang is undefeated 2-0 with 22 strikeouts with just over 22 innings pitched. Belisle is also 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA. Kyle Lohse is 1-0 and has a 1.91 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched.

WHO'S NOT

Cincinnati's bullpen started the season as the best in majors, but in the final two games in the Houston Astros series, the bullpen fell apart as they blew back-to-back games.

"I know our bullpen is much better than it was the last two nights," manager Jerry Narron said.

David Ross is struggling as he is batting just .105. Cincinnati was hoping that Ross was going to step up be the everyday catcher but the way he is hitting they may need another option. Also struggling is Edwin Encarnacion, who is hitting .182 with only one extra base hit.

Eric Milton is 0-3 despite only allowing eight earned runs in three starts. He has let up 19 hits in just over 16 innings.

NOTEABLES

Griffey needs only one home run to tie Reggie Jackson for 10th all-time (564) and he is only seven bombs away from catching Rafael Palmeiro for ninth all- time on the list with 570.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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