Braves try to stay ahead of Padres in clash of division leaders

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07/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - By drawing first blood in this three-game series with the San Diego Padres last night, the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves again own the league's best record.

Atlanta will try to keep its grip on that accolade and record a fourth straight victory over NL West-leading San Diego tonight at Turner Field.

The Braves claimed a 4-1 victory on Monday to up their season record to 55-38. That has them just ahead of the Padres (54-38) for the top mark in the league and 6 1/2 games up on the second-place New York Mets in the NL East standings.

Atlanta got contributions from across the board last night, as Matt Diaz homered for a third straight game, Jason Heyward finished with three hits and starter Jair Jurrjens gave up just a run on five hits over seven innings of work. That helped the Braves win for the seventh time in their last 10 games overall, and the club has also won 23 of its last 28 at home.

"He worked us pretty good," San Diego's Chris Denorfia said of Jurrjens. "He got ahead most of the time. He didn't give in. He made his pitches."

Denorfia did homer off Jurrjens, his third long ball in two games. All five of his home runs this season have come in his last seven games.

The rest of San Diego's lineup was shut down, leading to Wade LeBlanc taking the loss event though he allowed just five hits and two runs over his six- inning start. LeBlanc hasn't won since June 12 and the Padres had a four-game win streak halted last night. They lead San Francisco by three games for the top spot in the NL West.

The Padres go tonight with Jon Garland, who has won three of his last four decisions after besting the Diamondbacks on Friday. He held them to a run on three hits and two walks over six innings, striking out five while improving to 9-6 with a 3.45 earned run average on the season.

The 30-year-old right hander has struggled in two career starts versus the Braves, allowing 13 earned runs over just 8 1/3 innings. He last faced them on May 29, 2009 while with Arizona and was tagged for eight earned runs over just 2 2/3 innings of work.

While San Diego second baseman David Eckstein is likely headed to the disabled list after suffering a right calf strain running the bases last night, the Braves are expected to activate center fielder Nate McLouth from the DL today. McLouth has been out since June 9 after suffering a concussion during a collision with Heyward.

Chipper Jones, who pinch hit on Monday, was also held out of Atlanta's starting lineup for a third consecutive game due to a left hamstring strain, but he could also return to the field tonight.

Diaz should remain in the outfield along with McLouth tonight, seeing as he is hitting .432 (16-for-37) with four homers and 11 RBI over his last 10 games played after missing time with a right thumb infection.

"I feel like I have a real good approach [at the plate] right now," said Diaz, who also had an RBI single last night.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson will seek some consistency in tonight's outing, as he is 8-6 with a 4.19 ERA on the season. The 23-year-old lost to the Brewers on Friday after giving up four runs -- three earned -- on six hits over just five innings of a 9-3 setback.

Hanson has won both of career starts against the Padres, with the right-hander pitching to a 2.25 ERA. That includes a win on April 14 in which Hanson gave up one run over six innings while striking out seven.

The Braves took two of three from the Padres in San Diego from April 12-15 and have won eight of the last 10 played at Turner Field in the series.

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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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