Myers opposes red-hot Hudson in the desert

Baseball Betting Lines

09/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trade deadline pick-up Daniel Hudson can continue a sterling National League debut tonight when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series at Chase Field.

A 23-year-old from Lynchburg, Va., Hudson was acquired in a late July deal that sent veteran pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Chicago White Sox. He's since made six starts for Arizona, winning four times and allowing three runs or less in each outing.

Hudson was on the mound for seven innings in his last outing on Aug. 28, when he allowed four hits and two runs in the Diamondbacks' 11-3 win at San Francisco. The Old Dominion University product has pitched at least seven in each NL outing.

Overall with Arizona, Hudson has allowed just 30 hits and nine runs in 43 2/3 innings with 42 strikeouts. In three starts with Chicago before the trade, he'd given up 17 hits and 11 runs in just 15 2/3 innings.

Hudson has never faced Houston.

For the Astros, super-consistent righty Brett Myers aims for a 28th straight start in which he's pitched at least six innings. In his first year with Houston, Myers has been a symbol of durability while notching 145 strikeouts and allowing just 174 hits in 185 innings.

He's on pace to surpass 200 innings for the second time in his career and first since 2005, when he logged 215 1/3 innings while going 13-8 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The former first-round draft pick (12th overall, 1999) won double-digit games five times with the Phillies and reached that mark for Houston in his last start when he allowed six hits in seven scoreless innings of a 4-1 win over the New York Mets.

Myers, who is 4-7 on the road this year, got a no-decision against the Diamondbacks in Houston on May 5, when he was touched for six hits and two runs in seven innings of the Astros' 4-2 victory.

Lifetime against Arizona, he is 2-2 with a save in seven games with a 3.92 earned run average.

On Wednesday in Houston, Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer as part of a four- run fifth inning, as the Astros completed a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 5-2 win at Minute Maid Park.

Michael Bourn added a single, RBI and run scored for Houston, which has won nine of its last 11. Carlos Lee chipped in with a sacrifice fly.

Nelson Figueroa (4-2) took the win after throwing five innings. The veteran yielded two runs on six hits, walked three and struck out one. Brandon Lyon worked a perfect ninth inning to record his 11th save of the season.

In Arizona, Brandon Allen belted his first career grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Diamondbacks beat San Diego, 5-2, to complete a three-game sweep.

It was quite a 2010 debut for Allen, who was promoted from Triple-A Reno earlier Wednesday, the first day major league rosters could be expanded.

Barry Enright (6-2) gave up two runs and nine hits over seven innings for Arizona, which has won six of its last seven games. The rookie right-hander has yet to allow more than three runs in any of his 12 starts.

Arizona is 3-1 against the Astros this season.

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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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