Percival left off Rays' ALDS roster

Baseball Betting Lines

10/02/2008 - St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays have opted to leave closer Troy Percival off their American League Division Series roster.

Percival has battled a myriad of injuries in the second half of the season, but has most recently been dealing with some back pain. He has also labored through knee and hamstring injuries this season.

The 39-year-old right-hander was 1-0 with a 3.54 ERA and 19 saves in 29 appearances in the first half, but struggled after the break, going just 1-1 with a 6.11 ERA and nine saves in 21 appearances.

So, with Percival on the shelf Tampa manager Joe Maddon will likely use setup man Dan Wheeler as his closer.

Percival's exclusion also freed up a spot for left-handed phenom David Price, the team's top overall selection in the 2007 draft. The flame-throwing 23- year-old appeared in five games (one start) down the stretch for the Rays and pitched to a 1.93 ERA, while striking out 12 batters in 14 innings.

The Rays play their first-ever postseason game this afternoon against the AL Central champion Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field.

Wwwwincity Baseball Betting News

<< The Replacements: Lester, Bay deliver in Red Sox' Game 1 triumph
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If anyone thought Boston was going to miss Josh Beckett in its Game 1 American League Division Series matchup with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, think again. The same goes for Manny Ramirez too. With Beckett's st

<< NBA referee report finds no additional illegal activity
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA released the results of a review of the league's embattled officiating program Thursday in the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal. Donaghy, a former NBA referee, received a 15-month prison sente

<< Rays host White Sox in first-ever postseason game at the Trop
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A lot of people felt that the Tampa Bay Rays were ready to take the next step this season. But, taking the next step was believed to be finishing at or near .500, not what eventually transpired. One year removed from los

<< Woodbine to host pair of Challenge races
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Breeders' Cup Challenge races take center-stage for Saturday's Woodbine card. The $2 million Pattison Canadian International and the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes will both be contested on Woodbin

<< Peng reaches Tashkent quarters
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Chinese Shuai Peng led Thursday's charge into the quarterfinals at the $145,000 Tashkent Open. Peng handled Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus 6-1, 7-5 on the hardcourts at Tashken

Best in the Big Ten >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just a few short weeks ago, the Big Ten was Ohio State's conference to lose. Fast forward just one month, and it isn't the Buckeyes that have a stranglehold on the Big Ten, but rather Penn State that has show

CC goes on short rest again, as Brewers try to pull even with Phils >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - CC Sabathia goes on short rest for the fourth straight time this evening, when the Milwaukee Brewers try to even up their best-of- five National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Dodgers hope to take 2-0 lead in best-of-five NLDS with Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers try to take a commanding two games to none lead in their best-of-five National League Division Series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. In Game 1 of this set on Wednesday, James Loney clubbed

Mets give GM Minaya extension >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets officially signed general manager Omar Minaya to a three-year contract extension through the 2012 season on Thursday. The deal also contains club options for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Report: Mets pick up Delgado's 2009 option >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets have informed first baseman Carlos Delgado that they will pick up his option for the 2009 season, according to a report in the New York Post. The 36-year-old's option is worth $12 mi


MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.









MySportsbook features easy-to-use online betting software that’s the most reliable in the industry. If you’re looking to bet underdogs, then this Sportsbook is the place - we have the best betting lines in the business. MySportsbook is your one-stop shop for all your betting needs - sports betting, poker, casino, and horse racing . MySportsbook offers every bet type with lightning fast settlement of wagers. Take advantage of free statistical analysis - including against-the-spread and straight-up trends - in MySportsbook’s game previews section. With MySportsbook there are unlimited free deposits and payouts - and no transaction fees!

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.