MLB Betting: Roy Oswalt Pitches Amid Swirling Trade Rumors
He's been the anchor in Houston's starting rotation for a decade, but Saturday night could be Roy Oswalt's final game in an Astros uniform at Minute Maid Park.
Ah yes, the trading season is upon us which means it's time for one rumor after another to hit the wires and be discussed by all sorts of talking heads on ESPN, FOX, TBS and the rest of the networks. One of the names that is in the mix to be dealt is Roy Oswalt (7-12, 3.12), the scheduled starter for the Houston Astros on Saturday night when they take on the Reds in Game 2 of their series.
Oswalt made it known a bit earlier this season he would be ok with a trade out of Houston and to a contender. Can't say that I blame him. I've cheered the guy for a decade now, and hate to see him leave my beloved Astros. But I still understand his frustration with his effort on a losing baseball team.
Word is the 'Stros are working on a deal to send the right-hander to Philadelphia, only Roy O has thrown a bit of a wrench into the works.
Oswalt wants his $16 million option in 2012 to be guaranteed before a trade is done and, oh yeah, he'd rather pitch in St. Louis than Philly according to Jayson Stark's "sources."
Can you imagine a veteran like Kevin Youkilis telling the Red Sox he would like to be dealt to the Yankees? The scary part is I actually believe the nutcases running the show in the Astros front office might do this.
Before he's traded anywhere, Oswalt has this game to pitch Saturday. The contest is a pick 'em at some shops, with a few listing MLB odds that have the Reds slight favorites. The total is seven even, with the 'under' favored. This is one of six games on the Saturday schedule with a total of 7½ or less.
Cincinnati continued its recent dominance over the Astros with a 6-4 win in Friday night's series opener. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce teamed for four hits and three ribbies. The Reds are now 6-1 when facing Houston in 2010 and 18-5 since the start of the '09 season. Another win tonight, coupled with a Cardinals loss, would slide Cincy to the top rung on the NL Central ladder.
Oswalt has some mind-boggling career stats versus the Reds. He's 23-2 lifetime on his personal scorecard, with a 2.62 ERA in 213 innings. But when you look into his recent trips to the hill against Cincy, it's not that great.
One of his two losses came earlier this year here in Houston. The Reds took a 4-2 decision on April 29 with Oswalt and Astros minus 165 favorites. Roy pitched well (7 IP, 3 ER), but that was near the height of Houston's offensive impotency.
It marked the fourth loss by Houston in Oswalt's last five outings against Cincinnati. The Astros were 1-3 in his four 2009 assignments, with Oswalt taking a no-decision each time.
Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.39) will be on the mound for the Reds. The right-hander is 3-1 in his last six starts with two no-decisions, both Cincy losses. He's pitched well enough to be 6-0 in that span with a 1.16 ERA in 38 2/3 innings.
He didn't face Houston when the clubs met the two previous series this campaign. The Reds were 1-2 in his three starts versus the Astros in 2009, 1-1 at Minute Maid Park. Walks plagued Cueto in those two starts at Houston, 11 in 12 innings.
Brian Runge shifts behind the plate tonight to call the balls and strikes. Home teams are 11-5 when Runge works the dish in 2010, with the 'under' 9-6-1. He called a May game in Houston with Oswalt pitching. The Astros lost to the Diamondbacks, 1-0.
Warm and muggy is the usual weather fare in the Bayou City this time of year, and Saturday will not be an exceptions. A 30 percent chance of passing t-storms is in the forecast with a first-pitch temp in the mid-to-upper 80s and ENE breeze 5-10 mph (1B dugout to LF corner).
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2010 season.
He's been the anchor in Houston's starting rotation for a decade, but Saturday night could be Roy Oswalt's final game in an Astros uniform at Minute Maid Park.
Ah yes, the trading season is upon us which means it's time for one rumor after another to hit the wires and be discussed by all sorts of talking heads on ESPN, FOX, TBS and the rest of the networks. One of the names that is in the mix to be dealt is Roy Oswalt (7-12, 3.12), the scheduled starter for the Houston Astros on Saturday night when they take on the Reds in Game 2 of their series.
Oswalt made it known a bit earlier this season he would be ok with a trade out of Houston and to a contender. Can't say that I blame him. I've cheered the guy for a decade now, and hate to see him leave my beloved Astros. But I still understand his frustration with his effort on a losing baseball team.
Word is the 'Stros are working on a deal to send the right-hander to Philadelphia, only Roy O has thrown a bit of a wrench into the works.
Oswalt wants his $16 million option in 2012 to be guaranteed before a trade is done and, oh yeah, he'd rather pitch in St. Louis than Philly according to Jayson Stark's "sources."
Can you imagine a veteran like Kevin Youkilis telling the Red Sox he would like to be dealt to the Yankees? The scary part is I actually believe the nutcases running the show in the Astros front office might do this.
Before he's traded anywhere, Oswalt has this game to pitch Saturday. The contest is a pick 'em at some shops, with a few listing MLB odds that have the Reds slight favorites. The total is seven even, with the 'under' favored. This is one of six games on the Saturday schedule with a total of 7½ or less.
Cincinnati continued its recent dominance over the Astros with a 6-4 win in Friday night's series opener. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce teamed for four hits and three ribbies. The Reds are now 6-1 when facing Houston in 2010 and 18-5 since the start of the '09 season. Another win tonight, coupled with a Cardinals loss, would slide Cincy to the top rung on the NL Central ladder.
Oswalt has some mind-boggling career stats versus the Reds. He's 23-2 lifetime on his personal scorecard, with a 2.62 ERA in 213 innings. But when you look into his recent trips to the hill against Cincy, it's not that great.
One of his two losses came earlier this year here in Houston. The Reds took a 4-2 decision on April 29 with Oswalt and Astros minus 165 favorites. Roy pitched well (7 IP, 3 ER), but that was near the height of Houston's offensive impotency.
It marked the fourth loss by Houston in Oswalt's last five outings against Cincinnati. The Astros were 1-3 in his four 2009 assignments, with Oswalt taking a no-decision each time.
Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.39) will be on the mound for the Reds. The right-hander is 3-1 in his last six starts with two no-decisions, both Cincy losses. He's pitched well enough to be 6-0 in that span with a 1.16 ERA in 38 2/3 innings.
He didn't face Houston when the clubs met the two previous series this campaign. The Reds were 1-2 in his three starts versus the Astros in 2009, 1-1 at Minute Maid Park. Walks plagued Cueto in those two starts at Houston, 11 in 12 innings.
Brian Runge shifts behind the plate tonight to call the balls and strikes. Home teams are 11-5 when Runge works the dish in 2010, with the 'under' 9-6-1. He called a May game in Houston with Oswalt pitching. The Astros lost to the Diamondbacks, 1-0.
Warm and muggy is the usual weather fare in the Bayou City this time of year, and Saturday will not be an exceptions. A 30 percent chance of passing t-storms is in the forecast with a first-pitch temp in the mid-to-upper 80s and ENE breeze 5-10 mph (1B dugout to LF corner).
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2010 season.
