Reds activate Harang from DL, recall Chapman

Baseball Betting Lines

08/31/2010 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds made several roster moves on Tuesday, among them reinstating right-hander Aaron Harang from the 15-day disabled list in time to start the second of a three-game series against Milwaukee and recalling pitching phenom Aroldis Chapman from Triple-A Louisville.

Cincinnati handled the Brewers, 8-4, but Harang lasted only four-plus innings and did not factor in the decision. He allowed three runs -- one earned -- on eight hits, walked three and fanned two.

The 32-year-old Harang had been sidelined since July 1 with lower back spasms. He was 6-7 with a 5.02 earned run average in 17 starts prior to going on the DL.

The promotion of Chapman, who threw a perfect eighth in his big league debut, makes the 22-year-old left-hander eligible for postseason play. Chapman reached 102 m.p.h. on the radar gun.

The Reds increased their lead over second-place St. Louis by seven games for the top spot in the National League Central Division. The Cardinals lost to Houston on Tuesday.

Chapman came to Cincinnati in January after the club won the free agent bidding war for the pitcher, who had been sought after by several major league clubs following his defection from Cuba. He agreed to a six-year contract with the Reds in January.

Chapman, who is expected to be used out of the bullpen, went 9-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 39 games (13 starts) for Louisville -- his first minor league season -- and added eight saves and 125 strikeouts over 95 2/3 innings.

To open up the roster spots, the club placed outfielder Laynce Nix on the 15- day DL, retroactive to August 26, with a left ankle sprain and optioned right- hander Edinson Volquez to Single-A Dayton.

Nix is hitting .291 with four homers and 18 RBI in 92 games this season.

Volquez has made only eight starts since returning from both Tommy John surgery and a 50-game suspension for a violation of the league's drug policy. He is 3-2 with a 6.17 ERA.

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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.