Chivas can clinch playoff spot with win in Colorado and help

Soccer Betting Lines

09/15/2007 - Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - "Chivas is a very good team with a great atmosphere and my goal is to get all the way to playoffs and we're proving right now that we're the best team in Major League Soccer," CD Chivas USA reserve forward Laurent Merlin told MLSnet.com after the team's Super Clasico win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday.

D.C. United might have something to say about that comment, but few can argue that the Goats belong in that class right now.

"It's massive for the club, massive for the fans. We've been taking a beating from those guys for a couple of years and eventually it was going to turn," Chivas forward Ante Razov said after the win against the Galaxy. "It can't go on forever. We showed that right now we're the better team in Los Angeles. We're happy with that and we're proud of that."

Chivas can clinch a playoff spot while also severely damaging the Colorado Rapids chances of making it with a league win at Dick's Sporting Goods Park Sunday afternoon.

A loss would be the Rapids second-straight, after losing to the Galaxy 3-1 in Los Angeles last weekend. With the defeat, the Rapids dropped into a ninth- place tie with Columbus in the eight team playoff bracket, meaning the team has some points to make up.

"They created four or five chances and finished three. We created five, six chances and got one," Colorado coach Fernando Clavijo said of the L.A. loss.

One thing going for it is Colorado gets surging Chivas at home. The Goats are an MLS best 9-0-2 at home, but just 4-6-4 on the road although they are 3-1 in their last four.

After Sunday's league fixture, Chivas hosts Kansas City next Saturday while the Rapids travel to Real Salt Lake the same day.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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