United, TFC square off at BMO for 'important game'

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09/10/2010 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last-placed D.C. United travels to take on a desperate Toronto FC club on Saturday afternoon in Major League Soccer action at BMO Field.

The Reds (7-9-7) are in must-win mode if they have any hope of making the playoffs, especially after battling to a scoreless draw at Chicago in a mid- week fixture.

"It's definitely is a big point, but I think we should have came out with a win, but we'll take the point," Toronto captain Dwayne De Rosario told Rogers Sportsnet after the game. "It pushes us up a little bit, we have another important game coming up against DC on Saturday."

Toronto has proven to be a different club at home than on the road. It is 6-1-5 this season at BMO Field, and just 1-8-2 away from it. Because of its road woes, the team is under immense pressure to get all three points against a struggling D.C. United club on Saturday.

"We can't lose anyone right now, we need as many guys as possible," De Rosario said. "We do have a little bit of injuries [concerns] in important positions. We've got to carry on with it and, hopefully, the guys that do get their chances are 100 percent ready and focused and take the opportunities."

United (4-16-3), on the other hand, is having one of the worst seasons in franchise history. After a 1-0 loss vs. Columbus last weekend, it tied the MLS mark for times being shut out in a season at 15. If it happens again in the club's next seven games it will own the dubious mark.

"It's a bit of a broken record at this point, right? Unfortunately we're not making big plays," D.C. United interim coach Ben Olsen told mlssoccer.com. "You've heard this before. This is who we are right now. I think there's part of us that's growing, and there's part of us that is kind of staying the same, and the part that's staying the same is costing us games. So I don't know what else to tell you."

Last week it was a goalkeeping blunder by Bill Hamid that cost his team the game when he misplayed a ball right to Guillermo Barros Schelotto in his own six-yard box. The Argentine easily slotted the ball home for the only goal in a 1-0 United loss.

"The field's playing kind of poor, but at the same time, there's no excuse for that mistake on my part," Hamid said after the match. "It shouldn't have been a goal, shouldn't have been a mistake. Maybe I could've one-timed it out, who knows. But I apologize to my teammates, to the coaches, to the staff, to the fans, for the mistake."

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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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