Matt Fargo
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Play: Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh came to Los Angeles last year roughly around the same time but unlike this season, the Pirates were reeling. They had gone 3-8 in their previous 11 games but now they come in with a three-game winning streak after sweeping their series with the Reds. The Dodgers meanwhile came into that series a season ago on an 11-3 run and that is hardly the case this season as they limp into this one losing five of their last six. We are basically dealing with the exact opposite of last year and what do we get?
We get a line similar to last season showing it is made up on name and public perception. Who in their right mind would back the Pirates here? Well I know I am and for very good reason as we get extraordinary value as well as the fact that the public remains on the side of the Dodgers. Los Angeles has scored more than five runs only twice all season long and it is coming off yet another dismal performance at the plate. Until this starts winning consistently, no one should be backing them at this kind of price.
Coming off a year in which he was plagued by injuries and control issues, Zach Duke allowed just seven runs in his five spring outings while posting a 3.32 ERA. Most impressive were the zero walks he issued. In his first regular season start, he allowed two runs against the Braves. He bettered that by allowing only one run in seven innings last time out against the Cubs. And again, most impressive were the two total walks issued. His career numbers against the Dodgers are awful but this is no longer that same pitcher.
Los Angeles counters with Hiroki Kuroda and he will be making his much anticipated home debut so there will be some pressure on him here. He looked strong in his first two outings against the Padres and Diamondbacks although the second one did have some issues. He did allow nine hits in 5.2 innings and he fell short of a quality outing. He threw 108 pitches in that contest after throwing only 77 in his first start that covered seven innings. The Pirates are 5-2 this season against right-handed starters. Play Pittsburgh Pirates 1 Unit
MONEY LOCK OF THE DAY
JUNIOR'S PICK
Utah Jazz -9 over Houston Rockets
DIGGER'S PICK
Yankees / Devil Rays over 10 runs
HAWKER'S PICK
Boston Redsox +110 over Cleveland Indians
Minnesota Twins +150 over Detroit Tigers
Players of America
3* Seattle Mariners
1* Boston Celtics/New York Knicks UNDER
CAJUN SPORTSWIRE
Play: 2* Boston Celtics -5.5
Comments: This Monday night match up doesn’t provide us with any postseason drama but it may well provide an opportunity for a successful investment. The Celtics have already secured home-court throughout the playoffs but they are playing for the season sweep against the Knicks. This is something that hasn’t been accomplished by a Celtics team since 2002 when they were able to win all four contests that season. For the Knicks this only means they are possibly one game closer to getting rid of their Coach, if you can call him that? The Knicks had a rare winning streak snapped on Friday night when they lost to the Atlanta Hawks 116 to 104. The Knicks do need one more win this season to keep from tying a team record of 59 losses; this mark was set by Coach Larry Brown’s only Knicks team two seasons ago. Although the Celtics are the wrong team to need a win against since they have averaged defeating this Knicks team by 23 points per game this season. They have proven also they can beat teams handily even when their starters only play part of the game. The Celtics Big 3 played less than 25 minutes each in their 1-2 to 86 win over Milwaukee on Friday night. The next night they played the Hawks and the Big 3 played only 3 of the 4 quarters and they got the win by 10, 99 to 89. Also Coach Doc Rivers is not one to lie down at any point and this has been a part of the Celtics success this season along with the obvious. Lay the short price here as the men in Green put an exclamation mark on their meetings with the Knicks this season.
PREDICTION: BOSTON CELTICS -5.5
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Minnesota Twins +146
(listing Blackburn and Bonderman)
The 2-10 Tigers are 0-6 at home this season. We'll make a small play on the Twins here showing great value. The Tigers are 3-13 in their last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter and 0-5 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Tigers are 1-8 in their last 9 games as a favorite and 1-8 in their last 9 vs. American League Central. The Tigers are 0-6 in Bonderman's last 6 home starts and 3-9 in Bonderman's last 12 starts period. The Tigers are just 4-9 in Bonderman's last 13 starts vs. Twins. Take the Twins!
Bobby Maxwell
The Rangers took two of three from the Angels in the opening week of the season and today they get to hit off Los Angeles' starter Ervin Santana (1-0, 3.00 ERA) who is absolutely lousy on the road.
The Rangers are 7-1 in the last eight matchups with LAA, 5-1 in the last six in Texas and 4-1 against Santana, including 4-0 in Texas. The Rangers destroyed Santana in three starts in Texas last season, getting 17 runs (15 earned) in 16.1 innings in three Rangers' wins.
Texas has Jason Jennings (0-2, 7.45 ERA) on the mound today and even though he has been beaten up in the first two starts this season, he will deliver a solid outing tonight. Last year as a starter for Houston he faced the Angels in an interleague game and gave up five runs in 5.2 innings of work during a 9-5 Astros' win.
The Rangers are 17-7 in their last 24 home games and the Angels are just 1-4 in series openers and 1-5 against AL West competition. And when Santana starts on the road for Los Angeles, the Angels are just 4-11 in his last 15.
Gotta go with the trend the last two seasons as Santana really struggles on the highway. Play the Rangers in this one.
3* TEXAS
TONY WESTON
Now, were going to switch gears and focus on some NBA action and look at a game between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns thats a virtual playoff game.
The Warriors still have a shot at making it to the postseason and the Suns are jockeying for position.
However, Phoenix will take this one at home and dash the Warriors playoff hopes.
Coming into this game the Suns are 2-0 ATS against Golden State and are 3-2 ATS their last five games. But over their last four games in Phoenix the Suns are 4-0 SU against the Warriors and are 3-1 ATS.
Golden State also comes into this game 0-4 ATS its last four games and 1-6 ATS its last seven, while Phoenix is 3-2 ATS its last five and 2-1 ATS its last three.
The Suns have been playing pretty strong basketball lately and will get over on Golden State. Take Phoenix at home.
3* SUNS (1* to 5* Scale)
THE POWER INDEX
NBA
Philadelphia* 5.5 over Cleveland
Toronto* 13.5 over Miami
Washington* 5 over Indiana
Boston 10.5 over New York*
Milwaukee* 1 over Chicago
Utah* 6 over Houston
San Antonio 2 over Sacramento*
Phoenix* 7 over Golden State
John Fina
Selection: Toronto Raptors -18
*Today the Miami Heat will be on the road as they take on the Toronto Raptors. We will lay the points with the Toronto Raptors! We see the Toronto Raptors being able to get a blowout win tonight. One reason why we see the Toronto Raptors getting a blowout win is due to the fact that they have the superior offense and defense. Being the team with the superior offense and defense, gives the Toronto Raptors a huge advantage tonight.
In addition, the Toronto Raptors have had much success against the Miami Heat. In fact, the Toronto Raptors are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Miami Heat. We see the Toronto Raptors being able to get another win tonight! Lay the points!
Take the Toronto Raptors -18
ARMVIN SPORTS
NHL
DETROIT at NASHVILLE Over 5
MLB
OAKLAND ATHLETICS +140
GATOR REPORT
NBA
70% Super Situations (Basketball Record 41-25 ATS +1350 Units)
NBA Monday: Play Against NBA home favorites with a team that averages >=36.5% from the three-point line facing a team that allows >=36.5% from the three-point line and a team that averages +/-3 rebounds per game against a team that averages <=-5.5 rebounds per game.27-6 ATS since 1996 (81.8%) PLAY: Miami +19
MLB
70% Super Situations
Our MLB 70% Super Situations could be either sides and/or totals from the MLB Card for that particular day.
MLB Monday: Play Over MLB teams where the total is 7 to 8.5 first 12 games of the season, with a playoff team from last season who lost their last 3 games and a team from last season that won between 45-55% of their games52-18 Over since 1997 (74.3%) PLAY: Arizona / San Francisco OVER 8 (+110)
Tony Mathews
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
Selection: Boston Celtics -8
Explanation: We will lay the points with the Boston Celtics as they face-off against the New York Knicks in Monday's NBA contest.
The Boston Celtics have a huge advantage on the defensive end. The Boston Celtics are allowing opponents to score an average of only 90.2 points per game, while the New York Knicks are allowing opponents to score an average of 103.2 points per game. As you can see, the Boston Celtics have the much superior defense.
We don't mind that the Boston Celtics will be playing on the road. That's because the road team has had much success in this series. In fact, the road team is 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams.
The Boston Celtics are 5-0 SU & 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings aganst the New York Knicks, and should be able to get another SU and ATS win tonight!
Take the Boston Celtics -8
DCI
NBA
TORONTO 103, Miami 89
PHILADELPHIA 98, Cleveland 91
WASHINGTON 108, Indiana 101
Boston 103, NEW YORK 90
MILWAUKEE 100, Chicago 99
UTAH 101, Houston 96
PHOENIX 122, Golden State 115
San Antonio 99, SACRAMENTO 97
NHL
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 3, best-of-7
Pittsburgh vs. OTTAWA: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 3, best-of-7
COLORADO 3, Minnesota 2
Detroit 3, NASHVILLE 2
NBA
TORONTO 103, Miami 89
PHILADELPHIA 98, Cleveland 91
WASHINGTON 108, Indiana 101
Boston 103, NEW YORK 90
MILWAUKEE 100, Chicago 99
UTAH 101, Houston 96
PHOENIX 122, Golden State 115
San Antonio 99, SACRAMENTO 97
PHILLY CONNECTION
Utah/Houston Under 192
Lance's Lock
RAPTORS -17
Wunderdog
Boston at Cleveland
Pick: Cleveland -123
In the game following their intense rivalry series with the Yankees,the Red Sox situation is no different. They are just 3-8 in the first game after. It doesn't matter home or away, winning team, losing team or pitching matchup. The results show an emotional letdown, and with that said value on the Indians.