MATT RIVERS
For Sunday take the Spurs at home
I have been all about the Hornets in each of the first three games in this series and have cashed obviously in two of the three. New Orleans is a very well balanced squad that is legit and will compete in this game as well as Chris Paul is a budding superstar and as good as they come. But the Spurs showed once again in that last game that they are still a force to be reckoned with as they are the defending champs and are at home where it is extremely difficult to challenge them.
Paul, Chandler, Peja and West form a team that may win this series as they are nasty at home. Today though they are on the highway and despite playing a solid last game still failed in the end as Timmay, Parker, Ginobili and the fellas took care of business in the end. Greg Popovich is a phenomenal coach who will obviously have his squad primed and ready to go once again today.
I can see game four turn out just like game three. These teams will go at it hard and the Hornets may even once again lead for awhile in this thing. But after 48 minutes of hoop, at home, the Spurs are too experienced and need this game too much to not come through.
Karl Garrett
How can I go against Baltimore in the underdog role today?
With last night's win over the Royals, the Orioles are a perfect 3-0 this season against Kansas City. Back track it a bit further, and the numbers are frightening if you are a Royals fan
The O's are 8-1 at Kansas City since 2006, and 15-1 overall against the Royals in that same time frame!
Baltimore will go with Burres who is a decent 3-3 for the season with an ERA just over 3, while Kansas City will counter with Bannister who has hit the skids, dropping his last 3 starts, while allowing 10 runs to score in his last 12 innings of work.
With the Orioles owning the Royals the last 2-plus season's, the G-Man sees no reason to go against them today.
Take Baltimore!
3* BALTIMORE
Bobby Maxwell
Arizona +140 at CHICAGO CUBS
This one could come down to who scores first as both these pitchers have had some success against the other. We're going to get the plus money with the D'Backs today as they are just oo good a team to get swept.
Arizona has dropped seven of their last 11 games and has lost the first two games of this series, 3-1 Friday and then 7-2 Saturday when Chicago had a six-run seventh inning. Today the D'Backs have Randy Johnson (2-1, 5.06 ERA) on the mound and this guy absolutely owns the Cubbies.
Johnson is 12-0 lifetime with a 1.98 ERA in 13 starts against the Cubs and on the road this season, the Big Unit is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two road outings.
Johnson went six innings in his last start, giving up four runs on six hits in a 6-4 victory over Philadelphia.
Carlos Zambrano (5-1, 1.80 ERA) is on the mound for the Cubs and he has been on top of his game, not losing in a month and throwing eight innings of a 3-0 win at Cincinnati on Tuesday, allowing three hits. But it's his struggles against Arizona that lead us to take the D'Backs as he's 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA in four outings against them.
Arizona is 31-13 against the N.L. Central Division with Johnson on the hill and we're going to play them to improve on that number today. It's going to be low-scoring, but we're playing the D'Backs.
2* ARIZONA
JEFF BENTON
For Sunday, we’ll take a shot with Randy Johnson and the Diamondbacks as a significant road underdog against the Cubs and their ace, Carlos Zambrano.
Zambrano has been brilliant so far this season, giving up two runs or fewer in all but one of his eight starts, and over his last five outings, he’s 4-0 with a 1.02 ERA. He’s also 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA at home. However ‘ if we are to believe history, then we know that a correction is coming for Big Z, and it’s coming very, very soon. That’s because the one thing Zambrano has never been in his career is consistent. And he’s also never been very good against Arizona in his career, going 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA in four regular-season starts.
Now compare that with Johnson’s career numbers against the Cubs ‘ get a load of this: In 13 starts, Johnson is 12-0 with a 1.98 ERA, registering 138 strikeouts against only 32 walks in 95 2/3 innings of work. That includes a 4-0 record and a 1.00 ERA in five career outings at Wrigley Field. Now, granted, Johnson hasn’t seen the Cubs since 2004. But today he’s facing a lineup that, after starting off the season crushing left-handed pitching, is batting only .239 against southpaws over he last 10 games. Conversely, the DBacks are hitting .304 against right-handers over their last 10 contests.
Throw in the fact that the DBacks, who have lost the first two games of this series in Chicago, haven’t had a three-game losing streak all season, and I’ll take the plus money in this spot.
3* ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
TONY WESTON
My focuses are in Cleveland where the Indians host the Toronto Blue Jays. After dropping the first two of this series, Cleveland will take Game 3 in a big way behind Fausto Carmona.
Last year I was pimping Carmona big time and even said he was more deserving of the Cy Young than teammate and eventual winner C.C. Sabathia. I said Carmona was a better, stronger pitcher than Sabathia and not only did he prove it last year, but he’s been proving it this year.
While Sabathia is struggling this season with a 2-5 record and a 6.55 ERA, Carmona is cruising with a 3-1 record and a 2.95 ERA. He’s also 2-0 in his last four starts, while the Indians are 3-1 in that four game stretch.
As impressive as his 2.95 season ERA is, it’s even more impressive at home where he has a 2.28 ERA in four starts.
The Indians will snap this losing streak to the Jays and get this win behind Carmona.
Pencil in Carmona as your starting pitcher and take the Indians big at home.
3* INDIANS
GATOR REPORT 70% Super Situations
MLB 70% Super Situations (MLB Record 7-3 +370 units)
MLB Sunday: Play Against MLB (NL) road teams with a team that scores 4.3 to 4.8 runs per game against a starter whose ERA= 5.20 to 5.70, with a starting pitcher who issues less than 1.75 walks per start.
30-10 the last 5 seasons (75%) PLAY: Milwaukee -115
Gator's NBA "ANGLE" Game of the Day
NBA Sunday: LA LAKERS are 15-1 ATS in a road game where the total is 210 or greater this season.
NBA Sunday: LA LAKERS are 7-0 ATS in road games revenging a same season loss vs opponent this season.
GOLD SHEET LTS SERVICE
UTAH Home over LA Lakers
New Orleans-San Antonio OVER
THE FAT JACK
SAN ANTONIO
LA LAKERS
Ross Benjamin
Philadelphia (Eaton) @ San Francisco (Sanchez)
Play On: San Francisco -110
The Philadelphia starting pitcher Adam Eaton enters the game in bad form off of his last 3 starts posting a 1.61 WHIP, a 7.24 ERA, and walking more than he has struck out. In 4 starts on the road this season Eaton has posted a lofty 6.33 ERA. In 6 starts versus the Giants since 2005 Eaton has a very plump 8.26 ERA. The Phillies are hitting just .238 as a team versus left-handed pitching this season. That is not good news since they are facing a young southpaw in Jonathan Sanchez who is 4-0 in his home team starts this season with a stellar 2.19 ERA . Play on the San Francisco Giants
DCI
NBA
Western Conference Semifinals
Game 4, best-of-7
SAN ANTONIO 94, New Orleans 92
UTAH 109, L.A. Lakers 107
NHL
Eastern Conference Finals
Game 2, best-of-7
PITTSBURGH 3, Philadelphia 2
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Oakland -124
The Rangers are rolling, but I like division rival Oakland to hit them in the mouth today with Harden on the hill. The Athletics are 4-0 in Harden's last 4 starts vs. the Rangers, 5-0 in Harden's last 5 starts as a road favorite, 4-0 in Harden's last 4 Sunday starts, 9-1 in Harden's last 10 starts vs. a team with a losing record, and 20-6 in Harden's last 26 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. I expect Harden to be very fresh coming off the DL with great stuff today as he has been successful other times in doing so. The A's are 6-0 in Harden's last 6 starts with 38 or more days of rest. Take Oakland.
Black Widow Sports
1* on Kansas City Royals -136
Baltimore has had KC's number, winning the first 3 games of this series, but the Royals will salvage a game in this finale behind the solid Brian Bannister. The Royals are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 4 of a series, 5-1 in Bannister's last 6 Sunday starts, and 9-2 in Bannister's last 11 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game. The Orioles are 0-8 in Burres' last 8 starts with 4 days of rest, 0-4 in Burres' last 4 Sunday starts, and 0-4 in Burres' last 4 road starts vs. a team with a losing record. Take the Royals in this bounce back spot.
PRICELESS PICKS
1 Unit on LA Angels -110
You have to take the Halos here behind Santana. The Angels are a perfect 5-0 in Santana's last 5 starts, 4-0 in Santana's last 4 road starts, and 17-5 in Santana's last 22 starts as a favorite. The Angels are 4-0 in their last 4 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150 and 5-1 in their last 6 games as a road favorite period. The Rays are 2-8 in Sonnanstine's last 10 starts as a home underdog, 1-4 in Sonnanstine's last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record, and 2-8 in his last 10 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game. Santana gives the Halos the big edge today.
DUNKEL
Toronto has been dominated in the first two games of the series by a combined score of 18-1 and comes into today's contest with just a 1-5 record on the road when the total is listed as 8 to 8 1/2. The Indians are the pick (-125) according to Dunkel, which has Cleveland favored by 2 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-125). Here are all of today's games.
SUNDAY, MAY 11
Game 951-952: Cincinnati at NY Mets
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Cueto) 15.492; NY Mets (Perez) 15.041
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-125); 9
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+115); Over
Game 953-954: Atlanta at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Jurrjens) 15.703; Pittsburgh (Duke) 16.577
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-130); 9
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+120); Under
Game 955-956: Florida at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Olsen) 16.761; Washington (Hill) 15.524
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Washington (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: Florida (+110); Over
Game 957-958: St. Louis at Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Looper) 14.389; Milwaukee (Suppan) 14.597
Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-125); 9
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (-125); Under
Game 959-960: Arizona at Chicago Cubs
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Johnson) 14.173; Cubs (Zambrano) 16.540
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 2 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-140); No Run Line
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-140); N/A
Game 961-962: Colorado at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Reynolds) 14.655; San Diego (Young) 15.479
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: San Diego (-145); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (-145); Under
Game 963-964: Philadelphia at San Francisco
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Eaton) 13.767; San Francisco (Sanchez) 15.063
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+100); Over
Game 965-966: Houston at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Chacon) 15.642; LA Dodgers (Kuroda) 14.544
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-155); 9
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+145); Over
Game 967-968: Toronto at Cleveland
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Burnett) 14.199; Cleveland (Carmona) 16.616
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 2 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-125); 8
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-125); Under
Game 969-970: NY Yankees at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Pettitte) 15.594; Detroit (Robertson) 15.358
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-105); 10
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-105); Under
Game 971-972: LA Angels at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Santana) 14.806; Tampa Bay (Sonnanstine) 15.798
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1; 7
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (+105); Under
Game 973-974: Baltimore at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Burres) 14.830; Kansas City (Bannister) 15.731
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Kansas City (-135); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-135); Over
Game 975-976: Oakland at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Harden) 16.381; Texas (Ponson) 15.800
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Oakland (-125); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (-125); Under
Game 977-978: Chicago White Sox at Seattle
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Floyd) 14.474; Seattle (Batista) 14.847
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1/2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+105); Under
Game 979-980: Boston at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Wakefield) 16.606; Minnesota (Blackburn) 15.302
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Boston (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-120); Over
NBA
New Orleans at San Antonio
The Hornets look to bounce back from their defeat in Game Three (110-99) and come into today's contest with a 12-4 ATS record after a loss by 10 or more points. New Orleans is the pick (+6) according to Dunkel, which has the Spurs favored by just 3 1/2. Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (+6). Here are all of today's games.
SUNDAY, MAY 11
Game 511-512: LA Lakers at Utah
Dunkel Ratings: LA Lakers 127.078; Utah 130.480
Dunkel Line & Total: Utah by 3 1/2; 203
Vegas Line & Total: Utah by 2; 211
Dunkel Pick: Utah (-2); Under
Game 513-514: New Orleans at San Antonio
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 123.824; San Antonio 127.121
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 3 1/2; 190
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 6; 187 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (+6); Over
NHL
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
The Flyers recovered from Game One losses with road wins in Game Two in both the Washington and Montreal series. But while Philadelphia should play with more energy today, the Penguins still look too tough at home where they are 13-5 this season when the total is 5 1/2 points. Pittsburgh is the pick (-210) according to Dunkel, which has the Penguins favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-210). Here are all of today's games.
SUNDAY, MAY 11
Game 3-4: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 12.115; Pittsburgh 12.679
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-210); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-210); Over
Bob Balfe
NBA Basketball
Jazz -1.5 over Lakers
The Jazz are a great home team and statistically they win over 90% of their games at home. Utah won game three and a win today would make this series very interesting. The Jazz are starting to heat up and I would not be shocked if they advanced out of this series. Let's take the home team.
Hornets +6 over Spurs
New Orleans had a horrible last 4 minutes in Game Three. The Spurs finished well, but I still think they are a fading team. The Hornets have so much talent and if they can contain Parker they should get the road victory. This spread is a little bit too high. Take New Orleans.
Major League Baseball
Tigers -105 over Yankees
Robertson/Pettitte