CAPPERS ACCESS
Cavaliers
Spurs
W. Sox
THE POWER INDEX
NBA
Boston* 11 over Cleveland
San Antonio* 2.5 over New Orleans
John Fina
Selection: Cleveland/New York Under 9.5
Today we expect a low-scoring game as the Cleveland Indians do battle with the New York Yankees. One reason why we expect a low-scoring game is because both these teams will send to the mound starting pitcher who have been playing very well as of late. This says it all... The Cleveland Indians Starting Pitcher (Paul Byrd) has a 2.21 ERA in his last 3 starts, while New York Yankees Starting Pitcher (Mike Mussina) has a 2.50 ERA in his last 3 starts. To say the least, we see both these pitchers having great games once again today. In addition, these teams have a history of playing low-scoring games when they meet. In fact, the Under is a Perfect 6-0 in the last 6 meetings between these teams. We expect to see another low-scoring game today!
Take the Cleveland Indians/New York Yankees Under 9.5
VEGAS SPORTS PICS
Cleveland Cavaliers + 8 over (at) Boston Celtics
New Orleans Hornets + 7 over (at) San Antonio Spurs
MATT RIVERS
For Thursday take the under at Turner Field between the Padres and Braves
Do I love Jo-Jo Reyes or Wil Ledezma? Hell no!
Can these hurlers get blasted at times? Sure they can but I don't see that happening today in this spot.
I am not a big totals player at all but there are some factors here in this game leading me to believe that runs will be somewhat at a premium making the under a solid play.
Reyes looked very good in that first start of the season last week pretty much shutting down Ken Griffey, Jr. and the Reds. The lefty did get smacked around last season a bit but the Padres don't hit anybody with their feeble offense and nothing should be any different here.
Then you have a journeyman in Ledezma up against Chipper and the suddenly surging Braves but the lefty was just a member of Bobby Cox' squad and should be properly motivated here to prove that he should still be a member of the Braves. Whenever a hurler goes up against a former team you see them tighten their game up and perform at a higher level.
Plus I am still not fully sold on the Atlanta offense as Chipper has been great but Teixeira has not and besides maybe McCann you really do not know what you are going to get from the other players. Francouer can be very good but he also can be lacking as well.
All in all look for the pitchers to actually throw up some gooseggs and for this thing to be lower scoring than the experts believe.
TONY WESTON
The Sox were down then up then down. It was an absolutely tough loss to swallow, but theyre erasing that tonight.
Taking the mound for Boston will be ace Josh Beckett, who?s 3-1 his last four starts. The Sox are also 3-1 in that stretch and have scored 23 runs in support of Beckett.
Now Boston, which has scored 46 runs and averaged more than seven runs a game over its last six games, gets a shot at Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, who is 1-6 this season with a 6.28 ERA.
Before last nights win the Tigers had lost five straight games, while the Sox had won five straight. Boston is 7-2 its last nine games and will improve to 8-2 with a win over the Tigers.
Take Boston on the road tonight.
3* RED SOX
Karl Garrett
I know Matt Cain is a promising young hurler, but let's face facts, Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm just doesn't lose at home!
The southpaw is 2-0 in his 3 starts in the Steel City, and his ERA is a measly 0.89. No issue today in laying the small home wood with Pittsburgh as they look for the 3-game series sweep over the slumping Giants.
San Francisco has lost their last 3, and 5 of their last 7. They are also 6-12 on the road this year, and the G-Man has a feeling that after today you can drop their road ledger for the season to 6-13.
Maholm pitched a complete game win over San Fran last season, allowing just 1 earned run to cross the plate.
It is getaway day, and the Giants can't getaway too soon in this one.
G-Man says to go with Maholm at home to notch another "W", as the Bucs complete the series sweep.
4* PITTSBURGH
DCI
NBA
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 2, best-of-7
BOSTON 98, Cleveland 87
Western Conference Semifinals
Game 3, best-of-7
SAN ANTONIO 93, New Orleans 92
NHL
Western Conference Finals
Game 1, best-of-7
DETROIT 3, Dallas 2
Bobby Maxwell
The Brewers have struggled in Florida, going just 2-9 in their last 11 meetings in South Beach. But we're going to play them tonight as they take on the Marlins and lefty Mark Hendrickson (5-1, 3.71 ERA).
Milwaukee's Carlos Villanueva (1-3, 5.56) is on the hill who has had four strong starts this season and two terrible ones. He's coming off his worst outing of the season on Friday when he gave up six runs on nine hits in five innings of a 7-4 loss in Houston.
Villanueva's best outing of the season came back on April 26 when he handled this Marlins' lineup with ease. He gave up two runs on six hits in six innings of a 4-3 Milwaukee victory.
Hendrickson's lone loss this season came against these Brewers against Villanueva when he allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of a 4-3 loss. He is 0-2 in his career against Milwaukee as back in 2--6 they got to him for five runs on seven hits in four innings of a 9-0 win when Hendrickson was a member of the Dodgers.
The Brewers are 7-3 in their last 10 games against left-handed starters and will improve on that number today as they get to the Marlins tall lefty. Go with Milwaukee tonight.
3* MILWAUKEE
Sports Gambling Hotline, Featured Handicapper
Going for total winner #3 in a row tonight as we like the Hornets-Spurs game to hold UNDER the posted price.
Thus far the Hornets have had their way, netting triple-digits in both wins at home - one going UNDER, the last going OVER. Tonight we feel the Spurs defense must keep New Orleans in the 80's if they are to have a chance to win this game. Eaiser said then done, but we like it to happen with San Antonio back on their home hardwood for this one.
The last 7 times these teams have met, it has been a 4-2-1 UNDERA clip, and prior to this series, the Hornets had played UNDER the posted price in the last 3 games in the Dallas series, while the Spurs had been UNDER in the last 2 games in the Phoenix series.
Points are hard to come by tonight, play the LOW!
1* UNDER
JEFFERSONSPORTS
MLB EARLY RELEASES FOR THURS
BOSTON-111
TORONTO-124
ST. LOUIS+104
Jim Feist.
WAS Nationals and HOU Astros.
Take "HOU Astros".
The best way to handicapp the last place Washington Nationals is to look to play on them at home, where they have a winning record, but fade them on the road, where they are 4-11. They are 2-7 their last nine road games. Despite throwing in a great pitcher's park, Washington starter John Lannan has allowed more hits than innings pitched. He also has 5.40 ERA against the Astros, and Houston is a hitter's park. Houston has struggled badly on the road, but started 10-5 at home, where they average almost 6 runs per game. A cheap price on the home team, play the Houston Astros!
Dave Cokin.
WAS Nationals and HOU Astros.
Take "WAS Nationals".
John Lannan has been a very pleasant surprise for the Nationals. He's been much more good than bad in the early going and may well emerge as the ace of the Washington staff. Brandon Backe has good numbers at home so far, but he's really struggling with his control and that's going to eventually catch up. I think the Nats are live as road dogs in this series wrapup."
Tony Mathews
Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles
Selection: Baltimore Orioles
Explanation: We will side with the Baltimore Orioles as they face-off against the Kansas City Royals in Thursday's MLB contest.
The Baltimore Orioles will use starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera. Daniel Cabrera has pitched well as of late. In fact, Daniel Cabrera has a 2.91 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Daniel Cabrera having another solid start today.
The Kansas City Royals will use starting pitcher Luke Hochevar. Luke Hochevar has been struggling as of late. This is shown by Luke Hochevar's 4.86 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Luke Hochevar giving up many runs once again today.
The Baltimore Orioles have proven success against the Kansas City Royals. In fact, the Baltimore Orioles are a Perfect 10-0 in their last 10 meetings against the Kansas City Royals.
Take Baltimore Orioles!
EZWINNERS
DAY MLB
3 STAR PARLAY: (916) CHICAGO (-$139) and (908) ARIZONA (-$146)
(Listing Danks and Webb only)
(Risking $300 to win $569)
2 STAR: (902) PITTSBURGH (-$121) over San Francisco
(Action)
(Risking $242 to win $200)
2 STAR: (906) COLORADO (-$110) over St. Louis
(Action)
(Risking $220 to win $200)