Cajun-Sports
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies
Prediction: SAN FRANCISCO +105
We will back Sanchez and the boys from the Bay against Reynolds and the Rockies on Thursday afternoon. San Fran is 14-7 against the money line in road games versus teams that average <=0.6 errors per game this season. They are also 8-2 against the money line in road games versus National League teams scoring 4.3 or less runs per game this season. We also know that Sanchez is a perfect 6-0 against the money line versus teams who strand 7.5 or more runners on base per game this season. Colorado is 24-39 in all games this season and 9-21 against division opponents this year. Sanchez is 3-0 his last three trips to the bump with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.200. Reynolds on the other hand has struggled this season and his last three starts have seen him post a 1-2 record with a 6.48 ERA and a WHIP of 1.740. Our Pitcher Power Index Ratings show Sanchez only allowing 2.5 runs while Reynolds will allow 5.3 runs in this contest. Combine all these factors and we have a play on the Giants with Sanchez on Thursday afternoon.
1* SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS +105
VEGAS SPORTS PICS
Pittsburgh -125**
Chicago Cubs -130*
St Louis +115*
Philadelphia -110*
MATT FARGO
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies
Play: San Francisco Giants
San Francisco has not fared well in the first two games in Colorado but last night could have gone either way in that 1-0 setback. Still, the Giants are playing good baseball right now and it has been a combination of good hitting and good pitching and the latter has been on a roll even prior to this series. The staff has now allowed three runs or less in 10 of their last 15 games. Not to be outdone, the offense has averaged 5.2 rpg over that span with the team going 9-6 over that stretch.
Colorado is back to over .500 at home thanks to wins in the first two games of this series but it is certainly nothing to be jubilant about. The Rockies are in the middle of a very solid run right now but it has been a combination of bad hitting and pitching that has hurt this team all season long. The Rockies are hitting .256 on the year, 54th to last in the league and the ERA is at 4.74 which is second to last in the N.L. Even with wins in six of the last seven games, Colorado is hitting just .249 over its last 10 games.
I've ridden Jonathan Sanchez in his last two starts and there is no reason to let up here. He has allowed two or less runs in his last five starts, posting a 2.18 ERA over that span. Pitching on the road was erratic early on in the season but his last three road starts were solid efforts and one of those was in Colorado where he allowed two runs in 6.1 innings. The Giants have won his last three starts by a combined score of 27-5 so while he has been pitching awesome, the offense has been providing a ton of run support as well.
Greg Reynolds makes his seventh start of the season for the Rockies and it has been a rocky year. He is coming off his second quality outing of the season but he has allowed four runs or more in four of his six starts. Colorado is 3-0 in his three home starts but he has yet to put together two consecutive solid starts so that streak is in big jeopardy here. His WHIP on the season is 1.43 and it is 1.74 over his last three starts so he is going in the wrong direction. Play San Francisco Giants 1.5 Units
Louie Mayo
MLB
(5*) 33-37 -52.20 Mets -147
(3*) 38-33 -8.77 Over 9½ Colorado +100
(1*) 40-33 +.57 Detroit -118
WNBA
(50*) Minnesota -9½
NBA
(50*) Lakers -7½
VEGAS EXPERTS
Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox
As we've noted here before, Boston is a Major League best 27-7 at home this season and 24-5 when favored. That includes a sizzling 13-0 record when priced between -150 and -200. With Jon Lester in fine form and owning a 3-0 career mark vs. Baltimore, not to mention a 16-5 team start record if coming off a team win, we have no problem laying the juice against a team that is 5-15 in their last 20 trips to Fenway.
Play on: Boston
GAMBLERS WORLD
TIP OF THE DAY
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday night when they battle at STAPLES Center in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.Oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 8-point favorites versus the Celtics, while the game's total is sitting at 192. Kobe Bryant went for 36 points and seven rebounds to lead the Lakers to an 87-81 win over the Celtics in Game 3 of the Finals on Tuesday.Los Angeles failed to cover as 8.5-point home favorites as the teams played UNDER the194-point total set by oddsmakers.Sasha Vujacic added 20 points off the bench for the Lakers, who now trail the Celtics 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.Ray Allen paced Boston with 25 points, while Kevin Garnett scored 13 points and hauled down 12 boards for the Celtics.
BRIAN MARSHALL
Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Indians
Play: Minnesota/Cleveland Over 9.5
Game Analyses: Do you love high-scoring games? If yes, you will love Thursday's MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians.
The Minnesota Twins will be lead by starting pitcher Livan Hernandez. Livan Hernandez has struggled this season. In fact, Livan Hernandez has a 5.32 ERA on the season. In addition, Livan Hernandez has a 10.12 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Livan Hernandez giving up many hits and runs today.
The Cleveland Indians will be lead by starting pitcher Aaron Laffey. Aaron Laffey has been having big pitching problems as of late. In fact, Aaron Laffey has a 5.60 ERA in his last 3 starts. We also see Aaron Laffey giving up many hits and runs today.
The bottom line, both these teams will give up many runs today.
Take the Minnesota Twins/Cleveland Indians Over 9.5
SPORTS GAMBLING HOTLINE
Tonight, we just don't see how these two teams can combine to go OVER the posted total
Tuesday's game was a display of offensive ineptness. In fact, the game was just downright "offensive"!!!!
Two of the Three games played have held UNDER the total, and the Lakers are on an playoff UNDER run of 7-1 their last 8 playoff games.
Boston has played LOW in 5 of their last 7 playoff games.
Until we see the supporting players contribute on a more consistent basis, we have to place our money on the UNDER once again.
Look for the defense to once again force the offense into looking bad, and look for Game Four of the 2008 NBA Finals to stay UNDER the posted total.
Play the LOW!
5* UNDER
KARL GARRETT
Tonight I am going against the grain, and going with the Celtics-Lakers game to go OVER the posted total.
I know the UNDER has been the way to go for both of these teams of late, as Boston has played LOW in 5 of their last 7 playoff games, while the Lakers have been UNDER in 7 of 8, but I can't imagine these teams playing another clunker like they delivered on Tuesday when both teams couldn't hit the broadside of a barn, nor make their free throws with any consistency.
Look for all of that to change this evening, and look for the lowered total from the linesmakers to also play a factor, as we see a game tonight similar to Game Two when the teams combined for an easy OVER.
This total seems very low to the G-Man, and I am looking for the OVER to come through with about 2 minutes to go in regulation.
It may be a little bit of a sweat to get there, but get there they will.
Take the OVER!
2* OVER
MARC LAWRENCE
CLE (-185) vs MIN
Play On: Cleveland
Note: The Tribe wraps up its three game set with the Twins Thursday evening when Aaron Laffy takes on Livan Hernandez at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Laffey has been like day-and-night when hurling at home as opposed to on the road this season as evidence by his 1.38 ERA in Cleveland compared to his 5.79 ERA away. Conversely, Hernandez owns a lousy 6.00 ERA on the road, which is more than 1.3 runs higher than that at home in the Metrodome this year. Look for Laffey to improve to 12-5 in his last 17 teams starts, including four in a row at home, here tonight.
TONY MATHEWS
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Houston Astros
Selection: Milwaukee/Houston Under 9
Explanation: We expect a low-scoring game as the Milwaukee Brewers face-off against the Houston Astros in Thursday's MLB contest.
The Milwaukee Brewers will use starting pitcher Ben Sheets. Ben Sheets has been pitching very well as of late. In fact, Ben Sheets has a 1.74 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Ben Sheets pitching another great game.
The Houston Astros will use starting pitcher Brian Moehler. Brian Moehler has also been pitching well as of late. In fact, Brian Moehler has a 2.50 ERA in his last 3 starts. We also see Brian Moehler pitching another great game.
Take the Milwaukee Brewers/Houston Astros Under 9!
MATT RIVERS
For Thursday take the under at Staples.
I'm feeling like being in a giving mood so I'll give you the low right here in game four. I do admit that there certainly was a swift reaction with this total as it is around five or so points lower than game three, which is not great, but the way the Celtics are playing defense and the way the Lakers did play defense on Tuesday, I just do not see all of a sudden an explosion.
Boston has played phenomenal defense all season long and really do not look to fast break all that much. Even if the Lakers want to run and gun things are made a tremendous amount tougher when the opponent is not only extremely capable on the defensive end but does not really try to score all too quickly. The halfcourt game is perfectly fine with Doc Rivers and his squad and even on the road should be able to control most of the pace.
Kevin Garnett was the defensive player of the year and all in all the C's may have been the best defensive team this season. Let's not forget about all of the garbage time Boston was involved in this campaign because they led so many games by so many points. That has skewed the stats a bit out of their favor not making people understand just how dominant defensively they have been.
Kobe is a beast and the greatest player on the planet who could put up 40 against anybody. Shoot the guy scored 80 against the Raptors, I think, in one game a season ago. But a total around the 190's means that we should have a team hit the century mark and that is just asking too much.
We may see a few more points today as 87-81 was tremendously under but in the end I do not see both teams getting above 90.
BIG AL's AMERICAN LEAGUE TOTAL OF THE MONTH!
At 7:05pm our selection is on the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians 'under' the total. With both Jake Westbrook (elbow) and Fausto Carmona (hip) out for Cleveland, 23 year-old lefthander Aaron Laffey has filled in very well and has definitely earned the right to stay in the Indian rotation. You may notice that his ERA in his last three starts is 5.60, but this is very misleading, as he had a very bad start two outings ago at Texas, but that is actually his only bad start of the entire season (since his first start back on April 28 against the Yankees). Laffey is not really an overpowering strikeout pitcher, but rather a control specialist, and he has yet to give up more than two walks in a game all season. He gets the perfect assignment to keep it going tonight vs. the Twins, as Minnesota has had serious problems scoring runs lately. Livan Hernandez, the ageless wonder, will oppose Laffey, and he continues to pay big dividends as the Twins have won ten of his fourteen starts this year. Oddly enough, although Hernandez seems to have been pitching in the Majors forever, he has not faced Cleveland since the 1997 World Series. The 'under' is 13-5 in Cleveland's last eighteen home games, and 21-8-2 in the last 31 meetings of these two teams. AL Total of the Month on the 'under'.
JEFF BENTON
For Thursday, we'll look at some daytime baseball action and play the Rangers as an underdog at the Royals
I can't believe I just typed that: A major-league team is an underdog against Kansas City a team that is 4-19 in its last 23 games! That includes consecutive home losses to the Ranges by scores of 6-5 on Tuesday and 11-5 on Wednesday. As those scores would indicate, the Royals pitching has been a mess lately, as they've given up six runs or more in seven of their last nine games all seven being losses.
Today, K.C. is going with the once-promising Brian Bannister, who started the season 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA and is since 2-6 with a 6.51 ERA in 10 starts, with the Royals going 2-8 during the stretch. And the fact is Bannister has pitched more than 5 1/3 innings in just half of those 10 starts is scary, because K.C.'s bullpen has been a disaster lately.As for the Rangers, they've won three in a row overall and three of four on the road.
And even though they're going with a rookie call-up in right-hander Eric Hurley, his 65-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 68 innings Triple-A Oklahoma City is pretty damn impressive. And considering the Royals weak lineup, plus the nice plus-price we're getting, and Texas is a strong play here.
3* TEXAS RANGERS
TONY WESTON
Of course I'm getting things back on track today as we're staring down a National League West battle between the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies in a game the Giants will take.
The teams have played each other eight times so far this year and have split, going 4-4 against one another.
But today's game will be about Giants projected starter Jonathan Sanchez. Sanchez comes into this game having been really strong his last six games. In that six-game stretch the Giants are 5-1 and Sanchez's ERA has gone from 4.89 to 3.70.
Over his last five games he's allowed two earned runs in each of four of those starts and allowed no earned runs his last time out.
Over his last three road games Sanchez is 2-0 and the Giants are 3-0 as he's allowed only four earned runs in 19 1/3 innings of work.
Pencil in Sanchez as your starting pitcher and take the Giants on the road today.
3* GIANTS