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LA Lakers
KBHoops
NBA
4 units LA Lakers -7.5
MLB
5 units Pirates -134 POD
4 units Royals -123
4 units Dodgers +135
GINA
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres
The Padres have won six of their last seven home games and six of the last seven versus the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has struggle away from home, dropping eight of its last 10 on the road.
San Diego starts their ace Jake Peavy (4-3, 2.91 ERA), who returns after being on the disabled list with a sprained elbow The right-hander is 2-2 with a 1.46 ERA in five starts at home this season and is 11-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 20 career starts versus the Dodgers, 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in seven starts against them at Petco Park. The Padres are 1-5 in Peavy’s last 6 starts, but have won his last 7 starts at home versus the Dodgers.
Los Angeles will send Hiroki Kuroda (3-5, 3.49 ERA) to the hill. In his last start, the right-hander threw a shutout against the Cubs, allowing just four hits, striking out 11 and no walks. Kuroda face the Padres only once in his career, allowing one run and three hits over seven innings of a 7-1 win on April 4. The Dodgers are 1-5 in Kuroda’s last 6 road starts.
Go with the Padres! The Dodgers have been unsuccessful playing in San Diego and worse when Jake Peavy is at the helm. San Diego has won 12 of Peavy’s last 13 starts versus the LA Dodgers.
San Diego Padres -145
NBA Championship
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
Kobe and his boys will continue to be forceful on their home court. They have played great at home in the postseason, 9-0 at the Staples Center and most likely will tie this series tonight in Game 4. But Los Angeles is just 3-6 against the spread versus the Boston Celtics in their last 9 games at home. Take the points! The Celtics are 5-0 against the spread versus the Lakers this season and 3-0 in this series.
Boston Celtics + 7½
Larry Ness NL Game of the Month
SDP -145 vs LOS
Analysis: Managers have to make "tough calls" all the time. Bud Black's decision to start Jake Peavy against the Dodgers today was NOT one of them. Last year's Cy Young award winner in the NL has been sidelined since May 20 with a strained right elbow. Peavy participated in a four-inning simulated start last Saturday and felt no pain, so Black didn't think a rehab start was needed. Especially when he could start Peavy against LA. The Dodgers are not scoring at all these days, averaging only 3.05 RPG over their last 20 games. On the season, they are 21-27 vs right-handers averaging 3.9 RPG and that breaks down to 8-14 on the road, including 4-7 in day games, where they've averaged only 3.0 RPG. In Peavy, they'll face a pitcher they've NEVER been able to hit. Peavy's already beaten them twice earlier this year 4-1 and 7-4, allowing four ERs over 15 innings (2.40 ERA). So what else is new? He faced LA five times last year, going 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA as the Padres won all five meetings. He's 11-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 20 career starts vs LA, with the team going 14-6. It also should be noted that since San Diego moved into pitcher-friendly Petco Park, Peavy is 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in seven starts vs LA with the Padres winning all seven games. Peavy's return also coincides with the Padres seemingly getting "back in stride." LA did win Tuesday's game 7-2 but the Padres won 4-1 last night, giving them SIX wins in their last seven games. While San Diego has struggled at the plate for most of the year, the team is 6-2 at home in day games vs right-handed starters in '08, while averaging a healthy 5.5 RPG. Righty Hiroki Kuroda (3-5, 3.49 ERA) will get the start for LA and he's coming off the best start of his rookie season. He allowed four hits and struck out a career-high 11 (no walks) in Friday's 3-0 win over the Cubs for his first career complete game, retiring 16 of the last 17 batters he faced. However, that start came in Dodgers Stadium and his performances away from home have not turned out as well. It's not that his ERA is all that bad (it's 3.95) but in seven starts he's 1-5 and the team is 2-5. That's what happens when you get little run support and he surely can't expect to get much support here with the Dodgers facing their perennial nemesis, Peavy. NL Game of the Month 20* SD Padres.
Steam On-Line Guaranteed Selections
5000* BASEBALL LATE STEAMER WINNER
Boston w/Lester -156
Mike Rose
MLB 3* LA Dodgers
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
5000* BASEBALL WINNER
San Diego w/Peavy -140
Alex Smart
MLB 2* KC Royals
MLB 2* SD Padres
LT Profits
MLB 2* Chicago White Sox
MLB 3* La Dodgers
Erin Rynning
MLB KC Royals
Bob Akmens
MLB 4* Braves/Cubs Under 9.5
Johnny Guild
Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics
Boston has been dreadful on the road this postseason, but have played tough defense.
Look for Boston to make this a close fight. The Celtics have shown their physical strength over the Lakers, controlling the inside game. Defensively they held the Lakers to 87 points at Los Angeles in Game 3.
The Lakers are 9-0 straight-up and 6-3 against the spread at the Staples Center in their 9 playoff games, but against the Celtics this season unprofitable, 1-4 straight-up and 0-5 against the spread, including 0-2 at Los Angeles.
"Where’s the money" The Lakers are 0-7-1 ATS in the NBA Finals and Boston is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog.
Boston Celtics + 7.5
Black Widow Sports
1* on Oakland A’s +101
The Oakland A’s clearly have the Yankees’ number. After an 8-4 victory over New York last night, the A’s are now 11-6 in their last 17 meetings with the Yankees over the last 3 seasons. In Andy Pettite’s last start against Oakland, the left-hander allowed 7 earned runs on 9 hits and didn’t even make it out of the 2nd inning. Look for the A’s to touch up Pettite again while Joe Blanton leads them to victory. Blanton owns a 3.75 ERA through 9 home starts this year. The Yankees are 2-11 (-11.5 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons. Oakland is 21-9 (+11.3 Units) against the money line after 2 or more consecutive home games this season. Take the A’s on the Money Line.
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Colorado Rockies -115
The Rocks have taken two straight from the Giants and I like them to pull off the clean sweep this afternoon. It is always tougher for road teams to bounce back from losses when they play the next afternoon after a night game instead of the next night. It's less time for the players to rest and especially affects the bullpen. The Rockies are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. the National League West, 6-1 in their last 7 overall, and 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing record. The Giants are just 17-36 in their last 53 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, 4-9 in their last 13 games following a loss, and 1-4 in their last 5 vs. the National League West. Bet the Rockies at home.
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LA Lakers
Stu Feiner's Picks of the Day
NBA GAME 4 Winner: L.A. LAKERS
Having built some confidence with a victory in Game 3 despite not playing all that particularly well, I expect the Lakers to be clicking on all cylinders tonight at the Staples Center in absolutely blowing out these Celtics to even this best-of-seven NBA Finals at two games a piece. This one will be rout city folks! As we saw on Tuesday night and we’ll witness again this evening, the Lakers will come out and be very aggressive in attacking the basket. L.A. made almost as many free throws in the first four minutes of Game 3 than it did in the entirety of Game 2. Though Kobe missed seven free throws Tuesday, he was aggressive and got calls. Look for more of the same this evening as Kobe, who shot 18 free throws Tuesday, will again attack the basket and get to the charity stripe. And that puts Boston in foul trouble.
Kobe had 11 first quarter points in Game 2. That helped him get in a rhythm. The thing is that he’ll be in rhythm this evening and this time he’ll get some help. Guys like Odom, Fisher and Gasol are too good to stay in a funk this long. Tonight is breakout night baby. And I liked what I saw from L.A. in Game 3 with regards to the battle on the boards as the Celtics managed to out-rebound the Lakers by just one on Tuesday night. That tells me they’re working and putting forth the effort to make this thing happen. What that does is lead to easier field goal attempts as L.A. shot 43.5 % from the floor in Game 3 to Boston’s 34.9%. The lack of help for Kobe outside of Vujacic kept things close on Tuesday night. That won’t be the case this evening as Odom will finally show up this evening. As will the Lakers’ bench, which outscored Boston’s reserves 29-21 in Game 3. These guys are back at home and that’s where they play best. After all, we’re talking about an L.A. team that has won 15 consecutive games at the Staples Center, going 9-0 SU and 6-3 ATS in the playoffs. Overall, L.A. has covered eight of its last 11 at home.
We’ve seen throughout these playoffs that Boston is just not the same team on the road that it is at home. The Celtics are now a mere 2-8 SU and 3-7 ATS on the road in the postseason. Almost always, at least one of their big three doesn’t show up on the road. Tuesday night it was two of ‘em and I wouldn’t be surprise me if it was more of the same tonight. And what is the sore-ankled Rondo going to be able to contribute? Not much in my opinion. One can argue that this line is too high, and a good case probably could be made based on the first three games. But tonight is different. The Lakers have a win under their belts and a victory tonight makes this a best-of-three series, and L.A. hasn’t put forth its best yet.
L.A. had the right mindset Tuesday night in being aggressive, they just didn’t convert. They played good defense and their offensive aggression allowed them to get to the free throw line. And since there’s been so much talk of officiating of late, let’s look at tonight’s officiating crew. Joe Derosa was the No. 1 homer in the league this year with home teams going 51-27 ATS in games he worked. Tom Washington was 48-31 ATS in favor of the home team. L.A. will attack, attack, attack from the opening tip and have Boston on its heels from the get go. Who appeared to be the freshest player on the court Tuesday night? Kobe Bryant, that’s who. This is the league MVP people. He will come large for this battle tonight. L.A. has the momentum and they will be in better rhythm this evening. The Lakers will be alive and confident and this game will be a blowout very early as the Lakers cruise with no problem to this double-digit win and cover.