Ben Burns
Montreal Canadians PL @ Boston Bruins PL
PICK: Montreal Canadians PL
You may recall that these longtime "Original Six" rivals also faced each other in the first round of last season's playoffs. The roles were reversed in that series, as the Canadiens had been much stronger during the regular season. Additionally, Montreal had beaten Boston 11 straight times, entering that series. Yet, the Bruins took the Canadiens all the way to seven games. While Boston had the much better regular season record this year, I won't be surprised if this proves to be another close series.
Two of yesterday's four games were decided by one goal and this has all the makings of another close one. A look at last year's 7-game series between these teams shows that all three of the games played here at Boston were also decided by a single goal. Note that these teams met here last week and that game (5-4 Bruins) was also decided by a single goal. Including that result, the Bruins have seen each of their last three home games decided by a single goal. Consider taking Montreal at +1.5 goals.
LT Profits
Houston Astros @ Pittsburgh Pirates Over 9.5
The first two games of this series between the Houston Astros and the Pittsburgh Pirates have gone Under, but we look for a much higher scoring game this afternoon.
The Pirates only scored one run last night, but that was mostly against southpaw Mike Hampton, who tossed six scoreless innings. Pittsburgh has fared much better vs. right-handed pitchers this year though, batting a nice .272 against them compared to just .219 vs. lefties.
Of course, it also helps the Pirate bats that the right-hander they are facing today is Russ Ortiz. Ortiz did not pitch at all in the Major Leagues last season, so this is his first start since 2007, when he posted a 5.51 ERA with a bad 1.57 WHIP in 49 innings. He has made two relief appearances so far this year without success, allowing three earned runs and nine baserunners in just four innings.
The Pirates counter with Jeff Karstens, who actually had some nice moments after coming over to the Bucs from the New York Yankees last season. Still, it is not as if he was a highly regarded prospect in the first place, and he may have been just fortunate last year while catching teams that have never faced him before. We still feel the jury is out on him until he proves he was not just a brief flash in the pan.
Besides, even if Karstens does pitch reasonably well, it may not be enough to prevent an Over here of Ortiz is up to his old tricks.
Pick: Astros/Pirates Over 9.5
Dwayne Bryant
PHI (-138) vs WAS
I have to back the champs here, as the Nats haven't proven they can win a game this season. They haven't proven they can pitch either. The Nats have allowed 6 runs or more in all but one game this season (allowed 5 runs once). The Nats bullpen has been hammered to the tune of a 5.93 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. The Nats haven't been anything special at the plate either, hitting .251 against righty starters this season.The Phillies look to be regaining their championship form. Philly has won 3 straight and scored 24 runs on 38 hits in the process. The Phillies are batting .312 and scoring 6.7 runs per game on the road this season. The bullpen has been solid, posting a 3.67 ERA and an incredible 0.70 WHIP.The Phillies bats are heating up and that spells trouble for this Washington staff. I expect the Phillies to generate enough offense to get the W tonight.
Greg Shaker
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
Play: Cubs -110
The Cardinal Pitcher is a good one and because of that, this betting line has dropped from an opening of -118. In addition, the Cards have won 6 of their last 7 games and in the last two, they hit the ball very well. But handicapping baseball is more than picking the best starting thrower, and more than just playing the hotter squad. Wainwright has not faired too well verses these Cubs at 1-3 and an earned run average of over 6.5 runs. St Louis has also not had great success here at Wrigley over recent years. This is a huge rivalry and Chicago takes it more seriously as they have been the second fiddle to the visitors for over 100 years. They have that Little Penis Syndrone going on when these two clash and that gives them extra motivation. St Louis does not hit lefties well and currently this year are doing so at just .238 and .189 away from home. They have certainly not hit Marshall very well, and they have had difficulty beating him, losing 4 of the 5 times he has started. The fact is, the Cardinals have won just once in 7 tries in this situation, which would be facing a Southpaw on the Highway. While Chicago's Thrower today has been iffy at times, he has the upper hand today and we can't forget that the Cubbies are very hard to beat here, at 55-26 last 81 games at this park. As an added bonus, the Cubs stay at home while the Cards make the long trip from AZ.
Wunderdog
Montreal at Boston
Pick: Boston -1.5
The Bruins have been a dominant home team this season, while Montreal has struggled on the road. The Bruins went through a stretch this season on home ice where they accomplished an amazing feat. They went through a period at home where if they won the game, it was by two goals or more. That streak was 13 games! That is not easy to do in the NHL. In fact, the streak was 19 of 21 home wins by two or more. It is hard to pass up the puck line here with those numbers, and I'll back Boston on the puckline as well.
Lenny Del Genio
Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins
Prediction: Minnesota Twins
Hard to pass up Minnesota, at home, at this price, regardless of who the opposing pitcher is. Toronto was terrible last year vs. lefties (just 3.4 runs per game), including an 11-20 mark in night games. Meanwhile, the Twins won 67% of their home night games a year ago. They are also 23-10 L33 at home off a loss. Take Minnesota.
Rob Homyak
5 UNITS on LA Angels of Anaheim - Joe Saunders
Play ON LA ANGELS using the money line in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 45 Wins and 27 Losses for the last two seasons (+19.15 units)
The Mariners send rookie Chris Jakubauskas (1-0, 4.50 ERA) to the mound against fellow lefty Joe Saunders (1-1, 2.63) and the Angels to cap a three-game series.
Los Angeles has won eight of their last 12 on the road. The Angels are still 35-17 in the last 52 meetings with the Seattle Mariners, including 7-3 in the last 10 in Seattle.
Saunders was a solid 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA in 31 starts last year, including 10-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 road games. Saunders is 4-1 with a 4.61 ERA in seven career starts against the Mariners, including 3-0 with a 3.29 ERA in four outings last year, with two of the wins coming at Seattle. The Angels are on runs when Saunders takes the mound, 39-16 overall, 19-7 on the road, 21-7 against winning teams, 4-0 in division play and 5-1 with the southpaw favored. The Angels had won in 10 of their last 13 visits to Seattle and went 7-3 at Safeco Field during 2008.
Larry Ness
ANA (-150) vs SEA
The Mariners finished as the second-best moneyline team in MLB during the 2007 season at plus-$1,924 (88-74) but then stumbled to a 61-101 mark in 2008, which left them with the 2nd-worst moneyline mark (minus-$3,598). The Mariners have opened the 2009 season at 7-2 (plus-$627), even though Ichiro played for the first time this year, in last night's 11-3 win. The Angels owned MLB's best overall record in 2008 (100-62) but have opened the 2009 season at 3-5. IHowever, i's important to note that no team played better away from home than LA did last year, as the Angels were an impressive 50-31 (plus-$2,052) on the road. The Mariners were scheduled to send Ryan Rowland-Smith to the mound tonight but he was placed on the 15-day DL due to triceps tendinitis. In his place will be 29-year-old rookie Chris Jakubauskas, making his first major league start after two relief appearances in 2009. The Angels counter with Joe Saunders. Saunders was shuttled in and out of LA's rotation in 2006 and 2007, while constantly being called up from the minors and then sent back down. However, he thrived in that role, going 15-8 (4.55 ERA) over those two seasons, with the Angels going 21-10 in his 31 starts. With injuries to Colon and Lackey at the beginning of last year, Saunders was given a regular spot in LA's rotation and DELIVERED! He went 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA in 31 starts, as the Angels went 23-8 (plus-$1,268) in those games, the 6th-best moneyline mark of any pitcher in MLB. Throw in his team's win in his Game 3 start of the ALDS at Fenway and the Angels went 12-4 in Saunders' home starts, as well as 12-4 in his road starts in 2009. Saunders is 1-1 with 2.63 ERA in two starts this year and is a terrific 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 11 April starts in his career (Angels have gone 9-2). He is 4-1 with a 4.61 ERA in seven career starts against the Mariners (team is 5-2), including a 3-0 mark last season, posting a 3.29 ERA. The price is a little steep (especially on the road) but the Angels are still worth a small play.
Dub Doogan:
early games:
Indians +1.5 10 Dimes
Yesterday:
ML BUCKS +325 10 Dimes LOST
MLB:
ROCKIES +180 10 Dimes WON
ROCKIES +1.5 10 Dimes WON
MARLINS +1.5 10 Dimes WON
NATIONALS +120 10 Dimes PPD
NATIONALS +1.5 10 Dimes PPD
Undefeated's tools picks lock system 😉 now on a 16 wins
and 5 losses run. That is over 75% folks !!! I can't believe it. 😮
Today's pick is: New York Mets game OVER 7.5 points 8)
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Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports
246 - 160 run 60 %
Thu SD Padres
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EZWINNERS - free selection
(914) New York Yankees -$183
(Listing Sabathia and Lee)
Its a lot of chalk, but CC rise to the occasion and shutdown his former team. The Indians are a mess right now and Cliff Lee looks like a one hit wonder. Yankees get the win here.
2009 Free Selections Record 58-46 (55.8%)
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