Gator Report
NBA 70% Super Situations (NBA Record 20-11 ATS +790 Units)
NBA (Playoffs 3-3 -0.30) Tuesday: Play Over NBA teams where the total is between 170 and 179.5 points after a game where they failed to cover the spread, a well rested team whose playing 5 or less games in 14 days.41-16 Over last 5 seasons (71.9%)
PLAY: Detroit / Boston OVER 174
MLB 70% Super Situations (**MLB Record 12-4 +760 units)
MLB (12-4 +760) Tuesday: Play Against MLB (NL) road underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 2.70 or better on the season against an opponent with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.250 to 1.350 on the season.47-14 since 1997 (77%)
PLAY: Colorado Rockies -135
Vernon Croy
Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers
Play: Detroit Tigers
20 Units, Take Detroit ML, Seattle is just 5-12 over their last 17 games and Seattle is just 7-14 on the road this season. Detroit has struggled overall so far this season but this is a team with a lot of talent and they will start to put together some win streaks very soon. Justin Verlander (1-7, 6.05) has owned the Mariners over his career with a 4-0 record and an ERA of just 2.63 and he pitched well in his last outing allowing just 2 runs over 6 innings. Carlos Silva (3-2, 4.17 ERA) has struggled over his last 3 starts with an ERA of 7.72 and I look for the Tigers to hit him hard tonight at home. Take Detroit as my MLB Free Play for Tuesday night and make sure you get on my Massive MLB Run as it continues.
Jimmy The Moose
Game: Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers
Prediction: over
The over is 4-1 in the Mariners last 5 games following a win. Seattle has played the over in 4 of their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter. The over is 38-18-4 in their last 60 games vs. AL Central opponents. Silva's ERA over his last 3 starts is 7.71. The over is 5-1-1 in Detroit's last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing record. In their last 14 games overall vs. a team with a losing record the over is 9-4-1. The over is 17-6-1 in Verlander's last 24 home starts. The over is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings between the clubs and the over is 6-1 in Seattle's last 7 trips to Detroit. Play the over.
SPORTS ADVISORS
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(2) Detroit (8-3, 7-4 ATS) at (1) Boston (8-6, 5-9 ATS)
The Pistons, who have been resting up for a week after dispatching the third-seeded Orlando Magic in five games, travel to TD BankNorth Garden to open the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics, who just finished their second straight seven-game series in fending off Cleveland.
Detroit, which trailed by three points after three quarters of Game 5 against Orlando, got it going in the fourth quarter in winning 91-86 a week ago tonight, though the Pistons failed to cover as a six-point home chalk. Detroit is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in its last eight starts, dating to a six-game, first-round series win over Philadelphia, though it has failed to cash in two of its last three.
Richard Hamilton has led the Pistons by averaging 21.5 points per game in the playoffs. Detroit, playing in its sixth straight conference finals, is allowing just 87.8 ppg, third-best in the postseason, while scoring 92.3 ppg. Star point guard Chauncey Billups (hamstring) sat out the last two games of the Orlando series but is expected to be good to go for this series.
Boston, which has lost all six of its road playoff games this year, has countered that by winning all eight of its home starts, including Sunday’s 97-92 Game 7 win over the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers. Paul Pierce had 41 points, nearly keeping pace with LeBron James’ 45-point outburst, but while the Celts barely held on, they failed to cover as an eight-point chalk. Boston is on an 0-5 ATS slide and went just 1-6 at the betting window against Cleveland.
Kevin Garnett has been Boston’s go-to guy in the playoffs, averaging 20.3 points and 9.9 rebounds. The Celtics have fielded the best scoring defense so far in the postseason, allowing 86.1 ppg while scoring 91.6. Additionally, opponents are shooting a playoff-worst 41.0 percent, while Boston is hitting at a 44.4 percent clip from the field.
Boston took two of three from Detroit in the regular season, including a 90-78 home victory as a four-point chalk on March 5. However, the Pistons stole an 87-85 road win as a six-point underdog in the first meeting on Dec. 19, and the road team is on a 7-1 ATS tear in the last eight head-to-head clashes. In addition, the underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings, and the SU winner has cashed in the last four battles.
The Pistons are 12-3 SU and 11-4 ATS in their last 14 games going back to the regular season, and they are on additional ATS runs of 4-0 after a non-cover, 4-1 against the Atlantic Division, 5-1 after a SU win and 7-2 against teams with a winning percentage above .600. But Detroit still carries negative pointspread trends of 0-6 after three or more days off, 0-5 as a road pup of less than five points, 1-6 as a road ‘dog of any price, 2-7 as a playoff ‘dog of less than five and 3-7 overall catching points in the playoffs. The Pistons are also a meager 1-11 ATS in their last 12 conference finals games, including going 0-6 ATS (2-4 SU) against Cleveland in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.
The Celtics are also mired in several ATS funks, including 0-5 on one day of rest, 0-4 in the conference finals, 1-5 following a SU win, 1-4 as a playoff chalk of less than five points and a lengthy 18-38 as a home favorite of less than five points. On the positive side, though, the C’s are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 at the Garden and 6-0 ATS in their last six at home against teams with a winning road record.
The “under” trends are heavy for both teams entering this series. For Detroit, the under is on runs of 16-7 overall, 10-2 when coming off three or more days of rest, 10-2 on the highway, 14-3-1 in the playoffs as an underdog of less than five points, 17-5-1 as a playoff ‘dog of any price, 18-6 against the East and 20-8-1 in the conference finals. The under for Boston is on streaks of 4-0 overall, 4-1 as a playoff chalk of less than five points, 4-1 in the conference finals and 16-7 against the Central Division.
Finally, in this rivalry, the under has been the play in each of the last four meetings overall and each of the last five battles at the Garden.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Chicago Cubs (28-17) at Houston (25-21)
The red-hot Cubs send right-hander Ryan Dempster (5-1, 2.35 ERA) to the mound at Minute Maid Park against the National League Central rival Astros, who are set to hand the ball to right-hander Chris Sampson (2-3, 6.46) in the middle game of a three-game series.
Chicago scored a 7-2 victory in In Monday night’s opener, improving to 9-2 in its last 11 games. The Cubs have won their last three series, though those were all at home. Meanwhile, the Astros have followed up an 11-2 run by losing three of their last four. Also, Houston first baseman Lance Berkman went 0-for-4 last night, ending a 17-game hitting streak and dropping his season average from .399 to .389.
The Cubs have won three of four from the Astros this season, and they’re now 5-1 in the last six clashes dating to last season. The Cubs narrowly won the season series last year 8-7, though the Astros went 4-2 at home.
The Cubs improved to 7-2 in Dempster’s starts this season with Thursday’s 4-0 home victory over San Diego. It was Dempster’s best outing of the season, as he scattered six hits and struck out 12 over 8 1/3 scoreless innings. All five of Dempster’s wins have come at home this year, but in three road starts, he’s 0-1 despite a miniscule 0.90 ERA. In Dempster’s lone loss, a 5-3 setback at Pittsburgh on April 20, all five runs were unearned.
In his career against Houston, Dempster is 3-7 with a 4.88 ERA in 37 appearances (11 starts).
Sampson, who will make his ninth start today, is 1-0 with two no-decisions in his last three outings, but the Astros won all three games. On Thursday at San Francisco, he got roughed up for seven runs on 10 hits in six innings, but Houston rallied for five runs over the last two innings to notch an 8-7 victory. Prior to that, Sampson threw seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, in a 5-0 road win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 10.
Sampson is 0-2 with an astounding 15.75 ERA in three starts at home this season, but he’s 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA in three career starts (five appearances) against Chicago, including a 4-3 road win April 4 in which he yielded two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The Cubs are on positive runs of 5-1 against winning teams and 5-1 when Dempster starts against the N.L. Central. However, they carry negative trends of 3-5 in roadies, 2-6 on the highway against winning teams and 1-4 in Dempster’s last five road starts.
The Astros are on tears of 8-2 at Minute Maid, 6-3 against the N.L. Central, 4-1 in Sampson’s last five outings and 8-2 with Sampson facing division rivals. On the flip side, Houston is 1-4 in Sampson’s last four home starts, 2-8 with Sampson facing a winning team and 3-7 with Sampson going on four days’ rest.
The under for Chicago is 5-1 in Dempster’s last six road starts, but the over is 4-1 with Dempster on the hill against N.L. Central foes, and the “over” trends are running hot when Sampson starts for Houston, including 8-0 at home, 8-1 with Sampson on four days’ rest, 7-2 against winning teams and 12-4 in his last 16 outings overall.
In addition, for Chicago, the over is 13-7-2 in its last 22 contests inside the division, but the under is 13-3-1 on Tuesday, 7-2-1 against winning teams and a lengthy 44-17-4 in the Cubs’ last 64 road matchups. For Houston, the over is 8-2 in its last 10 at home.
Finally, in this rivalry, the under is 17-5 in the last 22 games in Houston and 19-6-1 in the last 26 matchups overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO CUBS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Los Angeles Angels (26-20) at Toronto (23-23)
Right-hander John Lackey (0-0, 1.29 ERA), just recently brought off the disabled list, will toe the slab for the Angels when they take on the Blue Jays and righty Dustin McGowan (2-3, 4.38) in the opener of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre.
Los Angeles comes into this three-game set after taking two of three at home from their neighboring rival Dodgers in interleague play. The Angels capped the series with a 10-2 shellacking on Sunday before taking Monday off. The Blue Jays, also off Monday, had similar success in their first interleague action of the season, taking two of three at Philadelphia, including Sunday’s 6-5 win. Toronto has followed a four-game slide by winning six of its last seven.
The Blue Jays are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings with the Angels in Toronto and 17-8 in the last 25 clashes overall. Toronto has narrowly won the season series the past two years, going 4-3 in 2007 and 6-4 in 2006, with a 5-2 mark at home. Los Angeles is just 1-4 in Lackey’s last four road starts against Toronto and 1-5 in Lackey’s last six overall against the Jays.
Lackey, who had been out since spring training with a strained triceps, picked up where he left off last year in his first start of the season Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed just one run on six hits in seven innings, with one walk and four strikeouts, but he got only one run of support and the bullpen imploded by allowing five runs in the last two innings as L.A. lost 6-1. Lackey, who went 19-9 with a 3.01 ERA in 2007, is 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA in seven career starts against Toronto.
McGowan is gearing up for his 10th start of the year, and the Jays are just 3-6 with the 26-year-old on the hill. On Thursday at Minnesota, he allowed two runs on two hits in five innings, getting a no-decision in Toronto’s 3-2, 11-inning win; that followed a 12-0 beatdown at Cleveland in which McGowan allowed nine runs (all earned) on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.
McGowan is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA at home this year, but he’s 0-2 with a 3.45 ERA in two career starts (four appearances) against the Angels.
The Angels are on an 0-7 freefall following an off day and are 0-4 in their last four on the highway, 4-11 in their last 15 on the road against teams with a winning home record and 1-4 in Lackey’s last four starts against the American League East. On the positive side, Los Angeles is on streaks of 4-1 on Tuesday, 4-0 when Lackey goes on Tuesday, 12-4 when Lackey hits the road, 17-7 with Lackey in a series opener, 19-9 in Lackey’s last 28 starts overall and 27-13 with Lackey going on five days’ rest.
The Blue Jays are on rolls of 4-1 coming off a win, 5-2 at home, 25-10 at Rogers Centre against winning teams and 4-1 when McGowan works in the Rogers Centre. But Toronto is 0-4 in its last four following an off day, 1-4 in McGowan’s past five facing the A.L. West and 2-9 in its last 11 series openers.
The under is 4-0 in Lackey’s last four road starts, 6-1 in his last seven outings overall, 7-2 in his last nine against the A.L. East and 4-1 in his last five versus Toronto. Also, the under is on a bevy of runs with McGowan throwing for Toronto, including 21-5-1 overall, 13-3-1 at home, 6-0 at home against winning teams, 10-1 in series openers and 16-5 against A.L. West opponents.
Furthermore, for Los Angeles, the under is on streaks of 5-1 overall, 4-1 in series openers and 6-2-1 on the highway. For Toronto, the under is on rolls of 20-8-1 overall, 8-2 at home and 10-1-2 at home against winning road teams.
Finally, the under is 38-15-5 in the last 58 meetings between these two teams, including 19-7-3 in the last 29 clashes in Toronto.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
DUNKEL
MLB
Seattle at Detroit
Justin Verlander (1-7, 6.08) and the Tigers (17-27) have had an equally rough start, but they look to take advantage of a Seattle team tonight that is just 1-4 as a road underdog between +125 and +150. Detroit is the pick (-155) according to Dunkel, which has the Tigers favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-155). Here are all of today's games.
TUESDAY, MAY 20
Game 901-902: Milwaukee at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Parra) 15.237; Pittsburgh (Maholm) 14.608
Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh (-115); 9
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (+105); Over
Game 903-904: Arizona at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Owings) 15.569; Florida (Hendrickson) 15.145
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Arizona (-125); 9
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-125); Under
Game 905-906: NY Mets at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Vargas) 15.378; Atlanta (Campillo) 15.894
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-105); 10
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-105); Under
Game 907-908: Philadelphia at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 17.028; Washington (Bergmann) 15.629
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-155); 8
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-155); Over
Game 909-910: Chicago Cubs at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Dempster) 15.406; Houston (Sampson) 15.784
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-125); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+115); Under
Game 911-912: San Francisco at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Lincecum) 13.958; Colorado (Cook) 14.712
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Colorado (-135); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-135); Under
Game 913-914: St. Louis at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Pineiro) 14.022; San Diego (Maddux) 14.776
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: San Diego (-130); 8
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (-130); Over
Game 915-916: Cincinnati at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Belisle) 14.019; LA Dodgers (Billingsley) 16.600
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 2 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-170); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-170); Over
Game 917-918: Seattle at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Silva) 13.662; Detroit (Verlander) 15.162
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Detroit (-155); 9
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-155); Over
Game 919-920: Baltimore at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Cabrera) 14.669; NY Yankees (Mussina) 15.180
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-135); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-135); Under
Game 921-922: Kansas City at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Meche) 15.543; Boston (Masterson) 16.122
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1/2; 11
Vegas Line: Boston (-140); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-140); Over
Game 923-924: LA Angels at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Lackey) 15.699; Toronto (McGowan) 14.537
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Toronto (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (+105); Under
Game 925-926: Cleveland at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Sabathia) 16.214; White Sox (Contreras) 15.392
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-120); 8
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-120); Over
Game 927-928: Texas at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Mathis) 14.395; Minnesota (Perkins) 15.701
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-125); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-125); Under
Game 929-930: Tampa Bay at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Kazmir) 16.392; Oakland (Smith) 14.841
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-120); Over
Game 931-932: NY Mets at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Maine) 16.378; Atlanta (Glavine) 15.196
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-125); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-125); Over
NBA
Detroit at Boston
After struggling through back-to-back seven-game series, the Celtics open against a Detroit team that is 7-0 ATS in road games where the total is between 170 and 179 1/2 points. The Pistons are the underdog pick (+4 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has Boston favored by just 3. Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+4 1/2). Here are all of today's games.
TUESDAY, MAY 20
Game 701-702: Detroit at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 123.665; Boston 126.738
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 3; 172
Vegas Line & Total: Boston by 4 1/2; 174
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+4 1/2); Under
Jim Feist.
KC Royals and BOS Red Sox
Take Under
You may not be familiar with Boston starter Justin Masterson, but the young righty has outstanding, hard sinking stuff. He's made one start allowing 2 hits in 6 innings with a 1.50 ERA. Kansas City has never faced him and the Royals have the worst offense in the American League. At least the Royals have a good starter going in Gil Meche, a guy who is 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA against the Red Sox. Don't look for a lot of offense in this one. Play the Royals/Red Sox under the total.
Dave Cokin
NY Mets and ATL Braves
Take NY Mets
I like the looks of the back end of the Mets-Braves twinbill with Vargas opposing Campillo. Claudio Vargas deserved a better fate in his '08 debut, but he threw the ball well and he's got some nice numbers in his dealings with the Braves. Jorge Campillo has been doing some nice work out of the Atlanta pen. But it's been in mostly soft situations, and I just don't see anything in Campillo's lengthy minor and occasional major league ledger that stamps him as one to watch. With the Mets coming off a huge momentum building sweep of the Yankees, I think they're worth following here, and make them a good choice at the price in this contest with the Braves."
CAPPERS ACCESS
Celtics
Pirates
Astros
Matt Fargo
Arizona D-Backs vs. Florida Marlins
Play: Florida Marlins
Florida has definitely hit a small speed bump as it has dropped five of its last six games but it is not panic time just yet. The offense, which has carried this team through the first quarter of the season, remains strong as it has averaged 5.3 rpg during this stretch. The problem has been pitching as seven or more opposing runs have scored four times in those six games. The day off on Monday was huge as the bullpen got a day to rest after tossing 23.1 innings over those six games.
The Diamondbacks are playing just the opposite as they have won five of their last six games but those came at home where they are a league best 19-8. It is a different story on the road where Arizona is just a game over .500. The Diamondbacks are currently on a three-game losing streak away from home and this is not an easy place for the opposition. Even though the run has been solid, the bullpen has not, posting a 6.57 ERA over its last 10 games. Even the offense is struggling, hitting just .239 over the same span.
The Diamondbacks send Micah Owings to the mound and he falls into a favorite play against of mine that remains consistent over the years. Owings has not yet gotten to the upper tier of starting pitching and after tossing two straight quality outings, this is the game to go against him. His last three starts have been at home and he was roughed up in his last road outing and that was against the lowly Padres. I expect a similar performance against an offense that has the ability to hit him hard.
Mark Hendrickson has had a season that has already exceeded expectations. He has posted a 3.91 ERA through nine starts and he has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of those. He does not fall into the quality start scenario as Owings does since his last start was poor as he allowed four runs in five innings against the Reds. His 4.33 ERA at home is not appealing but he has not blown up as he has given up three runs or fewer each time out. He shut out the Diamondbacks in his only start against them last season. Play Florida Marlins 1.5 Units
James Patrick Sports
Royals vs. Red Sox
In Major League Baseball action on Tuesday we note that the World Champion Boston Red Sox have won 7 of 8 Tuesday games and their opponent in tonight’s game Gil Meche of the Royals is 1-10 vs. the American League East Division and the Royals have dropped 15 of the past 22 Meche starts. Our Tuesday selection is Boston Red Sox.
Nelly
Tampa Bay (Kazmir) at Oakland (Smith)
Both Tampa Bay and Oakland dramatically skew towards the ‘under’ in games this season and this should be another low scoring game with two successful pitchers on the mound. The ‘under’ is 26-17 in Rays games and 26-15 in A’s games this season. The A’s are averaging less than two runs scored per game in the last six games and Oakland is hitting just .242 against lefthander pitching on the season. Scott Kazmir has only pitched in three games since his return from injury but he has delivered two gems in his last starts, allowing six hits and no runs over 12 innings. He is also backed up by a Ray bullpen that has posted exceptional numbers this season. Rookie Greg Smith has delivered great results for Oakland this season with 42 strikeouts and just 18 walks and the ‘under’ has hit in each of his last four starts. Oakland’s bullpen has been one of the best in baseball this as there are likely to be few runs after these starters exit. Given the match-up and the ballpark this should be a very low scoring game and neither offense is likely to break out in the lefty-lefty match-up.
Great Lakes Sports
Texas at Minnesota
Play : Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers are heating up going 9-3 their last 12 games, and are 12-5 when playing in the month of May this year. The Texas Rangers are also 18-12 when playing in night games this year while the Minnesota Twins have struggled going 1-5 their last six games. We look for the Texas Rangers to grab the road win tonight.
High Rollers Club
NBA Detroit vs. Boston
Take Boston Celtics
Boston has been unbeatable at home in the playoffs. Detroit has had some success on the road-winning three. Detroit has had a long layoff and Boston is just coming off a series ending triumph. Take the pumped up Celtics over the rusty Pistons.
Big Al McMordie
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies
Play: Colorado Rockies
At 8:35pm our selection is on the Colorado Rockies over the San Francisco Giants. Tonight's starter for San Francisco, righthander Tim Lincecum is Major League baseball's strikeout leader with 63 but oddly enough only has one win to show for it. Such is the life of Giants player. Just ask Barry Bonds what it was like all those years. The Giants have three of the most talented young strikeout pitchers in the game in Lincecum, righthander Matt Cain, and lefthander Jonathan Sanchez. Each of these three fireballers already has over fifty strikeouts to their credit this season, but incredibly they total only five wins. A combination of a lack of offense and some very bad relief pitching has prevented any of these youngsters from making much of an impact other than causing opposing batters to whiff a lot. Righthander Aaron Cook gets the start for Colorado tonight, and the Rockies are 7-1 in his last eight starts. Going into tonight, the Giants have lost six straight games and seven out of their last eight as they lost three of four to Houston, and then proceeded to get swept in their first interleague series over three games against the White Sox which saw the Sox score 18 runs to the Giants total of nine. Take Colorado.
Tony Weston
Looking at the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals I’m loving the under between the Pistons and Celtics tonight. The early number is set at about 174 and could move a little, but it won’t matter because tonight’s total is coming in way under that.
Over their last 10 meetings the under is 8-2. In their three meetings this season the under is 3-0 as the teams have averaged 172.3 points per game. In fact, in the two games the teams played in Boston this season they averaged 170 points a game.
Also consider that in the Pistons’ last nine games the under is 6-3 and in the Celtics’ last eight games the under is 5-3.
It’ll be an easy winner as the under comes in tonight.
Take the under.
3* PISTONS-CELTICS UNDER
Jeff Benton
I know the standings suggest that Arizona (28-16) and Florida (24-19) are two fairly even teams. But I know differently. The Diamondbacks own better statistics across the board, including at the plate (.267 vs. .264) and on the mound (3.50 ERA vs. 4.36 ERA). And on the road, Arizona’s pitching has been especially stout, posting a 2.93 overall ERA and a 2.75 ERA by the starters. Compare that with the Marlins, who have 4.73 ERA at home, including a 5.52 ERA by starters at home.
Speaking of starters, even though tonight’s pitchers – Arizona’s Micah Owings and Florida’s Mark Hendrickson – both have similar stats, Owings (a young right-hander) has MUCH more upside thank Hendrickson (a journeyman lefty). And in the all-important category of baserunners allowed, Owings (1.17 WHIP overall; 0.96 WHIP on the road) shines big-time over Hendrickson (1.38 WHIP overall; 1.56 WHIP at home). What’s more, the DBacks have destroyed southpaws this season, batting .292 against them.
Throw in the fact these teams are headed in opposite directions (Florida has lost five of six; Arizona has won five of six), and the DBacks at this price are too good to pass up.
8* ARIZONA DBACKS
Bobby Maxwell
Cleveland at CHICAGO WHITE SOX
OK, C.C. Sabathia, we're going to give you another chance here after your recent performances on the hill you seem to have straightened things out.
Sabathia (3-5, 5.47 ERA) is 2-1 in his last three starts with a 2.01 ERA and he hasn't been shabby on the road this season with a 1-1 mark and 3.18 ERA.
He's given up just six earned runs in his last five outings and is coming off a complete-game shutout of Oakland in his last outing, giving up five hits and striking out 11. And against the White Sox, the Indians are 7-2 the last nine times he's faced them and they beat the Sox after Sabathia gave up five runs on six hits in 5.1 innings on opening day, using the offens to win 10-8.
Jose Contreras (4-3, 3.35 ERA) has been on top of his game lately, but he's just 1-2 at home with a 4.12 ERA. Since 2006 Contreras and the Sox have beaten the Indians just once in five tries and in two of those games the Tribe just lit Contreras up.
The Indians took two of three in the first round between these two this season and we're banking on them winning this one and ending the modest five-game Chicago winning streak. Play Sabathia
and the Indians.
3* CLEVELAND