TUESDAY SERVICE PLAYS

BRAD DIAMOND

Play on: Florida over Phillies

Still can't trust improved RHP Brett Myers of Philadelphia, especially at Florida against the offensive minded Marlins. No doubt the Phillies first place run is respected, but Florida does not show as easy bait. In fact, the Fish are 7-0 at home against a club with a .500 plus road mark and 4-0 L4 as a home dog (based on overnight line). Philadelphia shows at 0-7 with RHP Myers as a road chalk. Don't miss Brad Diamond's super selection on the bases this Tuesday that accrues a package of 37-4 angles with two 100% perfect sets. Good Luck.

James Patrick Sports

Brewers vs. Astros

Roy Oswalt has had the Brew Crews number in Houston as the Astros ace has won 6 of 8 overall against Milwaukee and he is 7-1 at home against them as well. Our selection is Houston Astros in Major League action on Tuesday.

Bryan Leonard

Boston (RL) over Baltimore

Daniel Cabrera takes the hill for the third time this season against the Red Sox. He has allowed only five earned runs in 14 innings of work which is very surprising against this patient Boston offense. But we expect the Red Sox bats to figure him out tonight as they have him at home for the first time all season. It's hard enough to pitch three straight terrific games against this offense, and we may have picked up a sign to take advantage of. Cabrera is a ground ball pitcher but in his last three starts he has allowed more balls in the air than at any other time this season. Last season he surpassed 200 innings for the first time in his career, could all those innings be paying a toll on him right now? He's never been a pitcher who goes deep into games but this season he's at over 100 pitches per outing on a regular basis. Last year it took him 34 starts to accumulate the 204 innings. At this current pace he would pitch 225 innings in 2008. Every pitcher goes through a period of tired arm. We may be on to something before the linesmaker can make an adjustment.The Red Sox send stud Josh Beckett to the hill and he is in great current form. In his last three starts he has allowed just five earned runs in 19 innings of work. He has a 24 to 3 strikeout to walk ratio over those three games. The last time he faced Baltimore he struck out ten Orioles, we very likely could see a repeat.Boston has feasted on right-handers in Fenway all season so they could easily turn this into a romp. We have no problem laying the tariff here as we expect a one sided affair.

PLAY BOSTON -1½

Robert Ross

Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals
Prediction: Texas Rangers

Royals looking at a letdown after yesterday's big win in New York. TEXAS is 14-8 against the money line vs. terrible power teams - averaging 0.75 or less HR's/game this season while KANSAS CITY is 3-13 against the money line vs. a starting pitcher with good control (less than 1.75 BB's/start) this season and 19-52 against the money line vs. a starting pitcher whose gives up 0.5 or less HR's/start over the last 3 seasons. Take Texas!

Lee Kostroski

Chicago White Sox @ Detroit Tigers
PICK: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox refuse to lose with a comeback rally on Monday to sweep the Twins and make it a seven-game winning streak. The Sox have scored an average of 8.7 runs per game during the last two series and Chicago has the largest division lead in all of baseball despite getting little attention nationally. The White Sox have built a strong first half record despite a road-heavy early season schedule as well, as Chicago has played five more road games than home games.

Although the White Sox have better numbers against right-handed pitching the Sox did hit Nate Robertson hard earlier this season and Chicago had many opportunities against Twins starter Glen Perkins on Monday before breaking through against the bullpen. Chicago has won five of six meetings in this series so far in 2008 after going 11-7 against Detroit last season, and the Sox are 23-9 in the last 32 games at Comerica Park.

Detroit owns the second worst bullpen ERA in the American League and the Tigers are 4-8 behind Robertson. He owns a 6.03 ERA and opponents are hitting .290 against Robertson. Robertson has allowed at least four runs in ten of his twelve starts this season and this could be the perfect storm the way that the Sox are hitting the ball right now. The Tigers are hitting just .237 in the last ten games and Detroit has won just 13 of Robertson's last 40 starts. White Sox ace Jose Contreras has quietly been among the best pitchers in baseball, allowing one or fewer runs in seven of his last ten starts, compiling a 2.18 ERA in his last ten outings.

Chris Jordan

St. Louis +115 at CINCINNATI

This isn’t necessarily a Major-League debut, as Mitchell Boggs pitched two innings and gave up three hits and one run in his first-ever appearance last Friday in Houston. But the fact this is the first start of his career, well, let’s just say I love pitchers in this situation. All the Reds will have to go on is possible Minor League scouting reports, and what they’ll find out is the 24-year-old right-hander was 5-1 with a 3.28 in 12 starts for Memphis this season, and allowed just three home runs in Triple-A. He limited the opposition to a .230 batting average (.193 versus righties).

After getting a feel for the Major-League mound in relief, I think he’ll be okay here. He’s got a good arm, and when he gets the ball down, it has plenty of life. The one thing I noticed in watching the highlight reel is this kid will definitely have to throw his off-speed pitches. But again, he’s starting – not coming out of the bullpen – which means he can open his arsenal and utilize everything he has.

The betting numbers favor us tonight, as the Cardinals are 7-3 in their last 10 road games and 8-2 in their last 10 games following an off-day. Meanwhile, the Reds are mired in losing streaks of 11-23 in their last 34 versus the Central Division, 7-16 in series openers and 2-5 in their last seven against winning teams. Let’s take the underdog money tonight, as we bank on the youngster in his MLB starting debut.

2* CARDINALS

SPORTS ADVISORS

NBA FINALS

(1) Boston (14-8, 10-12 ATS) at (1) L.A. Lakers (12-5, 10-6-1 ATS)

After coming up empty in the first two games of the NBA Finals in Boston, the Lakers find themselves in a must-win situation when they return home to Staples Center for Game 3.

Los Angeles dug itself a 22-point hole after three quarters Sunday before mounting a furious fourth-quarter rally, only to fall short 108-102 as a 1½-point road favorite. Boston, which shot 53 percent from the field in the victory, got 28 points from a gimpy Paul Pierce, while the team’s other two stars, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, each contributed 17 in leading the Celtics to their fourth straight win (3-1 ATS). Also, reserve Leon Powe chipped in 21 points in 14½ minutes for Boston.

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 30 points in Game 2, while Pau Gasol (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Vlad Radmanovic (13 points, 10 boards) contributed double-doubles for the Lakers, who shot 49.4 percent from the field, including 47.6 percent from the three-point line (10-for-21). However, Los Angeles was on the wrong end of a huge free-throw disparity, shooting just 10 foul shots (and making all 10) to Boston’s 38 attempts.

The Celtics are now 4-0 SU and ATS against the Lakers this season, including a 110-91 rout at Staples Center as a three-point road underdog on Dec. 30 in the only previous meeting this season in Hollywood. Prior to covering the spread in the last four battles, Boston had gone 1-7 ATS against Los Angeles. Finally, the host is on a 4-1 ATS roll in this rivalry.

The Lakers have lost consecutive games for just the second time in this postseason. They haven’t had a three-game losing skid since falling to the Spurs, Mavericks and Cavaliers in a four-day span in late January – a stretch of 57 contests. Also, Los Angeles has won 14 consecutive home games, going 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS in the postseason at Staples Center. Going back to the regular season, the Lakers have cashed in eight of their last 10 at home.

Boston is on a 7-2 run, but despite victories at Detroit in Games 3 and 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, Doc Rivers’ squad is just 2-7 SU and ATS on the highway in the playoffs, with the winner covering the spread in each contest.

The Lakers have followed up an 8-1-1 ATS run by going just 4-4 ATS in their last eight. Meanwhile, the Celtics have rebounded from a 2-8 ATS slump with three straight spread-covers – their first three-game ATS winning streak of the playoffs.

The Lakers are 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven NBA Finals games and 0-5 ATS in their last five versus the Eastern Conference. After that, however, the recent pointspread trends are nothing but positive for L.A., including 36-18-2 overall, 6-2 after a non-cover, 8-2-1 when playing on one day of rest, 11-3 on Tuesdays and 9-4 as a favorite.

The Celtics are on ATS streaks of 7-1 against the Western Conference (4-0 last four), 4-0 against the Pacific Division, 22-9 as an underdog, 42-18 as a road ‘dog, 7-1 as a ‘dog of five to 10½ points, 11-5 on Tuesdays and 23-11 following a SU win. On the downside, Doc Rivers’ club is just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games played on one day of rest and 2-6 ATS in its last eight after a spread-cover.

After Game 1 barely stayed under the total, Game 2 flew way over the 191½-point posted price. The total has alternated in each of the last five meetings between these teams, though the over is 6-2 in the past eight clashes at Staples Center.

Meanwhile, the Lakers had a six-game “under” streak snapped on Sunday, but the under is still 5-2 in their last seven at home (3-0 last three) and 4-0 in their last four on one day of rest. For Boston, the under is on streaks of 4-2 overall, 5-0 on the road, 5-1 as an underdog and 4-1 on Tuesday.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Florida (34-29) at Philadelphia (39-26)

The Marlins look to put a dent into the Phillies’ lead in the N.L. East when these division rivals start a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium. The scheduled pitching matchup for the series-opener features Florida’s Ricky Nolasco (5-4, 5.05) against the Phillies’ Brett Myers (3-7, 5.13).

Philadelphia, which was idle on Monday, arrives in South Beach with a four-game winning streak, this after sweeping a three-game series in Atlanta over the weekend. Charlie Manuel’s club is 12-2 in its last 14 overall (7-1 in the last eight), including four straight road wins, and 20-6 in its last 26 on Tuesdays.

Florida has split the first four games on its current homestand, all against the Reds, including Monday’s 9-4 setback. The Marlins are 7-3 in their last 10 in front of the home crowd, but 4-9 in their last 13 overall and 2-5 in their last seven on Tuesdays.

The Phillies are 4-1 in their last five against the Marlins, including taking two of three in the first series meeting this season 10 days ago. However, the Marlins have won six of the last eight clashes at Dolphin Stadium.

Philadelphia is 1-7 in Myers’ last seven trips to the bump and just 3-14 in his last 17 starts against the N.L. East, though one of those wins came against Florida on May 30. In that contest, Myers gave up three runs in eight innings, striking out a season-high 11 in a 12-3 victory. The right-hander followed that performance with an even stronger effort on Wednesday against the Reds, as he surrendered just one run and one hit in 7 1/3 innings, but he lost 2-0 at home.

Myers is 0-5 with a 7.15 ERA on the road this year. Also, despite the win on May 30, Myers is just 6-7 with a 4.89 ERA in 25 appearances (19 starts) versus the Marlins, including 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA at Dolphin Stadium.

Nolasco dominated the Phillies in a 7-3 road victory on May 31, giving up two runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings as he improved to 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his career against Philadelphia. However, he came back on Thursday at Atlanta and had his worst performance of the season, getting rocked for seven runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings, losing 7-5. In three starts at home, Nolasco is 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA.

The under is 3-1 in Myers’ last four starts overall and 3-1 in his last four on the road. However, the over is 6-1 in Nolasco’s last seven starts overall (3-0 last three).

The Phillies have stayed under the total in seven consecutive games, and the under is 5-1 in their past six on the highway. Conversely, for the Marlins, the over is on streaks of 22-6-3 overall, 6-0 at home, 7-0-1 against right-handed starters and 9-0-2 as an underdog. Also, the over is 37-15-2 in the last 54 battles in this rivalry, including 3-0 this season.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tampa Bay (38-26) at L.A. Angels (39-26)

After hammering the Angels in Monday’s series opener, the Rays look to remain perfect this season against the A.L. West leaders when they send James Shields (4-4, 3.64 ERA) to the mound opposite L.A.’s Jered Weaver (5-6, 4.79).

Tampa Bay clobbered the Angels 13-4 on Monday night, improving to 4-0 against the Halos this season after losing 46 of the previous 62 meetings. The Rays are 21-10 in its last 31 overall (3-1 in their last four), 11-3 in their last 14 against the A.L. West and 23-10 in their last 33 against right-handed starters. However the Rays remain under .500 on the road this year (14-16), and going back to 2006, and they’re 46-101 in their past 147 road contests and 20-54 in their last 74 games on Tuesday.

The Angels have now dropped two in a row since ripping off a seven-game winning streak. Los Angeles is still on positive streaks of 37-18 at home against teams with a winning record, 13-3 on Tuesdays and 4-2 against right-handed pitching.

The Rays, who swept a three-game series from Los Angeles a month ago in Tampa Bay, have outscored the Angels 25-9 in four their four wins this season. However, they’re still just 5-24 in their last 29 games at Angel Stadium.

Shields is coming off his shortest stint of the season, as he got ejected after intentionally beaning Boston’s Coco Crisp with no outs in the second inning on Thursday at Fenway Park. He gave up four runs on three hits in his single inning of work in taking the loss, and he’s now gone five straight starts since his last victory, a 2-0 win over the Angels in Los Angeles. On the bright side, the Rays are 13-6 in Shields’ last 19 starts overall, 7-1 in his last eight against the A.L. West and 4-1 in his last four on Tuesdays.

Shields has struggled on the highway all season, going 1-3 with a 7.06 ERA in six starts, as opposed to 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA in seven home outings, and Tampa is 8-20 in his last 28 outings on the highway. The right-hander also has a serious home-road split in his career against Los Angeles, going 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA in four home starts (all Rays wins) and 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in one start at Angel Stadium.

Weaver is 3-1 in his last four starts, but he’s given up 10 runs on 20 hits in his last two starts spanning 10 innings. On Wednesday at Seattle, he surrendered four runs on 10 hits in six innings, winning 5-4.

At home this season, Weaver is 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in six outings, and he’s 2-6 with a 5.46 ERA in 10 starts at night. Finally, in his lone career start against the Rays back in 2006, he surrendered two runs on four hits in six innings, winning 6-2 in Tampa Bay.

The under is 4-2 in Shields’ last six starts, but the over is 3-1 in his last four on the road. Meanwhile, the over is 3-1 in Weaver’s last four overall, but the under is 4-2 in his six home outings in 2008.

With last night’s game flying over the total, the over is now 11-3 in the last 14 meetings in Southern California. However, the under is 9-3 in the Rays’ last 12 overall and 7-2 in their past nine versus teams with a winning record. Also, for the Angels, the under runs include 20-8-1 overall, 19-9 against right-handed starters, 8-3 at home against righties and 7-1 at home against teams with a losing road record.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

Marc Lawrence

Play On: San Diego w/Maddux

Note: The Padres send Greg Maddux to the mound against their neighborhood rivals knowing he is in sharp KW form with 3 walks and 13 strikeouts in his last 3 starts. He also owns a super-sharp 1.73 ERA at home this season, as opposed to a 5.01 ERA on the road. With that we'll stay at home with Maddux and the Padres here tonight.

Scott Spreitzer

Philadelphia Phillies at Florida Marlins
Prediction: Florida Marlins

I'm riding the Marlins on Tuesday night. Brett Myers toes the rubber for the Phillies, tonight. He's been a disaster away from home. Myers is 0-5 in six road starts, getting hammered for 27 earned runs and a hefty 68 base runners in just 34 innings. Folks, that's a 7.15 ERA and 2.00 WHIP, to go along with a .361 BAA! Myers has had serious problems in this stadium in his career and I suspect he'll be "just what the doctor ordered" for the Marlin hitters. Florida has cashed three of Nolasco's last four starts and I expect another winning ticket tonight. I'm backing the Florida Marlins on Tuesday.

Matt Fargo

New York Yankees at Oakland Athletics
Prediction: Oakland Athletics

The Yankees are coming off a split series at home against the Royals following a loss on Monday. It certainly was not the way New York wanted to end its homestand as it ended up 4-3 and now hits the road where it is 14-17 on the season. The offense is starting to come around but the pitching is still a big concern, posting a 4.44 ERA on the season. The starters have put up a 5.81 ERA over the last 10 games and only three times has the starter made it through seven innings over that stretch.

Oakland took the series finale against the Angels on Sunday to salvage the final game of that set and improve to 13-6 over its last 19 games at home. The A?s have used clutch hitting to pick up some big wins but it has been consistent pitching that has made the difference. They have allowed three runs or fewer in 12 of their last 17 games, giving up an average of 3.7 rpg over that span. Oakland is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings against the Yankees and 11-4 in its last 15 against the A.L. East.

Chien-Ming Wang has been struggling lately, going winless in his last six starts with a 6.45 ERA over that span. His last four outings have been disasters as his ERA is at 8.75 as he has allowed five runs or more in all four of those games. He has been fortunate to receive a lot of run support as the Yankees somehow have pulled out the last three games. Wang's drought is the longest of his career as he had never before gone more than three straight starts without a victory.

Oakland counters with Dana Eveland who has provided some great outings for the rotation. His last two starts have not been good ones especially his last one where he allowed a season high seven walks. Before allowing 10 runs in his past two starts, Eveland had surrendered just six runs total over his first four starts in May. He has been solid at home, posting a 3.13 ERA despite the last two efforts. This is his first ever start against the Yankees which is a big edge for the pitcher. Play Oakland A?s 1.5 Units

Stephen Nover

Atlanta Braves @ Chicago Cubs
PICK: Chicago Cubs

REASON FOR PICK: Every 100 years or so the Chicago Cubs put together the best record in baseball. The Cubs have the No. 1 mark in the majors thanks to winning 15 of their last 17 home games, including their past eight at Wrigley Field.

Now the Cubs get to host Atlanta, owners of the worst road record in baseball at 7-21. The Braves have dropped 14 of their last 17 away contests.

Chipper Jones has a small tear in his right quadriceps. He's not expected to play tonight. He probably won't play Wednesday either. The Braves are 0-6 without Jones this season.

The Braves certainly could use the switch-hitting Jones against southpaw Ted Lilly. The Braves have a losing mark against left-handers. It's not surprising since they don't have a lot of strong right-handed bats. Lilly showed signs in his last start that he's back on track. He has a 40-to-nine strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last six outings.

Lefty Tom Glavine gets the call for Atlanta. The Cubs are 14-7 versus southpaws this season. The Braves have lost in eight of Glavine's 11 starts this season. Their injury-depleted bullpen is in tough shape. The Cubs' bullpen, which has been excellent, is rested.

Big Al McMordie

Tampa Bay Rays vs. LAA Angels
Play: LAA Angels

At 10:05pm our complimentary selection is on the Los Angeles Angels over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays' 26 year-old starter James Shields' season just keeps getting tougher and tougher. Shields has one of the most lopsided home-road biases in baseball, and his last road start was his worst yet, as he only lasted a single inning, giving up four earned runs before plunking the Red Sox' Coco Crisp which resulted in a bench-clearing brawl and Shields getting suspended. He has dropped his appeal and will begin serving his suspension immediately following tonight's start against the Angels and their righthander Jered Weaver. Shields has been simply horrible away from his home park, Tropicana Field (1-3 with a 7.06 ERA and 42 hits in under 30 innings) and tonight won't get any easier as the Angels have been red-hot (7-1 in their last eight games going into Monday night's contest). Tampa's star outfielder Carl Crawford was suspended in the same game as Shields, but he will continue playing for the time being pending his appeal. However, what's of a much bigger concern is Crawford's performance of late (or lack thereof). Crawford is a career .294 hitter but is batting only .266 so far in '08 and looks like a very tired ballplayer. Take the Angels.

Bobby Maxwell

N.Y. Yankees -130 at OAKLAND

Yet another FREE play winner Monday on the Indians improves our run to 14-4 over the last 18 days. Tonight we're staying in the American League as we back the Yankees on the road in Oakland taking on the A's.

One thing the Yankess have been able to count on is the consistency of righty Chien-Ming Wang (6-2, 4.57 ERA) this season. They are 10-3 when he takes the mound and he's 3-0 on the highway with a 2.62 ERA.

New York has won his last three starts even with some shaky performances. The Yankees have scored 22 points in his last three outings and even though he hasn't seen the A's in a couple years, he blanked them last time out, giving up just three hits in eight innings of a 2-0 New York win.

Lefty Dana Eveland (4-4, 3.82) starts for the A's and he's allowed 10 earned runs in his last two starts, including a horrible 120 loss to the Blue Jays on May 29.

New York lost the Blue Jays on Monday 3-2 after scoring 18 runs in their two previous starts. The offense is starting to get it going and we're not going to doubt them in Oakland in this one. Lay the chalk and play the Yankees.

3* N.Y. YANKEES

Jim Feist

BAL Orioles and BOS Red Sox
Take Under

In this season of "unders" this is a high total with a pair of aces on the hill. Baltimore is 34-24 under the total and goes with hard throwing Daniel Cabrera (5-2, 3.98 ERA). He's really mastered command this season, walking just 32 in 86 innings. Boston's offense is still without slugger David Ortiz, and they are on a 12-6 run under the total. The Red Sox trot out ace righty Josh Beckett, who has a 2.37 ERA his last three starts. The team is 3-0 under the total those three starts. Play the Orioles/Red Sox under the total!