ARTHUR RALPH
Superpick: Baltimore Orioles
Regular: Tulsa (CBI)
Free Play: St Louis Cardinals
Erin Rynning
Toronto +2.5
Delaney
10* Cavs
10* Atlanta Hawks
DAVE COKIN PURE GOLD: UNDER THE HAT TULSA-BRADLEY
Tulsa vs Bradley
Take Tulsa
Golden Hurricanes got the win in the opener of the series, while I was happy enough to squeeze out the cover with Bradley and the points. The scene shifts to Peoria for the second game of the series, and I envision another very tight game, as these teams are really evenly matched. The number is now a shade high the other way, so I'll once more grab the dog to keep it close. Tulsa plus the points.
Winning Points Online
**PREFERRED
Boston* over Indiana by 1 (Pacers, plus the points)
Rested road team that still harbors legitimate playoff hopes takes double-digits vs. home side traveling back to Boston a win in Chicago last night, to play second of back-to-backs.Celtics probably have a "B" game coming up. Jermaine O'Neal is kind of a bum, but he is a 6-11 body -- an overpaid, under-productive 6-11 body -- who played for the first time in 33 games on Monday night for Indiana. BOSTON, 108-107.
SAN DIEGO (Maddux) -155 over HOUSTON (W. Rodriguez)
The Astros have only managed one run in 18 innings against San Diego pitching this year, and they are now poised to be swept here at Petco Park. Greg Maddux led his team to wins in 10 of his 14 starts last season in home games at night (+$455, 3.86 ERA) and Houston was a disaster vs. righthanders in all settings (-$1750).The Padres were 12-6 vs. lefties at home (+$280) and they averaged almost 5.0 runs per game vs. southpaws in 2007. Wandy Rodriguez started 16 games on the road last year and posted a pitiful 6.37 ERA. Excellent value on the home team in this one.
Rocky Atkinson
MIlwaukee vs. Cubs
Today's Pick: CHICAGO CUBS
Milwaukee is 20-44 last 3 years as a road underdog of +100 to +125. Milwaukee is 60-103 on the road the past 3 years. Brewers are 20-41 in their last 61 games as an underdog of +110 to +150. Brewers are 17-35 in their last 52 games as an underdog. Brewers are 21-47 in their last 68 games as a road underdog. Brewers are 16-37 in their last 53 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150. Brewers are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter. Brewers are 8-21 in their last 29 road games vs. a left-handed starter. Brewers are 1-5 in their last 6 games following an off day. Cubs are 4-0 in Lillys last 4 home starts. Cubs are 4-0 in Lillys last 4 starts as a home favorite. Cubs are 5-1 in Lillys last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record. Cubs are 4-1 in Lillys last 5 starts vs. National League Central. We'll recommend a small play on the Chicago Cubs today!
InfoPlays
3* on Kansas City Royals +163
(Listing Bannister and Rogers)
The Royals showed some fight in Trey Hillman's managerial debut Monday. After erasing an early 3-0 deficit, Tony Pena Jr.'s RBI single with two outs in the top of the 11th inning lifted Kansas City to a 5-4 victory over Detroit. With Detroit’s bullpen in shambles, Brian Bannister will keep his team close and let the Royals get their shot at the weakest aspect of the Tigers in the closing innings. And who knows what to expect from Kenny Rogers at age 43. He has little success against the Royals last season, going 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA. Meanwhile, Bannister shined against the Tigers, posing a 2-1 record with just a 2.55 ERA as a rookie last season. With Bannister on the mound, the Royals are a steal here. Bet Kansas City on the road.
Black Widow Sports
1* on San Francisco Giants +146
(List Lincecum)
The Giants are getting their best value of this series with the Dodgers tonight. Tim Lincecum may be the best starter on the Giants’ roster, although he has been pegged their No. 3 starter due to his youth. Lincecum allowed just 1 earned run and a measly 2 hits in 6 innings with his only career start against the Dodgers last season. Chad Billingsley got knocked out early against the Giants the last time these teams met up. Billingsley allowed 4 earned runs and 6 hits in just 1.3 innings against the Giants. San Francisco is 37-35 (+17.0 Units) against the money line as an underdog of +125 to +175 over the last 3 seasons. Take the Giants here.
WildBill
Atlanta Braves -118
JEFF MONEY
Baltimore Orioles
Cash n Profit
Boston Red Sox Under 8.0
Keith Martin
Detroit Tigers -167
Ben Burns
Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians
Play: Under 8.5
These teams played a very high-scoring (10-8) game against each other on Opening Day. I'm expecting to see some better pitching this evening though. The price on Cleveland has dropped, due in part to the possible absence of Victor Martinez. While the Indians would surely prefer to have their All-Star catcher in the lineup, it should be noted that Martinez is only 3-for-18 (.167) lifetime against Vazquez, so his potential absence may not be as costly as most are assuming. Regardless of whether or not Martinez is in the lineup (I'm assuming he won't play) I feel that the Indians will have some trouble against Vazquez today. Vazquez quietly had a strong 2007 campaign, leading the Sox in both wins and strikeouts while recording a respectable 3.74 ERA, his best mark in years. He also had a solid spring and pitched well against the Indians last season. Note that Vazquez has seen the UNDER go 13-7 his last 20 starts in the month of April. While he struggled in the playoffs, Carmona was flat out nasty last regular season, going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA. After going 3-1 and posting a 3.48 ERA in the spring and throwing 99 pitches in his final tuneup, Cleveland manager Eric Wedge had the following to say: "I think Fausto did a good job with his rhythm and tempo. He used all of his pitches, and he was down with them. We wanted him at around 100 pitches. That's where we wanted him to be. He's been very consistent all spring." Even including the two postseason losses at Boston, which both finished above the number, Carmona has still seen the UNDER go 14-4 his last 18 starts, including an 8-2 mark his last 10 here at Cleveland. Don't be surprised when those numbers improve this evening.
Tony Karpinski
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves
Play: Pittsburgh Pirates
PIRATES Take the Pirates for the win over the Braves tonight. The Bucs will send one of their better pitchers to the hill tonight in Tom Gorzelanny. The left-hander was 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA in his first full season as a starter last year. The fact he was able to record 14 wins with a woeful Pirates team is a good indication of how talented he is. With the way the Pirates swung the bats on Monday, Gorzo figures to get a lot of run support tonight. The Braves will counter with rookie Jair Jurrjens and I’m not convinced he will shut the Pirates down tonight. Jurrjens pitches to contact which will give the Bucs a chance to pick up where they left off Monday night, when they scored 12 runs on 17 hits. This is a good price for the Pirates who have the advantage in the pitching matchup, even on the road.
Tony Mathew's
Matchup: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz
Selection: Utah Jazz (-)
Explanation: We will lay the points with the Utah Jazz as they face-off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Wednesday's MLB contest.
The Utah Jazz have the much better offense. The Utah Jazz (at home) are scoring an average of 109 points per game, while the Minnesota Timberwolves (on the road) are scoring an average of only 92.9 points per game. As you can see, the Utah Jazz have the much better offense.
The Utah Jazz also have the much better defense. The Utah Jazz (at home) are allowing opponents to score an average of only 95.2 points per game, while the Minnesota Timberwolves (on the road) are allowing opponents to score an average of 102.5 points per game. To say the least, the Utah Jazz have the much better offense.
The Utah Jazz have played great basketball at home this season. In fact, the Utah Jazz are 33-13-1 ATS in their last 47 home games.
Take the Utah Jazz!
Paul Bovi / Panorama Sports
LA Clippers/Seattle Sonics Over 204.5 OVER
The injury bug has hit the Clippers as Chris Kaman, Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas will join Elton Brand on the bench in LA's quest for lottery balls. It will be up to Corey Maggette, Dan Dickau and Al Thorton to toe the line against the Sonics, who are also doing their part to get some balls of their own as Damien Wilkins (personal reasons) will join Chris Wilcox on the bench. Look for the scrubs to get some 'me time' here while they showcase their offensive talents. Very little defense prevails as these two get up and down the court and go OVER the number.
Ferringo Baseball
4.5* Det -1.5 RL game of week
2* Houst +140
2* Sea -150
2* LAA -120
1.5* NYM -160
Below plays are bonuses but not official plays
1.5* Phil -1.5 RL
1.5* Atl -115
1.5* Atl under 9.5
Jay Firestone
Play the Tigers -1.5 runs for 2 units
I am always hesitant to lay 1.5 runs against the pesky Royals, however 7 of the last 9 Tigers wins in this series have been decided by 2 or more runs. The Tigers have owned the Royals over the past couple of years winning 25 of the last 37 meetings. I expect this game today to be another 1 sided Tigers win. Their offense was very un-impressive on Monday, but that had a lot to do with Gil Meche. There is a reason why KC paid him that money. He is an ace, and Brian Bannister isn't even close. I expect the Tigers offense to explode today in front of the home crowd to make up for the game on Monday. The Tigers will send out Kenny Rogers to pitch today, and while he was really bad against the Royals last year, I expect him to continue to do what he does best, and that's win games at home. The Tigers are 16-5 in Roger's last 21 Home starts. I also am not 100% sold on the Royals being better. To me, they are only better when Meche pitches. This is still not a 500 ball club. One of the main reasons why is their in-ability to put winning streaks together. KC is 8-20 in their last 28 games following a win. I expect them to be content with stealing one on Opening day, and I expect a big letdown in this one today.
Tigers 7-3
GREAT LAKES
3*DBacks
2*Angels
2*Rangers