LT Profits
Tampa Bay Rays +130
The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays both have bullpens ranked in the top 10 in baseball, meaning this is not a Bullpen System play, but we do feel the Rays offer nice value at this price.
Now granted, we are big fans of Toronto starter Shaun Marcum, and he has indeed been great so far with a 2.70 ERA and a fantastic 0.98 WHIP in six starts. However, we feel that Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza is much better then his numbers would indicate, and we also feel that the Rays offense has a better chance of scratching out a few runs off of Marcum than the Toronto offense does of suddenly awakening tonight.
The Blue Jays should have one of the best records in baseball given their pitching staff, but they are just 16-18 overall and 9-8 at home due to their disappointing offense. The Jays are batting only .252 as a team overall. .247 at home and .241 over their last 10 games. They are facing a pitcher in Garza who is coming off of back-to-back quality outings after beginning the year with a couple of rough starts, and we feel is now ready to reach his enormous potential.
Finally, the price is certainly right here, so we’ll go with the value play.
Pick: Rays +130
Detroit Pistons @ Orlando Magic Under 186.5
The Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic went Over in Game 2 of this series, but we expect tonight’s contest to more closely resemble the pace of Game 1, which the Pistons won 91-72.
The thing is, the score may be reversed this time around, as this looks like a perfect spot for the Pistons to come up flat. Truth be told, Detroit did not play particularly well in Game 2 before rallying late, and if you recall their first round series vs. Philadelphia, they lost Game 3 on the road 95-75, and that was with the series tied 1-1. Now that they are up 2-0, this team that has the annoying habit of playing down to the competition until they need to flip the switch really has no incentive to give an all-out effort tonight.
Now the Magic are capable of lighting up the scoreboard, but they have yet to score more than 103 points vs. the Detroit defense this year, and they have come nowhere close to that the first two games. Thus, if the Pistons fail to reach 85 points, which we honestly feel is a very strong possibility tonight, it would be difficult for this game to go Over the total.
Believe it or not, the Under is 25-19, 56.8 percent in all Magic home games this year despite all of their firepower, and we look for that pattern to continue tonight.
Pick: Pistons, Orlando Magic Under 186.5
Mike Rose
Chicago White Sox -150
Livan Hernandez will make his eighth start of the season for Minnesota this year, and the Twins will look to improve their mark to 7-1 when he’s gotten the starting nod this year. Not many believed the cagey vet would be able to make the transition into the American League, but so far so good. Livan comes into tonight’s start sporting a 4-1 mark with a 4.45 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. He’s allowed a lofty 53 hits in almost 43 innings of work, but has only been scored upon 23 times (21 earned). He mystified the potent Detroit Tigers offense his last time out limiting them to eight hits and one earned run in seven innings of work. The Twins have won two of his three road starts this season. This will be his first ever start against the Chicago White Sox.
Opposing him will be lefty Mark Buehrle who pitched flawlessly his last time out against Toronto, but an error in the first proved to be his ultimate demise. Over eight innings, the southpaw allowed two unearned runs on five hits, while walking none and striking out seven. He’s averaged seven innings in his last five starts overall, and has allowed three earned runs or less in four of his last five starts. In his career against the Twins, Buehrle is 20-10 with a 3.69 ERA. The 20 victories are the most Buehrle’s collected against any franchise throughout his career. Chicago’s split both of his home starts this season.
Minnesota is 7-1 its L/8 against the AL Central, and they’re 7-3 their L/10 on the road against a left-hander. However, they’re 2-6 their L/8 trips to Chicago, and Buehrle’s 7-1 against the Twins the L/8 times he’s faced them.
Info Plays
3* on San Diego Padres +157
The Padres are a nice underdog play against Atlanta as a big underdog Wednesday. Randy Wolf has come on strong this season with a 2-1 record and a 3.57 ERA to go with it. San Diego is 20-8 (+12.4 Units) against the money line in road games after having lost 4 of their last 5 games over the last 3 seasons. Wolf is just the man who can get them out of this funk tonight with a big road win over Atlanta. The Braves are 0-5 in Tim Hudson’s last 5 starts during game 2 of a series. Bet San Diego on the road.
Top Sports Bets
San Francisco +115 over Pittsburgh
Look - Zito has to bounce back at some point. After being demoted to the pen, he has to have some drive to come out firing tonight. He is a former Cy Young winner and still has one of the best curves around. The Pirates are not strong at all against leftys, and we see them struggling again tonight. Dumatrait gave up 4 runs in 4 innings in his debut for the Pirates last time out, and won't look much better today. Take the Giants here
Los Angeles Angels +100 over Kansas City
Somehow KC keeps being over-valued. No doubt a quality pitcher is going tonight for them. But to consider them the favorite against Weaver and the Angels offense? Weaver has had a few shaky starts, but he is a very solid pitcher, and will show it tonight in what will probably be a low scoring affair. Garret Anderson is killing KC right now, and look for the rest of the offense to pick it up as well for the Angels. Anytime you can get them at even money against a team like KC, you have to take it as the Angels have been money this year. Look for the sweep tonight in KC, and take the Angels here!
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Phillies/D-Backs UNDER 10 Runs
The Under is 12-3 in the Phillies last 15 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game and 8-3 in the Phillies last 11 games following a loss. The Under is 4-1-1 in the Diamondbacks last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game, 4-1-1 in the Diamondbacks last 6 games following a win, 5-1-1 in Owings' last 7 starts with the total set at 9.0-10.5, and 5-2-1 in Owings' last 8 starts as a favorite. Take the UNDER.
Wunderdog
Detroit at Orlando
Pick: Detroit +4
We were on the Pistons in the first two games and got the W's. We're sticking with these guys again. Detroit has won nine in a row over the Magic, but here are expected to lose? We think they remain motivated from the scare they received from the Sixers in round one. Many will look to the Magic keeping game two close. They were in fact up 68-65 in the third quarter. But, without having drilled seven straight three-pointers to get there, the Magic would have been blown out. We're betting they don't hit seven threes in a row again. Detroit's defense is completely unnerving the Magic. Orland has shot just 42% from the field. Detroit has forced 32 turnovers while turning it over just 14 times. The Pistons are averaging just 85 points per game allowed in the playoffs and 81.4 over their last five games. Orlando has averaged just 93.4 ppg over their last five. This is simply a big mismatch - bigger than most think. The only thing that ruins Detroit's run here is if they let down. But, as stated, we think they avoid that based on what happened last series. Truth be told, Detroit is 13-5 ATS this season over teams at .600 or better. They are 19-5 ATS this season after two straight ATS wins as a favorite! We'll take the better team as a dog.
Black Magic Sports
1 Unit on Red Sox/Tigers O 9.5
After a pitcher’s duel last night between the Tigers and Red Sox, look for a complete flip-flop and a slugfest tonight. Boston is 18-4 OVER (+14.5 Units) vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.20 or better over the last 2 seasons. Armando Galarraga has been off to a nice start for the Tigers, but he’s about to have his worst start of the season against the highest scoring team in the American League with the Boston Red Sox. Detroit is 25-12 OVER (+12.9 Units) in home games after 1 or more consecutive unders over the last 2 seasons. It’s only a matter of time before the Tigers bust out offensively. I expect it to come tonight against Clay Buchholz at home. Cash in with the OVER 9.5 runs.
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Chicago White Sox -146
The White Sox returned home where they have had success this season and ended their snide with a 7-1 beatdown of the Twins. I expect the Sox to ride that momentum to another big win tonight with their ace southpaw hurling. The Twins are 0-5 in their last 5 games as a road underdog, 1-6 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing record, and 21-47 in their last 68 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150. The White Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter, 7-3 in their last 10 games as a favorite of -110 to -150, and 73-35 in Buehrle's last 108 starts as a home favorite. The White Sox are 7-1 in Buehrle's last 8 starts vs. the Twins. Take the Southsiders here.
JB
3* Magic
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
TOP RATED HOME RUN BASEBALL WINNER
Atlanta w/Hudson -160
Wild Bill
Giants +120 (5 units)
Braves -160 (4 units)
Under 8 1/2 Mets-Dodgers (1 unit)
Over 10 1/2 Brewers-Fla (1 unit)
Arizona -130 (1 unit)
Under 8 Orioles-A's (1 unit)
Blue Jays -140 (1 unit)
Under 8 Indians-Yankees (1 unit)
Detroit +100 (1 unit)
White Sox -145 (1 unit)
Seattle -155 (1 unit)
Wildcat
Chicago WhiteSox -1½ RL
Winning Points Online
**PREFERRED
Orlando* over Detroit by 11
The NBA has admitted that the end-of-third-quarter shot
made by Chauncey Billups in Game 2 should not have counted. This paves the way for 18 make-up calls in favor of tonight's 0-2 home team.
After an airplane malfunction, The Magic was forced to stay overnight in Ohio Monday and didn't get to their hotel rooms until after 3 a.m. They finally made it back to Orlando by 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and were forced to cancel practice.Normally, this sort of disruption in routine would be a major reason to like the other side, but at this time of year, in this particular situation, not gonna do it.
ORLANDO 102-91
**PREFERRED
UNDER 7.5 LA Angels at Kansas City
Zach it to ya'. KC's righthander Greinke was our Mr. Under a couple of years ago, then his head went a little wacky and he lost his way. But Zach is back, with a better than 2-1 K-BB ratio, a WHIP of 1.02, and a Batting Average Against of .215. His so-called run support comes in a lineup that has produced MLB's fewest home runs (16) and a measly On-Base Percentage of .306 that ranks ahead of only the San Diego slackers. He is pitching on a one-year contract -- hey now! Every outing is potentially worth millions to him. The Angels' Jered Weaver is also on a one-year contract, and he is making ''only'' $435,000 this season. Sweet. Lean and hungry righthanders. Two of Weaver's last three starts were on the road at heavy-hitting Boston and Detroit. His overall K-BB is 13-30, better than 2-1. Weather forecast says the wind will be blowing in directly from centerfield, at 10-20 mph.
Oakland (Blanton) -135 over Baltimore (Guthrie)
After a better than expected April, the Orioles are coming down to Earth. They have lost 8 of their last 12 (-$285) and their run production over that stretch has been anemic (only 3.5 runs per game).
Joe Blanton has been very sharp in his most recent outings (2.57 ERA in his last two), and he is backed by an offense with a 14-7 record (+$890) vs. righthanders. Look for the hot home team to complete the series sweep with a victory today.
PAUL LEINER
10* Brewers -105
10* NBA Magic -3.5
5* Cubs +115
Sports Monitor
Los Angeles Angels (22-13) at Kansas City Royals (14-18)
Royals -115 total 8
TRENDS:
The Angels have won six of their last seven road games.
The Angels have won 16 of their last 23 games.
The Royals have lost nine of their last 12 games.
The Angels have won 17 of the last 22 against the Royals.
The Angels are 12-5 on the road this season.
GAME SUMMARY:
Since the start of the 2003 season, Los Angeles is 17-4
against Kansas City, posting a 2.92 ERA in those games.
The Angels have a 1.50 ERA in the first two games of this
series, which isn't a surprise considering the Royals
have scored a major league-low 110 runs.
SPORTS MONITOR
PREDICTION:
Angels and Royals over the total