Fantasy Sports Gametime
1000* Phoenix + 6.5
100* Yankees -190
50* Florida -140
50* Phillies -210
Dave Cokin
Matchup: Seattle at Oakland
Time: 10:05 PM EDT (Mon)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) ROWLAND-SMITH, R vs. (L) GONZALEZ, G
Play: Oakland (ML -135)
The Mariners and A's open a series in Oakland tonight, with both teams struggling to find the winner's circle right now. The A's would appear to have the edge tonight to get back some positive momentum. Neither of these teams is hitting much, so this contest boils down to the pitching, and in a battle of southpaws, I like Oakland. Gio Gonzalez can still get very wild at times, but there's not much question about his stuff. If he's on, it's a long night for the feeble Mariners attack. On the flip side, it has been a gigantic struggle for Ryan Rowland-Smith. He has just one quality start all season, and more alarming is his woeful 17/13 BB/K ratio in 36 innings of work. Rowland-Smith looks like the right antidote to the Oakland offensive ailments, so I'll hope that Gonzalez is throwing strikes tonight. If he is, this is a good opportunity for the A's to coast to a victory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matchup: San Francisco at San Diego
Time: 10:05 PM EDT (Mon)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) CAIN, M vs. (L) RICHARD, C
Play: San Diego (ML +115)
The Padres were completely shut down over the weekend by the Dodgers, and now they have to contend with another tough trio of pitchers as the Giants come to town. But it's not as though there's much to complain about on the San Diego side as far as their pitching is concerned, as one starter after another keeps turning in solid starts. Clayton Richard sure likes to pitch at Petco as the lefty has moved his numbers at this locale to 5-1, 2.30. Richard's opposite number tonight is Matt Cain, who is pitching good ball but isn't getting much support. Cain has had his difficulties with the Padres, especially in this park where he's won only one of five career decisions. Remarkably, when Cain starts against the Friars, San Diego almost always wins. The Giants are a miserable 3-12 against this opponent when Cain takes the mound. The negative here is that the Giants have won three in a row while the Padres just got swept. But with San Diego having won 10 of 12 at this site in the series, I believe trying to beat the streaks is worth a play tonight, and I'm backing the Padres.
James Patrick
Matchup: Phoenix at L.A. Lakers
Time: 9:00 PM EDT (Mon)
Play: Phoenix (+6.5 -110)
Suns vs. Lakers 9:00 p.m. est. (Western Conference Finals Game #1)
Phoenix is (4-1) ATS in Monday action and a solid underdog with a (5-1) ATS mark. The "Lake Show" is just (2-8-1) ATS to start the week and (5-11) ATS their past (16) home contests. The Suns are (44-16) ATS when they score (105) points or more points in a contest and we expect them to get that here in the series opener.
5* Pot of Gold #501 Phoenix Suns
Jamie Tursini
Matchup: Phoenix at L.A. Lakers
Time: 9:00 PM EDT (Mon)
Play: Over (210.5 -110)
At first glance at this number, I thought it may have been a tad high. But it's not.
8 of the last 11 meetings at L.A. have gone over. And the last 5 meetings at L.A. had closing totals of 220, 200.5, 232.5, 216, and 226.
We are getting great value, despite Phoenix playing better defense now. I still like my chances for this to be an exciting up and down match up. With plenty of opportunities for kick out wide open perimeter shots.
105 each isn't a lot to ask with these well rested clubs.
SUPER SPORTS GROUP
10* National/Card Over 9
8* Pirates/Phillies Over 10.5
8* B Jays +105
8* Red Sox/Yankess Over 9.5
7* W Sox +132
KELSO
10 Units Phoenix Suns +6.5
TIM TRUSHEL
20* Toronto Blue Jays
Ben Burns
10* Lakers Under 210
Annihilator - Lakers
10* GOW Cubs
8* Oak
9* Balt
Steven Budin-CEO
MONDAY'S PICKS
The New York Crew has a 25 Dime 2-Team Teaser on Los Angeles and Boston. Using the 4 points you get in a standard baskeoball tease, they advise reducing the points you're layiang with LA and adding to the points you're getting with Boston. Using the curent lines as of the release of this play at 11:30 AM Eastern, the teaser-adjuoted prices find the Lakers -2 1/2 tonight against Phoenix and the Celtics +11 1/2 tomorrow versus Orlando.
The Freehold, New Jersey Wise Guys have a play on the Detroit Tigers with Porcello over the Chicago White Sox and Garcia and they are specifying both pitchers. At this time, I see the Tigers are around a -140 to -145 favorite at most sportsbooks
JR O'Donnell
2* Suns / Lakers Under 210.5
We are going to play 2 fisted the Under 210.5 here tonight as the rest and preparation is a huge key in this NBA battle of the Big boys, We note that the sharps pounded the 212 opener down to 210.5 last week and we also know it wasn't public action, the public will not move on games one week away. The Lakers will slow down the pace against Phoenix. The Lakers have been an Under machine except for the non typical Utah Jazz series and Phil's boys have had a week to prepare for these high flying Suns. We note that the Lake show is 18-7 to the Under vs. a winning team of .600% and the extensive JR O power ratings have this game at a 202 to 203.6 range.
Joyce Sterling
10* LA Lakers -6 vs Phoenix
Two streaking teams meet in the Western Conference finals.
The Lakers are looking to repeat as NBA champions while the Suns haven’t been in the Finals since 1993. Both teams swept their last playoff series.
The series will be greatly impacted from long range.
The Suns are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA.
The Lakers are the best at defending the 3-pointer.
These teams met four times in the regular season with the Lakers winning three of them.
The game they lost, Phoenix hit a dozen 3-pointers.
By the numbers, Phoenix finished 28-4 when they shoot at least 45 percent from 3-point range, while the Lakers went 12-0 when they limited opponents to under 40 percent shooting.
The Lakers have covered the spread five of their last six games.
In head-to-head matchups: the Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games.
Boston Blackie
Kansas City +122
Arizona +136
KIKI SPORTS
1 unit Atlanta -140
1 unit San Fran -130
1 unit Seattle +130
ATS Lock Club
4 Units Toronto
4 Units Baltimore
Tony George
LA / Phoenix Under 210.5
Lots of reasons for the under here. LA off a long layoff and Kobe not practicing. Look for Grant Hill to play some tough defense on Kobe and contain him somewhat. The Suns have went 7-1-1 ATS their last 9 road games, and are 6-1-1 as an underdog. While the Suns were lights out in scoring against Utah, that is why they are here, the Jazz played no defense, that is not the case with LA, and 2 out of the last 3 in this series have went under. I like a lower scoring game here with both teams tight, much like Sundays game. The rim will contested on bioth ends and easy short shots will not come easy. Play 1 Unit on the Under.
Baltimore -130
Neither team good, but Davies on the road as a starter for KC is not good. 18 Earned runs on the road, a 7.15 ERA on the road, opponents batting nearly .400 against him as a starter. More of a play with KC than a play for Baltimore who has struggled in their last 10 games as well, but not near as bad as KC, who is in transition with a new manager making some bad pitching decisions late in games right now, there is some dissention on the Royals team and management as well. Bergesen, the Os starter, has went 3-0 in his last 3 starts with an ERA of 2.33. Play 1 Unit on Baltimore