Super Sports Group
Cincinnati v. Cleveland 1:05pm
PICK: Indians ML +110 (9*) Best bet of the day
Baltimore v. Washington 1:35pm
PICK: OVER 8.5 Game ev (8*)
Tampa Bay v. Houston 2:05pm
PICK: OVER 7.5 Game ev (7*)
PICK: Astros ML +176 (7*)
Toronto v. Arizona 4:10pm
PICK: D'Backs ML +110 (8*)
PICK: UNDER 9.5 Game ev (6*)
NY v. NY 8:05pm
PICK: Yankees ML -135 (7*)
PICK: UNDER 7 Game (8*)
3 team parlay for 1*
UNDER 8.5 Pirates ev
Cubs ML +152
White Sox ML +124
JR O'Donnell
San Jose Sharks + 150
Jr O is going all ice today as the San Jose Sharks scratch out a win this afternoon behind D. Heatly who goes off today. Short sweet and powerful as JR O. The Sharks will step up the power play as they were a dismal 1-6 last game. Sharks are still a smooth 7-3 last 10 in Chicago. The big three, Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Dany Heatley will score today and the Sharks find a W in game 4 today.
Al DeMarco
10 Dime Suns
Anthony Redd
20 Dime Suns
10 Dime Suns Under
ATS Lock Club
4 Units Suns -2
4 Units Giants PK
4 Units Orioles +105
KIKI SPORTS
2 Units Tampa Bay -1.5 -125
1 Unit Pittsburgh +130
1 Unit San Diego +135
Mike Lineback
4* KC Royals
Teddy Covers
Reds
The Hitman Guaranteed Selections
XXXX-LARGE PRIVATE PLAY BASEBALL PERFECT PLAY
LA Dodgers w/Kuroda -158
Rocco Vincintore Guaranteed Selections
PREFERRED PLAYERS CLUB BASEBALL SUNDAY SPECIAL
Tampa Bay w/Price -172
Jeff Benton
20 Dime: SUNS
10 Dime: RAYS -1.5
Suns
Why jump off the Lakers’ bandwagon now, especially after scoring easy winners in Games 1 and 2? Because the Suns are back home, where they’ve won four straight playoff games (both SU and ATS) and where they’ve won 36 of 46 games this season. And because this veteran team has its back against the wall and I fully expect Phoenix – led by two-time MVP Steve Nash – to come out inspired and get a big lift from the home crowd. At the same time, this is the classic “flat” spot for the Lakers, who have won eight straight playoff games since back-to-back losses in Oklahoma City in Games 3 and 4 in the opening round.
Look, there’s little doubt – in my mind anyway – that Los Angeles is going to win this series, and likely in five games. But quality teams down 0-2 and heading back home historically are a strong bet in the NBA, and the Suns have been dynamite in the desert over the past two-plus months. In fact, since suffering a 102-96 home loss to the Lakers on March 12 (the teams split their two meetings in Phoenix this year), the Suns have won 12 of 13 at home. The only blemish was a Game 1 loss to the Trail Blazers (a contest where Phoenix came out extremely overconfident and lacked a sense of urgency, two things that will not happen tonight).
During their 12-1 home streak, the Suns have defeated the Spurs three times (by margins of 8, 9 and 11 points), Portland three times (by margins of 29, 19 and 6 points), Denver once (by 22 points) and Utah once (by 10 points). And while they did fall to the Lakers in mid-March, the Suns also destroyed L.A. back on Dec. 28 (118-103 as a one-point underdog). In fact, the home team is on an 8-1 SU and ATS roll in this rivalry.
Finally, while the Lakers have won three road games during their current eight-game winning streak, two were last-second one-point wins (95-94 in the clinching game over Oklahoma City with Pau Gasol tipping in the game-winner with a half-second to play; 111-110 win over Utah in Game when the Jazz missed a point-blank tip-in at the buzzer. This is still a Lakers team that is just 26-20 SU and 20-25-1 ATS outside of Hollywood this season.
Again, guys, the Lakers are clearly the better team, but the better team doesn’t win EVERY game in a playoff series, and this sets up perfectly for the Suns, whom you know aren’t going to stop fighting. And with three days off between Games 2 and 3, Phoenix has had ample time to make adjustments. Besides, the Lakers shot 58 percent and 57.7 percent in Games 1 and 2, and there’s no way that continues, especially in a hostile environment (FYI, Los Angeles shot a combined 46 percent in two regular-season games in Phoenix).
Rays -1½
Tampa Bay is 31-12 overall and 18-5 on the road, with both records being the best in baseball. Their last 16 road wins – including last night’s 4-2 victory over the Astros – have all been by more than one run, and they’re third in the majors in runs scored (230). On the flip side, Houston is 15-28 overall (only the Orioles have a worse record), and they’re dead last in baseball in runs scored at 126, or 22 fewer than the team ranked ahead of them (Pittsburgh).
To further illustrate the massive gap between these offenses, the Rays are averaging 5.3 runs per game; Houston is averaging slightly less than 3 runs per game. And while Tampa Bay has been shutout twice this season (one of those was the perfect game thrown by Oakland’s Dallas Braden), the Astros have been blanked six times (and held to exactly one run eight times).
If that’s not enough to love the Rays today, the pitching matchup should be. David Price has been phenomenal (6-1, 1.81 ERA overall; 4-1, 1.03 ERA last five starts). And going back to last year, Tampa Bay is 8-2 in Price’s last 10 trips to the mound, with six of those victories being by more than one run). As for Houston’s Bud Norris, here’s all you need to know: He’s 2-5 with a 6.75 ERA overall and 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA at home. And if you take away his two wins over the Cardinals (he gave up just one run in 13 innings), Norris is 0-5 with a 9.82 ERA, and those five losses were by a combined score of 35-6.
John Fina
NY Mets
Charlies Sports
500* Lakers @ Suns Under 219
30* Suns +1
20* Reds -130
Tony George
LA Lakers +2
Cannot pass up the better team getting points, it goes against every fundamental rule in capping. The playoffs are a different animal and LA is bringing their A game here eb=very day and now have a 6-1 SU edge their last 7 against the Suns. LA is winning the battle in the paint with Odom and Gasol, and Bynum is putting in quality minutes, and the Suns are playing NO defense. While they may play some today, Kobe will command a double team in order to hold his points down and the big men are stepping up on pick and rolls off the triangle offense and killing the Suns. Boston was the better team and won yesterday, I feel LA does the same thing here. Play 1 Unit on LA
Toronto -120
Interesting the Toronto ha€s a better road record than a home record and Marcum, their starter has been unhittable his last 5 games, and the bullpen for the Jays is far better as well. How about the D Backs bullpen? Over a 7 ERA their last 3 games and trust me when I tell you Arizona has won 2 straight in this series and the Jays want this one, with their ace on the hill, setting up the perfect storm for the D Backs today, I will bust out 2 units on this one. Buckner for the D Backs has tossed 5 innings this season...good luck against a pissed off Blue Jay team hell bent on a win at a cheap line. Play 2 Units on Toronto
Jimmy Boyd
Lakers at Suns
Pick: Suns -1.5
Plays on home teams in a triple revenge spot - 3 straight losses vs. an opponent, in a game involving two good teams (60% to 75%), are 95-55 ATS since 1996. In addition, plays against all teams where the line is +3 to -3 off a home win, playing with 3 or more days rest, are 55-28 ATS the last 5 seasons. The home team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings. The Suns are 16-4-1 ATS in their last 21 home games, 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS loss, 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite of 4.5 or fewer points and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss. I can't see the Lakers shooting 58% from the field in Phoenix tonight as they're only shooting 45.6% on the road this season. Plus, look for Phoenix to finally play some "D" as it feeds off the energy of its home crowd. Take the Suns.