JR O'Donnell
3* BOSTON CELTICS + 7.5
We note that after the magic got blown away last game the Magic will be the public darling tonight in must win spot for the boys from Fla. We are all over the Boston C's who square up well with Orlando. The last game the magic were held to 21% 5-22 from behind the arc. The Celtics will hound and harass Dwight Howard again tonight and they can play him straight up and take away what the Magic offense does best. The Celtics should be 3 point dogs here according to our JR O power ratings and the Celtics are 30-17 on the road and as we stated before, they are not afraid to roll into the Magic center. The Celtics are a smooth 57-28 a road pup and we will back the boys from bean town as a 3* top play winner.
Lenny Del Genio
SD Padres -110
The Padres beat SF to snap the Giants three game winning streak, and snap their own three game losing streak. That win makes it seven straight over the Giants this season. The Giants can’ touch this Padres pitching staff as they have yet to score more than two runs in any of the seven ball games. Tonight, the Giants get to face the Padres Latos. This SD lefty has faced these Giants twice this season and all he’s done is pitched 16 scoreless innings. Those two outings have been dominant as the Giants have managed only 5 total hits and he’s walked only one batter. The Giants start Sanchez and he’s been tough against SD but he can’t get any support. In two outings this season against SD he’s 0-2 but allowed only two earned runs. However, Sanchez has started to slide a bit in his last three starts. Other than the one start versus SD, he has struggled losing those other two starts as well and surrendering 7 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings of work. This Giants lefty is starting to get frustrated as the Giants can’t score any runs to support him. As we mentioned, the Giants had won three straight coming into this series, but those three games were against the lowly Astros. The Giants aren’t hitting as they are scoring 3.2 runs per contest with a paltry .210 batting average over the last seven games. The Padres are 7-2 against lefties this season and we think they’ll get to Sanchez tonight. The Padres bullpen is strong and they had another good outing last night going two scoreless innings with Bell recording his 11th save of the season. SD has SF’s number and they sweep this two game set to make it eight straight wins over the Giants this season. Play on SD.
Evan Altemus
Celtics / Magic Over 188.5
These two teams combined for 180 points in Game 1, mainly because of Orlando’s horrible offensive performance in the 1st half. However, they were still able to get to 88 points, which is very telling. I don’t expect them to struggle that much again in the 1st half, and I expect them to make adjustments to score more points. However, the Magic are not a physical and dominant defensive team, so I expect Boston to score at least 90 points in this game. I lean toward Orlando for the side because I think Boston will be a little lackadaisical after winning Game 1. If the game is an Orlando blowout then it will definitely go over the total. Also, it was the first game of the series for both teams, which is why they played sluggish on offense. Look for Orlando to much better offensively and for both teams to be in better offensive rhythm.
Craig Davis
15 Dime T.B. Rays -1.5
15 Dime Philly -1.5
15 Dime Orlando
Fantasy Sports Gametime
100* Play Tampa Bay (-240) over Cleveland
Tampa Bay has won 5 of the last 6 games and they have also won 80 of the last 105 games when playing as a favorite of -150 or higher. David Price has won 11 of the last 12 day games and he is 5-1 this season with an ERA of 2.03.
50* Play Florida (-190) over Arizona
Florida has won 6 of the last 8 games and they have also won 5 of the last 6 home games as a favorite of -150 or higher. Josh Johnson has won 11 of the last 13 games as a home favorite of -150 to -200 and he is 3-0 at home this season with an ERA of 2.18.
25* Play Montreal (+135) over Philadelphia
25* Play Chicago (+120) over San Jose
Jim Feist
3* Detroit Tigers
Both starters are average, but the real difference between these teams is offense. The Tigers are in a pennant race, ranked 7th in the AL in runs scored and third in onbase percentage. Chicago has been weak all season at the plate and 10th in onbase percentage. Chicago has been particularly bad on the road and this is their 7th straight road game, the end of a long trip. Detroit has a winning record the last 8 days despite playing the Yankees and Red Sox and this is their 10th straight home game. Detroit starter Ricky Porcello had his best outing of the season Wednesday, throwing seven shutout innings in a 2-0 win over the Yankees. Porcello struck out a pair and walked three in his longest outing of the season. He was able to keep the ball down this time out, inducing the Yankees into 16 ground outs. Play the Tigers..
Mike Lineback
4* Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
Joe D'Amico
Los Angeles Dodgers -1½ +100
This is a battle between the N.L.’s hottest team and its coldest. Los Angeles has won 8 straight while Houston has dropped 4 in a row. The Dodger’s are hitting the ball extremely well. They are averaging 5.3 RPG in their current win streak. They have a powerful lineup led by Andre Ethier. Ethier is batting .392 with 11 HR’s, and 38 RBI’s. Today, they have Hiroki Kuroda throwing. Kuroda is 4-1 with a 2.66 ERA on the season. In his L3 starts, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.05 ERA. He pitches well against Houston. In 18.7 innings pitched in his career against the Astro’s, Kuroda has given up just 4 earned runs. He faces one of baseball’s worst offenses. The Houston lineup is posting a dismal 2.9 RPG. As a team, they have just 18 HR’s because they don’t have a true power-hitter. They have Bud Norris on the bump. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.48 ERA in his L3 starts. The Astro’s are 0-4 their L4 games vs. teams with a winning record, 6-20 their L26 vs. the N.L. West, and 17-41 their L58 overall. The Dodger’s are 10-1 in Kuroda’s L11 starts vs. the N.L. Central, 20-7 their L27 vs. RH starters, 6-0 their L6 as a favorite, and 13-3 their L16 overall. Take L.A. on the Run Line.
BIG AL
3* Magic/Celtics Over 188.5
3* White Sox/Tigers Under 9
3* Blue Jays -120
3* Reds/Brewers Over 9.5
Rainout plays from 5/17 F Garcia/R Porcello
Rocketman
4* Chicago White Sox +135
Chicago White Sox bullpen has a 2.96 ERA on the road this year. Freddy Garcia is 2-0 with a 3.79 ERA his last 3 starts. Rick Porcello has a 6.08 ERA overall this year. Garcia is 16-6 with a 3.76 ERA overall vs Detroit since 1997. Porcello is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA overall vs Chicago White Sox since 1997. White Sox are 23-7 in Garcias last 30 starts with 5 days of rest. White Sox are 19-9 in Garcias last 28 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. White Sox are 33-16 in Garcias last 49 road starts. White Sox are 7-0 in Garcias last 7 road starts vs. Tigers. White Sox are 8-1 in Garcias last 9 starts vs. Tigers. We'll play Chicago White Sox for 4 units tonight!
Jim Feist
15* Detroit Tigers
The White Sox look to rebound after losing two of three games to the Kansas City Royals. The White Sox are next to last in the AL Central and eight games back of the Minnesota Twins for first place. The club lacks much punch at the plate as they are dead last in the AL in batting average (.228). The team is first in stolen bases (44) but had three players thrown out on the basepaths in Sunday's loss to the Royals. The White Sox have won just six of 18 road games and now face one of the best home clubs in the AL in Detroit. The Tigers are 14-5 at Comerica Park and have won 10 of their last 13 at home. Detroit is coming off a fine home series against Boston where they took two of three games including Sunday's game, 5-1. Rick Porcello starts today for Detroit and has won two of his last three starts including a fine outing last time where he allowed just four hits over seven innings in a win against the Yankees, 2-0. I'll be taking the Tigers here on Monday and laying the price. The Tigers have been dominant at home and with the light hitting White Sox visiting, this two-game series is likely to be a sweep by the home club.
Al DeMarco
5 Dime Detroit
Do you realize the Tigers have taken consecutive home series against the Red Sox (2-1), Yankees (3-1), Twins (2-1) and Angels (3-0) - all playoff teams - to improve to 14-5 on the season at home with 10 wins in their last 13 games in Motown?
One guy who loves the home cooking is Rick Porcello. At Comercia Park he's 3-0 in four starts with a 3.86 ERA. Compare that to his 0-3 record and 9.88 earned run average on the road. Ouch.
In his last start at home Porcello blanked the Yankees over seven innings, allowitng just four hits. If he could hold New York's potent attack in check, he can certainly stop Chicago's impotent line-up.
Yes, Freddie Garcia has some impressive career numbers against Detroit, but the majority of those were compiled long before his career was derailed by shoulder and arm injuries. And yes, he's won his last two starts against the Twins and Royals, but take a look at the linescores for those two games: 19 hits allowed in 13 innings. No surprise considerong he's allowed 56 baserunners in 36 innings this season.
How the Tigers aren't a -185 favorite - or higher - in this spot is a surprise to me.
Steven Budin
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
KIKI SPORTS
2 Units NY Mets -120
1 Unit Boston +180
1 Unit Kansas City -110
Teddy Covers
Tampa Bay -1.5
ATS Lock Club
4 Units Celtics +7.5
4 Units Mets -110
3 Units Rangers -125
Dr Baseball Guaranteed Selections
GRAND SLAM BASEBALL DAYTIME DOMINATOR
Cincinnati w/Bailey -135
Fantasy Sports Gametime
1000* Orlando -7.5