Erin Rynning
15* Mavs Under
Marc Lawrence
Blue Jays
Wayne Root
Millionaire - 76ers -5
The Duke's Sports
Washington Under (9) for 2 Units
Two teams that are struggling to drive in runs clash here. The Nationals are batting a paltry .211 vs righties while the Marlins are doing better in that role at .252 at home, they're struggling to manufacturer runs -- leaving 41 runners stranded in scoring position already this season. Consequently, we'll look for both starters to keep the scoring down. Ex-Marlin Hernandez, who has a solid April ledger at 9-4, sports a 2.88 ERA in his last 15 starts at his old stomping grounds. Hernandez is 4-16 O/U on the road. On the other hand, the Marlins' Volstad has had success vs the Nationals, albeit a high ERA in the process, but is a respectable starter at this ball-park. Volstad is 2-6 O/U at home in this 'total' range. This series is 3-8 O/U in Florida and we'll look for it stay "under" tonight.
Crown City Sports
3* Mets +129
3* Orioles +128
Bob Balfe
Detroit Tigers -125
Baltimore is off to a hot start this season and have been very impressive with their young starting pitching. Tonight, the better pitcher on the mound is Justin Verlander, who has pitched well against Baltimore in the past. The Orioles are an improved team, but they will not blow you away with hitting. Until their bats get red hot, I do not expect them to continue to remain competitive against superior pitching. Take Detroit.
Dr Bob
Opinion/Possible Best Bet
INDIANA (-11½) over Washington
Indiana is trying to hold onto the last playoff spot in the East and the Pacers have been good this year hosting bad teams, especially after a loss. Indiana is 12-4 ATS this season as a home favorite of more than 4 points, including 8-0 ATS after a loss, and the Wizards are still just 4-22 ATS after their last 26 victories even with their last two covers in that situation. Washington is only 1-13 ATS on the road after a win this season and they’re overdue to a bad game after winning 3 straight for the first time since April of 2008. My ratings favor the Pacers by 11 points and I’ll lean with Indiana at -12 or less. I’d take Indiana in a 2-Star Best Bet at -11 or less.
Lenny Del Genio
New Orleans -2.5
Likely looking forward to this divisional showdown, the Houston Rockets obviously got caught napping last night at home as they lost outright to the Sacramento Kings, 104-101 as 8.5-point favorites. That puts them three full games behind eighth place Memphis (also lost last night) in the race for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs and 3.5 games behind tonight's opponent, seventh place New Orleans, with only four games to play. So "for those keeping score at home," that means the Hornets can clinch a playoff berth with a win at home tonight and we think they'll get the job done. We already liked NO in this matchup due to the huge edge at PG w/ Chris Paul and now with the Rockets losing last night, we feel that the visitors will be demoralized. Additionally, New Orleans has been off since Sunday, so the scheduling spot is far more favorable to them. The road team has won all three previous meetings between these teams this season, so you know the home team will have to hold serve at least once for the year and N Orleans has revenge for a two-point loss here at the end of February. That snapped a five-game win streak by the Hornets over the Rockets and note that Houston has not won twice in the Big Easy in the same season since 2004-05. New Orleans is our 20* Southwest Division Game of the Month.