Vegas Sports Informer
Mayweather over Guerrero - By KO
Floyd 'Money' Mayweather will have no problem with Robert Guerrero on Saturday night, and I see Mayweather finishing him between rounds 8 through 10. Yes, Guerrero is a mediocre fighter, but he is not in Floyd Mayweather's league, and I see Mayweather picking him apart throughout the rounds and taking this fight with no problem. Again, Mayweather KOs him in the late rounds, and then we start hearing the rumors of a Mayweather fight in November against either Pac-Men or Alavarez. The MGM should be jumping this weekend, and in the end Floyd is going to deliver the cash.
CHRIS JORDAN
My free winner in Major League Baseball for today is on the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, as I think they're in the right spot to score a win here and end the Indians' five-game win streak.
First of all, you check the line and see a team that is owning the momentum right now on a win streak like that, and it is laying just -105 or -110, it's pretty obvious what the oddsmakers are telling you. Perhaps it's because Kevin Correia (3-1, 2.23) is on the hill for the Twins, and struggling Scott Kazmir (0-1, 8.64) is on the bump for the Indians.
After all, Correia is in after firing eight scoreless innings against the Rangers, in his last start, and he's now won three straight starts. And Kazmir hasn't pitched since April 27, and is still looking for his first big-league win since 2010.
I'm pretty convinced Correia has been the Twins' best pitcher this season, and Minnesota is better than its record indicates, and it will be able to jump on Kazmir early and pretty much give its starter a lead to work with.
But I don't want to list Correia, or Kazmir for that matter, cause I don't think it matters who goes. If the Twins get into trouble, I think they'll be just fine since their bullpen has a 1.80 ERA in their last eight games.
It's just the right spot here, as the Indians are set for a letdown. Take the Twins.
3* TWINS
JEFF BENTON
Saturday freebie is the Over in the Bulls-Nets game.
This is it, Game Seven, and someone is going home!
I know the Bulls are depleted, but I expect whoever is on the floor for Chicago at the Barclays Center to give it their all, as I feel sure the Bulls do not want to be just the 9th team in NBA history to blow a three games to one series lead.
The total is low enough that I think the teams should be able to clear it, much the way they have in the last three games played in this series.
In fact, four of the six played in this seven game set have now landed in the Over column, as the Over run between the teams stands at 6-3 the past nine series meetings.
13 of the past 18 series meetings between the teams on Nets hardwood have also landed Over, while Chicago brings a 7-1 Over run their past eight when playing with one day's rest into the Barclays Center this Saturday night.
All about the Over in this one boys!
2* CHICAGO-BROOKLYN OVER
Dave Price
6* Phillies -1.5 +101
Frank Jordan
Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees
Play: New York Yankees
Oakland came into the Bronx last night and not only won, but shutout the Yankees and beat their ace CC Sabathia. Oakland is troting out former Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon Saturday who is 3-0 with a 3.38 era. Colon has gone at least six inning in each of his five starts this season all five were Oakland wins. In 15 games, 14 starts, Colon is 4-6 vs. the Yankees with an era over six and has allowed 21 homeruns. Phil Hughes is on the mound for the Yankees who is 0-2 with a 4.67 era, but is pitching well of late going at least six inning in each of his last three starts allowing only two runs each start and the Yankees have won the last two of those games. Look for Hughes to finally get run support with with him on the mound as they get to Colon early and often. Play NY Yankees
Cajun Sports
Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros
Play: Houston Astros
The Detroit Tigers look to make it three straight against Houston on Saturday night but that may not be as easy as one would think. Scherzer will take the mound for the Tigers and he has allowed eight runs and 13 hits with 16 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings over his last two starts. Scherzer is still seeking his first road win despite compiling a 1.29 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 14 innings over his first two outings. Scherzer lost his only appearance at Minute Maid Park on Aug. 22, 2009, giving up four runs in five innings. He went 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two meetings that season. Houston will send starter Harrell to the bump with his 3-2 record and ERA of 3.60. Over his last four starts Harrell has compiled a record of 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA. Harrell went 6 innings his last time out a game in New York versus the Yankees in which he scattered eight hits and yielding just one run in a 9 to 1 victory. We will back the home underdog here as Harrell breaks the Tigers winning streak on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
Sean Murphy
Washington vs. Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh
While it may change as the season unfolds, there's no question that right now, the Pirates are the superior team in this matchup.
Pittsburgh rolls into Saturday's game having won 10 of its last 14 games. The Nats' on the other hand have won just five times in their last 13 contests.
Of course, Saturday's price has everything to do with the fact that Washington is handing the ball to its ace, Stephen Strasburg.
With that being said, Strasburg has been snake-bitten so far this season, and until the Nats' start giving him some consistent offensive support, I'll continue to consider him prime fade material at the lofty prices being offered.
Strasburg has actually pitched quite well over his last four outings, but that only leads me to believe we may see some regression on Saturday. And there's little reason to think the Nats' would be able to bail him out should that type of storyline unfold.
Washington has scored a grand total of 11 runs in Strasburg's six starts this season. The Nats' bats have gone silent lately, producing three runs or less in six straight games.
The Pirates will counter with Jeff Locke. He's quietly gotten the job done over his last two outings, giving up only five hits over 13 shutout innings. The Buccos won those two contests by a combined 11-0 score, on the road against the Phillies and Cardinals.
But Locke is only part of the equation today. The Pirates have everything clicking right now, having scored 35 runs over their last six games, not to mention their outstanding bullpen, which has posted a collective 1.97 ERA here at home this season. By contrast, the Nats' 'pen has recorded a 4.93 ERA on the road.
The Buccos have taken five of the last seven meetings in this series, and should be able to ride their positive wave of momentum to another 'upset' win on Saturday afternoon.
Jimmy Boyd
Brooklyn Nets -6½
The Brooklyn Nets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against teams with a winning record. They have covered the spread in four of the six games against Chicago and they come into this game with a strong home court advantage. The biggest advantage the Nets have over the Bulls is the fact that their offense is able to put more points on the board. Chicago averages a mere 93.5 points per game and the Bulls defense is not good enough to hold a playoff caliber team to under that amount of points.
Chicago did not perform well against Eastern Conference opponents to end the season. They come into this game with a 4-10 ATS record in their last 14 against the Eastern Conference and they are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games played on the road. The Bulls have been without Derrick Rose all season and without that marquee scoring threat they cannot be expected to win four of seven games against any opponent. They overachieved all season including the first 6 games against Brooklyn. That ends tonight as the Nets win in a blowout.
Paul Leiner
100* Dbacks -120
100* Rays -130
50* Braves -135