Dave Price
Arizona Diamondbacks +109
Arizona is off to a slow start but is showing value Sunday in the underdog role with Miley on the mound. The Rockies haven't been able to figure out the Arizona southpaw, who is 6-0 with an ERA of 2.70 in 8 starts against them. The Diamondbacks have lost the first two games of this series and their last four games overall, but they are 4-0 in their last four games after losing the first two games of a series and 12-4 in their last 16 road games that follow 3 or more consecutive losses. The Rockies are 20-44 in their last 64 games following a win and 28-58 in their last 86 games versus a left-handed starter. Colorado's Anderson has been a slow starter, with his teams going just 5-15 in his April starts. Take the Snakes.
Steve Rosen
Tampa Bay Rays -102
TAMPA has already taken 2 games from Texas so why not make it 3! Tampa is home and currently sits at 4-2 vs a road Texas team who is 0-2.Cobb was burned by a three-run homer in the first inning of his season debut Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays but was otherwise solid, allowing one run over the next four innings. Unfortunately, the Rays couldn’t make up the deficit and they lost 4-2. Cobb handled the Rangers back in September in a game with wild-card playoff-berth implications, allowing two runs and six hits in eight innings of a 6-2 victory!
Will Rogers
Utah vs. Golden State
Pick: Golden State
Here is a free play on tonight's Jazz-Warriors game where I expect the home team to roll.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. No Problems on the Court - There has been some dissention among the ranks with the Warriors' coaching staff of late, but you wouldn't have known by watching the team destroy Sacramento 102-69 Friday night as they easily covered the nine-point number. It was the fewest points the Kings scored in any game this season.
2. Head to Head - Golden State has beaten Utah all three times they've played this season, outscoring them by an average of 10 points per game.
3. X-Factor - This is hardly news, but the Jazz stink. They had lost five straight and 16 of 18 overall before a win over New Orleans on Friday. But that victory came at home. On the road, this team has lost 11 of its last 12 and allowed an average of 112 points/game its last five.
Wunderdog
Oklahoma City vs. Phoenix
Pick: Oklahoma City -2.5
A short price on Oklahoma City, the No. 2 seed in the West. They are off a loss, but that was a tired situational spot and the Thunder is 11-5-2 ATS following a defeat. Oklahoma City is fifth in the NBA in scoring, 10th in points allowed, and tops in the West in field goal shooting defense allowing 43.3% shooting (third best in the NBA). The Thunder is 15-5-1 ATS playing on one days rest. Phoenix is fighting for its playoff life, but are not a strong defensive team; 21st in points allowed, 16th in field goal shooting defense. The Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a win of more than 10 points. And when these teams meet, the Thunder is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings, the road team is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings, and OKC is 6-1 ATS at Phoenix.
OC Dooley
Angels / Astros Over 8
The key to this pick actually surrounds the next opponent for Los Angeles as they will be traveling to Seattle to face a Mariners staff that currently leads all of baseball in the ERA department. Odds are the Angels offense will thrive today against newly acquired Houston rotation ace Scott Feldman whose career ERA versus the Halos (6.10) leaves a lot to be desired. So far in this weekend series the Angels offense is hitting collectively at a .354 clip including veteran Josh Hamilton (6-for-8 with two homers) who is thriving. It was a year ago at this time when Hamilton started with a 1-for-20 slump as he was “pressing” for a new employer. Hamilton in his career (.353 average) has cleaned up when facing Houston pitching and I look for that to continue. Here is a 77-PERCENT SYSTEM (37-11 the past five years in the American League with a total between 7-and-8’ runs) which plays poor offensive HOME teams like Houston who average 4’-or-less runs per game OVER the total up against an opponent with a below average bullpen (4.50 ERA or worse) shaking off a “margin” loss of 4+ runs. For whatever the reason Houston’s Scott Feldman is 7-0 OVER the total in DAY games the past three years