EZWINNERS
San Francisco Giants -167
After a very nice sweep against the Cardinals in St. Louis where the Astros bats came to life, the Houston offense is back to their old tricks of not scoring any runs. The Astros have only scored one run in each of the first two games of this series with the Giants and they are up against Barry Zito in this game who has been pitching very well. The 2005 Cy Young award winner is 5-1 this season and has already beaten the Astros once this season without allowing an earned run in six innings. The Giants are 8-3 in Zitos last eleven home starts and they have beaten the Astros in six consecutive games. I look for those trends to continue here. Play on San Francisco.
James Patrick Sports
Western Conference Finals
Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks
The Chicago Balckhawks have scored (40) goals in this Postseason with Patrick Kane (7 goals / 8 assists) and Jonathan Toews (6 goals / 14 assists) becoming the newest star tandem in the Windy City. Goaltender Antti Neimi (2.57) golas against average has been rock solid between the pipes for Chicago. Both of these teams feature solid defenses but we believe that the Blackhawks have many more weapons on offense. The Sharks top offensive weapons have a clear history of misfiring in the Postseason with regularity. San Jose Goaltender Evgeni Nobokov has looked shaky as he has allowed at least (3) goals in (5) of the Sharks (11) Playoff games played. Nabby will have his hands full with an up and coming Blackhawks team that is (5-2) against Pacific Division opposition and has won (5) of (6) on the road to the Stanley Cup so far this Postseason. Chicago will need to win at the San Jose HP Pavilion where the Sharks have won (13) of (15) on their home ice but we love their chances and take the Blackhawks to move on to the Stanley Cup Finals representing the Western Conference. (Chicago wins series 4-2).
Eastern Conference Finals
Montreal vs. Philadelphia
For the first time in NHL history the #7 seed takes on the #8 seed to determine the Eastern Conference Championship in Stanley Cup Playoff action. The Montreal Canadiens have really been impressive with upset series wins against the high-powered Washington Capitals and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins with dramatic road wins in the 7th and deciding games of each series. Riding the red hot goaltending of Jaroslov Halak with his Playoff leading (2.42) goals against average and (.933) save percentage, the Habs get our call to keep their Playoff drive going in the right direction with the Prince of Wales Trophy in hand and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens Michael Camalleri is having his best postseason ever with (12) goals in these Playoffs and The Flyers are counting on Michael Leighton, with just (3) Postseason starts to his credit, to get it done between the pipes. Montreal has beaten the best the NHL has to offer and look for them to get a chance to play for The Stanley Cup. Montreal wins series in (6) games.
Brad Diamond Sports
Play Philadelphia over Milwaukee
Simply, the Phillies own the Brewers winning 13 of the last 18 on the charts. In fact, Milwaukee is 9-23 as a home dog, and now set-up in that role on Sunday night?? Can Milwaukee turn it around? Well, behind lefty Davis the Brewers are 8-2 SU in this total price range and 6-1 in Milwaukee against winning baseball teams. However, we defer to the Brewskeees' 1-10 home mark of late and their horrid 0-4 record after allowing 5+ runs. These numbers portray a hapless bullpen that is in the bottom ten of the league. We close with one of our favorite umpires Mr. Gibson, as the Phillies are 5-0 in his last five outings calling balls and strikes.
DUNKEL INDEX
Boston at Orlando
The Magic look to build on their 7-0 ATS record in their last 7 games as a playoff favorite. Orlando is the pick (-6) according to Dunkel, which has the Magic favored by 17 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Orlando (-6)
Game 503-504: Boston at Orlando (3:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 119.277; Orlando 136.861
Dunkel Line & Total: Orlando by 17 1/2; 186
Vegas Line & Total: Orlando by 6; 189 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Orlando (-6); Under
MLB
NY Mets at Florida
The Mets look to take advantage of a Florida team that is 0-6 in Ricky Nolasco's last 6 starts as a home favorite. New York is the pick (+160) according to Dunkel, which has the Mets favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+160)
Game 951-952: NY Mets at Florida (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Niese) 15.423; Florida (Nolasco) 14.691
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Florida (-180); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+160); Over
Game 953-954: St. Louis at Cincinnati (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Penny) 15.357; Cincinnati (Arroyo) 14.374
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1; 9
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-135); 8
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-135); Over
Game 955-956: Arizona at Atlanta (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Haren) 14.822; Atlanta (Hudson) 14.511
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-130); 8
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+110); Under
Game 957-958: Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Ohlendorf) 14.290; Cubs (Lilly) 13.526
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-250); No Total
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+210); N/A
Game 959-960: Washington at Colorado (3:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Olsen) 15.325; Colorado (Francis) 16.718
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Colorado (-145); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-145); Under
Game 961-962: LA Dodgers at San Diego (4:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Billingsley) 16.072; San Diego (LeBlanc) 15.160
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1; 7
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-115); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-115); Under
Game 963-964: Houston at San Francisco (4:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Myers) 15.419; San Francisco (Zito) 14.638
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-200); 7
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+170); Under
Game 965-966: Philadelphia at Milwaukee (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 16.662; Milwaukee (Davis) 14.605
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-145); 10
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-145); Under
Game 967-968: Texas at Toronto (1:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Lewis) 16.141; Toronto (Morrow) 15.485
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Toronto (-125); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (+105); Under
Game 969-970: Minnesota at NY Yankees (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Blackburn) 16.183; NY Yankees (Mitre) 15.954
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1/2; 11
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-150); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+130); Over
Game 971-972: Boston at Detroit (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lackey) 16.173; Detroit (Galarraga) 15.607
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Boston (-150); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-150); Under
Game 973-974: Cleveland at Baltimore (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Westbrook) 15.230; Baltimore (Hernandez) 14.423
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Baltimore (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-110); Over
Game 975-976: Seattle at Tampa Bay (1:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Lee) 14.568; Tampa Bay (Garza) 16.439
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 2; 6
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-135); 7
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-135); Under
Game 977-978: Chicago White Sox at Kansas City (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Floyd) 14.368; Kansas City (Bannister) 15.909
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-110); Under
Game 979-980: Oakland at LA Angels (3:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Cahill) 15.218; LA Angels (Pineiro) 14.143
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 9
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-160); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+140); Over
NHL
Chicago at San Jose
The Sharks look to build on their 6-0 record in their last 6 games as a favorite. San Jose is the pick (-125) according to Dunkel, which has the Sharks favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-125)
Game 51-52: Chicago at San Jose (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 13.125; San Jose 13.332
Dunkel Line & Total: San Jose by 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-125); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-125); Over
Game 53-54: Montreal at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 12.989; Philadelphia 12.257
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia (-130); 5
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+110); Over
WNBA
Washington at Minnesota
The Mystics look to take advantage of a Minnesota team that is 2-13-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing with 0 days of rest. Washington is the pick (+4) according to Dunkel, which has the Mystics favored by 2. Dunkel Pick: Washington (+4)
Game 651-652: Chicago at New York (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 109.660; New York 111.452
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 2; 153
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 6 1/2; 147 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+6 1/2); Over
Game 653-654: Washington at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 110.821; Minnesota 108.721
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 2; 159
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 4; 155
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+4); Over
Game 655-656: Indiana at Atlanta (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 109.684; Atlanta 117.560
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 8; 149
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 1 1/2; 154 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+1 1/2); Under
Game 657-658: Los Angeles at Seattle (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 110.506; Seattle 117.691
Dunkel Line & Total: Seattle by 7; 140
Vegas Line & Total: Seattle by 5; 142 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-5); Under
MTi Sports
Arizona Diamondbacks at Atlanta Braves
Prediction: Atlanta Braves
The Snakes are 0-22 since September 14th, 2007 as a dog during the regular season when they are off a win in which they never trailed and their starter lasted more than six innings and did not allow a home run. Arizona is 0-2 in this situation and has lost these 22 games by an average of 3.1 runs. The Braves look like the play.
Ben Burns
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Chicago Cubs
PICK: Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are the largest favorite on the board today. That may seem strange, given that they have already lost the first two games of this series and that they're now 0-5 vs. the Pirates this season. However, I expect them to have a significant advantage and feel that the price is actually quite reasonable.
Ohlendorf will be making his first road start of the season. Pirate fans will remember that he was great at home but that he went 3-8 with an ugly 5.56 ERA on the road last season. The previous season, he was 1-2 with a 6.50 ERA on the road. The Pirates are 1-8 his last nine starts away from Pittsburgh.
Lilly was a hard-luck loser last time out. Indeed, he took a no-hitter into the 6th inning. The Cubs are still 12-4 his last 16 home starts though and he was 8-2 with a 1.87 ERA here last season.
Even with this season's disappointing results, the Cubs are still 13-7 the last 20 times that they hosted the Pirates. I feel that they've got a very strong chance at improving on those stats and avoiding the sweep. Consider laying the wood.
Larry Ness
Oakland Athletics @ Los Angeles Angels
PICK: Los Angeles Angels
LA limped into this three-game weekend series vs the A's at 15-21 overall, including 9-11 at home. However, one had to believe the Angels couldn't keep struggling, as the three-time defending AL West champs (five titles in six years) had played .630 baseball at home the previous three seasons (153-90) while finishing 22, 24 1/2 and 18 games ahead of the A's. The 18-17 A's led the Angels by 3 1/2 games prior to Friday but the Angels have won 4-0 (Saunders over Braden) on Friday and 12-3 last night. All of a sudden, the Angels can close within a half-game of the A's with a win on Sunday. However, the Angels haven't swept a three-game home series from the A's since 2003. That is about to change. Trevor Cahill went 10-13 (4.63 ERA) last season for the A's in 32 starts (team was 16-16) but opened this year in the minors. He made his first start of the season after being called up to pitch in place of Brett Anderson (ailing left elbow) on April 30 and allowed eight runs (six earned) and seven hits in five-plus innings. He's bounced back with two better starts since, winning 4-1 at home and getting a no-decision ina 7-6 road win (1.69 ERA). Joel Pineiro gets the start for LA. He was thought to be a "star in waiting" back with Seattle in the early part of the 2000s. He went 14-7 (3.24) in '02 and 16-11 (3.78) in '03 but from 2004-08 (for Seattle, Boston and St Louis), was 35-47 with a 5.34 ERA. However, he got things sorted out last year with the Cards. He opened 4-0, struggled in losing nine of his next 11 but then went 8-0 with 2.87 ERA over an 11-start stretch (7/3-9/1) in which the Cards won all 11 of his starts. He finished 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA and signed as a free agent with LA. His first three starts were excellent (1.86 ERA with a 13-3 KW ratio) but then he lasted just 9.1 innings in back-to-back starts, allowing 21 hits and 15 ERs (14.46 ERA). However, he's allowed just two ERs over 12.1 innings of his last two starts (1.46 ERA and a 12-4 KW ratio). He's had trouble with the A's in his career but that's mostly "old news." The A's have played much better to open the 2010 season but the fact remains that they are still struggling on the road (5-12 TY), which is right in line with the team's 103-139 (.429) road record the previous three years. Angels get that sweep.
Bryan Leonard
Arizona at Atlanta
Play: Atlanta
As good as Dan Haren has been in his career he's never had much success against the Braves. In his four career starts he owns a 5.40 ERA. In fact, over his last seven starts overall he's got a 4.66 ERA. He's coming off an outing in which the Dodgers knocked him around for 10 hits in only 6.1 innings of work. While his strikeout to walk rate is still excellent, the balls put in play have been hit very hard.
Tim Hudson despite being one of the most consistent starters in baseball continues to be overlooked in betting circles. In his last seven starts he owns a solid 2.64 ERA allowing three runs or less in every start. In fact, 6 of those 7 games he permitted just two earned runs or fewer. In his last five starts against the Diamondbacks he owns a sparking 1.98 ERA, allowing 42 baserunners in 36.1 innings of work.
Arizona is just 8-11 on the road while the Braves are a solid 9-5 at home. Atlanta has fared much better vs righties than lefties and we expect another strong offensive performance here.
Triple Threat Sports
Seattle over Tampa Bay
Taking advantage of Cliff Lee as an underdog here, something we will not see too many more times this season, if at all. He was injured in regular spring training so his first two starts of the year really were more like Cactus League starts for him, but he really seemed to be back in form in his last start. Look for Lee to help the Mariners salvage the final game of this series.
Hollywood Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres
Prediction: San Diego Padres
Take the money line with the Padres on Sunday. The Dodgers' Andre Ethier will be out with a broken pinky finger he injured in batting practice yesterday. Los Angeles (19-17) will miss his bat as he led the majors with his .392 batting average and 38 RBIs while being tied for the major league lead with 11 homeruns. The Dodgers won last night's meeting by a 4-1 score -- but the Padres have won 20 of their last 26 games coming off a loss. San Diego (22-14) sends out the lefty Wade LeBlanc who has been outstanding with a 2-0 record and 1.61 ERA this year. LeBlanc loves pitching in PETCO Park as he has a 2.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and opponent's batting average of just .237 when at home. The Padres have won 5 straight games against teams with a winning record with LeBlanc on the hill. He should fare well against a Dodgers' club that has lost 9 of their last 10 road games against lefties. LA sends out Chad Billingsley who is struggling with a 4.82 ERA despite a 3-2 record. Billingsley is allowing too many baserunners as evidenced by his high 1.55 WHIP. And the Dodgers have lost 5 of their last 7 road games when favored with Billingsley on the mound. Play San Diego with the money line while listing both pitchers.
VEGAS EXPERTS
Cleveland Indians at Baltimore Orioles
We’ll back the Cleveland Indians here as a small favorite after putting up eight runs in the ninth inning last night to send Baltimore to yet another disappointing loss. After taking a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning and letting the game get away from them, Baltimore has to be more than disgruntled when they take the field today. Westbrook doesn’t have great numbers, but as the opening day pitcher he’s gone up against some pretty good pitchers, and today against Hendrickson we think he has the advantage. Indians ride last night’s rally to another win today!
Play on: Cleveland Indians
Wunderdog Sports
New York Mets vs. Florida Marlins
Play: Florida Marlins
The Marlins go for the sweep today and I think they get it. New York has dropped six of their last seven while Florida has won six of their last seven. The Mets are averaging a paltry 3.6 runs per game this season on the road on atrocious .214 batting. Florida gets 5.4 per game at home. When facing division opponents, New York is just 35-55 the past two seasons while Florida is 52-35 in-division over that same span. I like the Marlins to get the win.