Chris Jordan
My free play for Tuesday night is the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Diego Padres, and I want you listing both of tonight's starting pitchers in this game - the Dodgers' Zack Greinke and San Diego's Ian Kennedy.
After the Dodgers squandered a 1-0 lead late in Sunday's game - ruining my free play that day - I think their offense comes alive against Kennedy, a fly-ball pitcher who cerainly found Petco Park to his liking last season afte being picked up at the deadline. Problem I have with him now, he is in after a sketchy Spring Training and I'm not convinced he can take charge against this lineup.
I'd rather back Greinke, a seasoned frontline starter with a clean, repeatable delivery and that fiery-quick arm from over the top. The dominating northpaw features live two- and four- seam fastballs that reach 90- to 95-miles per hour. He compliments his heater with a cutting fastball, a slider with a quick, late tilt, a curveball on which he can vary the speed and a hard changeup.
San Diego's lineup is in trouble in this one as the Dodgers prevail.
1♦ L.A. DODGERS
Brad Wilton
Big number put up last night by the Marlins, as Miami's 10 runs sent last night's game Over the total all by themselves.
Going to look for another big night at the plate from Miami, as the Marlins do have some nice young talent in their lineup as you saw Marcell Ozuna show off his wares last night in front of the home crowd.
Have to expect Colorado comes out with a little attitude tonight after allowing the most runs of the evening in the National League on Opening Day.
Anderson and Eovaldi are not likely to work deep into the night, and the Over is now 5-2-1 the last 8 series meetings in Florida between the teams.
Colorado and Miami to make their way Over once again on Tuesday.
4♦ COLORADO-MIAMI OVER
Dr. Bob
Opinion - Portland (-8½) over L.A. LAKERS
Portland struggled a bit without LaMarcus Aldridge but the Blazers have won and covered in 3 straight games since his return to the lineup and I expect that trend to continue tonight against a Lakers team that applies to a negative 3-30-2 ATS subset of a 48-131-6 ATS home letdown situation that is based on Sunday’s upset win over the Suns. My ratings favor Portland by 8½ but the match up favors the Lakers a bit and I was hoping to get some line value. I’ll lean with Portland based on the good situation and I’d take Portland in a 2-Star Best Bet at -8 points or less.
Wunderdog
Toronto Blue Jays @ Tampa Bay Rays
Pick: Toronto +158
David Price set the Jays down yesterday, while R.A. Dickey, who never got things going a year ago was hit hard in his 2014 debut. Tampa Bay will go with Alex Cobb off of a breakout season a year ago at 11-3. The Jays counter with Drew Hutchinson, who last pitched a major league game in June of 2012. But, in his abbreviated career Hutchinson has had success pitching in a turfed stadium where the Jays are 5-1. While this may appear to be a mismatch, home favorites in the AL playing Game 2 are in a very negative proposition with an extremely negative ROI. This one looks ugly on paper, but past results show it is a great place with a live dog. Make the play on Toronto.
Calgary Flames @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Pick: Calgary +125
The Toronto Maple Leafs currently sit in #10 place in the Eastern Conference in their quest to make the playoffs. This is a team that has had a colossal collapse down the stretch. They looked to be an easy playoffs qualifier, but have been a dreadful 0-8 over their last eight games. Toronto has been out-scored 32-19 in the eight-game stretch. Calgary has gone 6-4 over their last 10 games, but the offense has been clicking as the Flames have scored 4 goals per game in their last 10, and will put a lot of pressure on the Leaf's defense that has been leaky over the eight-game losing streak, allowing 4 goals per contest. Toronto appears to be over and out, so take Calgary in this one.
OC Dooley
Mavericks -4
Tonight is amazingly the EIGHTH consecutive game at HOME for Dallas which just happens to be a FRANCHISE RECORD stand in front of their own fans. The Mavericks have not exactly taken advantage of this setup as they are only 4-3 in the initial seven tilts and last time on the floor they barely “escaped” lowly Sacramento as the Mavs trailed by five points with about 4:00 left on the clock. This evening not only is the final game of this lengthy homestand but also is the final time the Mavericks will appear in the Dallas area as the NCAA Final Four is coming to town. Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki actually appeared on a Turner Network owned comedy show (Conan O’Brien) last night aa the local hype has already begun. One has to wonder why the oddsmakers have cast such as lofty spot as both sides in tonight’s game still have NOT officially locked up a playoff spot in the Western Conference which makes all remaining games critical in nature. The reason for the high price tag has to do with Golden State INJURIES as big man David Lee (hamstring) is listed a DOUBTFUL while center Andrew Bogut is definitely OUT. Those injuries are critical when considering Dallas last time on the floor was dominated in the paint by Sacramento’s big man DeMarcus Cousins. Dating all the way back to the 1996 season after four consecutive games where both sides involved scored 100+ points Dallas has gone 19-5 ATS
Heath Mac
Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks
Play: San Jose Sharks -1½ +111
Having surged to the top of the West on the back of a 11-2-1 stretch, suddenly the Sharks are not playing very well. They’ve dropped 4 of their last 5 games, with their sole win coming on a 5-2 road win against the Oilers. There’s nothing like a game against one of the worst teams in the NHL to get you back on track and that’s what we think happens here.
The Sharks are 7-1-0-2 in the last 10 games in this series, but have really dominated the key stats. They’ve averaged 3.20 goals to 2.2 goals, 37.70 shots per game to 26.20 shots for the Oilers and have scored on power plays 33.30% of the time compared to the Oilers 19.20%.
We’ve faded the Oilers plenty recently with great success. They have nothing left to play for and have one eye on the end of the season. The Sharks are playing for home ice advantage in the play offs and will want to win these games comfortably.
The Sharks beat the Oilers in Edmonton 5-2 a week ago and we think we see a similar result here.
Edmonton is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against San Jose. Edmonton is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing San Jose. Edmonton is 6-15 SU in its last 21 games on the road. Edmonton is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games. San Jose is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games at home. There’s no value on the moneyline so we’ll take the puckline here at solid value odds.
Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels
Play: Los Angeles Angels -159
The Angels blew a two-run lead before the bullpen was tagged for six in the ninth while falling 10-3 in the opener of this three-game series yesterday. The Angels turn to C.J Wilson in game 2 of this series in the hope of turning things around – and we think they can.
Wilson went 17-7 with a 3.39 ERA, setting a career high in wins, while also leading the Angels in strikeouts (188) and innings (212 1-3). The left-hander compiled a 2.55 ERA in 14 home outings, but he went just 6-4 there after being backed by an average of 3.06 runs in the seven starts that ended in Angels losses. Wilson has also had success against the Mariners, going 8-2 with a 2.14 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings over 11 starts. However, he was charged with a 3-2 loss in the latest one Sept. 22, giving up three runs and eight hits while fanning nine in 8 1/3 innings.
The Mariners start Erasmo Ramirez for this one. Ramirez was 5-3 with a 4.98 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) in 2013.
Seattle is 1-4-1 SU in their last 6 games ,when playing on the road against the Angels. Seattle is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games ,on the road. Seattle is 6-14-1 SU in its last 21 games , The Angels are 7-2-1 SU in their last 10 games when playing at home against Seattle.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
Clemson/ SMU Over 119: Let's break a tendency and go with the Over in this one. Both teams play excellent defense and Clemson loves to slow the pace, but these teams have also been playing higher scoring games than normal of late. Clemson's last 5 games have averaged 128.6 ppg, while their games on neutral courts have put up 129.2 ppg on the year. SMU's last 5 games have averaged 131.6 ppg, while their neutral site games have averaged 131.8 ppg for the year. Clemson has averaged 68.8 ppg on neutral courts this year, while SMU has averaged 70 ppg on those courts. I just see a bit more scoring here, especially late as there is no tomorrow for these teams so fouling at the end should be plentiful. I look for at least 125 points in this one.