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LA Dodgers -122FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Tim Lincecum has been solid throughout his career against the Dodgers, but he's yet to see an LA lineup this stacked. Plus, he was awful in the preseason, going 0-3 with a 10.57 ERA in 5 starts. Josh Beckett struggled in spring training as well but was sharper than Lincecum. Plus, San Francisco's hitters are a lot less familiar with the stuff of the long time Red Sock. The Giants were only 4-12 in Lincecum's first 16 starts a year ago as it took him a long time to get anything going. Beckett typically gets out of the gate hot, especially at home. In fact, his teams are 23-5 all-time in his April home starts. Take the Dodgers.
Vegas Connection
Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers
Pick: Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn in nice spot the 4th seed after somewhat diappointing spot in Jan which they fired their coach. Cavs pretty much have packed it in at 1-9 in their last 10. Nets just laying 3 baskets can cover in a blink of an eye. Take Brooklyn
Craig Davis
Gave you a comp play winner on Iowa over Maryland last night.
Wednesday's comp play is the Utah Jazz at home over the Denver Nuggets.
It's hard to go against the Denver Nuggets right now, as well as they've been playing of late. But the Jazz, in the midst of a heated playoff run with the Lakers and Mavericks, need this win more than ever... and they're playing at home where they are nearly unbeatable.
It's hard to go against the best teams in the league when they are playing in a near pick 'em game, but the Nuggets have lost three straight and 11 of their last 14 games in Utah... a fact that's impossible to ignore.
The Jazz are even with the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and played really well in their last two games vs. Brooklyn and Portland. Al Jefferson scored 24 and grabbed 10 boards in their most recent win over the Blazers... who are also trying to position themselves for the playoffs.
Utah has won each of its last five games by 10 or more points and now sit at 28-9 at home... one of the best home records in the entire league. But these are the Nuggets and Utah is going to have to bring their A-game if they want to pull a 1/2 game in front of the Lakers... who used the referees (again) to beat Dallas last night.
Denver had lost two straight, both on the road, after winning 15 in a row, but then got back to their winning ways in their Friday game vs. Brooklyn, 109-87.
PG Ty Lawson is doubtful against the Jazz tonight and didn't play against the Nets, missing four of the last five games the Nuggets have played in.
Too much at stake for the Jazz here tonight... they get the win by seven.
2♦ UTAH
Jeff Benton
Now a 27-14 freebie run.
Wednesday night freebie is the Under in the Giants-Dodgers series finale.
On Monday it was the Dodgers blanking the Giants by a 4-0 count.
Last night the Giants returned the favor, blanking the Dodgers by a 3-0 count.
Tonight another low-scoring affair as Tim Linceum and Josh Beckett will match pitches.
Lincecum is looking to bounce-back after his worst season in the majors last year relegated him to the bullpen come the postseason. It should be noted that Lincecum did go 2-0 with an under 2 ERA in his final 3 starts versus the Dodgers last season.
Beckett meanwhile went 2-3 in his 7 starts with Los Angeles last year, and did post a respectable 2.93 ERA in those efforts.
The runs have been at a premium through the first two games, no reason to think tonight we see the offense bust out.
Take the Giants and Dodgers to hold Under the total at Dodger Stadium tonight.
3♦ SAN FRANCISCO-LOS ANGELES UNDER
Brett Atkins
My free play for Wednesday night is going to be on the Over on the Milwaukee/Colorado game, as I see these two getting into slugfest based on the pitchers going for both these teams.
A pair of righties are toeing the slab, with the Rockies handing the ball to Juan Nicasio and Milwaukee turns to Wily Peralta. And as far as I can see, neither bring anything major to brag about to the mound, and have question marks coming into this season.
Nicasio made a mere 11 starts last season, three less than the 14 he made in 2011 due to injuries. And going into Milwaukee, I just don't know what kind of stuff he'll have on his delivery. He's never been one to have confidence in his change, and until he develops that, he's going to get caught making mistakes with his heater and slider.
Piralta, meanwhile, comes in after a rough spring, during which he had a 5.74 ERA in four games. Lifetime against Colorado, he has a 9.00 ERA.
And with the Over cashing in the last four meetings, I'd say it's safe to play this one high.
2♦ OVER Rockies/Brewers
Ian Cameron
Philadelphia at Atlanta
Play: Atlanta
I’m determined to fade Roy Halladay tonight as he takes to the hill for the first time this season against the Atlanta Braves. Halladay has been one of the best pitchers in MLB for the better part of the last decade but he struggled in the second half of last season showing signs that maybe he is starting to move past the prime of his career. Halladay allowed 3+ runs in each of his last four starts in the 2012 season and things got even worse for Halladay this spring.
The Phillies ace endured a difficult March in which his fastball struggled to get into the high 80's. He suffered a stomach virus too which took away much of his strength. This of course is all coming off a season where Halladay posted his highest ERA (4.49) since 2001. I'm not sold on him coming out of the gate strong tonight against Atlanta who have hit him hard in recent starts. Halladay allowed 3, 4 and 8 runs in his three starts against the Braves here at Turner Field last season. Halladay owned a dreadful 11.21 ERA against Atlanta in 2012 and the Braves lineup looked very potent in their season opening 7-5 win against the Phillies on Monday night.
Paul Maholm has had his share of inconsistencies throughout his career but I’m willing to trust him more than Halladay. Maholm had a terrific spring going 4-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 29.1 innings of work. Philadelphia’s lineup doesn’t match up as well against lefties as it does against right-handed starters and if Maholm is able to exit the game with a lead, which is what I expect to see tonight, the Braves bullpen, particularly at the back end, is far more trustworthy to close out a game than the Phillies. Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel was razor sharp in notching his first save of the season in Atlanta’s win on Monday night. The Braves seem to have the edge tonight in starting pitching, lineup, and bullpen which puts us on the moderate sized home favorite.