Robert Ferringo
Take Chicago Cubs (-145) over L.A. Dodgers
Take N.Y. Yankees (-165) over Cleveland
Take Texas (-150) over Oakland
Take St. Louis (-150) over San Francisco
Take Philadelphia (-1.5, -125) over Washington
Take Boston (+105) over Toronto
Take Chicago White Sox (-105) over Kansas City
Today's Totals
Take ‘Over’ 10.0 L.A. Dodgers at Chicago Cubs
Take ‘Over’ 9.5 Boston at Toronto
Take ‘Under’ 8.5 Chicago White Sox at Kansas City
Take ‘Over’ 9.0 Atlanta at Arizona
Take ‘Over’ 9.0 Minnesota at Tampa Bay
Take ‘Under’ 8.5 Seattle at L.A. Angels
Scott Spreitzer
NBA PLAYOFF **HAMMER** GAME OF THE YEAR! *8-3, 73% Winners!
I'm playing Orlando on Saturday. Those who have been with me in this series understand why I'm on the Magic. Just because Lebron changed game-five all by himself doesn't make up for the Cavs defeciencies in this matchup. The Magic still have a huge advantage with Turkoglu and Lewis and their 6'10 frames...and their ability to nail "threes"...and their ability to lose their defender with dribble-drives for shots of their own or to hit the open man. There is nothing Cleveland's current roster can do to stop those two players. The Cavs have to hope Lebron not only scores 40-plus again, but also have to hope the two key Orlando players mentioned above go absolutely ice-cold on their home floor. And again, like I said in an earlier write-up, once the Cavs' big-men leave their man to help out, Dwight Howard "busts out the cape." Orlando is simply a bad matchup for the Cavaliers. The Magic are 10-5 SU and 13-2 ATS the last 15 against Cleveland. And, they're 6-1 SU/ATS at home. The Magic are also serious-bank following a game where they allowed 105-points or more, going 12-4 ATS in that spot this season and a healthy, 40-19 ATS the last 59 times. They're also 31-14 ATS against teams that score more than 99 ppg. Look for the Magic to follow the Lakers' lead and wrap-up a berth in the Finals in game-six. I'm playing the Magic on Saturday.
BRANDON LANG
20 Dime Orlando Magic
10 Dime Over Magic/Cavaliers
5 Dime Tigers Run Line
5 Dime Cardinals Run Line
Free pick - Brewers
20 Dime Orlando Magic and 10 Dime Over Magic/Cavaliers - Time for the Magic step up as well. I say this with great urgency because this is just as much a do-or-die game for Orlando, as it is Cleveland. The Magic do not want to go back to Cleveland for a Game 7, so I'm pretty confident we're going to see their absolute best performance tonight. Of course that's what we always get when Orlando plays the Cavs, only this time there's a whole bunch at stake. Everything I'm going to say relates to this being a shootout, so consider the over with everything I'm telling you as well ...
Win tonight and big-bad LeBron go away. No more puppets in their nightmares, just the Kobe one awaiting them in the NBA Finals. Fact is, life would be much simpler with a win tonight. It would mean four days off, to prepare for Kobe and the Lakers, rather than another trip to Cleveland and a Monday night date with the Cavaliers at the Q.
Think about this, the Magic should already be in the NBA Finals, if not for that incomprehensible game-winning shot in Game 2 by King James with one second left in the game. That was the dagger. Fortunately, there's a good chance to recover from that wound. It's a much better wound than the one looming over their heads if they lose these last two games. Forget the three-game collapse, the Magic would have to head to the fishing pond or golf course for the summer, knowing they came within one second of playing for the championship for only the second time in franchise history.
I'm thinking it won't sit well. And I'm thinking the Magic will find that wherewithal they had in Game 6 up in Philly and in Game 7 up in Boston. Only this time they get to do it at home, with the chance to move on to the Finals. Hey, the road resume is impressive, this is a given. But why chance it.
Win the East in front of the home crowd. I've lived in Orlando before, I know what it's like inside that arena. I know all about the Magic, and I am telling you right now this is the most excitable crowd ever, even when Shaq was in town, there wasn't as much hope as there is with the current start wearing the emblazoned S on his chest.
It'll come down to the fourth quarter, again, and you're going to see the Magic will send an extra defender to guard LeBron, while trying to make him give up the ball. And let's not forget how tough the Magic are at defending on the perimeter. We all know Lebron can dish the rock, and so does Stan Van Gundy. Shut down those passing lanes!!! Defend, defend, defend, and create turnovers to create transitional buckets.
The first half is going to be where we get a slew of points. Things may slow up in the third quarter, and we'll stick to the pace in the fourth quarter. When it's all said and done, this one is going to fall in Orlando's favor and will be over the posted number. Magic win, 104-98.
5 Dime Tigers Run Line - To win on the run line you have to have effective pitching and a solid lineup. And when it comes to the Tigers, you don't get much more effective than Justin Verlander. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 0.85 ERA over his last six starts, and in facing an inconsistent Orioles team, I'm looking at a solid 4-run win in this one. Verlander is in off a Memorial-Day win against the Royals, who struck out eight times by his arm. He tossed seven scoreless innings and didn't walk a single batter. I didn't watch the game, but I did read a piece on him and saw the highlights ... kid is incredible with the control he has. He's getting batters to swing and miss from all angles, thanks to the command of his heater, and the right mix of junk at any point in the count. He's owned these Orioles, beating them three times without a loss in four career outings and has a stifling 1.29 ERA in 28 innings against them. Let's lay the run line and take Detroit.
5 Dime Cardinals Run Line - My early vote for Comeback Player of the Year has to be on Chris Carpenter. Talk about a feel-good story, the right-hander has returned twice in incredible shape from injury. He began the 2009 campaign with two spectacular starts after missing nearly all of the last two season with elbow and shoulder issues, and following another sting on the disabled list due to a left oblique strain, he tossed two more startling games. Carpenter, who is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, will look to make it five starts without allowing an earned run, which pretty much wraps it up as to why we're playing this one on the run line. The veteran hurler is 2-0 with a 3.03 ERA in four career starts versus San Francisco, and I think we can count on him to neutralize this lineup tonight, while we can bank on the Cardinals to provide plenty of run support against the always abysmal, I-should-have-stayed-in-Oakland, overpaid Barry Zito. Cards roll here
Dr Guru
12* Detroit Tigers
Executive Sports
600% - Milwaukee
C Jordan
600* Phillies -1.5
100* Cavs ML
Scott Rickenbach
2* (Top Play) OVER the total in Kansas City vs Chicago
To the betting markets, Buehrle shows a 6-1 record and a 2.59 ERA. However there is much more to Mark Buehrle’s numbers when you dig a little deeper under the surface. Buehrle has spent his entire career with the White Sox and he’s been much stronger at home than he’s been on the road throughout his career. This season he’s 2-1 on the road but with a 4.58 ERA and .289 BAA. Last season, Buehrle was a stellar 11-3 at home but note that he went 4-9 on the road with a 5.05 ERA and that he was hit at a .323 clip on the road! Also, Buehrle has great career numbers against the Royals but note that they’ve hit him quite well in recent match-ups. That includes one at Chicago earlier this season but they’ve especially fared well against him at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Note that Buehrle was 1-2 against the Royals in Kansas City last season and he compiled a 5.60 ERA and a .347 BAA in those three outings. In 2007 the White Sox southpaw compiled a 4.91 ERA in his three starts against the Royals. So, again, when evaluating a pitcher, it is best to not simply rely on historical data nor just look at full season numbers. As you can see, there is plenty of support for believing that Buehrle will get a little “roughed up” by the Royals here! Buehrle is opposed by Gil Meche of the Royals and he’s really been struggling. In his last six starts he’s produced just one quality start and he’s averaged less than five innings per start! Meche had a great start at Chicago earlier this season but it was a chilly, early-season game at US Cellular Field and much has changed since then. We’re not just talking about the weather either – which, by the way, it will be quite pleasant in Kansas City tonight. Note that since his first outing this season, Meche has allowed at least four runs (most of them earned of course) in seven of his last nine starts! Here he must deal with a White Sox lineup whose confidence has grown as they’ve scored 33 runs in winning three of their last four games. Yesterday’s big win here in Kansas City is a sign of what to expect from the ChiSox bats tonight. Note that Kauffman Stadium really hasn’t been all that kind to Meche in his career either. He’s compiled a 14-17 record and a 4.57 ERA in his career outings in Kansas City. Truth be known, many of Meche’s better numbers in his career were the result of the years spent in Seattle and pitching home games at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. Of course, it’s a different story for Meche now and he’s been struggling with his command which means more problems here for the veteran right-hander. Last, but not least, each of these teams has had some bullpen issues this season and they both have been hit pretty hard (KC .264 and CWS .273). Another high-scoring game is on tap tonight at Kauffmann. Play OVER the total in Kansas City as a regular selection
ASA
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (Bush) -vs- Cincinnati Reds (Harang)
4 units UNDER 8 RUNS
Aaron Harang and Dave Bush do not command the respect of some of the elite starters in baseball but so far this season, both have been highly effective for teams that have winning records. Harang owns a 3.36 ERA with 56 strikeouts and only 15 walks allowed. The ‘under’ is 6-3-1 in his starts and he appears to be rebounding nicely from a tough season last year. Dave Bush has gone at least six innings in all but one start and he has not allowed more than four earned runs in any game. As a result the ‘under’ is 6-3 in his starts and he has been especially sharp at home with a 0.96 WHIP.
The Reds and the Brewers own two of the best statistical bullpens in baseball so far this season. The Brewers own a 3.41 ERA and Cincinnati owns a 3.62 ERA. Milwaukee has blown eight save situations but they all came early in the year and since Trevor Hoffman joined the team Milwaukee has been lights out in the late innings and opposing batters are hitting just .215 on the season against Milwaukee relievers. The Reds have only blown one save all season, by far the fewest in baseball.
Although the Reds have posted recent productive games against left-handed pitching, Cincinnati is hitting just .225 against right-handers over the past ten games. Milwaukee is hitting just .218 in that same span and despite having several proven hitters in the lineup the Brewers have one of the worst team averages in baseball at .246. Heading into this game the Brewers offense had failed to generate more than four runs in ten straight games while the ‘under’ has cashed in 13 of the last 19 road games for Cincinnati and 11 of the last 15 home games for Milwaukee.
INDIANCOWBOY
4 Units Orlando Magic
4 Units A's vs. Rangers Under
Cogyle
12* Pitt/Det over 5.5
Bond
12* Cavs Over
Daddy
12* ORLANDO MAGIC -2
No Merrill per the boss Ice
Is it me or are the majority on the services on the Magic tonight???
No Merrill per the boss Ice
Forgot about the no-posts.