Dave Price
1 Unit on Chicago Cubs -125
I like the Cubs to get off their snide Sunday. They should have Wellemeyer's number as the Cardinals are 0-4 in his last 4 starts as a home underdog, 0-4 in his last 4 Sunday starts, 0-4 in his last 4 starts during game 3 of a series, and 1-5 in his last 6 starts vs. the National League Central. The Cubs are an impressive 20-7 in their last 27 games as a road favorite and 16-6 in their last 22 during game 3 of a series. They are in safe hands with Harden also, as the Cubs are 6-1 in Harden's last 7 starts vs. the National League Central and 9-3 in his last 12 starts as a favorite. Take Chicago.
LT Profits
Milwaukee Brewers -120
The Milwaukee Brewers are heating up having won four straight games, and we look for them to finish off the three-game road sweep of the lowly Houston Astros today.
Now each starting pitchers today has gotten off to a slow start, but we feel that Manny Parra of Milwaukee has more ability at this time and is the more likely of the two to turn things around soon. After all, Parr did allow three runs or less in three of his last four starts vs. the Astros last season, and that was vs. a better-hitting Houston team than this one, which is averaging just 3.50 runs per game with a modest .250 team batting average.
While Parra has some upside, Russ Ortiz of the Astros is at the tail end of his career, and we do not see him turning thing around soon. In fact, Ortiz is lucky to own a 1-0 record right now, given his 5.93 ERA and awful 1.76 WHIP. He was all over the place in his last start on Tuesday vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed only three hits but walked five batters while laboring through 116 pitches in only five innings.
That is a lot of pitches for this early in the year, and given that Ortiz has limited ability to begin with, we really look for Milwaukee to light him up today.
Pick: Brewers -120
Dwayne Bryant
ORL -4 vs PHI
The Magic were heavily favored to win this series, but find themselves in a 2-1 hole. The Magic swept the Sixers during the regular season, which makes this 2-1 deficit even more surprising. Orlando knows they need this game and I think they respond with an 8-point win. I'll take Orlando for a half-unit.
Ron Raymond
NYR / WAS Over 5
Seems like the New York Rangers are self destructing on and off the ice. On the ice, players are jumping over the boards when it's not even their shift causing too many men on the ice penalties, the coach is fighting with fans, who's really in charge in New York? How does Sather really dodger all these bullets and still keep his job? How can Tortorella suspend Sean Avery for 1 game for disciplinary reasons and he's being suspended for fighting with fans Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see all the momentum has shifted clearly to the Washington Capitals and they have the opportunity to even the series today's Game #6 showdown in New York. However, at this point of the season, it's very tough to lay chalk on the road teams and that?s why I prefer to take the conservative route and play the OVER 5.0 in today's matinee affair. At the very least, a 2-2 tie going into the third period will get us our money back. Play the OVER.
Drew Gordon
I believe the young Trail Blazers learned a couple valuable lessons from their 86-83 Game 3 loss (but cover). First, that you cannot take your foot off the gas, as they did in Game 3 after crushing the Rockets in Game 2. True, the venue changed and that had a lot to do with it, but overall, even the Blazers players admitted they were "reacting" and not being "aggressors." Look for that to change in this one, as the Blazers have the athletcism to own this series, now all they need is a little motivation - which they got from their Game 3 loss.
Another lesson they learned is: Despite aggressively double teaming Yao, and virtually eliminating him from the offensive end (7 points in Game 3), the rest of the Rockets can beat them, if they get sloppy. Blazers did an excellent job on both Yao and Artest, but let role players like Scola and Landry beat them. Look for better perimeter defense from Nate McMillan's bunch in Game 4, as concentrating on Yao Ming doesn't work... If you're defense isn't going to rotate properly.
Finally, after a red-hot Game 2 at home, the young Blazers got a quick lesson in the difference between a regular season road game and a playoff road game. Everything looked great in Game 2, shooting 51% with Roy & Aldridge leading the way, but that changed quickly in Game 3. Neither one of the Blazers top scorers played well, and its not surprising considering their age and expirience level. But now, a little less "wet-behind-the-ears," look for Roy and Alrdridge to get back to business tonight.
Bottom line, the Blazers are one of the few teams that have the size to easily contend with Yao, all that's left is to keep the energy level high. Rockets are a good team, but not only are they physically overmatched, but also lacking the firepower necessary (with T-Mac out) to score consistently. They benefited from a young Blazers team making stupid mistakes on the road in Game 3, and with that being said, I believe the Blazers clear up those issues in Game 4 tonight. Remember guys, despite all their faults, the Blazers still covered in Game 3, and they'll be even better tonight.
Take Portland plus the points over Houston in this NBA match up.
2♦ PORTLAND
Talk about two pitchers headed in opposite directions, as the young Galarraga continues to impress, while Ponson has done anything but! Let's start with the Tigers righty, who coming off a 13-win rookie season, has done everything right thus far this season, going 2-0 with a lockdown 1.96 ERA! Note, his last start at Kauffman was gem, taking a perfect game into the 7th, eventually allowing 1 run on 3 hits, back on July 23rd! Granted, price is little steep, but its well worth it in this one!
On the flip side, Sidney Ponson has been a veritable gas can, going 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA. What's worse, is we saw his already shaky command disappear in his last start, getting knocked around for 6 runs in 3 1/3 innings at the Indians, while walking 4 batters in the process! The fact he's also struggled against the Tigers doesn't bode well this afternoon, as he's just 4-4 with a 6.62 ERA in 9 career games against them... This one could very well get ugly!
Also, its no secret a couple of the Tigers bats are quite at home at Kauffman, including Ordonez, who hit his first dinger of the season in yesterday's 9-1 rout. With Detroit's bats warming up yesterday against Davies, they'll get just what the doctor ordered to keep it going with a match up agaisnt the struggling Ponson today. In the end, Galarraga will easily outpitch Ponson, who won't be around much longer if he continues to be a complete liabilty for this Royals club. Tigers roll!
Take Detroit behind Galarraga over Kansas City and Ponson in this MLB match up.
3♦ DETROIT
CHRIS JORDAN
Here now in Anaheim overlooking the sunrise and the Anaheim Convention Center, and after doing my segment with Tara Perry on the Men's Dugout (listen live at mensdugout.com), I'll kick back at the Big A and watch the Angels spank the Mariners in this rematch between Jered Weaver and Jarrod Washburn.
Last night it was quite a game, and I suspect the Halos will be able to carryover the momentum of their near-comeback to chase Washburn early.
Weaver allowed four runs and 10 hits in an April 15 loss in Seattle, so revenge will be on his brain today. I have confidence in him, as the right-hander is 6-3 with a 5.22 ERA in his career against the Mariners, but has been stellar on his own mound against the M's, producing a 3-0 mark and 3.57 ERA.
Take the home team here.
1♦ ANGELS
CG Betting Consultants
Seattle Mariners vs. LAA Angels
Play:Seattle Mariners
This afternoon we have the Seattle Mariners taking on the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners are 12-6, 7-2 on the road, and lead the AL West. The Angels are 6-11, 5-6 at home. LA will start (R) Jered Weaver 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA, and a 1.34 WHIP. Seattle bat .273 vs. right-handers. The Mariners will start (L) Jarrod Washburn 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA, and a 0.86 WHIP. The Angels bat .229 vs. left-handers. These two pitchers met on 4-15-09, with Seattle winning 11-3. Washburn gave-up 4 hits and 2 earned runs, while Weaver gave-up 10 hits on 6 earned runs with 2 HRs and 2 walks. The Mariners have won 3 straight, LA has lost 3 straight. CG likes Washburn in this underdog role.
Lee Kostroski
Minnesota Twins @ Cleveland Indians
PICK: Minnesota Twins
According to the Sagarin Rankings Glen Perkins has been the top pitcher in the American League at this point in the season. Perkins has gone eight innings in all three starts while allowing a total of just four runs and four walks in 24 innings. Perkins went 12-4 last season so his strong start does not appear to be a fluke. The bullpen for Minnesota has had problems but with a rest day and two strong efforts from the starters the past three days, the Twins should have all needed arms to close out this series.
Cleveland starter Aaron Laffey has pitched capably in two starts but he faced the weak-hitting Royals in both games. Laffey has walked six in just over twelve innings and he has allowed ten hits in that span. Laffey has not been able to keep a big-league job the past two seasons for Cleveland and he is only here due to injuries right now. At 6-12, the Indians have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball and pitching has been the problem with a team ERA of 6.28.
Both Cleveland and Minnesota own winning records against left-handed starters this season but Perkins should be the superior pitcher on the mound today. The Twins won the only start Perkins made against Cleveland last season and Minnesota has now won five of the last seven games as the offense has picked up the pace following a slow start to the year. Cleveland’s overall scoring numbers are greatly skewed based on a few huge outbursts and they have been held to three or fewer runs in four of the last six games.
Wunderdog
Milwaukee at Houston
Pick: Houston +110
Manny Parra, who is 0-3 with an 8.16 ERA goes for Milwaukee here. Yet the Brewers, on the road where they are averaging just 4.2 runs per game, are favored here. This line is out of whack and we'll take the home squad. Sure, Houston has had their issues thus far, but they are at home and have the pitcher who is performing better. The Brewers won a shutout in game two, scoring nine runs. But they are just 6-17 the past three seasons on the road coming off a 9+ run performance. Houston is 18-6 over that span when attempting to avoid the sweep. I look for the Astros and Ortiz to avoid it this afternoon.
Yankee Capper
NHL
New York Rangers +120
NBA
Chicago Bulls -3
Detroit Pistons +8.5
MLB
Colorado Rockies -105
Cleveland Indians -130
JACK JONES
Houston Rockets -4.5 over Portland Blazers
The Rockets were one of the better home teams in the league this year with a 34-8 record and an average win of nearly nine points per game. The Blazers on the other hand struggled to win on the road, going 20-22. The Rockets continue to shoot well from the floor against Portland and play tough defense in this series so I think they get the cover tonight. Portland is 22-41 ATS off a road cover where the team lost straight up as an underdog while Houston is 29-12 ATS after a game in which they failed to cover this season.