Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on LA Angels -130
Penny is 3-1, but he has not pitched well, as his 6.90 ERA indicates. Ervin Santana makes his season debut for the Halos and I expect his team to play very well behind him in the field and at the plate as it has impatiently been waiting for him to return to health. The Red Sox are just 5-12 in the last 17 meetings in this series. The Angels have won 5 of their last 6 and 8 of their last 10, and they are 6-1 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Plus, the Angels are 20-7 in their last 27 Thursday games and 37-16 in their last 53 game 3's of a series. Take the Halos.
Rob Vinciletti
Seattle Mariners vs. Texas Rangers
Play: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are 7-2 vs Leftys this year hitting .287 while averaging almost 6 runs per game.On the road priced at +100 to -125 they have won 3 of 4 times.The M/S have Felix "The Cat" Hernandez slated to start today.In his last start down in Texas he pitched superbly,going 7+ innings allowing just 1 run.Texas on the other hand is coming off there big extra inning win last night and have Lefty Harrison pitching.In his 2 starts vs Seattle he has pitched poorly going 0-2 with a 6.96 era.If he gets out pitched by F.Hernandez here it could spell trouble for Texas as coming off an extra inning late night game, the last thing they want is to go back to a tired bullpen.In day action I have another 100% totals play in MLB action.Last night I swept the board as the bases is starting to heat up.For the free play take the Mariners today
Karl Garrett
NY Mets -135 at SAN FRANCISCO
For Thursday night, take the Mets as they open the long weekend in the Bay Area.
New York just dropped 2 of 3 at home to the Braves, but the Metropolitans have still won 8 of their last 10 overall, and Mets' hurler John Maine has been on top of his game after a shaky start.
Maine has reeled off 3 straight winning starts, and has allowed just 4 runs in his 18 innings of work in those starts.
His counterpart Jonathan Sanchez has dropped his last 2 starts, getting rocked for 9 runs in just 9 innings of work.
The Mets went 5-1 in the season series last year, and are now 9-3 overall the last 12 meetings with the Giants.
Take New York!
5♦ NY METS
Sports Gambling Hotline
Lakers at HOUSTON
Tonight in the NBA, we will play the UNDER in the Lakers-Rockets series.
The last 2 games in this best-of-seven set have played LOW, and we think tonight's will as well.
Houston's lone chance to keep this one close is to keep this game in the half-court, and with the game being played on their home floor, we think that the Rockets have a fighting chance to do that.
The Lakers are on a 9-3 UNDER run their last 12 road games, while the Rockets have played LOW in 7 of their last 9 overall.
Also, 5 of the last 7 series showdowns have stayed UNDER the posted price. This one will too.
Play on the UNDER in the Lakers-Rockets.
3♦ UNDER
EZWINNER'S FREE SELECTION
(743) Los Angeles Lakers -8
After being humiliated in game four of this series the
Lakers bounced back with a huge 40 point win in
game five. I look for the Lakers to finish off the Rockets
here by double digits. Lay the points.
2009 Free Selections Record 70-60 (53.8%)
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Free Selection from Totals4U
Thursday's free selection: Cleveland/Tampa Bay under 9
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Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports
260 - 171 run 60 % 5-1 last 6
Thursday KC Royals
WED TY Houston Astro's + 120
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Free Selection from Razor Sharp
FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY:
Take SEATTLE (Hernandez) Pick'em over Texas
8)
Brian Joseph
New York Yankees (-134) over Toronto Blue Jays
Both the Blue Jays and Yankees hit LHP well. But the Jays get LHP CC Sabathia and the Yankees get LHP Brian Tallet. Sabathia has pitched well in his appearances in Toronto and looked like he turned a corner in his last outing and my confidence in Tallet is not high. If you like Tallet or if you are one of those people who think Sabathia is not the same this year, stay away from this game.
Florida Marlins (+110) over Milwaukee Brewers
The Marlins are 6-1 this year when Josh Johnson starts and 9-1 in his last 10 starts. That includes 4-0 on the road. David Bush is tough in Milwaukee and the Brewers are 5-1 in his last 6 home starts so there’s a reason the Brewers are favored here. However, Johnson is proving to be a top-tier talent. The bullpens are a wash and both lineups are capable of exploding so this one might be close.
Indiancowboy
COMP
Take the Under 197 between the LA Lakers @ the Houston Rockets
After a dismal performance in their last game, I expect the Rockets to do well today at home. As they stave off elimination, without giving away my paid purchase here, I do believe they will undoubtedly step it up on defense as win or lose this game, they definitely will be focused on the defensive end. After all, when you are a playoff team and you cought up 118 points, and considering you are a team that prides itself on defense as they held opponents to 5th in the league in field goal %, this team will look to stave off elimination not from the offensive end, but on the defensive side of the ball. The Under is 4-1 for the Rockets following an ATS Loss and the Under is 7-1 for the Rockets when they face a team with a winning road record at home - meaning when the Rockets face the cream of the crop of the league, it is usually a defensive battle. The Under is also 6-2 for the Lakers overall as well.
STEPHEN NOVER
Houston Astros @ Colorado Rockies
PICK: Houston Astros
Quick question, who is Houston's pitching ace? No, it's not Roy Oswalt. At least not yet.Right now it's Wandy Rodriguez. The guy is pitching great and not just at home. Rodriguez brings a 1.80 ERA into the matchup and is worth riding at this low price against an opponent he has pitched extremely well against.Rodriguez is 2-0 lifetime versus Colorado with a 1.06 ERA. The Astros finally are swinging hot bats behind him with Lance Berkman back in the lineup.The Astros should do plenty of damage against overmatched Jason Hammel. He has a 5.40 ERA and is off his worst start.The Rockies also could be without their star shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki.
This is a one-unit play for me.
Michael Alexander
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
Play Houston +8.5
The Lakers' 118-78 win on Tuesday matched Houston's most lopsided playoff loss. The Rockets say don't count them out just yet, pointing to their propensity for bouncing back after embarrassing defeats.
Houston dropped 11 games by double-digits during the regular season and won the next game 10 times. The Rockets lost 95-84 to Dallas in their regular-season finale, then beat Portland 108-81 in their playoff opener.
Vernon Croy
St Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Play: St Louis Cardinals
This pick falls into one of my top MLB systems and the Cardinals have the better pitcher on the mound at this point in the season. The Cardinals are 15-5 in their last 20 games against a team with a losing record and they look to avoid a 3 game sweep tonight against the Pirates. The Cardinals are 3-0 when Boggs has started as a favorite this season and they are 4-1 in Boggs last 5 road starts dating back to last season. The Pirates are just 0-8 in their last 8 games played on Thursday and they are just 3-12 in their last 15 games overall. The Pirates are just 1-11 in Karsten's last 12 starts dating back to last season and there is simply just too much value here not to take the Cardinals to avoid the sweep tonight where they are 49-24 in their last 73 games. Take the St Louis Cardinals as my MLB Free Play for Thursday night.
Tom Freese
New York Mets at San Francisco Giants
Prediction: New York Mets
The Mets are 8-2 their last 10 games and they are 6-2 in Game 1 of a series. New York is 6-0 vs. an opponent that allowed 5 or more runs in their last game and they are 10-3 their last 13 games vs. NL West teams. San Francisco is 3-14 in the last 17 starts made by Jonathan Sanchez and they are 0-6 with Sanchez vs. winning teams. The Giants are 0-5 their last 5 meetings with the Mets and they are 1-4 at home vs. the Mets. PLAY ON NEW YORK METS - (Maine vs. Sanchez)
Marc Lawrence
Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
The Indians open a 4-game series with the Rays in Tampa tonight when they send Fausto Carmona to the hill against James Shields. It's apparent Carmona is nowhere near the pitcher he was two years ago as he's yet to make it to the 7th inning in any start this season. That's because he can't find the plate, entering tonight's contest with 11 walks and 10 strikeouts in his last three starts. With Shields 3-0 in his last three home starts, look for him to improve to 5-1 in his last six team starts in May here tonight.
Jimmy The Moose
Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays
Prediction: Over
The Indians have struggled this season but their bats have the capability to score runs. Cleveland has pled the over in 2 of their last 3 games. Carmona, 1-4 with an ERA of 5.57, is on the mound tonight. The Indains have played the over in 2 of his 3 road starts. Carmona's two starts vs. Tampa have played the over. The over is 4-1-1 in Tampa's last 6 games. The Rays will take adavantage of a struggling Carmona tonight. Play the over.
Lee Kostroski
Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins
PICK: Minnesota Twins
Justin Verlander has made three consecutive outstanding starts but this season and historically he has not been the same pitcher on the road. Verlander’s road ERA is 7.20 on the season as he allowed eight runs in two starts at the Metrodome last season. The Tigers have won just six of the past 19 meetings between these division rivals and the Twins have been a tough home team despite a mediocre start to the season overall. Detroit’s bullpen has decent overall numbers but has slipped of late and with Dontrelle Willis making a comeback bid Wednesday night, Detroit relievers are likely to be worked in that game and limited should Verlander falter.
This is excellent value on Scott Baker as an underdog at home as his early season statistics are misleading. Baker did not get full spring training work in and may have been rushed into the rotation when he was finally healthy and the results in his first two starts were poor. His last two starts have been very strong however as Baker pitched six no-hit innings against Kansas City before the bullpen collapsed on him and then delivered seven innings of shutout ball against Seattle last Friday for his first win. Baker was the most reliable starter for Minnesota last season and he should be in good position for another strong outing back at home.
Although the Tigers are generally thought of as the more dangerous offensive team, Minnesota is hitting .271 on the year versus just .260 for Detroit. Minnesota has had great success at home against right-handed pitching and the Twins have scored more runs than the Tigers on the season heading into Wednesday’s game. Verlander is the bigger name pitcher but Baker has proven to be just as effective the past two years and the Twins appear on the verge of a run to get back above .500 after a tough opening month now that the starting pitching is improving and Joe Mauer is back in the lineup.
Ben Burns
Los Angeles Lakers @ Houston Rockets
PICK: Houston Rockets
After getting blown out by the "Yao-less" Rockets in Game 4, the Lakers responded with a blowout victory of their own in Game 5. Tonight, the series shifts back to Houston, the scene of the last Rockets victory.
Whether the Rockets can score another upset remains to be seen. However, with a pointspread this high, they don't necessarily have to. They just have to play with enough pride to keep it close. A close game may seem unlikely, given that only one of five games has been decided by single digits. However, keep in mind that the Rockets are no stranger to close games, as they saw three straight in the Portland series decided by four points or less.
The Rockets have been terrific at bouncing back from a bad loss. Including their win in Game 4, they're 12-2 SU and 11-3 ATS the last 14 times that they were coming off a double-digit loss. They're also 9-2 SU/ATS the last 11 times that they scored 85 points or less in their previous game. With the line approaching double-digits, consider backing the home dog.