SPORTS ADVISORS
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(3) Orlando (5-2 SU, 3-4 ATS) at (2) Boston (4-4 SU, 3-4-1 ATS)
After stealing Game 1 in Boston, the Magic look to go up 2-0 in their best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Celtics when the two square off inside TD Banknorth Garden.
Orlando built an 18-point halftime lead in Game 1 on Monday, pushed it to 28 points in the second half, then held for a 95-90 upset win in Boston, cashing as a 1½-point underdog. Dwight Howard led the way for the Magic, putting in 16 points and controlling the boards with 22 rebounds. Boston got 23 points from Paul Pierce but the backcourt of Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo combined to go 4-for-24 from the field, including 1-of-9 from the three-point line.
Orlando has now won four straight (3-1 ATS) and six of its last eight (4-4 ATS) overall. The Magic have won three straight road playoff games (2-1 ATS) and they are 28-16-1 ATS on the road this season. On the opposite side, Boston has alternated wins and losses in its last six games (3-2-1 ATS) and have already lost twice in front of the home fans in the playoffs, once more than all of last year’s postseason run.
The Magic have now won three straight over the Celtics, including the last two in Boston. Orlando won the final two games of the regular season, winning 86-79 in Beantown on March 8 as a 2 ½-point ‘dog and then edged the Celtics 84-82 at home on March 25 but came up short as a 3 ½-point favorite. The home team has won eight of the last 11 in this series and covered the number in 21 of the last 31, but Boston has gotten the cash in six of the last 10 overall and 12 of the last 16 in Boston.
Orlando is on ATS slides of 3-10 against teams from the Atlantic division, 4-9 overall and 2-5 on the road, but the Magic are on ATS runs of 37-16-3 as underdogs, 10-4 as road ‘dogs and 44-17-1 as a ‘dog of up to 4 ½ points. The Celtics are 0-6 ATS in their last six conference semifinal games and 6-15 ATS in their last 21 home games, but they are on positive ATS streaks of 8-4 after getting one day off and 5-2 against Southeast Division teams.
Game 1 of this series stayed under the 188 ½-point total and in this rivalry, the under is 5-1 in the last six overall, but the over has been the play in seven of the last 11 in Boston.
It’s been all unders for the Magic lately, including 9-3 on the road, 8-3 after a spread-cover, 5-1 overall, 5-1 as ‘dogs and 6-1 on the road against teams with winning home marks. Boston is on a plethora of “over” streaks, including 21-9 overall, 36-17-1 at home, 36-18 against the Eastern Conference, 17-5 as a favorite, 5-1 after getting a day off and 11-1 following a loss.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(5) Houston (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) at (1) L.A. Lakers (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS)
Having stunned the Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Rockets now try to make it two in a row in Game 2 of their best-of-7 series inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The Rockets led virtually wire-to-wire on Monday, beating the Lakers 100-92 as an 8½-point underdog to steal home-court advantage away from Los Angeles. Yao Ming delivered 28 points and 10 rebounds and led Houston to a 47.9 percent shooting night. Ron Artest had 21 points and seven assists and speedy point guard Aaron Brooks had 19 points. The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant got 32 points, but needed 31 shots to get there, while no other teammate had more than 14 points.
Houston has won four of its last five overall and has stolen the opening game of its playoff series for the second straight time. The Rockets, winners of 10 of their last 13 overall (8-5 ATS), also went to Portland and got a 108-81 Game 1 victory as five-point pups in their opening-round series.
Despite Monday’s setback, the Lakers needed just five games (2-3 ATS) to beat the Jazz in the opening round and have won 11 of their last 14 overall (7-7 ATS).
Monday’s win was Houston’s first over Phil Jackson’s Lakers this season. Los Angeles swept the four-game regular-season series (bioth SU and ATS), including two easy wins inside Staples Center. Los Angeles is still 7-4 ATS in the last 11 meetings overall and 5-2 ATS in the last seven played in Hollywood. Finally, the chalk is 4-2 in the last six series clashes.
Houston is on ATS slides of 4-9 against the Pacific Division, 11-24-1 after a spread-cover and 3-6 on the road against teams with winning home records, but the Rockets are 7-2 ATS in their last nine as a playoff ‘dog of five to 10 ½-points. The Lakers are just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 as a playoff chalk, but otherwise they are on ATS streaks of 4-2 against Southwest Division squads, 4-2 after a non-cover and 7-3-1 in conference semifinal action.
The under has been the play in this series in the last three overall, including Monday’s total just getting in under the posted number, and five of the last eight.
The Rockets have topped the total in four of their last six against Pacific Division teams and seven of their last 11 against teams with winning records, but they are on “under” runs of 5-0 overall, 8-3 as a road ‘dog and 10-4 on the highway against teams with winning records. The Lakers have gone over the posted mark in four of six conference semifinal games but they are on “under” streaks of 12-3 at home against teams with a losing road record, 21-9 overall, 10-4 as a home chalk and 6-1 against Southwest Division teams.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Seattle (15-12) at Kansas City (16-11)
Two of the biggest surprises in baseball begin a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium, with the Mariners’ Carlos Silva (1-2, 7.36 ERA) set to oppose the Royals’ Sidney Ponson (0-4, 7.16) in a matchup of struggling journeyman right-handers.
Seattle has cooled off a bit after a hot start to the season, losing six of its last nine games, including getting swept in a two-game home series against the Rangers to start this week, falling 6-5 on Monday and 7-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday. Additionally, while the M’s have won seven of their last 10 on the road and eight of their last 10 series openers, they’re mired in slumps of 1-5 on Wednesday, 0-6 against right-handed starters and 1-4 versus teams from the A.L. Central.
The Royals ran their winning steak to four in a row with Tuesday’s come-from-behind 8-7 home win over the White Sox. Kansas City has also taken four straight and five of six at Kauffman Stadium and is on additional hot streaks of 9-1 against A.L. West foes, 5-1 on Wednesday and 16-7 versus right-handed starters. On the downside, of the Royals’ 11 losses this season, five have come in games Ponson has started.
Kansas City went 7-2 against Seattle last season, including 6-1 at Kauffman Stadium as the home team won seven of the final eight matchups.
Silva gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings Friday against Oakland, but the Mariners eked out an 8-7 victory. Going back to last season, Silva has just one quality start in his last 13 trips to the mound, and he’s 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA in two road starts this season. With Silva pitching, the Mariners are on slides of 7-17 overall, 4-10 on the road, 0-5 against teams with a winning record and 0-5 against the A.L. Central, but they have prevailed in his last two outings (one home, one road).
Ponson was even worse than Silva in his last outing, getting rocked for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of Friday’s 7-5 loss at Minnesota. That came on the heels of a solid eight-inning effort at home in which he yielded three runs to the Tigers, but still lost 3-2. In fact, Ponson has fared decently in three starts at Kauffman Stadium (0-2, 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP), yet K.C. lost all three contests.
Silva has solid career numbers against the Royals (5-4, 4.10 ERA in 14 starts overall; 3-2, 3.61 ERA in eight starts in K.C.), while Ponson is 4-4 with a 4.53 ERA in 14 outings (13 starts) against the Mariners.
For Seattle, the “over” is on streaks of 6-1 overall, 5-0 on Wednesday, 8-3-1 on the road against right-handed starters, 5-1 overall when Silva pitches and 6-1 when Silva works on the road. Also, the over is 7-1 in Kansas City’s last eight overall and 4-1 in Ponson’s last five starts against the Mariners, with those games coming when Ponson was with the Yankees, Rangers and Orioles.
ATS ADVANTAGE: KANSAS CITY and OVER
Tampa Bay (12-16) at N.Y. Yankees (13-13)
The Rays make their initial visit to new Yankee Stadium as they start a four-game set in the Bronx with Andy Sonnanstine (1-3, 6.75) scheduled to open the series opposite New York’s A.J. Burnett (2-0, 5.40).
Tampa hits the road after a 4-2 homestand that concluded with Tuesday’s 6-3 victory over the Orioles. However, the Rays are just 6-9 on the highway this season, having lost four of their last five as a visitor, and they’ve also struggled outside the comforts of a dome, losing 11 of their last 16 on grass. One positive: They’re 13-6 in their last 19 Wednesday contests.
New York is coming off back-to-back home losses to the archrival Red Sox, falling 6-4 on Monday and 7-3 on Tuesday. Still, the Yankees have won 14 of their last 20 at home and they’re on additional positive runs of 4-2 against right-handed starters, 5-1 versus losing teams and 53-20 on Wednesday. However Joe Girardi’s club has now dropped five straight games to A.L. East rivals.
These squads faced off in Florida in the middle of April, with the Yankees taking two of three. Going back to last year, New York is on an 8-3 roll in this rivalry. Finally, Tampa Bay went 21-53 in its last 74 games at old Yankee Stadium (2-6 last season).
Sonnanstine got in the win column for the first time in 2009 his last time out, scattering eight hits and four walks but yielding just two runs in 5 2/3 innings en route to Friday’s 6-2 home win. Prior to that effort, the Rays had lost five straight Sonnanstine outings going back to last year’s World Series. On the downside, Sonnanstine has been a disaster on the road this year, going 0-3 with a 9.20 ERA in three starts.
Sonnanstine has faced the Yankees five times since entering the big leagues in 2007, going 2-1 despite a hefty 5.65 ERA. That includes a no-decision in the Rays’ 4-3 home loss to New York on April 15, with the right-hander giving up just two runs in five innings.
New York is 4-1 with Burnett on the bump in 2009, including a 7-4 victory over the Angels a week ago tonight. In that contest, the veteran right-hander gave up four runs but went seven innings, getting a no-decision. He has a 4.72 ERA after two starts in his new home ballpark, and though he didn’t factor in the decision either time, the Yanks rallied to win both contests.
Burnett is 8-4 with a sensational 2.94 ERA in 17 career starts against Tampa, and he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last 10 outings against the Rays. That includes a 7-2 victory in Florida on April 14, when Burnett gave up just two runs on three hits and a walk, striking out nine over eight innings.
The Rays carry “under” trends of 4-1 on the road, 7-3 when playing on grass, 5-0 overall with Sonnanstine on the hill and 5-1 with Sonnanstine facing A.L. East foes. Conversely, the over for the Yankees is on streaks of 6-0-1 overall, 5-0-1 at home and 4-1 with Burnett pitching. Finally, the over is 4-1 in the last five Rays-Yankees clashes, but six of the eight meetings in the Bronx last season stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES
DUNKEL
Houston at LA Lakers
The Lakers look to bounce back from their Game One loss, but are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as a favorite, while the Rockets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 playoff games as an underdog between 5 and 10 1/2 points. Houston is the pick (+9 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has LA favored by only 4. Dunkel Pick: Houston (+9 1/2).
Game 711-712: Orlando at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Orlando 117.585; Boston 124.168
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 6 1/2; 185 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Boston by 3 1/2; 188
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-3 1/2); Under
Game 713-714: Houston at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 124.667; LA Lakers 128.868
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 4; 196
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 9 1/2; 192 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+9 1/2); Over
MLB
Milwaukee at Cincinnati
The Brewers are 3-15 in Manny Parra's last 18 starts, while the Reds are 13-4 in Bronson Arroyo's last 17 home starts. Cincinnati is the pick (-110) according to Dunkel, which has the Reds favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-110).
Game 901-902: Atlanta at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Lowe) 13.381; Florida (Taylor) 14.614
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-150); 9
Dunkel Pick: Florida (+140); Under
Game 903-904: Philadelphia at NY Mets
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Park) 14.743; NY Mets (Santana) 15.885
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1; 8
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-245); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-245); Under
Game 905-906: Milwaukee at Cincinnati
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Parra) 15.735; Cincinnati (Arroyo) 16.812
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-110); Over
Game 907-908: Chicago Cubs at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Harden) 15.456; Houston (Hampton) 14.287
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-125); 9
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-125); Over
Game 909-910: Pittsburgh at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Duke) 15.117; St. Louis (Boggs) 13.616
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-145); 9
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+135); Over
Game 911-912: San Francisco at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Johnson) 14.376; Colorado (Jimenez) 15.934
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Colorado (-140); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-140); Over
Game 913-914: Arizona at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Garland) 13.637; San Diego (Peavy) 14.534
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1; 8
Vegas Line: San Diego (-180); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (-180); Over
Game 915-916: Washington at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Cabrera) 15.443; LA Dodgers (Kershaw) 16.994
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-200); 9
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-200); Under
Game 917-918: Minnesota at Baltimore
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Slowey) 14.617; Baltimore (Hendrickson) 15.775
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-120); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+110); Under
Game 919-920: Cleveland at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Pavano) 15.895; Boston (Masterson) 15.280
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1/2; 11 1/2
Vegas Line: Boston (-205); 11
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+185); Over
Game 921-922: Tampa Bay at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Sonnanstine) 16.094; NY Yankees (Burnett) 14.962
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-185); 10
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-185); Over
Game 923-924: Detroit at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Galarraga) 14.464; White Sox (Buehrle) 15.553
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-110); Under
Game 925-926: Seattle at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Silva) 16.363; Kansas City (Ponson) 15.159
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Kansas City (-120); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+110); Under
Game 927-928: Texas at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Feldman) 14.993; Oakland (Giese) 16.067
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 929-930: Toronto at LA Angels
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Halladay) 16.775; LA Angels (Ortega) 15.386
Dunkel Line: Toronto by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Toronto (-160); 9
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-160); Under
NHL
Boston at Carolina
The Hurricanes are coming off a 3-0 win in Boston and look to build on their 9-2 record in their last 11 games after allowing 2 or fewer goals in the previous game. Carolina is the pick (+100) according to Dunkel, which has the Hurricanes favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+100).
Game 21-22: Washington at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 12.610; Pittsburgh 12.544
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-180); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+160); Over
Game 23-24: Boston at Carolina
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 11.860; Carolina 12.790
Dunkel Line & Total: Carolina by 1; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Boston (-120); 5
Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+100); Under
Cajun Sports
Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros
Play: Chicago Cubs
Minute Maid Park will be the site of this two-game mini-series between the host Houston Astros and the visiting Chicago Cubs with the first game set for Wednesday night at 8:05PM EST. The Cubs will send right-hander Rich Harden to the bump with his 2-1 W/L record and ERA of 5.11. In his last outing he struggled against the Fish but the Cubs managed to get the win last Friday 8 to 6 at home. Harden lasted only 3 2/3 innings giving up a season-high five runs, six hits, four walks and only two strikeouts. He has faced the Astros only once in his career giving up five runs over 5 2/3 innings of work and was not involved in the decision even though his team won 11 to 7 back on August 5th. The Cubs will be seeking their fifth win in their last six games after having its four-game win streak snapped by San Francisco on Tuesday. Cub’s manager Lou Piniella decided to rest several of his key players for the day game on Tuesday since they had just played the night before and they are in a stretch of twenty straight games without having a single day off. We expect them to return to the lineup for tonight’s game in Houston. Houston is hoping Wednesday’s starter Mike Hampton can give them several innings of work because their bullpen has been forced into too many innings with the Astros starters failing to pitch past the fifth inning in five straight games. Both groups are struggling, Houston’s starters have a combined ERA of 5.31 while their bullpen checks in with a 5.63 ERA as a group. Mike Hampton is 1-2 W/L with an ERA of 4.88 and is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in his last three outings. His last trip to the bump saw him give up six runs in just 4 1/3 innings of work in a 7 to 2 loss on Friday in Atlanta. Houston is returning home after an eleven inning battle at Washington on Tuesday that game is suspended with the teams tied at 10 apiece and will be completed on July 9th. In that contest the Astros bullpen contributed 5 1/3 innings, if the Cubs can get to Hampton early it may be a long evening for this Astros bullpen. The Cubs are 5-0 W/L their last five facing a pitcher whose WHIP is 1.30 or higher and 16-7 W/L when facing a left-handed starter. Chicago is 21-7 W/L as a road favorite, 4-0 W/L their last four as a favorite overall and 4-1 W/L their last five as a road favorite of -110 to -150. The Cubs are 11-3 W/L when Harden takes the bump installed as a favorite, 7-1 W/L when Harden starts against the NL Central and 6-1 W/L when Harden is working on four days rest. The Astros are 7-16 W/L their last twenty-three when installed as an underdog, 3-7 W/L as a home underdog, 2-11 W/L as an underdog of +110 to +150 and 0-4 W/L their last four at home when installed as an underdog in that same price range. With strong technical and fundamental support for the visitor we will lay the chalk with the Cubs as they get the win in Minute Maid Park on Wednesday night.
Graded Selection: 2* Chicago Cubs 6 Houston Astros 2
Craig Trapp
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees
Play: Over 10
Craig's Totals have been hot the last 10 days going 3-0!! Yesterday Craig's Total of the week won with the Reds shutting out the Florida Marlins!! Lets look at Craig's Wed Total of the day as he tries to keep his hot totals streak alive!! Todays total is in the TAM and NYY game in the new Yankee stadium!!
Total Betting Trends
Over is 35-16 in Rays last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 5-2 in Sonnanstines last 7 starts as an underdog.
Over is 4-0-1 in Yankees last 5 home games.
Over is 4-1 in Burnetts last 5 starts overall.
Over is 20-8-1 in Yankees last 29 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
These two pitchers both have been very average this year (Burnett 5.40 ERA, Sonnanstine 6.75 ERA). Sonnanstine has a very poor start and even worse now he faces the NYY that beat him up in his career for more than one run per inning pitched!! Burnett on the other hand is comming off 2 starts where he did not go past the 7th inning and has given up more than 4 runs in both games. New Yankee Stadium is averaging well over 11 runs per game with only one game under double digits this year. Yankee Stadium over is 7-2 thus far this year. All trends and breakdown points to an easy over total today. SCORE NYY 9 - TB 4
James Patrick Sports
Indians vs. Red Sox
Tribe got worked over pretty good in Cleveland by the Red Sox and they will have a great chance here with Carl Pavano as he has had some quality starts to date. Our Major League Baseball complimentary selection this Wednesday is Cleveland Indians.
Dave Cokin
ATLANTA BRAVES VS FLORIDA MARLINS
Take: ATLANTA BRAVES
The Braves are not in good form, but Derek Lowe should get them in the win column tonight against the Marlins. Florida is starting lefty Graham Taylor, and he's just not ready for the majors at this point. In just 8.2 IP, Taylor has issued nine BB's and has only 3 K's. That's a killer ratio that eventually has to to see him get crushed. Atlanta has a good chance to break out against Taylor, so I would lay the number here with Lowe and the Braves.
Jim Feist
CHICAGO CUBS / HOUSTON ASTROS
Take: CHICAGO CUBS
The Cubs are getting healthy, on a nice win streak, with Soriano, Bradley, Lee and Ramirez anchoring the lineup. Ace Rich Harden has been throwing smoke, fanning 35 in just 21 innings, allowing just 15 hits. Last place Houston doesn't have much offense, ranked 14th in the NL in runs scored. Veteran Mike Hampton has cooled off after a good start, at winless his last three starts with a 6.48 ERA. Back the hot team, play the Cubbies!
Marc Lawrence
Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles
Prediction: Minnesota Twins
The Twins take on the Orioles in Baltimore in Game Two of this three-game set when they send Kevin Slowey to the mound against Mark Hendrickson. SLowey enters tonight's fray in commanding KW form with one walk and sixteen strikeouts in his last three starts. He's also 3-0 in his last three starts in the month of May. With Hendrickson just 2-9 in his last 11 team starts, look for Minny to turn mighty here tonight.
Jimmy The Moose
Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays cashed in again on Tuesday and they are now 19-10 on the season. Toronto is 6-1 in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing record. Tonight the Jays send their ace Roy Halladay to the mount. Halladay is 5-1 on the season. The Angels have started to play a lot better but tonight they'll be over-matched by Halladay and the Jays offense. On the road this season the Jays offense has an average of .315. LAA sends Ortega, 0-1 with an ERA of 5.56 to the mound tonight and he'll get beaten up. Play on the Toronto Blue Jays -.
Big Al McMordie
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies
Play: San Francisco Giants
Giants veteran starter Randy Johnson holds the distinction of being the pitcher with the most career victories over Colorado with 19 wins (with only seven losses) over his 21+ year career. He notched Win #19 in his last start on May 1st in which he held the Rockies scoreless over seven brilliant innings, surrendering only four hits while striking out nine. This was the second time in his last three starts that Johnson pitched a seven inning shutout (the other being against Johnson's former team, the Diamondbacks). The fact that the Giants have such a strong bullpen (fourth in the league with a 3.95 ERA) means that there is no pressure on the Big Unit to go out and throw a complete game like there used to be years ago, which is no doubt a good thing since Johnson is 45 years old. Colorado's starter in this game will be the same one that Johnson face on May 1, righthander Ubaldo Jimenez. Ironically, that start was Jimenez's best outing since his first one on April 7. But both of those were on the road, and this start is in Colorado, site of Jimenez's worst start of the season so far. And unlike the Giants stingy bullpen, Colorado currently has the worst relief pitching in the National League with a 5.30 ERA. Take the Giants.
Karl Garrett
Orlando at BOSTON
Winner last night in baseball on the Dodgers, now 5-2 the last 7 days with my comp plays.
Tonight is the night we will se an OVER in the Orlando-Boston series.
Game One landed just UNDER the total, as that makes 4 straight dating back to the regular season UNDER the posted total between the teams.
That has not been the norm though for the Celtics who are actually on a few protracted OVER clips.
The C's have been OVER the total in 12 of their last 15 games overall, and they are also on a 17-5 OVER clip their last 22 when laying points. Finally, the Celtics are 21-7 OVER the posted total their last 28 played against the Eastern Conference.
Hard to imagine Ray Allen having another off-night like he did on Monday, and it is also hard to imagine Boston gettting behind by 28-points like they did in Monday's opener.
The points will be ringing up in a hurry in this game boys.
G-Man on the OVER.
4♦ OVER
Bobby Maxwell
Houston at L.A. LAKERS -9'
We've given you back-to-back FREE play winners on the diamond, including Tuesday with the Red Sox in New York. And now today we'll give you a comp winner on the hardwood as we play the Lakers at home against the Rockets.
Tough spot here for the Lakers, they have to win and yet the oddsmakers have established them as a huge favorite. We expect Los Angeles to respond in a big way to the Monday night loss and score a 15-point win at least.
Houston could come out a little complacent in this one after taking Game 1 and we already know this team struggles to score points. The Lakers are going to come out angry and Kobe will have a mission in mind to get everybody involved early and then dominate the second half.
Kobe's not happy with himself after taking 31 shots on Monday night. And you know he's had a talk with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol about how they've got to get involved and make life tough on Yao Ming.
The Lakers at home are tough to beat, but the question comes if they can cover a big number? Yes they will tonight. Play Los Angeles in front of the home crowd as they are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 conference semifinal games and 4-2 coming off a non-cover.
Los Angeles gets this one.
2♦ L.A. LAKERS
Sports Gambling Hotline
Houston at LA LAKERS
We are 4-2 the last 6 days with our comp plays.
Game One of the Rockets-Lakers series just did hold UNDER the posted total, as these teams have now played LOW in the last 3 meetings, and 5 of the last 8 have also stayed UNDER the posted price.
Houston's UNDER tear has hit 5 in a row, and 7 of their last 9, while LA's UNDER tear has now hit 4 in a row in the post season.
The Rcokets are also on a 8-3 UNDER run their last 11 games installed as the underdog, while the Lakers are now 20-7 LOW their last 27 when installed as the favorite.
It is hard to overlook the trends we just listed, and one final UNDER stat of note is the Lakers 10-4 mark the last 14 games they have hosted at the Staples Center.
Play on the LOW in Game Two of the Western Conference semis.
1♦ UNDER
Matt Rivers
For Wednesday take the Diamondbacks at PETCO.
How can you not take this number back!?!?!? Obviously Jake Peavy still has the potential to be lights out but the guy has been anything but this season and after the brilliantly shocking start to the season the offensively challenged Padres flat out stink just like last season.
San Diego quite possibly may be the worst team in all of baseball right now and Peavy has not been pitching like himself at all this season. I fully understand how Arizona has been fairly poor as well in the early going but to get a handsome takeback like this is just too much of a no-brainer. The snakes do have some offensive potential with the likes of Conor Jackson, Chris Young, Mark Reynolds and others.
Jon Garland can never be fully trusted as the righthander is very feast or famine but in this hitters' paradise known as PETCO against the ultra light hitting Padres, save Adrian Gonzalez, I think he will be just fine.
If the old Peavy comes out to play today then we certainly could be in trouble but until I see any resemblance of that guy I will gladly grab this price is probably as 50-50 of a game there has ever been.
Bottom line, both teams stink right now, either team can win this game!
Jrtips
CHICAGO CUBS vs. HOUSTON ASTROS
The Chicago Cubs try for their fifth win in six games tonight against the Houston Astros. Chicago (14-12) opened the season by winning two of three against Houston (11-15). The Cubs lost a day game Tuesday in which they rested left fielder Alfonso Soriano and shortstop Ryan Theriot, as well as right fielder Milton Bradley, catcher Geovany Soto and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Most of these players are expected to return to the lineup today which is trouble for Houston as Soriano went 5-for-15 with two solo homers in the season-opening series, while Ramirez was 6-for-14 with five RBIs.The Astros are hoping Mike Hampton (1-2, 4.88 ERA) can give their overworked bullpen a rest as their starters have failed to pitch past the fifth inning in five straight games, posting a 5.31 ERA with relievers putting up a 5.63 ERA over the last 24 innings.Hampton is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in his last three outings after losing Friday to Atlanta giving up six runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 7-2 loss.Chicago's Rich Harden (2-1, 5.11) will return to the mound after giving up a season-high five runs over 3 2/3 innings Friday in an 8-6 home win over Florida. Harden also gave up five runs over 5 2/3 innings in his last outing against Houston. Both starting pitchers are struggling, including the Houston Bullpen, and combined with the Cubs big hitters coming back after a day off, there will be a lot of runs scored in this game.
TAKE OVER 8 1/2 runs