Friday’s Betting Tips
Covers.com
Weather to watch
When the Cubs host the Reds at Wrigley on Friday afternoon, 17-mph winds will be blowing in from left field. Temperatures will be in the high 40s, and there’s a 30 percent chance of showers.
Who’s hot
NBA: The Knicks are 6-0 ATS in their last six games against losing teams.
NBA: Golden State is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 road games.
NHL: The over is 5-0-1 in the last six Flyers-Pens games in Pittsburgh.
MLB: The over is 7-2 in the last nine Cards-Pirates games.
MLB: The Dodgers are 6-0 in Ted Lilly’s last six starts vs. losing teams.
Who’s not
NBA: Memphis is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games against losing teams.
NBA: The Spurs are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games vs. the Lakers.
NHL: The Red Wings are 3-11 in their last 14 playoff games as an underdog.
MLB: Baltimore is 7-16 in its last 23 games at the Angels.
MLB: The under is 0-5 in Kyle Drabek’s last five starts.
Key stat
6.20 – That’s Boston MLB-worst ERA heading into its weekend series at Fenway Park against the Yankees. The 4-8 Red Sox are letting opposing hitters bat .288, tied with the Braves for worst in baseball. Entering Thursday’s action, Boston had allowed an MLB-high 17 homers. Oh, and the Red Sox have blown two of six save chances.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
After missing seven straight games with a shin injury, Lakers star Kobe Bryant is expected to play Friday in San Antonio. When asked if he'd play against the Spurs, the NBA’s leading scorer said, "Why not? I'm good." Bryant is averaging 28.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Games of the day
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (-180, 7)
Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (-6, 202.5)
Notable quotable
"We're going to find out what kind of team we are, how we are built. If we are the team like we think we are, we're going to have to respond the next game." -- Flyers forward Jaromir Jagr on Friday’s Game 5 in Pittsburgh. The Flyers still lead the playoff series 3-1 despite the Penguins’ 10-3 win Wednesday in Philly.
Notes and tips
Magic center Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery on Friday in Los Angeles to fix a herniated disk, ending his season, ESPN.com reported. "It hurts (emotionally)," Howard told ESPN the Magazine's Chris Broussard. "That's the first thing -- it hurts. And then with people saying and thinking I'm quitting on my team. This is a real issue. I tried to play through it and it just made my back worse."
Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman will be placed on the 15-day DL Friday after he aggravated a left calf injury in Wednesday’s win over the Reds. Berkman, who has already missed five games, is batting .348 (7 for 23). He'll be replaced by super-sub Matt Carpenter, who is batting .375 with 11 RBIs.
Predators defenseman Hal Gill (lower body injury) has missed the first four games of the playoff series with Detroit, but could play Friday. "He is feeling better every day," coach Barry Trotz said. "He's in a day-to-day mode right now. Do I expect him on Friday? I really can't answer that.”
The Yankees placed left fielder Brett Gardner on the 15-day DL with a bruised left elbow and strained arm muscle. He was hitting .321 with a .424 on-base percentage in nine games. With Gardner out, New York will use Andruw Jones and possibly Eduardo Nunez in left. DH Raul Ibanez is another option.
Nuggets swingman Wilson Chandler is done for the season with a hip injury that will require surgery. He was averaging 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.