Monday's Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs – A 24-mph wind will be blowing out to dead center for this afternoon tilt. Temperatures will be in the high 80s, with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Who’s hot
MLB: Texas is 13-3 in Matt Harrison’s last 16 starts vs. losing teams.
MLB: The over is 9-4 in San Diego’s last 13 games vs. a lefty starter.
NBA: Boston is 4-0 ATS in its last four meetings with Miami.
Who’s not
MLB: The Brewers are 0-6 in Shaun Marcum’s last six starts vs. winning teams.
MLB: Cleveland is 2-5 in Josh Tomlin’s last seven home starts.
NBA: The under is 5-16 in the last 21 Celtics-Heat games in Miami.
Key stat
9 – That’s the average number of turnovers the Celtics committed in their three wins over Miami this season, compared to 20 turnovers in the lone loss. Point guard Rajon Rondo is the key to Boston’s chances. He averaged 18.7 points, 13.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds against the Heat. But in that lone loss, Rondo had seven of Boston’s 20 giveaways.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
The light-hitting Padres, who were shut out Saturday and Sunday, could get a huge boost Monday with the possible activation from the DL of slugging OF Carlos Quentin, who is coming back from knee surgery. The 29-year-old went 4-for-7 with a homer and three RBIs in two rehab games at High-A Lake Elsinore. Last year, Quentin had 24 homers and 77 RBIs while playing for the White Sox. He hit 107 homers from 2008-11.
Game of the day
Boston Celtics at Miami Heat (-8, 180)
Notable quotable
"They're not going to ever quit. Last year, we beat them in five but it was a nine-game series, it felt like.'' -- Miami guard Dwyane Wade, on facing the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 is Monday night in Miami.
Notes and tips
Entering Sunday night's Thunder-Spurs game, favorites were on a 12-2 ATS run in the NBA playoffs. The Heat is favored by 8 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night.
Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk leads the NHL in playoff points with 18, and he’ll be counted on for a lot more when New Jersey faces Los Angeles in the Cup finals starting Wednesday. Kovalchuk is obviously over a lower back injury that caused him to miss Game 2 of the second-round series with Philly. "I missed that game against Philly and the doctors took care of everything and I’ve been feeling good since then," Kovalchuk said.
Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said before Sunday’s game that he’s sticking with Heath Bell as his closer, despite pulling him from a second straight save chance Saturday. Bell has an 8.47 ERA, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10:14, and has blown four of 11 save opportunities.
Rockies OF Dexter Fowler (ankle) did not start for the fourth straight game Sunday, but should be able to rejoin the lineup Monday. Fowler has five homers, 19 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .336 in 42 games.
The Nats are in first place, but they’re not resting on their laurels. Washington is actively seeking to trade for a veteran reliever, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Washington’s bullpen is unsettled with Drew Storen (elbow) and Brad Lidge (hernia) sidelined and Henry Rodriguez struggling. Rodriguez blew three saves before being moved out of the closer’s role last week.