Saturday’s Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees – 21 mph winds are expected to blow out to right-center field.
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers – 21 mph winds are expected to blow in from right-center field.
Who’s hot
NBA: Philadelphia is 4-1 against the spread in its last five.
NBA: New York is 19-7 against the number in its last 26 contests.
NHL: The over is 5-0-4 in Washington’s last nine games in Madison Square Garden.
NHL: Los Angeles has won five of its last seven road games.
MLB: Washington had won 23 of its last 30 heading into Friday’s action.
Who’s not
NBA: The over is 0-6 in Chicago’s last six.
NBA: Orlando has covered in five of its last six against Indiana.
NHL: The over is 16-41-19 in St. Louis’ last 76 games overall.
NHL: New York is 1-4 in its last five games following a win.
MLB: San Francisco has lost five of Tim Lincecum’s last six starts.
Key stat
0 – The over has yet to cash in the last seven meetings between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues heading into Saturday’s Game 1. Six games played under with one push. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick allowed only eight goals on 172 shots in the first round while St. Louis saw the under go 43-21-18 in the regular season and then played under three times in its opening round win over San Jose. St Louis is a -155 favorite with a 5-goal total for Game 1.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland Indians – Choo sat out his third consecutive game Thursday with a left hamstring issue and his status for Saturday’s matinee game against the L.A. Angels is up in the air. Choo has struggled to get much going this year, hitting .237 without a homer.
Game of the day
New York Knicks at Miami Heat (-8.5, 186.5)
Notable quotable
"We can't look at them as the Dwight-less Magic. One of their greatest assets is (coach) Stan Van Gundy and how he prepares no matter who is in uniform. They have a very dangerous style with or without Dwight." - Pacers coach Frank Vogel ahead of Saturday’s Game 1 against the Orlando Magic, who will be without center Dwight Howard for the remainder of the season with a back injury. Indiana is set as a 9-point favorite for Saturday’s game.
Notes and tips
New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler may miss Game 1 of the team's first round playoff series against the Miami Heat on Saturday with the flu. ESPN New York reported on Friday that Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson made the announcement that there is a "strong possibility" that Chandler would be unavailable for the game in Miami. If Chandler does not play, he would be replaced by Jared Jeffries. Chandler sat out Thursday's regular season finale to rest a sore knee and wrist and did not practice Friday.
Highly-touted Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper was called up from Class AAA Syracuse and will make his major league debut on Saturday. USA Today reported that the move was made after the club placed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury. Harper, who is hitting .250 with one home run for Syracuse, was the No. 1 draft pick in 2010 when he was 17 years old. With outfielder Mike Morse out an extended period of time with a lat injury, Harper will start in left field.
The Los Angeles Angels will hand Scott Downs the ball in save opportunities now that Jordan Walden has been bumped to the set-up role. Downs, a 37-year-old lefty, hasn't allowed a run in seven innings this season and had a 1.34 ERA in 53 2/3 innings of work last year. The Angels are -125 favorites in Cleveland Saturday.