Saturday’s Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs – 13 mph winds are expected to blow out to left-centerfield.
Colorado Rockies at Detroit Tigers – 13 mph winds are expected to blow in from centerfield.
Who’s hot
Euro 2012: Russia/Soviet Union has won nine of its last 11 meetings with Greece.
MLB: Tigers are 7-1 in Doug Fister's last eight home starts.
MLB: Mets are 7-3 in their last 10 home games ahead of Friday's action.
WNBA: Indiana Fever are 15-6 ATS in their last 21 home games.
Who’s not
Euro 2012: Poland has yet to win a European Championship game in six matches.
MLB: Giants are 1-8 in Tim Lincecum's last nine road starts.
MLB: Marlins are 1-8 in their last nine overall ahead of Friday's action.
WNBA: The over is 4-10 in the L.A. Sparks' last 14 overall.
Key stat
3 – Greece has managed just three shots on goal in the first halves of their first two games at Euro 2012 and will need to show more going forward early against the high-powered Russian side. Greece has 11 second-half shots on goal.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Tomas Rosicky, Czech Republic – The club’s captain is considered a game-time decision for Saturday’s matchup with Poland as he deals with an Achilles issue.
Game of the day
Czech Republic +210, Draw +230, Poland +115
Notable quotable
"I think we were informed at a team meeting, and there were a lot of groans when it was announced. But we're going to have to deal with it and try not to let it be a distraction. But it's going to be fun for the fans and should be interesting to see, even for some of the players, behind the scenes of the team." – Miami Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano on XM NFL Radio about the team’s reaction to being on this season’s HBO Hard Knocks reality TV show. The Fins' season win total is set at 7.5.
Notes and tips
Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton was admitted to a local hospital to treat an intestinal virus on Friday and could be out of the lineup all weekend. Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest reported that the center fielder won’t be released until at least 12-24 hours. He’s hitting .330 with 22 homers and 62 RBI. The Rangers host Houston Saturday.
The Chicago Sky have won six straight games and are 7-1 heading into Saturday’s date with the Indiana Fever. The Sky are 4-2 against the spread during the streak thanks in large part to the duo of Epiphanny Price and Sylvia Fowles. Price leads the league averaging 24.2 points per game while Fowles sits eighth at 18.2 points per game.
The Texas Rangers will send Justin Grimm to the hill Saturday for his first career MLB start at home to the Houston Astros. He was recalled from Double-A Thursday and was 8-3 with a 1.87 ERA in 13 starts for Frisco. He had 67 strikeouts and 14 walks in 77 innings.