Sunday's Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles – An 11-mph wind will be blowing out to left at Camden Yards. Temperatures will be in the high 80s.
Who’s hot
MLB: Detroit is 11-5 in Rick Porcello’s last 16 road starts.
MLB: The under is 7-3 in Houston pitcher J.A. Happ’s last 10 starts on four days’ rest.
NBA: The Spurs are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games against the Thunder.
WNBA: Atlanta is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 games against Indiana.
Who’s not
MLB: Atlanta is 1-5 in Brandon Beachy’s last six starts vs. NL East teams.
MLB: The Indians are 3-13 in the last 16 games with umpire Marvin Hudson behind the plate.
NBA: The under is 0-4 in the last four Thunder-Spurs games.
WNBA: Seattle is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games against Minnesota.
Key stat
33 – That’s how many shots OKC forward Serge Ibaka has blocked in nine playoff games, a continuation from the regular season when he averaged an NBA-best 3.65 and set a franchise record with 241 blocks. “We understand he’s a heck of a weak-side defender and a great shot-blocker,” Spurs big man Tim Duncan said. “We all have that in the back of our minds. We’ll play it accordingly.” Game 1 of the Western Conference finals is Sunday night in San Antonio.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
The Braves placed third baseman Chipper Jones on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 24, with a bruised left calf. It’s a big blow to Atlanta. The Braves are 21-8 in games Jones has played, 5-14 in games he hasn’t. And they’ve dropped 10 of the last 12 games he’s missed. Look for Juan Francisco to see most of the starts in Jones’ absence.
Game of the day
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (-5.5, 204.5)
Notable quotable
“He can shoot. He’s athletic. He’s quick. You can’t stop a guy like that. … You just have to make it difficult for him. Don’t let him catch the ball where he wants to catch it. Try to get a hand in on some of his shots. Just be physical with him.” – Spurs forward Stephen Jackson, on the challenge of guarding NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant.
Notes and tips
The Indians placed catcher Carlos Santana on the 7-day disabled list with a mild concussion he suffered Friday when he got hit in the facemask by a foul ball. Santana, who has five homers and 24 RBIs in 43 games, must pass a concussion test before he can return.
Los Angeles Kings winger Simon Gagne (concussion) is practicing with the team and has been cleared for contact, but is unlikely to play in the Stanley Cup finals against New Jersey. Gagne has not played since Dec. 26.
Heat forward Chris Bosh (abdominal strain) says his rehab is going “better than expected,” but he has not resumed basketball activities and Miami is preparing to play the Eastern Conference finals without him. Bosh hopes to play at some point in the series, which begins Monday in Miami.
Braves catcher Brian McCann was out of the starting lineup for the fourth straight game Saturday with flu-like symptoms, and remains day-to-day. The All-Star is hitting .256 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 36 games.