Sunday’s Betting Tips
Covers.com
Weather to watch
New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers – A 21-mph wind will be blowing out to left. There’s a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms, with a projected temperature of 74 degrees.
Who’s hot
NBA: The home team is 13-5 ATS in the last 18 Heat-Celtics games.
MLB: The under is 7-3 in Oakland A’s pitcher Tommy Milone’s last 10 starts.
MLB: The Reds are 17-4 in their last 21 Sunday games.
WNBA: Tulsa is 5-0 ATS in its last five games following an ATS loss.
Who’s not
NBA: The over is 7-18-1 in the last 26 Heat-Celtics games in Boston.
MLB: The Angels are 3-10 in Dan Haren’s last 13 starts on grass.
MLB: The Cubs are 1-7 in their last eight games vs. lefty starters.
WNBA: Seattle is 0-4 ATS in its last four meetings with Los Angeles.
Key stat
19 – After combining for just 7 points in Game 2, the Celtics’ bench contributed 19 points in their Game 3 win. In addition, Marquis Daniels and Keyon Dooling played tremendous defense. Boston was plus-14 with Daniels on the floor, plus-10 with Dooling on the floor. Daniels finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds, and Dooling had 7 points and 4 rebounds. Look for that duo and Mickael Pietrus to get substantial minutes Sunday.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Astros cleanup hitter Carlos Lee remains out with a strained hamstring he suffered Friday. He’s hitting .297 with four homers, eight doubles and 23 RBIs. The first baseman also has drawn 15 walks and has an on-base percentage of .348.
Game of the day
Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (+1, 180.5)
Notable quotable
“Everybody knows we’ve been able to bounce back. … We don’t look at the statistics. We don’t look at the records. Records are made to be broken. We’re just going to take it one game at a time, hopefully hold down our home court in Game 4, and see what happens.’’ – Celtics forward Paul Pierce, on whether his team can come back and overtake the Heat.
Notes and tips
Heat forward Chris Bosh (strained abdomen) went through a light workout Saturday, but media reports indicated he is still not on the verge of returning. Miami hopes to have Bosh back by the NBA finals at the latest, assuming the Heat makes it that far.
The Baltimore Ravens are getting thin on the defensive line. Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs partially tore his Achilles in late April, and now DE Michael McAdoo has ruptured his Achilles. McAdoo underwent surgery Friday. In addition, DT Ryan McBean will open the season with a three-game suspension.
The Phillies placed Jose Contreras on the DL with a strained right elbow and said the 40-year-old reliever's season is likely over. Philadelphia recalled Michael Schwimer from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Contreras suffered the injury in Friday’s 6-4 win over the Marlins; he entered that contest with six straight scoreless appearances.
Angels ace Jered Weaver (6-1, 2.61 ERA) said his lower back strain is improving and hopes to miss no more than two or three starts. "You don't want to push it too hard, even though the competitor in you wants to," he said. "You have to take it slow, take each bullpen session slow, and just try to work back into it until you get that trust back and go from there."