Thursday's Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
A 15-mph wind will be blowing out to left-center when the Tigers host the Mariners on Thursday afternoon. Temperatures will be in the high 50s, with a 10 percent chance of rain.
Who’s hot
NBA: Dallas is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games following a SU loss.
NBA: The under is 10-3 in Toronto’s last 13 games.
NHL: Ottawa is 11-4 in its last 15 games as an underdog.
MLB: Detroit is 15-6 in Rick Porcello’s last 21 starts.
MLB: The over is 6-1 in umpire Tony Randazzo’s last seven games behind the plate. He’s calling Toronto-Baltimore on Thursday.
Who’s not
NBA: The home team is 5-17 ATS in the last 22 Lakers-Kings games.
NBA: Portland is 1-8 ATS in its last nine games playing on two days’ rest.
NHL: The Devils are 2-6 in their last eight games as road favorites.
MLB: The Angels are 0-7 in their last seven in Game 3 of a series.
MLB: San Diego is 0-4 in Edinson Volquez’s last four starts.
Key stat
47 – That’s how many consecutive save opportunities Brewers closer John Axford has converted. Axford’s latest came Tuesday, when he allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth. He’s tied with Brad Lidge for the fourth-longest streak in baseball history.
Injuries that shouldn’t be overlooked
The Miami Heat’s Big Three -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – are very iffy for Thursday’s season finale against Washington. All three sat out Tuesday. Miami is locked in as the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, so there’s no real urgency for coach Erik Spoelstra to play his stars. If any do play, look for very limited minutes.
Games of the day
Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers (-165, 5)
New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers (105, 5)
Notable quotable
“He comes to a team in the middle of the playoffs after winning a championship in college, and I’m sure there’s a letdown after the [college] season is over. And, not only coming into the playoffs, but an elimination game. I just don’t think much fazes the guy. The mindset, the mental part of it, that’s what’s really interesting … I’ve been really impressed with that.” – Rangers coach John Tortorella on rookie Chris Kreider, who scored the eventual game-winning goal in Game 6. Game 7 is Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Tips and notes
Road teams are 11-4 in overtime in the NHL playoffs, after the Capitals won Game 7 in Boston on Wednesday.
Hornets guard Eric Gordon has been ruled out of Thursday’s regular-season finale because of his bad back. It was a nightmare season for Gordon, who played in just nine games. He averaged 20.6 points and 3.4 assists in those cameo appearances.
A bad season for the Red Sox got worse with the news that OF Carl Crawford went to get his sore left elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. Crawford, who also had offseason wrist surgery, is out indefinitely.
Devils center Travis Zajac missed most of the regular season with an injured Achilles, but he’s coming up big in the playoffs. The overtime goal he scored Tuesday to force Thursday’s Game 7 in Florida was his third tally of the series, more than he scored all season. Zajac played just 15 regular-season games, getting two goals and four assists. “I firsthand saw what this guy went through for months of rehab and the setbacks in the gym by yourself and on the ice by yourself and left behind while the team is traveling,” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. “It’s not a lot of fun, and it couldn’t have happened to a better guy.”