Tuesday's Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
A 15-mph wind will be blowing out to center when the Mets host the Marlins on Tuesday night. Temperatures will be in the mid- to low-50s, with a 20 percent chance of rain.
Who’s hot
NBA: OKC is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games vs. losing teams.
NBA: The road team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven Clippers-Hawks games.
NHL: The underdog is 5-1 in the last six Panthers-Devils games.
MLB: Baltimore is 5-1 in Tommy Hunter’s last six starts.
MLB: The under is 6-0 in Brewers pitcher Randy Wolf’s last six starts vs. Houston.
Who’s not
NBA: Miami is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games playing on one day’s rest.
NBA: The favorite is 1-5 ATS in the last six Suns-Jazz games.
NHL: The over is 1-9-1 in Florida’s last 11 games playing on two days’ rest.
MLB: Philly is 1-5 in Vance Worley’s last six starts.
MLB: San Diego is 2-11 in Clayton Richard’s last 13 home starts.
Key stat
4 -- The last four times the Devils have faced elimination, they’ve been dispatched immediately each time. New Jersey is 1-6 when facing elimination since the Devils’ last Cup championship in 2003. That lone victory came in 2006 against Carolina. Since moving from the Meadowlands, Ner Jersey has not won a playoff series at Prudential Center. This would be New Jersey’s fourth straight first-round exit, not including last season when the Devils missed the playoffs.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman says his shoulder is feeling a lot better and he should be in the lineup when Washington visits San Diego on Tuesday. Zimmerman was scratched from Saturday’s game with inflammation in his shoulder, then Sunday’s game was rained out. Zimmerman is hitting .224 with one homer, four doubles, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Games of the day
Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils (-160, 5)
New York Yankees at Texas Rangers (-110, 9)
Notable quotable
“Career-wise, I don’t feel like it’s going to be the last of it. Opportunity-wise, you never know. Even [if] I do decide to come back, who knows what kind of position we’re going to be in at this time next year? I am in the position where we’re able to stay alive in the playoffs, and want to do as much as I can. It’s in the back of my head because of the chance with a team I’ve really enjoyed all year. I just want to keep this going. Regardless of what the future will bring me, that’s irrelevant now.” – future Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur, who could be playing his final game as a Devil in Tuesday’s Game 6 vs. Florida.
Tips and notes
Barcelona star Lionel Messi returned to practice Monday in advance of Tuesday’s semifinal second leg with Chelsea. Messi had missed practice on Sunday with what the club described as "slight physical discomfort.” The three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or award did not score in Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to rival Real Madrid.
It’s unclear if LeBron James will play when the Heat visits the Celtics on Tuesday. Asked if he might sit out the final two regular-season games, the MVP candidate replied, "I could use the rest." LBJ scored 32 points in Sunday’s 97-88 win over Houston.
Florida Panthers defenseman Jason Garrison, who has a big shot from the blueline, is expected to miss his third straight game with a lower body injury. The 6-2, 216-pounder had 16 goals and 17 assists in the regular season, and a goal and assist in the first three games against the Devils. Florida leads the series 3-2 entering Tuesday’s game at the Prudential Center.
The St. Louis Cardinals are making history. Counting the one-game season-opening trip to Miami, the Cards have won six straight series. No team defending its World Series title had started the season with that many consecutive series wins since the New York Giants, coming off the 1921 championship, won their first six series in 1922. If you count each playoff round last year as one series, St. Louis has won 16 straight series.