Tuesday's Betting Tips
Covers.com
Who’s hot
MLB: The National League has won the last two All-Star games.
WNBA: The over is 8-2 in Los Angeles’ last 10.
Who’s not
MLB: The over is 0-2 in the last two All-Star games.
WNBA: Washington is 1-7 against the spread in its last eight road games.
Key stat
52-33 – The New York Yankees head into the All-Star break with the best record in baseball at 52-33, but they aren’t the World Series favorite. That distinction belongs to the Texas Rangers, who are 52-34 at the break.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Rebekkah Brunson, Minnesota Lynx – Brunson has already been ruled out of this week’s games due to a strained left calf. The Minnesota center/forward is a force inside averaging 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The Lynx, who have dropped three in a row both straight up and against the spread and are set as 12-point underdogs against Tulsa Tuesday.
Game of the day
National League vs. American League (-120, 8.5)
Notable quotable
"I'm glad that's done. I'm extremely proud of them. Everything's going to get knocked to the mat in this league, but it's how you get up, and I thought we responded to rest. I thought we responded to practice. I think we really focused in on these three home games against three quality opponents.'' - Los Angeles Sparks coach Carol Ross after her club bounced back from three straight losses to win and cover in its last three. The Sparks are set as 9.5-point road favorites in Phoenix.
Notes and tips
Matt Cain and Justin Verlander will start in the 2012 All-Star Game Tuesday night.It's been an eventful four months for the National League starter Cain. He signed a megadeal with the Giants worth up to $127 million on April 2 and threw a perfect game against the Houston Astros on June 13, the first in franchise history. Verlander (9-5, 2.58) shares the MLB lead with 128 strikeouts. The Tigers (44-42) are 3.5 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central. Texas Rangers' manager Ron Washington went with Verlander, the reigning Cy Young winner, over Angels' ace Jered Weaver (10-1, 1.96).
Both managers released their starting lineups for Tuesday’s games. American League: 1. Derek Jeter, SS 2. Robinson Cano, 2B 3. Josh Hamilton, LF 4. Jose Bautista, RF 5. Prince Fielder, 1B 6. Adrian Beltre, 3B 7. David Ortiz, DH 8. Mike Napoli, C 9. Curtis Granderson, CF. National League: 1. Carlos Gonzalez, DH 2. Melky Cabrera, CF 3. Ryan Braun, LF 4. Joey Votto, 1B 5. Carlos Beltran, RF 6. Buster Posey, C 7. Pablo Sandoval, 3B 8. Dan Uggla, 2B 9. Rafael Furcal, SS
With Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton scheduled to go under the knife to repair a knee issue, rookie sensation Bryce Harper will join the NL All-Star team. Harper, 19, who’s hitting .283 with eight homers and 25 RBI, becomes the youngest position player to ever play in the Midsummer Classic.
The Dwight Howard trade rumor mill continues to push out daily reports. The latest deal on the table as of Monday involved Howard, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark going to the Nets in exchange for Brook Lopez, Damion James, Sheldon Williams and three future first-round picks from the Nets. Cleveland would trade Luke Walton to Orlando and in return the Cavaliers would reportedly receive Quentin Richardson from Orlando, Sundiata Gaines and Kris Humphries from the Nets, who would also throw in $3 million and a future first-round pick. The final part of the deal: the Nets would need to find a fourth team willing to trade a first-round pick for guard MarShon Brooks. The pick would be sent to Orlando.