The Bum's MLB Best Bets - Trends - News Thru the World Series !

[StarDust Bum]

MLB PLAYOFF RECORD:


10/20/2016 1-1-0 50.00% -50


WLT PCT UNITS


M/L Picks.............13 - 11.....................54.16%............ + 6.46


O/U Picks.............8 - 13 - 1.................38.09 %............ - 2.00


TRIPLE PLAYS - ***** 7 - 10


M/L-.......... 4 - 8 - 0
O/U-..........7 - 6 - 1

[StarDust Bum]

Dodgers save Kershaw for Game 6, and now they'll need him
October 21, 2016

LOS ANGELES (AP) Clayton Kershaw gripped a baseball in his left hand and grimaced while he watched Game 5 of the NL Championship Series from the dugout.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' best pitcher was ready and eager, and he was sitting on three days of rest. Manager Dave Roberts could have deployed him Thursday night in Chavez Ravine and probably again in relief at Wrigley Field.

Roberts declined to play his ace, instead holding his top card for the weekend. The Dodgers decided to rely on rookie Kenta Maeda and their busy bullpen against the NL's best offense.

Those pitchers hung in for the first three hours, but eventually proved to be no match for Jon Lester in the Chicago Cubs' 8-4 victory. Los Angeles now trails the NLCS 3-2 after getting outscored 18-6 in two straight home games.

But the Dodgers didn't sound discouraged as they packed up for their flight.

''We can grab that momentum by one name,'' Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. ''Kershaw.''

Although Roberts has already proven unafraid to do unorthodox things with his pitchers in October, he stuck to a conventional plan to save Kershaw for Game 6.

And instead of pitching to clinch a pennant Saturday night, Kershaw must attempt to save the Dodgers' season again.

''We've got Clayton going in Game 6, so that's a game we expect to win,'' Roberts said.

Kershaw volunteered to pitch Game 5, but Roberts had several reasons to turn him down.

Roberts figured he would need to start Maeda at some point in the next three games, and he hoped the home crowd would benefit the inconsistent Japanese right-hander. With a day off Friday, Roberts also knew he could go deep into his bullpen - which has thrown a majors-high 43 innings in the postseason - with no repercussions.

''It's not an elimination game,'' Roberts said after Game 4. ''And I think the accumulation of (Kershaw's) usage over the last ten days plays a factor in our decision.''

Instead of pitching on three days' rest in Game 5, Kershaw will be pitching on a luxurious five days' rest in Game 6. Although the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner already has pitched 19 1-3 innings in the postseason, a midseason injury kept him off the mound for 2 1/2 months, leaving his arm with much less accumulated action than in a normal season - 168 1-3 innings combined this year, compared to 246 1-3 last season.

Kershaw shrugs off that notion, saying he feels pretty much the same as he did in previous Octobers. The biggest difference is that Kershaw, who acquired a reputation for postseason struggles over the past several seasons, has begun to erase that reputation this fall while he attempts to reach his first World Series.

''That's who you want in your decision game,'' Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager said. ''We're looking forward to the battle.''

After pitching decently in his two starts in the NL Division Series against Washington, Kershaw dominated the Cubs with seven innings of two-hit ball in Game 2, and closer Kenley Jansen finished off a 1-0 victory.

Regardless of the success of this call, Roberts has made a series of canny decisions in the postseason. His clever pitching staff management in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS against Washington thrilled long-suffering fans who found manager Don Mattingly too reactive.

Roberts used setup man Joe Blanton in the third inning, kept Jansen in for 51 pitches and seven outs, and went to Kershaw to close out a 4-3 thriller.

Although Kershaw wasn't chosen for Game 5, Roberts clearly didn't have much faith in the alternative, pulling Maeda after just 3 2-3 innings and 76 pitches.

Maeda trailed 1-0 after three batters in Game 5, but after striking out two Cubs to end the first, he held them without a hit until Javier Baez's leadoff double in the fourth. Moments later, Roberts curiously pulled him with Lester coming up for Chicago.

Roberts said he thought Maeda's stuff was fading, and he decided to rely on his high-mileage bullpen.

''I was a little surprised,'' Maeda said through a translator.

The Dodgers' bullpen kept it even until the sixth, when Addison Russell hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Blanton, one of Roberts' most reliable arms until recently.

The wheels fell off for Los Angeles in Chicago's five-run eighth inning, turning a tense game into a second straight blowout victory. The Cubs are one win away from a chance to end the championship drought that dwarfs all others, but Kershaw will finally get another shot to shut them down.

''We all know what we have in front of us with Kershaw going into Game 6,'' Cubs lefty Jon Lester said after his win Thursday. ''Hopefully he's not the good Kershaw, and we get kind of the mediocre guy that gives up a few runs and we're able to hold them where they're at.''

The Dodgers are eager to see their ace at his best.

''We have Kershaw going the next game, which we're excited about,'' said Blanton, who gave up two homers and five runs to the Cubs in Game 1 after four scoreless appearances against the Nationals. ''Our backs are against the wall, but we kind of like that. We've been there the whole year. We were in this situation in Washington, too. Maybe it's where we need to be.''

[StarDust Bum]

Scully back at Dodger Stadium as spectator
October 20, 2016

LOS ANGELES (AP) Vin Scully has returned to Dodger Stadium for the first time since ending his 67-year career behind the microphone.

The 88-year-old Hall of Fame announcer was at Game 5 of the NL Championship Series as a spectator Thursday night. But the Dodgers couldn't resist putting him to work briefly.

''It's time for Dodger baseball!'' Scully proclaimed from an upstairs suite, where he planned to watch the game with his wife.

Typically that pregame cry is handled by whoever throws out the ceremonial first pitch. On Thursday, it was former Dodgers first basemen Steve Garvey and Eric Karros. They were in position behind home plate and bantered a bit before unveiling the surprise: Scully would say it for all in the audience to hear.

Scully called his final game at the stadium last month before concluding his career with the team's regular-season finale in San Francisco on Oct. 2.

The Cubs and Dodgers were tied 2-all going into Game 5 of the NLCS.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s six-pack

College football trends for this weekend……..

— Ball State is 6-12 in last 18 games as a home underdog.

— Toledo is 16-5-1 vs spread in its last 22 games.

— Northwestern is 5-12 in last 17 games as a home favorite.

— Road teams covered 7 of last 9 Wisconsin-Iowa games.

— Texas Tech is 11-6 in last 17 games as a home underdog.

— Arizona State covered its last six home games.

Saturday’s List of 13: Random thoughts on a fall day

13) Boise State 28, BYU 27— Boise led this game 14-10 with 10:54 left in second quarter; then BYU’s coach Kilane Sitake called for a fake punt from his own 5-yard line, on 4th-and-19. They did not make it, which isn’t the point. There are some things you just don’t do.

A coach’s job is to put his players in the best possible position to win. It would be nice if the players had faith that their coach will give them an edge to win a close game. Calling a fake punt from your own 5-yard line on 4th-and-19 doesn’t fall into that category.

That said, BYU plays interesting games most every week; you never know what you’re going to see when the Cougars are on TV.

12) Indians’ 2B Jason Kipnis is from Northbrook, IL; he grew up on the same street as infamous Cubs’ fan Steve Bartman, who went to high school with Kipnis’ sister.

11) Going into Week 7, the top four receivers in the NFL, in terms of receiving yardage:
a) Julio Jones, 31 catches, 656 yards b) Greg Olsen, 39 catches, 610 yards
c) AJ Green, 42 catches, 606 yards d) Amari Cooper, 36 catches, 585 yards

10) Dodgers’ payroll on Opening Day was $249,781,668, by far the most in MLB; with a payroll like that, how do they have such poor starting pitching? Other than Clayton Kershaw, of course.

9) Speaking of the Dodgers’ payroll, Kershaw’s DAILY salary this season: $174,863. Wow. He made $174,863 every day for six months.

8) Thru six weeks, there have already been seven NFL games where the winning team trailed by 10+ points in the fourth quarter.

7) NBA general managers were polled as to who the best coach in the league is. Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich got 84% of the votes; only other guys to get votes were Rick Carlisle of Dallas and Brad Stevens of the Celtics.

6) Cleveland Indians are 32-6 this season if they lead after the first inning.

5) NBA TV has some good discussion programs, one with coaches, one with GMs, one with former players. Houston’s Mike D’Antoni was saying how he likes to run a lot of his out of bounds plays out of the same starting position, so it doesn’t give away which play he is running.

If you run each play out of a different set, then it is easier for the opponents to tell quickly which play is being run.

4) One of the side benefits of Dak Prescott being such a good QB for Dallas is that because he was a 4th-round draft pick, he doesn’t make much money and won’t be a drain on their salary cap for a few years, much like Russell Wilson (3rd-round pick) was for the Seahawks.

3) John Smoltz is very good as a baseball analyst on FS1. Speaks his mind, has personality and really knows his stuff.

2) Illinois-Michigan today, Lovie Smith vs Jim Harbaugh, the first time in I-A college football that two head coaches who both coached in a Super Bowl face each other.

1- Pro Football Focus studies every play of every college game; here are the four QBs they rank #1-4 so far this season:

a) Lamar Jackson, Louisville
b) Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
c) Deshaun Watson, Clemson
d) Jake Browning, Washington

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s games

Cubs @ Dodgers

Kershaw is 3-1, 2.44 with a save in his last eight games; 4-6, 4.39 in 17 postseason games (13 starts). Dodgers won three of his last four road starts. Kershaw blanked the Cubs for seven innings in his only start against them this season.

Hendricks is 3-2, 2.48 in his last seven starts; Cubs are 2-3 in his last five home starts. He is 0-1, 4.08 in four postseason starts.

Cubs are 6-3 in playoffs this year, 2-1 at home, they’re 7-5 against Los Angeles this season.

Dodgers won four of their last seven games; Roberts is a rookie manager who is 5-5 in the playoffs. Maddon got Tampa Bay to ’08 World Series; he is 23-25 as a manager in the postseason, 10-8 with Chicago.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB BETTING TRENDS

Our free MLB betting trends is a tool that uses a comprehensive statistical database to analyze MLB trends and make recommendations based on historical team data for the moneyline, teaser, and run lines bets as well.

Money Line

8:05 pm 10/22/2016
(909) LA DODGERS @(910) CHICAGO CUBS
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using the money line in Road games in games played on a grass field.
The record is 76 Wins and 88 Losses for the last two seasons (-41.05 units)
BET NOW

8:05 pm 10/22/2016
(909) LA DODGERS @(910) CHICAGO CUBS
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using the money line in Road games in night games.
The record is 51 Wins and 67 Losses for the last two seasons (-38.9 units)
BET NOW

--------------------------------


MLB BETTING TRENDS

Our free MLB betting trends is a tool that uses a comprehensive statistical database to analyze MLB trends and make recommendations based on historical team data for the moneyline, teaser, and run lines bets as well.Run Line

RUNLINE


Money Line
8:05 pm 10/22/2016
(909) LA DODGERS @(910) CHICAGO CUBS
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using the run line in Road games when playing with a day off.
The record is 8 Wins and 20 Losses for the last two seasons (-18.8 units)
BET NOW

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MLB POWER LINES

Power Line ratings are calculated using both teams' ratings and home field advantage. The Top Power Lines tool offers a way to view and compare current Power Lines in one simple report, as well as the Power Line Edge, where the Power Line differs significantly from the current line.

8:05 pm 10/22/2016
(909) LA DODGERS @(910) CHICAGO CUBS
Play Line: CHICAGO CUBS 122
BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS +108
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS 14

[StarDust Bum]

Day off for Dodgers, Cubs before Game 6
October 21, 2016

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

BACK TO CHICAGO

It's a day off in the NL Championship Series before the Chicago Cubs try to earn their first World Series trip since 1945. They lead the Dodgers 3-2 going into Game 6 Saturday night at Wrigley Field. Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will start for Los Angeles on an extra day of rest. ''It's kind of nice,'' he said . ''Haven't had that in a while, so it's good.'' Kyle Hendricks , who led the majors with a 2.13 ERA this season, goes for the Cubs. Kershaw pitched seven innings of two-hit ball for a 1-0 win over Hendricks in Game 2 at Wrigley. ''You got Kershaw looming,'' Cubs lefty Jon Lester said after a victory in Game 5 on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

FRESH ARM

As the AL champion Indians await their next opponent, Wild Thing is warming up in the bullpen. Actor Charlie Sheen, who played the bespectacled Ricky ''Wild Thing'' Vaughn in the movie ''Major League,'' has offered to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a World Series game. Shortly after Cleveland won the pennant Wednesday, fans began posting their wishes on social media to have Sheen - well, Vaughn - be part of the pregame festivities. Sheen responded to the demand on Twitter, posting a photo of himself as Vaughn in his Indians uniform and writing, ''Major League continues to be the gift that keeps on giving! if called upon, I'd be honored.'' The World Series opens Tuesday in Cleveland. Released in 1989, ''Major League'' is a funny, fictional account of the Indians finishing in first place with an unconventional group of players, including Vaughn.

STATUS QUO

After winning 86 games and barely missing the playoffs this season, the Seattle Mariners are bringing back their entire coaching staff next year - with one addition: Scott Brosius, the 1998 World Series MVP, will join the major league club as an assistant coach. Brosius previously served as the hitting coach for Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners system. ... All seven members of Washington's coaching staff will return next season - including third base coach Bob Henley. It was Henley who made a critical mistake during the playoff loss to the Dodgers that ended the Nationals' season.

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Cubs face Kershaw, try to end Series drought
October 21, 2016

A look at what's happening all around the majors Saturday:

ROCKIN' WRIGLEY

It's been 71 years since the Chicago Cubs reached the World Series. They can finally halt the drought with a victory at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series at 8 p.m. EDT. Anticipating a long-awaited pennant, excited fans at jam-packed Wrigley Field will certainly be on the edge of their seats.

THE MARQUEE MATCHUP

Standing in the way of a huge Cubs party is rested Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. Shaking off his previous playoff struggles, the three-time Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance this postseason. With the Dodgers down 3-2 in the best-of-seven NLCS, will he rescue them again or flop in October once more? Game 7 would be Sunday night, if necessary. ''We've won two games in a row before,'' Los Angeles first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. ''Nothing says we can't do it Saturday and Sunday.'' Kyle Hendricks, who led the majors with a 2.13 ERA this season, gets the ball for Chicago. Kershaw beat Hendricks 1-0 in Game 2 at Wrigley Field.

ON THE MEND

All-Star starter Danny Salazar plans to throw a three-inning simulated game, and the AL champion Indians will assess his status before deciding whether to put him on their World Series roster. Salazar hasn't appeared in a major league game since Sept. 9 because of tightness in his right forearm. But he's thrown well in recent bullpen sessions and could be an option in the Fall Classic - even if that means working in relief. ''I think he's ready to pitch,'' manager Terry Francona said.

Cleveland also hopes Trevor Bauer will be available after his Game 4 start in the ALCS lasted less than an inning when his stitched right pinkie opened up and he had to be replaced because of excessive bleeding. Bauer said his finger is healing and he's confident the added rest before the Series will allow him to pitch. Game 1 is Tuesday night in Cleveland.

PUT ME IN, COACH

Wild Thing is stuck in the bullpen. While actor Charlie Sheen, who played Ricky ''Wild Thing'' Vaughn in the movie ''Major League,'' offered to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before one of this year's World Series games, Major League Baseball said the choices were already made. A spokesman said MLB worked with the Indians to identify ''former franchise greats'' to do the honors in Cleveland. There had been a movement by fans on social media for Sheen to throw out a first pitch and be part of pregame festivities. Released in 1989, ''Major League'' is a fictional account of the Indians finishing in first place with an unconventional group of players, including Vaughn.

TIGER TALK

Detroit's new batting instructor is a familiar face in Motown. The team hired former Mariners and Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon as hitting coach and Leon Durham as assistant hitting coach on Friday. McClendon returns for his second stint with the Tigers after serving as bullpen coach in 2006 and hitting coach from 2007-13. He managed the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate in Toledo this season, guiding the team to a 68-76 record.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

College football trends for this weekend……..

— Ball State is 6-12 in last 18 games as a home underdog.

— Toledo is 16-5-1 vs spread in its last 22 games.

— Northwestern is 5-12 in last 17 games as a home favorite.

— Road teams covered 7 of last 9 Wisconsin-Iowa games.

— Texas Tech is 11-6 in last 17 games as a home underdog.

— Arizona State covered its last six home games.

**********

Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Random thoughts on a fall day

13) Boise State 28, BYU 27— Boise led this game 14-10 with 10:54 left in second quarter; then BYU’s coach Kilane Sitake called for a fake punt from his own 5-yard line, on 4th-and-19. They did not make it, which isn’t the point. There are some things you just don’t do.

A coach’s job is to put his players in the best possible position to win. It would be nice if the players had faith that their coach will give them an edge to win a close game. Calling a fake punt from your own 5-yard line on 4th-and-19 doesn’t fall into that category.

That said, BYU plays interesting games most every week; you never know what you’re going to see when the Cougars are on TV.

12) Indians’ 2B Jason Kipnis is from Northbrook, IL; he grew up on the same street as infamous Cubs’ fan Steve Bartman, who went to high school with Kipnis’ sister.

11) Going into Week 7, the top four receivers in the NFL, in terms of receiving yardage:
a) Julio Jones, 31 catches, 656 yards b) Greg Olsen, 39 catches, 610 yards
c) AJ Green, 42 catches, 606 yards d) Amari Cooper, 36 catches, 585 yards

10) Dodgers’ payroll on Opening Day was $249,781,668, by far the most in MLB; with a payroll like that, how do they have such poor starting pitching? Other than Clayton Kershaw, of course.

9) Speaking of the Dodgers’ payroll, Kershaw’s DAILY salary this season: $174,863. Wow. He made $174,863 every day for six months.

8) Thru six weeks, there have already been seven NFL games where the winning team trailed by 10+ points in the fourth quarter.

7) NBA general managers were polled as to who the best coach in the league is. Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich got 84% of the votes; only other guys to get votes were Rick Carlisle of Dallas and Brad Stevens of the Celtics.

6) Cleveland Indians are 32-6 this season if they lead after the first inning.

5) NBA TV has some good discussion programs, one with coaches, one with GMs, one with former players. Houston’s Mike D’Antoni was saying how he likes to run a lot of his out of bounds plays out of the same starting position, so it doesn’t give away which play he is running.

If you run each play out of a different set, then it is easier for the opponents to tell quickly which play is being run.

4) One of the side benefits of Dak Prescott being such a good QB for Dallas is that because he was a 4th-round draft pick, he doesn’t make much money and won’t be a drain on their salary cap for a few years, much like Russell Wilson (3rd-round pick) was for the Seahawks.

3) John Smoltz is very good as a baseball analyst on FS1. Speaks his mind, has personality and really knows his stuff.

2) Illinois-Michigan today, Lovie Smith vs Jim Harbaugh, the first time in I-A college football that two head coaches who both coached in a Super Bowl face each other.

1- Pro Football Focus studies every play of every college game; here are the four QBs they rank #1-4 so far this season:

a) Lamar Jackson, Louisville
b) Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
c) Deshaun Watson, Clemson
d) Jake Browning, Washington

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Saturday, October 22

LA Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs

Game 909-910
October 22, 2016 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 13.357
Chicago Cubs
(Hendrcks) 17.855
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago Cubs
by 4 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-135
6 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago Cubs
(+115); Over




MLB
Long Sheet

Saturday, October 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS (96 - 76) at CHICAGO CUBS (109 - 61) - 8:05 PM
CLAYTON KERSHAW (L) vs. KYLE HENDRICKS (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 7-5 (+0.4 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
7 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.8 Units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
KERSHAW is 6-3 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 1.93 and a WHIP of 0.972.
His team's record is 6-3 (+0.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 8-1. (+6.9 units)

KYLE HENDRICKS vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
HENDRICKS is 2-2 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 2.84 and a WHIP of 0.829.
His team's record is 2-2 (+0.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-2. (+0.0 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, October 22

Cubs @ Dodgers

Kershaw is 3-1, 2.44 with a save in his last eight games; 4-6, 4.39 in 17 postseason games (13 starts). Dodgers won three of his last four road starts. Kershaw blanked the Cubs for seven innings in his only start against them this season.

Hendricks is 3-2, 2.48 in his last seven starts; Cubs are 2-3 in his last five home starts. He is 0-1, 4.08 in four postseason starts.

Cubs are 6-3 in playoffs this year, 2-1 at home, they’re 7-5 against Los Angeles this season.

Dodgers won four of their last seven games; Roberts is a rookie manager who is 5-5 in the playoffs. Maddon got Tampa Bay to ’08 World Series; he is 23-25 as a manager in the postseason, 10-8 with Chicago.




MLB

Saturday, October 22

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:08 PM
LA DODGERS vs. CHI CUBS
LA Dodgers are 4-8 SU in their last 12 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 10 of LA Dodgers's last 15 games
Chi Cubs are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chi Cubs's last 10 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Short Sheet

Saturday, October 22

LA Dodgers at Chicago, 8:05 PM ET
Kershaw: LA Dodgers are 16-25 SU when playing with a day off
Hendricks: CHICAGO CUBS are 31-9 SU in home games in night games

[StarDust Bum]

MLB PLAYOFF RECORD:

10/20/2016 1-1-0 50.00% -50

WLT PCT UNITS

M/L Picks.............13 - 11.....................54.16%............ + 6.46

O/U Picks.............8 - 13 - 1.................38.09 %............ - 2.00

TRIPLE PLAYS - ***** 7 - 10

M/L-.......... 4 - 8 - 0
O/U-..........7 - 6 - 1

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LAD at CHC 08:00 PM

CHC +122 *****

O 6.5

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s six-pack

— Median price for a ticket to tonight’s World Series game is $1,100.

— Big night in Cleveland tonight; Cavaliers get their championship rings and the Indians play in the World Series.

— Jets’ QB Geno Smith is out for the year with a torn ACL.

— In his last 13 games, Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford has thrown 32 TDs, only five INTs.

— I’m not sure why, but Hank Aaron was an honorary captain for Michigan’s football game Saturday

Tuesday’s List of 13: Random NBA knowledge

With NBA starting the week, some notes you might find interesting……….
13) Brooklyn Nets are terrible and do not have control of their first round draft pick until 2019. Hard to get better that way.

New GM of the Nets is Sean Marks, who was a throw-in in the Knicks-Toronto Oakley-Camby trade in 1998. Marks comes from the San Antonio front office. We wish him good luck; he’ll need it.

12) Portland Trailblazers had the #29 payroll in the NBA last year; they paid to keep their core players this spring and now have a top five payroll.

11) It was 948 days in between Joel Embiid’s last game at Kansas and his first preseason game for the 76ers. He did play well in preseason though.

10) Kyrie Irving scored 19.6 pts/game in regular season LY, 25.2 in playoffs. How much will he score this regular season?

9) Andre Drummond of the Pistons just signed a contract worth $130M for five years. He shot 35.5% from the foul line last year. This bothers me.

8) When Oklahoma City Thunder players have dinner together on the road, they all put their cellphones in the middle of the dinner table, to eliminate distractions.

7) According to a survey released last week, the average NBA player spends $42,500 a month.

6) This quote on the Milwaukee Bucks from an anonymous NBA scout: “Jason Kidd’s had a lot of influence in personnel moves and I don’t think that’s been a good thing.”

5) Minnesota Timberwolves’ top three scorers last year were all 21 years old or younger. Minnesota was the #28 defensive team LY; in Tom Thibodeau’s five years as coach of the Bulls, they were a top 6 defense four times. Thibodeau is Minnesota’s new coach.

4) In three years under Doc Rivers, Clippers are 166-80 in regular season, 15-18 in playoffs.

3) Memphis Grizzlies used 28 players last year, most in NBA history.

2) Now-retired Tim Duncan averaged 25.2 minutes/game for the Spurs LY; looks like 36-year old Pau Gasol will be his primary replacement. Better on offense, not nearly as good on defense.

1) NBA regular season is 1,229 games long; we’ll have knowledge on every one of them on the Hoops page, starting tonight. Plus we’ll do college hoop every night too. Enjoy!!

[StarDust Bum]

Game 1 - Cubs at Indians
October 24, 2016

Chicago Cubs (110-61, 49-36 away) vs. Cleveland Indians (101-68, 57-28 home)

Game 1 Odds: Cubs -115, Indians +105, Total 6 ½ (Over -120)

Series Odds: Cubs -220, Indians +185

How they got here

Chicago owned the best record in the regular season by winning 103 games, while posting a 7-3 mark in the playoffs. The Cubs took care of the Giants in four games of the National League Divisional Series thanks to a monster rally in the Game 4 clincher. Chicago captured its first pennant since 1945 by knocking out Los Angeles in six games of the NLCS as the Cubs won the final three contests after trailing, 2-1.

Cleveland took control of the American League Central in June thanks to a 14-game winning streak as the Indians cruised to a division title. The Tribe swept the Red Sox in the ALDS, while eliminating the Blue Jays in five games of the ALCS as Cleveland’s pitching held Toronto’s explosive offense to eight runs.

World Series history

It’s been a long time since both these squads have hoisted a World Series trophy as the Indians last won the title in 1948, while the Cubs’ championship drought has lasted since 1908. Cleveland came within one victory of a championship in 1997 against the Marlins, but lost on a walk-off hit in Game 7. Chicago has lost seven consecutive World Series, granted it was from 1910-1945 as the Cubs and Indians are meeting in the World Series for the first time ever.

Recent matchups

These teams played four times last season in interleague action as the Cubs and Indians split the four meetings. Both teams exchanged road shutouts as the Indians blanked the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 6-0, while Chicago returned the favor the next night in Cleveland with a 17-0 thumping of the Tribe. The first scheduled matchup was rained out in Chicago as the make-up game took place in late August and was the best contest of the four. Jon Lester and Corey Kluber went toe-to-toe nearly the whole way, but Kris Bryant was the hero with a walk-off home run to lift the Cubs to a 2-1 victory as a -130 home favorite.

Interleague records

Chicago: 15-5, 7-3 on road
Cleveland: 13-7, 7-3 at home

Game 1 starters

Chicago: Jon Lester (21-5, 2.29 ERA)
Overall Team Record: 27-8
Overall (O/U) Record: 15-18-2
Road Record: 10-3
Road Team Record: 12-6
Road O/U Record: 11-6-1

The Cubs own a perfect 3-0 record in Lester’s three playoff starts, including a win in his last outing over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS. Lester has yielded 14 hits and two earned runs in 21 innings of playoff baseball, while the southpaw has compiled a perfect 15-0 record and 1.91 ERA in night action. Lester has won all four starts against American League competition this season, while going unbeaten in his last five outings against Cleveland since 2012.

Cleveland: Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA)
Overall Team Record: 20-12
Overall (O/U) Record: 16-14-2
Home Record: 10-5
Home Team Record: 11-5
Home O/U Record: 7-8-1

The 2014 Cy Young winner dominated the Red Sox in his first ever postseason start by tossing seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout in Game 2 of the ALDS. Kluber shut down the Blue Jays in the series opener of the ALCS by scattering six hits in 6.1 scoreless innings of a 2-0 win, but lost to Toronto in Game 4 by a 5-1 count in spite of allowing four hits and two earned runs in five innings. In last season’s walk-off loss to the Cubs in late August, Kluber struck out 11 batters in 7.2 innings of work, while giving up four hits and one earned run. Kluber didn’t fare well against NL foes this season as the Indians went 1-2 in his three starts, which included a 6-0 home loss to the Mets in April.

All the odds for World Series Most Valuable Player can be found here, led by Cleveland's Andrew Miller and Chicago's Kris Bryant.

Game 1 Propositions - per Sportsbook.ag Line

Total Runs+Hits+Errors
Over 23 (-115)
Under 23 (-115)

Team to Score First
Cubs -155
Indians +125

Cubs Total Runs
Over 3.5 (-115)
Under 3.5 (-115)

Indians Total Runs
Over 3 (-120)
Under 3 (-110)

Will there be a score in the 1st Inning?
Yes +150
No -185

Total Runs
Odd -165
Even +135

Will the game go to Extra Innings?
Yes +550
No -900

1st 5 Innings 3 Way Line
Cubs +125
Indians +125
Tie +375

Double Result (Game 1 Winner / Series Winner)
Cubs win Game 1 / Win Series +150
Indians win Game 1 / Win Series +210
Cubs win Game 1 / Lose Series +400
Indians win Game 1 / Lose Series +400

Odds Subject to Change