Thursday Trends and Indexes 05/15

[Udog]

NHL
Dunkel


Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
The Penguins look to close out the series against a Philadelphia team that was just 3-11 this season after 3 or more consecutive losses. Pittsburgh is the pick (-175) according to Dunkel, which has the Penguins favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-175). Here are all of today's games.

THURSDAY, MAY 15

Game 55-56: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 12.706; Philadelphia 12.161
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-175); Under

[Udog]

NBA
Long Sheet


Update


Thursday, May 14


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NEW ORLEANS (63 - 29) at SAN ANTONIO (62 - 30) - 5/15/2008, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 56-40 ATS (+12.0 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 52-29 ATS (+20.1 Units) in home games after a loss by 10 points or more since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 68-44 ATS (+19.6 Units) in home games after scoring 85 points or less since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 33-17 ATS (+14.3 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 56-35 ATS (+17.5 Units) in all games this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 48-35 ATS (+9.5 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after allowing 85 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 25-16 ATS (+7.4 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 30-21 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 9-8 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 11-6 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
9 of 16 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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[Udog]

NBA


Thursday, May 15


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Pick 'n' Roll: Thursday's best NBA bets
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New Orleans at San Antonio (-7 ½, 184)

If you've been throwing a few bucks on the Spurs here and there hoping their experience would shine through at some point, now's probably about time to stop - even if they're back home staring elimination in the face.

It seems like San Antonio is right in the mix of every game up until halftime and then the wheels fall off when Chris Paul and Co. keep on running. The Spurs tried to let Tony Parker off the leash so that he might balance Paul's production, but that isn't working. Parker had 18 points to Paul's 22, but Paul also added 14 assists while David West dropped 38 points in comparison to Tim Duncan's 10.

The Spurs won't panic on the ropes and they could come out with a huge game if Duncan bounces back. New Orleans smells blood though, and if they can't end it now, they could be in real trouble.

Pick: New Orleans

[Udog]

NHL


Thursday, May 15


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Ice picks: Thursday's best NHL bets
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Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia ( -180, 5 1/2)

Hockey bettors have a new favorite team - the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens have won 11 of their 12 postseason games and have been giving some nice paydays considering they have seen some relatively low odds for such a hot team.

The Pens were even underdogs when they beat Philly Tuesday night 4-1, to take a strangling 3-0 in the series. Now the Flyers are left with the tall task of becoming just the third team in NHL history to come back from a three-game deficit to win a series.

The chances are microscopic at best. The Flyers are without top defenseman Kimmo Timonen and another of their best blueliners, Braydon Coburn, may miss his second straight game with a facial injury. The absence of the two players showed in Game 3 when the Flyers had difficulty breaking out of their zone and they allowed the Pens to outshoot them 25-18.

Pittsburgh played a strong defensive game also, which helped Game 3 fall under the number for the first time this series. Expect more disciplined, defensive play from Pittsburgh in Game 4 as the Pens aim to finish off the series.

Pick: Penguins

[pm530]

MLB


Thursday, May 15

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Trend Sheet
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12:05 PM OAKLAND vs. CLEVELAND
Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Oakland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Cleveland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Cleveland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home


1:05 PM LA DODGERS vs. MILWAUKEE
LA Dodgers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games
LA Dodgers are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games on the road
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Milwaukee is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home


1:10 PM TORONTO vs. MINNESOTA
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Toronto is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games on the road
Minnesota is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Toronto
Minnesota is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games at home


1:10 PM WASHINGTON vs. NY METS
Washington is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Washington is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games on the road
NY Mets are 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Washington


1:15 PM PITTSBURGH vs. ST. LOUIS
Pittsburgh is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing St. Louis
Pittsburgh is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games on the road
St. Louis is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
St. Louis is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home


2:10 PM DETROIT vs. KANSAS CITY
Detroit is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
Kansas City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit


2:20 PM SAN DIEGO vs. CHI CUBS
San Diego is 6-16 SU in its last 22 games
San Diego is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Chi Cubs are 6-13 SU in their last 19 games when playing at home against San Diego
Chi Cubs are 5-13 SU in their last 18 games when playing San Diego


3:45 PM HOUSTON vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Houston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
Houston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing San Francisco
San Francisco is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
San Francisco is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Houston


4:10 PM NY YANKEES vs. TAMPA BAY
NY Yankees are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay
NY Yankees are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
Tampa Bay is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing NY Yankees


7:05 PM ATLANTA vs. PHILADELPHIA
Atlanta is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Atlanta is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Philadelphia is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games


7:10 PM FLORIDA vs. CINCINNATI
Florida is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
Florida is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Florida
Cincinnati is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Florida


9:40 PM COLORADO vs. ARIZONA
Colorado is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Colorado is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Arizona is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Colorado
Arizona is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Colorado


10:05 PM CHI WHITE SOX vs. LA ANGELS
Chi White Sox are 3-9 SU in their last 12 games on the road
Chi White Sox are 5-10 SU in their last 15 games
LA Angels are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games
LA Angels are 4-11 SU in their last 15 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox

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[pm530]

MLB


Thursday, May 15

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Baseball Today
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SCOREBOARD

Thursday, May 15

Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels (10:05 p.m.) Jon Garland (4-3, 4.30 ERA) makes his first start against Chicago since the White Sox traded him to the Angels for shortstop Orlando Cabrera in the offseason. Javier Vazquez (4-3, 3.63 ERA) gets the ball for the White Sox.


STARS

Wednesday

— C.C. Sabathia, Indians, pitched a five-hitter and struck out 11 to beat Oakland 2-0. He won consecutive starts for the first time this season and has a 1.49 ERA over his past five starts.

— Matt Stairs, Blue Jays, hit a grand slam to lift Toronto to a 6-5 victory over Minnesota. Stairs homered for the second straight game.

— Robinson Cano, Yankees, went 4-for-4, raising his batting average over .200 for the first time since the season opener, and New York beat Tampa Bay 2-1.

— Todd Wellemeyer, Cardinals, gave up a run and two hits in seven innings, improving to 4-1 with a 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh. He struck out five with three walks.

— Jay Payton, Orioles, hit his fourth career grand slam to help Baltimore complete a two-game sweep of Boston with a 6-3 win.

— Micah Owings, Diamondbacks, pitched six shutout innings in a 4-3 victory over Colorado. He scattered five hits and a pair of walks with five strikeouts to move to 5-1 on the season.

THROWING ZEROS

Cleveland starters have pitched 43 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings—the longest run by a major league team in one season since a 54-inning streak by Baltimore’s starters from Sept. 1-7, 1974, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It’s the Indians’ longest stretch since they tossed 47 scoreless innings in August 1948. Cleveland became the first team to pitch five shutouts in an eight-game span since Oakland from July 12-19, 2002, according to Elias. Cleveland shut out Oakland in back-to-back games for the first time since 1966.

STRONG IN RETURN

Sidelined since March 21 because of a strained triceps, John Lackey allowed one run and six hits in seven innings against the White Sox. He retired 14 of 15 batters during one stretch and finished with four strikeouts and one walk. He threw 99 pitches but got no decision.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir agreed to a $28.5 million, three-year extension through 2011, a deal with a club option that could raise the contract’s value to $39.5 million over four seasons. The 2007 AL strikeout champion is 36-30 with a 3.63 ERA in 100 major league appearances, including 99 starts. He began this season on the 15-day DL after straining his left elbow, but returned to the rotation on May 4 and is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts.

SAVED

Jarrod Washburn made his first relief appearance since 1999 and earned a save in the Mariners’ 4-3 win in 12 innings over Texas. J.J. Putz, the regular closer, worked two scoreless innings to earn the win before Washburn came on to close out the game. He was making only his 11th relief appearance in 265 games.

NOT SAVED

Guillermo Mota became the latest Brewers reliever to blow a game, filling in perfectly—depending on how you look at it—for Eric Gagne, who had blown five of 15 save chances. Mota walked Delwyn Young with one out and allowed a single to Andre Ethier that put runners on the corners. Juan Pierre drove a pitch to left-center that put the Dodgers ahead 5-4, then stole third and scored on Andruw Jones’ groundout. Milwaukee has lost 10 games in which it led.

ALL ABOARD

Albert Pujols had two hits and reached base for the 41st straight game to start the season in the Cardinals’ 5-1 win over Pittsburgh. He has a 13-game hitting streak and also drew his major league-leading 12th intentional walk. Pujols’ streak of reaching base is the best in the majors to start the season since Derek Jeter’s 53-game run in 1999 for the Yankees.

ROCKY TIMES

So much for all those flashy wins late last season in the desert. Colorado lost for the seventh time in eight games against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, after sweeping Arizona in the NL championship series last fall. The D-backs improved to a major league-best 25-15—including 19-5 against the feeble NL West—and dropped the Rockies 10 games back in the division race.

BROKEN DOWN

Pirates C Ryan Doumit will be sidelined at least a month after breaking his left thumb on a passed ball. He was put on the 15-day DL after an examination in Pittsburgh confirmed the break. Surgery will not be necessary. … Reds SS Jeff Keppinger is out 4-to-6 weeks with a broken left kneecap. He fouled a pitch off his knee on Tuesday night but stayed in the game for two innings, until the pain and swelling in the knee started limiting his range.

SPEAKING

“When you’re missing Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, that makes it tough. The injuries make a huge difference. At the same time, you’ve got to get it done. We still have plenty of good hitters. We need to get the job done.”—Hank Steinbrenner, who said Wednesday that the Yankees need to play “smarter and harder,” hours before New York beat Tampa Bay 2-1.


SEASONS

May 15

1918—Washington’s Walter Johnson pitched a 1-0, 18-inning victory over Lefty Williams of the Chicago White Sox, who also went the distance.

1919—After 12 scoreless innings, Cincinnati scored 10 runs off Al Mamaux in the 13th to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 10-0.

1941—Joe DiMaggio began his 56-game hitting streak against Chicago’s Eddie Smith, going 1-for-4 with one RBI.

1944—Clyde Shoun of the Reds tossed a no-hitter against the Boston Braves for a 1-0 victory in Cincinnati. Chuck Aleno’s only home run of the year was the difference.

1952—Detroit’s Virgil Trucks pitched his first of two no-hitters for the season, beating the Washington Senators 1-0. Vic Wertz’s two-out homer in the ninth off Bob Porterfield won the game.

1960—Don Cardwell became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his first start after being traded. The Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 at Wrigley Field.

1973—Nolan Ryan of the California Angels pitched the first of a record seven no-hitters, beating the Kansas City Royals 3-0. Ryan tossed his second gem two months later.

1981—Len Barker of Cleveland pitched the first perfect game in 13 years as the Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 at Municipal Stadium.

1993—The Montreal Expos retired their first number, No. 10 for Rusty Staub.

1996—Chicago outfielder Tony Phillips went into the stands to confront a heckling fan during the White Sox’s 20-8 victory at Milwaukee. Phillips, who already had changed into street clothes after being taken out of the game in the sixth inning, went after a 23-year-old fan in the left-field bleachers.

2005—Morgan Ensberg hit three home runs and finished 4-for-4 with five RBIs in Houston’s 9-0 victory over San Francisco.

2005—New York’s Tino Martinez hit two homers and drove in three runs in the Yankees’ 6-4 win over Oakland. The two homers gave Martinez eight homers in eight games.

Today’s birthdays: Rafael Perez 26; Justin Morneau 27; Josh Beckett 28; Tyler Walker 32; John Smoltz 41; George Brett 55.

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[pm530]

Major League Baseball – Hot lines

MLB


Thursday, May 15

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Hot lines: Today’s MLB bets
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Hot lines: Thursday's best MLB bets

Houston at San Francisco (-150, 8)

If he played for any other team, Tim Lincecum would always be a good bet. This kid is straight-up nasty and he has a 1.61 ERA in seven starts to prove it. He has also helped his club to a 5-2 record in his starts, which on the San Francisco Giants, is like turning water into wine (no other pitcher on the club has more than two wins). But you can’t ignore the fact that he plays for the Giants, who are only five runs away from being the worst offensive club in the majors.

Houston, on the other hand, is tied for fourth among major league clubs in runs scored. They haven’t done well in two previous meetings against Lincecum, but the young starter averages only 6.5 innings per start so the Astros will likely to get a look at the Giants’ mediocre bullpen.

The Astros will have Chris Sampson on the hill, who hasn’t had a good beginning to his third big league season, but he looked like he got back on track with seven shutout innings against the Dodgers in his last start.

Pick: Astros


New York Yankees at Tampa Bay (-150, 9)

This is a mind-blowing moneyline. When was the last time the Rays were favored by this much over the Yankees? I can’t confirm it, but I’m pretty sure this is the highest price you’ve ever had to pay to get the Rays over the Yanks. And why?

Because Ian Kennedy is mired in a sophomore slump? The kid still has a 92 mph fastball and his last outing against Tampa Bay was a win. Because Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada are on the DL? There are still a few guys in that lineup that can hit. Because the Rays are in first place in the AL East? The Yankees are only 3 ½ games back.

Maybe this is the sucker bet, but it’s too damn hard to turn down the Yankees at +130.

Pick: Yankees

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[pm530]

NHL


Thursday, May 15

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Trend Sheet
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7:30 PM PITTSBURGH vs. PHILADELPHIA
Pittsburgh is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
Pittsburgh is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games at home

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[pm530]

National Hockey League – Long Sheet

NHL
Long Sheet

Updated

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Thursday, May 15
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PITTSBURGH (58-28-0-8, 124 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (50-35-0-12, 112 pts.) - 5/15/2008, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 15-8 ATS (+6.3 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
PITTSBURGH is 58-36 ATS (+12.1 Units) in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 18-11 ATS (+29.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
PITTSBURGH is 38-18 ATS (+14.6 Units) second half of the season this season.
PITTSBURGH is 29-18 ATS (+8.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PITTSBURGH is 19-10 ATS (+7.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 22-45 ATS (+68.7 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 8-14 ATS (-15.7 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 13-23 ATS (-13.0 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 52-58 ATS (-48.2 Units) in home games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 3-11 ATS (-10.0 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 16-11 (+7.1 Units) against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 16-11-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
17 of 26 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+6.8 Units)

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[pm530]

Major League Baseball – Long Sheet

MLB
Long Sheet


Thursday, May 15

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LA DODGERS (20 - 19) at MILWAUKEE (20 - 20) - 1:05 PM
CHAD BILLINGSLEY (R) vs. BEN SHEETS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 10-16 (-9.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
MILWAUKEE is 54-28 (+19.9 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 1-1 (+0.0 Units) against MILWAUKEE this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.1 Units)

CHAD BILLINGSLEY vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
No recent starts.

BEN SHEETS vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
SHEETS is 3-5 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.30 and a WHIP of 0.894.
His team's record is 4-5 (-0.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-5. (-1.6 units)

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WASHINGTON (17 - 24) at NY METS (20 - 18) - 1:10 PM
JASON BERGMANN (R) vs. MIKE PELFREY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 27-27 (+14.8 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 8-2 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Thursday over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 30-27 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 87-110 (+6.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 90-113 (+10.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 68-53 (+35.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 48-46 (-19.1 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 53-48 (-22.6 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 11-20 (-20.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 to -175 over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 53-48 (-22.6 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 23-28 (-23.3 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
PELFREY is 6-13 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
PELFREY is 6-13 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 5-3 (+0.6 Units) against WASHINGTON this season
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.4 Units, Under=-0.5 Units)

JASON BERGMANN vs. NY METS since 1997
BERGMANN is 1-1 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 3.57 and a WHIP of 1.188.
His team's record is 1-2 (-0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-1. (+1.0 units)

MIKE PELFREY vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
PELFREY is 2-1 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 4.29 and a WHIP of 1.636.
His team's record is 3-2 (-0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-3. (-1.4 units)

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PITTSBURGH (19 - 21) at ST LOUIS (24 - 18) - 1:15 PM
IAN SNELL (R) vs. JOEL PINEIRO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 14-34 (-18.1 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 62-120 (-32.2 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 26-59 (-24.0 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 62-120 (-32.2 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 36-80 (-31.4 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 27-67 (-28.9 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 43-19 (+17.2 Units) against the money line in home games in day games over the last 3 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 80-45 (+23.1 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
SNELL is 39-33 (+12.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SNELL is 39-33 (+12.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 2-2 (+0.3 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.3 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)

IAN SNELL vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
SNELL is 3-3 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 3.67 and a WHIP of 1.408.
His team's record is 4-4 (+0.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-4. (-0.0 units)

JOEL PINEIRO vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
PINEIRO is 3-0 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 1.74 and a WHIP of 0.968.
His team's record is 3-0 (+3.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-3. (-3.3 units)

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SAN DIEGO (15 - 26) at CHICAGO CUBS (24 - 16) - 2:20 PM
GREG MADDUX (R) vs. RYAN DEMPSTER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN DIEGO is 15-25 (-12.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN DIEGO is 43-54 (-19.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 15-25 (-12.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
DEMPSTER is 86-84 (+19.2 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
DEMPSTER is 49-30 (+24.3 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997. (Team's Record)
DEMPSTER is 73-73 (+13.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
SAN DIEGO is 35-23 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 315-343 (+32.5 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 884-958 (-191.9 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 474-449 (-113.4 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 26-43 (-23.3 Units) against the money line in May games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 351-333 (-77.7 Units) against the money line in home games in day games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 829-878 (-171.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 349-328 (-72.3 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 418-464 (-122.4 Units) against the money line after a win since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 441-432 (-105.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 2-1 (+0.4 Units) against SAN DIEGO this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.1 Units)

GREG MADDUX vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
MADDUX is 9-4 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 2.79 and a WHIP of 0.937.
His team's record is 12-6 (+1.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 11-7. (+3.0 units)

RYAN DEMPSTER vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
DEMPSTER is 5-1 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 4.26 and a WHIP of 1.540.
His team's record is 6-2 (+4.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-4. (-0.5 units)

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HOUSTON (23 - 18) at SAN FRANCISCO (17 - 24) - 3:45 PM
CHRIS SAMPSON (R) vs. TIM LINCECUM (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 10-27 (-15.5 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 23-18 (+8.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 10-2 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in May games this season.
HOUSTON is 23-18 (+8.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 88-115 (-25.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 88-115 (-25.5 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.3 Units)

CHRIS SAMPSON vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
SAMPSON is 1-1 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 1.50 and a WHIP of 1.167.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)

TIM LINCECUM vs. HOUSTON since 1997
LINCECUM is 1-0 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 1.20 and a WHIP of 0.600.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.1 units)

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ATLANTA (20 - 19) at PHILADELPHIA (22 - 19) - 7:05 PM
CHUCK JAMES (L) vs. COLE HAMELS (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 6-15 (-11.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
ATLANTA is 72-72 (-16.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 183-180 (-28.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 6-15 (-11.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 57-35 (+20.2 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 20-12 (+19.5 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +150 to +175 since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 1-1 (+0.3 Units) against PHILADELPHIA this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.2 Units)

CHUCK JAMES vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
JAMES is 2-0 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 3.58 and a WHIP of 1.163.
His team's record is 4-2 (+1.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-2. (+0.9 units)

COLE HAMELS vs. ATLANTA since 1997
HAMELS is 3-2 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 4.42 and a WHIP of 1.190.
His team's record is 3-3 (-0.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-3. (-1.5 units)

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FLORIDA (23 - 17) at CINCINNATI (18 - 23) - 7:10 PM
ANDREW MILLER (L) vs. MATT BELISLE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 23-17 (+10.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
FLORIDA is 19-13 (+9.7 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
FLORIDA is 18-12 (+9.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
FLORIDA is 23-17 (+10.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CINCINNATI is 15-27 (-14.8 Units) against the money line in May games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 200-239 (-66.9 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997.
BELISLE is 4-13 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BELISLE is 4-13 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against FLORIDA this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

ANDREW MILLER vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
No recent starts.

MATT BELISLE vs. FLORIDA since 1997
BELISLE is 1-1 when starting against FLORIDA with an ERA of 5.31 and a WHIP of 1.770.
His team's record is 3-1 (+3.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-2. (-0.4 units)

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COLORADO (15 - 25) at ARIZONA (25 - 15) - 9:40 PM
AARON COOK (R) vs. BRANDON WEBB (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 14-25 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
COLORADO is 61-116 (-40.2 Units) against the money line in road games in May games since 1997.
COLORADO is 5-17 (-12.4 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
COLORADO is 14-25 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
COLORADO is 11-21 (-10.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
COLORADO is 7-17 (-11.0 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
COLORADO is 54-113 (-38.9 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1997.
ARIZONA is 118-91 (+25.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 68-40 (+19.9 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 19-5 (+13.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
ARIZONA is 118-91 (+25.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 86-60 (+24.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 80-68 (+9.6 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 71-46 (+23.6 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 61-35 (+22.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
WEBB is 31-13 (+12.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
WEBB is 31-13 (+12.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLORADO is 79-72 (+11.8 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 69-50 (+30.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 7-1 (+6.4 Units) against COLORADO this season
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.1 Units)

AARON COOK vs. ARIZONA since 1997
COOK is 5-3 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 4.76 and a WHIP of 1.445.
His team's record is 6-8 (-1.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 8-5. (+2.6 units)

BRANDON WEBB vs. COLORADO since 1997
WEBB is 10-8 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 3.78 and a WHIP of 1.309.
His team's record is 13-11 (-2.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 10-13. (-4.6 units)

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OAKLAND (23 - 18) at CLEVELAND (21 - 19) - 12:05 PM
GREG SMITH (L) vs. AARON LAFFEY (L)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 36-25 (+18.5 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 55-72 (-31.9 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 since 1997.
CLEVELAND is 55-59 (-26.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Thursday since 1997.
CLEVELAND is 16-26 (-21.4 Units) against the money line in home games after shutting out their opponent since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 4-4 (+1.5 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.7 Units)

GREG SMITH vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
No recent starts.

AARON LAFFEY vs. OAKLAND since 1997
No recent starts.

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TORONTO (20 - 22) at MINNESOTA (20 - 19) - 1:10 PM
DUSTIN MCGOWAN (R) vs. GLEN PERKINS (L)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 15-29 (-15.3 Units) against the money line in road games after a win over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 10-23 (-17.0 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 9-18 (-11.6 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 24-14 (+11.7 Units) against the money line as a home underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 3 seasons.
MCGOWAN is 9-2 (+8.4 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 2-0 (+2.1 Units) against MINNESOTA this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

DUSTIN MCGOWAN vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
MCGOWAN is 1-0 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.955.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)

GLEN PERKINS vs. TORONTO since 1997
No recent starts.

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DETROIT (16 - 24) at KANSAS CITY (18 - 21) - 2:10 PM
KENNY ROGERS (L) vs. GIL MECHE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 16-24 (-12.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
DETROIT is 5-17 (-15.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
DETROIT is 2-11 (-9.8 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
DETROIT is 4-14 (-14.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
DETROIT is 3-12 (-12.9 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
DETROIT is 91-88 (-17.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 11-23 (-16.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
ROGERS is 38-18 (+16.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ROGERS is 26-9 (+16.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ROGERS is 36-16 (+17.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ROGERS is 21-8 (+11.5 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
KANSAS CITY is 32-62 (-21.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 16-36 (-20.2 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
MECHE is 4-12 (-10.4 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
MECHE is 5-15 (-11.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 5-0 (+7.4 Units) against DETROIT this season
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.9 Units)

KENNY ROGERS vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
ROGERS is 13-8 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 3.78 and a WHIP of 1.261.
His team's record is 16-11 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 14-12. (+0.5 units)

GIL MECHE vs. DETROIT since 1997
MECHE is 6-4 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 3.83 and a WHIP of 1.364.
His team's record is 9-6 (+5.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 8-6. (+1.3 units)

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NY YANKEES (20 - 21) at TAMPA BAY (23 - 17) - 4:10 PM
IAN KENNEDY (R) vs. SCOTT KAZMIR (L)
Top Trends for this game.
NY YANKEES are 115-92 (-22.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 19-25 (-20.8 Units) against the money line when playing on Thursday over the last 3 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 24-26 (-12.9 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 48-40 (+16.8 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 27-45 (-18.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 4-5 (+0.6 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
7 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+4.7 Units)

IAN KENNEDY vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
KENNEDY is 1-1 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 5.87 and a WHIP of 1.631.
His team's record is 2-1 (+0.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-3. (-3.6 units)

SCOTT KAZMIR vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
KAZMIR is 2-3 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.396.
His team's record is 3-5 (-0.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-4. (-0.3 units)

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CHI WHITE SOX (19 - 20) at LA ANGELS (24 - 18) - 10:05 PM
JAVIER VAZQUEZ (R) vs. JON GARLAND (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CHI WHITE SOX are 339-330 (+46.2 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHI WHITE SOX are 420-424 (+38.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA ANGELS is 2-1 (+0.7 Units) against CHI WHITE SOX this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

JAVIER VAZQUEZ vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
VAZQUEZ is 0-1 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 2.95 and a WHIP of 0.938.
His team's record is 1-2 (-2.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-2. (-1.4 units)

JON GARLAND vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
No recent starts.

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[Udog]

MLB
Short Sheet


Thursday, May 15th

National League

LA Dodgers at Milwaukee, 1:05 ET
Chad Billingsley (R) vs. Ben Sheets (R)
Billingsley : LAD 10-16 against right-handed starters
Sheets : MIL 32-12 Home against NL West

Washington at NY Mets, 1:10 ET
Jason Bergmann (R) vs. Mike Pelfrey (R)
Bergmann : WAS 8-2 AWAY on Thursday
Pelfrey : 6-13 TSR in all games

Pittsburgh at St. Louis, 1:15 ET
Ian Snell (R) vs. Joel Pineiro (R)
Snell : PIT 14-34 as a road underdog of +100 to +125
Pineiro : STL 80-45 at Home against right-handed starters

San Diego at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 ET
Greg Maddux (R) vs. Ryan Dempster (R)
Maddux : SD 15-25 on grass
Dempster : 24-9 TSR at home with a money line of -100 to -150

Houston at San Francisco, 3:45 ET
Chris Sampson (R) vs. Tim Lincecum (R)
Sampson : HOU 10-2 in May
Lincecum : SF 33-42 when the money line is -100 to -150

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7:05 ET
Chuck James (L) vs. Cole Hamels (L)
James : ATL 20-12 as a road underdog of +150 to +175
Hamels : PHI 14-4 UNDER in home games after allowing 8+ runs

Florida at Cincinnati, 7:10 ET
Andrew Miller (L) vs. Matt Belisle (R)
Miller : FLA 23-14 when the total is 8.5 to 10
Belisle : 4-13 TSR at Home

Colorado at Arizona, 9:40 ET
Aaron Cook (R) vs. Brandon Webb (R)
Cook : COL 5-17 against NL West
Webb : 29-9 TSR when the total is 7 to 8.5

American League

Oakland at Cleveland, 12:05 ET
Greg Smith (L) vs. Aaron Laffey (L)
Smith : OAK 2-11 revenging a shutout loss
Laffey : CLE 10-0 UNDER after 2+ consecutive wins

Toronto at Minnesota, 1:10 ET
Dustin McGowan (R) vs. Glen Perkins (L)
McGowan : 9-2 TSR in day games
Perkins : MIN 9-18 after 6+ consecutive home games

Detroit at Kansas City, 2:10 ET
Kenny Rogers (L) vs. Gil Meche (R)
Rogers : 26-9 TSR when the total is 9 to 9.5
Meche : 4-12 TSR Home when the total is 9 to 9.5

NY Yankees at Tampa Bay, 4:10 ET
Ian Kennedy (R) vs. Scott Kazmir (L)
Kennedy : NYY 19-25 on Thursdays
Kazmir : TB 9-2 having won 4 or 5 of their last 6

Chicago White Sox at LA Angels, 10:05 ET
Javier Vazquez (R) vs. John Garland (R)
Vazquez : CHI 22-16 on Thursdays
Garland : 2-10 TSR after giving up 1 or less earned runs last outing

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

[pm530]

Major League Baseball - Tips & Trends

MLB


Thursday, May 15

Updated

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Tips and Trends
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San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs [2:20 PM ET]

Padres: Emotions will be running high when Greg Maddux takes the hill at Wrigley Field, the place where he started his career. Maddux has had two poor starts for the Padres this season but his other six outings were all solid. As usual, Maddux' control has been phenomenal, as he's walked just eight batters in 50.0 innings of work. The future Hall of Famer has dominated his former team, going 12-3 with a 2.56 ERA in 22 career starts against the Cubbies.

Padres are 1-9 in their last 9 games as an underdog.
The UNDER is 7-2 in San Diego's last 9 games overall.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 3

Cubs (-160, O/U 8.5): Ryan Dempster is one of baseball's biggest surprises so far in 2008. A former relief pitcher, Dempster is 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA since entering the Cubs starting rotation. Dempster has gone into the sixth inning in all but one if his starts. His one problem has been walks. Dempster has put 23 batters on base in 49.0 innings of work this season. Dempster has been in a lot of high scoring affairs, with six of the eight games he's started going over the total.

Cubs are 18-6 in their last 24 games as a favorite.
Cubs are 5-13 in the last 18 meetings.
Cubs are 6-13 in the last 19 meetings at Chicago.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 5



Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies [7:05 PM ET]

Braves: Chuck James has been far from a reliable starter for the Braves this season. In 19.0 innings pitched, James has given up 16 runs and 11 walks. James has been horrible on the road, losing both of his starts and sporting a robust 11.00 ERA away from home. On the bright side, James is 2-0 against the Phillies in his career, striking out 35 and walking only six in 35.1 innings of work.

Braves are 6-17 in their last 23 road games.
The UNDER is 17-6 in Atlanta's last 23 games as an underdog.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 3

Phillies (-190, O/U 9): Philadelphia is 3-0 is Cole Hamels last three starts. Over that span, Hamels has given up eight runs and struck out 18 batters in 20.1 innings. Hamels has been the Phillies bullpen best friend. He's gone at least 7.0 innings in seven of his eight starts. Hamels is only 2-2 at home this year but he does possess an impressive 2.80 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. The over is 6-2 in games Hamels has started this season.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 6



Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks [9:40 PM ET]

Rockies: Aaron Cook has been a revelation for a struggling Colorado pitching staff this season. Cook is 6-1 with a minuscule 2.26 ERA in 2008. The Rockies have won seven of Cook's eight starts. That's pretty impressive when you consider Colorado has only won 15 games overall this season. Cook pitched at Arizona earlier in the year, getting the win after giving up just three runs in 6.0 innings of work. Cook has given up two runs or less in six starts, making the under 5-2-1 when he takes the mound.

Rockies are 2-10 in their last 12 road games.
Rockies are 2-9 in their last 11 games as an underdog.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 2 (UNDER - Total Play of the Day)

Diamondbacks (-170, O/U 8): It's saying something when Cook is the second best pitcher in this game but that's the case with Brandon Webb on the mound for Arizona. Webb is looking like a CY Young frontrunner, winning all eight of his starts while giving up more than three runs only once. Webb's most recent outing was a complete game victory over the Phillies. Even though Webb is dominating opponents this season, each of his last two starts has gone over the total. Webb is 10-7 lifetime against Colorado with a 3.69 ERA.

Diamondbacks are 27-11 in their last 38 home games.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 3



Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels [10:05 PM ET]

White Sox (-125, O/U 8.5): The White Sox have stayed in contention this year thanks to strong starting pitching and Javier Vazquez has been a main contributor. With a record of 4-3 and respectable 3.63 ERA, Vazquez is proving to be a thorn in the side of AL hitters. One of Vazquez' biggest strengths is keeping the ball in play and trusting the defense around him to get outs. In 52.0 innings pitched, Vazquez has given up just three home runs and 12 walks. Vazquez has an impressive 2.95 ERA in three career starts versus the Angels.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 4

Angels: Jon Garland makes his first appearance against the White Sox since being traded from Chicago to the Angels this summer. The Sox probably aren't too happy to see their old friend on the mound. After a slow start this season, Garland has been money in four of his last five starts. Take out a poor performance against the A's and Garland has only given up seven runs in his last 28.1 innings pitched. The over cashed in five of Garland's first six outings but his last two starts have easily gone under the total.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 5 (Side Play of the Day)

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[pm530]

National Basketball Association - Tips & Trends

NBA


Thursday, May 15

Updated

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Tips and Trends
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New Orleans Hornets at San Antonio Spurs [ESPN | 9 PM ET]

Hornets: New Orleans has proven to be a good road team, going 27-18 SU and 25-18-2 ATS away from home. The Hornets also were able to win at Dallas in Game 4 of the first round, enabling them to clinch the series back at home in Game 5. With a 3-2 lead, the players know they have the luxury of playing Game 7 at home if needed but also would love to end this series as soon as possible. “We have got to find a way to play in San Antonio with the same kind of energy that we’ve played with at home,” New Orleans point guard Chris Paul said. “We weren’t very aggressive in the two games there.”

Hornets are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 Thursday games.
The OVER is 8-3 in New Orleans' last 11 games as a road underdog.
Key Injuries - C Tyson Chandler (11.8 ppg; bruised foot) is expected to play.

PROJECTED SCORE: 88

Spurs (-7.5, O/U 184): San Antonio is facing an elimination game for the first time since the 2006 playoffs, when they rallied back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the series with Dallas before losing Game 7. If the Spurs are able to win Game 6, they will have 3 days off to rest before Game 7 at New Orleans on Monday. However, this veteran San Antonio team is surprisingly just 4-5 ATS when playing with 3 days of rest or more while the young Hornets are 6-2 ATS. One thing the Spurs have on their side is that Hornets forward David West has not put back-to-back good performances together in this series. West is coming off a monster 38-point, 14-rebound performance but has averaged just 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the 2 games at San Antonio

Spurs are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
The OVER is 8-3-1 in San Antonio's last 12 games overall.
The OVER is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings at San Antonio.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 95

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