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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:10 AM

Daily Sports Roundup

Thursday, June 11

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Lakers and Magic meet in Game 4, the Yankees and Red Sox close out their set, and the PGA Tour arrives in Memphis.

Tipping off on the hardwood . . .

The Magic will attempt to knot up the NBA Finals on Thursday night when they host the Lakers in the fourth game of the championship set. Orlando held on for a 108-104 win in Game 3 on Tuesday night to cut their series deficit to 2-1. Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis each scored 21 points for the Magic in that win, while Rafer Alston added 20 points and both Hedo Turkoglu and Mickael Pietrus tossed in 18 points. Kobe Bryant had a game-high 31 points in the loss for Los Angeles, but went just 5-for-10 from the free-throw line. Pau Gasol picked up 23 points for the Lakers, who opened as 3-point road underdogs for Thursday night.

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

The Yankees and Red Sox will finish up their three-game series at Fenway Park on Thursday night, with CC Sabathia (5-3, 3.56 ERA) facing Brad Penny (5-2, 5.85 ERA). Lefthander Sabathia had to settle for a no-decision vs. the Rays last time out, allowing five runs over eight innings. Righthander Penny was tagged for a loss by the Rangers in his last start, allowing five runs in 5 2-3 innings pitched.

The White Sox host Detroit again on Thursday, with Minnesota at Oakland, and Seattle at Baltimore. As well, It'll be the Angels at Tampa Bay, Toronto at Texas, and Kansas City at Cleveland. The Royals have Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.55 ERA) slated to start that contest; the righthander is coming off his worst outing of the season, giving up seven runs (five earned) in five innings against the Blue Jays.

Over in the National League on Thursday it'll be St. Louis at Florida, Pittsburgh at Atlanta, Colorado at Milwaukee, the Cubs at Houston, San Francisco at Arizona, Cincinnati at Washington, and Philadelphia at the Mets. Lefthander Jamie Moyer (4-5, 6.27 ERA) will take the hill for the Phillies; Moyer has allowed just three runs over his last 13 innings. Tim Redding (0-2, 6.97 ERA) pitches for New York.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Finally, Phil Mickelson returns to the PGA Tour this week, and he's pegged as the 5/1 Vegas favorite to win the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis. Sergio Garcia follows Lefty at 10/1 odds on that list, with Henrik Stenson third at 12/1 odds. Justin Leonard won this event last season, and he's in a group of golfers with a line of 15/1 on the Vegas list; sitting with Leonard are David Toms, Camilo Villegas, Retief Goosen, and Padraig Harrington. Tiger Woods sizzled in his win at the Memorial last week, but he's decided to skip the St. Jude this week.

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:11 AM

Six-pack for Thursday

-- Chien Ming Wang's 21.61 ERA thru five starts is highest in history of major leagues, for a pitcher's first five starts in a season.

-- Chase Utley swatted two homers as Phillies rallied from down 4-1 in 7th inning to beat the Mets 5-4 in 11 innings.

-- There were seven HRs hit at pitcher-friendly Citi Field Tuesday; it was 31 years (1995) before Shea Stadium had a seven-HR game.

-- Justin Verlander beat White Sox 2-1 with 122-pitch complete game; he is now 7-0 in his last eight starts.

-- Geoff Blum got his second career walkoff hit as Houston beat Cubs 2-1, spoiling another fine start by Carlos Zambrano.

-- Verlander, Zambrano were only ones out of 28 starting pitchers to finish the 8th inning in Wednesday's games.

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Thursday's List of 13: Famous people, obscure facts...........

13) Before buying the Seattle Pilots and moving them to Milwaukee for the 1970 season, Bud Selig had an agreement to buy the White Sox and move them to Milwaukee the year before, but the AL vetoed the deal.

12) Pete Rose served three years in the Ohio Army National Guard with a reserve unit at Ft Thomas, Kentucky, where he served as the company cook. Rose's daughter Cara was a regular on Melrose Place.

11) John Elway hit .318 as an OF for Oneonta of NY-Penn League back in 1982 (Class A ball), before his senior year as the Stanford QB.

10) Actor John Goodman went to Southwest Missouri State on football scholarship, but wound up studying in drama department with Kathleen Turner, after an injury ended his football career.

9) NBA games are televised in 42 different languages around the world.

8) Madonna moved from Pontiac, MI to New York City in 1977 at age 19 to pursue a career as a dancer; she worked at a Dunkin' Donuts for a while in the late 70's, to make ends meet.

7) Richard Gere went to UMass on a gymnastics scholarship.

6) Before becoming a famous actor, Clint Eastwood worked as a fireman, a gas station attendant and played ragtime piano at a bar in Oakland.

5) While a student at Kansas, Wilt Chamberlain won the high jump at his league's track and field championship meet three years in a row.

4) No NHL player can wear number 99, in homage to Wayne Gretzky, who is probably the greatest hockey player ever.

3) Both of Eldrick Woods' parents are/were 25% Chinese; Woods has a couple half-brothers and a half-sister, from his dad's first marriage.

2) CNN's Anderson Cooper spent two summers of his college years as an intern at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

1) Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells and Bobby Bowden all worked as assistants at Florida State under Bill Peterson, who went on to the NFL but went 1-18 in a short but disastrous tenure with the Houston Oilers. He was 69-49-11 as the head coach at Florida State.

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:12 AM

NBA
Dunkel Index

LA Lakers at Orlando
The Magic look to follow up their Game Three win and take advantage of LA's 2-11-1 ATS record in its last 14 championship games. Orlando is the pick (-3) according to Dunkel, which has the Magic favored by 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Orlando (-3). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

Game 707-708: LA Lakers at Orlando
Dunkel Ratings: LA Lakers 127.320; Orlando 131.783
Dunkel Line & Total: Orlando by 4 1/2; 211
Vegas Line & Total: Orlando by 3; 201 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Orlando (-3); Over

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:14 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

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Thursday, June 11
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LA LAKERS (79 - 24) at ORLANDO (72 - 32) - 6/11/2009, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ORLANDO is 62-42 ATS (+15.8 Units) in all games this season.
ORLANDO is 43-34 ATS (+5.6 Units) as a favorite this season.
ORLANDO is 56-39 ATS (+13.1 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in a home game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) against Pacific division opponents this season.
ORLANDO is 41-21 ATS (+17.9 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) in non-conference games this season.
ORLANDO is 48-31 ATS (+13.9 Units) after scoring 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 32-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ORLANDO is 32-16 ATS (+14.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
LA LAKERS are 110-93 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
LA LAKERS are 58-40 ATS (+14.0 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 25-14 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ORLANDO is 5-4 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 5-4 straight up against ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:14 AM

NBA
Short Sheet

Thursday, June 11th

NBA Finals
Game Four
LA Lakers Lead, 2-1
LA Lakers at Orlando, 9:05 ET

LA Lakers:
10-2 ATS as an underdog
13-3 Under off road loss

Orlando:
21-11 Under if total is 200 or higher
17-5 Under after allowing 100+ pts BB Games

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:15 AM

NBA
Write-up

Thursday, June 11

NBA Finals

If you take away Orlando's 3-point shots in Game 3, they shot 70% on the night from the floor, an amazing number, and also got to line thirty times (23-30). That said, they only won by four on night when Bryant was just 11-25 from floor, 5-10 from line. Lakers shot 51% from floor, their best figure of series, but Odom was just 4-6 from floor, after he had scored almost at will in games at Staples Center. Tuesday was Orlando's first-ever Finals win (1-6). So far in series, Orlando's shooting has gone up from 29.9% to 41.8% to 62.5%- had Lee made the layup at end of Game 2, this might be different-looking series right now.

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:15 AM

NBA

Thursday, June 11

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Trend Sheet
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9:00 PM
LA LAKERS vs. ORLANDO
LA Lakers are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games on the road
LA Lakers are 18-6 SU in their last 24 games when playing Orlando
Orlando is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Orlando is 6-18 SU in their last 24 games when playing LA Lakers

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 04:21 AM

NBA

Thursday, June 11

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Pick ‘n’ Roll: NBA best bet
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Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic (-2.5, 201)

No athlete on the planet - well, at least on this side of the putting green from Tiger Woods - closes quite like Kobe Bryant. He's the ice-in-his-veins killer. The Terminator. The one you call to finish the job. Mr. Clutch.

He owns the fourth quarter.

Most of the time.

But in Game 3 of the NBA finals on Tuesday night, Bryant, looking tired and mortal, gave new life to the here-they-come-again Orlando Magic, who shot a finals record 63 percent in a 108-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers and snapped an 0-for-6 franchise mark in the finals.

With the Lakers eyeing a chance to open a 3-0 series lead and with a fourth title that he has obsessed about almost within his reach, Bryant slipped up.

Woods, arms folded on his chest, sat courtside and watched Bryant falter.

The Magic saw it, too. They don't expect to see it again.

''We have to understand,'' Magic guard Rafer Alston said as the teams worked out in preparation of Thursday's Game 4. ''He's not one to let it happen on back-to-back occasions.''

Bryant and the Lakers have been bouncing back since the start of the postseason. Pursuing a 15th NBA crown one year after losing to the Boston Celtics, they are 6-0 after a playoff loss. They can regain control of the best-of-seven series, but they'd better be careful not to give Orlando any more momentum.

Pick: Los Angeles +2.5

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 05:18 AM

MLB
Baseball Today

SCOREBOARD

Thursday, June 11

Los Angeles Angels at Tampa Bay (7:08 p.m. EDT). Young Rays star David Price (1-0, 2.45 ERA) takes the mound against Ervin Santana and the Angels.

STARS

Wednesday

-Chase Utley, Phillies, led off the 11th inning with his second homer of the game to help Philadelphia beat the New York Mets 5-4.

-Justin Verlander, Tigers, struck out nine and allowed six hits in his second complete game this year, leading Detroit to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

-Mark Teixeira, Yankees, had four hits, including his AL-leading 19th homer, in New York's 6-5 loss to Boston.

-Rick Ankiel, Cardinals, finished a single shy of the cycle as St. Louis snapped a five-game losing streak with a 13-4 win over Florida.

-Gil Meche, Royals, tied a career high with 11 strikeouts over seven innings, helping Kansas City win 9-0 at Cleveland.

-Geoff Blum, Astros, singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to give Houston a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

-Delmon Young, Twins, hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning of Minnesota's 6-3 win against Oakland.

-Jose Lopez, Mariners, homered twice and finished with three hits in Seattle's 4-1 victory at Baltimore.

-Kevin Correia, Padres, retired his final 15 batters during a sterling six-inning performance on three days' rest, and San Diego beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1.

-Bengie Molina, Giants, homered and drove in three runs as San Francisco topped Arizona 6-4.

WHAT RIVALRY?

Mike Lowell homered and the Boston Red Sox beat New York 6-5 on Wednesday night to improve to 7-0 against the Yankees this year. The Red Sox have beaten the Yankees eight straight times dating to the last game of last season - their longest winning streak against their longtime rivals since 1912.

STAY HOME

There will be no more visits by Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers' clubhouse during media access periods for the remainder of his 50-game suspension. Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch said the club received a "friendly reminder'' on Wednesday from Pat Courtney, the No. 2 spokesman in the commissioner's office, that Ramirez wasn't allowed in the clubhouse when it's open to reporters. Ramirez's suspension for violating baseball's drug rules runs through July 2, barring rainouts.

NEMESIS NO MORE

Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar homered, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 9-5 victory over John Lackey and the Los Angeles Angels. Lackey allowed nine runs and 11 hits in five innings. He was 9-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 11 career starts against Tampa Bay before Wednesday night.

WINNING AWAY FROM HOME

The Colorado Rockies have won seven straight games - all on the road - for their longest winning streak since taking 11 in a row in September 2007. That run helped propel the Rockies to the playoffs and eventually the World Series where they were swept by Boston. This time, Colorado can do something that team never did - match its longest road winning streak in its 17-year history with a win in Thursday's series finale against Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo.

SETTING THE TABLE

Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 5 with an RBI for the Phillies in his return to the leadoff spot after two games batting sixth. After slumping for much of the season, Rollins was dropped in the batting order the previous two games. He totaled five hits in those contests, including a 3-for-4 performance Tuesday that featured a home run and two RBIs.

POWER SHOW

The Kansas City Royals hit three homers in a 9-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Alberto Callaspo had a career-high four hits, including his first career grand slam. The Royals also got two-run homers from Jose Guillen and Miguel Olivo to win for only the fourth time in their last 19 games.

SOAKING WET

Washington had less than 100 fans remaining in the seats after a 2 hour, 10 minute rain delay in the bottom of the ninth. The game resumed and the Nationals scored two runs to tie the game before falling to the Reds 4-2 in 12 innings.

SPEAKING

"It's almost PlayStation stuff, watching him throw the ball exactly where he wants to - with movement, velocity, the works.'' - White Sox starter John Danks on Justin Verlander, who struck out nine while throwing a six-hitter in the Detroit Tigers' 2-1 victory at Chicago.

SEASONS

June 11

1904 - Bob Wicker of the Chicago Cubs pitched 9 1-3 hitless innings before Sam Mertes of the New York Giants singled. Wicker won a 1-0, 12-inning one-hitter.

1938 - Johnny Vander Meer hurled the first of two consecutive no-hitters as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Boston Braves 3-0.

1967 - The Chicago Cubs hit seven homers and the New York Mets four in the second game of a doubleheader, tying the major league record set by the New York Yankees (6) and Detroit Tigers (5) in 1950. Adolfo Phillips hit four home runs in the doubleheader for Chicago.

1981 - Following Seattle's 8-2 win over Baltimore, major league players went on strike.

1985 - Von Hayes became the first player in major league history to hit two home runs in the first inning. Hayes connected twice in a nine-run first, powering the Philadelphia Phillies to a 26-7 victory over the New York Mets.

1990 - Nolan Ryan pitched the sixth no-hitter of his career, extending his major league record, as the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 5-0. Ryan was the first to pitch no-hitters for three teams and, at 43, the oldest to throw one.

1995 - Mark McGwire hit three home runs in consecutive at-bats and tied the major league record of five homers in consecutive games, leading the Oakland Athletics over the Boston Red Sox 8-1.

1995 - Lee Smith set a major league record with a save in his 16th consecutive appearance, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the California Angels' 5-4 victory over Baltimore. Smith broke the mark of 15 straight set by Doug Jones in 1988.

1997 - Roger Clemens lost for the first time after 11 straight wins to open the season as the Seattle Mariners topped the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1.

2002 - Jared Sandberg became the 16th AL player to homer twice in an inning, and the third this season, as Tampa Bay beat Los Angeles 11-2.

2003 - Houston's Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner combined for the first no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 45 years, winning 8-0. The sextet set a record for the highest number of pitchers to throw a no-hitter in major league history - four accomplished the feat twice.

Today's birthday: Jose Reyes 26.

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 05:19 AM

MLB
This Day in Baseball

On June 11 in Baseball History...

1927 - During the ninth inning, the Philadelphia Athletics field a team of seven future Hall of Famers. The outfield consists of Ty Cobb in right, Al Simmons in center, and Zack Wheat in left. Jimmie Foxx is at first base, Eddie Collins is at second, and Lefty Grove pitches in relief. Cy Perkins started as catcher, but when Mickey Cochrane pinch-hit for him, seven Cooperstown-bound players were in the lineup.

1974 - Mel Stottlemyre makes his 272nd consecutive start, with no relief appearances, to set an A.L. record.

1985 - Von Hayes becomes the first major-league player ever to hit two home runs in the first inning, leading off with a home run and capping a nine-run outburst with a grand slam as the Phillies go on to rout the Mets 26-7. The 26 runs in one game are a club record and the most in the N.L. since 1944.

1988 - Yankees designated hitter Rick Rhoden hits a sacrifice fly in New York's 8-6 win over Baltimore. He is the first pitcher to start a game as a DH since the rule was adopted in 1973.

1990 - Ageless Nolan Ryan pitches his unprecedented sixth career no-hitter, striking out 14 batters in a 5-0 win over the A's. He is the first to pitch a no-hitter for three different teams, and the first to throw a no-hitter in three different decades.

1995 - Montreal's Rondell White has six hits, scores five runs, and hits for the cycle in a 13-inning 10-8 win over the Giants.

1997 - Kevin Brown pitches the first no-hitter of the season and the second no-hitter in Marlins history in a 9-0 win over the Giants in San Francisco. Brown has a perfect game going until he hits pinch-hitter Marvin Benard with a 1-2 pitch with two outs in the eighth inning. Benard is the only Giants player to reach base. San Francisco starter William Van Landingham also had a no-hitter for six innings before Charles Johnson's home run in the seventh breaks up the bid and triggers a Florida offensive explosion.

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 05:20 AM

MLB
Write-up

Thursday, June 11

Hot Pitchers
-- Vazquez is 2-2, 3.35 in his last six starts, but Braves scored total of only four runs in his last three outings. Pirates are 5-2 in Maholm's road starts this season.
-- Dempster is 1-0, 2.07 in his last two starts.
-- Brewers won last three Gallardo starts (2-0, 0.84). Cook is 2-2, 3.10 in his last four starts.
-- Lannan has 2.57 RA in his last two starts, but Nationals are 1-10 if they give him less than seven runs.
-- Moyer is 1-0, 2.07 in his last two starts, but allowed 12 runs in eight IP in two starts against the Mets this year.

-- Jackson is 5-1, 1.79 in his last six starts. Floyd is 2-1, 2.12 in his last four starts.
-- Blackburn is 3-0, 1.67 in his last four starts. Cahill has 3.25 RA in his last four starts.
-- Sowers is 0-4, 7.20 in four starts this season.
-- Santana has 1.17 RA in two road starts. Price is 1-0, 3.68 in his three starts, but hasn't finished sixth inning in any of them.
-- Sabathia is 4-0, 2.68 in his last six starts.
-- Millwood is 1-0, 2.89 in his last three starts.

Cold Pitchers
-- Miller is 1-1, 5.63 in his last three starts. Wellemeyer is 0-2, 7.43 in his last two starts.
-- Ortiz has 5.82 RA in his four starts this season.
-- Owings is 0-3, 6.86 in his last four starts.
-- Sanchez is 0-5, 7.77 in his five road starts this season. Scherzer is 0-2, 4.66 in two '09 starts against the Giants.
-- Redding is 0-2, 8.59 in his last three starts.

-- Greinke is 0-1, 8.25 in his last two starts, allowing 11 runs, after he had allowed total of eight runs in his first ten starts.
-- Orioles lost six of last seven Uehara starts. Mariners are 0-3 if Olson starts (0-1, 5.19).
-- Romero is 1-2, 7.16 in his last three starts.
-- Penny is 0-2, 6.17 in his last couple starts.

Hot Teams
-- Braves won seven of their last eleven home games.
-- Marlins won seven of their last eleven home games.
-- Phillies won nine of their last twelve games. Mets won 12 of their last 16 home games.
-- Cubs won four of their last six games. Astros won seven of their last ten games.
-- Rockies won their last seven games, scoring 50 runs.
-- Giants are 11-4 in their last fifteen games.

-- Angels are 9-6 in their last fifteen road games. .
-- Red Sox won seven of their last nine games.
-- Blue Jays won four of their last five games.
-- Tigers won five of their last six games.
-- A's won seven of their last nine games, but lost last two.

Cold Teams
-- Nationals lost 11 of their last 13 games. Reds lost eight of their last eleven road games.
-- Cardinals lost five of their last six games.
-- Pirates lost four of their last six games.
-- Brewers lost their last three games, 8-7/3-2/4-2.
-- Arizona is 5-12 in its last seventeen home games.

-- Rays lost three of their last four games.
-- Bronx is 0-7 against the Red Sox this season.
-- Rangers lost their last three home games.
-- Orioles lost six of their last seven games, scoring total of twelve runs. Mariners lost 14 of their last 20 road games.
-- Royals lost ten of their last twelve games. Indians are 10-12 in their last 22 home games.
-- White Sox lost eight of their last ten games.
-- Minnesota lost 13 of its last 18 road games, but won last two.

Totals
-- Eight of last ten Cincinnati games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 4-1-2 in last seven Florida home games.
-- Three of last four games at Citi Field went over the total.
-- Under is 5-2 in last seven games at Turner Field.
-- Eleven of last fourteen Cub road games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 9-3 in Milwaukee's last twelve home games.
-- Over is 10-3 in Arizona's last thirteen home games.

-- Seven of last eight games at Tropicana Field stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last nine games at Camden Yards stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Cleveland games went over the total.
-- Nine of last twelve games at Fenway Park stayed under the total.
-- Under is 8-2-1 in last eleven Texas home games.
-- Eight of of last eleven Detroit games stayed under the total.
-- Eleven of last fifteen Minnesota games stayed under the total.

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 05:21 AM

MLB

Thursday, June 11

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Trend Report
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12:10 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. FLORIDA
St. Louis is 16-6 SU in its last 22 games when playing Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of St. Louis's last 16 games when playing Florida
Florida is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Florida's last 9 games when playing at home against St. Louis

1:10 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. ATLANTA
Pittsburgh is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games at home

2:00 PM
CHI CUBS vs. HOUSTON
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games
Houston is 3-8 SU in their last 11 games when playing Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Houston's last 12 games when playing Chi Cubs

2:05 PM
COLORADO vs. MILWAUKEE
Colorado is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Colorado is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Colorado
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado

2:05 PM
DETROIT vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Detroit is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
Chi White Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Chi White Sox's last 11 games

3:35 PM
MINNESOTA vs. OAKLAND
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Oakland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing on the road against Oakland
Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oakland's last 6 games when playing at home against Minnesota

3:40 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. ARIZONA
San Francisco is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona
San Francisco is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Arizona
Arizona is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games at home

4:35 PM
CINCINNATI vs. WASHINGTON
Cincinnati is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cincinnati is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Washington is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Cincinnati
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Cincinnati

7:05 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. CLEVELAND
Kansas City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Kansas City's last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Cleveland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games

7:05 PM
SEATTLE vs. BALTIMORE
Seattle is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Seattle is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games on the road
Baltimore is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore's last 6 games

7:08 PM
LA ANGELS vs. TAMPA BAY
LA Angels are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Angels's last 6 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 6-2 SU in their last 8 games when playing at home against LA Angels
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels

7:10 PM
NY YANKEES vs. BOSTON
NY Yankees are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Yankees's last 9 games when playing Boston
Boston is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games

7:10 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. NY METS
Philadelphia is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing NY Mets
Philadelphia is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games on the road
NY Mets are 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Mets's last 6 games at home

8:05 PM
TORONTO vs. TEXAS
Toronto is 4-0-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas
Toronto is 2-9-1 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Texas is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
Texas is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 05:22 AM

MLB

Thursday, June 11

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Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
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Streaking

Edwin Jackson (Detroit Tigers)

Justin Verlander may get the kudos in Motown but Jackson (6-3, 2.16 ERA) is the arm anchoring Detroit’s run to the top of the American League Central.

The right-hander leads the Tigers in most pitching statistical categories and is building on those numbers in his recent starts. Jackson is 5-1 in his last six outings, posting a 1.40 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk count of 34-to-9.

In his most recent appearance, Jackson pitched a nine-inning gem against the Los Angeles Angels this weekend, allowing just one earned run on four hits. It marked the 11th time he’s gone at least six innings in his 12 2009 starts and he’s kept his pitch counts from swelling, throwing just 109 pitches in Saturday’s win.

"Pretty much (manager Jim Leyland) wants our starters to be strong and learn to finish out games," Jackson told the Detroit Free Press. "You go out there with the intention every game to finish the game."

Nick Blackburn (Cleveland Indians)

Nick Blackburn is a ray of light in the gloomy Minnesota Twins rotation. The young righty has gone 5-2 with a 3.30 ERA this season and is quickly becoming the team’s ace after fellow arms Scott Baker and Francisco Liriano struggled to start the season.

Blackburn has allowed just four runs in his past four outings, posting a 1.33 ERA during that span. In his most recent effort, Blackburn went seven innings and allowed only one run to the Seattle Mariners. However, poor offense spoiled that showing and dropped his record to 3-2 on the road.

The sinker-baller has 12 quality starts on the year but has suffered from a lack of run support. During his current streak, the Twins scored an average of 7.25 runs each time Blackburn takes the hill. But those number are inflated by the 20-run explosion Minnesota put on the Chicago White Sox on May 21. Without that game, the Twins have mustered just an average of three runs in his last three outings.

Slumping

Zack Greinke (Kansas City Royals)

One bad start shouldn’t count as an actual slump, especially when you’re having the year Zack Greinke is having. The Royals budding ace was knocked around by the Toronto Blue Jays in his most recent appearance, allowing five runs on seven hits and surrendering two home runs – his first since September 2 of last year.

“It’s one thing to get hit,” Greinke told the Kansas City Star, “but everything was a line drive. There was no weak contact. It was good hitting and bad pitching coming together. So it was a bad game all around.”

However, any baseball bettor riding Greinke over the past month will tell you the righty is in an awful slump. Greinke has won just two of his last four starts and has cost bettors over four units in that span.

The biggest culprit is the Royals lineup, which has provided an average of under three runs in those losses. Kansas City is currently in a free fall, losing nine of its past 10 games heading into Wednesday.

Todd Wellemeyer (St. Louis Cardinals)

When it rains it pours for Todd Wellemeyer. The Cardinals right-hander has been vulnerable to disastrous innings – much like the three and four-run innings he surrendered to the Colorado Rockies in his most recent start.

The game before that, Wellemeyer coughed up three runs in fourth to the Cincinnati Reds. He has gone just 2-4 in his past six outings and has pitched at least six innings only twice in that span, posting an ERA just under 6.00.

In most of his six losses this season, the damage has been done in bunches. Wellemeyer has an ERA 5.32 on the year but throws an ERA over 10.00 with runners on base and doubles that number with runners in scoring position.

"If knew the answer, I'd know how to fix it," Wellemeyer told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's up to me to remain confident. I would say if I'm 2-0 on a guy, I just have to be able to go out there and know I'm going to hit my next spot. I can't go out there and nip at the strike zone."

A lack of run support hasn’t helped Wellemeyer’s cause either. St. Louis is scoring just over four runs per game this season and has put an average of 2.5 runs on the board the past six times the struggling starter has taken the hill.

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**pm530** · 06-11-2009, 06:31 AM

MLB
Dunkel Index

Cincinnati at Washington
The Nationals look to avoid the sweep today and take advantage of Cincinnati's 1-4 record in Micah Owings' last 5 starts as a road underdog. Washington is the pick (-130) according to Dunkel, which has the Nats favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: Washington (-130). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

Game 901-902: St. Louis at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wellemeyer) 15.674; Florida (Miller) 14.173
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Florida (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (+110); Under

Game 903-904: Pittsburgh at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Maholm) 14.530; Atlanta (Vazquez) 15.541
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-185); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-185); Over

Game 905-906: Chicago Cubs at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Dempster) 14.408; Houston (Ortiz) 15.392
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-160); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+150); Under

Game 907-908: Colorado at Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Cook) 15.680; Milwaukee (Gallardo) 16.622
Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-185); 8
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (-185); Under

Game 909-910: San Francisco at Arizona
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Sanchez) 14.731; Arizona (Scherzer) 14.875
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Arizona (-150); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-150); Under

Game 911-912: Cincinnati at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Owings) 14.134; Washington (Lannan) 14.518
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Washington (-130); 9
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-130); Under

Game 913-914: Philadelphia at NY Mets
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Moyer) 15.098; NY Mets (Redding) 15.611
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-115); 10
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+105); Under

Game 915-916: Detroit at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Jackson) 15.890; White Sox (Floyd) 14.612
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Detroit (-125); 9
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-125); Under

Game 917-918: Minnesota at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Blackburn) 15.618; Oakland (Cahill) 16.514
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Oakland (-110); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (-110); Over

Game 919-920: Kansas City at Cleveland
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Greinke) 14.878; Cleveland (Sowers) 14.282
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Kansas City (-140); 8
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-140); Over

Game 921-922: LA Angels at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Santana) 15.681; Tampa Bay (Price) 15.039
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-150); 9
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (+140); Under

Game 923-924: Seattle at Baltimore
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Olson) 14.588; Baltimore (Uehara) 15.192
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Baltimore (-155); 9
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-155); Under

Game 925-926: NY Yankees at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Sabathia) 16.161; Boston (Penny) 16.974
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-155); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+145); Under

Game 927-928: Toronto at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Romero) 14.911; Texas (Millwood) 15.830
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Texas (-160); 10
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-160); Over

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Announcement

Thursday Trends and Indexes 6/11 (NBA, MLB, Misc.)

Thursday Trends and Indexes 6/11 (NBA, MLB, Misc.)

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