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**pm530** · 07-05-2009, 06:41 AM

Daily Sports Roundup

Sunday, July 5

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: Roger Federer guns for another Wimbledon title, the Giants host the Astros, and the Rangers meet the Rays under the lights.

Meeting up in the Junior Circuit . . .

It's Matt Garza (6-5, 3.45 ERA) and the Rays on the road against Scott Feldman (6-2, 4.09 ERA) and the Rangers in this week's Sunday night ESPN matchup. Righthander Garza has picked up the win in each of his last two starts, holding the Phillies and Blue Jays to two earned runs over 15 innings of work. Righthander Feldman beat the Angels in his last trip to the mound, surrendering three runs in six innings. Texas has a 2-3 record over Feldman's last five outings.

Also on the American League schedule for Sunday: Oakland at Cleveland, Toronto at the Yankees, Detroit at Minnesota, the White Sox at Kansas City, Baltimore at the Angels, and Seattle at Boston. The Mariners will send Brandon Morrow (0-3, 5.14 ERA) to the mound in that contest; Morrow took a no-decision against the Yankees last time out (one earned run in 4 2-3 innings). The BoSox counter with Jon Lester (7-6, 4.35 ERA), who has won each of his last two starts.

Taking the field in the Senior Circuit . . .

The Astros will send Roy Oswalt (4-4, 4.02 ERA) to the mound on Sunday to take on the Giants and Randy Johnson (8-5, 4.70 ERA). Righthander Oswalt pitched a gem last time out against the Padres, giving up just one earned run on two hits over nine innings of work in a victory. Lefthander Johnson has picked up the win in each of his last two starts, allowing three runs over 5 1-3 innings against the Cardinals last time out. San Fran is 4-0 in Johnson's last four outings.

Elsewhere in the National League on Sunday it'll be Pittsburgh at Florida, St. Louis at Cincinnati, the Mets at Philadelphia, Atlanta at Washington, Milwaukee at the Cubs, the Dodgers at San Diego, and Arizona at Colorado. The D-Backs will turn to Dan Haren (7-5, 2.19 ERA) in that contest; Arizona is 4-1 in Haren's last five outings. The Rockies will go with Ubaldo Jimenez (6-7, 3.75 ERA) Sunday afternoon; Colorado has been beaten in each of Jimenez's last two starts.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Roger Federer will try to finish off his Wimbledon run with a victory on Sunday when he faces Andy Roddick in the final. Federer, who opened as a big -700 favorite in this matchup, had little trouble with Tommy Haas in the semifinals, cruising to a 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 win. Roddick, the +500 underdog on the opening line, needed four sets to get past Andy Murray in the semifinal round, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6. Federer will be looking to break the career mark for Grand Slam wins.

Finally, the WNBA returns from its Fourth of July break with three games on Sunday: Connecticut at Detroit, Phoenix at Los Angeles, and Atlanta at Indiana. The Fever improved their record to a league-best 7-2 last time out against the Sun, getting 14 points from both Katie Douglas and Tammy Sutton-Brown in the 67-53 victory. The 5-6 Dream are coming off a 72-65 win over Washington, with Chamique Holdsclaw scoring 18 points and Sancho Lyttle contributing 16 points.

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**pm530** · 07-05-2009, 06:42 AM

Six-pack for Sunday

Some college football trends to tuck away for September Saturdays

-- Road team is 10-1-1 vs spread in Tennessee-South Carolina series.

-- Home team covered seven of last eight Maryland-Virginia games.

-- Memphis is 0-8-2 vs spread as a single digit favorite.

-- Iowa State covered one of last ten in week after SU upset win.

-- Colorado State covered one of last nine as a road favorite.

-- Baylor covered six of last seven as non-Big 12 home favorites.

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Quote of the Day

"I’m desperately trying to figure out
why kamikaze pilots wore helmets."
Dave Edison

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Sunday's List of 13: Random thoughts on the 5th of July.......

13) Sunday is not only July 5th, the most underrated day of the year (everyone shoots off fireworks on July 4, but what about the 5th?) but it is also the unofficial halfway point of the baseball season, as 13 of 26 weeks will be finished in the regular season after Sunday's games.

12) Joey Chestnut finished off 68 weiners to win the Nathan's hot dog eating championship on Coney Island in Brooklyn, his third consecutive championship-- his rival, Kobiyashi, ate his personal best 65 hot dogs, but fell short for the third straight year.

11) Its aggravating enough that a washed-up Jason Giambi is on the A's and hitting .197, but does he have to bat cleanup? He's horrendous.

10) Tough weekend for Astros so far- they were outscored 22-0 in the first two games of their series against the Giants in San Francisco.

9) Atlanta's Tommy Hanson finally gave up a run, then the Braves blew a 3-1 8th inning lead, as Nationals rallied for a 5-3 win.

8) Tim Lincecum has now thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings.

7) For $81, you can buy a season ticket to Blue Jays games, and sit up in the upper deck for just $1 a game-- who wouldn't do that?

6) Washington's John Lannan was only starting pitcher in major leagues to finish 8th inning Saturday-- 17 of the 24 outs he got were grounders.

5) David Price threw 61 pitches but got only four outs in Tampa's 12-4 loss in Arlington Saturday night; he walked five of 12 batters he faced.

4) Cubs' Rich Harden continues to struggle; he got only three swings and misses on 52 pitches; of his 13 pitches the Brewers put in play, eight of them were hits, and he lasted just two innings, allowing seven runs.

3) They're making a movie of Michael Lewis' fine book, The Blind Side; several SEC football coaches play themselves in the movie.

2) Washington Huskies were 11-1 on the football field just nine short years ago, but they're 5-37 in the Pac-10 over the last five seasons, so new coach Steve Sarkisian has his work cut out for him.

1) Very sad news about Steve McNair dying in Nashville Saturday-- he was a tough guy. His brother Fred played for the Albany Firebirds for a while in Arena League. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family-- it just goes to show you that everyone has real life problems, even people who are rich and famous. 36 is just way too young to die.

From: Armadillo
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**pm530** · 07-05-2009, 06:53 AM

MLB
Write-up

Sunday, July 5

Hot Pitchers
-- Haren is 4-1, 1.73 in his last seven starts.
-- Nolasco is 3-0, 2.25 in his last three starts. Ohlendorf is 2-1, 3.24 in his last four starts.
-- Jimenez is 3-1, 2.89 in his last six starts.
-- Banks won his first '09 start, beating Astros 4-3 (allowed three runs in seven IP).
-- Oswalt is 2-1, 2.40 in his last four starts. Giants won Johnson's last four starts (3-0, 3.60).

-- Richmond is 2-1, 2.45 in his last three starts.
-- Lester is 4-1, 1.80 in his last six starts.
-- Tigers won nine of last eleven Porcello starts. Blackburn is 4-2, 2.48 in his last ten starts- Twins are 5-1 in his home outings.
-- Angels won Saunders' last three home starts (2-0, 2.61).
-- Garza is 2-0, 1.20 in his last couple starts.

Cold Pitchers
-- Arroyo is 1-4, 7.91 in his last six starts. Carpenter is 1-3, 4.41 in his last five outings.
-- Santana is 0-3, 10.80 in his last three road starts. Phillies lost last five Blanton starts (0-1, 3.56).
-- Lowe is 0-3, 10.18 in his last four starts. Olsen is 0-2, 7.59 in his last four starts.
-- Burns has a 4.38 RA in his two starts for Milwaukee.
-- Lilly is 0-2, 5.68 in his last three starts, but Cubs won his last five home starts.
-- Billinglsey is 0-1, 5.49 in his last three starts.

-- Chamberlain is 1-1, 4.55 in his last five starts.
-- Indians lost Lee's last three starts (0-1, 6.35). GGonzalez is 0-2, 9.35 in two starts for Oakland.
-- Morrow is 0-0, 4.86 in four starts this season.
-- Richard is 1-2, 6.99 in his last six starts. Bannister is 0-3, 4.29 in his last three starts.
-- Hill is 1-2, 11.57 in his last five starts.
-- Feldman is 1-1, 5.50 in his last three starts.

Hot Teams
-- Cubs won four of their last six games.
-- Marlins won nine of their last ten home games.
-- Phillies won last two games, allowing three runs, after losing eight of their previous nine home contests.
-- Braves won five of their last six games.
-- Reds won five of their last seven games. Cardinals won three of their last four games.
-- Rockies won eleven of their last fourteen home games.
-- Giants are 14-4 in their last 18 home games.

-- Bronx Bombers won nine of their last ten games.
-- Indians won last two games after losing eight of their previous nine home contests.
-- Seattle is 12-5 in its last seventeen games.
-- Rangers won their last four games, scoring 33 runs.
-- White Sox won seven of their last eight road games.
-- Angels won nine of their last thirteen home games.

Cold Teams
-- Brewers lost three of their last four games.
-- Pirates lost 14 of their last 21 road games.
-- Nationals lost nine of their last twelve games.
-- Mets are 7-21 in their last 28 road games.
-- Arizona lost six of its last eight road games.
-- Padres lost 13 of their last 19 home games. Dodgers lost three of their last four road games.
-- Astros were outscored 22-0 in first two games of Giants series.

-- Blue Jays lost six of their last seven games.
-- Red Sox lost three of their last four games.
-- A's are 6-14 in their last 20 games.
-- Royals lost six of their last nine games.
-- Detroit lost nine of its last thirteen road games. Twins lost three of their last four home games.
-- Orioles lost five of their last seven games.
-- Tampa Bay lost its last three games, outscored 20-5.

Totals
-- Five of last seven games at Wrigley went over the total.
-- Six of last nine Florida home games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Atlanta road games stayed under the total.
-- Four of Phillies' last five home games stayed under the total.
-- Eight of last ten Cincinnati home games stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last eight Arizona road games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Dodger games stayed under the total.
-- Eight of last twelve Houston road games stayed under the total.

-- Under is 16-8 in Toronto's last 24 road games.
-- Six of Lee's last eight home starts stayed under the total.
-- Under is 12-4-1 in last seventeen games at Fenway Park.
-- Five of White Sox' last seven road games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last seven Detroit road games stayed under the total.
-- Last six Saunders starts went over the total.
-- Garza's last seven starts stayed under the total.

Umpires
-- Atl-Wsh-- Underdog is 5-3 in last eight Randazzo games.
-- Mil-Chi-- Seven of last ten Reynolds games went over the total.
-- StL-Cin-- Home team won five of last six Wolf games, with last three all going over the total.
-- Hst-SF-- Five of last srven Barksdale games went over the total.
-- NY-Phil-- Five of last seven Rapuano games went over the total.
-- Pitt-Fla-- Favorite won four of last five Davidson games.
-- LA-SD-- Under is 8-4 in Holbrook's last dozen games behind plate.
-- Az-Col-- Seven of last nine Cuzzi games stayed under the total.

-- Sea-Bos-- Favorite won Bucknor's last seven games.
-- Tor-NY-- Nine of last thirteen Foster games stayed under the total.
-- Chi-KC-- Nine of last last eleven Fletcher games stayed under total.
-- Det-Min-- Favorite won ten of last eleven Meriwether games.
-- A's-Clev-- Over is 9-4-1 in last fourteen Scott games.
-- TB-Tex-- Road team won six of last seven Wendelstedt games.
-- Blt-LA-- Five of last six Darling games stayed under the total.

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**pm530** · 07-05-2009, 06:53 AM

MLB

Sunday, July 5

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Trend Report
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1:05 PM
OAKLAND vs. CLEVELAND
Oakland is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland's last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Cleveland is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games at home

1:05 PM
TORONTO vs. NY YANKEES
Toronto is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
Toronto is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
NY Yankees are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games
NY Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home

1:10 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. FLORIDA
Pittsburgh is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Florida
Florida is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Florida's last 7 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh

1:10 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. CINCINNATI
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 9 of St. Louis's last 13 games when playing Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 7 games

1:35 PM
ATLANTA vs. WASHINGTON
Atlanta is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Washington's last 18 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Atlanta

1:35 PM
NY METS vs. PHILADELPHIA
NY Mets are 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
NY Mets are 2-7 SU in its last 9 games
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing NY Mets
Philadelphia is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games

1:35 PM
SEATTLE vs. BOSTON
Seattle is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games when playing on the road against Boston
Seattle is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Boston's last 18 games at home

2:10 PM
CHI WHITE SOX vs. KANSAS CITY
Chi White Sox are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi White Sox's last 7 games
Kansas City is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox
Kansas City is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox

2:10 PM
DETROIT vs. MINNESOTA
Detroit is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games when playing at home against Detroit

2:20 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. CHI CUBS
Milwaukee is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Milwaukee's last 10 games on the road
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 7 games

3:10 PM
ARIZONA vs. COLORADO
Arizona is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Arizona's last 19 games when playing on the road against Colorado
Colorado is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing Arizona
Colorado is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Arizona

3:35 PM
BALTIMORE vs. LA ANGELS
Baltimore is 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Angels
Baltimore is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Angels
LA Angels are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home
LA Angels are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games

4:05 PM
HOUSTON vs. SAN FRANCISCO
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Houston's last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Houston's last 12 games on the road
San Francisco is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco's last 7 games when playing at home against Houston

4:05 PM
LA DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games
LA Dodgers are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games when playing San Diego
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
San Diego is 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing LA Dodgers

8:05 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. TEXAS
Tampa Bay is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games
Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas's last 7 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay

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**pm530** · 07-05-2009, 06:55 AM

MLB

Sunday, July 5

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Hot lines: Today’s best MLB bets
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Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers (+114, 9.5)

The only thing that’s hotter in Texas than the weather is the Ranger’s bats.

Texas has scored an MLB-best 234 runs at home this season, as the team is hitting .270 with 67 home runs and 87 doubles in Arlington. One of the biggest reasons for the team’s offensive prowess has been the emergence of outfielder Nelson Cruz.

Acquired from the Brewers as part of the Francisco Cordero trade several years ago, Nelson is hitting .264 with 19 home runs and 47 RBI.

And that doesn’t bode well for Tampa Bay pitching. The Rays staff has been mediocre at best on the road this season, with an ERA of 4.29 away from Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay pitchers also have made it easy for opposing lineups in their own back yard, as they have issued 143 walks.

Don’t expect the Rangers to cool off.

Pick: Rangers +114

St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds (+147, 8)

Cincinnati has one of the more meager offenses in baseball, but has been able to overcome its abyssmal .231 home batting average to do enough to topple the number numerous times this year.

The Reds over/under record in their own yard is 19-18-1 this season. But don’t chalk it up to bad pitching, as the team is just slightly above the league averages in home pitching stats.

Now, combine the Red’s curous over/under mark with that of the Cardinals on the road. The red birds are one of the few teams in baseball who have a wining O/U recod away from home (19-16-3).

Add in the fact Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter and Reds hurler Bronson Arroyo each allowed at least five earned runs in their most recent outing, the over appears to be the smart move.

Pick: Over 8

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**pm530** · 07-05-2009, 06:55 AM

MLB

Saturday, July 4

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Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
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Streaking

Roy Oswalt (Houston Astros)

If Oswalt continues to pitch the same way he has the past several starts, there is no way Houston will part with its ace as the trade deadline nears.

Oswalt (4-4, 4.02 ERA) has allowed no more than a single run in three of his past four starts, lasting at least six innings each time. In his most recent outing, a 3-1 win over San Diego, he allowed the single run on only two hits in tossing a complete game gem.

For the right-handed, fly-ball pitcher, his success relies on his ability to pound inside on hitters and then get them to watch strikes fly by on the outside corner.

"I feel better than I did at the beginning of the season," Oswalt told the Associated Press. "It seems like I'm throwing the ball better, the balls have a little more carry and hopefully I can carry on the rest of the year."

Nick Blackburn (Minnesota Twins)

The right-hander won’t win any beauty pageants with his starts, but all he does is give his team a great chance to win every time he takes the mound.

Blackburn (6-4, 3.10 ERA) has turned in a quality start in seven of his past eight outings. Even, better, he doesn’t walk batters. He issued a meager seven base-on-balls over 38 innings last month. The 27 year old, however, does have a weakness: he lets opponents get hits – lots of them.

In those same 38 innings last month, he yielded 39 hits, including a combined 21 in his last two starts. Blackburn still managed to lower his ERA during the month and has been very adept at working out of jams.

Slumping

Bronson Arroyo (Cincinnati Reds)

So what does $10.1 million dollars buy you these days? How about a 5.69 ERA.

Arroyo (8-7, 5.69 ERA) continues to be anything but consistent for the Reds. The former Red Sox starter was shelled in his past two outings, allowing 13 runs over nine innings. Even more troubling are the 43 hits and 17 walks he yielded last month in just 33 innings.

Even more disconcerting, is Arroyo thinks he’s pitching well. In his most recent loss, a 6-2 defeat to Arizona, he allowed 14 base runners and six runs in just 5 1-3 innings.

"I had good stuff today," Arroyo said. "I felt pretty good. I'm just having a hard time getting into the groove."

Gio Gonzalez (Oakland Athletics)

You can’t be too hard on a 23-year-old rookie. But you also want to keep your wagers away from one that is struggling as much as Gonzalez.

Demoted after a suspect May that saw him yield seven earned runs in jus 8 2-3 innings, Gonzalez was recalled last may to take a spot in the team’s rotation. The results have been poor, to say the least.

In two starts, he has combined to allow seven earned runs in 8 2-3 innings – just like in May. But this time, he has allowed a staggering 17 hits, including a pair of home runs. Gonzalez better get it together, or else get a bus ticket back to Triple-A Sacramento.

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**pm530** · 07-05-2009, 06:56 AM

MLB

Sunday, July 5

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Sunday Night Baseball: Rays at Rangers
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Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers

Two teams, each hoping to re-establish themselves during the second half of the MLB season, battle one another at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Tampa Bay concludes its three games series with Texas under the ESPN Sunday night lights.

In a battle of big right-handers, Texas sends Scott Feldman (6-2 4.09) to the mound against Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza (6-5 3.45).

Coming and going

Sunday’s game marks the end of a week-long, six-game road trip for the Rays, who will return home for a pair of three-game series with Toronto and Oakland before the All Star break.

The Rangers conclude 10-day, nine-game home stand before heading out on a week-long, seven-game road trip beginning Monday in Los Angeles.

Entering this weekend, Tampa had emerged victorious in 11 of the previous 16 games in this series.

Century village

Despite their woes, the Rays reside in an exclusive neighborhood. They became the fastest team in MLB history to reach 100 homers and 100 steals by the All-Star break.

It took Tampa only 77 games to accomplish the feat. The previous fastest were Cincinnati (1977) and Cleveland (1994), who both did it in 84 games.

The only other two teams to reach that mark by the All-Star break since 1954 were the Marlins (2003) and the Blue Jays (1998).

Ranger light

Texas’ big bats have been mired in a hitting slump. The loss of All-Star CF Josh Hamilton to the DL and the recent back injury to RF Nelson Cruz (.264 BA, 19 HR, 47 RBI) have contributed to the Rangers’ lack of run production.

As a result, Texas has learned to rely on their arms and gloves rather than their bats.

"We wanted to get off the field as fast as we could," second baseman Ian Kinsler admitted to reporters. "Now, we're getting off the field as fast as we can."

The loss of starting pitchers Matt Harrison and Brandon McCarthy to shoulder injuries has further added to the Rangers’ miseries.

Good news is Hamilton has been rehabbing with Triple-A Oklahoma City and was hoping to rejoin the Rangers this weekend. He has been on the disabled list since May 31 with a slight abdominal tear. Cruz returned to the lineup Friday.

Pitch out

Garza (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) has been moved up by manager Joe Maddon and will take Jeff Niemann’s spot in the rotation. He pitched seven strong innings in a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto Tuesday. He has dropped five of his last six road team starts but is 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA in his career team starts against the Rangers.

Feldman (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) enters Sunday’s game 1-4 with a 4.45 ERA in his career team starts on Sundays. He is 0-2 with a 12.19 ERA at home in his July career team starts. The Rangers left the park five times in support of Feldman’s 9-5 win over the Angels Tuesday. After throwing 57 pitches the first two innings, the right-hander finally settled down when he retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

Karnac says

Garza is a hurler with a bright future while Feldman is merely a serviceable starter.

By the time the Rangers are able to re-kindle their bats, the arms will likely begin wearing out. Unlike Texas, a second-half surge by the Rays would not surprise.

Tampa has won each of its last three games on Sundays while Texas has lost its last three.

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**Udog** · 07-05-2009, 10:11 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Arizona at Colorado
The Diamondbacks look to build on their 5-1 record in Dan Haren's last 6 road starts when the total is set between 7 and 8 1/2 runs. Arizona is the pick (+110) according to Dunkel, which has the Diamondbacks favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+110). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, JULY 5

Game 901-902: St. Louis at Cincinnati
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Carpenter) 15.820; Cincinnati (Arroyo) 13.850
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 2; 7
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-160); 8
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-160); Under

Game 903-904: Pittsburgh at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Ohlendorf) 15.928; Florida (Nolasco) 14.407
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Florida (-170); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+160); Under

Game 905-906: NY Mets at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Santana) 13.552; Philadelphia (Blanton) 15.000
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-110); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-110); Over

Game 907-908: Atlanta at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Lowe) 16.249; Washington (Olsen) 14.897
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-145); 9
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-145); Under

Game 909-910: Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Burns) 15.277; Cubs (Lilly) 14.720
Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-170); No Run Line
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (+160); N/A

Game 911-912: Arizona at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Haren) 16.084; Colorado (Jimenez) 14.516
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Colorado (-120); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+110); Over

Game 913-914: LA Dodgers at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Billingsley) 13.969; San Diego (Banks) 15.412
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-170); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+160); Under

Game 915-916: Houston at San Francisco
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Oswalt) 14.937; San Francisco (Johnson) 16.514
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Houston (-115); 8
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+105); Over

Game 917-918: Toronto at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Cecil) 15.275; NY Yankees (Chamberlain) 17.293
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-185); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-185); Over

Game 919-920: Oakland at Cleveland
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Anderson) 14.020; Cleveland (Lee) 15.234
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-230); 9
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-230); Under

Game 921-922: Seattle at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Morrow) 16.620; Boston (Lester) 15.674
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Boston (-270); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+240); Over

Game 923-924: Detroit at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Porcello) 14.572; Minnesota (Blackburn) 16.205
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-145); 9
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-145); Over

Game 925-926: Chicago White Sox at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Richard) 16.119; Kansas City (Bannister) 14.405
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Kansas City (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (+110); Over

Game 927-928: Baltimore at LA Angels
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Hill) 14.753; LA Angels (Saunders) 15.826
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-175); 10
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-175); Under

Game 929-930: Tampa Bay at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Niemann) 15.366; Texas (Feldman) 16.389
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-130); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (+120); Over

**Udog** · 07-05-2009, 10:35 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

Sunday, July 5

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ST LOUIS (44 - 39) at CINCINNATI (40 - 39) - 1:10 PM
CHRIS CARPENTER (R) vs. BRONSON ARROYO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 90-73 (+14.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 20-11 (+10.8 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
CARPENTER is 47-26 (+22.2 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss since 1997. (Team's Record)
CINCINNATI is 226-263 (-68.3 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 68-91 (-35.4 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Sunday since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 43-54 (-23.6 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 5-4 (+1.2 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.9 Units)

CHRIS CARPENTER vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
CARPENTER is 4-3 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 2.29 and a WHIP of 0.817.
His team's record is 6-4 (-0.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 8-2. (+5.6 units)

BRONSON ARROYO vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
ARROYO is 5-7 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 4.49 and a WHIP of 1.360.
His team's record is 6-12 (-6.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-11. (-6.5 units)

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PITTSBURGH (37 - 44) at FLORIDA (42 - 40) - 1:10 PM
ROSS OHLENDORF (R) vs. RICKY NOLASCO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 122-112 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 126-117 (+22.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 396-364 (+45.1 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 since 1997.
NOLASCO is 29-17 (+17.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
NOLASCO is 27-17 (+13.8 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
PITTSBURGH is 4-1 (+4.1 Units) against FLORIDA this season
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.8 Units)

ROSS OHLENDORF vs. FLORIDA since 1997
OHLENDORF is 1-0 when starting against FLORIDA with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.429.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.1 units)

RICKY NOLASCO vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
NOLASCO is 1-3 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 3.70 and a WHIP of 1.274.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.3 units)

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NY METS (39 - 41) at PHILADELPHIA (41 - 37) - 1:35 PM
JOHAN SANTANA (L) vs. JOE BLANTON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
NY METS are 84-85 (-16.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 10-25 (-19.0 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 83-59 (+13.3 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 45-23 (+19.5 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 15-22 (-15.9 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 107-128 (-40.6 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 since 1997.
PHILADELPHIA is 15-22 (-15.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 5-4 (+1.0 Units) against NY METS this season
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.6 Units)

JOHAN SANTANA vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
SANTANA is 4-0 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 2.95 and a WHIP of 1.018.
His team's record is 6-2 (+3.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-3. (+1.9 units)

JOE BLANTON vs. NY METS since 1997
BLANTON is 1-0 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 2.14 and a WHIP of 0.952.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.0 units)

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ATLANTA (39 - 41) at WASHINGTON (23 - 55) - 1:35 PM
DEREK LOWE (R) vs. SCOTT OLSEN (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 39-41 (-9.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ATLANTA is 17-23 (-10.9 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
ATLANTA is 14-20 (-11.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
ATLANTA is 39-41 (-9.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 47-72 (-21.3 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 78-82 (+16.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 14-8 (+11.3 Units) against the money line as a home underdog of +125 to +150 over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 60-47 (+20.1 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 98-58 (+26.1 Units) against the money line in road games in July games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 23-52 (-24.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
WASHINGTON is 17-39 (-18.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
WASHINGTON is 23-55 (-27.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 11-26 (-13.9 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
WASHINGTON is 14-26 (-12.3 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
WASHINGTON is 7-31 (-22.2 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 5-3 (+1.2 Units) against WASHINGTON this season
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.3 Units)

DEREK LOWE vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
LOWE is 5-2 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 2.70 and a WHIP of 1.040.
His team's record is 6-2 (+2.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-5. (-2.2 units)

SCOTT OLSEN vs. ATLANTA since 1997
OLSEN is 2-5 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 6.75 and a WHIP of 1.646.
His team's record is 4-7 (-2.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-6. (-3.0 units)

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MILWAUKEE (43 - 38) at CHICAGO CUBS (39 - 39) - 2:20 PM
MIKE BURNS (R) vs. TED LILLY (L)
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 55-109 (-41.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Sunday since 1997.
LILLY is 36-15 (+17.7 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss since 1997. (Team's Record)
LILLY is 15-5 (+10.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MILWAUKEE is 22-12 (+9.9 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 39-39 (-8.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 536-484 (-108.0 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 39-39 (-8.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 5-4 (+0.1 Units) against MILWAUKEE this season
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.8 Units)

MIKE BURNS vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
No recent starts.

TED LILLY vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
LILLY is 2-2 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 4.81 and a WHIP of 1.188.
His team's record is 4-2 (+2.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-0. (+6.2 units)

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ARIZONA (32 - 49) at COLORADO (42 - 38) - 3:10 PM
DAN HAREN (R) vs. UBALDO JIMENEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 8-23 (-16.8 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
ARIZONA is 34-55 (-25.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 32-49 (-19.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ARIZONA is 35-43 (-15.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 51-68 (-17.1 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 15-30 (-17.1 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 13-24 (-15.4 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 13-21 (-9.4 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
ARIZONA is 35-43 (-15.4 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 32-49 (-19.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ARIZONA is 79-95 (-30.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 21-6 (+12.8 Units) against the money line in home games in July games over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 30-24 (+7.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
COLORADO is 43-62 (-24.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
JIMENEZ is 21-29 (-11.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
JIMENEZ is 4-12 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
JIMENEZ is 21-29 (-11.6 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
COLORADO is 4-4 (-0.5 Units) against ARIZONA this season
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.7 Units)

DAN HAREN vs. COLORADO since 1997
HAREN is 4-3 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.059.
His team's record is 5-3 (+0.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-5. (-2.3 units)

UBALDO JIMENEZ vs. ARIZONA since 1997
JIMENEZ is 1-1 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.13 and a WHIP of 1.184.
His team's record is 4-2 (+2.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-5. (-4.3 units)

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LA DODGERS (51 - 30) at SAN DIEGO (35 - 45) - 4:05 PM
CHAD BILLINGSLEY (R) vs. JOSH BANKS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 29-12 (+14.1 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
LA DODGERS are 51-30 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
LA DODGERS are 34-21 (+10.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LA DODGERS are 20-9 (+9.7 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
LA DODGERS are 51-30 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN DIEGO is 98-143 (-41.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 61-91 (-26.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 37-66 (-24.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 98-143 (-41.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 20-35 (-19.0 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 8-4 (+2.0 Units) against SAN DIEGO this season
7 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

CHAD BILLINGSLEY vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
BILLINGSLEY is 7-3 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 2.78 and a WHIP of 1.279.
His team's record is 8-4 (+2.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-7. (-2.6 units)

JOSH BANKS vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
No recent starts.

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HOUSTON (38 - 41) at SAN FRANCISCO (44 - 36) - 4:05 PM
ROY OSWALT (R) vs. RANDY JOHNSON (L)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 44-36 (+9.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 20-10 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 23-15 (+8.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 44-36 (+9.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 19-12 (+7.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 26-12 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
HOUSTON is 37-31 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 120-114 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 124-116 (+20.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 58-62 (+12.3 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 25-13 (+17.7 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons.
JOHNSON is 31-29 (-25.0 Units) against the money line in July games since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN FRANCISCO is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against HOUSTON this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.0 Units)

ROY OSWALT vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
OSWALT is 4-5 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.98 and a WHIP of 1.447.
His team's record is 5-7 (-6.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 6-4. (+1.6 units)

RANDY JOHNSON vs. HOUSTON since 1997
JOHNSON is 4-1 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 3.64 and a WHIP of 1.106.
His team's record is 6-1 (+5.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-5. (-4.4 units)

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TORONTO (42 - 40) at NY YANKEES (47 - 33) - 1:05 PM
BRETT CECIL (L) vs. JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 0-8 (-8.7 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents this season.
NY YANKEES are 77-44 (+19.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 51-35 (+15.1 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY YANKEES is 4-1 (+3.0 Units) against TORONTO this season
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.8 Units)

BRETT CECIL vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
No recent starts.

JOBA CHAMBERLAIN vs. TORONTO since 1997
CHAMBERLAIN is 0-1 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 4.00 and a WHIP of 1.333.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-1. (-0.2 units)

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OAKLAND (33 - 46) at CLEVELAND (33 - 49) - 1:05 PM
GIO GONZALEZ (L) vs. CLIFF LEE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 33-46 (-11.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
OAKLAND is 18-37 (-24.3 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 9-28 (-17.5 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 30-42 (-12.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CLEVELAND is 9-23 (-15.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
CLEVELAND is 33-49 (-19.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 37-53 (-22.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 19-24 (-10.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
CLEVELAND is 29-48 (-23.1 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 30-43 (-17.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
LEE is 5-12 (-9.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
LEE is 4-12 (-10.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against OAKLAND this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)

GIO GONZALEZ vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
No recent starts.

CLIFF LEE vs. OAKLAND since 1997
LEE is 4-1 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 2.49 and a WHIP of 1.125.
His team's record is 6-2 (+4.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-5. (-3.0 units)

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SEATTLE (42 - 38) at BOSTON (48 - 32) - 1:35 PM
BRANDON MORROW (R) vs. JON LESTER (L)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 12-35 (-19.3 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 56-23 (+17.6 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 83-40 (+20.9 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 44-25 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
LESTER is 44-21 (+18.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
LESTER is 24-6 (+15.2 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
LESTER is 33-14 (+15.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SEATTLE is 44-41 (+12.8 Units) against the money line in road games after a win over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 42-38 (+6.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SEATTLE is 39-34 (+7.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 4-1 (+4.8 Units) against BOSTON this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.9 Units)

BRANDON MORROW vs. BOSTON since 1997
No recent starts.

JON LESTER vs. SEATTLE since 1997
LESTER is 1-1 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 5.48 and a WHIP of 1.652.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-2. (-1.2 units)

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DETROIT (44 - 36) at MINNESOTA (42 - 40) - 2:10 PM
RICK PORCELLO (R) vs. NICK BLACKBURN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 56-65 (-18.2 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 118-124 (-24.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 42-57 (-25.5 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 76-92 (-30.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 81-48 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in games played in a dome over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 81-51 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in games played on artificial turf over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 37-16 (+18.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 78-44 (+22.2 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 57-41 (+11.2 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BLACKBURN is 15-5 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BLACKBURN is 16-6 (+10.0 Units) against the money line in games played in a dome over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BLACKBURN is 15-5 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on artificial turf over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
DETROIT is 20-10 (+9.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
DETROIT is 24-14 (+10.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
DETROIT is 20-9 (+10.1 Units) against the money line in day games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 5-2 (+2.5 Units) against DETROIT this season
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.7 Units)

RICK PORCELLO vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
PORCELLO is 1-0 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 1.000.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)

NICK BLACKBURN vs. DETROIT since 1997
BLACKBURN is 1-2 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 4.70 and a WHIP of 1.304.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-1. (+1.9 units)

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CHI WHITE SOX (42 - 39) at KANSAS CITY (34 - 46) - 2:10 PM
CLAYTON RICHARD (L) vs. BRIAN BANNISTER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS CITY is 47-42 (+15.5 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 56-51 (+11.4 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
BANNISTER is 11-4 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BANNISTER is 13-7 (+8.5 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHI WHITE SOX are 63-44 (+17.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 19-14 (+9.4 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 369-370 (+38.6 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHI WHITE SOX are 72-46 (+22.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 132-115 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 22-19 (+8.5 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 34-46 (-12.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 33-57 (-20.6 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 33-61 (-28.5 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 22-37 (-16.6 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHI WHITE SOX is 6-5 (+1.2 Units) against KANSAS CITY this season
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.5 Units)

CLAYTON RICHARD vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
RICHARD is 1-1 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 6.35 and a WHIP of 1.677.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)

BRIAN BANNISTER vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
BANNISTER is 2-4 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 7.97 and a WHIP of 1.570.
His team's record is 4-6 (-2.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-7. (-5.6 units)

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BALTIMORE (36 - 45) at LA ANGELS (44 - 35) - 3:35 PM
RICH HILL (L) vs. JOE SAUNDERS (L)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 18-49 (-29.6 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 7-30 (-23.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 44-18 (+28.3 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 41-29 (+12.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
LA ANGELS are 44-35 (+9.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA ANGELS are 21-8 (+12.6 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 2 seasons.
SAUNDERS is 33-15 (+15.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAUNDERS is 32-13 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LA ANGELS are 95-93 (-54.6 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 to -175 since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA ANGELS is 4-1 (+3.0 Units) against BALTIMORE this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)

RICH HILL vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
No recent starts.

JOE SAUNDERS vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
SAUNDERS is 5-0 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 4.15 and a WHIP of 1.644.
His team's record is 6-0 (+6.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-0. (+6.0 units)

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TAMPA BAY (44 - 38) at TEXAS (44 - 35) - 8:05 PM
MATT GARZA (R) vs. SCOTT FELDMAN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 4-12 (-9.8 Units) against the money line in road games in July games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 5-17 (-14.6 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 this season.
TEXAS is 43-33 (+9.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
TEXAS is 32-23 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
TEXAS is 84-76 (+17.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 44-35 (+9.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
TEXAS is 114-92 (+17.0 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 108-66 (+35.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 77-59 (+16.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 149-111 (+28.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 2-0 (+2.5 Units) against TAMPA BAY this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)

MATT GARZA vs. TEXAS since 1997
GARZA is 3-1 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 1.98 and a WHIP of 0.842.
His team's record is 3-1 (+1.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-4. (-4.2 units)

SCOTT FELDMAN vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
FELDMAN is 0-0 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.000.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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**Udog** · 07-05-2009, 10:45 AM

MLB

Sunday, July 5

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Baseball Today
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SCOREBOARD

Sunday, July 5

Detroit at Minnesota (2:10 p.m. EDT). A matchup of AL Central rivals, with the first-place Tigers throwing rookie Rick Porcello (8-5) against the Twins' Nick Blackburn (6-4).

STARS

Saturday

-Justin Morneau, Twins, had four hits, including a homer and the tying single in the seventh inning, and Minnesota came back to beat the Tigers 4-3.

-Tim Lincecum, Giants, ran his career-best scoreless innings streak to 23 in winning his third straight start and also scored the first run in San Francisco's 9-0 victory over Houston.

-Rookie Casey McGehee, Brewers, had a career high four hits and five RBIs to help the Milwaukee Brewers pound the Cubs 11-2.

-Chris Young, Diamondbacks, hit a tiebreaking, pinch-hit three-run double in a six-run eighth inning to help Arizona rally for an 11-7 win over the Rockies.

-Andruw Jones, Rangers, homered and drove in four runs and Texas won its fourth in a row, beating Tampa Bay 12-4.

-Micah Owings, Reds, homered and pitched into the seventh inning to help Cincinnati beat the Cardinals 5-2.

-Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, hit his third home run of the season and had four RBIs, and Los Angeles used a late rally to beat Baltimore 11-4.

-Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins, had four hits and scored twice for Florida in a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh.

BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS

Manny Ramirez hit his first home run since returning from a 50-game drug suspension. Ramirez homered in his second game and fifth plate appearance back. It was his seventh homer of the season and 534th of his career, tying Jimmie Foxx for 16th on the all-time list. Up next is Mickey Mantle with 536. The Dodgers lost to the Padres 7-4.

MILESTONE

Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer allowed one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings to win his third straight start and lead the Phillies to a 4-1 victory over the Mets. With the win, the 46-year-old Moyer tied Carl Hubbell for 42nd on the all-time list with his 253rd career win. ... Adam Dunn hit his 300th career homer in the Nationals' 5-3 victory over the Braves. The 29-year-old is the fifth player in major league history to reach that total in less than 4,200 at-bats, succeeding in his 4,145th at-bat. The others are Babe Ruth (3,830), Mark McGwire (3,837), Ralph Kiner (3,883) and Harmon Killebrew (3,928).

SIDELINED

Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang left Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a strained right shoulder, putting his next start in jeopardy. Wang allowed four runs and six hits before he was replaced in the sixth inning. ... The Blue Jays have placed right-hander Scott Richmond on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder. Richmond is 6-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 16 games, 13 starts, this season. He has gone seven innings in each of his last two starts, going 1-1 and allowing just five runs.

SHELLED

The Cubs' Rich Harden allowed seven runs and eight hits over two-plus innings in the shortest start of his career, an 11-2 loss to the Brewers.

SERIES LOSS

The Red Sox had their seven-series winning streak snapped when they dropped their second straight to the Mariners, 3-2 Saturday. It was just Boston's third series loss in their last 12 in Fenway Park.

THROW THE GOOGLY

Two former aspiring cricket players who won a reality show in India have made their professional baseball debuts. Left-hander Rinku Singh and right-hander Dinesh Patel, neither of whom had heard of baseball before appearing on "The Million Dollar Arm,'' each got a strikeout for the Pittsburgh Pirates' Rookie-level minor league team. Singh, who came in first on the show, allowed one run and two hits in one inning of work. Patel, who was second, threw a scoreless inning.

SPEAKING

"It's one thing to me to have the game taken away from you before it should be but when you start talking about taking your life before it should, the way he handled it was incredible.'' - Yankees manager Joe Girardi on the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's luckiest man speech. Major League Baseball honored the anniversary in an effort to raise awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - the disease that forced Gehrig out of baseball in 1939 and took his life two years later.

---

"That 300th home run would have been hard to talk about. It would have been a useless home run if we hadn't won the game.'' - Washington's Adam Dunn on his milestone homer after the Nationals' rallied for a 5-3 victory. Dunn hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth.

SEASONS

July 5

1904 - The Philadelphia Phillies snapped the New York Giants' 18-game winning streak with a 6-5 10-inning victory.

1935 - Tony Cuccinello of the Dodgers and his brother Al - for the Giants - each hit home runs in the same game to mark the first time in major league history that brothers on opposing teams connected for homers. Brooklyn beat New York 14-4.

1937 - Hal Trosky hit three home runs to pace the Cleveland Indians to a 14-4 victory over the St. Louis Browns in the opener of a doubleheader.

1937 - Frank DeMaree of Chicago went 6-for-7 in the first game of a doubleheader, in which the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 13-12 in 14 innings. DeMaree had three doubles and three singles. The Cubs won the second game 9-7 and DeMaree had two more singles.

1947 - Larry Doby became the first black to play in the American League. He struck out as a pinch-hitter as Cleveland lost 6-5 to the White Sox.

1961 - Bill White hit three home runs and a double to power the St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1987 - Mark McGwire became the first rookie to hit 30 homers before the All-Star break and Jose Canseco homered twice, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 6-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

1991 - The Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins were given final approval by baseball owners with a unanimous vote to join the NL in 1993.

1993 - Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics opened both games of a doubleheader with a homer to become the second player to accomplish the feat. Harry Hooper of the Boston Red Sox homered to start both games against Washington on May 30, 1913.

1998 - Roger Clemens became the 11th pitcher in baseball history to notch 3,000 strikeouts. Clemens needed five strikeouts to reach the 3,000 mark in Toronto's game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He struck out Quinton McCracken and Wade Boggs in the first inning and then got Mike DiFelice, Miguel Cairo and Randy Winn in the third to reach the milestone.

1998 - Juan Gonzalez became the second player to top 100 RBIs before the All-Star break, homering in the first and seventh innings off Seattle's Randy Johnson to improve his major league-leading total to 101. Gonzalez ended with the second-most RBIs before the All-Star break in major league history. Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers had 103 in 1935 en route to 170.

2000 - Luis Gonzalez became the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle as Arizona beat Houston 12-9.

2004 - Eric Gagne's streak of 84 consecutive saves ended when he blew a two-run lead for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who came back to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 in 10 innings. Gagne relieved with a 5-3 lead at the start of the ninth but allowed pinch-hitter Luis Gonzalez's RBI double and Chad Tracy's run-scoring single on an 0-2 pitch. Gagne had not blown a save chance since Aug. 26, 2002.

2005 - Boston's Manny Ramirez hit his 20th grand slam in a 7-4 win over Texas, passing Eddie Murray for sole possession of second place on the career list. Lou Gehrig hit 23.

Today's birthday: Jesse Crain 28.

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**Udog** · 07-05-2009, 12:25 PM

MLB

Sunday, July 5

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Tips and Trends
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Houston Astros at San Francisco Giants [4:05 PM ET]

Astros: The Astros may have to deal with shell shock after the Giants outscored them, 22-0, and out-hit them, 27-12, in taking the first two games of this series. But the Astros do have some trends going in their favor, plus ace Roy Oswalt is slated to pitch. Houston is 14-10 in day games and has won 15 of its past 22 versus National League West competition. Houston is 39-14 against NL West clubs in Oswalt’s last 53 starts. Oswalt had a solid June after winning just once during the first two months of the season. Oswalt is 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA in his last six starts. The right-hander is off his best start of the season, a two-hitter at San Diego on Monday. Oswalt is 4-5 with a 3.98 ERA in 12 career outings versus the Giants, including 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA in eight career starts at AT&T Park.

The Astros are 9-1 in their last 10 during Game 3 of a series.

Key Injuries - None.

PROJECTED SCORE: 5

Giants (-$1.10, O/U 8): The Giants entered this series ranked 27th in runs scored and 28th in homers, but are averaging 11 runs in the first two games. San Francisco has scored at least six runs in six of its last eight games. The Giants are 17-7 (70 percent) in their last 24 home games against Houston. Randy Johnson goes for win No. 304. He beat the Cardinals last Tuesday despite giving up two homers to Albert Pujols. Johnson yielded just two other hits during his 5 1/3-inning performance, won by the Giants, 6-3. San Francisco has won six of the past seven times Johnson has pitched at AT&T Park. The over is 7-3-1 in Johnson’s last 11 overall starts. Johnson, who pitched for the Astros during the second half of the 1998 season, is 4-1 in seven career starts against them. The Giants have won 16 of their last 21 games on Sunday.

The Giants are 36-17 in their last 53 home games when opposed by a right-hand starter.

Key Injuries - None.

PROJECTED SCORE: 4 (OVER - Total of the Day)

Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers [8:05 PM ET]

Rays (-$1.25, O/U 9.5 over -$1.15) Tampa Bay has lost three in a row, all coming to rookie pitchers. The Rays have scored just five runs in their last three games. They are averaging only three runs in their last seven games. Tampa Bay has lost eight of the past 11 times when facing a right-handed starter on the road. But the Rays are favored in this matchup with right-hander Matt Garza (6-5, 3.45 ERA) on the mound. Garza held Toronto to a single run on seven hits in seven plus innings during his last start, a 4-1 road victory on Tuesday. Garza has been amazingly consistent not giving more than four earned runs during any of his last 13 starts. In his last five starts, Garza has allowed 10 earned runs, 26 hits, while striking out 26 in 30 2/3 innings. Rays outfielder Carl Crawford has a 12-game hitting streak.

The Under has cashed in 7 of Tampa’s last 8 games.
The Under is 8-2 in the Rays’ last 10 road games versus a right-handed starter.

Key Injuries - Akinori Iwamura (knee) and Troy Percival (shoulder) are on the DL.

PROJECTED SCORE: 5 (Side of the Day)

Rangers: The Rangers have defeated Tampa Bay 20 of the past 29 times they have hosted them. Scott Feldman (6-2, 4.09 ERA) gets the starting assignment for Texas. The Rangers are 8-3 in Feldman’s last 11 starts. However, Texas is 2-8 in Feldman’s last 10 home games versus a team that has a winning record. The under has cashed in 27 of Feldman’s 38 starts. The under also is 9-1 in Feldman’s last 10 starts against American League East Division clubs. Feldman defeated the Angels in his last start on Tuesday. The right-hander gave up three earned runs and six hits in six innings in a 9-5 home win. Feldman did throw a season-high 116 pitches. Feldman’s home ERA is slightly lower (3.91) than his season ERA. The Rangers are 18-8 to the under in their last 26 home contests versus a team with a losing road record.

The Under is 20-7-1 in Texas’ last 28 home games.

Key Injuries - Josh Hamilton (abdominal) is on the DL.

PROJECTED SCORE: 4

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**Udog** · 07-05-2009, 12:52 PM

MLB
Short Sheet

Sunday, 7/5/2009

National League

ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI, 1:10 PM ET
CARPENTER: 15-4 OVER AWAY when playing on Sunday
ARROYO: 39-17 TSR at home in the second half of the season

PITTSBURGH at FLORIDA, 1:10 PM ET
OHLENDORF: PIT 14-9 against NL East
NOLASCO: FLA 22-10 OVER at home when the total is 8.5 to 10

NY METS at PHILADELPHIA, 1:35 PM ET
SANTANA: NYM 7-0 OVER when the total is 8 to 8.5
BLANTON: 3-10 TSR at home when the total is 7 to 8.5

ATLANTA at WASHINGTON, 1:35 PM ET
LOWE: 45-26 OVER as a road favorite
OLSEN: WAS 7-31 against division opponents

MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS, 2:20 PM ET
BURNS: MIL 22-12 against division opponents
LILLY: 6-1 UNDER in home games

ARIZONA at COLORADO, 3:10 PM ET
HAREN: ARI 14-5 UNDER when the total is 8 to 8.5
JIMENEZ: 5-13 TSR when working on 5 or 6 days rest

LA DODGERS at SAN DIEGO, 4:05 PM ET
BILLINGSLEY: LAD 20-9 after a team loss
BANKS: SD 9-22 after having lost 2 of their last 3

HOUSTON at SAN FRANCISCO, 4:05 PM ET
OSWALT: HOU 15-7 against NL West
JOHNSON: 20-8 UNDER when the money line is +125 to -125

American League

TORONTO at NY YANKEES, 1:05 PM ET
CECIL: TOR 51-35 in day games
CHAMBERLAIN: NYY 24-34 after having won 3 of their last 4

OAKLAND at CLEVELAND, 1:05 PM ET
GONZALEZ: OAK 9-28 AWAY in day games
LEE: 9-1 OVER as a favorite of -175 to -250

SEATTLE at BOSTON, 1:35 PM ET
MORROW: SEA 11-6 against AL East
LESTER: BOS 5-12 against AL West

DETROIT at MINNESOTA, 2:10 PM ET
PORCELLO: DET 20-9 in day games
BLACKBURN: MIN 7-15 after having won 3 of their last 4

CHI WHITE SOX at KANSAS CITY, 2:10 PM ET
RICHARD: CHW 23-8 UNDER after one or more consecutive overs
BANNISTER: 11-4 TSR when playing on Sunday

BALTIMORE at LA ANGELS, 3:35 PM ET
HILL: 10-2 TSR when the total is 8.5 to 10
SAUNDERS: 9-2 OVER after a team win

TAMPA BAY at TEXAS, 8:05 PM ET
GARZA: TB 4-12 AWAY in July
FELDMAN: 9-1 UNDER against AL East

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

**Udog** · 07-05-2009, 12:55 PM

WNBA
Dunkel

Atlanta at Indiana
The Fever look to build on their 7-0 ATS record in their last 7 games overall. Indiana is the pick (-9) according to Dunkel, which has the Fever favored by 11 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Indiana (-9). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, JULY 5

Game 601-602: Connecticut at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: Connecticut 112.682; Detroit 111.557
Dunkel Line & Total: Connecticut by 1; 138 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit by 3; 144 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+3); Under

Game 603-604: Atlanta at Indiana
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 107.276; Indiana 118.684
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 11 1/2; 145 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 9; 148 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (-9); Under

Game 605-606: Phoenix at Los Angeles
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 109.072; Los Angeles 120.753
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 11 1/2; 177
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles by 6; 169 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (-6); Over

WNBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, July 5

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CONNECTICUT (4 - 4) at DETROIT (2 - 6) - 7/5/2009, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 72-46 ATS (+21.4 Units) in road games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 4-3 against the spread versus CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 6-1 straight up against CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ATLANTA (5 - 6) at INDIANA (7 - 2) - 7/5/2009, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 3-2 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 3-2 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHOENIX (7 - 4) at LOS ANGELES (3 - 5) - 7/5/2009, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 4-14 ATS (-11.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 17-5 ATS (+11.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 13-25 ATS (-14.5 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 4-4 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 5-3 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Sunday, July 5

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Lady Luck: Today's WNBA best bets
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Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks (-6, 169)

This game features two star players going in opposite directions.

The Sparks welcome back new mom Candace Parker, who missed the beginning of the year to give birth to daughter Lailaa on May 13. Missing the league’s reigning MVP and Rookie of the Year, the preseason favorite Sparks limped to a record of 3-5. But Parker, who averaged 18.5 points and a league-high 9.5 rebounds per game last season, figures to help turn the team’s season around.

Across the court from her will be troubled Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi. The former UConn standout is the team’s leading scorer and the league’s leading All-star vote-getter, but she may miss time soon. She was cited for DUI early Thursday morning. Taurasi figures to play in the game, but expect the league to take swift action.

Taurasi will be off her game, so look for Parker to be the spark Los Angeles needs.

Pick: Sparks

Connecticut Sun at Detroit Shock (-3, 144.5)

Fans of slow, half-court basketball and physical, man-to-man defense have had this one circled on their calendars.

The defending champion Shock have struggled this season to a 2-6 record, but managed to keep games close by using a methodical attack. The style, however, hasn’t helped the team pick up wins. The Shock average a terrible 71 points per game and appears in no rush to change its approach.

And don’t expect any slack from the Sun, who tout the league’s best defense. Connecticut has been miserly at protecting its own rim, yielding just 67.3 points per game.

This game won’t feature much electricity, but the Sun figure to burn bright.

Pick: Sun

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Announcement

Sunday Trends and Indexes 7/5 (MLB, Misc.)

Sunday Trends and Indexes 7/5 (MLB, Misc.)

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