Announcement

**Udog** · 07-13-2010, 04:24 AM

Guys,

After the early morning posts, I won't be able to add anything until late afternoon. There's only one WNBA game and the All Star Game on the schedule. I'll have whatever's available posted well before gametime.

**Udog** · 07-13-2010, 04:28 AM

Daily Sports Roundup: July 13

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The top players in the league take to the diamond at Angel Stadium as the American League and National League play the All-Star Game.

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

The National League will be looking to end its lengthy losing streak at baseball's All-Star Game when they take on the American League at Angel Stadium of Anaheim (8:05pm ET, FOX). The National League last won the All-Star Game back in 1996 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The AL claimed the All-Star Game 4-3 last season in St. Louis.

Oddsmakers have the American League set as the -120 home favorites for Tuesday night, with the total for the contest pegged at 8.5 runs. Elected as starters for the Junior Circuit this year were catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau, second baseman Robinson Cano, third baseman Evan Longoria, shortstop Derek Jeter, outfielders Carl Crawford, Josh Hamilton, and Ichiro Suzuki, and designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero. Morneau, though, suffered a mild concussion last week and won't take part in the game; White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko replaced him on the roster.

Elected as National League starters for the game were catcher Yadier Molina, first baseman Albert Pujols, second baseman Chase Utley, third baseman David Wright, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, and outfielders Ryan Braun, Andre Ethier, and Jason Heyward. Utley is on the disabled list because of a thumb injury and won't suit up on Tuesday; Martin Prado will take his place in the National League's lineup. Heyward is also on the DL with a thumb injury and he'll be forced to miss the All-Star Game as well.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Finally, the WNBA offers up one game on Tuesday night, with Los Angeles at Tulsa. The Sparks (4-13 SU, 4-13 ATS) are 0-7 on the road so far this season, and they fell 98-89 to Phoenix in their last game. DeLisha Milton-Jones tossed in 20 points for Los Angeles in that losing cause. The Shock (3-14 SU, 4-13 ATS) ride an 11-game losing streak into Tuesday's game, and they were blasted 100-72 in Indiana in their last contest. Amber Holt had a team-high 18 points off the bench for Tulsa in that big defeat.

**Udog** · 07-13-2010, 04:39 AM

WNBA

Tuesday, July 13

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
LOS ANGELES vs. TULSA
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Tulsa
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing on the road against Tulsa
Tulsa is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Tulsa is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games

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Lady Luck: Today's WNBA best bet
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Los Angeles at Tulsa Shock (-1, 164.5)

The total has been dropping like BP stock since opening at 168, and for good reason. These two teams have been making the World Cup look like an offensive display.

Since losing star Candace Parker, the Sparks are 1-6 SU and averaged 68.5 points per game (excluding their last outing against Phoenix, which plays up-tempo like the Suns).

The Shock have lost 11 in a row SU and averaged 74.5 during that span (excluding Phoenix). On Saturday they tied a WNBA record for futility by scoring just four points in the second quarter, finishing 16-of-58 from the field and tallying only 54 total points in a loss to Washington.

"You don't even have to shoot and you can get four points," Tulsa coach Nolan Richardson said after the game. "It was a difficult night for us field goal-wise."

Richardson may be a master of the obvious, but you don't have to be a major in mathematics to figure this one out. They have been combining for 143 points per game against teams not named the Mercury - more than 20 points below the falling total. Jump on it before drops any lower.

Pick: Under

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**Udog** · 07-13-2010, 04:40 AM

What bettors need to know: MLB All-Star Game

National League at American League (-125, 8.5)

Baseball's best will gather in Anaheim for the 2010 MLB All-Star Game Tuesday, also determining which league will have home-field advantage in this year's World Series.

The National League owns a 40-38-2 advantage over the Junior Circuit in the all-time series, but the American League has dominated recent meetings.

The replacements

A more fitting nickname for this year's Midsummer Classic might be “The Replacements”. At least fourteen of this year's selections will not be competing in the All-Star Game, eight of those from the American League.

For the AL, Justin Morneau, Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz and Mariano Rivera are all sidelined by injuries, while Trevor Cahill, C.C. Sabathia and Jered Weaver won't be available because they pitched Sunday.

Taking their place will be some familiar names (Paul Konerko, Andy Pettitte, Justin Verlander) and some lesser knowns (John Buck, Ian Kinsler, Andrew Bailey and Rafael Soriano). Adrian Beltre is a question mark for Tuesday's contest after hurting his hamstring in the last game before the break. Joe Mauer also comes into the game a bit banged up.

The NL will be without Chase Utley, Jason Heyward, Jose Reyes, Troy Tulowitzki, Yovani Gollardo and Billy Wagner. Rafael Furcal, Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Hong-Chih Kuo have been selected as replacements.

Beating up big brother

The AL currently enjoys a 13-game unbeaten streak in the midseason showcase, including the 7-7 tie debacle in 2002, and has lost the All-Star Game only three times since 1988.

The AL isn't exactly outclassing its National League opponents, however. The past four games have been decided by one run, including a 15-inning affair two years ago.

One other thing for bettors to keep in mind is that the National League has never won an All-Star Game that was aired on FOX, the network that will carry Tuesday's contest.

Talking totals

Though the All-Star Game features the best hitters in the game, it's far from a perennial slugfest.

An average of just seven runs per game have been scored in the past four contests. Occasionally, the big bats do come out to shine. From 2002-2005, the All-Star Game averaged 13 runs per game.

Game of shadows

Hitters will be dealing with more than some of the game's top arms Tuesday, especially in the early going.

First Pitch at the All-Star Game will fly shortly after 5 p.m. local time at Angel Stadium, meaning the first few innings will likely be affected by shadows from the setting sun. Angel Stadium in Anaheim is considered by many to have the most difficult shadows of any park in baseball.

"If you have a guy who's a real hard thrower with crisp breaking stuff and you put him in the shadows, it will amplify his stuff," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told the New York Times during last year's playoffs.

Arms race

It’s hard not to like the pitchers that NL manager Charlie Manuel will have at his disposal Tuesday.

The National League staff will include three former Cy Young Award winners in Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter and 15-game winner Ubaldo Jimenez looks like a lock for the Cy Young honors this season.

Also in the pen are big-name starters Adam Wainright, Tim Hudson and Josh Johnson, as well as relievers like Brian Wilson, Matt Capps, Arthur Rhodes, Heath Bell and smoke-throwing closer Jonathan Broxton.

The AL’s staff is inexperienced, by comparison. Besides veterans Cliff Lee, Jon Lester, Justin Verlander and Andy Pettitte (C.C. Sabathia isn’t eligible to pitch), the starters available to Joe Girardi are first-time all-stars David Price, Fausto Carmona and Phil Hughes.

Matt Thornton, Jose Valverde, Andrew Bailey, Rafael Soriano and Joakim Soria are excellent late-inning options.

**Udog** · 07-13-2010, 04:44 AM

NOTE:
For the initial posting of trends and indexes, we have provided information available up to the time of posting.
Additional updates for today’s games will be posted ASAP.

**Udog** · 07-13-2010, 06:34 PM

WNBA
Dunkel

Los Angeles at Tulsa
The Sparks look to take advantage of a Tulsa team that is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games overall. Los Angeles is the pick (+1 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Sparks favored by 3 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+1 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, JULY 13

Game 601-602: Los Angeles at Tulsa (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 106.704; Tulsa 103.084
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 3 1/2; 167
Vegas Line & Total: Tulsa by 1 1/2; 164
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+1 1/2); Over

Announcement

Tuesday's Trends and Indexes 7/13 (WNBA, Misc.)

Tuesday's Trends and Indexes 7/13 (WNBA, Misc.)

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