The Bum's Saturday's Best Bets MLB !

[StarDust Bum]

Boston Red Sox battle Mariners at Fenway Park

One team comes into the weekend having won five of seven and off a road sweep that was good enough for nearly a 4-unit gain by its backers. The other just avoided being swept by a team with half the payroll and down over 7.5 units to begin the season.

The Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners play the second of their 3-game series Saturday and what should be the second consecutive mismatch at the MLB betting window. Seattle will send a second lefty to the mound with Doug Fister (1-4, 3.19) getting the starting nod on Saturday while Boston counters with veteran right-hander John Lackey (2-2, 6.35).

First pitch from Fenway park is 4:10 p.m. (PT).

Friday night's series opener pitted left-hander Jason Vargas and Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound with Dice-K and the Sox 200 chalk and higher at some shops.

The Red Sox (11-13) went into that game having just escaped the AL East cellar after a victory Thursday in Baltimore where they avoided being swept by the Orioles. Seattle (11-15) brought up the rear of the standings in the AL West and had just completed sweeping three from the Tigers in Detroit.

Fister has pitched much better than his personal 1-3 record would indicate, but Seattle's offense (3.92 RPG) has failed to provide much support for the southpaw. Mariners bats exploded for 13 runs in the one start Fister made that ended in a Seattle victory; in the other four, all Mariners losses, the lineup has scored just five runs combined.

He made three starts vs. the Red Sox a season ago. The Mariners were 1-2 in those outings with Fister recording a 4.97 ERA.

Lackey was horrendous in his first two starts of the season against the hard-hitting Rangers and Yankees, but has come back to form in his last two starts, road affairs at the A's and Angels.

This will be Lackey's 25th career start vs. the M's, the Angels and Red Sox 14-10 combined in the previous 24. Nine of his first 14 assignments with Anaheim resulted in losses, but Lackey has since dominated Seattle with nine winning starts the last 10, a 2.17 ERA in that span. Half of his eight career shutouts have come at the Mariners' expense.

The Fister, Lackey battle is a rematch of a somewhat strange game played at Fenway about nine months ago. A soggy turf and strong winds blowing in greeted the two starters, and the two clubs combined for 17 hits (six off each starter), all of the hits singles and four of the nine runs at game's end were unearned.

Fister pitched well enough to win at Fenway in late-August, hurling into the seventh and striking out six. But three unearned runs on a dropped outfield fly helped Boston to a 6-3 win. Lackey worked through eight, allowing an unearned run among Seattle's three, and struck out 10.

This time the skies should be clear all day in Beantown with temps in the 50s during the game. A 10 mph NNW wind (in over the Green Monster) was in the early forecast.

Sunday's contest brings the series to a conclusion with a mound battle between Felix Hernandez and Clay Buchholz. The Mariners will travel back home and enjoy Monday off before opening a series with the Rangers on Tuesday. Boston remains at home to welcome the Angels to Fenway on Monday.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB Betting: St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves

The Milwaukee Brewers and defending National League Central Division champion Cincinnati Reds were getting a lot of preseason buzz.

But 25 games into the season, it’s the St. Louis Cardinals who are on top in the NL Central thanks to the hot bats of Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman and Albert Pujols.

The Cardinals, who meet Atlanta in Game 2 of their three-game series Saturday morning at 10:10 (PT) on FOX, have the majors' two top hitters in veterans Holliday and Berkman.

Holliday was batting .433 heading into this series with Berkman hitting .410 with eight homers and 22 RBIs.

St. Louis averaged 2.6 runs per game during the seven games Holliday was out following an emergency appendectomy. In 17 games since Holliday returned, the Cardinals are averaging 6.7 runs per game.

Pujols is batting .328 with six homers and 14 RBIs in his past 15 games entering the series after hitting just .150 with one homer during the first 10 games of the season.

The Braves were 13-13 through their first 26 games. Their strength has been a pitching staff that came into the series ranked fifth in ERA at 3.07 and second in strikeouts.

Atlanta, though, was 29th in batting at .229. The Braves’ offense hasn’t been helped much by their pitchers. Atlanta pitchers have only one hit all season.

The scheduled starters are Jake Westbrook against rookie Brandon Beachy.

Westbrook is 2-2 with a 7.40 ERA. The 33-year-old right-hander worked on three days’ rest for the first time in his 11-year big league career this past Sunday beating Cincinnati and Edinson Volquez, 3-0, as a 115 home favorite.

Westbrook held the Reds to three hits in six innings with four strikeouts and three walks. The combined three runs went ‘under’ the 8 ½-run total. Westbrook induced 10 groundball outs.

The 33-year-old right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 career innings versus Atlanta.

Beachy also pitched well this past Sunday. He limited San Francisco to two runs on three hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. The Braves won in 10 innings, 9-6. Beachy was a 120 road ‘dog to Jonathan Sanchez. The combined 15 runs flew ‘over’ the 7 ½-run total.

It was Beachy’s second strong performance in a row. He beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-1, on April 19 as a 105 road ‘dog against Hiroki Kuroda. Beachy held the Dodgers scoreless in his six innings giving up only two hits with sevens strikeouts and two walks.

The 24-year-old righty is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Beachy has never faced St. Louis.

The Cardinals won six of eight meetings against the Braves last year. The teams split a four-game September series at Turner Field.

The Cardinals are 11-4-1 to the ‘over’ in their previous 16 games through this past Thursday. They are 19-7-1 ‘over’ during their last 27 road contests.

Atlanta had played five ‘overs’ in a row going into Game 1 of the series. The ‘under,’ though, had cashed in six of Atlanta’s past seven games at Turner Field.

The ‘over’ was 4-0-1 during the last five games between these two teams when playing in Atlanta entering the series.

Chipper Jones had driven in nine runs in his past five games heading into the series. Braves catcher Brian McCann leads the majors in hitting with runners in scoring position at .688.

The Saturday forecast is for temperatures in the 70s with six mph winds blowing out to left and a three percent chance of rain.

The series concludes on Sunday. The Cardinals then open a seven-game homestand on Monday taking on Florida for four games followed by Milwaukee.

The Braves host the Brewers for four games beginning on Monday

[StarDust Bum]

Halladay, Phillies in MLB betting clash with Mets

Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay is 7-2 vs. the New York Mets with a 3.43 ERA.
The Philadelphia Phillies are heavily favored on Saturday against the New York Mets because they are expected to have Roy Halladay on the mound. The Phillies are off to a hot start this baseball betting season and although the Mets are playing better of late, they are still not a good team.

Check out the current line for this game at *** Global.com.

The Mets are expected to send Jon Niese to the mound on Saturday in this game that can be seen on FOX television. Niese finally got a win last time out against Arizona which snapped his own six-game losing streak.

He has pitched six or more innings in four of his five starts this season but his numbers overall are still not very good. He is 1-3 with a 5.10 ERA.

Niese is 1-2 in his career against the Phillies with a 3.96 ERA.

Roy Halladay gets the ball for the Phillies and is coming off a 3-1 win over San Diego. He nearly had another complete game but was pulled with two outs in the ninth after throwing 130 pitches.

Halladay is 3-1 overall this betting season with a 2.41 ERA. He has been a little more hittable of late as in his last three starts he is 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA.

The big right-hander is 7-2 in his career against the Mets with a 3.43 ERA.

Before this series began the Phillies had won 11 of the last 20 games against the Mets. Philadelphia had won 14 of the last 20 at home against New York.

Earlier this season the Phillies took two of three from the Mets and all three games were high scoring. The Phillies won 11-0 and 10-7 while the Mets won 7-1.

Last odds season the Phillies went 5-4 at home against the Mets and five of those games went over the total.

The Phillies are 49-20 in their last 69 home games vs. a right-handed starter. Philadelphia is 36-15 in their last 51 vs. the National League East. The Phillies are 41-18 in their last 59 home games.

Even with Halladay on the mound there could be some runs scored in this game. The 'over' is 10-3-1 in the Mets' last 14 vs. the National League East and 13-4 in their last 17 games vs. a right-handed starter.

[StarDust Bum]

Diamond Trends - Saturday

April 30, 2011


SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Phillies are 12-0 since June 25, 2010 as a 200+ favorite after scoring 6+ runs for a net profit of $1200
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OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Royals are 9-0 OU since April 08, 2010 at home within 20 cents of pickem after a one run win for a net profit of $900 when playing the over.

STARTER TREND OF THE DAY:

The Yankees are 0-9 since June 16, 2010 when A.J. Burnett starts at home after his team lost the last time he started vs this opponent for a net profit of $1370 when playing against.

MLB BIBLE TREND OF THE DAY:

The Red Sox are 0-10 (-4.9 rpg) since September 2009 when hosting a team that has won their last four games, as long as they are not off a double-digit loss.

TODAY’S TRENDS:

The Yankees are 6-0 since May 30, 2010 as a home favorite after a loss in which they drew 5+ walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $600

The Orioles are 6-0 since September 06, 2010 after a win in which they drew 5+ walks for a net profit of $983.

The Rays are 7-0 since July 07, 2010 as a home 140+ favorite when they scored two or fewer runs for their starter in his last start for a net profit of $700.

[StarDust Bum]

Pitchers Report - May

April 29, 2011


The running of the Kentucky Derby each year signals MLB enters its second month of play. And with it a handful of surprise teams take center stage. The key to sustaining will be success, or lack of it, from the pitching staffs. With that thought in mind, let’s zero in on pitchers that will look to keep their team in the race and those that may pull up before they hit the wire.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons during the month of May. On the flip side, we’ve also listed pitchers that struggle in May team starts, winning 33% percent or less of their efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each May over the last three years. I’ll be back next month with June’s Good Month Pitchers. Until then, enjoy and here’s hoping you pick the right ‘horse’…

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

Arroyo, Bronson • 12-6
Is one of only three active pitchers with six straight seasons of 200 or more innings pitched. (Mark Buehrle and Dan Haren are the other two) Arroyo is known for funky looking off-speed pitches that break at odd angles and when he is good, he is very good and when he is not, you can figure that out. May qualifies as a good month for this right-hander.

Blackburn, Nick • 11-5
Has one of the better sinkers in the AL, but will on occasion only want to throw that pitch with slight variations. Blackburn is at his best when mixing in the changeup, to the chagrin of earth worms, with all the ground balls.

Cueto, Johnny • 12-4
Cincy starter is expected back this month after experiencing right biceps and triceps irritation in Spring Training. Works both sides of the plate with his fastball, but doesn’t strikeout as many batters since his slider has lost some bite.

Gallardo, Yovani • 8-4
Has not been quite as effective to start 2011; however is the ace of the Milwaukee staff and wins should start piling up for this 25-year old hurler who can dominate.

Hamels, Cole • 13-3
Now the forgotten star of the Phillies staff with so many big names, this left-hander has broken thru talk of his brittleness. He’s also smart, having added cutter he learned from Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay for out-pitch.

Harden, Rich • 10-3
Injury plagued throughout his career, Harden is presently on the DL and suffered setback on April 15, which could mean he won’t see action this month.

Hudson, Tim • 9-3
Because of age and Tommy John surgery, no longer has electric fastball, nevertheless, Hudson’s power sinker induces a large amount of ground ball outs, keeping him at high level.

Kershaw, Clayton • 10-4
Starting to fulfill promise as a youngster, this 23-year old lefty has added a slider with other knee-buckling curve and impressive mid-90’s fastball and is ready for stardom.

Marcum, Shaun • 11-2
His collection of off-speed pitches has hitters taking terrible swings and he’s averaging almost a strike an inning in Milwaukee, helping solidify the Brewers starting pitching. Getting away from AL East should only make Marcum more effective.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Braden, Dallas • 3-9
Currently on the DL with shoulder inflammation, “Mr. Perfect” is 1-1 this season with 3.00 ERA and is a control specialist. Despite lacking a blazing fastball, Braden is very confident, but has to hit his spots or will get tagged.

Floyd, Gavin • 5-10
Since posting 17-8 record in 2008, the Chicago right-hander is 21-24, however the rest of his numbers are largely the same, suggesting run support from teammates make Floyd look better or worse than he pitches record-wise.

Hernandez, Felix • 4-14
It’s a given King Felix has to be nearly perfect each start with the kind of offense Seattle has. Though still only 25, let’s hope he can play on a winning team to let his abilities shine before his skill begins to erode.

Kennedy, Ian • 3-7
If Kennedy could take same approach to the mound each time out, the possibilities exists he could win 13-15 games a year. His statistical peripherals show solid ground ball numbers, excellent strikeout to walk ratios, but mental aspects do not show up in box scores.

Masterson, Justin • 3-8
Finally starting to show why Cleveland traded for him in the first place with Boston, with a 5-0 start this season and 2.18 ERA. Two reasons why he might be better pitcher this May. First, Masterson’s control is better, walking fewer hitters and extracting a few more punch-outs and secondly, his ground ball pitching style has been helped with better Cleveland infield defense.

[StarDust Bum]

Money-Line or Run-Line?

April 30, 2011

It's easy enough to locate the MLB standings every day. Just open up any sports page, or click into any sports website worth its salt, and the standings are easy to find.

Wagerers value won-loss records, too, but there's a different measuring device most players want to be abreast of as well. Money line and run line standings provide an extra barometer for handicappers to consult as they make their daily selections. Although shorter-term calculations are going to provide more illuminating as the season progresses, with the campaign reaching its one-month point this weekend we thought it a good idea to list the sorts of standings that are really meaningful...vs. the money-line and run-line.

All records are through games of April 29.

MONEY LINE STANDINGS

AL WEST

Los Angeles +405
Texas +195
Oakland -85
Seattle -160

AL CENTRAL

Cleveland +1185
Kansas City +230
Detroit -375
Minnesota -695
Chicago -805

AL EAST

New York +155
Toronto +150
Tampa Bay +90
Baltimore -35
Boston -915

NL WEST

Colorado +505
Los Angeles +70
Arizona -30
San Francisco -270
San Diego -745

NL CENTRAL

Pittsburgh +265
St. Louis +45
Milwaukee -20
Cincinnati -300
Chicago -475
Houston -640

NL EAST

Florida +800
Philadelphia +640
Washington +220
Atlanta -325
New York -425

RUN LINE STANDINGS

AL WEST

Oakland +690
Texas +400
Los Angeles +190
Seattle -635

AL CENTRAL

Cleveland +1725
Kansas City -240
Minnesota -365
Detroit -535
Chicago -780

AL EAST

Toronto +100
New York -120
Tampa Bay -300
Boston -495
Baltimore -545

NL WEST

Colorado +760
Los Angeles -45
San Diego -610
San Francisco -785
Arizona -825

NL CENTRAL

St. Louis +695
Cincinnati +190
Pittsburgh +180
Milwaukee -15
Houston -630
Chicago -660

NL EAST

Florida +640
Atlanta +450
Philadelphia +265
NY Mets -125
Washington -495

[StarDust Bum]

NHL Playoff Odds: Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers

The ’under’ was 3-1 in the regular season between the B’s and Flyers.
For the second year in a row the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers will square off in the Eastern Conference semifinals with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center. The puck is set to drop at 12 p.m. (PT) and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBC.

Boston needed some late series heroics in its first round matchup with Montreal to advance, including a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory in Game 7 on Wednesday night as a 175 home favorite. The Bruins open this series on the road as a 110 underdog with the ‘over/under’ set at 5 ½. They will look to jump out to a fast start in this series after falling into a 0-2 hole against the Canadians.

Last year Boston got off to an incredible start against the Flyers by winning the first three games, only to drop four straight in an historic collapse. It remains to be seen what kind of effect, if any, that may have this time around.

The collapse certainly didn't affect the B's in the regular season after they won three of the four meetings with the Flyers, including both games in Philly.

If Boston hopes to get by the Flyers this year it will need another strong effort from centers Chris Kelly and Patrice Bergerson, who combined for five goals and eight assists in the series against Montreal. The Bruins averaged 2.43 goals a game in round one, but will most likely need to elevate that production against Philadelphia.

They will also have to do a much better job on the power play after the Canadiens shut them out in all seven games.

Tim Thomas has been solid between the pipes for Boston all year long with a 2.00 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .938 in the regular season. He started all seven playoff games against the Habs and recorded a 2.26 GAA with a .926 save percentage.

The key for Philadelphia in not just this game but the entire series is morr consistency from its top scorers. The Flyers averaged 3.14 goals a game against Buffalo, but were shut out twice.

Philadelphia was also less than spectacular on the power play; converting on just 14.4 percent of the opportunities.

Danny Briere and Claude Giroux did most of the damage in the quarterfinals for Philly. Briere tallied six goals and one assist and Giroux had a goal and eight assists.

The Flyers’ leading goal scorer in the regular season, Jeff Carter, remains questionable for this game after suffering a knee injury in Game 4.

Philadelphia’s revolving door at goalie could be an issue, but it will be up to Brian Boucher on Saturday afternoon when he is expected to get the start. Boucher started four games and played in six vs. the Sabres, recording a 2.10 GGA and .934 save percentage, but he did look sketchy at times.

The Flyers were average at best defending the power play with a 77.4 percent kill rate against the Sabres.

Boston is 12-11 as an underdog this season and the total has stayed ‘under’ in four of its last seven games. Philadelphia is 38-29 as a favorite and the total has gone ‘over’ in eight of its last 10 games.

Head-to-head, the Bruins are 3-1 in the last four games with the ‘under’ also 3-1. Philadelphia opened as 130 favorite in Game 1 and remains a solid pick to gain the early series edge with a win.

[StarDust Bum]

Capitals and Canucks still top NHL playoff odds

The Predators look to get even in their second-round series with the Canucks when the two clubs hit the ice in Vancouver on Saturday.The second round of the NHL postseason is underway, and we'll be seeing a coast-to-coast, international battle in the Stanley Cup Final if updated futures odds are spot on.

Bodog.com released its newest lines for the conference semifinals and beyond, listing a Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks battle at 9/2 for the eventual league championship. Vancouver is the overall frontrunner to lift the Cup at 11/4 with the Caps next at 4/1.

The Canucks got the puck rolling on the second round with a one-zip win at home Thursday in Game 1 of the series with Nashville. Roberto Luongo thwarted all 20 shots the Predators sent his way, hardly breaking a sweat through the first 40 minutes while the Canucks defense only allowed Nashville skaters to get off 11 shots in the first two periods.

Pekka Rinne was nearly as perfect in net for the Preds, stopping all but one of Vancouver's 30 tries. Chris Higgins, acquired from the Panthers in a late February trade, provided the evening's only lamp-lighter a little more than 12 minutes into the second stanza.

San Jose, who hosts Detroit in Game 1 of that series Friday, trails the Canucks and Capitals with 5/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings are right behind the Sharks at 11/2.

Boston and Philadelphia, combatants in one of the two Eastern Conference series, are both 8/1. Tampa Bay (12/1) and Nashville (14/1) round out the eight teams left in the mix.

A Washington, San Jose final is second on the board, 6/1, followed by a matchup between the Bruins and Canucks at 9/1. If you're into long shots, try the 42/1 odds for a Stanley Cup Final between the Lightning and Predators.

Two of the four remaining sets are even-up according to the oddsmakers. The battle between the Flyers and Bruins is lined as a pick at Bodog (-110 each side), with that series beginning Saturday afternoon at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. San Jose and Detroit are going off with the same numbers.

The Capitals and Lightning start their series in DC on Friday with Washington 190 chalk to Tampa Bay's plus 165.

Vancouver was a 255 favorite before Thursday's series opening triumph with Nashville plus 215, by far the largest NHL odds gap in the second round.

Bodog is also offering a long list of second-round props from exact series lengths to individual player scoring. Vancouver's Sedin Brothers, Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis have the highest scoring totals for the conference semifinals. All four are listed with an 'over/under' of 6½ points.

Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg is next with six for the break mark.

[StarDust Bum]

Playoff Results - Second Round

April 30, 2011


Home teams are 1-1
Favorites are 1-1
Favorites that won are 0-2 on the puck line
The 'under' is 2-1
First Round Results

Visitor Home Final Score ATS OVER/UNDER

Thursday Apr. 28, 2011
Predators Canucks 1-0 FAVORITE (-200) UNDER 5

Friday Apr. 29, 2011
Lightning Capitals 4-2 UNDERDOG (+160) OVER 5.5
Red Wings Sharks 2-1 FAVORITE (-130) UNDER 5.5

Saturday Apr. 30, 2011
Bruins Flyers
Predators Canucks

Sunday May 1, 2011
Red Wings Sharks
Lightning Capitals

Monday May 2, 2011
Bruins Flyers

Tuesday May 3, 2011
Capitals Lightning
Canucks Predators

Wednesday May 4, 2011
Capitals Lightning
Flyers Bruins
Sharks Red Wings

Thursday May 5, 2011
Canucks Predators
Friday May 6, 2011

Sharks Red Wings
Flyers Bruins

Saturday May 7, 2011
Lightning Capitals
Predators Canucks

Sunday May 8, 2011
Bruins Flyers
Red Wings Sharks

Monday May 9, 2011
Capitals Lightning
Canucks Predators

Tuesday May 10, 2011
Flyers Bruins
Sharks Red Wings

Wednesday May 11, 2011
Lightning Capitals
Predators Canucks

Thursday May 12, 2011
Bruins Flyers
Red Wings Sharks




Winners in BOLD

[StarDust Bum]

Flyers - Bruins Outlook

April 29, 2011

No. 2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins

Series Price: Philadelphia -115, Boston -115

Series Format: Philadelphia, 2-2-1-1-1



HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISONS
TEAM SU PUCK LINE HOME AWAY OVER/UNDER
50-28-11 42-47 24-15-6 26-13-5 33-45-11
51-25-13 40-49 24-13-8 27-12-5 42-47-0




2010-11 Head to Head Meetings
Date Results Total
3/27/11 Boston 2 (+100) @ Philadelphia 1 UNDER 5.5
1/13/11 Philadelphia 5 @ Boston 7 (-120) OVER 5.5
12/11/10 Philadelphia 2 (+115) @ Boston 1 UNDER 5
12/1/10 Boston 3 (+115) @ Philadelphia 0 UNDER 5.5



Skinny: Most teams replay playoff failure over and over in their heads during the offseason. But the Bruins had to deal with the fact that they let a 3-0 series lead turn into a seven-game defeat at the hands of Philadelphia.

Boston will get a chance at revenge for that loss after outlasting the Canadiens in a seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Bruins weren’t terribly convincing on offense with 17 goals in the first round, which puts them just ahead of the Caps for fewest goals by a team still alive in the playoffs.

The Bruins did look better on defense with 17 goals allowed to Montreal in the first round. Yet that success was more tuned into the fact that they had Tim Thomas between the pipes. Thomas showed why he is a Vezina Trophy finalist with the way he dragged this team into the second round. In Boston’s four wins against the Habs, Thomas had a .936 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.17.

Thomas would have an easier go of it in goal if the Bruins could figure out how to score on the advantage. No playoff team was worse that Boston when it comes to the power play. The B’s failed to score once on special teams in 21 chances.

Philadelphia also got taken to the limit by the Sabres in the first round, winning in seven games. The Flyers were able to get through Buffalo with an offense that was averaging 3.13 goals per game to rank eighth amongst playoff squads. Danny Briere was strong against his former club, scoring six goals. Claude Giroux was instrumental in getting the puck in the back of the net with eight assists against the Sabres.

The Flyers weren’t all that great on defense against Buffalo in their last series. It did get a bit better at the end of the series with the return of Chris Pronger in the final two games. Pronger’s return definitely helped their power play as they scored three goals on nine chances with the advantage. In Games 1 through 5, Philly went 2-for-26 on the power play.

If there is one issue that Philly will have for this series is who will be in goal. Brian Boucher will be at the top of the depth chart, but that’s written on a dry erase board more than etched in stone.

Gambling Notes: Even though the Flyers are a more talented team, the Bruins were able to win three of the four head-to-head meetings this season. That also includes Boston’s two wins at Wells Fargo Center. The ‘under’ was a lock here by going 3-1 as well. Extend the total record out to the final three games of last year’s postseason series, and you’ll see the ‘under’ go 5-2.

Even though Philly beat the Sabres in the first round, they are still just 2-5 straight up and 1-6 on the puck line as a home favorite against teams out of the Northeast Division since March. Boston is 12-8 SU and PL against the Atlantic Division this season. However, the B’s are 3-5 SU and PL in the last eight games against that grouping of clubs.

Outlook: They have this series priced evenly, which makes sense because of the seeding and season meetings. Yet the Bruins really only have one advantage in the series and that’s with Thomas between the pipes. While I like Thomas, he is prone to making some silly mistakes when trying to make a wild save. The offensive talent lies with Philly and Boston has no power play to keep itself in this series. I’m taking the Flyers in five games.

[StarDust Bum]

Month Ending in April: Two bad days on the 17th and 24th really pulled me down......but the last three days has been positive.

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
04/29/11 18-*11-*1 62.07% +*4025 Detail
04/28/11 14-*8-*0 63.64% +*3125 Detail
04/27/11 15-*13-*0 53.57% +*280 Detail
04/26/11 12-*16-*0 42.86% -*3600 Detail
04/25/11 6-*12-*0 33.33% -*3350 Detail
04/24/11 6-*24-*0 20.00% -*10140 Detail
04/23/11 15-*15-*0 50.00% -*720 Detail
04/22/11 12-*11-*1 52.17% +*135 Detail
04/21/11 10-*10-*0 50.00% -*425 Detail
04/20/11 12-*18-*1 40.00% -*3280 Detail
04/19/11 17-*8-*1 68.00% +*5400 Detail
04/18/11 12-*7-*1 63.16% +*2595 Detail
04/17/11 10-*17-*0 37.04% -*4965 Detail
04/16/11 15-*10-*1 60.00% +*1765 Detail
04/15/11 14-*14-*0 50.00% +*190 Detail
04/14/11 10-*11-*0 47.62% -*1010 Detail
04/13/11 6-*11-*1 35.29% -*2945 Detail
04/12/11 11-*12-*1 47.83% -*455 Detail
04/11/11 9-*9-*0 50.00% -*65 Detail
04/10/11 17-*13-*0 56.67% +*1425 Detail
04/09/11 16-*14-*0 53.33% +*740 Detail
04/08/11 16-*9-*1 64.00% +*2845 Detail
04/07/11 8-*12-*0 40.00% -*2535 Detail
04/06/11 11-*14-*0 44.00% -*1330 Detail
04/05/11 15-*11-*1 57.69% +*1535 Detail
04/04/11 6-*6-*0 50.00% -*45 Detail
04/03/11 11-*15-*0 42.31% -*2105 Detail
04/02/11 14-*13-*1 51.85% +*565 Detail
04/01/11 10-*10-*1 50.00% -*35 Detail
Totals 348-*354-*12 49.57% -*12380


Saturday, April 30

Game Score Status Pick Amount

LA Angels - 1:10 PM ET LA Angels +146 500
Tampa Bay - Over 8 500

St. Louis - 1:10 PM ET St. Louis +132 500
Atlanta - Over 8.5 500

NY Mets - 1:10 PM ET Philadelphia -214 500
Philadelphia - Under 7.5 500

Toronto - 4:05 PM ET Toronto +141 500 ( UNDERDOG POD )
NY Yankees - Under 9.5 500

San Francisco - 4:05 PM ET San Francisco -128 500
Washington - Under 7.5 500

Texas - 4:05 PM ET Texas +119 500
Oakland - Over 7 500

Detroit - 6:05 PM ET Cleveland -108 500
Cleveland - Under 9 500

Milwaukee - 7:05 PM ET Milwaukee -126 500
Houston - Over 8 500

Seattle - 7:10 PM ET Seattle +179 500
Boston - Over 9 500

Baltimore - 7:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox -127 500
Chi. White Sox - Over 9 500

Florida - 7:10 PM ET Florida -124 500
Cincinnati - Under 7.5 500

Minnesota - 7:10 PM ET Kansas City +100 500
Kansas City - Under 9 500

Chi. Cubs - 8:10 PM ET Arizona -126 500
Arizona - Under 9 500

Pittsburgh - 8:10 PM ET Pittsburgh +160 500
Colorado - Under 9 500

San Diego - 10:10 PM ET San Diego +128 500
LA Dodgers - Under 6.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
04/29/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% +*215 Detail
04/28/11 0-*2-*0 0.00% -*1050 Detail
04/27/11 3-*1-*0 75.00% +*1025 Detail
04/26/11 1-*5-*0 16.67% -*2145 Detail
04/25/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
04/24/11 3-*3-*0 50.00% -*150 Detail
04/23/11 2-*6-*0 25.00% -*2485 Detail
04/22/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*180 Detail
04/21/11 1-*5-*0 16.67% -*1790 Detail
04/20/11 4-*5-*1 44.44% -*725 Detail
04/19/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*150 Detail
04/18/11 4-*3-*1 57.14% +*345 Detail
04/17/11 3-*1-*2 75.00% +*1035 Detail
04/16/11 4-*4-*0 50.00% -*170 Detail
04/15/11 7-*1-*0 87.50% +*3085 Detail
04/14/11 5-*0-*1 100.00% +*3035 Detail
04/13/11 5-*4-*1 55.56% +*325 Detail
Totals 50-*48-*6 51.02% +170

Saturday, April 30

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Boston - 3:00 PM ET Boston +126 500
Philadelphia - Over 5.5 500

Nashville - 9:00 PM ET Nashville +183 500
Vancouver - Under 5 500