Announcement

**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:20 AM

Daily Sports Roundup: May 15

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Heat and Bulls begin their third-round series, while the Sprint Cup Series takes on Dover, and the Royals look for a victory in Detroit.

Tipping off on the hardwood . . .

The NBA playoff schedule for Sunday has the Bulls playing host to the Heat in the opener of the Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago closed out their second-round series with the Hawks in six games on Thursday night, while Miami needed just five games to get past the Celtics. Oddsmakers have Chicago listed as a small 1.5-point home favorite for Game 1 on Sunday night, with the total for that contest listed at 181.5 points. The Heat, however, are pegged as -238 favorites to win the series, with the Bulls set at +167.

As well, it'll be Memphis at Oklahoma City in Game 7 of that Western Conference semifinal set on Sunday afternoon. The Grizzlies staved off elimination with a 95-83 home win in Game 6 of the series on Friday night. Zach Randolph led the way with 30 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis in that victory, while O.J. Mayo picked up 16 points. Russell Westbrook had a team-high 27 points in Friday's losing cause for Oklahoma City, and Kevin Durant was held to just 11 points in the defeat.

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

On the American League schedule for Sunday it's Seattle at Cleveland, Baltimore at Tampa Bay, Toronto at Minnesota, the Angels at Texas, the White Sox at Oakland, Boston at the Yankees, and Kansas City at Detroit. The Royals will send Kyle Davies (1-5, 7.08 ERA) to the mound on Sunday, while the Tigers counter with Max Scherzer (6-0, 3.20 ERA). Righthander Davies was knocked around by the Tigers back on April 8, giving up five runs on six hits over 3 2-3 innings of work that day in a loss. Righthander Scherzer picked up the win on April 8, allowing just one run on seven hits in six innings.

Over in the National League on Sunday it's then St. Louis at Cincinnati, Florida at Washington, Philadelphia at Atlanta, the Mets at Houston, Pittsburgh at Milwaukee, San Diego at Colorado, Arizona at the Dodgers, and San Francisco at the Cubs. The Giants' Tim Lincecum (3-3, 3.11 ERA) will take on the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (4-1, 4.35 ERA) in that last matchup. Righthander Lincecum is coming off a strong outing against the Diamondbacks, giving up four hits over eight shutout innings. Righthander Zambrano is coming off a no-decision against the Cardinals, allowing four runs over his seven innings.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

The NHL's Western Conference final hits the ice on Sunday night with Vancouver playing host to San Jose. The top-seeded Canucks knocked off the Predators in six games in the second round of the playoffs, while the Sharks needed the full seven games to finally dispatch the Red Wings in the conference semifinal. Oddsmakers are going with the Canucks at home for Game 1 on Sunday, listing them as -160 favorites with an OVER/UNDER at 5.5 goals. Vancouver is also pegged as the -200 favorite to win the series and move on to the Stanley Cup final; the Sharks are the +140 underdogs.

Roaring around the track . . .

Finally, the drivers of the Sprint Cup Series will take the track at Dover International Speedway on Sunday for the FedEx 400. Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in the AAA 400 at Dover last September, and he also swept the two events on the track during the 2009 season. Those results have made Johnson the oddsmakers' 3/1 favorite to visit Victory Lane in the FedEx 400 on Sunday. Kyle Busch, the defending champion at this event, is next at 7/2 odds, with Denny Hamlin at 6/1, Jeff Gordon at 7/1, and Tony Stewart at 8/1. Carl Edwards, the current driver standings leader, is pegged at 12/1 odds.

**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:26 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, May 15

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MIAMI (66 - 26) at CHICAGO (70 - 23) - 5/15/2011, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 55-37 ATS (+14.3 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 45-28 ATS (+14.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 5-5 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 6-5 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
8 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MEMPHIS (53 - 41) at OKLAHOMA CITY (62 - 31) - 5/15/2011, 3:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 99-79 ATS (+12.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 49-29 ATS (+17.1 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 57-42 ATS (+10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 60-33 ATS (+23.7 Units) in all games this season.
MEMPHIS is 30-14 ATS (+14.6 Units) as an underdog this season.
MEMPHIS is 29-18 ATS (+9.2 Units) in road games this season.
MEMPHIS is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) against Northwest division opponents this season.
MEMPHIS is 36-18 ATS (+16.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MEMPHIS is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
MEMPHIS is 29-19 ATS (+8.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season.
MEMPHIS is 39-18 ATS (+19.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
MEMPHIS is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 10-7 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 9-8 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
11 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:28 AM

NBA

Sunday, May 15

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Trend Report
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3:30 PM
MEMPHIS vs. OKLAHOMA CITY
Memphis is 18-6-1 ATS in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Memphis's last 8 games on the road
Oklahoma City is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games
Oklahoma City is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home

8:00 PM
MIAMI vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Miami's last 13 games when playing Chicago
Miami is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Chicago's last 13 games when playing Miami
Chicago is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:32 AM

NBA

Sunday, May 15

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What bettors need to know: Sunday's NBA playoff action
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Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder (-6.5, 192)

Series tied 3-3

THE STORY: There is finally a Game 7 in this year’s NBA playoffs and the Memphis Grizzlies are playing in it. Who would have predicted that back in October? The eighth-seeded Grizzlies have a chance to be a surprise entrant in the Western Conference finals if they can stun the host Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Memphis continued its improbable playoff run by rallying for a 95-83 win over the fourth-seeded Thunder in Game 6 on Friday to push the semifinal series to a seventh contest. Oklahoma City routed the Grizzlies when it last hosted them on Wednesday and will be counting on a similar outcome Sunday. If not, there is a real upstart team playing the Dallas Mavericks for the right to go to the NBA Finals.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City led by 13 points until Shane Battier hit a last-second 3-pointer at the end of the first half for Memphis and it was all downhill from there. The Thunder were outscored 51-29 in the second half, totaling just 14 points in the third quarter and 15 over the final 12 minutes. Equally stunning was that Kevin Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, had just 11 points in his lowest-scoring game of the entire season. Russell Westbrook had 27 points and recorded 11 of Oklahoma City’s 31 field goals. James Harden had 15 points off the bench. The Thunder need better efforts from frontcourt players Kendrick Perkins (six points, seven rebounds), Serge Ibaka (eight points, five rebounds) and Nick Collison (six points, four rebounds) on Sunday.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Memphis won the opener on Oklahoma City’s home court so it’s not like the Grizzlies are facing an unheard of task in winning in front of the Thunder’s raucous home crowd. But the Game 5 showing was so bad – Memphis’ 72 points matched a season low – that it will qualify as a supreme accomplishment if the Grizzlies end up cutting down the nets afterwards. Randolph had 30 points and 13 rebounds in Game 6 for his third 30-point outing of the series and will again be the most pivotal player on the court. O.J. Mayo had 16 points on Friday and Mike Conley had 11 points and 12 assists. Marc Gasol had just eight points for his first single-digit scoring game of a series in which he’s averaging 16.3 points and 10.8 rebounds.

WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Westbrook is averaging 25.7 points in the series with five games of 20 or more points. Randolph is averaging 23.8 points and 12.7 rebounds with four double-doubles.

KEY STATISTIC: Durant was just 3-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-9 from 3-point range, in a dreadful Game 6 performance.

TRENDS:

* Over is 8-1 in the last nine meetings in Oklahoma City.
* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
* Grizzlies are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings in Oklahoma City.

LAST WORD: “This is where we want to be playing, Game 7, that one game to get to the Western Conference finals. It’s important. I feel good, but the job ain’t done yet. We know it’s going to be tough going to Oklahoma trying to win that game.” – Randolph on Memphis’ chore in trying for a Game 7 victory on the Thunder’s home court.

Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls (-2, 181)

THE STORY: The MVP against the Big Three. That's what NBA fans have to look forward to as Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls entertain the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final Sunday. Chicago is coming off a six-game triumph over the Atlanta Hawks in second-round action, while the Heat were impressive in rolling past the Boston Celtics in five games.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE BULLS: Chicago possesses plenty of talent, particularly up front with the tandem of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. But make no mistake - this is Rose's team, even more so in the postseason. The first-time league MVP credentials throughout the second round, averaging just under 30 points and 10 assists for the series. The Heat have given veteran point guard Mike Bibby the assignment of guarding Rose in Game 1, but neutralizing the lightning-quick 22-year-old will be a tall task. The key for Chicago will be how well it can use Noah and Boozer to take advantage of a key mismatch in the frontcourt.

ABOUT THE HEAT: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are looking every bit as dangerous as experts predicted they would when it was first announced the trio would be uniting in South Beach. Their five-game evisceration of the aging Celtics made Miami the easy choice to come out of the East - at least according to Las Vegas oddsmakers, who have made the Heat 2-to-1 favorites. James and Wade were at their most lethal in the series-clinching game, combining for 67 points in the 97-87 victory. Wade (26.1) and James (26) rank fifth and sixth in league scoring in the playoffs, while Bosh has been strong as well with a 16.3 scoring average.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Boozer was strangley quiet for most of the Atlanta series but came alive in the clincher, scoring 23 points and adding 10 rebounds to complement another strong effort from Rose. James reached the 30-point plateau three times against Boston, while Wade did so twice while averaging more than 30 points for the series.

KEY STATISTIC: 91.3 - The Bulls' average points against in the regular season, good for second in the NBA. The Heat have already dispatched the top defensive team in the league in the Celtics, and with the way they are rolling on offense, they could make things even more difficult for Chicago.

SEASON SERIES: Chicago won all three regular-season meetings, but each game was decided by four points or fewer. The teams last faced off March 6, with Rose leading the way with 27 points in an 87-86 triumph.

TRENDS:

* Under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Chicago.
* Under is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings.
* Home team is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Heat are 1-3-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Chicago.
* Underdog is 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings.

LAST WORD: "I think all of us have to do our jobs. We've been a team all season. It hasn't been a one-man show, but our one man's pretty good. It's been a team effort. We rely on everybody." - Boozer

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:35 AM

NBA

Sunday, May 15

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Pick 'n Roll: Sunday's best NBA bets
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Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder (-6.5, 192)

Finally, a Game 7.

The first decisive game of this year’s NBA Playoffs was assured on Friday night when the Grizzlies took care of the Thunder to send the series back to Oklahoma City. Now, the fourth and eight seeds will square off on Sunday afternoon for the right to go up against Dallas in the Western Conference Finals.
While Memphis looked good in Game 6, the underdog has its opponent to thank for prolonging this semifinal showdown. The Thunder turned the ball over 16 times and connected on only four of 25 attempts from downtown. Most glaringly, Kevin Durant went 3 for 14 from the field (1 for 9 from three) and scored a mere 11 points.

Expect a huge turnaround for Durant on Sunday. He has not shot worse than 41 percent in any other game this series and is still averaging 24.3 points per game in the six tilts with the Grizz.

“Kevin is an incredible player,” Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brooks told the Oklahoman. “You're not going to see a lot of games like tonight. He's one of the best I've seen in bouncing back.”

“He's saving himself for Sunday,” Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins added. “He just missed. He had some nice looks and he missed them. I can't say we can take credit for that.”

Even more than Durant, home-court advantage could be the simple difference. Although the Thunder lost Game 1, they rolled 111-102 in Game 2 and then humiliated the Grizzlies 99-72 in Game 5.

Pick: Thunder

Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls (-2, 181)

While it has been complete carnage in the Western Conference, chalk has been the name of the game in the East. The result is a blockbuster final series between the top two seeds, Chicago and Miami.
These two powerhouses faced each other three times during the regular season. Although all three contests were competitive, the Bulls showed the toughness that carried them to an NBA-best 62-20 record and outlasted the Heat on all three occasions.

A big reason for Chicago’s trio of victories was rebounding. The league’s best team on the boards (boasting a +5.74 differential per game) won the battles on the glass 42-30, 53-39, and 36-30.

With an in-form Carlos Boozer at their disposal, the Bulls could have their way with the Heat down low once again. Boozer struggled through the first five games against Atlanta mostly due to a case of turf toe, but he heated up in Game 6. The former Duke star went 10 of 16 from the floor for 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds in a 93-73 series-clinching rout.

“Boozer was just trying to force things,” Derrick Rose told the Chicago Tribune. “When you're not playing as well as you're supposed to, you over-think. He just had to get his groove. His confidence is high, back to where it needed to be. Everything he was doing was quicker; more efficient. That's the Booz we know.”

Pick: Bulls

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:37 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Sunday, May 15

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SAN JOSE (56-30-0-9, 121 pts.) at VANCOUVER (62-22-0-11, 135 pts.) - 5/15/2011, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANCOUVER is 62-33 ATS (+18.8 Units) in all games this season.
VANCOUVER is 14-2 ATS (+10.4 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 38-18 ATS (+38.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN JOSE is 6-1 ATS (+7.1 Units) in road games when playing with 2 days rest this season.
SAN JOSE is 11-3 ATS (+7.8 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent this season.
SAN JOSE is 24-13 ATS (+8.5 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 20-14 ATS (+34.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN JOSE is 25-13 ATS (+8.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
VANCOUVER is 74-93 ATS (-43.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 7-5 (+1.7 Units) against the spread versus VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 7-5-0 straight up against VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:40 AM

NHL

Sunday, May 15

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Sharks at Canucks: What bettors need to know
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San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks (-169, 5.5)

THE STORY: The Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks have both survived near-collapses so far in the postseason. That perseverence will lead one of the two clubs to a berth in the Stanley Cup as the West Coast rivals face off Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference final. Vancouver defeated Nashville in six games in the second round and has had a considerably longer rest than the Sharks, who needed seven games to subdue the Detroit Red Wings.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Versus, CBC, RDS

ABOUT THE CANUCKS: After barely scraping past Chicago in the opening round - nearly squandering a 3-0 lead in the process - Vancouver had a slightly easier time dispatching the Nashville Predators in the conference semifinals. Ryan Kesler was a one-man wrecking crew in the six-game triumph, scoring five goals and adding six assists to move into second place on the playoff scoring list. His surge largely overshadowed a stunningly quiet performance from the Sedin twins, who finished first and third in league scoring during the regular season but had just seven points combined against Nashville. Goaltender Roberto Luongo returned to form after some shaky moments against Chicago.

ABOUT THE SHARKS: San Jose makes its third trip to the conference final in franchise history, but this one may have been the most taxing. After disposing of a plucky Los Angeles team in six games, San Jose jumped out to a three-game lead over Detroit before watching the Red Wings reel off three straight wins to even things up. A 3-2 victory in Thursday's seventh game was fitting for a series that saw a league-record six one-goal decisions. The Sharks now turn their focus to the Presidents' Trophy-winning Canucks, who have had three more days of rest than their California counterparts. The Sharks have never advanced to the Stanley Cup championship, making them the only team from their state without a finals appearance.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Kesler had a pair of two-goal games against Nashville after behind held without a tally in the Chicago series. Sharks F Dany Heatley has just two goals in his last 12 games in the postseason, an extension of a subpar regular season for the 30-year-old.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Vancouver's power play has converted at a 22.2 percent clip compared to just 13.7 percent by the Sharks. The gap isn't as pronounced on the penalty kill, where the Canucks are at 86 percent while San Jose sits at 82.7 percent.

SEASON SERIES: Vancouver went 3-0-1 in four regular-season meetings between the clubs. The Canucks routed San Jose 6-1 on Nov. 26, while the final three encounters were each decided by one goal - two via shootout.

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Favorite is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings.
* Sharks are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.

LAST WORD: "He's obviously decided to drive the bus, and he obviously was our dominant force on the ice. He played real strong at both ends of the rink and we needed that." - Canucks coach Alain Vigneault on Kesler's second-round performance

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:42 AM

NHL

Sunday, May 15

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Ice picks: Sunday's best NHL bet
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San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks (-169, 5.5)

Vancouver and San Jose successfully made their ways—albeit just barely—to a showdown between the top two seeds in the Western Conference finals.

The Sharks are trying to bounce back from a seven-game series against Detroit in which they almost blew a 3-0 lead (just as the Canucks did in round one against Chicago). The Canucks, on the other hand, needed just two tries to put away Nashville in the conference semis.

Vancouver is simply playing stellar hockey in all departments at the moment. Ryan Kesler is leading the way on the offensive end, and Roberto Luongo has been outstanding in goal. Kesler is tied for first with 15 playoff points (five goals and 10 assists). He has tallied at least two points in four consecutive games.

Luongo, meanwhile, has allowed more than two goals only once in his last eight outings. He is looking forward to the challenge of facing a San Jose squad that finished the regular season sixth in team scoring and third in power-playing conversions.

“I'm sure there will be a few more shots,” Luongo told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer of the Sharks. “They have some forwards that can put the puck in the net. They are a very skilled team. They have a bit more firepower and play a different system than the Predators. I've always said the more shots I face the better I feel.”

These two teams faced each other four times during the regular season, and Vancouver prevailed on three occasions. In two home games, the Canucks won 6-1 on November 26 and lost 2-1 in a shootout on Jan. 20.

Pick: Canucks

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:48 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

Sunday, May 15

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ST LOUIS (22 - 17) at CINCINNATI (21 - 17) - 1:10 PM
CHRIS CARPENTER (R) vs. TRAVIS WOOD (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 107-93 (-21.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 46-55 (-18.9 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 48-46 (-24.9 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 105-92 (-22.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 32-32 (-14.2 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
CARPENTER is 5-11 (-14.5 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CINCINNATI is 113-91 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 65-40 (+20.0 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 113-91 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 2-2 (+0.6 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.3 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)

CHRIS CARPENTER vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
CARPENTER is 12-3 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 2.07 and a WHIP of 0.830.
His team's record is 14-5 (+5.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-12. (-5.9 units)

TRAVIS WOOD vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
WOOD is 1-0 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 2.03 and a WHIP of 1.200.
His team's record is 2-0 (+3.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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FLORIDA (22 - 15) at WASHINGTON (18 - 20) - 1:35 PM
JAVIER VAZQUEZ (R) vs. JASON MARQUIS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 93-85 (+23.7 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
FLORIDA is 68-64 (+22.7 Units) against the money line in road games when playing with a day off since 1997.
FLORIDA is 46-34 (+21.9 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
FLORIDA is 89-83 (+18.8 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
FLORIDA is 43-28 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 3-4 (+0.3 Units) against FLORIDA this season
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.5 Units)

JAVIER VAZQUEZ vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
VAZQUEZ is 1-1 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 3.27 and a WHIP of 0.864.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-0. (+3.0 units)

JASON MARQUIS vs. FLORIDA since 1997
MARQUIS is 5-6 when starting against FLORIDA with an ERA of 5.75 and a WHIP of 1.602.
His team's record is 7-7 (-1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 10-4. (+5.8 units)

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PHILADELPHIA (25 - 12) at ATLANTA (21 - 19) - 1:35 PM
ROY HALLADAY (R) vs. TIM HUDSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HUDSON is 126-58 (+31.8 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997. (Team's Record)
HUDSON is 126-58 (+31.8 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
PHILADELPHIA is 35-17 (+15.1 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 112-78 (+25.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 109-75 (+25.1 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 61-39 (+27.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
HALLADAY is 18-2 (+15.4 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 4-3 (+0.2 Units) against ATLANTA this season
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.0 Units, Under=-0.6 Units)

ROY HALLADAY vs. ATLANTA since 1997
HALLADAY is 3-0 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 1.13 and a WHIP of 0.844.
His team's record is 3-1 (+1.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-3. (-3.1 units)

TIM HUDSON vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
HUDSON is 7-7 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 3.70 and a WHIP of 1.314.
His team's record is 10-9 (-0.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 9-10. (-2.3 units)

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NY METS (18 - 20) at HOUSTON (14 - 24) - 2:05 PM
CHRIS CAPUANO (L) vs. ANEURY RODRIGUEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 37-27 (+14.1 Units) against the money line as a home underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 33-24 (+16.3 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 2-2 (+0.6 Units) against NY METS this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)

CHRIS CAPUANO vs. HOUSTON since 1997
CAPUANO is 5-4 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 3.57 and a WHIP of 1.397.
His team's record is 6-4 (+3.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-5. (-1.4 units)

ANEURY RODRIGUEZ vs. NY METS since 1997
No recent starts.

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PITTSBURGH (18 - 20) at MILWAUKEE (17 - 21) - 2:10 PM
KEVIN CORREIA (R) vs. ZACK GREINKE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 13-46 (-24.9 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +150 to +175 over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 28-73 (-24.2 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 28-73 (-24.2 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 50-97 (-26.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 13-38 (-16.3 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CORREIA is 39-28 (+18.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CORREIA is 5-0 (+8.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season. (Team's Record)
CORREIA is 5-0 (+8.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
MILWAUKEE is 27-44 (-19.1 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 64-68 (-21.4 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
GREINKE is 13-22 (-13.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
GREINKE is 12-21 (-13.3 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
MILWAUKEE is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against PITTSBURGH this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.0 Units)

KEVIN CORREIA vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
CORREIA is 2-4 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 5.59 and a WHIP of 1.378.
His team's record is 3-4 (-0.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-4. (-1.7 units)

ZACK GREINKE vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
GREINKE is 1-0 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 2.84 and a WHIP of 1.106.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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SAN FRANCISCO (21 - 17) at CHICAGO CUBS (17 - 20) - 2:20 PM
TIM LINCECUM (R) vs. CARLOS ZAMBRANO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 124-92 (+24.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 60-53 (+10.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 123-90 (+25.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 89-68 (+16.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
LINCECUM is 17-6 (+11.3 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LINCECUM is 17-6 (+11.3 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 176-185 (-37.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 6-20 (-13.4 Units) against the money line as a home underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 45-58 (-27.4 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 15-24 (-14.6 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 620-619 (-117.5 Units) against the money line in day games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 45-58 (-27.4 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 28-40 (-19.9 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ZAMBRANO is 70-64 (-28.6 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997. (Team's Record)
ZAMBRANO is 70-64 (-28.6 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
ZAMBRANO is 30-38 (-24.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

TIM LINCECUM vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
LINCECUM is 3-3 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 3.50 and a WHIP of 1.122.
His team's record is 3-4 (-2.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-4. (-1.3 units)

CARLOS ZAMBRANO vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
ZAMBRANO is 5-1 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 2.66 and a WHIP of 1.345.
His team's record is 7-3 (+4.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-5. (-1.3 units)

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SAN DIEGO (15 - 23) at COLORADO (20 - 16) - 3:10 PM
MAT LATOS (R) vs. JASON HAMMEL (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HAMMEL is 11-1 (+9.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -150 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAN DIEGO is 53-46 (+15.6 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 40-30 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 51-45 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 383-430 (+33.6 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.
COLORADO is 62-64 (-18.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 41-44 (-21.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

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

MAT LATOS vs. COLORADO since 1997
LATOS is 0-1 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 5.40 and a WHIP of 1.100.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.3 units)

JASON HAMMEL vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
HAMMEL is 3-1 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 4.99 and a WHIP of 1.541.
His team's record is 5-4 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-5. (-1.7 units)

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ARIZONA (15 - 22) at LA DODGERS (19 - 20) - 4:10 PM
IAN KENNEDY (R) vs. TED LILLY (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 80-120 (-31.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 30-69 (-29.4 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 9-36 (-24.0 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 18-40 (-18.3 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 78-119 (-33.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 40-68 (-29.3 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
ARIZONA is 22-46 (-25.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

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

IAN KENNEDY vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
KENNEDY is 0-1 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 12.47 and a WHIP of 2.079.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.3 units)

TED LILLY vs. ARIZONA since 1997
LILLY is 3-5 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 5.09 and a WHIP of 1.348.
His team's record is 3-5 (-3.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-5. (-2.5 units)

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SEATTLE (16 - 23) at CLEVELAND (24 - 13) - 1:05 PM
MICHAEL PINEDA (R) vs. JOSH TOMLIN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 78-123 (-41.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 35-67 (-24.0 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 18-42 (-26.0 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 75-117 (-40.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 24-13 (+14.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 15-4 (+12.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
CLEVELAND is 24-13 (+14.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CLEVELAND is 17-9 (+9.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
CLEVELAND is 11-2 (+11.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
TOMLIN is 9-1 (+9.8 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
TOMLIN is 9-1 (+9.8 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 4-0 (+4.4 Units) against SEATTLE this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.1 Units)

MICHAEL PINEDA vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
No recent starts.

JOSH TOMLIN vs. SEATTLE since 1997
TOMLIN is 2-0 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 4.26 and a WHIP of 1.026.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.2 units)

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KANSAS CITY (20 - 18) at DETROIT (21 - 18) - 1:05 PM
KYLE DAVIES (R) vs. MAX SCHERZER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 113-67 (+27.1 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 51-25 (+19.1 Units) against the money line in home games in day games over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 113-67 (+27.1 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 227-249 (-63.1 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents since 1997.
SCHERZER is 11-20 (-12.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 2-2 (+1.0 Units) against DETROIT this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.7 Units)

KYLE DAVIES vs. DETROIT since 1997
DAVIES is 3-9 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 5.85 and a WHIP of 1.673.
His team's record is 4-9 (-2.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 8-5. (+2.2 units)

MAX SCHERZER vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
SCHERZER is 3-2 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 2.52 and a WHIP of 1.402.
His team's record is 3-3 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-3. (-0.0 units)

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BALTIMORE (17 - 20) at TAMPA BAY (23 - 15) - 1:40 PM
JAKE ARRIETA (R) vs. ANDY SONNANSTINE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 2-15 (-13.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
TAMPA BAY is 403-506 (+20.0 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997.
TAMPA BAY is 19-6 (+13.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
BALTIMORE is 3-4 (+0.4 Units) against TAMPA BAY this season
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.8 Units)

JAKE ARRIETA vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
ARRIETA is 0-1 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 6.35 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.2 units)

ANDY SONNANSTINE vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
SONNANSTINE is 3-4 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 7.31 and a WHIP of 1.782.
His team's record is 4-5 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-5. (-1.7 units)

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TORONTO (18 - 20) at MINNESOTA (12 - 24) - 2:10 PM
BRANDON MORROW (R) vs. BRIAN DUENSING (L)
Top Trends for this game.
DUENSING is 12-1 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
TORONTO is 103-98 (+12.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 16-6 (+13.5 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 12-24 (-11.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 7-19 (-12.6 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.

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

BRANDON MORROW vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
No recent starts.

BRIAN DUENSING vs. TORONTO since 1997
DUENSING is 0-0 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 6.30 and a WHIP of 1.900.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)

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LA ANGELS (21 - 18) at TEXAS (20 - 18) - 3:05 PM
ERVIN SANTANA (R) vs. C.J. WILSON (L)
Top Trends for this game.
LA ANGELS are 21-15 (+13.7 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +150 over the last 3 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 98-89 (+19.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 39-25 (+12.5 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 73-40 (+34.8 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 3 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 488-475 (+71.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 174-166 (+27.4 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 579-568 (+49.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
SANTANA is 19-10 (+11.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
LA ANGELS is 2-2 (+0.6 Units) against TEXAS this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.8 Units)

ERVIN SANTANA vs. TEXAS since 1997
SANTANA is 11-8 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 5.69 and a WHIP of 1.424.
His team's record is 12-9 (+2.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 12-7. (+4.6 units)

C.J. WILSON vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
WILSON is 3-2 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 3.98 and a WHIP of 1.303.
His team's record is 5-2 (+3.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-4. (-2.4 units)

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CHI WHITE SOX (16 - 23) at OAKLAND (19 - 19) - 4:05 PM
MARK BUEHRLE (L) vs. TREVOR CAHILL (R)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 45-24 (+21.3 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
CAHILL is 27-11 (+16.5 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CAHILL is 26-10 (+16.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHI WHITE SOX are 49-43 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 46-38 (+13.3 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 2-2 (-0.2 Units) against CHI WHITE SOX this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.0 Units)

MARK BUEHRLE vs. OAKLAND since 1997
BUEHRLE is 4-13 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 3.85 and a WHIP of 1.289.
His team's record is 5-18 (-15.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 16-6. (+9.4 units)

TREVOR CAHILL vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
CAHILL is 1-1 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 3.93 and a WHIP of 1.223.
His team's record is 2-4 (-2.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-4. (-2.3 units)

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BOSTON (18 - 20) at NY YANKEES (20 - 16) - 8:05 PM
JON LESTER (L) vs. FREDDY GARCIA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 18-20 (-12.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 96-85 (-20.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 10-15 (-12.7 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
GARCIA is 21-12 (+12.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
GARCIA is 20-11 (+11.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
NY YANKEES are 74-61 (-15.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 3-1 (+1.6 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.1 Units)

JON LESTER vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
LESTER is 6-1 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 3.28 and a WHIP of 1.257.
His team's record is 7-5 (+1.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-5. (+0.8 units)

FREDDY GARCIA vs. BOSTON since 1997
GARCIA is 9-2 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 4.44 and a WHIP of 1.301.
His team's record is 9-8 (+1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 8-9. (-1.5 units)

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:52 AM

MLB

Sunday, May 15

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Sunday Night Baseball: Red Sox at Yankees
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For the second time this season, the Red Sox and Yankees will meet under ESPN’s Sunday night spotlight, with the fierce American League rivals closing out a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Let’s see how this contest shapes up:

BREAKING DOWN THE RIVALRY
This is the second series of the 2011 season between New York and Boston, and the Sox have had the best of it so far, taking two of three last month at home, then winning 5-4 Friday night to open another three-game series.

In fact, Boston has had the best of this rivalry going back to last August, winning eight of the past 11 meetings, including five of the last six. The BoSox also have won four of the last five clashes in the Bronx.

PITCHING PARTICULARS
We’ve got a righty-vs.-lefty matchup between two similarly sized pitchers, with Boston right-hander Jon Lester and New York southpaw Freddy Garcia both measuring 6 foot 4 and 240 pounds.

The Sox lost in Lester’s first three starts this season, then won four in a row before a 7-6 setback Tuesday at Toronto. Lester (4-1, 2.96 ERA) was stout during the four-game run, getting wins each time as he yielded just four runs over 27 innings.

Lester hasn’t seen the Pinstripes this year, but he’s had success against Boston’s archrival, going 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA in a dozen career starts.

The Yanks are 3-2 this year behind Garcia (2-2, 2.61 ERA), with the 34-year-old going six innings and allowing one run or less in all three wins. That includes a 3-1 victory against Kansas City on Tuesday in which the Royals’ lone run came on a solo homer, snapping a two-game skid for Garcia.

Garcia is in his first year with New York, but he’s seen a fair amount of the Red Sox during his career and has done well, going 8-2 in 17 career appearances (16 starts) despite a modest 4.44 ERA. This season, he’s only thrown one inning of relief against Boston, allowing one run in a 4-0 loss April 10 – the last time these two squads met on Sunday night.

TEAM TRENDS
Boston (18-20) is trying to climb back to .500 after losing its first six games of the year and going 2-10 in its first 12 outings. The Sox rebounded with an 8-1 surge but are 5-5 in their last 10.

Despite the sub-.500 record, Boston is on upswings of 10-2 against winning teams, 6-0 against winning units on the road and 5-0 on Sunday. With Lester on the bump, they are on streaks of 4-1 overall, 5-1 on Sunday, 6-2 in roadies against winning teams and 43-18 inside the AL East.
New York (20-16) is mired in a 3-7 slump and is in an 0-4 rut against losing teams, but the Yanks still sport several positive streaks, including 108-50 in their home park, 66-30 in the Bronx against losing squads, 155-70 at home against lefty starters and 4-0 on Sunday.

HIGHS AND LOWS
In this rivalry, the total has gone high in five of the last seven overall and four of the last five with Lester starting for the Sox. Beyond that, though, both teams are on a bundle of under runs.

For Boston, the under is on stretches of 44-21-4 on Sunday, 8-1-2 with Lester throwing on Sunday, 4-0-1 against winning teams on the road and 7-2-1 with Lester facing a winning team on the highway. New York is on under streaks of 12-4-3 overall, 5-0 behind Garcia, 7-1 against southpaws, 5-0 at home against lefties, 9-1-2 against losing teams and 4-0-1 in division play.

A-ROD’S A-BOMBS
Boston is one of four teams against which Alex Rodriguez has at least 50 home runs. The Yankees third baseman has exactly 50 in 792 at-bats against the Red Sox, or one blast very 15.8 at-bats. Rodriguez, who spent several years of his career in the AL West with Seattle and Texas, has 67 homers against the Angels, 56 against Baltimore and 52 against Toronto.

Teammate Robinson Cano has been highly effective overall in his 106 career games against Boston, batting .330 (141-for-427) and racking up 32 doubles in that stretch, or one two-bagger every 13.3 at-bats.

FAVORING THE HOME TEAM
Umpire Mike Everitt will be behind home plate tonight, which could be a boon for the Pinstripes. The home squad is 9-4 in Everitt’s last 13 games overall behind the dish and 17-6 with Everitt calling balls and strikes on Sunday.

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:54 AM

MLB

Sunday, May 15

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Hot lines: Sunday's best MLB bets
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Seattle Mariners at Cleveland Indians (-130, 7.5)

Two starting pitchers off to hot starts will undoubtedly benefit from a stiff 17-mph north wind that will screaming in from dead center field, when the Mariners face the Indians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday’s game was postponed due to the unseasonably chilly and blustery conditions in Cleveland.

That gives Mariners’ rookie star Michael Pineda and Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin and extra day’s rest. That’s bad news for both offenses.
Pineda, April’s Rookie of the Month, is a blossoming stud. Opponents are hitting just .221 against him. He has a first-pitch strike percentage of 73.3, tops in the majors.

Tomlin has been just as impressive, with batters hitting just .185 off him. He shouldn't have much trouble containing the Mariners' puny offense, which has scored just 15 runs during the club's current six-game slide.

Pick: Under 7.5

Philadelphia Phillies (-115, 6.5) at Atlanta Braves

There’s nothing quite like getting the best pitcher in baseball—Roy “Doc” Halladay—for -115. Talk about a bargain.

Yes, Braves starter Tim Hudson has been deadly this season, but Halladay owns the Braves. He is 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA against Atlanta. He hasn’t allowed a run at Turner Field in 16 innings

And with Braves’ right fielder Jason Heyward (shoulder) expected to miss his fifth straight start, Atlanta’s offense is going to have trouble scratching across a run against the Phillies’ ace.

Pick: Phillies

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**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 01:57 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** · 05-15-2011, 08:45 AM

Sunday's six-pack

Statistical leaders in Major League Baseball
-- OB%-- Bautista TOR .517, Holliday StL .476, Votto CIN .471.

-- Runs-- Bautista, Cabrera DET, Rasmus StL, Zobrist TB, all with 31.

-- RBI-- Howard PHIL 35, AGonzalez BOS 34, Berkman StL 33.

-- Steals-- Bourn HST 14, Desmond WSH 13, Stubbs CIN 13.

-- Total Bases-- AGonzalez 94, Bautista 87, Zobrist TB 83.

-- Strikeouts-- Bautista 35, Votto 32, Cabrera 32, Abreu LAA 29.

***********************

Sunday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday........

13) San Diego Padres have been shut out nine times this year; they're not a good hitting team, but in their last four games, in innings 7-9, they have scored an amazing 24 runs. Thats 24 runs in 12 innings in key spots.

12) How awful has Dan Uggla been this season? Braves' 2B has come to bat with 116 men on base this season, and knocked in only eight of them, a very hideous percentage (7.1%). He's come to bat with a man on third ten times, and knocked him in once. Not good.

11) Interleague play starts Friday night; Cubs will be in Boston for first time since the 1918 World Series.

10) Guy named Michael Aubrey hit four homers for Syracuse Chiefs on Saturday; coming into the game, he was homerless in 59 ABs. Go figure. Aubrey has six HRs in 145 big league ABs, with Indians/Orioles.

9) Detroit Tigers have now won seven games in row and 10 of last 11, as they blanked Kansas City 3-0 in a game where they made several amazing plays in the field. Penny is 4-1, 1.51 in his last five starts.

8) Anibal Sanchez is now 7-0, 1.99 in his career against Washington; he blanked Nationals for eight innings Saturday, allowing three hits in eight innings. Only run of the game was Mike Stanton's 437-foot home run.

7) Angels won 12 of their last 17 road games; they stayed atop AL West with a 3-2 win at Texas. Rangers have lost eight of their last 12 games.

6) Belmont Bruins, a perennial contender in Atlantic Sun basketball, will move from the A-Sun to the Ohio Valley Conference in fall of '12. This is a good money-saver for Belmont, cutting down on travel costs, and OVC was actually ranked little bit lower than A-Sun last season. Looks like a win-win for Belmont, and one more team for me to follow every winter.

5) Of the four teams left in Stanley Cup playoffs, Lightning last won the Cup in 2004; Bruins last won in '72, San Jose/Vancouver have yet to win.

4) Red Sox try to get back to .500 for first time this season Sunday; they are 0-3 so far when trying to even their record.

3) We are told constantly how Boston-Bronx games are big games, rivals meeting on the field of battle, blah, blah, blah........but then Jorge Posada begs out of a nationally televised game against Boston, and all hell breaks out in the media. Posada's wife says his back is stiff. Brian Cashman says Posada isn't hurt. Joe Girardi ducks questions like a politician. Terrific.

2) Bronx Bombers lost their last four games, are 3-8 in last 11, scoring 15 runs in their last five games. All this with a DH batting .165 who makes $13.1M this season. A DH who complains because they're batting him 9th, even though he is hitting .165 while making $80,864 a game. Wow.

1) If I'm Sandy Alderson and I'm running the Mets next winter, I clear lot of payroll and the second CC Sabathia opts out of his contract, I overpay him to come to Flushing. Bigger ballpark, easier league, he gets to bat and he doesn't have to move his family. Bronx Bombers are getting old; their future ain't so bright. It would turn the Mets around- they'd sell 10,000 extra season tickets if they pulled that off.

**Udog** · 05-15-2011, 08:59 AM

NHL

Sunday, May 15

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
SAN JOSE vs. VANCOUVER
The total has gone OVER in 7 of San Jose's last 8 games on the road
San Jose is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver's last 6 games when playing San Jose
Vancouver is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing San Jose

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Announcement

Sunday's Trends and Indexes - 5/15 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

Sunday's Trends and Indexes - 5/15 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

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