INSIDE THE LINES
FRIDAY, MAY 22
Updated by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Weekdays
Updated by 9:00 A.M. Eastern Weekends
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(3) Orlando (9-5 SU, 7-7 ATS) at (1) Cleveland (8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS)
The Cavaliers, coming off their first loss of the 2009 postseason, look to get back on track when they face the Magic in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland had a 15-point halftime lead Wednesday night, then gave it all away over the course of the final 48 minutes, losing 107-106 as an 8½-point home chalk after posting double-digit wins in its first eight games of the playoffs. LeBron James went off for 49 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three blocks, and everybody in the Cavs’ starting lineup scored in double figures, but they got outshot 55.1 percent to 48.9 percent.
The Cavaliers were allowing just 78.1 ppg in the playoffs prior to Wednesday, giving up no more than 85 points in sweeps of Detroit and Atlanta.
Orlando big man Dwight Howard had another double-double of 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Rashard Lewis scored 22 points, including what proved to be the game-winning 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining. Hedo Turkoglu added 15 points and 14 assists as the Magic moved to 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three games – including two elimination contests in the conference semis against the Celtics -- while the Cavs have failed to cash in their last two games after starting the postseason 7-0 ATS.
The Magic are on an 11-1 ATS tear in this rivalry, including cashing in each of their last six games in Cleveland. This year, Orlando is 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS against the Cavaliers. The underdog is now 9-3 ATS in the last 11 clashes, and the road team is on a 7-3 ATS roll.
Prior to Game 1, Cleveland had lost just one meaningful home game all season and the Cavs remain 43-3 SU (32-14 ATS) at Quicken Loans Arena this year, including 4-1 SU and ATS in the playoffs. Orlando is 32-17 SU (30-18-1 ATS) on the road (5-3 SU, 4-4 ATS in the postseason).
The Cavaliers are still 30-5 SU in their last 35 starts and remain on virtually nothing but positive ATS runs, including 11-2 overall, 37-15 at home, 6-1 in the Eastern Conference finals, 18-6 as a playoff chalk, 40-19 after a non-cover and 54-25-1 following a SU loss. All that noted, in addition to it spread-covering struggles against Orlando, Cleveland is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games against Southeast Division opponents.
The Magic are on ATS upticks of 7-3 overall, 6-1 against the Central Division, 36-16-2 as an underdog, 16-6 as a road pup and 5-2 getting points in the playoffs. However, Stan Van Gundy’s squad is still just 8-12 ATS in its last 20 overall and 4-7 ATS in its last 11 on the highway.
Wednesday’s contest sailed over the posted price of 184, and the over is 4-0 in Cleveland’s last four conference finals starts. But the Cavs remain on “under” rolls of 6-2 overall (all from the favorite’s role) and 16-6-1 as a home chalk. Likewise, Orlando carries “under” streaks of 22-9 overall (4-1 in its last five), 11-5 on the road and 7-3 with the Magic catching points on the highway.
Finally, despite the Game 1 result, the total has stayed low in four of the last six Magic-Cavs meetings overall and four of the last six clashes at Quicken Loans Arena.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
INTERLEAGUE
Philadelphia (22-17) at N.Y. Yankees (24-17)
The streaking Yankees go for their 10th consecutive victory when they hand the ball to A.J. Burnett (2-1, 5.02 ERA) to open a weekend interleague series against the Phillies and Brett Myers (3-2, 4.50).
New York completed a three-game home sweep of the Orioles with Thursday’s 7-4 victory. The Yankees have won seven straight at home during their winning streak, which comes on the heels of a 2-7 overall slump and a five-game home slide. Joe Girardi’s club is on additional runs of 8-0 as a chalk, 5-0 against right-handed starters, 37-18 at home, 7-1 on Friday and 54-20 when hosting N.L. opponents.
Philadelphia improved to 6-1 on its current 10-game road trip with Thursday’s 12-5 rout of the Reds. The Phillies, who are a major league-best 14-5 on the highway, have scored 50 runs during their current trip. The defending champs are on additional streaks of 23-9 on the road dating to 2008, 4-1 against right-handed starters, 4-1 against the A.L. East, 7-3 as a road ‘dog and 38-16 against teams with a winning record, but they have dropped 18 of their last 25 interleague roadies.
These teams last met in 2006 with the Yankees taking two of three in Philadelphia, and New York has won four of the last five clashes, all in Philly.
Myers has delivered a quality start in five of his last six trips to the mound, giving up a total of three runs on eight hits with 11 strikeouts in his last two outings totaling 13 innings, including Saturday’s 8-5 win at Washington. Philadelphia has alternated wins and losses in Myers’ eight starts this season, but with the right-hander pitching, the Phillies are on positive runs of 4-0 on the road, 7-1 as an underdog and 5-2 on Friday. On the downside, they’ve lost Myers’ last four interleague starts and seven of his last eight against the A.L. East.
Myers is 3-0 with a 4.97 ERA on the highway, and in his only career outing against the Yankees in 2006, he gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings en route to a 4-2 home win.
Burnett is coming off a solid effort against the Twins, yielding two runs in 6 2/3 innings, but he gave up six hits and six walks and got a no-decision as New York scored a 3-2 win in 10 innings. The veteran right-hander has given up three earned runs or fewer in five of his eight starts as a Yankee.
New York is 3-1 in Burnett’s first four home starts in the Bronx, with the hurler failing to get a decision in any of those contests while posting a 4.15 ERA. Burnett is also 5-7 with a 4.57 ERA in 16 career appearances (15 starts) versus the Phillies.
The over is 5-2 in Myers’ last seven starts overall, 4-0 in his last four as a visitor and 5-1 in his last six on Friday, and six of Burnett’s last seven starts against Philly have topped the total.
Philadelphia carries “over” streaks of 6-2-1 overall, 14-4-1 on the highway, 9-3 as an underdog, 8-0-1 on Friday, 6-2 in interleague road games and 12-5-1 against winning teams. The over is also 10-3-2 in New York’s last 15 at the new stadium (4-0 last four), but otherwise the Yanks sport “under” trends of 4-0 in interleague play and 12-5 on Friday. Finally, the under is 4-1 in the last five Phillies-Yankees clashes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES and OVER
N.Y. Mets (21-19) at Boston (25-16)
The Mets return to the East Coast carrying a four-game losing skid as they send ace Johan Santana (5-2, 1.36) to the hill at Fenway Park for a series opener against the Red Sox, who welcome back Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 12.79) after a six-week stint on the disabled list.
New York took Thursday off after getting swept in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium, losing the three contests by a combined tally of 10-6. The Mets’ current 10-game road trip began with three straight wins in San Francisco and they scored a total of 24 runs, but they’ve since lost four in a row and managed just the six runs in Los Angeles. The team’s four-game slide follows an 11-2 overall run and a five-game road winning streak.
Boston capped a three-game home sweep of first-place Toronto with last night’s 5-1 victory. The Red Sox have won four of their last five, allowing a total of 10 runs during this five-game stretch. Additionally, Terry Francona’s pitching staff has given up three runs or fewer in five straight games overall and six of seven at home.
The Red Sox swept a three-game home series from the Mets in the most recent matchup back in 2006, with a scoring differential of 23-8. Going back to 1999, the home team is 9-2 in the last 11 head-to-head battles, with New York losing four straight at Fenway Park.
The Mets are 55-27 in their last 82 games after an off day and they’re on additional upticks of 5-0 on Friday, 8-2 as a favorite, 5-1 in interleague roadies and 7-2 in series openers. Boston is riding positive runs of 22-10 overall, 79-33 at Fenway Park, 4-0 as a home underdog, 9-2 versus lefty starters, 52-16 in interleague play, 43-12 when hosting N.L. squads and 26-5 against the N.L. East.
With Santana on the hill, New York is on surges of 16-5 overall, 14-4 as a favorite and 7-1 on the road. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 35-17 in Matsuzaka’s last 52 starts overall, 24-9 in his last 33 at home, 5-1 in his last six interleague contests and 7-0 in his last seven on Friday.
Santana is coming off by far his worst start of the season as he gave up six runs (four earned) in seven innings at San Francisco on Saturday, but the former Cy Young winner finally got some run support and came away with a 9-6 victory, which was the last time the Mets won. Prior to Saturday, Santana had given up a total of four earned runs in his first seven starts of 2009 (0.79 ERA) and a total of six earned runs in his last 10 outings dating to last September (0.86 ERA).
Santana is 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA in three road efforts this season and going back to his days with the Twins, he’s 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 12 appearances (nine starts) against the Red Sox.
Matsuzaka has been on the disabled list with arm fatigue since leaving his April 14 start at Oakland after getting rocked for five runs in one inning of his team’s 6-5 loss. The veteran right-hander, has given up nine runs on 14 hits (three home runs) in 6 1/3 innings of big-league work this season, including a 4-3 home loss to Tampa in his season debut.
For his career, Matsuzaka is 17-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 31 starts at Fenway Park, and tonight marks his first-ever appearance against the Mets.
The under is 7-2 in Santana’s last nine starts overall, 4-0 in his last four on Friday, 6-2 in Dice-K’s last eight home starts and 5-2 in his last seven Interleague contests. Additionally, the “under” is on streaks of 4-1-1 for Boston overall, 40-19-7 for New York on Friday and 8-2-2 in this periodic rivalry. However, the Mets are on “over” stretches of 9-4-1 overall and 8-1 as a chalk.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
<!-- / message --> <!-- / message -->
