Service Plays Friday 5/7/10

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> New Addition to Service Play Forum..Specifically for posting additional topics.

The Rx.com Mod Team has created this Service Play sub-forum in order to supply an area for Rx Service Play Posters to expand upon their posting topics without creating a logjam in the main forum where the three principle threads are maintained..

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Thank you, wilheim




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[ugk]

NBA NEWS AND NOTES
GAME OF THE DAY
Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers
By ASA

Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE -1.5, 191)

Rivalry Renewed

After stealing home-court advantage with a big win in Game 2, the Celtics return home on Friday night for Game 3. This will be the 7th meeting between these two this season (including playoffs) with both teams having won three games apiece.

The Celtics are 27-17 (15-28-1 ATS) at home this season while the Cavs are 27-16 (23-19-1 ATS) on the road. Boston is 1-1 at home against the Cavs this season, losing by 20 in February and winning by four in early April. The Celtics have been a home dog just three times this year and are 03 SU and ATS.

Cleveland is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings and 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Boston.

Star Power

While Boston’s “Big Three” of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett get most of the recognition; it has been Rajon Rondo stealing the show in the first two games of this series. Playing against the Cavs seems to bring out the best in Rondo.

Rondo averaged 14.8 points and 10.3 assists in four regular season games against the Cavs. In the first two games of this series, he's averaging 20 points, 15.5 assists and shooting 60 percent. The Cavs have tried five different defenders on him to no avail.

In addition to his 40 combined points in Games one and two, Rondo has 31 assists. Ten of those have been assisted three-pointers. Rondo has had a direct hand in 112 of the 197 points the Celtics have scored in this series.

Rondo isn’t alone in having a beneficial contribution to the Big Three. Rasheed Wallace came off the bench to finish with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting in Game 2. Supporting cast members Rondo, Wallace, Kendrick Perkins, and Glen Davis finished Game 2 with 46 points on 19 of 26 shooting, along with 17 rebounds and 21 assists.

“That’s pretty much the game plan for how we’re going to have to beat this team,’’ Kevin Garnett said. “We’re going to have to do it together and collectively.’’

Team president Danny Ainge added: “That’s how our team is right now. Not any one person has to carry the load, and we don’t rely on one person to have a great performance. Every night it can be a different person, and that’s the strength of our team.’’

It’s no secret that as the starters go, the Celtics go, but there’s a limit on how much of the load they can be expected to carry. If they can get a similar contribution from their supporting cast on Friday, it will be hard to defeat the Celtics at home.

Cavs Supporting Cast

Completely contrary to Boston, the Cavs didn’t have much of a supporting cast to LeBron James in Game 2.

Mo Williams, after contributing 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting in Game 1, made just 1-of-9 shots and totaled four points in Game 2. Williams wasn’t the only one that struggled in game two. While James scored 24 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the 104-86 loss, his teammates combined to shoot 38 percent from the floor. It was the Cavaliers first home loss with LeBron James in the lineup since Feb. 18.

Shaquille O’Neal has managed just 20 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-22 shooting in this series. And most of those makes were within three-feet of the basket. When Shaq isn’t an offensive threat in the paint, it allows Boston to shift their defense and focus on stopping James.

With most of the team struggling in game two, Coach Mike Brown isn’t pointing any fingers at individuals, rather implying that the whole team needs to produce a better effort.

“Tonight it was real simple,’’ Brown said. “For 48 minutes, we did not play with a sense of urgency. We tried the last few minutes of the game. They kicked our behind from the beginning. They got every 50/50 ball, they converted every offensive rebound into points, and we did not fight back until late.

Defense is the name of the game in the playoffs. Cleveland has allowed 48.2% shooting and 105.3 PPG in three losses to the Celtics this year. In their three wins, they allowed just 41.7% shooting and 91.3 PPG.

From The Infirmary

LeBron James had another MRI on his bothersome right elbow, according to team officials. It was the second MRI James has had on the elbow after being diagnosed with a strain and a bone bruise in the elbow after their first round series. James insists that it’s not a factor, but it’s no secret that we’re seeing a less aggressive LeBron in this series.

For the second time in the past month, Anderson Varejao is on the injury report with back spasms and is questionable for Game 3. Varejao is averaging just 5.7 rebounds and shooting 32 percent in the past four games. Varejao is an important player for the Cavs against Boston. In the two wins over the Celtics in the regular season, Varejao averaged 15.5 points and 10 rebounds

Head-to-Head Statistical Analysis (Six total games in 2009-10)

Points per Game
Boston: 98.3 PPG
Cleveland: 101.1 PPG

Field Goal Percentage
Boston: 44%
Cleveland: 46%

Three Point Field Goal Percentage
Boston: 41% (42 of 102)
Cleveland: 34% (38 of 110)

Turnovers Per Game
Boston: 14 TO Per Game
Cleveland: 11.6 TO Per Game

Trends

-- Cleveland is just 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a S.U. loss, but they are 18-8-1 ATS in their last 27 playoff games as a favorite.

-- Boston is 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 playoff games as an underdog, but are just 12-26-1 ATS in their last 39 home games.

 

[ugk]

PICK 'N' ROLL

Friday's Best NBA Bet

Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (1, 191)

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics both needed the four-day layoff between Game 2 and Game 3 to rest up and heal a few aching bodies.
While the Cavs hope that LeBron James (bruised elbow) and Anderson Varejao (back spasms) will be healthy for Friday’s contest, the Celtics are dealing with injury issues of their own.

Forward Kevin Garnett suffered a right mid-foot strain in Monday’s 104-86 win and center Kendrick Perkins hyper-extended his right knee in that day’s shoot-around. They were both unable to participate in Wednesday’s practice although Garnett’s injury appears to be the more serious of the two.

“Honestly, today, if we had a game, I don’t think he could have played,” head coach Doc Rivers told the Boston Globe of Garnett following Wednesday’s practice. “We just have to wait and I doubt he practices [Thursday] and we’ll see. Perk will be all right.”

Garnett and Perkins have been instrumental so far in defending Cleveland’s big men and limiting points in the paint. Shaquille O’Neal is only 8-for-22 in this series.

“The biggest thing with Shaq is, you don’t let him get deep post-ups,” Perkins told the Boston Globe. “You try to fight him as much as you can and make him score over the top and no dunks, no layups. That’s the game plan.”

The Celtics will probably have to rely more heavily on their bench in Game 3 which is something they have been confronted with all season. Rasheed Wallace was huge in Game 2 with 17 points off the bench. But his inconsistent play all season should make the Boston backers a little nervous.

Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers

 

[ugk]

NHL NEWS AND NOTES
WHAT BETTORS NEED TO KNOW
Blackhawks at Canucks

Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks (-140, 6)
Chicago leads series 2-1.

Dustin The Wind

By now, Roberto Luongo is tired of looking at Dustin Byfuglien’s ass. The Canucks goaltender has been constantly hounded by the Chicago forward, who notched a hat trick in the Blackhawks' 5-2 win in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal Wednesday night.

Byfuglien set up shop in front of Vancouver’s net, scoring three goals after failing to register a point in the past seven postseason games. The physical forward looked out of sorts against the speedy Canucks in the first two games but imposed his will, much like in last year’s playoff victory over Vancouver.

"(Jonathan) Toews and (Patrick Kane), they do their job on the walls and in the corners and all you gotta do is stand in front (of the net)," Byfuglien told the CBC after the win.

Vancouver can expect to see more of this crease-crashing style of play. Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville has told his troops that the game plan is to make life difficult for Luongo and the Canucks' blueliners.
"That's the way they play … there's nothing we can do about it," Luongo told reporters.

Isn’t That Special

Vancouver’s special teams have been anything but special this postseason.
The Canucks power play is just 2-for-14 over the past three games, going 0-for-4 in Game 3. On the other side, they have struggled to kill off man advantages, posting a 67.6 penalty-kill efficiency. Vancouver allowed Chicago to find the net twice on the power play Wednesday night.
“We’re not turning the other cheek here. We’re playing whistle to whistle,” head coach Alain Vigneault told the Toronto Sun.

“I think that’s what they’re doing, too. They’re playing hard and both teams know taking the penalty at the wrong time can hurt you.”
The Blackhawks haven’t been that sharp on special teams either, boasting seven power-play goals in 37 chances (18.9 percent). However, in the past two games they have scored three times on special teams – twice with the man advantage in Game 3 and once while shorthanded in Game 2.

Henrik Hobbled, Daniel Duking It Out?

If you’re not feeling the aches and pains of the NHL playoffs by now, then you’re not playing hard enough. Almost every player on the ice is dealing with some sort of ailment, however, there is growing speculation that Canucks star forward Henrik Sedin is dealing with a semi-serious injury.
Sedin, who led the NHL in points with 112 this season, has held pointless with just one shot on goal in Game 3 and has only a goal and an assist in the series.

Henrik and his brother Daniel seemed more willing to mix it up with Chicago’s defensive stoppers than create scoring chances for their team. Their frustrations boiled over Wednesday, with both going after opposing players and Daniel getting sent to the box for roughing.

"It's one of those things where you've had enough and you have to show you're not going to take it anymore," he told the Vancouver Sun.
"Yeah, because this is not going to work, I'll tell you that," Daniel, who has only one assist this series, said. "We've got to get back to playing the way we know how to play. That's what will give you confidence."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

ICE PICKS

Friday's Best NHL Bets

Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers (-120, 5)
Bruins’ goalie Tuukka Rask has played more like a 10-year veteran than a rookie in his first playoff experience.

Rask’s 34-save effort in Wednesday’s Game 3 win has given Boston a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The B’s netminder has a 2.16 GAA and .928 save percentage in the series.

"I think (Rask's) been really good this series,” Flyers forward Danny Briere told NHL.com. “But (Wednesday) he was by far the best player on the ice."

But Rask hasn’t done it entirely by himself – Boston’s skaters have blocked 53 shots in the series, including 21 alone in Game 3.

The air-tight defense by Boston has caused Philly to go 0-for-8 on the power play in its last two games.

To make matters even worse for Philadelphia, Boston forward Miroslav Satan has been red hot, riding a six-game point streak and scoring in four straight.

Philadelphia has only been swept once since 1984-85, but is going to need the power play to start clicking again to avoid bowing out in four.

With forwards Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne still injured and Rask continuing to be a stalwart between the pipes, it seems unlikely.

Pick: Boston Bruins Complete the Sweep


Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks (-140, 6)

After a frustrating 5-2 loss in Game 3, Vancouver should look at the bright side: things can’t get much worse.

Daniel Sedin seemed more interested in scuffles with Dave Bolland than scoring goals and Vancouver took a slew of undisciplined penalties, including Alex Burrows and Shane O’Brien receiving game misconducts at the end of a disappointing loss to Chicago at GM Place.

Sedin’s lack of focus has caused Daniel to go pointless in his last two games. He and brother Henrik have combined for one assist and a minus-2 in the Canucks’ last two losses.

Vancouver is 2-for-15 on the power play this series is also an anomaly. The Canucks were effective almost 21 per cent on the time with the man advantage (24 per cent at home), so expect the Sedins and co. to score if given more chances on the PP.

Meanwhile Chicago’s offense is just getting into the groove. They’ve score three goals or more in five of their last six games, netting 23 total over that stretch.

Young stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are both riding six-game point streaks to lead the potent Chicago attack.

Vancouver isn’t prone to extended scoring slumps and with the way Chicago’s offense is clicking, expect the red light to get plenty of action in Game 4.

Pick: Over

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

HOT LINES

Friday's Best MLB Bets

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners (-150, 7)

The Angels have been bedeviled so far this month, starting May with an 0-5 record for the first time in franchise history going into Thursday night's showdown with the Red Sox and former ace John Lackey.

A quick glance at the numbers will tell you why they've fallen from first to third in the AL West in just five days in May. They've scored just one run in three of those five outings and two in another while hitting just one home run after slugging 23 in April.

"The way we're (hitting) everyone looks like Cy Young," Angels outfielder Torri Hunter told SI.com.

He forgot to exclude his own team's staff, which has seen its ERA almost double this month to 8.48. The Angels trot out Jared Weaver (3-1), who allowed seven hits and four earned runs in just 4 2/3 innings in last Sunday's loss to the Tigers.

The Angels face another tough challenge in Felix Hernandez (2-2), who is 9-1 in his last 10 starts at home, and a long flight from Boston to Seattle to start their third straight road series.

Pick: Seattle Mariners


Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies (-140, 10)

The Phillies are starting to look like the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s in the NL East, recapturing the top spot in the standings after winning three straight from the Cardinals.

Now the last-place Braves come to town this weekend for a pitching rematch from their last meeting two weeks ago. Jamie Moyer out-dueled Derek Lowe in the Phillies' 8-3 win on April 22, with Moyer scattering four hits over six scoreless innings while Lowe was chased in the fifth for allowing four earned runs.

Not much has changed since then, although the Braves have won four of their last five against the equally weak Astros and Nationals. But they lost leading producer Jason Heyward to a groin injury in the process and he is unlikely to play Friday.

Atlanta was batting just .240 going into Thursday night's game and that stat includes Heyward's numbers. Take the rookie out of the lineup and things look bleak for the Braves.

Heyward leads the team in on-base percentage (.408) and slugging (.619) and is second in batting average (.286). He has a team-high 24 RBIs (the next-closest has 15) and eight home runs (the rest of the team combines for 10).

Look for the Phillies' 47-year-old right-hander and a rejuvenated offense to have another field day against the Braves.

Pick: Philadelphia Phillies

 

[ugk]

B&S PICKS
EARLY PICK
1 DIME Boston Celtics +1

 

[PokherPlayher]

MVPCapper Western Conf. Game of the Year

9* San Antonio Spurs -6.5

 

[PokherPlayher]

Big Al

Game of the Year

San Antonio Spurs.

paid n confirmed. gl2us

 

[Heelville]

Big Al's other 2 NBA plays:
10* Spurs und 206
10* Cavs

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Don Wallace Sports
NBA Playoffs

10* Cleveland -1 over Boston
4* San Antonio -6 over Phoenix

0-1 yesterday

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mighty Quinn

Mighty missed with the Sharks Thursday night.

Friday it's the Cavaliers and Bruins. The deficit is 605 sirignanos.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hondo

The National Day of Prayer was held yesterday, and apparently the number of petitions was so great the gambling gods were unable to get to Hondo's. As a result, the Angels flopped in Fenway and the IOUs grew to 200 dickeys.

Tonight, he'll keep hammering away at the Sawx -- 10 units on Hughes and the Yanks over Beckett, that card.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Arthur Ralph Sports
441 - 321 run 58 %

Bonus Play FRI Celtics

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

DCI NBA

Season
Straight Up: 855-366 (.700)
ATS: 652-605 (.519)
ATS Vary Units: 1546-1459 (.514)
Over/Under: 623-643 (.492)
Over/Under Vary Units: 816-843 (.492)

Eastern Conference Playoffs, Semifinals
Game 3, best-of-7 series
BOSTON 98, Cleveland 96
Western Conference Playoffs, Semifinals
Game 3, best-of-7 series
SAN ANTONIO 105, Phoenix 104

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

DCI NHL

Season: 438-298 (.595)

Eastern Conference Playoffs, Semifinals
Game 4, best-of-7 series
PHILADELPHIA 3, Boston 2
Western Conference Playoffs, Semifinals
Game 4, best-of-7 series
Chicago vs. VANCOUVER: TOO CLOSE TO CALL

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPORTS ADVISORS

FRIDAY, MAY 7

NBA PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston (5-2 SU and ATS) at Cleveland (5-2, 3-4 ATS)

The fourth-seeded Celtics, fresh off a Game 2 road upset, look to protect their home court when they face the top-seeded Cavaliers at TD Garden in Game 3 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinals. Boston led by double digits most of the night Monday, holding off a late Cleveland surge in a 104-86 blowout as a six-point road underdog. Six Celtics scored in double figures, led by Ray Allen (22 points) and Kevin Garnett (18 points, 10 rebounds), while Rajon Rondo had 13 points and an eye-popping 19 assists. Doc Rivers’ troops also had a sizable advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Cavaliers, 43-32.
Cleveland got 24 points from LeBron James, but only two others reached double figures as the Cavs shot just 40 percent from the field (28 of 70), including a meager 4-for-21 effort from three-point range (19 percent). Boston, meanwhile, shot a stout 51.3 percent (40 of 78), hitting 9 of 19 from long distance (47.4 percent). Cleveland tumbled despite a huge discrepancy at the free-throw line, as it toed the stripe 38 times and made 26, while Boston was 15 of 18. Cleveland is 27-16 SU (23-19-1 ATS) on the road this year (1-1 SU and ATS in the playoffs), averaging 101.5 ppg on 47.4 percent shooting while allowing 97.0 ppg (44.6 percent). Boston is 27-17 SU at home, winning and cashing in three first-round contests against the Heat, but the Celtics are just 15-28-1 ATS in Beantown, where they average 100.0 ppg (48.8 percent shooting) and give up 95.8 (45.6 percent). Despite the Game 2 setback, Cleveland has owned this rivalry lately, going 19-8-2 ATS in the last 29 meetings (3-3 this season), including 7-3 ATS in the last 10 contests at the Garden. The home team and the chalk are 6-3 ATS in the last nine matchups, and Cleveland is on a 7-2 ATS run in playoff games against Boston (6-1 ATS last seven), having covered in six of seven during a second-round meeting two seasons ago. Also, the SU winner has cashed in nine straight series clashes, including all six this season. The Celtics are on pointspread upswings of 5-2 overall, 8-2-1 as a home underdog and 10-4-1 as a postseason pup, though they also shoulder ATS slides of 12-26-1 at home, 5-14 in second-round play,1-6 after three or more days off, 2-8 following a SU win and 2-7 coming off a spread-cover. The Cavaliers are on ATS purges of 5-12 overall, 1-7 against winning teams, 4-10 as a favorite, 0-6 on Friday and 3-9 after a SU loss. However, they carry positive pointspread streaks of 18-7-1 in second-round playoff games and 18-8-1 as a playoff chalk, and they are on an 8-2 ATS run as a playoff favorite of less than five points. The under is 18-6 in Cleveland’s last 24 conference semifinal contests, but the Cavs are otherwise on a bundle of “over” surges, including 11-2 against Atlantic Division foes, 8-3 as a playoff favorite, 5-1 on the highway, 4-0 as a road chalk and 27-5-3 laying less than five on the road. Likewise, Boston is on “over” sprees of 11-5 overall, 6-2 at the Garden, 4-0 after either a SU or an ATS win, 7-2 as an underdog, 5-1 as a home ‘dog and 7-2 against the Central Division.
Finally, in this rivalry, the total barely stayed low in Game 2, ending a 5-0 “over” surge between these two this year. Still, the over has been the play in five of the last six meetings in Boston, including a 117-113 Celtics win as a 1½-point pup on April 4.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER


WESTERN CONFERENCE

San Antonio (4-4 SU, 3-4-1 ATS) at Phoenix (6-2 SU and ATS)

The surging Suns, coming off victories in the first two games of this series, now hit the road for Game 3 against the seventh-seeded Spurs at the AT&T Center. Phoenix got nearly identical results in Games 1 and 2 at home, taking the opener 111-102 as a four-point chalk Monday and the second game 110-102 giving 2½ points on Wednesday. In Game 2, six players scored in double figures, with Amare Stoudemire notching a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Steve Nash and Jason Richardson each scoring 19. Channing Frye may have been the key, though, going 5 of 6 from three-point range to help the third-seeded to Suns pull away. San Antonio had a 30-21 lead after the first quarter Wednesday and lost despite outshooting Phoenix 50.6 percent to 42.4 percent. However, the Spurs got outrebounded 49-37 and committed 31 fouls that sent the Suns to the charity stripe 37 times, translating to 29 points. The Spurs were 15 of 22 from the line. Tim Duncan had 29 points and 10 boards despite being plagued by foul trouble in the second half, and Tony Parker added 20 points, but Manu Ginobili (five fouls) was held to 11 points, though he had 11 assists.
Phoenix is 24-20 SU (25-19 ATS) on the highway this season (2-1 SU and ATS in the postseason), averaging 107.2 ppg on 48.5 percent shooting and allowing 106.4 ppg (45.6 percent). San Antonio is 32-12 SU (26-16-2 ATS) at the AT&T Center this year (3-0 SU, 2-0-1 ATS in the playoffs), putting up 104.7 ppg (49.0 percent shooting) and yielding 96.5 ppg (45.9 percent shooting). Phoenix has cashed in all five meetings this season in this rivalry (4-1 SU), but only one of those contests was in San Antonio, where the Suns lost 113-110 on Feb. 28 as a four-point pup. Phoenix is 5-2-1 ATS on its last eight trips to the Alamo, the favorite and the home team are both 5-1 ATS in the last six clashes, and the SU winner is 15-1-1 ATS in the last 17 Spurs-Suns matchups. These two teams met in the first round two seasons ago, with the Spurs advancing 4-1 (2-2-1 ATS), and in the second round three years ago, with San Antonio winning in six games (3-2-1 ATS). The Suns are on a boatload of spread-covering sprees, including 31-11-1 overall, 14-6 on the road, 9-3 as a road pup, 18-5 against the Southwest Division, 17-6-1 after a spread-cover and 35-16-1 after a day off. The Spurs are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five starts, but are otherwise on pointspread upswings of 21-11-1 overall, 3-0-1 at home, 8-3 after either a SU or an ATS setback, 9-4-1 after a day off, 12-3-1 as a favorite and 21-6-3 as a playoff chalk. In this rivalry, the total has gone high in six of the last seven meetings overall, including all five this season, with Wednesday’s game clearing the 205-point price. In addition, Phoenix is on “over” stretches of 11-4 against the Southwest Division (5-1 last six) and 12-4 in second-round playoff games. On the flip side, the Suns also sport “under” streaks of 6-0-1 on the highway, 5-0-1 as a pup and 9-2 on Friday, and San Antonio is on “under” rolls of 6-2-1 overall, 5-1 after a day off, 6-1 laying five to 10½ points and 7-3 as a playoff favorite.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE


NATIONAL LEAGUE

San Francisco (17-10) at N.Y. Mets (15-13)

The surging Giants continue a six-game East Coast road trip with a stop at Citi Field for weekend series, with left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (2-2, 2.48) slated to start for opposite the Mets’ Mike Pelfrey (4-1, 2.40). San Francisco completed a three-game sweep of the Marlins in Florida with Thursday’s 6-3 victory, as Matt Cain pitched 5 2/3 hitless innings and cruised to his second win of the season. The Giants have now won nine of 12 since a four-game losing streak (all on the road). They’re also on positive runs of 6-1 against the N.L. East, 5-1 against right-handed starters, 4-1 on Friday and 18-5 in series openers.
New York capped a six-game road trip with Wednesday’s 5-4 loss in Cincinnati as it dropped four of its last five the trip following a season-best eight-game winning streak. Seven of those eight wins came in the Mets’ most recent homestand, which they finished with a 9-1 record. Additionally, New York has won four straight against the N.L. West, five of six on Friday and five of seven after a day off, but is just 9-23 in its last 32 versus lefty starters. The Mets took five of eight meetings with San Francisco last year, splitting a four-game series at Citi Field. Going back to 2008, New York is on a 10-3 roll in this rivalry, and it has won six of the last eight clashes in Queens. Sanchez gave up three runs on three hits and five walks over 4 2/3 innings in Sunday’s 4-1 home loss to Colorado. He’s now walked five batters in each of his last two starts (both at home), and he’s issued more free passes (18) than hits (17) this season. On the bright side, the 27-year-old has held eight straight opponents to three runs or less. San Francisco has won seven of Sanchez’s last nine starts overall and six in a row when he pitches on Friday, but it is just 6-18 in his last 24 road efforts. In his only previous road start this season, Sanchez allowed just one run on one hit while striking out 10 in San Diego, but was saddled with a 1-0 loss. He’s 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA in six games (four starts) against the Mets, with San Francisco losing the last three starts, including two in New York (5-0 in 2008; 3-2 in 2009). Pelfrey is coming off by far his worst performance of the season, as he lasted just four innings in Saturday’s 10-0 loss in Philadelphia, giving up six runs on eight hits. The right-hander entered that contest with a scoreless streak of 24 innings and extended that to 27 before allowing six runs in the fourth inning. In fact, Pelfrey had surrendered just two runs and 17 hits in his first five appearances (four starts) starts spanning 26 innings. The Mets are on a 6-2 roll at home behind Pelfrey, who is 3-0 with a scant 1.00 ERA in three starts at Citi Field (two runs allowed in 18 innings). Also, Pelfrey has dominated the Giants in three career starts (two last year), giving up a total of four runs on 14 hits and three walks in 20 1/3 innings (1.77 ERA). New York won two of the three contests, with both wins coming at home. The Giants have stayed under the total in 13 of 17 overall, five of seven on the road, eight of 10 against right-handed starters and four of five in series openers. Also, the under is 4-0 in Sanchez’s last four starts overall and 6-1-1 in his last eight road outings. Meanwhile, New York is on “over” runs of 3-1-1 overall, 5-2 against the N.L. West, 5-2 after a day off and 4-1 when Pelfrey pitches on Friday, but it also carries “under” streaks of 8-3-1 at home, 10-2-1 at home against lefty starters, 6-0 in series openers, 5-2 in Pelfrey’s last seven starts overall and 6-2 in his last eight starts against the N.L. West. Finally, the over is 9-5 in the last 14 Mets-Giants meetings going back to the start of 2008.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE


AMERICAN LEAGUE

N.Y. Yankees (19-8) at Boston (15-14)

The Yankees make their second trip of the season to Fenway Park for a three-game weekend series against the hated Red Sox, with the red-hot Phil Hughes (3-0, 1.44 ERA) scheduled to start opposite Boston ace Josh Beckett (1-0, 6.31). New York brings a four-game winning streak to Beantown, having completed a three-game home sweep of Baltimore with Wednesday’s 7-5 victory. New York has followed up a 1-4 slump by winning seven of eight, with all seven wins being by multiple runs. In fact, all 19 of the Yankees’ victories this year – and 25 of their 27 contests overall – have been decided by at least two runs. The defending champs are on additional runs of 38-15 overall, 42-14 against divisional foes, 60-22 versus right-handed starters and 23-10 on Friday. Boston completed a four-game sweep of the Angels with Thursday’s 11-6 victory, rallying from a 4-0 first-inning deficit. In addition to winning their last four on the heels of a three-game slide, the Red Sox are 11-5 in their last 16 games, going 8-2 at Fenway during this stretch, and they’ve also taken four of their last five series openers. On the downside, Terry Francona’s troops are in ruts of 6-16 against the A.L. East, 1-4 on Friday and 4-17 versus opponents with a winning percentage higher than .600. These teams opened the 2010 season against each other in Boston, with the Yankees taking two of the three contests. Since losing the first eight meetings with the Red Sox last year, New York is on an 11-2 roll against their archrivals, winning four of the last six at Fenway. Still, the home team is 15-6 in the last 21 head-to-head battles. Hughes delivered another gem on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, scattering four hits and a walk while striking out six in seven innings of a 12-3 victory. Over his last three outings, Hughes is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA, allowing just two runs and seven hits while whiffing 18 in 20 innings, and that includes both of his road starts this year (two runs and three hits allowed in 13 innings). For his career, Hughes has actually performed better on the road (9-6, 3.76 ERA in 37 games, 17 starts) than at home (15-7, 4.04 ERA in 39 games, 15 starts).
New York is 6-2 in Hughes’ last eight starts dating to early 2009, but they’ve lost five of his last seven against N.L. East rivals. Also, he’s 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA in eight appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox, including 0-1 with a 10.29 ERA in three games (one start) at Fenway Park. In the two starts against Boston, Hughes has given up 11 runs (nine earned) in six innings, losing 8-5 on the road (2008) and 6-4 at home (2009). As a team, the Red Sox bat .302 against Hughes.
Beckett bounced back from a two-start funk in which he gave up 15 runs in 10 innings with a solid outing at Baltimore on Sunday, holding the Orioles to two runs on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in seven innings. However, he didn’t factor in the decision as the Red Sox fell 3-2 in 10 innings. Boston has split Beckett’s last four starts, winning the two games in which he gave up 15 runs and losing two contests in which the veteran right-hander allowed just two earned runs in 14 innings. The Red Sox are still 23-11 in Beckett’s last 34 starts overall, 15-4 in his last 19 at home, 14-6 in his last 20 against the A.L. East and 8-1 in his last nine when he starts a series. The Texas native doesn’t have a decision in three home starts this year, posting a bloated 5.79 ERA. That includes an ugly Opening Night performance against the Yankees on April 4 (five runs, eight hits, three walks in 4 2/3 innings), though his offense bailed him out and prevailed 9-7. In fact, Boston is 8-3 in Beckett’s last 11 starts against the Yankees, including 5-2 in the last seven at home. In 18 career regular-season starts versus the Bronx Bombers, Beckett is 9-5 despite a hefty 5.51 ERA. New York is on “over” runs of 14-5-2 on the road, 6-2-1 when starting a series, 3-1-1 against righty starters and 7-0-1 after a day off. However, the under is 3-1-1 in Hughes’ last five starts and 4-0 in his last four Friday contests. The Sox are on “under” runs of 3-1-1 against the A.L. East, 4-1-1 versus right-handed starters and 6-1 when Beckett pitches on Friday. On the other hand, the over is 3-1-1 in Boston’s last five series openers, and behind Beckett, the “over” is on stretches of 12-5 overall, 8-2 at home, 7-2 versus A.L. East rivals and 6-1 in series openers. Finally, the over cashed twice in the three-game Yanks-Sox series back in early April, and six of the last seven clashes at Fenway have climbed over the total. Also, the over is 7-3 in Beckett’s last 10 home starts against New York.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Matt Fargo

10* Cavs

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NY Players Club 5/7

3* San Antonio
2* Seattle Mariners

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jr. O'Donnell (RedZone Sports free internet play):

New York Met's boys the "JR SHARP SIDE" winner tonight!

LET'S BREAK THIS BABY DOWN:

We're spinning a gem tonight on the New York Met's as 17-10 San Fran Giants are red hot and now a Dog at Citi field tonight.Taking a hard look at the New York Met's tonight who are a dynamite play on team and they are shooting for 8 W's in row @ home. The Met's hurlers have a remarkable 1.86 ERA and our $$$$ is on Pelfry who is 4-0 and owns a 2.40 ERA and has some tremendous stats on 5 days rest. With Giants Edgar Renteria banged up and the Met's Pelfry owing a smooth 1.77 ERA vs. those Giants Jr. 0 will back the Met's tonight
KABOOOOOOOOOOOM GOES THE MET'S