Line Up Alert
Kevin Youkilis is scheduled to undergo precautionary X-rays on his left foot.
Youkilis is still sore after hitting a ball off his foot during Wednesday's game, so Drew Sutton will make the start at third base Thursday.
Curtis Granderson is not in the Yankees' starting lineup Thursday against the Brewers.
He's likely just getting the day off. Brett Gardner will make the start in center field
Alex Rodriguez is not in Thursday's lineup against the Brewers.
We assume he's just getting the day off with the early start time
Magglio Ordonez is not in Thursday's lineup against the Mets.
He's likely getting the day off because of the quick turnaround. Andy Dirks will make the start in right field
Kevin Youkilis is scheduled to undergo precautionary X-rays on his left foot.
Youkilis is still sore after hitting a ball off his foot during Wednesday's game, so Drew Sutton will make the start at third base Thursday.
Curtis Granderson is not in the Yankees' starting lineup Thursday against the Brewers.
He's likely just getting the day off. Brett Gardner will make the start in center field
Alex Rodriguez is not in Thursday's lineup against the Brewers.
We assume he's just getting the day off with the early start time
Magglio Ordonez is not in Thursday's lineup against the Mets.
He's likely getting the day off because of the quick turnaround. Andy Dirks will make the start in right field
WUNDERDOG (WNBA)
WNBA 23-14 Season-to-Date +$1660
1 OF 3
Game: Minnesota at Tulsa (8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Game Total UNDER 159.5 -110
The Tulsa Shock have not fared very well in their new home as the former Detroit Shock, is struggling at 7-42 straight-up since the move. A couple of things have taken place this season with this team. They have abandoned the up-and-down the court style from a year ago, and the result has been 90 points per game allowed a year ago to 83 ppg this year, but the offense has suffered as well down from 78 ppg a year ago to 72 ppg this year. The total effect has seen this team's games go from producing 168 total points per game, to 155. Minnesota is ranked No. 2 in fewest points allowed in the league and No. 1 in defensive FG percentage, so Tulsa is not going to get easy looks and netted just 65 in their previous game at Minnesota. That makes five of the last seven meetings between these clubs notched as a win in the UNDER column, and my call here is UNDER.
Play on the UNDER.
WNBA 23-14 Season-to-Date +$1660
1 OF 3
Game: Minnesota at Tulsa (8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Game Total UNDER 159.5 -110
The Tulsa Shock have not fared very well in their new home as the former Detroit Shock, is struggling at 7-42 straight-up since the move. A couple of things have taken place this season with this team. They have abandoned the up-and-down the court style from a year ago, and the result has been 90 points per game allowed a year ago to 83 ppg this year, but the offense has suffered as well down from 78 ppg a year ago to 72 ppg this year. The total effect has seen this team's games go from producing 168 total points per game, to 155. Minnesota is ranked No. 2 in fewest points allowed in the league and No. 1 in defensive FG percentage, so Tulsa is not going to get easy looks and netted just 65 in their previous game at Minnesota. That makes five of the last seven meetings between these clubs notched as a win in the UNDER column, and my call here is UNDER.
Play on the UNDER.
MLB
Write-Up
Thursday, June 30
Remember as interleague play starts, there are DHs used in games in the American League ballparks; pitchers bat in National League parks.
AL teams are 102-99 vs NL teams so far in interleague play.
Over is 42-43-9 with a DH, 42-58-7 without one, 84-102-15 overall.
Under was 13-2 Wednesday, by the way.......
Hot pitchers
-- Cain is 4-0, 1.96 in his last five starts.
-- Sabathia is 7-1, 3.78 in his last eight starts. Wolf is 2-0, 1.95 in his last four starts.
-- Verlander is 5-0, 0.86 in his last five starts.
-- Hamels is 3-2, 1.55 in his last six starts.
-- Peavy is 3-1, 4.40 in his last five starts.
-- Cahill is 2-0, 1.15 in his last two starts. Volstad is 1-0, 1.98 in his last couple starts.
-- Karstens is 2-0, 1.83 in his last five starts. Morrow is 1-1, 3.38 in his last four outings.
-- WRodriguez is 3-1, 1.97 in his last five starts. Harrison has a 2.79 RA in his last three starts.
Cold pitchers
-- Zambrano is 1-2, 5.60 in his last four starts.
-- Pelfrey is 1-2, 4.36 in his last five starts.
-- Lester is 2-3, 4.81 in his last five starts.
-- Cook is 0-3, 5.87 in his four starts this season.
-- Matusz is 0-3, 11.12 in his last three starts. JGarcia is 0-2, 5.01 in his last four starts.
Totals
-- Under is 5-1-2 in last eight San Francisco games.
-- Six of last eight Milwaukee road games went over the total.
-- Over is 5-0-1 in Mets' last six road games.
-- Last six Philly home games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 10-5 in last fifteen games at Coors Field.
-- Eight of last nine Florida games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 4-2-1 in last seven St Louis road games.
-- Eleven of last fourteen Toronto games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 8-4 in Rangers' last twelve road games.
Hot Teams
-- Giants won seven of their last eight games.
-- Bronx Bombers won seven of their last eight home games.
-- Pirates won five of their last seven games.
-- White Sox won three of their last four road games.
-- Mets won six of their last seven games, scoring 52 runs in last four.
-- Phillies won eleven of their last twelve home games.
-- Rangers won four of their last five road games.
Cold Teams
-- Cubs lost eight of their last twelve games.
-- Brewers lost seven of their last nine road games.
-- Cardinals lost 12 of their last 17 games. Baltimore lost 11 of 16.
-- Detroit lost its last two games, allowing 30 runs.
-- Red Sox lost six of their last seven games.
-- Astros lost eight of last nine games, allowing 36 runs in their last five.
-- Colorado lost five of its last seven games.
-- Marlins lost 25 of their last 30 games. Oakland lost five of seven.
-- Blue Jays lost seven of their last ten home games.
Umpires
-- SF-Chi-- Eight of last nine Reyburn games stayed under total.
-- Mil-NY-- Eight of last nine Johnson games went over the total.
-- NY-Det-- Over is 7-2-2 in last eleven Barrett games.
-- Bos-Phil-- Last five Wolf games all went over the total.
-- Chi-Colo-- Underdogs are 8-6 in last fourteen Danley games.
-- Fla-A's-- Three of last four Conroy games went over the total.
-- StL-Balt-- Road team won 11 of last 14 Gorman games.
-- Pitt-Tor-- Six of last nine Estabrook games went over the total.
-- Tex-Hst-- Under is 11-4-1 in last sixteen Tichenor games.
Write-Up
Thursday, June 30
Remember as interleague play starts, there are DHs used in games in the American League ballparks; pitchers bat in National League parks.
AL teams are 102-99 vs NL teams so far in interleague play.
Over is 42-43-9 with a DH, 42-58-7 without one, 84-102-15 overall.
Under was 13-2 Wednesday, by the way.......
Hot pitchers
-- Cain is 4-0, 1.96 in his last five starts.
-- Sabathia is 7-1, 3.78 in his last eight starts. Wolf is 2-0, 1.95 in his last four starts.
-- Verlander is 5-0, 0.86 in his last five starts.
-- Hamels is 3-2, 1.55 in his last six starts.
-- Peavy is 3-1, 4.40 in his last five starts.
-- Cahill is 2-0, 1.15 in his last two starts. Volstad is 1-0, 1.98 in his last couple starts.
-- Karstens is 2-0, 1.83 in his last five starts. Morrow is 1-1, 3.38 in his last four outings.
-- WRodriguez is 3-1, 1.97 in his last five starts. Harrison has a 2.79 RA in his last three starts.
Cold pitchers
-- Zambrano is 1-2, 5.60 in his last four starts.
-- Pelfrey is 1-2, 4.36 in his last five starts.
-- Lester is 2-3, 4.81 in his last five starts.
-- Cook is 0-3, 5.87 in his four starts this season.
-- Matusz is 0-3, 11.12 in his last three starts. JGarcia is 0-2, 5.01 in his last four starts.
Totals
-- Under is 5-1-2 in last eight San Francisco games.
-- Six of last eight Milwaukee road games went over the total.
-- Over is 5-0-1 in Mets' last six road games.
-- Last six Philly home games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 10-5 in last fifteen games at Coors Field.
-- Eight of last nine Florida games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 4-2-1 in last seven St Louis road games.
-- Eleven of last fourteen Toronto games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 8-4 in Rangers' last twelve road games.
Hot Teams
-- Giants won seven of their last eight games.
-- Bronx Bombers won seven of their last eight home games.
-- Pirates won five of their last seven games.
-- White Sox won three of their last four road games.
-- Mets won six of their last seven games, scoring 52 runs in last four.
-- Phillies won eleven of their last twelve home games.
-- Rangers won four of their last five road games.
Cold Teams
-- Cubs lost eight of their last twelve games.
-- Brewers lost seven of their last nine road games.
-- Cardinals lost 12 of their last 17 games. Baltimore lost 11 of 16.
-- Detroit lost its last two games, allowing 30 runs.
-- Red Sox lost six of their last seven games.
-- Astros lost eight of last nine games, allowing 36 runs in their last five.
-- Colorado lost five of its last seven games.
-- Marlins lost 25 of their last 30 games. Oakland lost five of seven.
-- Blue Jays lost seven of their last ten home games.
Umpires
-- SF-Chi-- Eight of last nine Reyburn games stayed under total.
-- Mil-NY-- Eight of last nine Johnson games went over the total.
-- NY-Det-- Over is 7-2-2 in last eleven Barrett games.
-- Bos-Phil-- Last five Wolf games all went over the total.
-- Chi-Colo-- Underdogs are 8-6 in last fourteen Danley games.
-- Fla-A's-- Three of last four Conroy games went over the total.
-- StL-Balt-- Road team won 11 of last 14 Gorman games.
-- Pitt-Tor-- Six of last nine Estabrook games went over the total.
-- Tex-Hst-- Under is 11-4-1 in last sixteen Tichenor games.
CFL Dunkel
BC at Montreal
The Alouettes look to open up the season and take advantage of a BC team that is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games in Week 1. Montreal is the pick (-6 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Alouettes favored by 12. Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-6 1/2). Here are all of this week's CFL picks.
THURSDAY, JUNE 30
Game 491-492: BC at Montreal (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: BC 110.853; Montreal 123.070
Dunkel Line: Montreal by 12; 49
Vegas Line: Montreal by 6 1/2; 54
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-6 1/2); Under
BC at Montreal
The Alouettes look to open up the season and take advantage of a BC team that is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games in Week 1. Montreal is the pick (-6 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Alouettes favored by 12. Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-6 1/2). Here are all of this week's CFL picks.
THURSDAY, JUNE 30
Game 491-492: BC at Montreal (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: BC 110.853; Montreal 123.070
Dunkel Line: Montreal by 12; 49
Vegas Line: Montreal by 6 1/2; 54
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-6 1/2); Under
Sports Wagers
Chicago –105 over COLORADO Pinnacle
Still not happy with the way the White Sox are swinging the bats but the Rockies aren’t exactly setting the world on fire either. In a park where runs are plentiful, these two have combined for 10 runs in the first two games of this series. That should change for the South Side here against Aaron Cook. Cook remains in the rotation despite the 0-3 record and 5.48 ERA only because the Rocks are paying him 10M this season. In Cook’s last three starts since coming off the DL the Rockies are 0-3 and have been outscored 20-5. Cook has a BAA of .344 and a WHIP of 1.74 and that’s after facing the Padres twice in his four starts. There is no upside here. Cook has a poor strikeout rate, a high walk rate and his xERA is in its third of a steady decline. Meanwhile, three of Jake Peavy’s last four starts were against the Rangers, Red Sox and Tigers. In his six starts and one long relief appearance (the score was 0-0 when he came in), the White Sox have won six of his seven games. Peavy has walked just seven batters while striking out 32 in 38 frames and he was especially sharp in his last appearance in which he allowed one hit in 4.1 frames in that aforementioned relief appearance when John Danks came up lame. So, what we have here is a pitcher that walks few and strikes out many against a pitcher that walks many and strikes out few. Throw in the Coors factor with those two profiles and it’s a no brainer in the South Side’s favor. Play Chicago –105 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
Pittsburgh +129 over TORONTO Pinnacle
Last season, Brett Cecil took what appeared to be a step forward in first half but followed with a big 2H fade for second straight year. He made the team out of spring training (barely) and was whacked in four starts (1-2 with a 6.86 ERA) before being sent down. At Triple-A Las Vegas, Cecil went 8-2 but don’t be fooled by the record. Pay more attention to his 5.26 ERA against minor-leaguers. In the minors, his BAA vs righties was .288 and against lefties it was .275. In 12 starts for Las Vegas covering 89 IP, Cecil surrendered 15 jacks, and 46 earned runs. Pittsburgh is 6-2 on the road and 14-8 overall against southpaws and the one they’ll face here is fragile, ripe to get beat and it’s not going to take much to get him rattled. Jeff Karstens has been sneaky good. He's been helped by a 26%/84% hit %/strand %, but his 3.83 xERA is better than any other starter you can pull off the scrap heap. As a contact pitcher he doesn't have room for error, but an 88 BPV** (for explanation of BPV see bottom of these write-ups) is a good place to speculate. Karstens has a solid 1.10 WHIP after walking just 17 batters all year and allowing just 76 hits in 85 innings. Karstens ERA is 2.66 and he offers up much more value as a pooch than Cecil does as the chalk. Play: Pittsburgh +129 (Risking 2 units).
Chicago –105 over COLORADO Pinnacle
Still not happy with the way the White Sox are swinging the bats but the Rockies aren’t exactly setting the world on fire either. In a park where runs are plentiful, these two have combined for 10 runs in the first two games of this series. That should change for the South Side here against Aaron Cook. Cook remains in the rotation despite the 0-3 record and 5.48 ERA only because the Rocks are paying him 10M this season. In Cook’s last three starts since coming off the DL the Rockies are 0-3 and have been outscored 20-5. Cook has a BAA of .344 and a WHIP of 1.74 and that’s after facing the Padres twice in his four starts. There is no upside here. Cook has a poor strikeout rate, a high walk rate and his xERA is in its third of a steady decline. Meanwhile, three of Jake Peavy’s last four starts were against the Rangers, Red Sox and Tigers. In his six starts and one long relief appearance (the score was 0-0 when he came in), the White Sox have won six of his seven games. Peavy has walked just seven batters while striking out 32 in 38 frames and he was especially sharp in his last appearance in which he allowed one hit in 4.1 frames in that aforementioned relief appearance when John Danks came up lame. So, what we have here is a pitcher that walks few and strikes out many against a pitcher that walks many and strikes out few. Throw in the Coors factor with those two profiles and it’s a no brainer in the South Side’s favor. Play Chicago –105 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
Pittsburgh +129 over TORONTO Pinnacle
Last season, Brett Cecil took what appeared to be a step forward in first half but followed with a big 2H fade for second straight year. He made the team out of spring training (barely) and was whacked in four starts (1-2 with a 6.86 ERA) before being sent down. At Triple-A Las Vegas, Cecil went 8-2 but don’t be fooled by the record. Pay more attention to his 5.26 ERA against minor-leaguers. In the minors, his BAA vs righties was .288 and against lefties it was .275. In 12 starts for Las Vegas covering 89 IP, Cecil surrendered 15 jacks, and 46 earned runs. Pittsburgh is 6-2 on the road and 14-8 overall against southpaws and the one they’ll face here is fragile, ripe to get beat and it’s not going to take much to get him rattled. Jeff Karstens has been sneaky good. He's been helped by a 26%/84% hit %/strand %, but his 3.83 xERA is better than any other starter you can pull off the scrap heap. As a contact pitcher he doesn't have room for error, but an 88 BPV** (for explanation of BPV see bottom of these write-ups) is a good place to speculate. Karstens has a solid 1.10 WHIP after walking just 17 batters all year and allowing just 76 hits in 85 innings. Karstens ERA is 2.66 and he offers up much more value as a pooch than Cecil does as the chalk. Play: Pittsburgh +129 (Risking 2 units).
Sports Wagers
B.C. Lions +6½/+215 over MONTREAL Sportsinteraction
The Alouettes are once again favored to win the Grey Cup but this year’s edition is not nearly as strong as the past two seasons. They virtually have no running game or at least no proven running game and Anthony Calvillo is not getting any younger. The Als are short on proven receivers too and in terms of offense, one really has to wonder where it’s going to come from. Defensively, Montreal was vulnerable a year ago to big plays and lots of yards and they haven’t improved much at all. This line is predicated on past pedigree but again, this year’s edition of the Alouettes are right in the middle of the pack in terms of talent and even that might be generous. Meanwhile, the Lions started the year 1-7 before going on a 7-3 run to close out the season. Two of those three losses were in OT so they could have gone 9-1 to end the year. They lost in double OT to Saskatchewan in the playoffs and this year they’re going to be better. Travis Lulay is the real deal entering his third season. All he did last year once he took over was throw for over 2600 yards on over 64% completions. The Lions defense is established and pretty much unchanged. They return 10 of 12 starters from a year ago and they kept getting better as the season wore on. The Lions might be the most complete team in the CFL with a solid defense, a solid QB and great kicking game. Not only can they cover this number, they could and likely will win this game outright against a way overvalued host. Play: B.C. Lions +6½ (Risking 1.2 units to win 1) Play B.C Lions +215 (Risking 1 unit).
B.C. Lions +6½/+215 over MONTREAL Sportsinteraction
The Alouettes are once again favored to win the Grey Cup but this year’s edition is not nearly as strong as the past two seasons. They virtually have no running game or at least no proven running game and Anthony Calvillo is not getting any younger. The Als are short on proven receivers too and in terms of offense, one really has to wonder where it’s going to come from. Defensively, Montreal was vulnerable a year ago to big plays and lots of yards and they haven’t improved much at all. This line is predicated on past pedigree but again, this year’s edition of the Alouettes are right in the middle of the pack in terms of talent and even that might be generous. Meanwhile, the Lions started the year 1-7 before going on a 7-3 run to close out the season. Two of those three losses were in OT so they could have gone 9-1 to end the year. They lost in double OT to Saskatchewan in the playoffs and this year they’re going to be better. Travis Lulay is the real deal entering his third season. All he did last year once he took over was throw for over 2600 yards on over 64% completions. The Lions defense is established and pretty much unchanged. They return 10 of 12 starters from a year ago and they kept getting better as the season wore on. The Lions might be the most complete team in the CFL with a solid defense, a solid QB and great kicking game. Not only can they cover this number, they could and likely will win this game outright against a way overvalued host. Play: B.C. Lions +6½ (Risking 1.2 units to win 1) Play B.C Lions +215 (Risking 1 unit).
