INSIDE THE LINES
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
Updated by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Weekdays
Updated by 9:00 A.M. Eastern Weekends
NBA
Miami (42-38, 38-40-2 ATS) at Atlanta (46-34, 43-36-1 ATS)
The Hawks put a three-game winning streak on the line when they host the Heat in what likely amounts to a preview of a first-round Eastern Conference playoff matchup.
Atlanta has locked up the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, while Miami sits in the No. 5 slot, two games ahead of Philadelphia and Chicago. If the standings hold, these Southeast Division rivals will square off in the opening round of the playoffs, with the Hawks having home-court advantage.
The Hawks’ offense has sprung to life during their three-game winning streak, averaging 117.7 points per game after managing just 88.3 ppg in their previous six contests, five of which were losses. Atlanta has been idle since Friday’s 122-118 home win over the Pacers, though it came up short as a 5½-point home favorite. The Hawks have followed up an eight-game home winning streak (7-0-1 ATS) by going 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS in their last five inside Philips Arena.
Dwyane Wade poured in 55 points to lead Miami to a 122-105 rout of the Knicks as a 6½-point favorite Sunday. Despite that impressive performance, the Heat have been stumbling down the home stretch, going 6-9 (8-7 ATS) in their last 15 games, including 3-7 (5-5 ATS) on the highway.
The Hawks have taken two of three series meetings this year both SU and ATS, and the host has won five of the last six (4-2 ATS) dating to last season. However, going back several years, Miami is on ATS runs of 20-8 overall against the Hawks and 6-2 in Atlanta. Also, the SU winner has covered the number in nine of the last 10 clashes.
Miami is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 on Tuesday and 4-1 ATS in its last five when playing on one day of rest, but the Heat are 19-42-3 ATS in their last 64 games after a SU win and 0-5 ATS in their last five following a double-digit victory. Atlanta’s ATS streaks include 6-2 on Tuesday and 8-3 after a SU win, but 1-4 at home and 2-5 against the Eastern Conference.
The last three meetings in this rivalry have stayed under the total, and the under is 3-1 in the last four clashes at Philips Arena. Otherwise, though, the “over” is on runs of 4-1 for the Hawks overall, 4-1 for the Hawks against the Eastern Conference, 4-1 for Miami overall, 5-0 for Miami against the East and 5-1 for Miami versus Southeast Division rivals.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Utah (48-33, 39-42 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (64-17, 42-39 ATS)
In another possible preview of a first-round playoff series, the Jazz head to the Staples Center to face the Lakers in the regular-season finale for both squads.
Utah closed out its home schedule last night with a 106-85 victory over the Clippers as a 12½-point chalk, snapping a three-game SU and ATS losing skid. Despite the win, the Jazz are just 2-6 SU in their last eight games and 4-13 ATS in their last 17 (2-9 ATS in the last 11). Additionally, Jerry Sloan’s squad has dropped eight of its last 10 road contests both SU and ATS. In fact, the winner has cashed in each of Utah’s last 23 games on the highway.
Los Angeles rebounded from Friday’s 106-98 loss at Portland – a defeat that snapped a five-game winning streak – by pounding the Grizzlies 92-75 on Sunday, covering as an 11½-point home favorite. The Lakers have turned up the defense lately, holding nine of their last 12 foes under triple digits, and they’re riding a five-game home winning streak (3-2 ATS).
While the Lakers long ago clinched the top seed in the upcoming Western Conference playoffs, the Jazz remain in the eighth spot in the standings, one game ahead of Dallas. If Utah finishes eighth, these squads will square off in the postseason for the second consecutive year.
The Jazz snapped a three-game losing skid to the Lakers with a 113-109 victory as a one-point home favorite back on Feb. 11. However, including last year’s second-round playoff series, the host is 8-2 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in the last 10 series clashes, with the Lakers winning the last five at home by an average of 11 ppg. Going back further, the Jazz are 4-9-1 ATS in the last 14 battles with Los Angeles overall and 1-7 ATS in their last eight trips to Staples Center, and the host is 12-4-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings (playoffs included).
In addition to ATS slides of 3-13 overall and 2-8 on the road, the Jazz carry negative pointspread streaks of 2-8 against the Western Conference, 0-6 when playing on back-to-back nights and 1-6 when facing winning teams. Meanwhile, L.A. is on ATS upticks of 5-2 against the Western Conference and 4-1 when playing on one day of rest.
The last five head-to-head meetings in this rivalry have topped the total, and the over is 6-1 in the last seven meeting in Los Angeles. Also, the Jazz are on “over” streaks of 7-2 overall, 6-0 on the road and 5-0 versus winning teams. However, the under is 9-4 in Utah’s last 13 Tuesday contests and 5-1 in its last six against the Pacific Division, while L.A. is on “under” stretches of 12-4 overall, 8-1 at home and 11-3 when playing after one day of rest.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS and OVER
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Florida (5-1) at Atlanta (5-1)
The top two teams in the National League open a three-game series at Turner Field, with the Braves scheduled to send veteran Javier Vazquez (0-0, 4.50 ERA) to the mound opposite Marlins youngster Chris Volstad (1-0, 1.80).
Atlanta swept a three-game weekend set from the Nationals, pounding out 19 runs in the process. Bobby Cox’s offense has scored at least four runs in every game this season and is batting .300 overall. The Braves’ only defeat came at Philadelphia on Thursday when they blew a 10-3 seventh-inning lead and lost 12-11. Atlanta is on streaks of 5-0 at home, 6-0 against right-handed starters, 7-1 against N.L. East rivals, 5-1 on Tuesday, 9-2 against righty starters and 37-16 after an off day.
After opening the season with a three-game home sweep of Washington, Florida took two of three from the Mets over the weekend at Dolphin Stadium, including Sunday’s 2-1 victory with righthander Josh Johnson outdueling New York ace Johan Santana. The Marlins’ starters have posted a sterling 2.45 ERA on the season, and going to last season, they’re on runs of 6-1 overall (all against the N.L. East), 12-3 following a victory, 6-0 after an off day and 4-1 as an underdog.
The Braves won the season series from Florida last year 10-8, winning six of the nine games played at Turner Field. Atlanta has won 36 of the last 51 matchups with the Fish at home.
Vazquez made his Braves debut in that wild 12-11 loss at Philadelphia on Thursday and he had a solid outing, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks over six innings before watching the bullpen blow his victory. Vazquez, who hasn’t faced Florida since 2005, is 6-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 17 career outings against the Fish.
Volstad, who went 6-4 with a sensational 2.88 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) as a rookie last year, got off to an outstanding start Wednesday as he allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings of a 6-4 victory over the Nationals. The 6-foot-8 right-hander has given up three earned runs or fewer in seven consecutive starts, posting a 2.29 ERA during this stretch. With Volstad on the hill, Florida is on runs of 5-1 overall, 5-1 on the road (all as an underdog) and 4-1 against the N.L. East.
Volstad made two quality starts against the Braves last year, with identical results as he allowed three runs on six hits over six innings in each contest. He lost the first outing 4-0, then got a no-decision in his team’s 5-3 victory in early September.
For the Braves, the “over” is on runs 11-4 at home, 7-2 on Tuesday, 11-3 against right-handed starters, 8-2 as a favorite and 7-3 after an off day. Conversely, Florida sports “under” streaks of 7-0 as an underdog, 11-3-1 overall with Volstad on the hill and 5-1 when Volstad works on the road. Lastly, the under is 4-1 in the last five Braves-Marlins meetings, but the over is 5-2-1 in the last eight clashes in Atlanta.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees (3-4) at Tampa Bay (4-3)
A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.38) makes his second start in pinstripes when he opposes the Rays’ Matt Garza (1-0, 1.29) in the middle game of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.
The Rays pounced on New York starter Chien-Ming Wang on Monday and led 9-0 with no outs in the second inning en route to a 15-5 blowout victory in their home opener. Tampa Bay is on positive runs of 59-20 at home (playoffs included), 44-13 against right-handed starters, 5-1 on Tuesday and 14-7 against A.L. East rivals.
Despite Monday’s embarrassing defeat, New York is still 15-6 in its last 21 overall, 10-4 in its last 14 against divisional foes and 6-3 against Tampa Bay.
Burnett lasted only 5 1/3 innings in his Yankees debut at Baltimore on Thursday, but gave up just two runs on seven hits while striking out six in an 11-2 victory. Going back to last season when he was with Toronto, Burnett is 3-1 with a 1.37 ERA in his last four road starts, giving up a total of four earned runs in 26 1/3 innings.
Burnett is 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 16 career starts against Tampa Bay, including 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA in seven outings at Tropicana Field. Last year, the veteran righthander went 1-2 with a 3.15 ERA in three starts against the Rays.
Garza allowed just one run on four hits in seven innings in his season debut Thursday in Boston, and the Rays held on for a 4-3 victory. Tampa Bay is 4-0 in Garza’s last four starts against divisional rivals, but 1-5 in his last six as a favorite.
Garza went 7-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 15 regular-season starts at home last season and 1-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three outings against the Yankees. For his career, Garza is 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA in five games (four starts) versus New York.
The over is 6-1 in the last seven Yanks-Rays contests. Additionally, the over is on streaks of 6-1 for the Yankees against the A.L. East, 9-3 for the Yankees as an underdog, 4-1 for the Yankees against right-handed starters and 16-6 for the Rays when facing a right-handed starter at home.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
