Service Plays Tuesday 4/5/11

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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..

Posters can track services here if they care to but we will need any trackers to do so in an accurate and civil manner. We did not create this area for posters to ridicule or bash any services..

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I will leave this thread open for a month to take questions and do my best to answer them. I will check in daily but am off on Wednesday and Thursday.

I hope this additional Service Play Forum will satisfy those posters that would like to widen the scope of topics relating to service plays and the industry in general to have their own threads. Mods will be liberal as possible regarding topics but this forum was specifically created to allow you more freedom to express your ideas regarding service plays and related subject matter. No off topic threads will be allowed.

Thank you, wilheim




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Thank you, wilheim.......

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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Nuggets, Thunder in playoff preview
By: Michael Robinson

The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will meet in a likely first-round playoff preview on Tuesday night. Both teams made major trades at the deadline and have benefited greatly.

This 6 p.m. (PT) game from Denver's Pepsi Center will be broadcast locally. There are 13 contests on the docket after none on Monday due to college basketball’s title game.

The Nuggets (47-29 straight up, 40-32-4 against the spread) have won six straight games and are in fifth place in the Western Conference. They would open at Oklahoma City in the playoffs if the season ended today.

Coach George Karl’s team was 32-25 SU when it sent Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the Knicks for Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. Anthony forced Denver’s hand and at the time it looked like New York was the big winner.

Fast forward to today and Denver is 15-4 SU and an incredible 16-2-1 ATS since the swap. All four of the SU losses were away. Team scoring has dipped only slightly (106.6 PPG) compared to the season average (107.3 PPG), but it’s the points allowed that have plummeted (94.8 PPG vs. 102.6 PPG for the year).

Anthony (25.5 PPG) is one of the NBA’s leading scorers, but he gives up a lot on defense. Karl has his guys giving maximum effort defensively and playing unselfishly on the other end.

The Nuggets’ last game may have been their best. They went into Los Angles on Sunday and came away with a 95-90 win as 6½-point ‘dogs, snapping the Lakers nine-game winning streak.

The 185 combined points scored went way ‘under’ the 200½-point total. The ‘under’ is 4-0 in Denver’s last four games and 8-1 in the last nine.

The Thunder’s (50-26 SU, 39-36-1 ATS) big trade of Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic to Boston for Kendrick Perkins wasn’t made out of duress like Denver’s. Instead, GM Sam Presti saw the physical center he needed and even signed Perkins to a long-term extension.

Presti’s posse has gone 14-6 SU (10-9-1 ATS) since the trade was announced. Perkins wasn’t available for the first 2.5 weeks due to a sprained left knee. He tore the ACL in his right knee in the NBA Finals and won’t be completely healthy under next year.

Perkins’ debut came March 14 at Washington and the Thunder are 8-3 SU (5-5-1 ATS) since. The 6-foot-10 pivot is averaging 5.8 PPG and 7.6 RPG in just under 25 minutes per game. His biggest contribution though is defense and team ‘D’ is at 95.1 PPG in the last 11 versus 100.9 PPG on the year.

Oklahoma City opened up this four-game trip with a 116-98 win at Phoenix last Wednesday. However, weekend losses and failures to ‘cover’ at Portland (98-91) and the L.A. Clippers (98-92) have the Thunder needing to finish this trip with a win.

Denver and Oklahoma City have had met twice this year, with the home team winning and ‘covering’ each time. The total points scored were 219 and 220, but that was before their respective roster makeovers and the new commitment on defense.

Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook shot just 6-of 27 (22.2 percent) the last two games. He needs to play much better Tuesday to help out Kevin Durant (27.7 PPG).

Denver is the more balanced team offensively now with nine guys capable of scoring in double digits. Gallinari is averaging 15.9 PPG in the 10 games he’s played since coming over and Felton provides a nice spurt off the bench, backing up new starter Ty Lawson.

Denver’s Chris Andersen (ankle) and Arron Afflalo (hamstring) are both questionable. Oklahoma City is not reporting any significant injuries.

Oklahoma City returns home Wednesday to host the Clippers, while Denver flies to Dallas for a game the same night.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Houston Rockets in must-win versus Kings
By: Brad Young

Sacramento (22-54 straight up, 34-40 against the spread) begins a four-game road trip playing the role of spoiler. The Kings are headed to the NBA Lottery, while Tuesday’s opponent Houston (41-36 SU, 41-34-2 ATS) continues to fight for a playoff berth.

Sacramento is also going into the offseason with it uncertain if the franchise will stay in California’s capital city or relocate to Anaheim.

The Rockets enter this matchup in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, three games behind New Orleans and Memphis. Houston has just five games remaining in the regular season to catch either the Hornets or Grizzlies.

Tuesday’s contest is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. PT from Houston’s Toyota Center.

Sacramento had dropped back-to-back outings before upending Utah Sunday as 6 ½-point home ‘chalk,’ 106-97. The combined 203 points failed to eclipse the 206 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash the third consecutive contest.

The Kings finished the contest with advantages in rebounding, 39-33, assists, 29-25, and points in the paint, 52-40. Sacramento shot a robust 52 percent (41-of-79) from the field, and 40 percent (6-of-15) from behind the arc.

Point guard Tyreke Evans paced the offense with 24 points, four rebounds and 10 assists. Power forward DeMarcus Cousins accounted for 17, nine and six, while shooting guard Francisco Garcia provided 17, four and four.

Houston is riding a modest two-game SU winning streak after beating Atlanta Sunday as a six-point home favorite, 114-109. The Rockets are just 1-2 ATS their past three performances. The combined 223 points soared past the 200 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the second consecutive contest.

Houston rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit, outscoring the Hawks in the third quarter, 32-18. The Rockets grabbed more rebounds, 35-30, and also scored more points in the paint, 56-38. Houston connected at a 57-percent clip (43-of-75) from the field, but just 20 percent (3-of-15) from 3-point land.

Shooting guard Kevin Martin enjoyed a solid effort with 35 points and eight assists in the victory, while center Chuck Hayes had 19 and 12 rebounds. Point guard Kyle Lowry provided 17 and eight assists, while power forward Luis Scola had 15.

Houston has won the last four meetings with Sacramento SU and ATS after winning all three encounters this season. The Rockets prevailed Dec. 14 as a 9½-point home ‘chalk,’ 118-105, Dec. 19 as a 3½-point road favorite, 102-93, and March 7 as a 4½-point road ‘chalk,’ 123-101. The ‘over’ is 6-2 the previous eight games in this series. The Kings are 8-1 ATS the last nine meetings in Houston, and the road team is 21-7 ATS the past 28 matchups.

Sacramento is reporting no players as ‘probable,’ ‘questionable’ or ‘doubtful’ for this contest. Houston guard Kyle Lowry (facial injury) is ‘probable’ against the Kings.

Sacramento follows this contest with road games against San Antonio, Memphis and Golden State. Houston’s next game is at New Orleans before returning for a two-game homestand versus the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas.

The Kings have seen the ‘over’ go 13-3 their past 16 road games. The Rockets are 11-2 ATS their previous 13 outings versus Pacific Division opponents.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Pick 'n' Roll

Tuesday's Best NBA Bets


Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (N/A)

Shaquille O’Neal’s return to the Boston lineup did not last long, Shaq, who had been out with an Achilles’ injury, suffered a strained right calf after playing just six minutes in Sunday’s home win over Detroit. He is listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s clash against Philadelphia.

The Celtics will also likely be without Nenad Krstic (questionable with a knee problem) and Troy Murphy (questionable with an ankle injury that has kept him out since March 23).

That is not good news for Boston, which has fallen three games back of Eastern Conference-leading Chicago and a half game behind Miami for the No. 2 seed. The Celtics have dropped four of their last seven contests (2-5 ATS).

Philadelphia, meanwhile, has won three of its last four (3-1 ATS) and has clinched a playoff spot. How confident are the Sixers? Well, they are already thinking about getting out of the first round, which would require a huge upset.

“I'm just like, ‘Whoever we play, let's just be ready,’” Thaddeus Young told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “‘Let's be ready to blow by them and get out of the first round.’”
A word of caution heading into Tuesday: Sixth Man of the Year contender Louis Williams strained a hamstring during Saturday’s overtime loss at Milwaukee and almost certainly won’t play.

Pick: 76ers

Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets (-4, 207)

A first-round playoff preview is on Tuesday’s schedule as the Thunder and Nuggets are set for a showdown. Barring a major shakeup in the middle of the Western Conference standings, Oklahoma City is locked into the four seed and Denver has wrapped up the fifth spot.

When the Nuggets traded Carmelo Anthony two months ago, most people figured George Karl could start channeling his inner Jim Mora Sr. Playoffs? We’re talkin’ about playoffs?

Absolutely. In fact, Denver has improved since getting rid of ‘Melo. The team is 15-4 (16-2-1 ATS) post-trade and has won six in a row (4-1-1 ATS).

“The intangibles that win games are out there more often than I ever remember,” Karl told the Denver Post after Sunday’s 95-90 road win over the Lakers. “The thing I've seen on the team is that it's solid. We haven't been solid since I've been here. We've been up and down, wild and crazy, good and bad. Beat anybody anytime by 20, lose to anybody anytime by 20. I don't think you're going to see that.”

The home team has won (and covered) both of this season’s meetings between the two teams, with Oklahoma City prevailing 114-106 on Christmas Day and Denver getting revenge 112-107 on Jan. 19.

Pick: Nuggets

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Montreal Canadiens entertain Chicago
By: Barry Daniels

Two Original Six teams fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in their respective conferences hook up Tuesday when the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks travel to Montreal to meet the Canadiens. The puck drops at Montreal’s Bell Centre at 4:30 p.m. (PT).

Chicago continued its trend of alternating wins and losses in its last six games with Sunday’s 2-0 setback against Tampa Bay as a hefty 195 home favorite. The combined two goals dipped below the 5 ½-goal closing total, leaving the ‘under’ 7-1 in Chicago last eight games and 42-36 overall.

The loss left the Blackhawks one point ahead of Calgary for the Western Conference’s eighth and last playoff spot. However, the Flames have played two more games than Chicago.

Despite the setback, Chicago’s defense was stingy, limiting the Lightning to 15 shots. That matched a March 8 effort against the Carolina Hurricanes for fewest shots allowed in a game this season.

Corey Crawford stopped 14-of-15 shots (one empty net goal), but suffered the loss. The 26-year-old netminder is now 31-17-2-3 with a 2.27 GAA, a .918 save percentage and four shutouts.

Chicago, which has now been blanked in three of its last eight games, still ranks third in the league offensively by averaging 3.1 goals per game. Much of that offensive success can be attributed to the league’s second-best power play that is clicking at a 23.9 percent success rate.

However, Chicago’s penalty killing unit ranks a poor 25th with a 79.4 percent success rate. That poor special teams play has dragged down the defense, which ranks 12th at 2.7 goals against per game.

Joel Quenneville’s Blackhawks are 19-12-3-5 on enemy ice, with the ‘over’ going 20-19. They have outscored the opposition overall by 32 goals (246-214).

Montreal moved one tiny step closer to clinching a playoff berth without leaving the couch Sunday.

The Canadiens received some help when the Buffalo Sabres edged Carolina 2-1 in overtime. While the ninth-place Hurricanes picked up a point for the overtime loss, they are four points behind the sixth-place Canadiens with each team having three games to play.

The only way the Hurricanes can finish ahead of the Canadiens is if they win their three remaining games and the Canadiens lose their three final games.

If the season ended on Monday, the Canadiens would open the playoffs in Boston, but all of the first-round pairings can change over the final week of the regular season.

The Canadiens have 91 points and are one point ahead of Buffalo and two up on the New York Rangers with everyone having three games to play.

Jacques Martin’s Habs are off Saturday’s 3-1 victory against New Jersey as 115 road underdogs. The win lifted Montreal 12 games above .500 despite outscoring the opposition by just four goals (208-204).

The combined four goals ducked below the five-goal closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to improve to 44-26-9 in Montreal’s first 79 overall outings. The Habs are 23-11-3-3 on their home ice, with the ‘under’ going 18-15-7.

This is the lone meeting of the season between Chicago and Montreal. The Habs are 5-2 in the last seven overall matchups and 4-0 in the last four meetings at Bell Centre. The ‘over’ is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings in Montreal.

The Don Best Sports injury report lists Montreal defenseman Alexandre Picard (foot) and center Jeff Halpern (lower body) as “questionable.” Chicago’s Patrick Sharp (knee) is not expected to return to the lineup until mid-April).

Chicago returns home Wednesday for a matchup against the St. Louis Blues, then concludes the regular season with a home-and-home series against the Detroit Red Wings. Montreal finishes with road games against Ottawa and Toronto on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL Betting Preview: Tampa Bay at Buffalo Sabres
By: David Schwab

The Tampa Bay Lightning will try and extend their current winning streak to six games when they tangle with the Buffalo Sabres this Tuesday at HSBC arena. Game time is set for 4 p.m. (PT) and it will be broadcast locally on the MSG Network.

Tampa Bay is heading into the postseason with a full head of steam after running its league-best winning streak to five games with a 2-0 shutout of Chicago as a 180 road underdog on Sunday. This followed a 3-1 victory over Minnesota on Saturday as a 141 road favorite.

The Lightning are now 44-24-11 straight-up (39-40 against the spread) and just one point behind Pittsburgh for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with a total of 99 points. Each team has three regular season games left on their schedule.

This team is ranked eighth in the league in scoring with an average of 2.91 goals a game, but has elevated that to 3.2 over the past five games. Center Steven Stamkos leads Tampa Bay in goals with 44, but Martin St. Louis has been the primary offensive force this season with 30 goals and 64 assists. His 94 total points is second in the NHL only to Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin, who has 100.

One injury concern for this game is with center Vincent Lecavalier, who is listed as day-to-day after taking a high-stick to the face against the Blackhawks.

Goalie Dwayne Roloson has started 52 of Tampa’s 78 games this season and should be between the pipes for this one. He has a 2.57 goals-against average and a save percentage of .915. The Lightning are giving up an average of 2.92 goals a game, which is ranked 23rd in the league.

Buffalo is coming off a 2-1 overtime victory over Carolina, as a 127 road underdog, that did wonders for its playoff hopes.

The Sabres are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with a total of 90 points and three games left to play, while the Hurricanes were left stuck at 87 points and in ninth-place with three games left as well. The New York Rangers currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with 89 points.

There are some major injury concerns for Buffalo heading into this game with goalie Ryan Miller, center Jochen Hecht and right winger Mike Grier each currently out of the lineup. All three missed Sunday’s game against Carolina and remain listed as day-to-day.

The Sabres are averaging 2.87 goals a game led by left winger Thomas Vanek, who has 28 goals and a team-high 67 points and right winger Drew Stafford, who lead the team with 30 goals. Buffalo has managed to win five of its last seven games, but have only averaged 2.29 goals during this stretch.

If Miller is not ready to go by Tuesday, look for Jhonas Enroth to get the start in goal for Buffalo. Enroth has started 11 games this season and has a GGA of 2.53 and a .915 save percentage, which are actually slightly better numbers than Miller’s. The Sabres are ranked 16th in the NHL in goals allowed; giving up an average of 2.77 a game.

Tampa Bay is 23-19 this season as a favorite and 21-16 as an underdog. The total has stayed ‘under’ in its last three games but has gone ‘over’ in 42 of 79 games overall.

Buffalo is 21-21 as a favorite and 19-18 as an underdog this year. The total has stayed ‘under’ in three of its last five games but has gone ‘over’ in 39 of 79 games overall.

Head-to-head, the Sabres have won seven of the last 10 games but the Lightning have a 2-1 edge in this season’s series. Tampa came away with a 2-1 win as a 128 road underdog on Nov.20 and a 3-1 victory as a 119 home favorite on Dec. 18, but Buffalo pasted the Lightning 7-4 as a 118 road underdog on Feb.8. The total stayed ‘under’ in first two meetings this year.

This time around the Sabres should open as a slight home favorite with a total line of 5½. Tampa comes in with the hot-hand, but stick with Buffalo to scrape out a win as it needs one much more than the Lightning do at this point.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Ice Picks

Tuesday's Best NHL Bets


Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres (-135, 5.5)

Tampa Bay has a score to settle with Buffalo, as these two teams faced each other on Feb. 8 and the host Lightning got hammered 7-4.

They should have a good chance of avenging that loss on Tuesday in Buffalo. Tampa goalie Dwayne Roloson allowed seven goals in just 28 shots in the last meeting, but he is heating up heading into the playoffs. Roloson has allowed a total of four goals in his last three outings (all victories).

The Lightning, not coincidentally, have won five in a row and are coming off a 2-0 shutout of Chicago on Sunday. They clinched a playoff spot after last Thursday’s win over Pittsburgh and have climbed to within four points of Washington in the Southeast Division.

Buffalo is hanging tough in the race, currently seventh in the Eastern Conference with 90 points. The team has alternated wins and losses over its last five, although it has won five of its last seven.

The Sabres could be without top goalie Ryan Miller, who missed Sunday’s win over Carolina and is questionable with an upper body injury. Right wing Mike Grier (knee) and center Jochen Hecht (upper body) are also questionable.

Pick: Lightning

Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens (-110, 5.5)

A recent swoon has taken Montreal from a borderline playoff lock to a team fighting for its postseason life in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens bounced back on Sunday with a 3-1 victory at New Jersey, but they have still lost four of their last six games.

And nobody is happy about it.

“We just were not ready mentally,” defenseman Roman Hamrlik said after last Wednesday's 6-2 loss at Carolina. “I don't think we competed, and they outworked us tonight.”

A few teammates took offense to that comment, and they are also in an uproar over former Canadien and new media member Georges Laraque saying that head coach Jacques Martin “has lost the room.”

One team that definitely won’t be hitting the panic button in the midst of a heated playoff race is Chicago, which sits in eighth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Calgary.

The Blackhawks have dropped three of their last five, but this is a contest in which the experience of winning the Stanley Cup last year could be a major factor.

Pick: Blackhawks

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tuesday's Diamond Tips
By Judd Hall

The opening weekend of Major League Baseball’s season is out of the way. Now we can get into the matchups that dominate April as teams are still feeling themselves out in the games that count. We’ve got 14 tests on the schedule on Tuesday that go from the afternoon until primetime.

We’re going to look at a pair of American League East squads that are without a win after one series. Then we’re going to see a pair of the better sides in the National League West do battle in land of Coors.

Angels at Rays

Tropicana Field will be home to two teams that looked extremely disappointing in their opening series of the season. The Rays knew it would be a rough season after losing Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford and the majority of their bullpen. The Halos were just hoping to that last year’s injuries would be able to be forgotten fast.

Tampa Bay (0-3, -480) will be sending Jeff Neimann out for his first start of the season. Past history shows that it could be a tough game for the Rays as Neimann went 1-2 with a 10.20 earned run average versus the Angels last season. And the starters for Joe Maddon have been lackluster so far, going 0-3 with a 4.46 ERA against Baltimore over the weekend.

Los Angeles (1-3, -275) started the year off well with a 4-2 road win against the Royals. Since then, the Angels have dropped three straight games. The lone win came from Jared Weaver, who will be on the hill for Tuesday evening. Weaver tossed 6.1 innings against the Royals in the season opener, allowing two hits. LA’s ace has fared well against the Rays, evidenced by a 3-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in five career starts.

The Angels have the advantage in that they’ve won three of the last four matches against Tampa Bay. Two of those wins came against Niemann.

Red Sox at Indians

We’re only a few days into the season and Boston (0-3, -350) fans are freaking out after a three-game sweep at the hands of the Rangers. Can you really be upset by the fact that you lost to the defending AL champs?

What the Red Sox did not have this past weekend was steady starting pitching. John Lackey, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz were lit up for 18 runs. The plus side for that is that Josh Beckett doesn’t have to do too much to be considered an improvement over the first three hurlers. Beckett is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2010 (6-6, 5.78 ERA). He did at least win his only start against the Tribe last season.

Cleveland (1-2, -93) are in midseason form in terms of sucking hard. The Indians have given up 24 runs this season, but at least didn’t get swept. Of course, not many people bothered to show up to that 7-1 win on Sunday. The Tribe will count on Josh Tomlin to make things happen on the mound for this game. The late-season call up closed out last September with three wins in his last three starts. And he lasted seven inning, giving up four earned runs in a 6-2 loss at Boston in August.

The Indians do have one thing going for them in the head-to-head matchups. The Tribe are 4-2 in the last six meetings with Boston. The ‘over’ is 4-2 in those tests as well.

Dodgers at Rockies

Things are going quite well for Los Angeles (3-1, +197) after taking three of four from the hated Giants in Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers will look to keep the good times rolling on Tuesday night with Clayton Kershaw getting the nod. Kershaw is coming off a quality opening night start against San Francisco, where he allowed no runs on four hits in seven innings of work. Don Mattingly has to be confident Kershaw will be able to pick up another win in this spot after going 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts against the Rockies last season.

Colorado (1-1, -100) got an unexpected extra day off after having the series finale with the Diamondbacks getting snowed out after a game played in 84-degree weather. That pushed Jhoulys Chacin’s first start of the year to Tuesday night of the quick two-game set. The Rockies have won two of their last three games against the Dodgers the Chacin started.

These two teams have seen the visitors go 1-5 in the last six head-to-head meetings. The ‘over’ is almost a certainty as it is 5-1 in those six tests.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

LA Dodgers, Rockies open MLB betting series
By: Stephen Nover

After playing just two games, the Colorado Rockies have had two days off.

Such is baseball in April. The Rockies, who were idle this past Sunday due to a postponement and off Monday, host the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday at 5:40 p.m. PT in the opener of a two-game series.

The unpredictable Denver weather should cooperate this time. The Rockies couldn’t get their Sunday game in against Arizona due to a mix of rain and snow. But the forecast in Denver for Tuesday is temperatures in the 60s, no rain and southwest winds at nine mph.

Unfortunately for the Rockies, they draw Clayton Kershaw. Even though he just turned 23, Kershaw is becoming one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The southpaw was brilliant this past Thursday in the Dodgers’ season opener, a 2-1 victory against San Francisco. Kershaw beat Tim Lincecum as a 115 home favorite by not giving up a run in seven innings while allowing just four singles, striking out nine and walking one. The combined three runs went ‘under’ the 6½-run total, the lowest ‘over/under’ of the season.

The Dodgers are 14-3 the past 17 times Kershaw has pitched against a National League West opponent.

Kershaw was 13-10 last season with a 2.91 ERA. His 212 strikeouts were the fifth-highest in the NL last year.

Many expect Kershaw to be even better this season. This game, though, should prove a strong early challenge coming at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Kershaw is 3-2 lifetime with a 5.59 ERA in seven starts at Coors.

Colorado is a very strong home team winning 37 of its last 55 games at Coors Field. The Rockies are 36-17 in their last 53 home contests when facing a left-handed starter.

The Rockies also have one of their good, young pitchers going against the Dodgers – 23-year-old Jhoulys Chacin.

The right-hander from Venezuela averaged 9.04 strikeouts per nine innings, the second highest-number by a Colorado pitcher with 100-plus innings in a season.

Chacin was 9-11with a 3.28 ERA last season. Despite pitching just 148 1/3 innings in his big league career, Chacin faced the Dodgers six times going 3-3.

Chacin last faced the Dodgers at home on Sept. 29 and lost 7-6 as a 185 favorite against Carlos Monasterios, giving up two earned runs in five innings on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. The combined 13 runs went ‘over’ the 9½-run total.

The previous time he faced the Dodgers, however, Chacin beat them, 12-2. That occurred on Sept. 18 at Dodger Stadium. Chacin pitched eight scoreless innings allowing nine hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Chacin was a 125 road favorite against John Ely. The combined 14 runs flew ‘over’ the 9½-run total.

Colorado is 1-1 on the season. The Dodgers are 3-1 following a four-game home series against the defending world champion Giants. Jonathan Broxton has a 6.00 ERA, but owns saves in each of the Dodgers’ three victories. Outfielder Matt Kemp is off to a fast start batting .417.

The Dodgers are one of the few clubs that have fared well at Coors winning in 11 of their last 15 visits. They have won four in a row in Denver.

The Dodgers won the season series from the Rockies last season going 11-7. They were 6-3 at Coors in 2010.

The ‘over’ has cashed eight of the last nine times the Rockies have gone against a left-hander at home. The ‘over’ also has cashed in 12 of Colorado’s last 17 NL West games.

However, the ‘under’ has paid off in 14 of Kershaw’s last 20 road starts. The Dodgers have gone ‘under’ in five of Kershaw’s past six outings.

In head-to-head competition between the Dodgers and Rockies, the ‘over’ has cashed six of the last seven times.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Cleveland hosts winless Boston Red Sox
By: Willie Bee

The 2011 season may only have one weekend in the books, but that hasn't stopped Boston Red Sox fans from voicing their disapproval. Boston was swept three straight in Texas by the defending AL champions and will now look for win number one in Cleveland on Tuesday when the Red Sox continue their road trip against the Indians.

Boston's winless start (0-3, -3.6 units) is magnified by the fact the club entered 2011 as the favorites to win the AL pennant (plus 175). General Manager Theo Epstein spent the winter beefing up the Red Sox roster with the acquisitions of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, adding pop to a lineup that finished second in the majors with 5.05 runs per game in 2010.

Gonzalez is off to a decent start with Boston, collecting five hits in his first 12 at bats. Crawford was held to just a pair of singles in 12 trips to the plate in the Texas series, striking out five times. Collectively, the Red Sox were outscored 26-11 by the Rangers who hammered 11 homers in the broom job. Texas' Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz both went deep three times to set an MLB record as the only teammates to homer in each of the first three games of a season.

Manager Terry Francona shouldn't be too worried about his bats just yet. Pitching, however, is another story.

The top three in Boston's rotation – Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and John Lackey – were charged with 18 earned runs in just over 15 innings combined, serving up nine of the 11 Texas dingers. Francona will now turn to Josh Beckett to stem the tide.

Beckett is coming off an injury-marred 2010 campaign, posting a 5.78 ERA with a 6-6 mark in 21 starts. Boston won 11 of his 21 assignments, one of those triumphs a home victory against the Tribe in which Beckett worked eight innings and allowed just one run, a solo shot by Cleveland catcher Lou Marson. The right-hander struck out eight and didn't issue a free pass in his longest outing of 2010.

The Red Sox are 5-2 in Beckett's last seven assignments versus the Indians, including the 2007 playoffs which marked his last appearance at Progressive Field. Beckett worked two games in Cleveland that season, including the ALCS, pitching eight innings and allowing just one run in each contest.

Cleveland (1-2, -0.9 unit) didn't fare much better in its first three games of 2011, though the Tribe did manage to avoid being swept to begin the year with Sunday's 7-1 win over the White Sox. The victory was aided by the first triple play of the MLB campaign, and Indians starter Justin Masterson kept Chicago hitters at bay for seven innings after the Pale Hose pummeled Cleveland hurlers for 23 runs in the first two games of the series.

Manager Manny Acta will give the ball to Josh Tomlin for Tuesday's series opener. Cleveland went 7-5 in the 12 starting assignments he made as a rookie in 2010. One of the losses came at Fenway Park in his only career action against the Red Sox. The right-hander out of Texas Tech worked seven frames and allowed four runs, all earned, in a 7-2 Boston triumph.

Cleveland was 5-1 in Tomlin's six home assignments last season, good enough for a little more than five units of profit.

The two clubs split their eight head-to-head meetings in 2010 right down the middle, each winning twice on the other's home field. Game totals were also divided in the same manner, 2-2 'over/under' in each park.

The only significant injury for either squad is Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore who started the year on the DL following knee surgery.

Tuesday's first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (PT). A wet, blustery evening is in store for the Cleveland area on Monday before skies clear a bit Tuesday when the high is expected to only reach the low-40s. Winds are expected out of the WNW up to 20 mph (3B out to RF corner).

The series continues Wednesday night when Cleveland sends Mitch Talbot to the mound against Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka. Thursday's series finale is an afternoon affair and pits the staff aces from both squads with Fausto Carmona and Lester each coming off rough season openers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tuesday’s Best MLB Bets


Houston Astros at Cincinnati Reds (-165, 8.5)

Outside of a rocky start from Edinson Volquez on Opening Day against the Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds have to be pretty satisfied with their 3-0 start.

Volquez was smacked around for five runs but Cincinnati’s offense saved the day when Ramon Hernandez hit a walk-off, three-run shot to give the club a 7-6 win.

The Reds cruised from there outscoring the Brewers 16-5 over the next two games.

"Since Monie had the walk-off home run, the momentum has been in our favor," fellow catcher Ryan Hanigan told reporters. "We kind of rode that high for the last couple of games. The Brewers have a great team. They're going to be in the mix. They have a great offense, great pitching. It was just our weekend."

Meanwhile, the Astros are still looking to get in the win column and may have to wait at least another day.

Pick: Reds

Boston Red Sox at Cleveland Indians (+135, 9)

Red Sox Nation is already in a tizzy about the club’s 0-3 start and while getting too worked up after just three games is a little over the top, some of the numbers coming out of the club’s series against Texas were just ugly.

Texas outscored Boston 26-11 in the series and hit 11 home runs compared to only three for the Red Sox.

“Just a real bad series,’’ GM Theo Epstein told reporters. “For this to happen in the first series of the year leaves a bad taste in your mouth. But we’ll be better than this.”

They have a good shot at proving just that Tuesday with Josh Beckett taking the hill and heading to Cleveland instead of going home to hear all about how terrible they are right now.

The Sox will regroup Tuesday.

Pick: Red Sox

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

DCI NBA

Season
Straight Up: 752-323 (.700)
ATS: 569-553 (.507)
ATS Vary Units: 1323-1331 (.498)
Over/Under: 578-563 (.507)
Over/Under Vary Units: 683-677 (.502)

San Antonio 96, ATLANTA 94
Charlotte 95, CLEVELAND 93
NEW JERSEY 103, Minnesota 98
ORLANDO 93, Milwaukee 85
Detroit vs. WASHINGTON: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
BOSTON 94, Philadelphia 90
NEW YORK 113, Toronto 104
CHICAGO 106, Phoenix 94
MEMPHIS 106, L.A. Clippers 93
HOUSTON 113, Sacramento 102
DENVER 109, Oklahoma City 103
PORTLAND 107, Golden State 96
L.A. LAKERS 107, Utah 90

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

DCI NHL

Season: 360-278 (.564)

BUFFALO 3, Tampa Bay 2
Washington vs. TORONTO: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
New Jersey vs. PITTSBURGH: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Chicago vs. MONTREAL: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Philadelphia vs. OTTAWA: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
ST. LOUIS 4, Colorado 3
NASHVILLE 3, Atlanta 2
DALLAS 3, Columbus 2
Vancouver 3, EDMONTON 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Today's MLB Picks

Boston at Cleveland

The Red Sox look to build on their 19-7 record in Josh Beckett's last 26 starts against the AL Central. Boston is the pick (-155) according to Dunkel, which has the Red Sox favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Boston (-155). Here are all of today's picks.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" width="538"><tbody><tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">TUESDAY, APRIL 5
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 951-952: Arizona at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Enright) 14.197; Cubs (Cashner) 14.695
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-145); No Run Total
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-145); N/A</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 953-954: San Francisco at San Diego (6:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Bumgarner) 16.725; San Diego (Harang) 15.633
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-135); 7
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-135); Over</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 955-956: NY Mets at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Young) 15.813; Philadelphia (Hamels) 16.304
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-215); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-215); Under</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 957-958: Houston at Cincinnati (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Happ) 15.023; Cincinnati (Leake) 14.671
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1/2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-175); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+155); Under</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 959-960: Washington at Florida (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Marquis) 14.063; Florida (Sanchez) 14.351
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Florida (-160); 9
Dunkel Pick: Florida (-160); Over</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 961-962: Atlanta at Milwaukee (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Lowe) 15.633; Milwaukee (Gallardo) 14.187
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-120); 8
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+100); Over</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 963-964: Pittsburgh at St. Louis (8:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (McDonald) 15.622; St. Louis (McClellan) 14.552
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1; 8
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-155); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+135); Under</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 965-966: LA Dodgers at Colorado (8:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Kershaw) 15.152; Colorado (Chacin) 16.147
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 7
Vegas Line: Colorado (-110); 8
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-110); Under</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 967-968: LA Angels at Tampa Bay (6:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Weaver) 14.956; Tampa Bay (Niemann) 14.428
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-115); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-115); Over</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 969-970: Minnesota at NY Yankees (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Duensing) 15.064; NY Yankees (Sabathia) 15.757
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-210); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-210); Over</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 971-972: Oakland at Toronto (7:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Braden) 15.007; Toronto (Reyes) 15.984
Dunkel Line: Toronto by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Oakland (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+100); Under</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 973-974: Boston at Cleveland (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Beckett) 15.487; Cleveland (Tomlin) 14.571
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Boston (-155); 9
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-155); Under</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 975-976: Seattle at Texas (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Pineda) 15.032; Texas (Ogando) 17.013
Dunkel Line: Texas by 2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Texas (-165); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-165); Over</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 12.75pt;" width="522" height="17">Game 977-978: Chicago White Sox at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Floyd) 15.662; Kansas City (Hochevar) 15.208
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-130); 9
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-130); Over</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Soccer Crusher Play of the Day

DagenhamandRedbridge + PeterboroughUnited OVER 2.5

This match is happening in England

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Baseball Crusher

Play of the Day: RedSox -150 over Indians

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mighty Quinn

Mighty hit with Connecticut (-3-1/2) Monday night.

Tuesday it's the Red Sox. The deficit is 1334 sirignanos.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports

619 - 466 57 % Run over 2 1/2 YEARS !

Free winner Tues NJ Nets -5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hondo

The Huskies threw Hondo a bone last night, steamrolling the overmatched Bulldogs to raise his earnings to 120 hubbells.

Tonight, Mr. Aitch will go with that Bumgarner to show the Padres who their daddy is -- 10 units on the Giants.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Gamblers Data

Bonus Play Tuesday

Boston/Cleveland over 9