Dave Cokin
Bonus Play Sunday
RED SOX (Price) at BLUE JAYS (Dickey) 1:05PM
Take: RED SOX -135
So I’ll get the bad stuff out of the way at the top. The Red Sox have lost three straight. Toronto has suddenly won four in a row. Boston will have to figure out what to do if there’s a save situation, as I would be shocked if Craig Kimbrel is available here. The Red Sox closer threw a career high number of pitches on Saturday and I doubt he’ll even be considered for action today.
I’m not huge on backing pitchers simply based on career ledgers vs. an opponent. It’s small sample stuff for the most part and can frequently be dismissed as extraneous info. But in the case of David Price vs. the Blue Jays, there’s just no way to avoid it. Price is now an amazing 17-2 lifetime against Toronto. That includes 11-1 at this site.
Beyond those numbers, Price is also in better form than RA Dickey, his mound adversary today. Dickey has been reasonably effective for the most part, but he is having long ball issues and he has also been knocked around twice by Boston already this season.
Normally. I won’t consider laying a price on the road with a team on a losing streak when facing a team on a winning streak. There has to be something extraordinary in play for that to take place. That’s where those Price numbers take over. Beyond that, the Red Sox were an unhappy bunch after the Saturday fiasco, as they felt they gave the game away. They’re right about that. Christian Vazquez makes a reality bad throw, Travis Ford does the same, Hanley Ramirez can’t catch a ball I think he still has to catch. That’s how a team loses a game they should have won.
This one is square to be sure, as I’m sure not the only one who knows Price is 17-2 against the Blue Jays. But this is where aces are supposed to step up and be stoppers, so I’ll give Price some backing today and will go with the Red Sox to salvage the series finale.
Bonus Play Sunday
RED SOX (Price) at BLUE JAYS (Dickey) 1:05PM
Take: RED SOX -135
So I’ll get the bad stuff out of the way at the top. The Red Sox have lost three straight. Toronto has suddenly won four in a row. Boston will have to figure out what to do if there’s a save situation, as I would be shocked if Craig Kimbrel is available here. The Red Sox closer threw a career high number of pitches on Saturday and I doubt he’ll even be considered for action today.
I’m not huge on backing pitchers simply based on career ledgers vs. an opponent. It’s small sample stuff for the most part and can frequently be dismissed as extraneous info. But in the case of David Price vs. the Blue Jays, there’s just no way to avoid it. Price is now an amazing 17-2 lifetime against Toronto. That includes 11-1 at this site.
Beyond those numbers, Price is also in better form than RA Dickey, his mound adversary today. Dickey has been reasonably effective for the most part, but he is having long ball issues and he has also been knocked around twice by Boston already this season.
Normally. I won’t consider laying a price on the road with a team on a losing streak when facing a team on a winning streak. There has to be something extraordinary in play for that to take place. That’s where those Price numbers take over. Beyond that, the Red Sox were an unhappy bunch after the Saturday fiasco, as they felt they gave the game away. They’re right about that. Christian Vazquez makes a reality bad throw, Travis Ford does the same, Hanley Ramirez can’t catch a ball I think he still has to catch. That’s how a team loses a game they should have won.
This one is square to be sure, as I’m sure not the only one who knows Price is 17-2 against the Blue Jays. But this is where aces are supposed to step up and be stoppers, so I’ll give Price some backing today and will go with the Red Sox to salvage the series finale.
Jim Feist
Jim Feist's Comp MLB Pick, Sunday, May 29, 2016 5:05 PM
(911) MIAMI MARLINS VS (912) ATLANTA BRAVES
Take: UNDER THE TOTAL.
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Sunday, May 29, 2016 is in the MLB scheduled contest between the Miami Marlins and the Braves from Atlanta. Atlanta is a big park, great for pitchers, and a pair of weak offense square off. Miami is in town, 20th in baseball in runs scored. Starter Tom Koehler has turned things around, allowing 3, 2, 1 and 1 run the last four starts and the last three years has a 3.57 ERA against Atlanta. Miami is on an 8-3 run under the total, including 7-1 under against a righty starter. He faces a bad Atlanta offense, last in baseball in runs scored and slugging. Julio Teheran has a 2.57 ERA but only one win as the offense can't score for him. Teheran allowed only one run on three hits and struck out 12 in seven innings against Milwaukee on Tuesday, a 2-1 defeat. Teheran has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball during the past month with an 0.80 ERA over the past five starts. Atlanta is 14-4-1 under the total at home vs. a team with a winning record, plus 15-5-3 under when they face a righty starter at home. And the Under is 7-3 in Teheran's last 10 starts vs. Marlins. Play Miami/Atlanta Under the total.
Jim Feist's Comp MLB Pick, Sunday, May 29, 2016 5:05 PM
(911) MIAMI MARLINS VS (912) ATLANTA BRAVES
Take: UNDER THE TOTAL.
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Sunday, May 29, 2016 is in the MLB scheduled contest between the Miami Marlins and the Braves from Atlanta. Atlanta is a big park, great for pitchers, and a pair of weak offense square off. Miami is in town, 20th in baseball in runs scored. Starter Tom Koehler has turned things around, allowing 3, 2, 1 and 1 run the last four starts and the last three years has a 3.57 ERA against Atlanta. Miami is on an 8-3 run under the total, including 7-1 under against a righty starter. He faces a bad Atlanta offense, last in baseball in runs scored and slugging. Julio Teheran has a 2.57 ERA but only one win as the offense can't score for him. Teheran allowed only one run on three hits and struck out 12 in seven innings against Milwaukee on Tuesday, a 2-1 defeat. Teheran has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball during the past month with an 0.80 ERA over the past five starts. Atlanta is 14-4-1 under the total at home vs. a team with a winning record, plus 15-5-3 under when they face a righty starter at home. And the Under is 7-3 in Teheran's last 10 starts vs. Marlins. Play Miami/Atlanta Under the total.
Matt Josephs
BAL vs CLE
Bonus Play OVER 9
Mike Clevinger makes his first major league home start on Sunday. The starter has allowed 10 runs and 12 hits in road outings at Chicago and Cincinnati with neither offense representing the challenge Baltimore does. The Orioles have 10 runs so far in the series and are putting up 4.5 runs per contest on the road. They are hitting .253 in day games going over in nine of 12. Pardon me if I'm not quite a believer in Chris Tillman. He's 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts this season. That ERA goes up to 3.79 on the road. The Tribe have gone over in 15 of their 21 home games where they are averaging well over five runs per game. This is an offense that has the potential to light teams up. They have scored four runs or more in six straight and 11 of their last 13. I think this one goes over the total on Sunday afternoon.
BAL vs CLE
Bonus Play OVER 9
Mike Clevinger makes his first major league home start on Sunday. The starter has allowed 10 runs and 12 hits in road outings at Chicago and Cincinnati with neither offense representing the challenge Baltimore does. The Orioles have 10 runs so far in the series and are putting up 4.5 runs per contest on the road. They are hitting .253 in day games going over in nine of 12. Pardon me if I'm not quite a believer in Chris Tillman. He's 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts this season. That ERA goes up to 3.79 on the road. The Tribe have gone over in 15 of their 21 home games where they are averaging well over five runs per game. This is an offense that has the potential to light teams up. They have scored four runs or more in six straight and 11 of their last 13. I think this one goes over the total on Sunday afternoon.
Stephen Nover
Yankees vs Rays
Bonus Play New York Yankees
You can count on one hand how many pitchers throw harder than Nathan Eovaldi. He's never been a consistent winner, though. However, that is changing now that he's mixing his velocity becoming more pitcher than thrower while improving his splitter pitch.
Eovaldi also is aided mentally knowing he doesn't have to hold back. He can go all out for six innings because the Yankees have the best trio of relievers in baseball to pitch the seventh, eighth and ninth innings with Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.
All three of those stud relief pitchers are fresh since none of them pitched on Saturday when the Yankees were blown out by the Rays thanks to another terrible outing by Michael Pineda. Eovaldi is going through his best stretch posting a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts. New York is 9-2 in Eovaldi's last 11 road starts.
The Yankees are going against righty Jake Odorizzi, who has been wild his last two starts walking seven in 10 innings and has a 4.09 daytime ERA. Odorizzi has a 5.40 career ERA in eight starts against the Yankees. He hasn't pitched at Tropicana Field since May 13 when he allowed five runs - including three homers - in just four innings during a 6-3 loss to Oakland.
The Yankees have won their last five games when facing a righty starter. They also have captured six of their past seven road matchups.
Tampa Bay is three games under .500 at home and has lost six of its last eight games. The Rays are down a pair of underrated players with infielder Logan Forsythe and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier both on the DL.
Yankees vs Rays
Bonus Play New York Yankees
You can count on one hand how many pitchers throw harder than Nathan Eovaldi. He's never been a consistent winner, though. However, that is changing now that he's mixing his velocity becoming more pitcher than thrower while improving his splitter pitch.
Eovaldi also is aided mentally knowing he doesn't have to hold back. He can go all out for six innings because the Yankees have the best trio of relievers in baseball to pitch the seventh, eighth and ninth innings with Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.
All three of those stud relief pitchers are fresh since none of them pitched on Saturday when the Yankees were blown out by the Rays thanks to another terrible outing by Michael Pineda. Eovaldi is going through his best stretch posting a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts. New York is 9-2 in Eovaldi's last 11 road starts.
The Yankees are going against righty Jake Odorizzi, who has been wild his last two starts walking seven in 10 innings and has a 4.09 daytime ERA. Odorizzi has a 5.40 career ERA in eight starts against the Yankees. He hasn't pitched at Tropicana Field since May 13 when he allowed five runs - including three homers - in just four innings during a 6-3 loss to Oakland.
The Yankees have won their last five games when facing a righty starter. They also have captured six of their past seven road matchups.
Tampa Bay is three games under .500 at home and has lost six of its last eight games. The Rays are down a pair of underrated players with infielder Logan Forsythe and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier both on the DL.
Scott Spreitzer
Tigers vs A's
Bonus Play Oakland Athletics
I'm backing the Oakland A's on Sunday afternoon. The A's had a breakout performance at the plate yesterday, scoring a dozen runs in a 12-3 win. Today, they'll feature their most effective starting pitcher in 2016, Rich Hill. The veteran left-hander owns a 2.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and .206 BAA in 10 starts this season. The A's have won each of his last four starts, where he's held opponents to a .183 BAA. And, Hill has allowed just two home runs in 57 2/3 IP this season. His counterpart, Mike Pelfrey has not fared quite so well, including allowing 10 home runs and a .347 BAA in 47 innings. The right-hander has faced Oakland three times over the last few years, getting smacked around for 18 earned runs, 31 base runners, and four home runs in 14 2/3 IP. That's a hefty 11.02 ERA, 2.11 WHIP, and a 2.45 HRs per 9 IP ratio. The two starters matched up on April 26 in Detroit with the A's coming away victorious in a 5-1 win. Hill was fantastic and Pelfrey was not. I expect more of the same here. The Tigers have won just three of their last 12 road games, while Oakland will aim for their 5th straight win with Rich Hill on the mound. I'm backing the Oakland A's on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
Tigers vs A's
Bonus Play Oakland Athletics
I'm backing the Oakland A's on Sunday afternoon. The A's had a breakout performance at the plate yesterday, scoring a dozen runs in a 12-3 win. Today, they'll feature their most effective starting pitcher in 2016, Rich Hill. The veteran left-hander owns a 2.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and .206 BAA in 10 starts this season. The A's have won each of his last four starts, where he's held opponents to a .183 BAA. And, Hill has allowed just two home runs in 57 2/3 IP this season. His counterpart, Mike Pelfrey has not fared quite so well, including allowing 10 home runs and a .347 BAA in 47 innings. The right-hander has faced Oakland three times over the last few years, getting smacked around for 18 earned runs, 31 base runners, and four home runs in 14 2/3 IP. That's a hefty 11.02 ERA, 2.11 WHIP, and a 2.45 HRs per 9 IP ratio. The two starters matched up on April 26 in Detroit with the A's coming away victorious in a 5-1 win. Hill was fantastic and Pelfrey was not. I expect more of the same here. The Tigers have won just three of their last 12 road games, while Oakland will aim for their 5th straight win with Rich Hill on the mound. I'm backing the Oakland A's on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
Art Aronson
CWS vs KC
1* Bonus Play UNDER White Sox/Royals
Chris Sale (9-1. 2.26 ERA) is coming off his worst start of the year, allowing six runs off seven hits with four walks and seven K’s over just 3.1 innings in a setback to the Tribe on Tuesday. Sale is going to have a few duds over the course of the year, he’d been near-perfect up to that point and he’ll now look to get back on track in Kansas City, note that he’s a ridiculous 5-0 with a tiny 1.41 ERA away from friendly confines thus far this season. Edinson Volquez (5-4, 3.67) heads to the hill for the home side, he most recently gave up four runs (two earned) off six hits and three walks to go along with six K’s over six innings in a victory over the Twins on Tuesday. Volquez has struggled with consistency at times this year, but has to be feeling pretty confident tonight as he’s 3-2 with a very respectable 2.06 ERA in front of the home town crowd to date. With these two competent starters going head-to-head on Sunday afternoon, the UNDER does indeed become a legitimate investment option.
AAA Sports
CWS vs KC
1* Bonus Play UNDER White Sox/Royals
Chris Sale (9-1. 2.26 ERA) is coming off his worst start of the year, allowing six runs off seven hits with four walks and seven K’s over just 3.1 innings in a setback to the Tribe on Tuesday. Sale is going to have a few duds over the course of the year, he’d been near-perfect up to that point and he’ll now look to get back on track in Kansas City, note that he’s a ridiculous 5-0 with a tiny 1.41 ERA away from friendly confines thus far this season. Edinson Volquez (5-4, 3.67) heads to the hill for the home side, he most recently gave up four runs (two earned) off six hits and three walks to go along with six K’s over six innings in a victory over the Twins on Tuesday. Volquez has struggled with consistency at times this year, but has to be feeling pretty confident tonight as he’s 3-2 with a very respectable 2.06 ERA in front of the home town crowd to date. With these two competent starters going head-to-head on Sunday afternoon, the UNDER does indeed become a legitimate investment option.
AAA Sports
Marc Lawrence
White Sox vs Royals
Play - Chicago White Sox w/Sale
Edges: White Sox: Chris Sale 18-3 career team starts during May, and 5-0 with 1.41 ERA and 1.08 WHIP away team starts this season. Royals: Edinson Volquez 2-4 with 5.41 ERA last six overall team starts. With Sale in commanding KW form with 31 K’s and 5 BB’s his last four starts, and 3-0 in his steam starts during the day this season, we recommend a 1* play on the White Sox. Thank you and good luck as always.
White Sox vs Royals
Play - Chicago White Sox w/Sale
Edges: White Sox: Chris Sale 18-3 career team starts during May, and 5-0 with 1.41 ERA and 1.08 WHIP away team starts this season. Royals: Edinson Volquez 2-4 with 5.41 ERA last six overall team starts. With Sale in commanding KW form with 31 K’s and 5 BB’s his last four starts, and 3-0 in his steam starts during the day this season, we recommend a 1* play on the White Sox. Thank you and good luck as always.
WNBA
Long Sheet
Sunday, May 29
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INDIANA (26 - 19) at ATLANTA (15 - 19) - 5/29/2016, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 88-62 ATS (+19.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1997.
ATLANTA is 33-17 ATS (+14.3 Units) off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.
ATLANTA is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) in May games since 1997.
INDIANA is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 7-3 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 6-4 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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CHICAGO (22 - 15) at DALLAS (18 - 18) - 5/29/2016, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) against Western conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 3-1 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 3-1 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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WASHINGTON (19 - 18) at PHOENIX (22 - 16) - 5/29/2016, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 281-337 ATS (-89.7 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 17-34 ATS (-20.4 Units) in road games on Sunday games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 51-76 ATS (-32.6 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 13-27 ATS (-16.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 12-31 ATS (-22.1 Units) in May games since 1997.
PHOENIX is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) against Eastern conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 3-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
Long Sheet
Sunday, May 29
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INDIANA (26 - 19) at ATLANTA (15 - 19) - 5/29/2016, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 88-62 ATS (+19.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1997.
ATLANTA is 33-17 ATS (+14.3 Units) off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.
ATLANTA is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) in May games since 1997.
INDIANA is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 7-3 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 6-4 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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CHICAGO (22 - 15) at DALLAS (18 - 18) - 5/29/2016, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) against Western conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 3-1 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 3-1 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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WASHINGTON (19 - 18) at PHOENIX (22 - 16) - 5/29/2016, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 281-337 ATS (-89.7 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 17-34 ATS (-20.4 Units) in road games on Sunday games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 51-76 ATS (-32.6 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 13-27 ATS (-16.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 12-31 ATS (-22.1 Units) in May games since 1997.
PHOENIX is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) against Eastern conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 3-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
