Bettors' best friend: Sunday's wagering tips
Lines to keep an eye on
Brewers at Astros: Total opened at 9.5 but has dropped to 9. Under is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings.
Fever at Dream (WNBA): Dream opened as -1.5 favorite but are no at -2. Total opened at 161.5 but has dropped to 160.5.
Sky at Mercury (WNBA): Total opened at 179 but has jumped to as high as 180.5 at most books.
Storm at Lynx (WNBA): Storm opened as -4.5 faves but are now at -5. Total opened at 151.5 but has climbed to 152.5.
Weather to watch
Diamondbacks at Mets: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Cubs at Rockies: 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Phillies at Nationals: 30 percent chance of showers.
Who's hot
Phillies have won eight of their last nine.
Twins have won eight of their last nine..
Rays have won six in a row.
Blue Jays have won six of their last seven.
White Sox have won five in a row.
Who's not
Orioles have lost six of their last seven.
Diamondbacks have lost seven of their last eight.
Indians have lost six of their last seven.
Mariners have lost five in a row.
Key stat
$50 million - Amount of St. Louis Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford's six-year, $78 million contract that is guaranteed. That's the highest ever in an NFL contract and may go down in history as such. NFL commissioner Roger Goddell has hinted at a new collective bargaining agreement that cuts back on guarantee-heavy deals for draftees. The contract also offers an additional $8 million incentives, but how much motivation is that with $50 mil in the bank?
Injury that shouldn't be overlooked
Atlanta Braves second baseman Martin Prado suffered a broken knuckle on his right pinkie finger Friday night and will be sidelined for at least one week. The Braves' leadoff man leads the NL with 138 hits and has been one of the team's top performers, batting .315 with a .357 on-base percentage and slugging at a .484 clip. Atlanta will be hard pressed to replace his production at the plate.
Game of the day
Yankees at Rays (125, 8.5)
Notable quotable
"The key thing is you ask yourself, 'Are we pushing him too hard; does it happen at the end of practice when the players are tired?' We all know now when you get a little tired you can get injured."
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told ESPN about the freak ankle injury rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant suffered Friday that will keep him out of the remainder of training camp. Jones said Saturday he wasn't being critical of his coaches but also did not back off the remarks.
Tips and notes
Not that the Pirates see a lot of save opportunities but they face a new dilemma when they do now that they traded closer Octavio Dotel to the Angels. Dotel carried a 4.28 ERA but was a solid 21 for 26 in save situations this season. Pirates manager John Russell wouldn't say who will close in Pittsburgh now that Dotel is gone, but it appears to be between righthanders Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan. Meek has a 1.23 ERA but is only 1 for 6 in save situations while Hanrahan has a 3.35 ERA and is 0 for 2 in save opportunities. No matter which one he chooses, the Bucs will have a hard time nailing down wins.
For all the deals before the trade deadline, the big story going into August may be the one that didn't go down. According to an SI.com report, the Cubs and Mets tried to trade problem pitchers - righthander Carlos Zambrano for lefty Oliver Perez. The sticking point was the Mets' insistence on the Cubs also taking second baseman Luis Castillo, apparently a deal-breaker. Now that the two losers were unable to move their problem players, keep an eye on the waiver wire for some key pickups by contenders who aren't finished shopping.
On July 3 we accurately predicted Dale Earnhardt Jr. would drive his late father's No. 3 to victory lane in the Nationwide Series at Daytona - not based on stats, but on NASCAR's knack for scripting feel-good finishes. Another one lurks at Pocono Raceway today after multi-car owner Jack Roush survived a plane crash earlier in the week. With the "Cat in the Hat" recovering, don't be surprised if one of his drivers - Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle or Jeff Burton - bring home the Hollywood ending.
Lines to keep an eye on
Brewers at Astros: Total opened at 9.5 but has dropped to 9. Under is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings.
Fever at Dream (WNBA): Dream opened as -1.5 favorite but are no at -2. Total opened at 161.5 but has dropped to 160.5.
Sky at Mercury (WNBA): Total opened at 179 but has jumped to as high as 180.5 at most books.
Storm at Lynx (WNBA): Storm opened as -4.5 faves but are now at -5. Total opened at 151.5 but has climbed to 152.5.
Weather to watch
Diamondbacks at Mets: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Cubs at Rockies: 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Phillies at Nationals: 30 percent chance of showers.
Who's hot
Phillies have won eight of their last nine.
Twins have won eight of their last nine..
Rays have won six in a row.
Blue Jays have won six of their last seven.
White Sox have won five in a row.
Who's not
Orioles have lost six of their last seven.
Diamondbacks have lost seven of their last eight.
Indians have lost six of their last seven.
Mariners have lost five in a row.
Key stat
$50 million - Amount of St. Louis Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford's six-year, $78 million contract that is guaranteed. That's the highest ever in an NFL contract and may go down in history as such. NFL commissioner Roger Goddell has hinted at a new collective bargaining agreement that cuts back on guarantee-heavy deals for draftees. The contract also offers an additional $8 million incentives, but how much motivation is that with $50 mil in the bank?
Injury that shouldn't be overlooked
Atlanta Braves second baseman Martin Prado suffered a broken knuckle on his right pinkie finger Friday night and will be sidelined for at least one week. The Braves' leadoff man leads the NL with 138 hits and has been one of the team's top performers, batting .315 with a .357 on-base percentage and slugging at a .484 clip. Atlanta will be hard pressed to replace his production at the plate.
Game of the day
Yankees at Rays (125, 8.5)
Notable quotable
"The key thing is you ask yourself, 'Are we pushing him too hard; does it happen at the end of practice when the players are tired?' We all know now when you get a little tired you can get injured."
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told ESPN about the freak ankle injury rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant suffered Friday that will keep him out of the remainder of training camp. Jones said Saturday he wasn't being critical of his coaches but also did not back off the remarks.
Tips and notes
Not that the Pirates see a lot of save opportunities but they face a new dilemma when they do now that they traded closer Octavio Dotel to the Angels. Dotel carried a 4.28 ERA but was a solid 21 for 26 in save situations this season. Pirates manager John Russell wouldn't say who will close in Pittsburgh now that Dotel is gone, but it appears to be between righthanders Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan. Meek has a 1.23 ERA but is only 1 for 6 in save situations while Hanrahan has a 3.35 ERA and is 0 for 2 in save opportunities. No matter which one he chooses, the Bucs will have a hard time nailing down wins.
For all the deals before the trade deadline, the big story going into August may be the one that didn't go down. According to an SI.com report, the Cubs and Mets tried to trade problem pitchers - righthander Carlos Zambrano for lefty Oliver Perez. The sticking point was the Mets' insistence on the Cubs also taking second baseman Luis Castillo, apparently a deal-breaker. Now that the two losers were unable to move their problem players, keep an eye on the waiver wire for some key pickups by contenders who aren't finished shopping.
On July 3 we accurately predicted Dale Earnhardt Jr. would drive his late father's No. 3 to victory lane in the Nationwide Series at Daytona - not based on stats, but on NASCAR's knack for scripting feel-good finishes. Another one lurks at Pocono Raceway today after multi-car owner Jack Roush survived a plane crash earlier in the week. With the "Cat in the Hat" recovering, don't be surprised if one of his drivers - Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle or Jeff Burton - bring home the Hollywood ending.
