Tuesday 10/21/14 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

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World Series Betting Preview: Giants at Royals

San Francisco Giants at Kansas City Royals (-101, 6.5)

The red-hot Kansas City Royals are in the World Series for the first time since 1985 and they open play Tuesday when they host the National League Champion San Francisco Giants. The American League Champion Royals are a perfect 8-0 this postseason and took the wild-card route to the pennant. San Francisco is in the World Series for the third time in five seasons and also began this postseason journey as a wild-card entrant.

National League Championship Series MVP Madison Bumgarner will be on the mound for the Giants in Game 1 and the standout left-hander lost to the Royals during the regular season. James Shields starts for Kansas City and the right-hander pitched a four-hit shutout against San Francisco in August. Both teams feature strong bullpens and have a knack for producing unlikely heroes – such as Giants’ left fielder Travis Ishikawa hitting a walk-off three-run homer to end the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals.

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX

LINE HISTORY: The Royals opened as slight +100 home underdogs have been bet to -107 and are currently sitting at -101. The total is set at 6.5.

INJURY REPORT: Kansas City - P Yorando Ventura (day-to-day, shoulder).

WEATHER REPORT: It should be a beautiful night for baseball with clear skies and temperatures in the low 60s at the start of Game 1. There will be a slight five mile per hour wind blowing in from right field.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We set the series price at -105 each, and we have a 4 Game sweep at +500, but can the Royals continue their unbeaten record in this year's playoffs? With Bumgarner on the mound for the Giants, they're favored by 1.5 runs and are currently getting 51 percent of the action, plus 63 percent of moneyline wagers. Even with both teams aces on the mound for Game 1, the Over 6.5 run total is getting 59 percent of the action so far." Michael Stewart.

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "I'm leaning under the total in the opener of this series. Both teams are more than comfortable playing small ball and with two elite starters on the mound I don't expect anything to come easy on Tuesday night. The oddsmakers are on point with a total of 6.5 and I hate playing a juiced out number - the only reason it's only a lean at this point. The side is a toss-up in Game 1 in my opinion, better opportunities lie ahead in the series in that regard." Sean Murphy

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (2-1, 1.42 ERA) vs. Royals RH James Shields (1-0, 5.63)

Bumgarner has pitched at least seven innings in each of his four postseason starts and is holding opposing batters to a .170 average. In the regular-season loss to the Royals, he gave up four runs (three earned) and seven hits in eight innings as Kansas City designated hitter Billy Butler had a homer and three RBIs. Bumgarner is 2-0 and hasn’t allowed a run in 15 World Series innings, blanking Texas on three hits in eight innings in 2010 and Detroit on two hits over seven innings in 2012.

Shields has struggled in the postseason, giving up 21 hits in 16 innings as opponents have touched him up for a .309 average. He was at the top of his game in the regular-season outing against San Francisco, striking out five and walking one while pitching his ninth career shutout. Shields won his lone career World Series start, beating Philadelphia in 2008 when he gave up seven hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.

TRENDS:

* Giants are 6-0 in their last six World Series Games.
* Royals are 9-0 in their last nine games as an underdog.
* Over is 4-0 in the Giants last four playoff games.
* Over is 4-0 in Shields' last four starts overall.

CONSENSUS: Just under 61 percent of wagers are backing the Kansas City Royals at -101.

 

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Prop bet for which team will score first in WS
Stephen Campbell

The highly anticipated 2014 World Series gets underway Tuesday with the veteran-laden San Francisco Giants taking on the scrappy newcomers Kansas City Royals in Missouri.

If you're looking to get in on some prop bet action for the game, Sportsbook.ag has you covered. The book currently has the following odds on which team will score first in the contest:

Giants -150

Royals +120

 

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Over trending when Royals face lefties
Stephen Campbell

The Kansas City Royals have been putting up a lot of runs on the board against left-handed pitching recently, evidenced by the Over going 5-1-1 in the Royals' last seven games versus lefties.

K.C. will face off against another lefty - Giants ace Madison Bumgarner - in Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday. The Royals will counter with "Big Game" James Shields.

San Fran is currently slight -107 moneyline faves with an O/U of 6.5.

 

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MLB

SAN FRANCISCO (96 - 76) at KANSAS CITY (97 - 73) - 8:05 PM

MADISON BUMGARNER (L) vs. JAMES SHIELDS (R)

There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.8 Units)

MADISON BUMGARNER vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
BUMGARNER is 0-1 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 3.38 and a WHIP of 0.875.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

JAMES SHIELDS vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
SHIELDS is 1-0 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.556.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)

 

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MLB

Trends

SAN FRANCISCO vs. KANSAS CITY
San Francisco is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
San Francisco is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City
Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 6 games at home

 

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Baseball Betting: Streaks, Tips, Notes

San Francisco Giants at Kansas City Royals October 21, 08:00 EST
Royals ridding an 8-0 post season run send right-hander James Shields to the mound carrying a 14-8 record, 3.21 ERA on the campaign. On the other side, Giants 8-2 during second season hand the ball to lefty Madison Bumgarner sporting an 18-10 record, 2.98 ERA. What should get the attention of sports handicappers, Giants' Bumgarner has been better on the road (11-4 2.22 ERA) than in his home venue (7-6, 4.03 ERA) this season. Those digging deeper will also find the left-hander has been light's out in his last four road starts in post season (4-0) giving up 2 runs, striking out 28, walking 5 over over 30.2 innings of work. Expect the Giants to do what they typically do with Bumgarner in road games and that's win!

 

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Bumgarner, Shields open World Series Tuesday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (96-76) at KANSAS CITY ROYALS (97-73)

2014 World Series
Game 1
First pitch: Tuesday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: San Francisco -110, Kansas City +100, Total: 6.5

The 2014 World Series kicks off in a rare spot, Kansas City, as the Royals host the Giants in Game 1 on Tuesday night.

San Francisco has jumped through plenty of hoops to reach its third World Series in five years as it dominated in the Wild Card game and followed that by losing just two games (7-2) over the next two series. When facing the Cardinals in the NLCS, the Giants lost only one contest, as all of their victories came by three runs or less. Their series clincher was an exciting 6-3 win as a walk-off, three-run homer from OF Travis Ishikawa gave San Francisco the National League title. With a five-game hitting streak coming into this one, 3B Pablo Sandoval has provided consistency for this offense while hitting four doubles and scoring six runs in the postseason (10 games). Kansas City has a perfect 8-0 record so far in the playoffs, but has not gotten this far without some very tough games, as six of its eight wins came by two or fewer runs, and four were extra-inning contests. The Royals were victors in each of their past two games of the ALCS against Baltimore by a score of 2-1, as closer Greg Holland earned a save in each of the four wins. With 13 hits in the postseason thus far, 1B Eric Hosmer has been the team’s offensive MVP. He has smacked two homers with 8 RBI and five runs. Both team’s aces will take the mound for this one, as LHP Madison Bumgarner (2-1, 1.42 ERA) of the Giants goes head-to-head with RHP James Shields (1-0, 5.63 ERA) for the host Royals. Throughout the year, San Francisco has been a solid road team with a 47-39 record (.547) away from home while Kansas City is 46-39 (.541) at Kauffman Stadium. These clubs have played one series over the past three seasons, but it came recently as the Royals swept the Giants in Kansas City while outscoring them 16-6 over three contests in August. Some trends bettors should know include that San Francisco is 11-1 (.917) as a road favorite of -110 or higher with Bumgarner pitching this season while the Royals are 45-21 (.682) in 2014 with a hot bullpen whose ERA is under 3.00 over its previous 15 games. As far as injuries are concerned, the Giants continue to be without OF Angel Pagan (back) and 2B Marco Scutaro (back) for the duration of the postseason, while Kansas City has no significant omissions from its lineup.

Madison Bumgarner put together another tremendous year as the ace of this staff after posting a career-high 9.1 K/9 while throwing more than 200 innings for the fourth consecutive season. He also showed some amazing control (1/8 BB/9) while giving up 21 home runs in his 217.1 frames (0.87 HR/9). He’s continued his playoff dominance this year while starting four games and allowing six runs (5 ER) over 31.2 IP. In that time his team is 3-1 while he has a solid 28:5 K/BB ratio. Overall in his postseason career, he is 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while being amazing in two World Series starts in which he has held opponents scoreless over 15 frames and allowed a mere five hits and four walks with 14 strikeouts. Bumgarner has faced the Royals just once in his career, which occurred recently on Aug. 8. In that start, he suffered a loss after allowing four runs (3 ER) on seven hits in eight innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Both 2B Omar Infante (4-for-10, 1 double) and DH Billy Butler (2-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI) have done well in the matchup over limited at-bats, while OF Norichika Aoki (0-for-13) has been horrendous against the lefty. Including the postseason, the bullpen for San Francisco has gone 37-15 (.712) this year with a 2.93 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, and is 51-of-70 (73%) in save opportunities. Closer Santiago Casilla (0.00 ERA, 4 saves) has given up just two hits over 6.2 postseason innings while going 4-for-4 in save opportunities.

James Shields proved his worth this year as he posted an eighth consecutive season with double-digit victories while recording an ERA better than 3.60 for the fourth straight year. He had his best control (1.7 BB/9) since the 2008 campaign as he finished off the regular season with a 2.31 ERA over five September starts. His solid performance did not continue into the playoffs though, as he has a 5.63 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in three outings this postseason. However, K.C. has scored 25 runs in these three starts to bail Shields out. In his nine career playoff starts, Shields is 3-4 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, while throwing 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in his one World Series outing back in 2008. He also pitched an amazing game in his lone career start against the Giants on Aug. 9, tossing a four-hit shutout with five strikeouts and only one walk. The only current San Francisco hitter with multiple hits against Shields is OF Gregor Blanco who is 4-for-7, while OF Hunter Pence is a very poor 0-for-11 in the matchup against the veteran. The true strength of this club is its bullpen, which is 34-18 (.654) with a 3.19 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, while saving a tremendous 59-of-71 (83%) games. Greg Holland (1.13 ERA, 6 saves) has quickly grown into one of the best closers in the game, and saved all four contests in the ALCS. In the 2014 postseason, the right-hander has six saves and a pitching line of: 8 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB's and 10 K's.

 

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Grand Salami - October

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.


NHL GRAND SALAMI

Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result

10/8 4 22 20 UNDER
10/9 12 67.5 70 OVER
10/10 1 5.5 8 OVER
10/11 15 79.5 84 OVER
10/12 2 10 14 OVER
10/13 4 21.5 18 UNDER
10/14 9 50.5 60 OVER
10/15 3 16 19 OVER
10/16 7 39 42 OVER
10/17 6 32.5 18 UNDER
10/18 11 59.5 55 UNDER
10/19 4 21 15 UNDER

 

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Preview: Panthers (1-2) at Avalanche (1-4)

Date: October 21, 2014 9:00 PM EDT

The Colorado Avalanche don't seem too concerned about their slow start.

Looking to bounce back from a rough trip, the Avalanche try to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat Tuesday night against the visiting Florida Panthers.

Last season, Colorado (1-4-1) opened with six straight victories and won 14 of its first 16 en route to the Central Division title.

This season has started much differently for the Avalanche, who went 0-2-1 in the last three games of their four-game trip, which concluded with a 3-2 loss to Montreal on Saturday.

"I'd rather face adversity now than later in the year," forward Matt Duchene told the NHL's official website.

Colorado has yet to come around offensively. After getting outscored 8-0 by Minnesota in a season-opening home-and-home series, the Avalanche managed nine goals on the trip, scoring more than two in a game only once. Duchene and Alex Tanguay each scored their second goals Saturday for Colorado, which ranks near the bottom of the league with 27.5 shots per contest.

"We're going to have to be a little bit better around the net, and put more pucks on net and make the goalie work a little more," coach Patrick Roy told the team's official website.

Calvin Pickard allowed all three goals in the second period but made 33 saves in his first NHL start Saturday.

Roy has faith the promising rookie can man the net while Semyon Varlamov sits out with a groin injury and backup Reto Berra is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

"We didn't show any panic with our decisions or the way we wanted to deal with the situation (of the team's top two goalies being hurt)," Roy said. "(Pickard) was the reason why we had a chance to come back in that game (Saturday)."

Solid goaltending helped Florida (1-2-2) earn three points in the first two of a four-game trip.

Roberto Luongo made 26 saves in a 1-0 victory over Buffalo on Friday. Al Montoya stopped 27 shots Saturday, though he failed to turn aside any of the three he faced in the shootout of a 2-1 loss to Washington on Saturday.

Luongo, who could be back in net for this game, has yielded one goal on 49 shots in his last two starts after giving up eight on 46 in the first two. The former Vancouver Canuck is in the midst of a 12-0-2 stretch against Colorado and has a 1.09 goals-against average during a six-game winning streak in the series.

Luongo and Montoya, though, will need more offensive support from a Panthers club that's totaled a league-low five goals.

"We've got to find ways to score more (goals), to generate more offense," said winger Brad Boyes, who has a goal and an assist over the last two contests.

"We've got to sustain more pressure. We've got to start playing in sync a little bit more. I think when we do that, (we'll be a better team)."

Boyes has two goals and four assists in his last four contests at Colorado. He scored as Florida snapped an 0-1-2 road slide against the Avalanche with a 4-1 victory Nov. 16.

Duchene has three goals and three assists in three road games in the series, but nothing in two at home against the Panthers.

 

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NHL roundup: Kings' Voynov suspended
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has been suspended indefinitely pending a formal investigation by the NHL after his arrest Monday morning on charges of domestic violence.

The defenseman will continue to be paid during the suspension, but he will be unable to participate in any club activities.

According to the NHL in making the announcement, a rule in the collective bargaining agreement states that during a criminal investigation: "The League may suspend the Player pending the League's formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the Player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the League."

Voynov, a 24-year-old Russian, has two assists in six games this season.

Lt. Joe Hoffman of the Redondo Beach Police Department said Voynov was arrested at a local hospital while he was with the alleged victim, the Orange County Register reported. The alleged victim was being treated for what the police described as a crime of domestic violence.


---The Calgary Flames signed defenseman TJ Brodie to a five-year contract. The deal is worth $23.25 million, according to Sportsnet.

Brodie has started the season with three goals and four assists for a six-game point streak that is the longest in the NHL this season and a career high.


---Dallas Stars forward Patrik Nemeth will be sidelined the rest of the season with an arm laceration suffered in Saturday's against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced.

Nemeth, a second-round pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, was scoreless with a plus-1 rating in five games with the Stars this season.


---Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman will be out four to six weeks after having surgery to repair a broken finger.

Hedman, 23, suffered the injury Saturday in a 4-3 victory over Vancouver. He will have the surgery Tuesday, the team announced.

Hedman entered Saturday's game leading NHL defensemen in points, with seven.


---Toronto Maple Leafs forward Brandon Kozun will miss a minimum of six weeks with a high ankle sprain, coach Randy Carlyle said.

The rookie has one assist in five games this season.


---The Detroit Red Wings assigned goaltender Petr Mrazek to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.

Mrazek, who was originally drafted by Detroit in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, has appeared in 11 career games with the Red Wings, sporting a 3-5 record and a 1.80 goals-against average.



---The St. Louis Blues assigned defenseman Petteri Lindbohm to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

Lindbohm, 21, made his NHL debut Sunday night in Anaheim in a 3-0 loss, playing 14:05 and sharing the team lead with four shots on goal.


---The Anaheim Ducks recalled goaltender John Gibson from Norfolk of the American Hockey League. The Ducks also reassigned goaltender Jason LaBarbera to Norfolk.

Gibson, 21, posted a 1-1-0 record with a 3.05 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in two games with Norfolk.



---The Boston Bruins recalled forward Seth Griffith from Providence of the American Hockey League.

Griffith has skated in three games for Boston this season.


---The Washington Capitals assigned right winger Tom Wilson to Hershey of the American Hockey League.

Wilson, who missed the first five games of this season with a lower-body injury, is expected to make his 2014-15 season debut this weekend with Hershey.


---The Buffalo Sabres will officially retire the jersey of goaltender Dominik Hasek, one of the best goaltenders in NHL history.

The ceremony will take place on Jan. 13, 2015, prior to the team's home game against the Detroit Red Wings at First Niagara Center.

 

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Under sizzling in Bruins contests
Stephen Campbell

The Boston Bruins are on an Under tear for bettors banking on low totals.

The Under has gone 7-1-1 in Boston's last nine combined games. The B's host the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden Tuesday.

The Bruins are presently -133 moneyline faves with an O/U of 5.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Road teams prevailing in Devils-Rangers clashes
Stephen Campbell

When the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers get together, it's been the road team that's been coming out on top.

Road clubs are 4-0 in the last four matchups between the two rivals. They'll renew acquaintances Tuesday in the Garden State.

The Devils are presently -115 moneyline favorites with a total of 5.

 

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Islanders-Maple Leafs love going Over the total
Stephen Campbell

If you've been backing the Over in recent matchups between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders, you've been collecting some nice profits.

The Over is 10-1 in the previous 11 meetings between the two teams. Toronto takes on the Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Tuesday.

New York is currently -147 faves on the moneyline with a total of 5.5.

 

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#1 Sports

Tuesday's free selection: Winnipeg Jets - 155

 

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Mike Wynn

Bonus Play: NHL Boston -135 Over San Jose

 

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Razor Sharp

FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY: Take NY RANGERS Even over New Jersey

 

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Totals4U

Tuesday's Free Selection: Toronto Maple Leafs/New York Islanders over 6

 

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Atlantic Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: San Jose Sharks + 125

 

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Platinum Plays

Free Pick: NHL Calgary Flames +110 Over Tampa Bay

 

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Huddle Up Sports

Free Winner: MLB Series winner San Frasisco -110