Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Mike Scioscia readies Angels

Coming off a 4-3 loss last time out, Minnesota can redeem themselves and get back on the winning track Tuesday at Los Angeles.

The Twins start Baker, 2-4, 5.48 ERA. His last trip was a win, a 16-10 team win against the Brewers, when he threw 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits.

Sporting a 23-27 overall record and an 8-18 mark within the division, the Twins aim to knock the Angels (8-9 in the division) for a loss.

Oddsmakers like the Angels in this one, opening the line at 145 in favor of Los Angeles. They are 22-29 this season, while the Twins are 23-27. The total, which is 29-21-1 to the OVER in Angels games and 29-19-2 in Twins games, opened at 9.5.

Mike Scioscia's team was busy last game winning against Minnesota 4-3 as favorites. The 7 runs sent that game under the total of 9.

Los Angeles hitters can get ready or be made to look foolish today, as the Twins staff boasts one of the best strikeout ratios in the league, fanning 7 per game.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Royals head to Oakland

Oddsmakers don't give the Royals much of a chance Monday, installing them and their starting pitcher as pups when they visit Oakland at McAfee Coliseum.

Sporting a 23-27 overall record and a 13-9 mark within the division, the Athletics aim to knock the Royals (10-21 in the division) for a loss.

The Athletics are a huge favorite, but offer the temptation for dog bettors to collect big if they can win despite the 320. The Royals, with an 11-37 mark on the season, look to bite as a big road dog in a game that saw the total open at 8.5.

Monday, May 15, 2006

Giants look to Regroup

After losing two-of-three to the Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants hope they can get back into the win column Monday against the Houston Astros.

San Francisco Giants hope they can get back into the win column MondaySo much for being road warriors, San Francisco tries to shake its current rep for being road patsies along with its four-game road losing skid at Minute Maid Park.

Houston has been struggling of late, winning just three of their past 10 games. They have averaged just 4.5 runs per game during this stretch and getting 8.9 hits per game. For the season, they are 22-16 facing a San Francisco team carrying a 18-20 record.

The Astros (22-16) opened as 160 favorites and they host a Giants team that has won 18 of their 38 games this season. The total opened at 9.

Felipe Alou's troops hosted Los Angeles last game and came away with a 6-3 loss, a game that went over 8. Oddsmakers had them as favorites in that one.

Phil Garner's troops were at home against the Rockies last game and came away with a 3-0 win, a game that went under 9. Oddsmakers had them as favorites.

Expect San Francisco to be tough at the plate and not sink themselves by striking out a lot. The Giants batters are in the top three in the league, fanning just 5.1 times per game.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Doug Flutie Retires

He came from Boston College and will leave a New England Patriot. After 21 seasons in pro football, 12 of them in the NFL, Doug Flutie has announced his retirement.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Friday, May 12, 2006

Phoenix looks to Bounce

With the series tied 1-1, the Phoenix Suns look to rebound from a 122-97 loss to the Clippers when they tip off tonight for Game 3 in Los Angeles.

Phoenix Suns look to reboundThe Clippers play into revenge Friday, after handing Phoenix a 122-97 defeat in their last meeting back on May 10, 2006.

The Clippers are favored slightly by the bookmakers, who opened the game at 3. They are 47-35 on the season, while the Suns bring a 54-28 mark to the table. The total has been set at 215.

Last time out, at US Airways Center against Los Angeles, the Suns as favorites lost to the Clippers 122-97. The game was an over play.

This game is likely to come down to the Suns' execution on offence. They rank 1st in the league in scoring and look to sustain their 108.4 points per game average against the Clippers' #11-rated defensive unit.

Nets Battle Heat

With the series tied 1-1, the Nets and the Heat get set for Game 3 of their second-round playoff matchup tonight in New Jersey.

Miami gets its chance to win as a road dog after the line opened with them as 1.5-point underdogs. They are 52-30, while the Nets are 49-33. The total opened at 188.

Miami won at home against the Nets last game as 8-point favorites, tallying a score of 111-89. The total sailed over.

Gatlin Breaks World Record

Justin Gatlin broke the 100-meter world recordOlympic champion Justin Gatlin broke the 100-meter world record Friday with a time of 9.76 seconds at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The American sprinter lowered the mark of 9.77 seconds set by Jamaica's Asafa Powell on June 14, 2005, in Athens, Greece.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Philadelphia Goes for Four

Philadelphia can extend its win streak to 4 games Wednesday, while the Braves will be looking to snap that streak.

The Braves start John SmoltzThe Braves start John Smoltz, 1-2, 4.09 ERA. His last trip was a loss, a 5-2 team loss against the Mets, when he threw 7 innings, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits.

Philadelphia brings a 12-14 overall mark (6-4 in the division) into this game versus an Atlanta team carrying a 12-14 record.

If you don't see much advantage or edge between these teams, you and Vegas oddsmakers have it the same way. The game opened as a pick'em on the line and 8.5 on the total. On the season, the Phillies are 12-14, while the Braves are 12-14.

Bobby Cox's team was busy last game winning against the Rockies 5-4 as favorites. The 9 runs sent that game as a push against the total of 9.

Meanwhile, at Dolphins Stadium, the favorite Phillies were winning against the Marlins 7-5. The game was an over play.

Atlanta hitters had better be ready today, as the Phillies staff boasts one of the best strikeout ratios in the league, fanning 6.9 per game.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Spurs Host Kings

After droping two straight games in Sacramento, the San Antonio Spurs have the chance to get back on the winning track when they host the Kings tonight in Game 5.

The Kings play into revenge Tuesday, after handing San Antonio a 102-84 defeat in their last meeting back on April 30, 2006.

The Spurs are favored, opening as 9-point chalk, with an opening total of 186. They are 63-19 this season and 35-46-1 OU. The Kings are 44-38 and are 28-37 OU.

The Kings come off a 102-84 win against the Spurs, a game where they were 5-point underdogs. The game went under the closing total of 188.

Canes Look to Finish Habs

The Montreal Canadiens will be looking tp push the Carolina Hurricanes to a Game 7 when the two teams meet tonight at the Bell Centre for Game 6.

Montreal gets its chance to win as a home dog after the line opened with them as 115 underdogs. They are 55-23-9, while the Canadiens are 44-33-10. The total opened at 6.

Peter Laviolette's troops hosted Montreal last game and came away with a 2-1 win, a game that went under 6. Oddsmakers had them as favorites in that one.

This game is likely to come down to the Hurricanes' execution on offence. They rank 3rd in the league in scoring and look to sustain their 3.5 goals per game average against the Canadiens' #12-rated defensive unit.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Clippers seek History with Win

The Los Angeles Clippers can do something they haven't done in 30 years Monday - win a playoff series - when they host the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 at STAPLES Center.

The Clippers were soild in their Game 4 win, and look to continue the onslaught of offense tonight in front of the home fans.

The Clippers are favored, opening as 4.5-point chalk, with an opening total of 191.

George Karl's team hopes to rebound from a 100-86 loss at the hands of the Clippers last game. They were 3-point favorites in a game that went under the total.

If Denver is to get back in the series they will need to generate more offense to combat the balanced attack of the Clippers, who had seven players in double figures last game.