4-18-13

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MLB weather report: high winds across baseball

Howling winds will sweep through many of baseball's parks Thursday, with a couple games having rain as well in the forecast.

Here's Thursday's MLB weather report:

(All lines provided are suggested lines from odds service company The Sports Club)

Texas Rangers vs. Chicago Cubs (n/a)
Site: Wrigley Field

Thundershowers are in the forecast, with a 95 percent chance of rain with winds blowing out to center field at 16 mph.

New York Mets vs. Colorado Rockies (n/a, +115, 10)
Site: Coors Field

Skies will be partly cloudy and temperatures will be in the low-30s. Winds will blow in from left field at 13 mph. The over was 10-4 in 2012 at Coors Field when the wind blew in from left field.

Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians (+125, -130, 8)
Site: Progressive Field

A 41 percent chance of rain, along with a chance of thunderstorms with winds blowing out to center field.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees (n/a, 125, 8.5)
Site: Yankee Stadium

Slight chance of rain by 8:00 p.m. ET, and winds will blow at 12 mph in from right field.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles (+125, n/a, 7.5)
Site: Camden Yards

Winds will blow out to left field at 14 mph.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies (-130, +120, 7.5)
Site: Citizens Bank Park

Cloudy skies and temperatures in the low-60s. Winds will blow out to left field at 11 mph.

Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (+125, n/a, 8)
Site: PNC Park

Winds will be blowing in from right field at 14 mph.

Miami Marlins vs. Cincinnati Reds (n/a, -160, 8.5)
Site: Great American Ball Park

Winds will blow in from right field at 15 mph.

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Thursday's streaking and slumping MLB starting pitchers

Major league pitchers have enough starts under their belts to pick out which arms are streaking and slumping to start the season. Each day we’ll look at the hottest and coldest pitchers taking the mound.

Streaking

Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners (2-0, 2.18 ERA)

Seattle’s second-year hurler has excelled early on and has risen to the challenge, out-dueling big names like Yu Darvish and Chris Sale so far. He shares the mound with another star, Detroit ace Justin Verlander. Iwakuma has 16 strikeouts and just one walk in 20 2/3 innings and is stellar inside Safeco Field, boasting a 7-3 record and 2.40 ERA in 18 home games – 11 of those were starts.

Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers (2-0, 1.08 ERA)

The Rangers have won all three times Ogando has taken the bump this season, getting 16 2/3 innings out of the righty in those starts. Ogando has limited opposing bats to just .194 and has been especially stingy with runners in scoring position (.125). He’s fanned 17 batters while walking just five.

Slumping

Phil Hughes, New York Yankees (0-2, 10.29 ERA)

Hughes hasn’t lasted more than four innings in his three starts and was chased after only three in his most recent appearance versus Baltimore. He gave up five runs on five hits – three of which were home runs. Hughes heard it from the Bronx crowd and could be headed to the bullpen if this slump continues.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies (0-2, 7.56 ERA)

Hamels looked much better in his last outing, giving up one run on six hits in a no-decision to the Marlins. But that’s not enough to erase his horrific efforts in his first two starts of 2013. The Phillies’ high-priced southpaw was battered for 13 runs on 13 hits, including four home runs, in just under 11 innings of work. He’s been hit-and-miss versus St. Louis going 2-3 with a 3.27 career ERA.

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A's continue bashing, over keeps cashing

The over in Oakland Athletics games improved to 13-3 this season after the team's 7-5 victory over Houston Wednesday afternoon.

Oddsmakers haven't adjusted yet, with Oakland not seeing a total over 8.5 all season, and getting that number only twice in 16 games.

The A's are hammering the ball all over the park. They lead all of baseball in runs (89) and doubles (37), third in hits (138) and home runs (20) and fifth in Billy Beane's favorite stat OBP (.348).

Oakland is also an impressive 12-4 this season, good for an early two-game lead over Texas in the AL West. It's also second in money rankings, with all $100 bettors up $835 this season.

The A's are also 45-17 in its last 62 regular season games dating back to last season.

Oakland has a travel day Wednesday and will begin a three-game series against Tampa Bay on Thursday.

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Price cold: Rays 0-3 with reigning Cy Young winner

The Tampa Bay Rays are 0-3 in ace pitcher David Price's starts this season.

Price is 0-1 with a 5.82 ERA in three appearances. The lefty will take the bump versus the Baltimore Orioles Thursday, hoping to improve on the -4.6 units he's cost Rays backers this month.

The defending American League Cy Young winner is off to a slow start in 2013, but is coming off his best performance of the season. Price went six innings in a no-decision in his last start Saturday. He surrendered one earned run as the Rays lost 2-1 to the Boston Red Sox.

Oddsmakers have sent out a suggested moneyline of Tampa Bay -125 at Baltimore Thursday. The total was sent out at 7.5 runs.

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Momemtum gives these three NBA teams added playoff value
By JASON LOGAN

Momentum is worth its weight in gold come playoff time and often the hottest team – not the best team – makes a run at the title. With the NBA playoffs kicking off this weekend, we look at three teams that are peaking at the perfect time and providing added value in the NBA futures market.

(All stats are prior to Wednesday's games.)

Memphis Grizzlies (+2,500)

The Grizzlies were the sharp darling before the season started and haven’t strayed too far from their opening NBA title odds. Memphis enters the season finale with the Utah Jazz Wednesday a winner in eight of its last 10 games, posting a 6-3-1 ATS mark in that span. The Grizzlies own the top-ranked defense in the league and unlike most teams at this time of the year, they are relatively healthy.

Brooklyn Nets (+5,000)

Jay-Z may not want to rush out and sell all his stock in the Nets just yet. Brooklyn is picking up speed heading into the postseason and will have home court in the opening round as the No. 4 seed in the East. The Nets have won six of their last eight games including key matchups with Indiana and Boston, thanks in part to the play of Deron Williams (averaging 27 points this month). The Nets opened at 30-1 to win the NBA title and were as big as 100-1 after a slow start to the season.

Los Angeles Clippers (+1,500)

The Clippers strut into their finale with the Sacramento Kings having won six straight games while boasting a 5-1 ATS count in that stretch. Los Angeles needs a win versus the Kings to secure the No. 4 spot in the West and hold down home court for the first round. The Clips, who opened at 15-1, are also healthy with Caron Butler and Chauncey Billups back in the lineup.

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Capping the easiest and hardest NHL schedules

With less than two weeks left before the Stanley Cup playoffs begin, here's a look at three teams with hard schedules who could go sliding, and three with smooth schedules who could go on a late-season streak.

Three easiest schedules:

New York Rangers (eighth in East, 46 points)
Remaining schedule: Florida, @Buffalo, New Jersey, @Florida, @Carolina, New Jersey

The Broadway Blueshirts are the only team in the East that doesn't meet a current playoff team the rest of the season, which should give the Rangers another leg up on Winnipeg for the final playoff spot in the conference.

St. Louis Blues (seventh in West, 50 points)
Remaining schedule: Phoenix, Dallas, @Colorado, Colorado, Calgary, Chicago

Only playoff team remains on the docket for the Blues, with a road game in Colorado the only trip away from the Scottrade Center before the playoffs.

New York Islanders (seventh in East, 49 points)
Remaining schedule: @Toronto, @Winnipeg, @Carolina, @Philadelphia, @Buffalo

At first glance, five road games doesn't seem like the perfect way to wrap up the schedule for a young team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2007. But the Long Islanders have only one game against a current playoff team, Toronto, and are road warriors this season with a 12-5-1-1 record.

Three toughest schedules:

Edmonton Oilers (12th in West, 39 points)
Remaining schedule: @Colorado, Anaheim, Anaheim, Chicago, @Minnesota, Vancouver

The young Oilers have lost six in a row, fired their GM this week, and face the top three teams in the Western Conference and another playoff team in the Wild in their last five games.

Washington Capitals (third in East, 50 points)
Remaining schedule: @Ottawa, @Montreal, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Boston

Washington will be put to the test to keep its eight-game winning streak afloat, starting with two road games against Ottawa and Montreal.

Calgary Flames (14th in West, 36 points)
Remaining schedule: Detroit, Anaheim, @Minnesota, @Nashville, @St. Louis, @Chicago

Calgary will face only one other cellar-dweller in Nashville, and will close out the season with four on the road, where it has the league's 29th-ranked record at 5-13-2.

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Streaking Capitals making money for bettors

The Washington Capitals are hockey's hottest team, riding an eight-game winning streak into Thursday's road test against Ottawa.

A $100 bettor would be up $611.63 if they hopped on the Capitals' train at the start of the streak.

While Alex Ovechkin got all of the headlines because of his poor play early in the season, he's now in the spotlight due to his improved production, recording 10 goals and four assists during streak.

Before the streak began, Ovechkin only scored four of his 18 goals through March 31 against teams that are currently in the Eastern Conference playoffs. He scored in each of Washington's previous two contests with playoff teams - against Montreal April 9 and against Toronto April 16.

His partner in the middle of the ice, Nicklas Backstrom, is also playing like a superstar. Backstrom has 13 assists in his last eight games. He had six goals and 25 helpers in the 35 games prior.

The Caps will look for their ninth win in a row in Ottawa Thursday. Washington is currently even money to win, the Senators are -108 at home and the total is 5.5.

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DCI Pro Hockey
The Daniel Curry Index

04/18/13 Predictions

Season: 250-156 (.616)

N.Y. Islanders vs. TORONTO: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
N.Y. RANGERS 3, Florida 2
MONTREAL 4, Tampa Bay 3
Washington vs. OTTAWA: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
PHILADELPHIA 3, New Jersey 2
WINNIPEG 4, Carolina 2
ST. LOUIS 3, Phoenix 2
Vancouver vs. DALLAS: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
LOS ANGELES 3, Columbus 2
SAN JOSE 3, Minnesota 2

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Gamblers Data

Free Play Thursday

Flyers -140

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NHL

Hot teams
-- Rangers won their last four home games.
-- Islanders won nine of their last twelve games. Toronto won seven of last ten.
-- Flyers won last two games, scoring 11 goals.
-- Washington won its last eight games. Senators won last three games, allowing three goals.
-- Winnipeg won its last four games, allowing seven goals.
-- Blues won seven of their last nine games.
-- Dallas Stars won five of their last six games. Canucks won five of last seven.
-- San Jose won ten of its last thirteen games. Minnesota won its last two games, scoring nine goals.
-- Blue Jackets won last five games, allowing eight goals. Los Angeles won its last four home games.

Cold teams
-- Florida lost four of its last five games.
-- Devils lost last ten games, didn't score in last two.
-- Lightning lost six of its last seven games. Montreal lost last three games, allowing total of 18 goals.
-- Hurricanes lost 15 of their last 17 games.
-- Coyotes lost three of their last four games.

Totals
-- 16 of last 19 Panther-Ranger games stayed under the total.
-- Eight of last twelve Islander games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 5-1-1 in last seven New Jersey games.
-- Last five Ottawa games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Tampa Bay games went over the total.
-- Under is 12-4-2 in last eighteen Carolina games.
-- Under is 5-1-1 in last seven Phoenix games.
-- Over is 11-4-1 in last sixteen Dallas games.
-- Under is 3-0-2 in last five San Jose games.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Columbus-LA games.

Series records
-- Rangers won three of last four games with Florida.
-- Islanders lost six of last nine games with Toronto.
-- Flyers lost seven of last eight games with New Jersey.
-- Capitals lost seven of last nine visits to Ottawa.
-- Canadiens won six of last eight games with Tampa Bay.
-- Jets won three of last four games with Carolina.
-- Blues won five of their last six games with Phoenix.
-- Canucks won eight of last twelve games with Dallas.
-- Sharks lost four of last five games with Minnesota.
-- Kings won nine of last twelve games with Columbus.

Back-to-backs
-- Montreal is 6-2 if it played the night before.
-- Blue Jackets are 3-5 on road if they played night before.

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MLB

Hot pitchers
-- Cain has 1.38 RA in two road starts; Giants are 0-3 in his starts this year, scoring a total of six runs.
-- Mets won all three Niese starts (2-0, 4.58) scoring 34 runs. Colorado won both Garland starts (1-0, 3.75).
-- Wainwright is 2-0, 1.13 in his last couple starts.
-- Fernandez is 0-0, 1.51 in two starts this season.

-- Corbin is 2-0, 1.50 in two starts this season.
-- Texas is 3-0 in Ogando starts (2-0, 1.08). Villanueva is 0-0, 0.64 in two starts this season.

-- Verlander is 2-1, 1.96 in three starts this season. Iwakuma is 2-0, 2.18 in his three starts.
-- Red Sox are 3-0 in Lester starts (2-0, 1.42).

Cold pitchers
-- Gallardo is 0-1, 7.16 in three starts and got a DUI since his last outing; he blew a 2.2 into the Breathalyzer.
-- Phillies lost all three Hamels starts (0-2, 7.56).
-- Teheran is 0-0, 7.36 in two starts this season. Locke is 1-1, 4.09 in his two starts this season.
-- Rookie prospect Cingrani makes MLB debut for Reds; he threw 14.2 IP in minors this year, without allowing a run.

-- Hughes is 0-2, 11.57 in two starts this season.

-- Tampa Bay is 0-3 in Price starts (0-1, 5.82). MGonzalez is 1-1, 3.65 in two starts this season.
-- McAllister is 1-1, 5.11 in two starts this season.
-- Sale is 0-1, 8.49 in his last couple starts. Dickey is 1-2, 6.88 in three starts.

Totals
-- Six of last eight games at Miller Park went over the total.
-- Nine of twelve Met games went over the total.
-- Five of last six Philly games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last six Pittsburgh games went over the total.
-- Ten of last thirteen Cincinnati games went over the total.

-- Last five Bronx games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 6-0-1 in last seven Texas games.

-- Last five Toronto games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last six Boston games stayed under the total.
-- Eight of last ten Tampa Bay games stayed under total.
-- Over is 9-2-1 in last twelve Detroit games.

Hot teams
-- Brewers won last three games, scoring 18 runs.
-- Cardinals won seven of their last ten games.
-- Pirates won six of their last eight games. Braves won ten of their last eleven games
-- Colorado won 10 of its last 13 games.

-- Bronx won seven of its last eight games.
-- Rangers won six of their last nine games.

-- Red Sox won seven of their last nine games.
-- Tigers won eight of their last eleven games.

Cold teams
-- Giants lost last two games, allowing 14 runs.
-- Miami lost twelve of its first fifteen games.
-- Phillies lost last three games, scoring four runs.
-- Brewers lost five of their last seven home games.
-- Mets lost four of their last six games.

-- Cubs lost eight of their last ten games.
-- Diamondbacks are 3-5 in their last eight games.

-- Rays lost seven of their last nine games. Baltimore lost three of its last four home games.
-- White Sox lost six of their last nine games. Toronto is 4-6 in its last ten.
-- Indians lost eight of their last eleven games.
-- Mariners lost eight of their last eleven games.

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Today's MLB Picks

Tampa Bay at Baltimore

The Orioles look to bounce back from yesterday's loss to the Rays and build on their 4-0 record in Miguel Gonzalez' last 4 starts following a team defeat in their previous game. Baltimore is the pick (+105) according to Dunkel, which has the Orioles favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+105). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18 Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST

Game 951-952: San Francisco at Milwaukee (1:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Cain) 15.555; Milwaukee (Gallardo) 15.903 Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1/2; 9 Vegas Line: San Francisco (-130); 8 Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (+110); Over

Game 953-954: NY Mets at Colorado (3:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Niese) 15.393; Colorado (Garland) 16.544 Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 9 Vegas Line: No Line Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 955-956: St. Louis at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wainwright) 15.401; Philadelphia (Hamels) 15.741 Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-110); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-110); Under

Game 957-958: Atlanta at Pittsburgh (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Teheran) 16.680; Pittsburgh (Locke) 16.135 Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1/2; 9 Vegas Line: Atlanta (-125); 8 Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-125); Over

Game 959-960: Miami at Cincinnati (7:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Miami (Fernandez) 13.405; Cincinnati (Cingrani) 15.937 Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 2 1/2; 9 Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-160); 8 Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-160); Over

Game 961-962: Detroit at Seattle (3:40 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Verlander) 16.261; Seattle (Iwakuma) 16.920 Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1/2; 5 1/2 Vegas Line: Detroit (-160); 6 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+140); Under

Game 963-964: Chicago White Sox at Toronto (7:07 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Sale) 15.334; Toronto (Dickey) 14.391 Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1; 8 Vegas Line: Toronto (-130); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (+110); Over

Game 965-966: Tampa Bay at Baltimore (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Price) 15.319; Baltimore (Gonzalez) 16.610 Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1 1/2; 6 1/2 Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-125); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+105); Under

Game 967-968: Boston at Cleveland (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lester) 14.890; Cleveland (McAllister) 15.110 Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: Boston (-135); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+115); Under

Game 969-970: Texas at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Ogando) 15.102; Cubs (Villanueva) 14.737 Dunkel Line: Texas by 1/2; 8 Vegas Line: No Line Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 971-972: Arizona at NY Yankees (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Corbin) 15.830; NY Yankees (Hughes) 15.405 Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1/2; 8 Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-115); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-105); Under

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Kevin
MLBPredictions

2 UNIT = Detroit Tigers @ Seattle Mariners - UNDER 6.5 RUNS (-105)
Listed Pitchers: Verlander vs Iwakuma
(Note: I'm risking 2.00 units to win 1.90 units)

2 UNIT = Chicago White Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays - WHITE SOX TO WIN (+113)
Listed Pitchers: Sale vs Dickey
(Note: I'm risking 2.00 units to win 2.26 units)

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Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports

Our Free Plays are 1019-755 (57 + %) over the last 4 1/2 years !

Free winner 8-4 run Thurs Blue Jays w/ Dickey