6-19-11

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Hondo

Hondo made some genuine progress yesterday, winning a pair of one-runners with the Twins and Rangers to cut the deficit to 1,350 dickeys. Another 13 days like that and Mr. Aitch will have his head above water.

Tonight, he'll give the rock to Sabathia for a 10-unit play on the Yanks in Wrigley.

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Free from Arthur Ralph Sports

659- 502 57 % Run over 3 YEARS

Free one Sunday: Dodgers -150

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Gamblers Data

Free Play Sunday

Phils -160

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Sunday's Betting Tips: Suspension Over, Papelbon Available

Weather To Watch

The forecast for Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open in Bethesda, Md., calls for temperatures in the low 80s and a 20 to 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms. There will be a light 4 to 7 mile-per-hour wind from the north.

Who’s Hot

MLB: The Braves are 12-3 in Jair Jurrjens’ last 15 starts.

MLB: The Under is 19-7-1 in umpire Lazaro Diaz’s last 27 games behind home plate. Diaz will be calling balls and strikes in Sunday’s Giants-A’s game.

Who’s Not

MLB: The Cardinals are 1-5 in their last six games against left-handed starters.

MLB: The Rockies have lost their last eight Sunday games.

Key Stat

14 – That’s how many rebounds Minnesota Ly*x forward Rebekkah Brunson is averaging, to go with 15.4 points. The WNBA’s leading rebounder had 18 points and 14 rebounds in Minnesota’s 96-85 home win over Atlanta on Friday. The teams complete a home-and-home Sunday in Atlanta, with the Dream laying 3.5 points in a 3 p.m. ET tipoff.

Injury Not To Be Overlooked

Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford strained his left hamstring Friday night while beating out an infield single against the Brewers and has been placed on the 15-day DL. It’s a significant loss for Boston. Crawford, hitting .243 with 6 homers and 31 RBIs for the first-place Sox, had turned it on after a brutal April and May in which he batted .155.

Game Of The Day

Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox (-103, 9)

Notable Quotable

"Time is running out, but both parties seem, at least to me, intent to make a deal by June 30." – NBA Commissioner David Stern, on negotiations to replace the labor agreement that expires at month’s end. However, the NBA has canceled its annual Las Vegas Summer League, a nine-day event in July for rookies and younger players.

Tips And Notes

Rory McIlroy (-14) holds an eight-shot lead at the U.S. Open heading into Sunday's final round after setting the tournament's 54-hole scoring record. Y.E. Yang is his closest pursuer, with Lee Westwood, Jason Day and Robert Garrigus each nine strokes back.

Umpire Brian Runge will be behind the plate for Sunday’s Florida-Tampa Bay game. That would seem to be good news for the Rays. With Runge calling balls and strikes, home teams are on streaks of 39-19 overall, 16-5 on Sundays, and 8-1 in interleague play.

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who’s 2-0 with 13 saves in 14 opportunities, has finished serving his two-game suspension and is available for Sunday’s home game against Milwaukee. Papelbon originally was suspended three games for making contact with plate umpire Tony Randazzo on June 4 against Oakland. He was irate with Randazzo’s calls on balls and strikes. The suspension was reduced from three games to two following Papelbon’s appeal, and he began serving it Friday.

The San Antonio Silver Stars are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history, and also are 4-0 ATS. Four players average in double figures, led by Sophia Young (17.5) and Danielle Adams (16.0). But San Antonio, which hosts Phoenix on Tuesday, doesn’t only lead the WNBA in scoring (93.2) and shooting percentage (51.1). The Silver Stars also play stifling defense, holding opponents to a league-low 39.8 percent from the field.

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HOT LINES

Sunday's Best MLB Bets

Cincinnati Reds at Toronto Blue Jays (-120, 9)

Converted reliever Carlos Villanueva makes his sixth start for the Blue Jays on Sunday. He’s posted a 4.77 ERA in his five starts, and all of them have gone Over the total.

Villanueva will be opposed by Bronson Arroyo (5-6, 5.23 ERA). Batters are hitting .296 against Arroyo, who at age 34 is not inducing ground-ball outs as often as he used to.

Current Blue Jays are hitting .326 against Arroyo.

The Over is 6-2 in umpire Dan Iassogna’s last eight behind the plate.

PICK: Over


Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals (-135, NA)

Washington is on an eight-game win streak after Saturday’s 4-2 win, and could get to .500 by sweeping Baltimore out of Nationals Park on Sunday.

The Orioles have dropped six of seven to fall a season-high six games below .500.

But streaks have to end sometime.

Tom Gorzelanny, who has been sidelined with an inflamed left elbow, returns to start for Washington. He was getting hammered before he went on the DL. The Orioles counter with converted reliever Chris Jakubauskas, who’s had one good start and one bad one.

It’s not like the Orioles are going meekly. They’ve pounded out 26 hits in the first two games of the series, stranding 20 runners. At +127, this dog is worth a play.

PICK: Orioles

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Sunday's Streaking And Slumping Starting Pitchers

STREAKING

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers (8-3, 2.66 ERA)

The Tigers' ace is leading the race for the American League Cy Young award. He flirted with a no-hitter in his most recent trip to the bump, giving up just two hits in a shutout win over the Indians. Verlander has won four straight decisions and hasn’t dropped a game since April 27. The righty is also stellar against the National League, posting a 12-2 career interleague record.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies (9-2, 2.49 ERA)

Hamels isn’t living in the shadow of the Phillies’ star-studded staff. The left-hander can become the first 10-game winner in the NL with a “W” Sunday. He’s 5-0 in his last seven starts and has allowed three or fewer runs in nine of his last 10 appearances. However, buyer beware with Hamels versus the Mariners this Sunday. He left Tuesday’s game with some tightness in his back, but assured Philadelphia faithful he’s feeling fine.

Jeff Karstens, Pittsburgh Pirates (4-4, 2.66 ERA)

Karstens said the soreness he felt in his left knee during his last start is “no big deal.” It certainly didn’t diminish his effectiveness, as he allowed three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over Houston. The 28-year-old right-hander faces Cleveland Sunday riding a streak in which he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in his last eight starts. And he’s been near unhittable in his last three, giving up one earned run over 20 2/3 innings. For the season, he’s walked 12 batters in 71 innings.

Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers (8-3, 3.76 ERA)

The 25-year-old right-hander struck out a season-high 10 his last time out, and has allowed two earned runs or less in seven of his last eight starts. He now has 84 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings. When he won six straight starts from early May to early June, he became only the second Brewer to accomplish the feat in a single season in 19 years. Sunday he’ll be facing Boston for the first time.



SLUMPING

Trevor Cahill, Oakland A’s (6-5, 3.42 ERA)

Cahill is 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA this month after going 6-3 with a 2.31 ERA in April and May. He’s struggling with his mechanics, and the result has been wildness. The 23-year-old has walked 21 batters over his last four starts. Oakland hasn’t won one of Cahill’s starts since May 9. However, he’s 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA in three career starts against Sunday’s opponent, San Francisco.

Tom Gorzelanny, Washington Nationals (2-4, 4.25 ERA)

Gorzelanny rejoins the rotation Sunday against the Orioles after being sidelined with an elbow injury. Before going on the DL, Gorzelanny was hit hard in three straight starts, giving up 13 earned runs and 24 hits over 15 1/3 innings. The good news is that Gorzelanny appears to be healthy now and has fared well at home this season, going 1-0 with a 2.52 ERA in four starts.

Chris Volstad, Florida Marlins (2-7, 6.07 ERA)

It seems like Marlins pitchers are becoming a mainstay in the “slumping” section. Volstad is on a four-game losing skid and hasn’t picked up a win since April 26. He’s coming off a beating at the hands of the Phillies last Tuesday, giving up eight runs on 10 hits – four of which were home runs. He’s served up 14 round trippers this season – third most in the NL.

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MLB NEWS AND NOTES
Sunday Night Baseball: Yankees at Cubs
By Colin Kelly



New York Yankees at Chicago Cubs (+157)

With another interleague weekend in full swing, the New York Yankees once again get to play under ESPN’s Sunday night spotlight, this time at Wrigley Field to wrap up a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs. Let’s take a look at how things are shaping up for both teams headed into this matchup.

ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE

Alex Rodriguez, playing at Wrigley for the first time since 2002, took the collar with a 0-for-4 night in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Cubs, yet somehow managed to enjoy the scene.

“It was pretty amazing,” Rodriguez told the Associated Press. “It’s definitely a great stadium, great atmosphere, great crowd, and it was a perfect day for the Cubs.”

Chicago notched its fourth win in five games and did so in front of a season-best crowd of 42,219, lured by the Yankees’ first game at Wrigley since 2003. Last month, the Cubs got to play a three-game set at Fenway Park against the Red Sox, something manager Mike Quade enjoyed, but not nearly as much as Friday.

“The biggest crowd of the year, but the best crowd,” Quade told the AP. “These two cities are so well represented. It was better than the Boston series for me. … The electricity was something special.”

Quade told YahooSports he’d be hard pressed to believe ticket holders weren’t thrilled to be there.

“If you bought a ticket and you weren’t happy with what you saw, you should probably do lacrosse or something else,” he said. “That was fun for all of us.”

QUICK COOL DOWN

The Yankees entered this series coming off a tremendous week offensively, piling up 51 runs during a 6-1 stretch at their home stadium – an average of 7.3 runs per game. Getting back on the road, though, seemed to chill New York’s hot bats.

The Pinstripes mustered just five hits Friday night (four singles and a double) in the 3-1 setback at the Friendly Confines, though they bounced back with a 4-3 win Saturday.

Rodriguez’s oh-fer batting in the No. 4 hole Friday left two men stranded. Curtis Granderson, batting second, matched A-Rod’s night with a 0-for-4 effort at the plate, striking out three times and leaving four runners on the basepaths.

SUCCESS WITH THE HEFTY LEFTY

After losing in two of C.C. Sabathia’s first three starts this year, the Yankees have gone 9-3 behind the big southpaw, helping Sabathia improve to 8-4 with a 3.28 ERA in the process. In fact, New York is 5-1 in C.C.’s last six starts, including 3-0 on the highway, where Sabathia allowed just five total runs in 20 innings to get the decision in all three games.

While the Hefty Lefty’s pitching has been key, just as much so has been the Yanks’ propensity for putting up runs behind Sabathia. During the 9-3 tear, New York has scored six runs or more seven times, including five games with a whopping 12 runs or more. On Tuesday against Texas at home, Sabathia yielded four runs on eight hits, with no walks and six strikeouts, and New York’s offense tore it up in a 12-4 rout.

NOTEWORTHY TRENDS

New York (39-29) is on a handful of positive streaks, including 7-2 overall, 7-2 in roadies, 7-1 in Game 3 of a series and 16-5 in interleague play against right-handed starters, with Chicago’s Randy Wells (1-1, 5.62 ERA) taking the ball Sunday. And with Sabathia toeing the slab, the Yanks are on rolls of 51-18 overall, 4-1 in interleague play, 4-1 on Sundays and 26-10 on the road.

The Cubs, meanwhile, have won four of their last six (all at home), but they shoulder a few negative streaks, including 1-4 against lefty starters, 6-20 on Sundays, 12-30 in Game 3 of a series, 5-13 against the American League East and 6-15 in interleague play against winning teams.

These two teams don’t meet often, with this series being the first since 2005 when New York swept a three-game set in the Bronx. But lower-scoring games have been the norm. The under is 6-2 in the last seven Yankees-Cubs clashes. The under has also hit in six straight Sunday games for Chicago and six straight road games for New York.

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WNBA NEWS AND NOTES
WNBA: Ly*x-Dream Betting Preview
By Associated Press



Minnesota Ly*x at Atlanta Dream (-3.5, 169.5)

The Atlanta Dream became the latest team to struggle to find an answer to Minnesota's Rebekkah Brunson.

They'll get another chance at slowing her down when they host the streaking Ly*x in the finale of a home-and-home set Sunday.

Brunson was named the Western Conference's player of the week Monday and she continued her hot start with 18 points and 14 rebounds in Minnesota's 96-85 win over Atlanta on Friday. The Ly*x (4-1) have won four straight since dropping their season opener.

Brunson is averaging 15.4 points and 14.0 rebounds and has recorded a double-double in each of her team's first five games, one shy of the WNBA record to start a year.

In just her second season with the Ly*x, Brunson has also tied Nicky Anosike's franchise record for double-doubles with 17.

"Somehow you've got to tie her shoestrings together and not let her jump," Dream coach Marynell Meadors joked. "We didn't do a good job of keeping her off the boards, but she's a great rebounder."

Not to be outdone by Brunson, Seimone Augustus had a season-high 25 points Friday, including 15 in the second half, despite leaving briefly with a hip contusion. Minnesota, which had four of five starters score in double figures, is shooting 54.4 percent in its last two games.

Atlanta (1-4) will try to do a better job defensively, although the struggling Dream are giving up 86.4 points per game - among the worst in the league.

Meadors said part of the problem Friday was that Atlanta was without 6-foot-4 Sancho Lyttle, who was competing for Spain's national team in EuroBasket Women 2011, a qualifying tournament for the London Olympics. She will also miss the next five games.

"That's the one that can match up with (Brunson)," Meadors said. "We don't have anyone to match up with her."

Lyttle is averaging 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds. Without her, Angel McCoughtry will try to build off her best performance of 2011 after scoring a season-high 27 points Friday.

With McCoughtry heating up after a slow start hindered by a sprained knee, the Dream will try again for their first home win as they open a five-game homestand. Atlanta has allowed an average of 96.0 points while dropping its first two games at Philips Arena.

Minnesota lost 76-58 in its last visit to Atlanta on July 1.

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LADY LUCK

Sunday's Best WNBA Bets

Minnesota Ly*x at Atlanta Dream (-3.5, 169.5)

The Ly*x entered the 2011 WNBA season with high hopes. And so far, Minnesota is meeting those expectations thanks to some high scores.

The Ly*x are on a four-game win streak since dropping the season opener and have filled the basket in recent outings. They hung 96 points on the Dream Friday night and are averaging 84.5 points during this winning run.

Minnesota had four starters in double figures, lead by Seimone Augustus’ 25 points. The Ly*x are crediting their offensive explosion to transition buckets created off their tough defense. They nabbed nine steals and forced 18 turnovers in the win over Atlanta, turning those into 27 fastbreak points.

"We got back to what we do well, and that's defend," Ly*x coach Cheryl Reeve told the Star Tribune. "If you look at that third quarter, we really defended well and got a lot of run-outs, and that's how we built that lead."

Minnesota has played over the total in three of its first five games while the over has paid out in 20 of the Dream’s last 28 home games.

PICK: Over 169.5


Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks (-1, 149)

It's billed as a battle between Western giants,but this conference rivalry has been one-sided in recent years.

The Storm defeated the Sparks in all seven meetings last season, posting a 5-1-1 mark against the spread in those contests. Seattle made quick work of Los Angeles in the playoffs, sweeping L.A. in the best 2-of-3 series while outscoring the Sparks 160-132 in those two games.

Things may be more competitive now that Candace Parker is back for Los Angeles after missing most of last year due to a shoulder injury. Parker is averaging just over 17 points through the first three contests, but didn’t make much of an impact versus the Storm when she was healthy last year.

In three games against Seattle, Parker averaged just under 16 points and committed 15 total turnovers while drawing the attention of the Storm’s WNBA-best defense. Seattle is giving up only 68.7 points per game this year and will shadow Parker with All-Star forwards Lauren Jackson and Swin Cash.

PICK: Seattle

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Mighty Quinn

Mighty hit with the Mets Saturday.

Sunday it's the Mets.

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Ultimate

Colorado
Cincinnati

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Today's MLB Picks
Chicago White Sox at Arizona
The Diamondbacks look to build on their 9-0 record in their last 9 games during Game 3 of a series. Arizona is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Diamondbacks favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-120). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19
Time Posted: 8:00 a.m. EST
Game 901-902: Houston at LA Dodgers (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Norris) 14.057; LA Dodgers (Kuroda) 14.532
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-145); 7
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-145); Over

Game 903-904: Pittsburgh at Cleveland (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Karstens) 15.439; Cleveland (Masterson) 14.720
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-145); 8
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+125); Under

Game 905-906: Toronto at Cincinnati (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Villanueva) 14.830; Cincinnati (Arroyo) 16.023
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-125); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-125); Under

Game 907-908: LA Angels at NY Mets (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Chatwood) 15.510; NY Mets (Niese) 14.964
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-140); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (+120); Over

Game 909-910: Texas at Atlanta (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Ogando) 15.381; Atlanta (Jurrjens) 14.329
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-110); 7
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-110); Over

Game 911-912: Baltimore at Washington (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Jakubauskus) 14.168; Washington (Gorzelanny) 16.040
Dunkel Line: Washington by 2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Washington (-140); 9
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-140); Under

Game 913-914: Milwaukee at Boston (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Gallardo) 15.418; Boston (Wakefield) 16.958
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Boston (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-110); Under

Game 915-916: Florida at Tampa Bay (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Volstad) 15.095; Tampa Bay (Shields) 14.978
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-200); 8
Dunkel Pick: Florida (+170); Over

Game 917-918: San Diego at Minnesota (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Moseley) 14.686; Minnesota (Liriano) 16.670
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 2; 8
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-150); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-150); Over

Game 919-920: Kansas City at St. Louis (2:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Duffy) 15.159; St. Louis (Garcia) 14.185
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1; 8
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-200); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+170); Under

Game 921-922: Detroit at Colorado (3:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Verlander) 15.492; Colorado (Cook) 15.953
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Detroit (-140); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+120); Over

Game 923-924: San Francisco at Oakland (4:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Cain) 14.717; Oakland (Cahill) 15.538
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Oakland (-110); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (-110); Under

Game 925-926: Chicago White Sox at Arizona (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Humber) 14.715; Arizona (Collmeter) 15.778
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Arizona (-125); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-125); Over

Game 927-928: Philadelphia at Seattle (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 15.931; Seattle (Vargas) 14.609
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-150); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-150); Under

Game 929-930: NY Yankees at Chicago Cubs (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Sabathia) 16.076; Cubs (Wells) 15.132
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-170); No Run Line
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-170); N/A

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WNBA Basketball Picks
Minnesota at Atlanta
The Lynx look to take advantage of an Atlanta team that is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games at home. Minnesota is the pick (+3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Dream favored by only 1. Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+3 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19
Time Posted: 8:30 a.m. EST
Game 601-602: Chicago at Connecticut (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 111.778; Connecticut 115.951
Dunkel Line & Total: Connecticut by 4; 157
Vegas Line & Total: Connecticut by 5; 154 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+5); Over

Game 603-604: Minnesota at Atlanta (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 113.623; Atlanta 114.402
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 1; 165
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 3 1/2; 169 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+3 1/2); Under

Game 605-606: Indiana at Phoenix (6:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 111.736; Phoenix 112.907
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 1; 177
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 3; 175 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+3); Over

Game 607-608: Seattle at Los Angeles (8:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 114.003; Los Angeles 110.208
Dunkel Line & Total: Seattle by 4; 145
Vegas Line & Total: Seattle by 1 1/2; 149
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-1 1/2); Under

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