6-23-11

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Note:

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Mighty Quinn

Mighty hit with Pirates Wednesday.

Thursday it's the Nationals. The deficit is 2,514 sirignanos.

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Gamblers Data

Free Play Thursday

Chicago Sky (wnba) -2

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Hondo

The Twins failed to answer the call for Hondo at AT&T Park last night, getting jolted by the Giants to raise the accounts payable to 1,410 wynegars.

Tonight, Mr. Aitch will stick with Minnesota against The Freak and also take a shot with Roy Har vey Oswalt and the Phillies in St. Louis. Ten units apiece.

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THURSDAY BETTORS' TIPS AND NOTES
Thursday's Betting Tips: Books Cut Twins' Futures Odds
By Covers Staff



Who's Hot

MLB: Philadelphia has won 10 of its last 12.

MLB: Washington has won nine of its last 10.

WNBA: Connecticut has covered in six of its last eight games overall dating back to last year.

Who’s Not

MLB: The New York Mets are 3-7 in Chris Capuano’s last 10 starts.

MLB: The under is 2-8-1 in the last 11 meetings between the Royals and Diamondbacks.

WNBA: New York Liberty is riding a 3-10 slump against the spread dating back to last season.

Key Stat

5 – Chicago White Sox slugger Paul Konerko had home runs in five straight games heading into Wednesday night’s action, pushing his season total to 21, tying him for second in the bigs behind Jose Bautista’s 22. Konerko is also hitting .331 (fourth in MLB) while driving in 59 runs (fourth).

Injury That Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Milos Raonic – Raonic was forced to retire from Wednesday’s match at Wimbledon against Gilles Muller after a leg injury. Raonic, who was pegged at -275 in the match and owns one of the fastest serves on tour, was expected to give Rafael Nadal a good test if he advanced. Nadal is currently set as the tournament’s co-favorite with Roger Federer at +200.

Game Of The Day

Minnesota Twins at San Francisco Giants (-180, 6.5)

Notable Quotable

“It’s something that definitely needs to improve. A lot of players have faults, and that’s something I am trying to get better at. A lot of time, people think that if I shout something in the direction of the box, that I am shouting at them. But if you actually listen to what I am saying a lot of the time, I am just upset at myself.” - Andy Murray on his on-court behavior. Murray is set at -1200 in his third-round match against Ivan Ljubicic at Wimbledon and at +500 to win the tournament.

Tips And Notes

The Minnesota Twins were originally set around +25000 at some shops to win the World Series, but oddsmakers have been forced to drastically cut their odds with the club’s recent hot streak. With Minnesota winning 15 of 17 games heading into Wednesday’s action, some books moved the Twins to around +4000.

Tiger Woods pulled out of the AT&T National on Wednesday but gave at least a little hope that he might be able to take part in the British Open. "Doctor's orders," Woods said in a Twitter post. "Feeling stronger every day, but not 100 percent." Woods is currently set at around +1400 to win the Claret Jug, while Rory McIlroy is the overwhelming favorite at +550.

The top two scorers in the WNBA face off for the third time of the season on Thursday when Connecticut’s Tina Charles visits Sylvia Fowles and the Chicago Sky. Fowles tops the league at 21.2 poitns per game while Charles sits right on her heels at 20.4. The Sun hammered the Sky 83-68 in their last meeting but Chicago is pegged as a 2-point favorite at home on Thursday.

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HOT LINES

Thursday's Best MLB Bets

Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals (-110, 8)

Two perennial All-Stars share the hill Thursday evening in St. Louis, but neither are having the seasons we’ve come to expect from them.

Roy Oswalt has just one win in his last eight starts, while Chris Carpenter has only a single victory all season. Both probably deserve better numbers at this point of the season.

"It’s a loss. That’s what matters,” Carpenter told reporters after a ground ball got past Albert Pujols at third base to give the Royals a 5-4 win over the Cards in Carpenter’s last outing. “We’re here to win ballgames. I can speak for myself. I could have pitched a little better.”

Neither Carpenter nor Oswalt are getting much run support and both look like they’re coming around a bit. We’ll jump on the under.

PICK: Under


Minnesota Twins at San Francisco Giants (-180, 6.5)

When you see a team as hot as the Minnesota Twins pegged at around +165 or +170 against one of the most impotent offenses in the bigs, you’d better give the club a long look.

The Twins had won 15 of their previous 17 games heading into Wednesday’s action, including seven wins in their last road contests.

Of course, if you’re going to take the plunge on Minnesota Thursday, you’re going to have to be against Tim Lincecum.

The Freak hasn’t been on top of his game lately. He hasn’t won in four starts and even though he held Oakland to two runs over six innings in his last outing, he still walked five batters – very un-Freaklike.

“I had long innings, the first inning, and I got in jams,” Lincecum told reporters. “ I can't afford to do that now."

Not with San Francisco averaging 3.7 runs in his starts, anyway.

Lincecum will come around at some point, but we’ll jump at the surging Twins at this price.

PICK: Twins

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MLB NEWS AND NOTES
Oswalt, Phillies Take On Carpenter And Cardinals
By: Michael Robinson



Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals (-110, 8)

The Philadelphia Phillies' parade of aces continues Thursday night when they finish a 3-game set at the St. Louis Cardinals.

First pitch from Busch Stadium will be at 5:15 p.m. (PT). Hard-luck Roy Oswalt (4-5, 3.38 ERA) will head to the mound to face the disappointing Chris Carpenter (1-7, 4.47 ERA).

The Phillies (46-28) have a 4.5-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East standings, but that’s due to a 28-12 home mark. They’re 18-16 away (-1.7 units), 2-2 on this short 6-game road trip.

Philadelphia threw out 9-3 Cole Hamels at Seattle on Sunday (2-0 loss) and then fellow 9-game winner Roy Halladay to start this series on Tuesday. Halladay didn’t get the win, but Philly did (10-2) after a 9-run barrage in the eighth inning.

The starter on Wednesday night was Cliff Lee (7-5, 3.12 ERA), who has a miniscule 0.38 ERA in three starts this month. That result is still pending with Philly a 150 favorite against St. Louis and Kyle Lohse.

Oswalt has the highest ERA of Philadelphia’s four aces. He’s also made a few less starts after a disabled list stint (lower back inflammation). Oswalt returned on May 17 at St. Louis and pitched very well in three starts that month (1.50 ERA) before struggling some in June.

The 33-year-old right-hander has a 4.81 ERA in four June starts, allowing four earned runs over 6 1/3 innings at Seattle last Friday. The Phillies lost 4-2 and are now just 3-7 in Oswalt’s last 10 games, with an average run support of just 2.7.

Oswalt has an identical 3.38 ERA both home and away. However, opponents are hitting .284 against him on the road compared to .248 at home.

Oswalt’s start at the Cardinals this year was one earned run over five innings, another tough 2-1 loss. He’s 9-8 with a 3.15 ERA lifetime against them (4-4, 2.69 ERA away). All the starts but one were while pitching for Houston.

The ‘under’ is 3-0-1 in Oswalt’s last four starts and 7-2-1 in the last 10.

The Cardinals (40-34) are a half-game behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. They took the last two games over the weekend versus Kansas City to break a 7-game slide. However, they lost slugger Albert Pujols (fractured forearm) for several weeks in the final Royals game.

The ‘over’ is 6-0-1 in St. Louis’ last seven games, but Pujols had three homers in that span. The home record is 20-14 overall, but just .3 units to the positive.

Carpenter’s 4.47 ERA this year is a steady climb from 2009 (2.24) and last year (3.22). His current strikeout rate (7.12) is actually the highest in the three years, but his slugging percentage allowed has crept up to .415.

The 36-year-old right-hander does have a much lower ERA at home (3.26) than away (5.57). However, St. Louis is just 2-5 in his home starts (2-6 away) with an average runs scored of 3.57.

Carpenter last faced the Phillies last July, allowing one earned run over eight innings in a 7-1 home win. His prior start against them was in 2006.

St. Louis is 1-7 in its last eight games against a right-handed starter. The ‘over’ is 4-0-1 in its last five against a righty.

St. Louis is 2-1 against Philly this year, sweeping (3-1, 2-1) a short 2-game home series in mid-May.

Tim Welke will call balls and strikes. The Cardinals are 0-5 in his last five games behind home plate. The ‘over’ is 4-1 in his last five games behind the dish.

In addition to Pujol’s injury, Philadelphia’s Placido Polanco (finger) was questionable for Wednesday.

Weather should be clear and in the 70s. Both teams go back to Interleague Play for Friday with St. Louis hosting Toronto and Philadelphia welcoming Oakland.

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MLB NEWS AND NOTES
Thursday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
By Covers Staff



STREAKING

Daniel Hudson (8-5, 3.56 ERA), Arizona Diamondbacks

They may not be Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, but the Diamondbacks have a pretty solid 1-2 punch with Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson.

Hudson is coming off the first complete game of his career complete game and it couldn’t have come against a better team – his former club, the Chicago White Sox.

"It's obviously big (to get a complete game), Hudson told reporters. “I like to say that I'm a pretty good innings eater. I was really happy they let me go out and finish it."

Hudson has lasted at least six innings in every start since April 21.

Chris Capuano (5-7, 4.29 ERA), New York Mets

Capuano has really pulled himself together over his last three starts. He’s working on a 1.42 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP over that span.

He’s proving he can eat up some innings too, going at least six in each of his last five outings and in seven of his last 10. Even though he’s working late in games, he has cracked the 100-pitch plateau just four times this season.



SLUMPING

Tim Lincecum (5-6, 3.39 ERA), San Francisco Giants

Lincecum may have looked a little better in his last outing, but he still took a loss and he knows that’s all that counts.

"It was better," Lincecum said of his night, "but at the same time, you can't guide yourself by what you did last time. I've got to battle and give our team a chance to win. I didn't do so.”

Lincecum doesn’t have a win in his last four trips to the hill and owns a 7.80 ERA over his last three.

Roy Oswalt (4-5, 3.58 ERA) Philadelphia Phillies

Even though it looks like Oswalt’s fastball is lacking some jump, the Philadelphia Phillies insist that he isn’t injured. So, what exactly is the problem?

His numbers aren’t terrible, but the Phillies expected a lot more than one win from his last eight starts. His 5.12 ERA over his last three outings just isn’t what we’re used to from him.

"I thought I've thrown the ball pretty well," he told reporters recently. "I haven't thrown the ball great. But I've been throwing the ball pretty well."

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Today's MLB Picks
Seattle at Washington

The Nationals look to build on their 7-0 record in Jason Marquis' last 7 home starts. Washington is the pick (+105) according to Dunkel, which has the Nationals favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: Washington (+105). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23
Time Posted: 6:30 a.m. EST

Game 901-902: Philadelphia at St. Louis (8:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Oswalt) 16.127; St. Louis (Carpenter) 13.644
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 2 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-115); 8
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-105); Under

Game 903-904: Seattle at Washington (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Pineda) 14.904; Washington (Marquis) 15.376
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Seattle (-125); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+105); Over

Game 905-906: Oakland at NY Mets (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Godfrey) 15.655; NY Mets (Capuano) 15.023
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-140); 8
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+120); Over

Game 907-908: Minnesota at San Francisco (3:45 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Duensing) 15.235; San Francisco (Lincecum) 16.025
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 6
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-180); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-180); Under

Game 909-910: Arizona at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Hudson) 14.821; Kansas City (Paulino) 13.567
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Arizona (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-115); Over

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Baseball Crusher

Play of the Day:

Mets -145 over Athletics

Soccer Crusher

Play of the Day:

SeattleSounders + NewYorkRedBulls UNDER 2.5
This match is happening in United States

Sportsbook Investing
Play of the Day:

Mets -145 over Athletics

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WNBA Basketball Picks
New York at Tulsa

The Liberty look to take advantage of a Tulsa team that is 1-8-1 ATS in its last 10 Thursday games. New York is the pick (-3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Liberty favored by 6. Dunkel Pick: New York (-3 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23
Time Posted: 7:30 a.m. EST

Game 601-602: New York at Tulsa (12:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New York 108.371; Tulsa 102.555
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 6; 158
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 3 1/2; 162
Dunkel Pick: New York (-3 1/2); Under

Game 603-604: Connecticut at Chicago (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Connecticut 114.059; Chicago 112.987
Dunkel Line & Total: Connecticut by 1; 156
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 4; 152
Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+4); Over

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Cappers Access

Mariners
Mets(RL)
Royals

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JOE WIZ

DAILY FREE PICK

Under 9 runs bet. Arizona and Kansas City

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ROCKDEMAN SPORTS

Cardinals -115 over Phillies

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VEGAS WISE GUY

Washington +111 over Seattle
Arizona @ Kansas City UNDER 8.5 (-120)