Red Sox vs Twins MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
Two teams that generally hang around the top of the standings, and have gotten off to awful starts this season.
Month: April 2012
New York Yankees (10-6) vs Texas Rangers (13-4)
It looks like the Yankees have done something everyone else has failed to in this young season – make Texas look beatable.
Miami vs NY MLB Betting Preview
The Mets started the season red hot, but after being swept in yesterday’s double-header against the Giants they are just 8-8 on the season. Miami is 7-8 on the year, but they are only 2-6 away from home.
NY Rangers vs Ottawa Senators Pick
On Monday night, the Ottawa Senators will try to do what most was thought to have been impossible – eliminate the top seeded New York Rangers from the Stanley Cup playoffs. In a series dominated by goaltending, no one could have expected that it would be the Senators goaltender that would have been the one stealing games.
Phoenix Coyotes vs Chicago Blackhawks Pick
The Chicago Blackhawks do not know the word quit! For the fourth time in the series they were able to tie game in the third period to force overtime Saturday night. Now after five extra time games in five games played, the weary Blackhawks will try to stave off elimination once again on Monday night against the pesky Phoenix Coyotes.
MLB Betting – Cardinals vs Cubs Preview & Prediction
The defending champion Cardinals have not missed a beat without Albert Pujols in the lineup, as they lead the NL Central and rank 4th in the Majors in runs scored.
NBA Handicapping Predictions – Cavs vs Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have won 4 straight, but all of those wins have come to team that have a sub .500 record. Tonight they take on another losing club in the Cavs, who are coming off a loss and are only 3/7 in their last 10 games.
MLB Betting – Yankees vs Rangers Preview & Prediction
The Red-hot Yankees are now in first place in the AL east after winning 2 straight games against the Boston Red Sox, the 3rd was postpones, and now head to the Lone Star State to face a Rangers’ team that is in first place in the AL West and has won 9 of their last 10 games.
Minnesota Twins vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers: Minnesota (Pavano) vs. Tampa Bay (Shields)
Date/Time: April 21, 7:10 p.m. EST
MLB Gambling Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Tampa Bay (-178) Twins (+168)
Runline: Rays -1.5 (+115) Twins +1.5 (-135)
Total: 7.5
It was just a few short years ago that the Minnesota Twins were the dominant team in the AL Central. It appears those days are gone for the time being. Minnesota is coming off a 63-99 season, and they are off to another slow start. Tampa Bay has had an up and down season so far, but they are still right in the thick of the AL East race.
Minnesota has gotten just two quality starts out of their starting pitchers all season. The Twins pitching staff has an ERA of 5.54. Carl Pavano is technically the Ace of this staff, but he isn’t a true number one pitcher. In fact, that Pavano got the start on day one for the Twins is very telling of how far their pitching staff has fallen.
Josh Willingham has been the Twins best hitter so far this year. Willingham was picked up in the offseason, and he has been red hot so far in 2012. He has a .340 average and 5 home runs, both of which are team best marks. Justin Morneau got to rest last night, but he should be in the lineup for this one. The Twins need a big season from him and Joe Mauer.
Tampa Bay was expected to have one of the best pitching staffs in the majors, but they have been very disappointing so far this year. The Rays staff has a 5.35 ERA, and they have a major league worst WHIP of 1.57. James Shields is off to a pretty good start again this year, and he has been a very reliable pitcher for the Rays the past couple years.
The offense has carried this team to many of its wins this year. Carlos Pena returned to Tampa Bay this year, and he has a .333 average and 12 RBI’s to lead the team. Evan Longoria is healthy and hitting the ball well. Ben Zobrist and Desmond Jennings are two guys that the team needs to get more production from.
The Rays are 8-0 in Shields’ last 8 home starts. Tampa Bay has the edge all around in this one. After losing the series opener, look for the Rays to take of business in this one.
MLB Free Pick: Tampa Bay ML
NBA Basketball Matchup: Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns
5:30 PM EST
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Suns -4
Over/Under: 210.5
No game will have bigger playoff implications than the Nuggets and Suns matchup Saturday evening. This is a bit of a strange mid-afternoon tipoff time. Denver currently sits in the seventh spot in the Western Conference standings, while Phoenix is in the eighth spot.
The Suns are tied with the Jazz for the final spot, but they do hold the tiebreaker in that matchup. This one should definitely have a playoff atmosphere!
Denver lost last time out against the Clippers. The Nuggets have had a couple days to rest and get ready for this one. Danilo Gallinari was the team’s leading scorer earlier this year, but he has gone through a major slump of late. Point Guard Ty Lawson is being more aggressive on the offensive end of late. He has scored 20 points or more in seven of the team’s last ten games.
Denver leads the NBA in scoring at 103.5 points per game. They have plenty of guys who can score, but there is no single leader in the clutch.
On the defensive end, the Nuggets give up 101.6 points per game.
Phoenix appeared to be a team that would be out of playoff contention early this year after a poor start, but the Suns have put it together as the season has gone along.
Marcin Gortat is in the middle of a major breakout season. Gortat is averaging 15.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Steve Nash isn’t shooting quite as much this year, but he is shooting better than 53% from the floor. Phoenix has six players that average at least 10.4 points per game, so they have plenty of offensive firepower.
Grant Hill is expected to return to the lineup for this game after missing the past two games with a knee injury.
Phoenix is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite. Denver is 27-9 ATS in their last 36 games as a road underdog. I think Phoenix needs this game more, and I like the intensity they are playing with right now.
Prediction: Phoenix 109 Denver 103
Texas Rangers (10-2) vs Detroit Tigers (9-3)
This is a nice battle among two of the top teams in the American League. As this is being written the Rangers are beating the Tigers in game one of their series, looking to improve their American League best record.
MLB Betting – Phillies vs Padres Preview & Prediction
The Phillies are coming off a win, but they are in the basement of the NL East being the only team in the division that does not have a winning record.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Boston Celtics (37-26) vs Atlanta Hawks (37-25)
This is actually a huge game between two teams likely to meet in the first round of the playoffs.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Grizzlies vs Bobcats
At this point in the season it’s all but over for the Charlotte Bobcats as they prepare to host playoff-bound Memphis on Friday night.
NBA Handicapping Predictions – Lakers vs Spurs
The Lakers and Spurs have split the 2 games they have played this season with San Antonio embarrassing the Lakers in the last match up.
Yankees vs Red Sox MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
If you opened up the newspaper today you may have noticed that the Boston Red Sox were in last place in the AL East. Tthe same position they were in at this time last season.
