Friday 4/6/2012 Free Service Plays ( Premiums & Comps )

[Gman1]

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND GUESTS

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL LINKS

-Want to introduce yourself and interact with other new members. This is the New Member Forum and you can ask any questions or make an introduction here. We encourage this for all new members.CLICK HERE..

-Want to post your own picks in the sports forums. We would very much enjoy this. CLICK HERE to access the sports forums.

-Today we also have a in-game chat, we have a bunch of regulars and new posters every time. Get involved and have some fun. CLICK HERE..

If you need any help or assistance. PM one of the mods. And once again,



WELCOME TO FBZ!

[Gman1]

Ice pick$:
Friday's best NHL bet$

Phoenix Coyotes
at St. Louis Blues (-165, 5)
Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith is playing out of his mind as he guides his club into the playoffs.
Smith has recorded three straight shutouts and turned aside 54 shots in the Coyotes’ 2-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday. "As an athlete, I think we want to contribute and help the team win in times like this in the season," Smith told reporters. "I wouldn't think it's any different for anyone else than just me. It's an important time of the year to play well, and I'm fortunate that I'm doing it at this time of the season. It's exciting and fun to be a part of games like this."With Smith boarding up the net, Phoenix held down seventh place in the Western Conference heading into Thursday’s action, one point ahead of San Jose. Meanwhile, even though St. Louis remains in the hunt for the President’s Trophy, the Blues have stumbled a bit. They have won just two of their last seven games (although they have earned at least a point in five of those games).These two teams won’t want to give too much away with a possible first-round meeting on the horizon, so expect a tight-checking affair. Pick: Under

[Gman1]

Hot lines:
Friday’s best MLB bet$

New York Yankees
at Tampa Bay Rays (+115, 7)
Two of the AL East’s best open the season in fine style when the Yankees send CC Sabathia to the hill against Tampa’s James Shields. The big question in this one is whether Sabathia is ready for real ball after a tough spring. He was 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA, giving up 21 hits in 18 innings during exhibition play. "I’ll be ready on Friday,'' Sabathia told reporters. "Would I like to have had more success (this spring)? Sure. But my pitches are doing what they’re supposed to. I’m ready.”This will be his ninth career Opening Day start, so you have to think he knows what he’s talking about, especially when you consider his career ERA in spring training is 5.27. Shields, on the other hand, is coming off a great spring (3-0, 2.08 ERA) but is only 5-11 with a 4.14 lifetime ERA against the Yanks. Pick: Yankees

Minnesota Twins
at Baltimore Orioles (-135, 9.5)
After a season in which the Twins lost 99 games, they’re trying to accentuate the positive. For the time being, the main thing is they head into the season opener healthy. Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Denard Span all made it through Spring Training in one piece. If that trio can stay off the DL, Minnesota could bounce back in a big way after the club used the DL a major-league high 27 times last year. "You're only as good as your last game and last year we were terrible, so I think all the sportswriters and critics are judging us on our injured lineup last year," Span told reporters. "I feel like if we can be healthy, we've already won, because we all need to be on the field -- that gives us the best chance to win."Meanwhile, the young Orioles have more questions than answers throughout the lineup and it’s going to take a while to see what this club is all about. Early forecasts expect strong winds blowing in from center, so the under looks like the play here. Pick: Under

[Gman1]

Friday’s betting tip$

Who’s HOT
NBA: San Antonio has covered in 10 of its last 13.
NBA: The under is 6-0 in Memphis’ last six.
MLB: Arizona has won each of Ian Kennedy’s last eight home starts.
NHL: The under is 4-0 in the Phoenix Coyotes’ last four.

Who’s NOT
NBA: Denver has covered only one of its last six home games.
NBA: Cleveland is 1-7 against the spread in its last eight.
MLB: The over is riding an 11-36-5 slump when the Los Angeles Angels
have Jered Weaver on the hill.
NHL: St. Louis has won just two of its last seven.

Key stat 570 –
The San Francisco Giants finished last in the NL with 570 runs scored last season, helping them play under the total 85 times – second most in the majors. Manager Bruce Bochey has stressed consistently that the Giants will be more aggressive offensively this season now that catcher Buster Posey has returned from his leg injury and with newcomers Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan at the top of the order. The Giants opened as a +105 underdog with Tim Lincecum on the hill in Arizona.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
D.J. Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats:
Augustin left Wednesday’s game in the first half with a sore left knee and didn’t return. His status for Friday’s matchup with Milwaukee is questionable. The Bucks, who have lost nine straight, are set as big 13-point underdogs. Augustin averages 10.9 points and 6.2 assists per game.

Game of the day
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (115, 7)

Notable quotable
"That's three games in a row. We're going to have to figure some things out like lineup changes. That's not good enough. If we're going to have any chance of winning a division, or any chance of winning our next two games, we have to play better as a group." – Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett ripping his team after goaltender Mike Smith bailed the club out with a 54-save shutout over Columbus. Smith has three straight shutouts under his belt heading into Friday’s date with St. Louis. The Coyotes, set as +150 underdogs, went into Thursday’s action holding down the seventh spot in the Western Conference.

Notes and tips

Sharp baseball bettors often give unders a long look early in the MLB season. Pitchers often have a jump on hitters coming out of spring training and that, combined with cool temperatures, sometimes make runs hard to come by. This year that strategy is paying off handsomely. The under is 8-2 so far this year, including last week’s games in Japan.

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters following Thursday's shootaround that superstar center Dwight Howard asked team management to fire him. Van Gundy cited conversations with members of team management as his evidence. "I know he has. That's just the way it is," Van Gundy said. "Again, I've been dealing with that all year. It's not anything real bothersome. You go out and do your job." Howard, who has denied the accusation, changed his mind on several occasions before agreeing to sign a waiver on his opt-out clause for the summer. He will remain under contract through 2013. The 26-year-old Howard is averaging 20.9 points and 14.5 rebounds in 52 games this season.

The Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints will kick off the 2012 preseason by meeting in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 5. During Week 1 of preseason, Green Bay Packers will visit the San Diego Chargers on Aug. 9 and the Dallas Cowboys will travel to Oakland to face the Raiders on Aug. 13. The New York Giants will host the Chicago Bears on Aug. 24 in their first nationally televised game since defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

[Gman1]

Houston Rockets (29-25)
at L.A. Lakers (35-20)

STAPLES Center
A strong shooting effort by Kobe Bryant helped the Los Angeles Lakers take a big step towards another Pacific Division title.Shooting at a high percentage could be tough for him against the Houston Rockets' Chandler Parsons.Parsons gave Bryant problems the last time these teams met, and will try to do the same in Friday night's rematch in Los Angeles.Los Angeles (35-20) increased its division lead over the Clippers by beating its Staples Center co-tenants, 113-108 on Wednesday. Bryant made 13 of 19 shots to finish with 31 points and added six assists, bolstering his MVP credentials.The Lakers, who captured the season series and playoff tiebreaker over the Clippers, shot 51.8 percent in their fourth straight win overall."Kobe didn't want to lose," center Andrew Bynum said.Now, the question is whether the 6-foot-6 Bryant can be as efficient when he goes up against the 6-9 Parsons. Bryant scored 29 points, but made just 10 of 27 shots and struggled down the stretch in a 107-104 loss at Houston (29-25) on March 20."I played good D," Parsons said after that victory. "I was right there in his face."Bryant had some curious compliments for the rookie out of Florida afterward."You know what man, I might have to stop taking shots, when the shot clock is winding down, that's what I am going to start doing because you guys (the media) look at that and think its great defense, I am going to stop shooting the ball when the shot clock goes down, but I love him (Parsons) though," Bryant said. "I do, I think he is a terrific young player."He can shoot from the outside, handle the ball, and can rise to the challenge defensively. I think he has a really bright future and I don't say a lot about a lot of people."Bryant has totaled 66 points in the season series and Bynum has contributed 37 points and 29 rebounds as these teams have split two games. Luis Scola had led the Rockets with 43 points versus the Lakers.Bynum returned Wednesday after missing one game with an ankle injury and finished with 36 points - one off his season high - and eight rebounds despite not feeling 100 percent."It hurts a little bit, especially on spin moves," Bynum said. "I found more little things out there that hurt so I tried to stay away from them. As the game progresses, the pain subsides."Houston is fighting for a playoff spot, entering play Friday tied for seventh in the Western Conference with Denver. Starting guard Kyle Lowry has missed the last 14 games with a bacterial infection, although he took part in some drills during Thursday's workout.There may be no need for Lowry to rush back, given the way Goran Dragic has filled the void. Dragic is averaging 22.7 points on 62.5 percent shooting and 6.0 assists over his last three contests.One of Dragic's best efforts during his 14-game run as a starter was a 16-point, 13-assist performance in the March 20 victory over the Lakers.Houston has not played since Dragic had a team-high 21 points in Monday's 99-93 win at Chicago.

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

Houston Rockets Trends :
Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.

Houston Rockets Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Over is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-2 in Rockets last 10 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.

L.A. Lakers Trends :
No 80 % Trends

L.A. Lakers Over / Under Trends :
Over is 7-1 in Lakers last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 6-1 in Lakers last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 Friday games.
Over is 8-2 in Lakers last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Head to Head Competition
Over is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

Minneapolis Time 1:55 AM
Pinnacle Sports Book
L.A. Lakers - 6.5
L.A. Lakers Over / Under Under 194.5

Public Money
970 Bets
Rockets 14.29%
Lakers 85.71%

[Gman1]

Phoenix Suns (28-26)
at Denver Nuggets (29-25)

Pepsi Center
The Denver Nuggets know they caught a break when Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry decided to rest Steve Nash the last time these teams played. They're unlikely to be as fortunate this time with the Suns making a strong playoff push.Playing its first home game in more than two weeks, Denver goes for a fifth consecutive victory in this series Friday night while surging Phoenix tries to move back into playoff position.The Nuggets ended a five-game home losing streak with a 109-92 win over the Suns on Feb. 14 - a victory that came with the star point guard out of the lineup.
"Phoenix kind of gave us a some slack by not playing Nash," coach George Karl said after the Nuggets won for the eighth time in nine home games versus Phoenix (28-26).Back from a 4-3 trip that ended with a 94-92 loss to conference-worst New Orleans on Wednesday, the Nuggets (29-25) can expect to see plenty of Nash on Friday.Nash scored just 13 points in a 107-105 victory at Utah on Wednesday but hit two baskets in the final 14 seconds, including a lean-in jumper from the foul line with 1.7 seconds left.He was also one assist shy of reaching double digits for a fourth consecutive game."You get the ball in his hands and you know he is going to get something good for his team," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "... He is a great player and he made great plays for them down the stretch."The Suns, winners of three straight and 16 of 23, need more production from Nash in their final 12 games as they try to avoid missing the postseason for the third time in four seasons.
With a victory over Denver and a Rockets loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Phoenix would climb into a three-way tie for eighth place in the West."We are gaining confidence and we believe that we can keep winning," said Nash, among the league leaders with 11.2 assists per game.The Nuggets like their chances of securing a ninth consecutive playoff berth, but their inconsistency could prevent that from happening. Denver defeated Eastern Conference-best Chicago and Orlando - which was without Dwight Howard - during its just-completed trip, but also lost to Toronto and the Hornets.The Nuggets' playoff hopes could also hinge on their play at home, as they've alternated losses and wins in their last eight games there.The Suns will complete their three-game trip by trying to win for the fifth time in six road games.
Nash, averaging 17.6 points and 11.3 assists in his last eight games in Denver, may see plenty of Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson with backup Andre Miller's status questionable. Miller was ejected Wednesday for a flagrant-2 foul on New Orleans' Carl Landry.Veteran guard Michael Redd has led the Suns reserves with 14.0 points per game during the winning streak. He scored 20 on Feb. 14 while starting in place of Grant Hill, who was also given the night off to rest.Hill has missed the last five games with a torn right meniscus.

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

Phoenix Suns Trends :
Suns are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Suns are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. win.
Suns are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Suns are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Suns are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

Phoenix Suns Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Suns last 4 vs. NBA Northwest.
Over is 4-1 in Suns last 5 games as an underdog.

Denver Nuggets Trends :
Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.

Denver Nuggets Over / Under Trends :
Under is 5-1 in Nuggets last 6 vs. NBA Pacific.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 Friday games.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

Head to Head Competition
Favorite is 5-1-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Minneapolis Time 2:00 AM
Pinnacle Sports Book
Denver Nuggets - 3.5
Denver Nuggets Over / Under Under 210.5

Public Money
386 Bets
Nuggets 58.33%
Suns 41.67%

[Gman1]

Portland Trailblazers (26-29)
at Dallas Mavericks (31-24)

American Airlines Center
Even with a new coach, the Portland Trail Blazers are still having trouble gaining momentum in the playoff race. A visit to the Dallas Mavericks might not help.The Blazers will seek back-to-back wins for the first time in more than two months Friday night in Dallas.Portland (26-29) is 6-6 since interim coach Kaleb Canales took over for the fired Nate McMillan, and has alternated wins and losses over its last nine games."We've got to figure it out," guard Raymond Felton said. " We've got to figure out how to go on a roll for like five games."The Blazers bounced back from a five-point loss to Utah by pulling away in the fourth quarter Wednesday for a 101-88 victory over visiting New Jersey. After falling behind by three with 6:50 remaining, Portland ended the game on a 19-3 run.LaMarcus Aldridge topped 20 points for the fourth straight game with a team-best 24, and Nicolas Batum recorded his second straight double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The win left the Blazers 3 1/2 games behind Houston and Denver, who are tied for the final two playoff positions in the Western Conference.Portland will continue that push during a two-game trip to Dallas (31-24) and Milwaukee. The Blazers, who haven't won consecutive games since Jan. 23-24, are 7-19 on the road and have lost 23 of 27 all-time at the American Airlines Center, including all three games during last year's playoffs. Portland fell 97-94 in double overtime during the most recent visit Feb. 11 as the Mavericks' Delonte West scored six of his 10 points to open the second extra session.Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points to lead five players in double figures and Jason Terry finished with 19. Aldridge had 33 points in his hometown.The Blazers' big man has averaged 32.0 points and 10.7 rebounds during his team's three-game losing streak in Dallas during the regular season.The Mavericks will try to extend Portland's struggles at the American Airlines Center while ending their own inconsistent stretch. Dallas has alternated losses and victories in its last four contests.The Mavericks rebounded from a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the fourth-place team in the West, by topping Memphis 95-85 on Wednesday. The win allowed Dallas to move into a tie with the Grizzlies for fifth in the conference.Shawn Marion scored 10 of his 16 points during a key 21-4 run in the fourth quarter, while Nowitzki recorded his ninth double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds."It was a good bounce-back (victory) for us," Terry said. "Obviously we're fighting with all these teams for playoff positioning and this was a crucial game for us, as are all of them."To help themselves in the playoff race, the Mavericks will try to collect two wins over the Blazers over their final 11 games. Dallas visits Portland next Friday as part of a four-game trip.The Mavericks might have veteran guard Jason Kidd back for that game, but he's expected to miss this one with a strained right groin.Nowitzki will trying to make up for Kidd's absence by improving on a 26.3-point average over his last 19 games against the Blazers, a stretch in which he's shot 49.1 percent. He averaged 27.3 points while leading Dallas to a six-game victory in last season's playoffs.With his next 3-pointer, Terry will pass Peja Stojakovic for fifth on the all-time list.

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

Portland Trailblazers Trends :
Trail Blazers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
Trail Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.

Portland Trailblazers Over / Under Trends :
Over is 5-0 in Trail Blazers last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Over is 5-0 in Trail Blazers last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 5-1 in Trail Blazers last 6 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 road games.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 Friday games.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games as a road underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games following a ATS win.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games as an underdog.

Dallas Mavericks Trends :
No 80 % Trends

Dallas Mavericks Over / Under Trends :
Under is 5-1 in Mavericks last 6 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 vs. Western Conference.

Head to Head Competition
No 80 % Trends


Minneapolis Time 2:20 AM
Pinnacle Sports Book
Dallas Mavericks - 6.5
Dallas Mavericks Over / Under Under 191.5

Public Money
674 Bets
Mavericks 84.62%
T-Blazers 15.38%

[Gman1]

NY Yankees (0-0)
at Tampa Bay Rays (0-0)

Tropicana Field
The budget-minded Tampa Bay Rays welcome the challenge of competing against the big-spending New York Yankees.The AL East rivals open the season at Tropicana Field on Friday, and both clubs say that's not a moment too soon to start getting a feel for how they stack up against each other.Rays manager Joe Maddon believes a tough April schedule will benefit his team in the long run. Yankees skipper Joe Girardi likes the idea of getting an early barometer on his defending division champions, too.Tampa Bay plays 16 of its first 22 games against teams expected to challenge for postseason berths. The Yankees play 15 games against likely contenders during the same stretch."You say you don't make too much out of one game, that some months are going to be tougher than other months," Girardi said, conceding it won't be easygoing facing Tampa Bay, Boston, Texas, Detroit and the Los Angeles Angels early on. "You don't want to make too much out of the first month. But it is a great measuring stick for where we're at, that's for sure."The Rays begin the most anticipated season in franchise history, confident they have what it takes to continue to hold their own against the Yankees and Red Sox, whose monumental September collapse helped Tampa Bay earn a wild-card playoff spot on the final night of last season.They did it by rallying from a 7-0, eighth-inning deficit to beat the Yankees 8-7 in 12 innings.Rays opening day starter James Shields said it's only fitting that the new season begins at home against the same opponent."We wouldn't want it any other way," Shields, a first-time All-Star in 2011, said. "We're fired up, ready to go."So is New York, which has made the playoffs 16 of the past 17 seasons, 12 times as division champions.The Yankees retooled their pitching rotation, record-setting closer Mariano Rivera is back for an 18th season and figure to continue to score runs in a bunches with a lineup built around Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, who's healthy again after only appearing in 99 games while batting .276 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs last season."I like this club. When I look at the depth that we have and the health of our players right now, I feel really good about it" Girardi said Thursday before the Yankees worked out at Tropicana Field.New York's CC Sabathia, who's won at least 19 games each of the past three years, will make the ninth opening day start of his career - fourth with the Yankees, who rewarded the left-hander this winter with a contract extension that added $30 million and one season to an existing deal that now will pay him $122 million over the next five years.Although the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner has a 9-7 lifetime mark vs. Tampa Bay, he's 2-6 with a 3.69 ERA in 13 starts against the Rays since signing with the Yankees as a free agent before the 2009 season.His overall body of work is exemplary, though. His 59 wins since in three seasons in New York are the second-most in the major league during that span behind Justin Verlander's 61."He has averaged 20 wins a year, you saw what he's done in the playoffs for us. It's hard to imagine our club without him and where we'd be," Girardi said. "You need that guy you can count on every fifth day that can put an end to a losing streak, that can carry a load if your bullpen is tired, that gives you quality innings and distance and wins. Every good club has to have that guy, and he has been that guy the last three years for us."Sabathia, 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA last year, welcomes the responsibility of helping his team get off to a strong start.
"I think that's what every pitcher wants is to be that guy that every time out the team has confidence that you have a good chance to win," Sabathia said."I put a lot of pressure on myself, so any outside pressure has no effect on how I go out and play. I expect myself to go out and pitch well every time out and give the team a chance to win, so the pressure of being an ace or whatever doesn't compare at all to what I put on myself."That's a role that Shields has grown into with the Rays.The 30-year-old right-hander rebounded from a subpar 2010 in which he permitted an AL-leading 34 homers to go 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA in 33 starts last season. He set Rays records with 11 complete games and four shutouts, finishing third in Cy Young balloting behind Verlander and Jared Weaver."Our team is looking real good. We're feeling good. We're nice and loose in the clubhouse," Shields said. "I'm excited to get this thing rockin'."Maddon has stressed all spring the importance of getting off to a strong start, regardless of the difficulty of Tampa Bay's early schedule.The Rays, who have one of baseball's best young rotations and bolstered their offense by adding sluggers Carlos Pena and Luke Scott this offseason, overcame a nine-game deficit to slip past the Red Sox into the playoffs last September.But that's not a blueprint for continued success in division in which Sabathia says the Yankees have the talent to repeat as champions, the Red Sox feel they have something to prove and that Toronto figures to be better."There's no denying that," Maddon said. "We proved we can do it another way last year like we did, however it's not the easy or right way to do it. You prefer getting off to a good start. ... If you can do that, it can set up the rest of the season."
Notes: The Rays will begin the season without closer Kyle Farnsworth, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right elbow. Yankees RHP Michael Pineda, who will begin the season on the disabled list because of inflammation in a shoulder tendon, has resumed throwing. He played catch in the outfield Thursday, making 43 throws. ... New York claimed RHP Cody Eppley off waivers from Texas. The reliever will join Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... Yankees switch-pitcher Pat Venditte has been promoted and is on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre opening day roster. He spent last season at Double-A.

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

NY Yankees Trends :
Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Yankees are 24-6 in Sabathias last 30 starts during game 1 of a series.

NY Yankees Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Under is 6-1 in Sabathias last 7 starts as a road favorite of -110 to -150.

Tampa Bays Rays Trends :
Rays are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. American League East.
Rays are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Rays are 6-0 in Shields' last 6 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Rays are 7-0 in Shields' last 7 home starts.
Rays are 6-1 in Shields' last 7 starts as a home underdog.
Rays are 5-1 in Shields' last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Rays are 4-1 in Shields' last 5 Friday starts.

Tampa Bays Rays Over / Under Trends :
Under is 2-0-2 in Rays last 4 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150.
Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 3-0-1 in Shields' last 4 Friday starts.
Under is 6-0 in Shields' last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 5-1 in Shields' last 6 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150.
Under is 5-1 in Shields' last 6 starts vs. American League East.
Under is 17-4 in Shields' last 21 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 4-1 in Shields' last 5 starts on grass.

Head to Head Competition
Under is 5-0 in Shields' last 5 home starts vs. Yankees.
Under is 5-0 in Shields' last 5 starts vs. Yankees.
Under is 4-0 in Sabathias last 4 starts vs. Rays.
Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Tampa Bay.
Rays are 4-1 in Shields' last 5 home starts vs. Yankees.

New York Yankees CC Sabathia - $ 1.23
Tampa Bay Rays James Shields + $ 1.16
Over / Under 7 Runs

Public Money
1114 Bets
Yankees 66.53%
Rays 33.47%

[Gman1]

San Francisco Giants (0-0)
at Arizona Diamondbacks (0-0)

Chase Field
The game between the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks has just about everything a season opener needs.Rivals that expect to contend send a pair of the National League's best pitchers to the mound - two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum for San Francisco and Ian Kennedy, 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA in a breakout season a year ago, for Arizona.A capacity crowd at Chase Field will watch Friday evening's nationally televised contest, the opener of a three-game set that Lincecum says is not just any old series.Arizona clinched the NL West with a victory last Sept. 23 over a San Francisco team that was coming off a World Series championship in 2010. The Giants remember watching that celebration."It's one of those things to maybe get some redemption early on if it falls that way, but it's still early on in the season to the point where we're going to run into them a bunch of times," Lincecum said. "It's not do or die but it's something where we want to make a statement."
Lincecum is coming off the first losing season of his major league career at 13-14, but he had a better ERA than Kennedy at 2.74. Against the Diamondbacks, though, the San Francisco ace had big trouble. In four starts against Arizona, he was 0-3 with a 4.32 ERA. Kennedy, on the other hand, was 3-0 with a 1.22 ERA in five starts against San Francisco.Kennedy is Arizona's season-opening pitcher for the second year in a row and he wants to avoid the game's hype as much as possible."Because it's against the Giants, at home, it is going to be a little bit more for our players," Kennedy said. "For myself, I will try to keep it at a minimum. For myself, it is that first inning and trying to get through the first. I like pitching nice and cool and calm."Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said he expects to limit Kennedy to about 90 pitches."I don't want to just go blow it out right now," Gibson said. "It's a long season. Our bullpen will be ready to throw."San Francisco's expectations are bolstered by the return of catcher Buster Posey, the 2010 NL rookie of the year who was lost for the season last May 25 in a horrific home plate collision with Florida's Scott Cousins."You miss all of it," he said. "You miss being on the field, you miss the guys, you miss the crowd. You just miss the game in general. You miss everything about it."Posey may not be 100 percent recovered from injuries to his left ankle and leg, but said he feels "really, really good."So do the Diamondbacks, whose worst-to-first run last season earned manager of the year honors for Gibson in his first full season on the job. Now the challenge is to keep up the team's gritty, blue-collar, never-say-die attitude that led to a major-league best 48 come-from-behind wins last season."That's what we want to be," he said. "You get pressured. It depends upon how you react to it. That's what it's all about. It will be a great test of character."Giants manager Bruce Bochy didn't want to make too much of the season-opening series. After all, there are 159 games to follow."To start with, it's going to create some interest really for both clubs," he said. "We think we're a better club, an improved club, and they are too. They had a great year last year. We look forward to getting the season going and the fact we're playing them, we know we're going to have to turn it up a notch because that's a very good ball club."So good that some "experts" are picking Arizona to make it to the World Series."`I hope they're right, but they don't know what they're talking about," Gibson said. "I mean, I don't know what I'm talking about. Nobody does. I'm here to tell you, think of all the people who make predictions. What percentage of them are right? It's fodder. It's fun."We would be lying if we didn't say it was a compliment to us. At the same time, we all understand that we're far from there. It's going to be a long, hard-fought battle."

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

San Francisco Giants Trends :
No 80 % Trends

San Francisco Giants Over / Under Trends :
Over is 5-1 in Giants last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 12-3 in Giants last 15 games as a road underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Giants last 5 games as an underdog.
Under is 4-0 in Lincecums last 4 starts on grass.
Under is 4-0-1 in Lincecums last 5 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 5-0 in Lincecums last 5 road starts.
Under is 4-0 in Lincecums last 4 starts overall.
Under is 4-0 in Lincecums last 4 starts vs. National League West.
Under is 4-0-1 in Lincecums last 5 road starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.

Arizona Diamondbacks Trends :
Diamondbacks are 7-1 in their last 8 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
Diamondbacks are 9-2 in their last 11 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Diamondbacks are 4-1 in their last 5 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Diamondbacks are 8-0 in Kennedys last 8 starts as a home favorite.
Diamondbacks are 8-0 in Kennedys last 8 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Diamondbacks are 6-0 in Kennedys last 6 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Diamondbacks are 8-0 in Kennedys last 8 home starts.
Diamondbacks are 5-1 in Kennedys last 6 Friday starts.
Diamondbacks are 4-1 in Kennedys last 5 starts during game 1 of a series

Arizona Diamondbacks Over / Under Trends :
Under is 4-0 in Diamondbacks last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 4-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 games following an off day.
Under is 4-0 in Diamondbacks last 4 Friday games.
Over is 3-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 4 home games.
Under is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 games as a home favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 5-0 in Kennedys last 5 starts as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
Under is 4-0 in Kennedys last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 7-1 in Kennedys last 8 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 7-1 in Kennedys last 8 starts as a home favorite.
Under is 7-1 in Kennedys last 8 home starts.
Under is 4-1 in Kennedys last 5 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150.

Head to Head Competition
Diamondbacks are 4-0 in Kennedys last 4 starts vs. Giants.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Arizona.

Minneapolis Time 3:00 AM
Pinnacle Sports Book
Arizona Diamondbacks Ian Kennedy - $ 1.14
San Francisco Giants Tim Lincecum + $ 1.22

Public Money
844 Bets
Diamondbacks 23.53%
Giants 76.47%

[Gman1]

MLB Predictions / Kevin
Kansas City Royals @ Los Angeles Angels
ANGELS -1.5 [Run Line] (+105)
Listed Pitchers: Chen vs Weaver
(Note: I'm risking 2 units to win 2.10 units)
The Kansas City Royals will send Bruce Chen to the mound for his 1st opening day start in his 15 seasons in the MLB. Chen lead the Royals with 12 wins last season. He had a 12-8 record, 3.77 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Opponents were batting .258 against Chen. Bruce had a rough spring training with a 9.41 ERA over 22 innings of work. Although he had a good strikeout to walk ratio, opponents were batting .378 against Chen in the spring which included 6 homeruns. The Los Angeles Angels hand the ball to their ace Jered Weaver for their home opener. Weaver is coming off a year in which he finished 2nd in Cy Young voting. He was 18-8 with a 2.41 and 1.01 WHIP. Opponents were batting just .212 against Weaver. At home Weaver was a stellar 8-2 with a 1.84 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and .208 opponents batting average. Weaver started 15 games at home allowing just 24 totals runs against and just 6 homeruns against. To add to an already solid lineup the Angels went out and landed the bigest free agent in Albert Pujols making them serious contenders this season. Pujols has looked great this spring batting .383 with a .437 on-base percentage through 60 at bats. These two teams met in Kansas City in their season openers last season with the Angels beating Kansas City 4-2 behind Weaver. There is a lot of hype and excitement behind this Los Angeles Angels team this spring and I think they get off to a great start in their home opener in a very favorable pitching match up.
Take the Angels to win by 2+ on the run line.

[Gman1]

Three clubs with potential
to shock the baseball world
like Arizona did in 2011

On Opening Day of last season, Baseball Prospectus' playoff odds gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 1.2 percent chance of making the playoffs. Until May 25, their record remained under .500, and their playoff odds were stuck at less than 2 percent. That was when they made their move, morphing into the season's most surprising success. From May 26 through the end of the season, they went 69-44, winning the National League West with eight games to spare.There's no way anyone could have known that the Diamondbacks would be that good, for the simple reason that they weren't that good. The D-backs had a run-of-the-mill rotation and relief corps, a defense that was no better than decent and a league-average lineup that hit much worse away from Chase Field. However, they also stayed healthy, losing the fewest days to injury of any NL team. Perhaps more importantly, they recorded a league-best 28-16 record in one-run games, which often hinge as heavily on luck as they do on skill. As a result, the D-backs outplayed their third-order winning percentage -- an expected record based on underlying statistics and adjusted for quality of opponents -- by 10.5 games, the biggest margin in baseball.We can't predict which teams will enjoy good fortune in 2012, but we can try to pinpoint a few clubs that could be unlikely contenders if the balls bounce their way. This year, five teams have playoff odds at less than 2 percent as of Opening Day. There probably won't be another 2011 D-backs in the bunch, but the following three teams are the best candidates to take a surprising step forward.

Kansas City Royals
(Projected record: 68-94, Playoff odds: 0.3 percent)
Kansas City's position players are projected to be the youngest in the American League by almost a year and a half, with a collective age of 26.2. Most likely, that means they're still too raw to contend. However, their youth allows us to dream: If the Royals' mix of former high draft picks and top prospects matures more quickly than expected, they could make great strides as soon as this season.The Royals had the seventh-best offense in baseball last season and could climb even higher on the leaderboard in 2012, as Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas improve upon their rookie seasons and spring sensation Lorenzo Cain adds some speed to what was the AL's fourth-worst baserunning team (-4.0 baserunning runs). Cain will also aid Kansas City in center field, where he'll replace Melky Cabrera, whose minus-18.0 FRAA was the third-worst of any player last season. Thanks in part to Cabrera, the Royals were one of the majors' worst fielding teams last season, ranking 24th in baseball in defensive efficiency. This season, we project them to be about a win better than average on defense.The Royals will need their fielders to be among the best in the league if they're to have any hope of contending, since their rotation leaves a lot to be desired. Bruce Chen has never pitched more than 51 innings for a team that made the playoffs, and he's Kansas City's Opening Day starter. Unless something finally clicks for Luke Hochevar and Jonathan Sanchez, any success the Royals have will come in spite of their starters. Fortunately, Jonathan Broxton, Greg Holland, Aaron Crow and Tim Collins give the team the makings of a strong bullpen even with Joakim Soria out for the season.

Seattle Mariners
(Projected record: 69-93, Playoff odds: 0.5 percent)
If Jesus Montero meets his .295 TAv projection for a full season, he'll be the best hitter Seattle has had since 2009. Even so, the Mariners' offense won't be a strength. But with Montero; improvements by Ichiro and Justin Smoak; a full season from Dustin Ackley; and either a bounce back by Chone Figgins or a coup by Kyle Seager, they won't sink to the depths of offensive ineptitude that led to last-place finishes in each of the last two seasons. In fact, this club probably has much room for offensive growth as any.If Franklin Gutierrez can come back healthy, he and shortstop Brendan Ryan would give Seattle two of baseball's best up-the-middle defenders. The big league rotation isn't deep behind Felix Hernandez, but respectable ERAs aren't out of reach for anyone in Safeco Field, and reinforcements are on the way. Top pitching prospects Danny Hultzen, James Paxton and Taijuan Walker could conceivably start the season on the same Double-A staff, and Erasmo Ramirez, another talented starter, ended last season a level away from the majors. The Mariners won't rush any of those arms, but one or more of them could crack the roster in the second half of the season.The biggest problem facing Seattle is that unlike the other two teams listed here, the M's play in a division with two very strong teams.

Pittsburgh Pirates
(Projected record: 73-89, Playoff odds: 1.7 percent)
PECOTA projects the Pirates to finish with a better record than both the Royals and Mariners but still fall eight wins short of avoiding their 20th consecutive sub-.500 season. No one has won money by betting on the Pirates to succeed since 1992, and this probably won't be the season that stops being true. However, there are a few reasons to think the Pirates might be on the verge of breaking even, and breaking even means being a few wins away from a Cinderella season.Erik Bedard and A.J. Burnett give Pittsburgh at least two starters who miss bats, which it sorely lacked last season. The team can hope for full seasons from Alex Presley, Jose Tabata and Pedro Alvarez, who despite a rough spring you can still dream on. Veteran imports such as Rod Barajas and Clint Barmes aren't exciting, but they're better than the players they replaced. Andrew McCutchen remains the only Pirates player with star power, but there are fewer empty positions on this Pirates team than there were during the worst of their lean years.

[Gman1]

Five MLB Teams
That Could Surprise in 2012

To surprise, one has to seemingly arise from a bottom feeder to league leader seemingly out of nowhere. Every year in the MLB teams who lost more games than they won the year before turn into contenders the next. While there are still several constants year in and year out like the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies, others like the Rays and Diamondbacks have turned around otherwise dismal situations into winning ball clubs.In 2012, there are five squads who, despite losing at least half of their games in 2011, appear poised to jump into the pennant race this season. Although some of these teams made otherwise outrageously aggressive transactions this winter, others still figure to improve based on the maturation of younger players, or in most cases, some combination between the two.

1. Cincinnati Reds (Last season: 79-83)
Combined with several bold moves and key losses by divisional foes, the Reds are the team to beat in the Central in 2012 after performing below expectations a year ago. Naturally, with the departures of the likes of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from division heavyweights St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers, respectively, the division’s ripe for the taking and GM Walt Jocketty saw that the window of opportunity was now with the acquisition of ace Mat Latos from the beleaguered San Diego Padres, trade of stud set-up man Sean Marshall from divisional foe Chicago Cubs, and signing of closer Ryan Madson from the Phillies. Likewise, the club has top catching prospect Devin Mesoraco ready to fill the void left by veteran Ramon Hernandez, who signed with the Rockies. Expect a double digit hike in wins for Cincinnati and a playoff berth by season’s end.

2. Colorado Rockies (73-89)
After having picked the Rockies to run away with the NL West last year, I was shocked to see their fall from grace epitomized by the midseason trade of ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the Cleveland Indians for a quartet of prospects. This offseason however, GM Dan O’Dowd aggressively pursued the addition of several key veterans to complement a suddenly juvenile pitching staff. The club acquired 31-year-old Jeremy Guthrie from the Orioles to serve as guru to a rotation with only one other starter with over 30 career starts in the Bigs.Across the rest of the diamond, O’Dowd’s biggest acquisition was the signing of outfielder Michael Cuddyer from the Twins, who should provide at least 20 home runs and a solid average to complement stars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. The Rocks also nabbed veteran backstop Ramon Hernandez and shipped off disappointment Chris Iannetta to the Angels, while also employing Casey Blake to man the hot corner instead of incumbent Ian Stewart. To be honest, I thought Blake’s career ended (or at least should have) five years ago so I hope Colorado doesn’t expect much of anything from him. Regardless, the Rocks will be an interesting squad to watch in 2012 that will have its destiny in the hands of a young yet immensely talented quartet of hurlers in their rotation – Jhoulys Chacin, Juan Nicasio, Drew Pomeranz, and either Alex White or Guillermo Moscoso.

3. Miami Marlins (72-90)
Before the Angels stole their thunder, the Marlins were the talk of the league in early December. With a new ballpark, owner Jeffrey Loria committed to finally spending a little cash on his club — splurging to sign superstar shortstop Jose Reyes, left-hander Mark Buerhle, and closer Heath Bell, while reportedly offering the largest deal to Albert Pujols who instead signed with the Angels.Regardless, the fish figured to improve without major acquisitions with the healthy return of ace Josh Johnson, continued development of budding superstar Mike Stanton, and rebound by star Hanley Ramirez. With the moves, the team figures to improve significantly, but just how much will likely be curbed by a contentious NL East division with four viable contenders.

4. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81)
Like the Marlins, the Blue Jays face an uphill battle as part of arguably the most competitive division in the entire league. While the Yankees and Red Sox are perennial contenders, the Jays also have to contend with the Rays who may just be the best team in the entire league with phenomenal rotation depth with the arrival of top prospect Matt Moore.But on the face of it, Toronto will be a better club on the diamond in 2012 than 2011, and will figure to get even better in the future with a cluster of excellent prospects waiting in the wings. With MVP candidate Jose Bautista manning the outfield, the Jays will be turning to perhaps the best player the public knows, Brett Lawrie, to handle the hot corner, who figures to be a prime candidate for rookie of the year. Likewise, GM Alex Anthopolous plucked closer Sergio Santos from the White Sox who will lead an improved bullpen. Although the club lost out on Japanese product Yu Darvish and first baseman Prince Fielder, the club is still in a strong position to surprise in 2012.

5. Washington Nationals (80-81)
Often the laughing stock of the league, DC’s boys of summer appear on the precipice of becoming a perennial contender. 2012 might not be the year the club is ready to compete for championships with the legendary Bryce Harper still being groomed in the minors (but not for long) and young hurlers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann being stretched out and monitored after past elbow injuries. The squad’s young players continue to improve in conjunction with prime production from franchise player Ryan Zimmerman along with Jayson Werth and Michael Morse. The club’s boldest move includes the trade for budding ace Gio Gonzalez from the Athletics, who combined with Strasburg and Zimmermann, suddenly gives the Nats arguably the league’s most dynamic rotation outside of Philadelphia. Going to school in the nation’s capital, there is a new buzz and excitement in the air that’s palpable surrounding this club. Although they will be in an uphill battle all year long as part of the National League’s most difficult division, the future is so bright in DC, you just might want to wear shades.

[Gman1]

Top Ten prospects
Rookies on the rise

Matt Carpenter, IF/OF, Cardinals
Carpenter seemed bound for a repeat performance at Triple-A entering the spring, but he earned an Opening Day roster spot not only by hitting .357/.438/.661 in exhibition play but also by showing some position versatility, playing both infield and outfield corners. With starters at those positions who include David Freese, Lance Berkman andCarlos Beltran, there should be plenty of at-bats available for Carpenter, and you know what he does? [Snap!] He gets on base.

Yu Darvish, SP, Rangers
How can the player who ranked No. 2 on this list actually be better? By blowing away scouts with his stuff and striking out 21 batters over 15 spring innings. Yes, there were issues with his command and control at times, but one could argue that no pitcher right now can match the movement Darvish gets on his power arsenal, and his acclimation to big league hitting could take less time than initially expected. I won't be surprised if he spends the All-Star break in Kansas City.

Felix Doubront, SP, Red Sox
Doubront earned the No. 4 starter job in the Red Sox's rotation, which says as much about Boston's sudden lack of pitching depth than Doubront's talent. He had two good and two bad outings this spring, and it's fair to expect a similar type of run in the big leagues. He has good stuff but has always been inconsistent, and his stock is up really only because of his major league starting opportunity and the ability to pick up some cheap wins thanks to a powerful lineup.

Eduardo Escobar, 3B, White Sox
Coming off a disappointing 2011 season, Escobar seemed headed for a return engagement at Triple-A Charlotte. Instead, he was one of the players generating buzz in camp, hitting .377 while showing off his outstanding defense. He has made the White Sox as a utility player, but with second baseman Gordon Beckham entering the third year of his "What the heck happened to this guy?" phase and Brent Morel trying to prove that last year's September surge was for real (not the five months before it), there could be opportunity for Escobar to grab at-bats, rack up some positional eligibility and produce for fantasy owners.

Freddy Galvis, IF, Phillies
Often, prospects get their first opportunities as a result of an unfortunate injury rather than pure talent or performance, and Galvis heads that pack by taking over for Chase Utley at second base for the Phils. Although Utley is tentatively set to be out for only a month or so, there is no worse injury than one with no definitive timetable, and Galvis could end up with significant big league playing time in 2012. For fantasy purposes, the only positive for Galvis is his speed; with full-time at-bats, the 22-year-old Venezuelan could swipe 20-plus bases.

Stephen Lombardozzi, IF/OF, Nationals
Lombardozzi is another player who has increased his real-world value by proving to manager Davey Johnson that he can play multiple infield and outfield positions, including shortstop. In leagues with looser position requirements, this increases his fantasy value as well, as does the fact that the Nats could open the season with several players banged up. Although he doesn't offer much beyond a line-drive bat, he should be able to hit for a decent average right away.

Jordan Pacheco, 3B, Rockies
When the Rockies released Casey Blake, on the surface it looked like just more clearing of the way for the team's top hitting prospect, Nolan Arenado. However, Arenado will begin the year at Double-A Tulsa, so the immediate reward of playing time will be reaped by Pacheco, who has gone from backup catcher to everyday third baseman, at least temporarily. Everyday at-bats plus Coors Field tends to equal instant fantasy value, although Pacheco is more of a batting-average hitter than a slugger.

Chris Parmelee, 1B, Twins
A former first-round pick who was all but off the prospect radar, Parmelee hit .355/.443/.592 in his big league debut in September. With Justin Morneau limited to DH duties, Parmelee is suddenly the Twins' regular first baseman. His stock is up solely on playing time, as he will be below-average among first basemen in nearly every fantasy category. But with 500-plus at-bats, it's nearly impossible not to score and drive in some runs.

Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies
The second domino of the Arenado/Pacheco shuffle has Rosario beginning the season in the big leagues as a backup to Ramon Hernandez. This is a bit surprising; top prospects normally don't get bench jobs because of the limited playing time. But Rosario could get more than most, as Hernandez is rarely the pinnacle of health. Even in a somewhat limited role, Rosario could reach double digits in home runs, and there's a chance he'll step up and grab the starting job by the second half of the season anyway.

Drew Smyly, SP, Tigers
Smyly, a second-round pick in the 2010 draft, is the official winner of the battle for the fifth-starter job in Detroit. The Tigers have deemed Smyly, who posted a 2.07 ERA combined between high-A and Double-A in 2011 and limited opposing batters to just 11 hits in 18 innings this spring, ready to handle a big league rotation job. He's far more dependent on location and keeping hitters off-balance than pure stuff, but he has the ability to go six innings and keep his team in the game every time out, which could lead to plenty of wins in Detroit.

[Gman1]

Baseball Crusher
Athletics -140

Basketball Crusher
Mavs -6.5

[Gman1]

Chris Justice
texas RL
arizona Ml
Stl ML
over 9 minn/balt