Banged up Mets Play Braves at Suntrust Park

Colon Faces Former Team

The New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves will meet on Wednesday at SunTrust Park in Atlanta. The new stadium for the Braves is turning out to be a homerun hitters paradise.

The Mets will give the ball to starter Jacob deGrom in this one. Righthander deGrom is 1-1 this season with a 2.84 ERA.

DeGrom has recorded double-figure strikeouts in each of his past three starts -- the first Mets pitcher to do that since David Cone in 1992.

It is the second time that deGrom is matched with Colon this season, and both got the better of opposing hitters on April 5 at Citi Field in New York. DeGrom allowed two hits over six scoreless innings.  Colon's only mistake was a homer by Jay Bruce in the fifth inning. H onlye gave up one other hit in his six innings.

Bartolo Colon starts for the Braves. Righthanded Colon is 1-2 with a 5.59 ERA so far this season. Colon (1-2) allowed 21 hits and 10 runs in his past two starts. A loss at Philadelphia and a no-decision at Milwaukee.

Oddsmakers opened the Mets as -110-moneyline favorites versus the Braves, while the game's total opened at 8. The Mets are now -135-moneyline favorites and the total is up to 8.5.

MLB Betting Trends

New York Mets 11-15
NY Mets is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 games
NY Mets is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of NY Mets's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Mets's last 5 games on the road
NY Mets is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Atlanta
NY Mets is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
NY Mets is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Mets's last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta

Atlanta Braves 11-14
Atlanta is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 7 games
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Atlanta is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games at home
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games at home
Atlanta is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing NY Mets
Atlanta is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing NY Mets
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing NY Mets

 

Next up:
New York at Atlanta Thursday, May 4

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Spurs Look to Avenge Game 1 Blowout to Rockets

Game 1 was Spurs Worst Home Loss

The Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs meet at AT&T Center on Wednesday night at 9:30 EST. The Spurs got blown out by 27-points in game one. No one expects that to happen again. It was the Spurs worst lhome loss in franchise history. The Spurs and Rockets should play pretty close games the rest of the NBA Playoff Semifinal series.

Oddsmakers opened the Spurs as -7.5-point favorites versus the Rockets, while the game's total opened at 214. The line now has the Spurs as a -5.5 point favorite. The total has climbed to 216.

The Rockets were a 126-99 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Spurs. They covered the +6-point spread as underdogs. The total score (225) made winners of OVER bettors. Trevor Ariza led the Rockets with 23 points in Game 1. James Harden added 20 points and 14 assists in three quarters of play. Four other Houston players scored in double figures and Clint Capela added 13 rebounds as the Rockets dominated in every facet of the game.

Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Tony Parker and Jonathon Simmons added 11 points apiece. San Antonio got just four points and six rebounds from LaMarcus Aldridge. Danny Green scored eight points, all in the third quarter when the game was already decided. The Spurs gave up 22 three pointers to the Rockets.

NBA Playoffs Betting Trends

Houston Rockets
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 4-10-1 ATS in its last 15 games
Houston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Houston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games on the road
Houston is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing San Antonio
Houston is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games when playing on the road against San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Antonio's last 5 games
San Antonio is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games at home
San Antonio is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 6 games when playing Houston

 

Next up:
Houston home to San Antonio Friday, May 5

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NBA Playoffs: Raptors, Cavaliers Meet in Game 2 on Wednesday

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the overwhelming favorites in the Eastern Conference all season, but the Toronto Raptors may give them some trouble. The two face off in Cleveland on Wednesday in their second-round series.

Oddsmakers have the Cavs as 7-point favorites and the total is 214.

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The Raptors had to battle hard to take out the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. SG DeMar DeRozan put up an average of 23.5 points per game, while PG Kyle Lowry put up 14.3 points and 5.2 assists. But Toronto’s biggest asset was their defense. The Raptors allowed 93.2 points per game, which was the best in the postseason so far.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers swept the Indiana Pacers in four straight games. SF LeBron James averaged 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.0 assists for the series. The Cavaliers averaged 112.8 points for the first round, which put them with Houston in second place behind Golden State. Their defense has been poor, but so has Toronto’s offense.

The Cavs are 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Raptors prior to Game 1 of this series. In last season’s Eastern Conference finals, Cleveland beat Toronto in six games.

NBA Playoffs Betting Trends

Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 16-5 SU in its last 21 games
Toronto is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Toronto is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Toronto is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games
Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Cleveland is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cleveland's last 9 games at home
Cleveland is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Toronto
Cleveland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing Toronto

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NBA Playoffs Tuesday Free Pick- Washington at Boston Game 2

Boston Looking for 2-0 Lead

The best-of-seven NBA Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup between the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics continues this Tuesday night in an 8 p.m. start on TNT with Game 2 of this best-of-seven showdown. BetAnySports has the Celtics as 5-point home favorites and the total has been set at 219 points.

Washington opened up a 12-point first quarter lead in Game 1 of this series this past Sunday, but it was all Boston from there with the Wizards going down 123-111 as four-point road underdogs. The total went OVER BetAnySports’ closing 216-point line and it has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in six of Washington’s last eight games. The Wizards have now failed to cover against the spread in four of their last five games.

John Wall and Bradley Beal led the way in Washington’s 4-2 series win against Atlanta in the opening round and they combined for 47 points in Sunday’s loss. The team, as a whole, shot a productive 51.1 percent from the field and it also matched its opponents under the boards with 38 rebounds. However, the Wizards could not keep pace on the scoreboard following that early lead. Through their first seven postseason games they are averaging 107.2 points per game.

NBA Playoff Fortunes Have Turned for Celtics

The Celtics lost the first two games at home in their opening round series against Chicago, but they have now gone a perfect 5-0 both straight-up and ATS in their last five playoff games. The total stayed UNDER in their final four games against the Bulls before going OVER in Game 1 of this series. Going back over Boston’s last 11 home games, it is still a costly 3-8 ATS and the total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in eight of its last 12 games played at home.

Boston’s hottest hands this postseason belong to Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley. Thomas easily surpassed his 24.4-point scoring average in the playoffs with a game-high 33 points in Sunday’s victory with Bradley adding another 18 points to the winning cause. The Celtics shot 51.1 percent from the field and they connected on 19-of-39 shots from three-point range. They have averaged 106.1 points through seven playoff games.

I would stick with the home team on Tuesday night both SU and ATS as the Celtics continue to pick up more and more momentum with each postseason game they play.

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Spurs and Rockets Heated In State Rivaly Ready for NBA Playoffs

More Than State Bragging Rights On the Line

The Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs meet at AT&T Center on Monday Night to begin their NBA Playoffs 2nd Round Series. The Spurs and Rockets are bitter division and In State Rivals. The Spurs won three of the four regular season matchups. Two of those came in Houston. Actually, the Spurs won the final three meetings by a combined total of 10 points.

Oddsmakers opened the Spurs as -4.5-point favorites versus the Rockets, while the game's total opened at 215.5. The linesmakers now have the Spurs as a 6-point favorite and the total has settled at 214.5.

San Antonio was a 103-96 winner as they knocked out the Memphis Grizzlies on the road in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs. The Spurs covered in the game as a -5.5-point favorite. The 199 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard scored eight consecutive points to propel the Spurs into the lead in Game 7 against Memphis. He had 29 in the game and averaged 31 points in the series. He had three games of 30 or more points. A 43-point effort in a Game 2 victory in San Antonio was the gem.

Spurs and Rockets Could be a Classic Series

Houston was a 105-99 winner at home against the Okahoma City Thunder in the NBA Playoffs First Round. They put the Grizzlies out in five games. The Rockets should be well rested. They failed to cover the -7.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (204) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Houston guard James Harden overcame another poor shooting performance from the floor and finished with a team-high 34 points in the Game 5 Win against OKC. He only shot 8 of 25, but he was 16 of 17 from the free-throw line in the contest. Lou Williams had 22 points and Patrick Beverley added 15 points and eight rebounds. Eric Gordon and Nene combined for 22 points off the bench as the Houston bench posted a 44-22 advantage.

Spurs and Rockets Betting Trends

Houston Rockets
Houston is 3-10-1 ATS in its last 14 games
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Houston is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Houston's last 15 games on the road
Houston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing San Antonio
Houston is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing San Antonio
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
Houston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
San Antonio is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of San Antonio's last 8 games
San Antonio is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 6 games at home
San Antonio is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Houston
San Antonio is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games when playing Houston
San Antonio is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
San Antonio is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Antonio's last 6 games when playing at home against Houston

 

Next up:
Houston at San Antonio Wednesday, May 3

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Cavs and Raptors Ready to Go in Round 2 of NBA Playoffs

Cavs are Coming off Long Layoff

The Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers meet on Monday at Quicken Loans Arena. This is the second straight season the teams have met in the NBA playoffs. The Cavs are 15-1 against Eastern playoff teams at home dating back to 2015. The Raptors are 1-11 all time in Game 1 of playoff series.

Oddsmakers opened the Cavaliers as -6.5-point favorites versus the Raptors, while the game's total opened at 208.5.

That 2016 series ended 4-2 with the Cavs winning. Cleveland went on to win the first championship in franchise history. The Raptors have built themselves up since then. It was just for this moment. To take Cleveland out in a seven-game series.

Cleveland ousted the Pacers from the 2017 NBA Playoffs with a 106-102 victory. The Cavaliers earned a push against the point-spread as a -4-point favorite. The 208 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with an average of 23.5 points per game in their opening round series win over the Milwaukee Bucks.  Toronto came through that series as the best defensive unit in the playoffs. The team held Milwaukee to a league-low 93.2 points per game. The Raptors kept the Bucks under 100 points four times.

NBA Playoffs Betting Trends

Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 7 games
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Toronto's last 11 games on the road
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Toronto is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 8 games
Cleveland is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Cleveland is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Cleveland's last 8 games at home
Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
Cleveland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Toronto
Cleveland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Toronto

 

Next up:
Toronto at Cleveland Wednesday, May 3

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Cubs and Red Sox Square off on FOX Sports 1

Lackey, Lester and Francona Return to Fenway with Cubs

The Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox will meet on Saturday at Fenway Park in an interleague contest. The game will be broadcast by FOX Sports 1 and first pitch will be at 4:05 EST.

Pitchers Jon Lester and John Lackey were in the middle of the mess  of downing fried chicken and beer in the clubhouse during games. This led to a sign that Terry Francona had lost his handle of the Red Sox. While Lester will not face the Red Sox at Fenway Park this weekend, Lackey will be on the mound for the Chicago Cubs today.

Lackey will make his first regular-season start against Boston since Sept. of 2009. He is 1-3 with 4.88 ERA and has lost his last three starts. Lackey has gave up 23 hits and 13 earned runs in 24 innings. He has also walking nine and striking out 16.

Starting this game for the Red Sox will be Steven Wright. The right hander has a 8.66 ERA to go along with a 1-2 record this season.

Both right-handers have done well in interleague play. Lackey is 22-16 with a 3.24 ERA in 48 games (47 starts). Wright 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA in four games (three starts) and a .207 opponents' batting average.

Oddsmakers opened the Red Sox as -101-moneyline favorites versus the Cubs, while the game's total opened at 9. The line is now Chicago as a -115 moneyline favorite and the total is at 10.5.

MLB Betting Trends

Chicago Cubs 12-10
Chi Cubs is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Chi Cubs is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Chi Cubs's last 10 games
Chi Cubs is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Chi Cubs is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Chi Cubs's last 9 games on the road
Chi Cubs is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Boston

Boston Red Sox 12-10
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 8 games
Boston is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Boston's last 17 games at home
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs

 

Next up:
Chicago at Boston Sunday, April 30

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NHL Playoffs: Pacific Division Rivals Face Off in Semifinal Round

Oilers Making Noise in NHL Playoffs

After sweeping the Calgary Flames in Round One, the Anaheim Ducks welcome the Edmonton Oilers to the Honda Center. This is the second game of a best-of-seven series. The puck drops Friday at 10:30 PM ET on NBCSN. The Ducks benefitted from a balanced offensive attack throughout the first round. The team had eight players scoring at least one goal. Team captain Ryan Getzlaf led the way with 3 goals and 2 assists. Goaltender John Gibson was solid in Round One as well. He posted a 2.60 goals against average with a .926 save percentage. The Ducks will need a similar team performance as they face the high-octane Oilers.

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In their first playoff appearance since 2005-06, the Edmonton Oilers looked like a veteran team who had been there before. They finished only two points out of first place in the Pacific Division behind the Ducks, and continued their strong play from first puck drop of Round One. They eliminated the San Jose Sharks in six games, a team that many had repeating as the West’s representative at the Stanley Cup Final. Led by phenom Connor McDavid (2 goals, 2 assists), the Oilers will attempt to knock off another veteran squad in the Ducks.

 

NHL Playoffs Betting Trends

Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Edmonton is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Edmonton is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
Edmonton is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Edmonton's last 9 games on the road
Edmonton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Anaheim
Edmonton is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games when playing Anaheim
Edmonton is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Edmonton is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Anaheim

Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Anaheim is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
Anaheim is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Anaheim is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Anaheim is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games when playing Edmonton
Anaheim is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Edmonton
Anaheim is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Anaheim is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Edmonton

Get your NHL odds at Bovada today.

Bulls Look to Force Game 7 at Home Against Celtics

Bulls Have Dropped 3 in a Row

The Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls meet in Game 3 of their NBA Playoff Series on Friday when they meet at United Center. The Celtics have stormed back to win three straight games. The Celtics look to keep the momentum tonight when they battle the Bulls.

Oddsmakers opened the Celtics as 0-point favorites versus the Bulls, while the game's total opened at 204.

Chicago was a 108-97 loser in its last match on the road against the Celtics in Game 5. They failed to cover the +7.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 205 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window. Chicago has been rudderless since losing veteran point guard Rajon Rondo. He fractured his thumb in Game 2. That was the last time the Bulls won. Rondo won't play in Game 6 either. There had been speculation that he could be back at some point soon.

Boston surged to victory Wednesday. They ended the game on a 20-4 run. The run happened even with its leading scorer, guard Isaiah Thomas, shooting 6-for-17 from the field and 1-of-10 from 3-point range.

NBA Playoff Betting Trends

Boston Celtics
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Boston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Boston's last 16 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 9 games when playing Chicago
Boston is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Boston is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago

Chicago Bulls
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chicago's last 10 games
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games at home
Chicago is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
Chicago is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago's last 9 games when playing Boston
Chicago is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 games when playing at home against Boston
Chicago is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston

 

Next up:
Boston home to Chicago Sunday, April 30

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Day 100 for Donald Trump

Trump's First 100 Days Has Been Mixed Bag

April 29th Donald Trump will mark his 100^th day in office as President of the United States. Trump has been downplaying the importance of this milestone. The talking heads in the media typically use this date to evaluate how the presidency has fared thus far. Will he be more reserved than usual on Twitter? Will he unleash an epic tweetstorm? At press time, the over/under for April 29 tweets sent from @RealDonaldTrump is pegged at 6.5 tweets. The OVER is the solid favorite at –150.

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You can also bet on what Trump’s approval rating will be on April 29 – specifically, how his numbers will look on the Gallup Daily Job Approval Poll at 2 PM ET. The total is a historically low 38.5% for Day 100, although the OVER is once again favored at –200. Gallup had Trump at 40% approval Tuesday afternoon.

Odds are still available on how long Trump will last in office, but instead of betting on whether he’ll complete his first term, you now have a choice of four possible exit dates: 2017 (+350), 2018 (+400), 2019 (+450), or anytime thereafter (–120). Backlash against his incumbency has also bumped the Democratic Party up to –155 for the 2020 US presidential election.
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