Super bookmaker, Bodog takes a look at the Wednesday night NBA and MLB card.
It took overtime, but the Orlando Magic's NBA conference final odds stayed alive on Monday night. Dwight Howard bounced back in a big way, tallying 32 points and 16 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson buried a pair of clutch three-pointers as the Magic forced Boston at Orlando (-4) Game 5.
The series is suddenly drawing parallels to the Boston Bruins' collapse after leading their NHL playoff series 3-0. The Magic literally sat in the same dressing room at the TD Garden before beating the Celtics that the Flyers did before they came back on the Bruins.
Paul Pierce had 32 points for the Celtics in Game 4 but failed to deliver in the clutch, missing two big shots in the final minute. One reason for Boston – or at least anyone betting on Boston – to be optimistic: the road team has won eight of the last nine against the spread between these two teams.
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Now to MLB Odds news. Ichiro Suzuki clearly isn't the problem with the offensively inept Seattle Mariners. Ichiro is batting.344 and as usual leads the league in hits. But he has scored only 21 runs because no one behind him is hitting. So does it make sense to drop Ichiro down in the lineup where he can drive in runs as opposed to be stranded on base all the time?
No, says Manager Don Wakamatsu.
"You have probably our most consistent player. You take him out of that and you risk the fact that maybe he changes," Wakamatsu said. "He's been willing to do different things and we've talked about it. But right now, this guy has been our leadoff hitter for nine-plus years and has been very successful. It's really about the other guys around him."
The last time Ichiro hit anywhere other than leadoff was June 23, 2004, when he batted third at Texas. He hit just .270 during that 10-game stretch.
Following Tuesday's 5-3 win over Detroit, the Mariners are 6-16 this month and have scored three runs or fewer 13 times. What Wakamatsu might do is move free agent bust Chone Figgins, who is hitting .198, out of the No. 2 spot and down to No. 9. Figgins did have a key eighth-inning double in Tuesday's win but also struck out twice. He thrived as a leadoff hitter with the Angels – thus the possibility of swapping Figgins and Ichiro in the order.
Seattle goes for back-to-back wins this afternoon for just the third time in May, and the M's are -115 favorites on Bodog's MLB odds behind starter Jason Vargas (3-2, 3.08). Vargas has had six consecutive quality starts. Detroit counters with Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 4.43). He allowed 10 runs, eight earned, over four innings against Seattle in an April start. Opponents are batting just .219 with a .561 OPS against him in day games this year.
Oh what a hot summer it's going to be again. The underdog Mets make it winning days 8-of-11 on the diamond. Our only NBA pick was on the Suns. It may not go down as one of our greatest postseasons ever but our perfect record of never having had a losing NBA regular or postseason is likely to remain intact. Get the Celtics-Magic side now. Also get an MLB Wise Guy and three Majors for night action. Click now to purchase
