MLB Game Preview for July 1, 2010: Philadelphia Phillies @ Pittsburgh Pirates

The 2010 World Cup betting is reaching its climax, and the MLB season rolls on to the All-Star break. By now, many betting people had the Philadelphia Phillies sitting atop the NL East with the young Atlanta Braves developing their way through the bottom of the division. As we sit about 80 games into the 2010 season, the MLB betting world is a little confused at why the Phillies are in third place chasing the first place Braves.

The fact is that the Braves are hitting and pitching better than almost anyone in the majors right now. But that team is still young, and there is half of a baseball season yet to go. Whether or not the Braves can continue to hold off the Phillies depends on how fast the Braves mature, and how much longer the Phillies continue to misfire in almost every aspect of the game.

When you put the Phillies' stats up against almost any other major league team, they are not horrible. But for the defending NL champions that did a little re-tooling to make another run at the World Series this year, the stats for the Phillies are extremely disappointing.

A roster that is supposed to be anchored by Ryan Howard has only a team batting average of .259, is at the bottom of the NL with 659 hits and is middle of the NL pack with 137 doubles. With the standards set by the Phillies in the pre-season, these numbers are not going to cut it.

Roy Halladay is having another great season, but the rest of the Phillies pitching staff has contributed to ballooning the team ERA to 4.01. One of the disappointments for this season on the mound for the Phillies is the starting pitcher for this game, Cole Hamels. Hamels has a 6-6 record and a 4.08 ERA. His last start was shaky as he has gave up six earned runs in five innings to the Blue Jays.

There are teams you expect to be involved in World Cup final betting as the tournament draws to a close. Portugal, Spain and Brazil are usually part of the picture when the World Cup gets down to its final four. Then there teams like Japan and Greece that never seem to be a factor. The Pittsburgh Pirates share the same fate as those later teams. No matter what seems to be going on in baseball, it is a lock that the Pirates are out of the playoffs by June. This season is no different.

The Phillies are struggling as they have only won six of their last 10 games. They need to start putting together a string of wins now to have some momentum before the All-Star break. They also need to get pitchers like Cole Hamels turned around if they are going to make any kind of run to the 2010 playoffs and make it back to the World Series. Unfortunately for the fans in Pittsburgh, the Pirates may be just what the Phillies need right now.

Pick: Philadelphia Phillies 8-2

Betting Lines Preview UFC 116

Here's a main event we've been waiting for since November. Last fall, Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin were set to clash for the UFC heavyweight title but a life-threatening illness sidelined Lesnar...until now. Big Brock is back and ready to defend his belt in what should be a hugely popular pay-per-view this Saturday. Let's make some UFC betting picks.

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: Brock Lesnar (4-1) vs Shane Carwin (12-0)

Sportsbook odds: Lesnar -150, Carwin +120

While Brock Lesnar rested up, Shane Carwin was busy wreaking more havoc on the UFC's heavyweight division. The only man with a larger glove size than Lesnar, Carwin has been an absolute beast since joining the promotion. He's an NCAA division-II wrestling champ but his main strength has been his hands. No one has last even made it out of the first round against him – including big names like Gabriel Gonzaga and, most recently, Frank Mir, who set a record by lasting 3:48 against Carwin.

Carwin's win over Mir was terrifying because he crushed the man with short, lefthanded uppercuts. Since he generates so much punching power, even from short distances, he's the greatest striking threat Brock Lesnar has ever faced.

The champ has plenty going for him too. Lesnar's wrestling pedigree is even better – a Division-I champ – and he's an absolutely freakish athlete. His speed and agility relative to his size, no exaggeration, is the heavyweight division's equivalent of Georges St-Pierre. He's a broader man than Carwin and may have a slight strength advantage in the grappling game.

But I see some problems for Brock in this fight. First off, there's the ring rust factor. How fit and ready to fight will he be after almost dying and not fighting for a year? Secondly, whereas Carwin has been hit and hurt before (by Gonzaga before rallying for the win), no one has ever hurt Lesnar. That will change if Carwin connects. We still don't know how Lesnar will respond to taking a hard punch. Lastly, Carwin is smaller than Brock but not by much. Facing his biggest, strongest opponent yet, Lesnar may not have his usual landslide edge in the wrestling game. That may force him to try other things – such as standing and striking. And that would favor Carwin.

Brock Lesnar's future remains very bright in MMA but I'm not sure he's catching Carwin at the right time. Carwin is peaking and his fists are devastating. I think he pulls off the upset – via knockout.

Today's free pick: Carwin +120

Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1, 2 NC) vs Chris Leben (20-6)

Sportsbook odds: Akiyama -205, Leben +165

All the momentum swings toward the underdog Leben in this middleweight matchup. Fresh off an impressive win against Aaron Simpson less than two weeks ago, Leben got the call to replace injured Wanderlei Silva in this bout. There's no pressure on him and Yoshihiro Akiyama is a nice step up in competition.

For Akiyama, this situation is a bit of a nightmare – so much that he almost backed out upon learning he was fighting Leben. Beating Wanderlei Silva, a "name," would've shot Akiyama up the rankings. He has nothing to gain by beating Leben and everything to lose. Leben's brawling style and heavy hands make him a younger albeit poor man's version of Silva. I don't like the matchup for Sexyama. Go with the betting upset.

Today's free pick: Leben +165

MLB Odds: Risers and Fallers

Yesterday, we covered the major risers among MLB futures contenders. Today, let's review which teams have taken the biggest tumble over the last month or so.

FALLERS

Los Angeles Dodgers (+1800 Sportsbook odds)

All hope is not lost for the Dodgers, as a May surge put them back into the American League West playoff rest. But they've frustrated sports betting blog pick makers by stumbling badly in recent weeks. Chad Billingsley's injury stung and Andre Ethier is taking a long time to recover from his own despite being back in the lineup. But the Dodgers still have the talent to challenge for the World Series when healthy.

Philadelphia Phillies (+850 Sportsbook odds)

Here's a team that savvy MLB betting players will pounce on. The Phillies have been maddening all season, wasting a phenomenal effort from Roy Halladay (who must feel like he's still in Toronto) by struggling to hit the ball. Still, sluggers like Ryan Howard always save their best for the warm weather. The Phillies should eventually rally in a big way – unless Chase Utley's hand injury proves serious.

Tampa Bay Rays (+650 Sportsbook odds)

If they aren't officially fallers yet – they actually have the second best World Series odds at the moment – they're primed for a fall. They've slipped all the way to third in the ridiculously tough American League East and frustration is mounting in the clubhouse, as we saw when Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton almost came to blows last Sunday. The Rays still have the talent to contend but this is a young team that is still prone to losing confidence at times.

Toronto Blue Jays (+10000 Sportsbook odds)

Hopefully you didn't buy into the hype and throw down a large sum on the Blue Jays a month ago. Their demise was actually quite easy to predict. For one, they do this every single year, flying out of the gate in April and slowly sliding until they're a .500 team by the All-Star break. Secondly, despite leading the majors in homers and slugging for much of the season, the Jays have consistently ranked at the bottom in on-base percentage. In other words, they had poor plate discipline all along. Now opponents are capitalizing on that by giving them fewer pitches to hit.

Washington Nationals (+10000 Sportsbook odds)

It's decent betting advice to pick the Nats when Stephen Strasburg pitches, as he has plenty of wins in his future, but Strasburg Mania has distracted from the fact that Washington is in a freefall.  Fast starters like Livan Hernandez are crashing back to Earth and it doesn't help that the Nationals share a division with the Braves and Mets – two of baseball's hottest teams.

2010 World Series Odds

We're just about halfway through the MLB betting regular season. That means bettors are starting to re-examine MLB futures. Who's risen the highest over the last few weeks? Let's have a look, realizing that teams like the Yankees and Rays don't qualify since their odds have remained high all season. Same goes for surprise teams like Cincinnati and San Diego, whose odds have stayed high for a month or more now.

RISERS

Boston Red Sox (+850 Sportsbook odds)

The Red Sox may seem like a strange choice among "risers" since they were among the top favorites opening the year. But their odds took a huge tumble in April and May when they fell as low as fourth in the uber-tough American League East. Thanks to the majors' top offense, they've clawed back into the playoff hunt. Injuries to Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez could set them back in the next few weeks, however.

Chicago White Sox (+2000 Sportsbook odds)

A month ago, they were considered potential sellers, openly admitting Paul Konerko was on the block. Then an 11-game winning streak catapulted them into the American League Central race. Given their young talent, especially on the pitching side with guys like John Danks and Gavin Floyd, I wouldn't call them flukes.

Texas Rangers (+1400 Sportsbook odds)

They're back mashing the baseball in the humidity like the Texas Rangers we've come to know and love over the last 15 years. Vlad Guerrero and Josh Hamilton have both enjoyed gargantuan resurgences. Now the Rangers just have to work on acquiring another starting pitcher – which will likely be Roy Oswalt.

Los Angeles Angels (+3500 Sportsbook odds)

Kendry Morales goes down with a serious injury and the Angels start playing better. Go figure. Their veteran-laden offense will have its peaks and valleys but the pitching staff has been the key to L.A.'s comeback. Maybe Jered Weaver is a No. 1 starter after all.

Atlanta Braves (+1000 Sportsbook odds)

One of the most popular sleeper betting picks at the start of the season has really started fulfilling its promise over the last month. The key has been Troy Glaus taking the team on his shoulders. If Atlanta wants to threaten for the World Series crown, though, it needs Jason Heyward to get back on track.

New York Mets (+1500 Sportsbook odds)

Offensively, it's understandable why the Mets are risers. Jose Reyes has finally caught fire, David Wright is making us forget about his bizarre 2009 power outage and Carlos Beltran is about to return. But the pitching has been quite the surprise. Sure, Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez have lots of fight left, but what do we make of R.A. Dickey? The knuckleballer's success could be the kind of anomaly that falsely props up a team's value and burns bettors in the long run.

MLB Game Preview for June 29, 2010: Oakland Athletics @ Baltimore Orioles

Betting on World Cup games this year seems easier than betting on who will pitch a no-hitter in MLB. Phillies ace Roy Halladay had one, and that was really no surprise. The surprise was Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden and his no-hitter in May of this year. He became a media darling and hero to all underdogs. Ever since his no-hitter perfect game on May 9 in which he retired 27 batters in a row, Braden has struggled horribly. 

MLB betting when it comes to playoff time rarely involved the Baltimore Orioles. Ever since Cal Ripken Jr. retired, the Orioles have been hapless. This season is no different. The Orioles have the worst record in baseball and sit 24 games out of first place in the AL East. They are 16 ½ games away from the fourth place Toronto Blue Jays. But the Orioles may be able to offer their fans a home field present in this game and walk away with a win. 

For all of his grit and determination, Dallas Braden's sub-90MPH fast ball is just not holding up in the majors. Since his perfect game, Braden has lost five games in a row with an ERA in that span of 4.31. His season record is 4-7 and his season ERA is 3.83. Even with a lack of major league stuff, the A's keep throwing Braden out there hoping he can make magic happen again. 

The Oakland A's are 10 games out of first place in the AL West and are not considered out of a playoff race this early in the season. While they have problems hitting for power and sit at the bottom of the AL in home runs, the A's can hit. They have a team batting average of .263 and they sit in the middle of the AL in doubles. The problem the A's are having is that they cannot score runs. They only have 50 home runs as a team this season, and they have scored only 312 runs in 77 games. Averaging four runs a game is not going to win a team many games when their team ERA is almost four as well. 

The World Cup semi finals betting is coming up, and that may serve as a nice distraction for A's and Orioles fans. In this game it will come down to the bullpens. Orioles' starter Brian Matusz has lost his last eight straight and has a season record of 2-8. Both starting pitchers come into this game on long losing streaks, and that will probably push this game to the bullpens. 

Both bullpens have blown their fair share of saves this season. The A's bullpen has blown 7 out of 23 save opportunities and the Orioles have blown 12 out of 26 chances. The Orioles have the worst team ERA in the AL at 5.03, and their bullpen is not accustomed to coming to the rescue. 

Dallas Braden has been prone to giving up a lot of runs early in his last few starts, and that could be what kills the A's in this game. 

Pick: Baltimore Orioles 7-3

MLB Baseball Handicapping: Baseball Expert With Big Underdog

There is a free pick Monday from OffshoreInsiders.com Matt Rivers on the Diamondbacks at St. Louis. They are getting 175 according to BetUs

Sure Pujols, Carpenter and the Cardinals are probably too good and should prevail in this game at Busch but you're not going to get a borderline great hurler like Dan Haren plus this much all that often and when you do why not take a stab on it, even if a small stab?

Arizona has struggled mightily on the road this season, as that recent 14 game losing streak would prove, but the Diamondbacks did just win two games and the series in upset fashion at Tropicana Field and should be feeling alright about themselves. Tampa Bay is one of the better teams in the game and to take that series showed enough for me that this D-Back team still is somewhat capable.

Reynolds, Upton, Young and the snakes have some potential. Overall the offense is not better than average and this team as a whole is probably not even average as the poor record indicates. Meanwhile the Cardinals are the superior team but Tony LaRussa's club has not exactly been all that this season.

The Redbirds just lost that series in Kansas City and have looked pretty bad in the process of losing three of their past four games. I'm not saying they will lose this game because Chris Carpenter is a beast and the Cardinals are better than the Diamondbacks. But Arizona has a stud on the bump and are an improving club that has enough to win this game.

At this price I can't help but take my chances on Haren and this capable enough dog.

The pick: Arizona +175 at SportsBook

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World Cup Scores, MLB Picks Top Sunday

Courtesy of OddsShark.com:Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: Germany meets England at the World Cup, the Sprint Cup Series races in New Hampshire, and the Dodgers and Yankees do battle.

Chasing the World Cup . . .

The Round of 16 continues at the World Cup on Sunday with Germany destroying England and Argentina vs. Mexico. England, which finished second in Group C with five points, was a slight +155 favorite against Germany (+170), with draw odds of +220 according to BetUs . The Germans ended up in top spot in Group D with six points. Argentina, which won Group B with nine points, is a big -220 favorite against Mexico (+600), with draw odds of +315. The Mexican team finished up in second place in Group A, collecting four points.

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

It'll be Andy Pettitte (9-2, 2.48 ERA) vs. Clayton Kershaw (7-4, 3.24 ERA) in the Yankees/Dodgers matchup in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Lefthander Pettitte beat the Diamondbacks in his last trip to the mound, holding them to two earned runs on seven hits over his seven innings of work while striking out seven batters. Fellow lefthander Kershaw was beaten by the Angels in his last outing, giving up five earned runs on six hits over 6 2-3 innings. The Dodgers are 4-1 in Kershaw's last five outings.

Rounding out Sunday's MLB slate: San Diego at Florida, Minnesota at the Mets, Cleveland at Cincinnati, Washington at Baltimore, Detroit at Atlanta, Philadelphia at Toronto, Arizona at Tampa Bay, the Cubs at the White Sox, Seattle at Milwaukee, St. Louis at Kansas City, Colorado at the Angels, Pittsburgh at Oakland, Houston at Texas, and Boston at San Francisco. Jon Lester (8-3, 3.03 ERA) will go up against Tim Lincecum (8-2, 2.86 ERA) in that last matchup. Lefthander Lester has won seven of his past 10 starts, and righthander Lincecum is looking for his fourth straight victory.

Top expert picks on today's card…

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Roaring around the track . . .

The drivers of the Sprint Cup Series hit New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301. Jimmie Johnson, who won the Toyota/Save Mart 350 last weekend at Infineon Raceway, is the 5/1 Vegas favorite to make it back-to-back victories this week, with Kurt Busch just behind him on that odds list at 11/2. Denny Hamlin (13/2), Jeff Gordon (15/2), and Kyle Busch (8/1) round out the top five for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, with Tony Stewart at 10/1, and Greg Biffle at 12/1. Joey Logano, the defending champion at this event, is back at 20/1 odds to win again.

There is also a Formula 1 race on the schedule for Sunday, with the drivers taking to the track in the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia, Spain. Lewis Hamilton is coming off consecutive victories in Turkey and Canada, and he's listed at 5/2 by the oddsmakers to take the checkered flag in Spain on Sunday. Sebastian Vettel (10/3), Fernando Alonso (7/2), Mark Webber (6/1), and Jenson Button (7/1) are also among the favorites to race to the win. Rubens Barrichello won the European Grand Prix last season, but he's well back at 250/1 to win this year. Michael Schumacher is pegged at 33/1 odds.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

As well, there are five games on the WNBA schedule for Sunday, with Seattle at Tulsa, Phoenix at Washington, Connecticut at New York, Indiana at Chicago, and Los Angeles at Atlanta. The Sparks (3-9 straight-up, 2-10 against-the-spread) were beaten 68-53 in Washington in their last contest, and they're 0-6 on the road so far this season. The Dream (10-4 SU, 9-4-1 ATS) got past Tulsa 96-90 at home in their last game. Angel McCoughtry led the way with a game-high 29 points for Atlanta that day.

Sunday MLB Pick

Free pick for Sunday from OffshoreInsiders.com Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers is on the Red Sox.

Jon Lester plus money is never ever ever a terrible play. The Boston southpaw is a great pitcher that at times is unhittable, literally. Certainly I'd be insane to say too much negative about the great Tim Lincecum who has won back-to-back Cy Young awards. But the San Francisco ace has shown some chinks in the armor this season and has been very mediocre at times, relatively speaking.

Granted mediocre for Lincecum is five straight quality starts, an 8-2 record and a 2.86 ERA but Lester is a guy that without a doubt can throw a complete game shutout today against the weak hitting Giants.

Boston's starter has been complete money of late, save a poor outing in Cleveland, and is a warrior who has beaten Cancer and won World Series games. To think that this San Franicsco offense, even at home, is going to do much of anything against the lefty seems implausible.

If I was a totals player I would certainly like the under as this game, with the pitcher's hitting, potentially has all the makings of 0-0 in the 9^th inning and especially with Dustin Pedroia now on the shelf but in the end plus money with Lester and the better offense is worth a stab.

The pick: Boston +102 at BetUs

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MLB Handicapping: Red Sox vs Giants

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The fans at AT&T Park will be treated to a interleague game between the Boston Red Sox and the San Francisco Giants when they take their seats on Sunday. Jon Lester will be the starting pitcher for the Red Sox on this day. Lefthander Lester is 8-3 this season with a 3.03 ERA. Lester's opponent in this one will be Tim Lincecum. The Giants ace righthander has a 2.86 ERA to go along with a 8-2 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Giants listed as 125-moneyline favorites versus the Red Sox, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Mike Cameron blasted a three-run homer to lead the Red Sox in a 4-2 victory over the Giants on Saturday, as -144 favorites. The teams played UNDER that game's posted over/under (8) set by sportsbooks. Scott Atchison earned the win in relief for the Red Sox, and Jonathan Papelbon closed out the ninth for his 17th save. Madison Bumgarner gave up four earned runs off five hits in seven innings in the Giants loss. Team records: Boston: 45-31 SU San Francisco: 40-33 SU Boston most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing Tampa Bay are 6-4 After playing San Francisco are 4-3 After a win are 6-4 San Francisco most recently: When playing on Sunday are 7-3 Before playing LA Dodgers are 3-7 After playing Boston are 3-4 After a loss are 6-4 A few trends to consider: Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Francisco Boston is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 7 games on the road Boston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road San Francisco is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games San Francisco is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston Next up: Boston home to Tampa Bay, Tuesday, June 29 San Francisco home to LA Dodgers, Monday, June 28 Stevie Vincent is the former Executive Editor of the scorephone Tailgate Parties, which were the reports every gambler flocked to in the pre-Internet days. A pro gambler since 1993, his picks went public in 2007. He is the founder of groundbreaking forensic sports handicapping.

MLB Handicapping: Rockies vs Angels

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Angel Stadium in an interleague contest. The Rockies will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Jhoulys Chacin in this game. Chacin has a 4-6 record and a 3.62 ERA this season. The Angels will counter Chacin with Ervin Santana. Righthander Santana has a 3.91 ERA to go along with a 7-5 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Angels listed as 140-moneyline favorites versus the Rockies, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Hideki Matsui hit a grand slam home run in the first inning, as the Angels held on for a 4-2 victory over the Rockies on Saturday. The Angels won the game as -132 favorites, while the six runs went UNDER the posted over/under (9.5) set by sportsbooks. Joe Saunders scattered four hits and two runs over seven innings in earning the win for the Angels. Aaron Cook gave up four runs off four hits in eight innings in the loss. Team records: Colorado: 39-35 SU Los Angeles: 42-35 SU Colorado most recently: When playing on Sunday are 5-5 Before playing San Diego are 5-5 After playing LA Angels are 4-6 After a loss are 5-5 Los Angeles most recently: When playing on Sunday are 3-7 Before playing Texas are 8-2 After playing Colorado are 7-3 After a win are 5-5 A few trends to consider: Colorado is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games Colorado is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road Colorado is 4-10 SU in their last 14 games when playing LA Angels LA Angels are 10-4 SU in their last 14 games when playing Colorado LA Angels are 16-7 SU in their last 23 games LA Angels are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games at home Next up: Colorado at San Diego, Monday, June 28 LA Angels home to Texas, Tuesday, June 29 Those who bet totals always wager with Stevie Vincent as mastering over/under has been his forte for years and no sports handicapper comes close.

MLB Handicapping: Cardinals vs Royals

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Kauffman Stadium. Jamie Garcia will be the starting pitcher for the Cardinals on this day. Lefthander Garcia is 7-3 this season with a 1.79 ERA. The Royals will counter Garcia with Bruce Chen. Lefthander Chen has a 4.33 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Cardinals listed as 170-moneyline favorites versus the Royals, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Colby Rasmus belted a three-run homer to lead the Cardinals to a 5-3 win over the Royals on Saturday. The Cardinals won that game as -125 favorites, and the eight runs went UNDER the posted over/under (10) set by sportsbooks. Blake Hawksworth allowed just two hits and two runs over five innings for the win, while Ryan Franklin closed out the Cardinals win with his 15th save. Kyle Davies surrendered six hits and five runs over seven innings in a losing effort for the Royals. Team records: St. Louis: 41-33 SU Kansas City: 31-44 SU St. Louis most recently: When playing on Sunday are 8-2 Before playing Arizona are 5-5 After playing Kansas City are 7-3 After a win are 5-5 Kansas City most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing Chi White Sox are 6-4 After playing St. Louis are 3-7 After a loss are 5-5 A few trends to consider: St. Louis is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Kansas City The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 6 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games on the road St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City's last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games at home Kansas City is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home Kansas City is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games Next up: St. Louis home to Arizona, Monday, June 28 Kansas City home to Chi White Sox, Monday, June 28 For winning point spread picks, Joe Duffy has his picks part of GodsTips, anchor of OffshoreInsiders.com A long-time veteran of the sports betting industry, Duffy got his start at Dial Sports 976 Dial It service and eventually became the most decorated scorephone handicapper in history.

MLB Odds: Mariners vs Brewers

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The fans at Miller Park will be treated to a interleague game between the Seattle Mariners and the Milwaukee Brewers when they take their seats on Sunday. Lefthander Jason Vargas will take the mound for the Mariners to start this game. Vargas is 6-2 this season with a 2.66 ERA. It'll be Chris Narveson toeing the rubber for the Brewers in this contest. Lefthander Narveson is 5-4 with a 5.52 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Brewers listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Mariners, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Mariners came back with three runs in the fourth inning and held on for a 5-4 victory over the Brewers on Saturday, as +130 underdogs. That game's nine runs went as a PUSH against the posted over/under (9) set by sportsbooks. Jose Lopez cracked a two-run homer to power the Mariners, while Brian Sweeney tossed a one-hit shutout through four innings of relief to earn the victory on the mound. Randy Wolf surrendered five runs off eight hits in five innings in the Brewers loss. Team records: Seattle: 31-43 SU Milwaukee: 33-41 SU Seattle most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing NY Yankees are 4-6 After playing Milwaukee are 3-1 After a win are 6-4 Milwaukee most recently: When playing on Sunday are 3-7 Before playing Houston are 9-1 After playing Seattle are 2-2 After a loss are 5-5 A few trends to consider: Seattle is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Seattle's last 10 games Seattle is 5-14 SU in its last 19 games on the road Milwaukee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games Milwaukee is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home Next up: Seattle at NY Yankees, Tuesday, June 29 Milwaukee home to Houston, Monday, June 28 Because the MasterLockLine monitors each and every one of the nation's top sports service, handicappers, tip sheets and syndicates, you will get every Game of the Year play worth betting. Every last one in the industry is yours. That's why you get more legitimate service betting service Games of the Year on the MasterLockLine than anyone else.

Baseball Handicapping: Cubs vs White Sox

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at U.S. Cellular Field in an interleague contest. The Cubs will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Ryan Dempster in this game. Dempster has a 5-6 record and a 3.56 ERA this season. Dempster's opponent in this one will be John Danks. The White Sox lefthander has a 3.23 ERA to go along with a 7-5 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the White Sox listed as 140-moneyline favorites versus the Cubs, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Paul Konerko belted a game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Saturday, as the White Sox defeated the Cubs 3-2. The White Sox won that game as -130 favorites, and the five runs went UNDER the posted over/under (9) set by sportsbooks. J.J. Putz picked up the win with a scoreless eighth, and Matt Thornton secured the victory with his third save of the season. Aramis Ramirez went deep for the Cubs, while Andrew Cashner gave up the winning run and was saddled with the loss. Current streak: Chicago has lost 2 straight games. Chicago has won 11 straight games. Team records: Chicago: 32-42 SU Chicago: 39-34 SU Chicago most recently: When playing on Sunday are 5-5 Before playing Pittsburgh are 2-8 After playing Chi White Sox are 4-6 After a loss are 5-5 Chicago most recently: When playing on Sunday are 3-7 Before playing Kansas City are 3-7 After playing Chi Cubs are 7-3 After a win are 10-0 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chi Cubs's last 7 games when playing Chi White Sox The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chi White Sox The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games on the road Chi White Sox are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games Chi White Sox are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chi White Sox's last 8 games Chi White Sox are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games when playing Chi Cubs Next up: Chi Cubs home to Pittsburgh, Monday, June 28 Chi White Sox at Kansas City, Monday, June 28 For winning point spread picks, Joe Duffy has his picks part of GodsTips, anchor of OffshoreInsiders.com A long-time veteran of the sports betting industry, Duffy got his start at Dial Sports 976 Dial It service and eventually became the most decorated scorephone handicapper in history.

Baseball Handicapping: Diamondbacks vs Rays

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Rays will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Tropicana Field in an interleague contest. The Diamondbacks will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Rodrigo Lopez in this game. Lopez has a 3-6 record and a 4.59 ERA this season. Lopez's opponent in this one will be Wade Davis. The Rays righthander has a 4.90 ERA to go along with a 5-8 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Rays listed as 200-moneyline favorites versus the Diamondbacks, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Jason Bartlett and Sean Rodriguez drove in two runs apiece as the Rays defeated the Diamondbacks 5-3 on Saturday. The Rays won that contest as -200 favorites, while the eight runs went UNDER the day?s posted over/under (8.5) set by sportsbooks. David Price tossed eight innings for the win, allowing seven hits and two runs with 11 strikeouts. Ian Kennedy gave up four runs off two hits in 5 1-3 innings and was tagged with the loss. Team records: Arizona: 29-46 SU Tampa Bay: 44-30 SU Arizona most recently: When playing on Sunday are 4-6 Before playing St. Louis are 4-6 After playing Tampa Bay are 2-8 After a loss are 5-5 Tampa Bay most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing Boston are 5-5 After playing Arizona are 6-4 After a win are 3-7 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Arizona's last 10 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 6 of Arizona's last 9 games Arizona is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Arizona The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing at home against Arizona Tampa Bay is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Arizona The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games Next up: Arizona at St. Louis, Monday, June 28 Tampa Bay at Boston, Tuesday, June 29 Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy former General Manager of the Freescoreboard scorephone network and CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com the premier hub of world-class handicappers.

Baseball Betting: Nationals vs Orioles

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: A winning streak will be on the line for the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday when they battle the Washington Nationals at Camden Yards. The Nationals will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Luis Atilano in this game. Atilano has a 6-4 record and a 4.52 ERA this season. Meanwhile, it'll be Jeremy Guthrie who starts for the Orioles. Righthander Guthrie is 3-9 with a 4.28 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Orioles listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Nationals, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Orioles erased a five-run deficit and rallied for a 6-5 win over the Nationals on Saturday, as +100 underdogs. That game's 11 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (9.5) set by sportsbooks. Jason Berken picked up the win in relief, while Alfredo Simon tossed a scoreless ninth for his eighth save. Sean Burnett was tagged with the Nationals loss after giving up the winning run in relief. Current streak: Washington has lost 3 straight games. Baltimore has won 3 straight games. Team records: Washington: 33-42 SU Baltimore: 22-52 SU Washington most recently: When playing on Sunday are 4-6 Before playing Atlanta are 5-5 After playing Baltimore are 4-6 After a loss are 2-8 Baltimore most recently: When playing on Sunday are 5-5 Before playing Oakland are 2-8 After playing Washington are 5-5 After a win are 2-8 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Baltimore Washington is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Baltimore's last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Baltimore's last 5 games at home Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Washington Baltimore is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games at home Next up: Washington at Atlanta, Monday, June 28 Baltimore home to Oakland, Tuesday, June 29 Those who bet totals always wager with Stevie Vincent as mastering over/under has been his forte for years and no sports handicapper comes close.

Baseball Odds: Tigers vs Braves

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The fans at Turner Field will be treated to a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves when they take their seats on Sunday. Ace Justin Verlander will be the starting pitcher for the Tigers on this day. Righthander Verlander is 8-5 this season with a 3.94 ERA. Starting this game for the Braves will be Tommy Hanson. The righthander has a 4.17 ERA to go along with a 7-4 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Braves listed as 125-moneyline favorites versus the Tigers, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Chipper Jones launched a three-run homer to lift the Braves to a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday, as a -110 pick'em. That game's seven runs went UNDER the day?s posted over/under (9) set by sportsbooks. Kenshin Kawakami threw seven innings for the victory, allowing a stingy two hits and one run for the Braves. Joel Zumaya gave up three runs in just over one inning of relief, and was tagged with the Tigers loss. Current streak: Detroit has lost 2 straight games. Atlanta has won 2 straight games. Team records: Detroit: 39-34 SU Atlanta: 44-31 SU Detroit most recently: When playing on Sunday are 5-5 Before playing Minnesota are 6-4 After playing Atlanta are 5-5 After a loss are 6-4 Atlanta most recently: When playing on Sunday are 4-6 Before playing Washington are 5-5 After playing Detroit are 6-4 After a win are 6-4 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing Atlanta The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta Detroit is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Atlanta The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing Detroit The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games Next up: Detroit at Minnesota, Monday, June 28 Atlanta home to Washington, Monday, June 28 The OffshoreInsiders.com Network includes Texas Holdem tips, the biggest sports service plays for MLB baseball betting and NBA betting.

Baseball Handicapping: Indians vs Reds

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Great American Ball Park in an interleague contest. Righthander Mitch Talbot will take the mound for the Indians to start this game. Talbot is 7-6 this season with a 4.09 ERA. The Reds will counter Talbot with ace Bronson Arroyo. Righthander Arroyo has a 4.35 ERA to go along with a 7-3 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Reds listed as 190-moneyline favorites versus the Indians, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Reds came back from two runs down and defeated the Indians 6-4 on Saturday, as -140 favorites. That game's 10 runs made it OVER that game's posted over/under (9.5) set by sportsbooks. Brandon Phillips went 2-for-3 with one RBI for the Reds, while Daniel Herrera earned the win in short relief. Justin Masterson gave up all six runs over his five innings in the Indians loss. Current streak: Cleveland has lost 7 straight games. Cincinnati has won 5 straight games. Team records: Cleveland: 26-47 SU Cincinnati: 42-33 SU Cleveland most recently: When playing on Sunday are 7-3 Before playing Toronto are 2-8 After playing Cincinnati are 3-7 After a loss are 1-9 Cincinnati most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing Philadelphia are 3-7 After playing Cleveland are 7-3 After a win are 6-4 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing Cincinnati The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati Cincinnati is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games Cincinnati is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Cleveland Cincinnati is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Cleveland The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cincinnati's last 10 games at home Next up: Cleveland home to Toronto, Monday, June 28 Cincinnati home to Philadelphia, Monday, June 28 The founder of forensic sports handicapping, Stevie Vincent has been a professional gambler since 2002. His plays are now public and a must for totals bettors as mastering over/under is his specialty.

Baseball Odds: Padres vs Marlins

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The San Diego Padres will be trying to extend a winning streak on Sunday when they take on the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium. Righthander Mat Latos will take the mound for the Padres to start this game. Latos is 8-4 this season with a 2.93 ERA. The Marlins will counter Latos with Anibal Sanchez. Righthander Sanchez has a 3.30 ERA to go along with a 7-4 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Marlins listed as 110-moneyline favorites versus the Padres, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Jon Garland?s sacrifice fly lifted the Padres to a 2-1 victory over the Marlins on Saturday, as +180 underdogs. The teams played UNDER the posted over/under (7) set by sportsbooks. Adrian Gonzalez drove in the other run for the Padres, and Garland improved to 8-5 with win on the hill. Josh Johnson surrendered five hits and two earned runs over his eight innings in a losing effort for the Marlins. Current streak: San Diego has won 2 straight games. Florida has lost 3 straight games. Team records: San Diego: 44-30 SU Florida: 35-39 SU San Diego most recently: When playing on Sunday are 5-5 Before playing Colorado are 6-4 After playing Florida are 6-4 After a win are 4-6 Florida most recently: When playing on Sunday are 2-8 Before playing NY Mets are 6-4 After playing San Diego are 4-6 After a loss are 4-6 A few trends to consider: San Diego is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Florida San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Florida The total has gone OVER in 13 of Florida's last 17 games when playing at home against San Diego The total has gone OVER in 7 of Florida's last 10 games Florida is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games at home Florida is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Diego Next up: San Diego home to Colorado, Monday, June 28 Florida home to NY Mets, Monday, June 28 Stevie Vincent is the former Executive Editor of the scorephone Tailgate Parties, which were the reports every gambler flocked to in the pre-Internet days. A pro gambler since 1993, his picks went public in 2007. He is the founder of groundbreaking forensic sports handicapping.

Baseball Betting: Phillies vs Blue Jays

The fans at Citizens Bank Park will be treated to a interleague game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays when they take their seats on Sunday. The Phillies will trot Jamie Moyer out to the mound in this one. Lefthander Moyer has a 8-6 record and a 4.43 ERA this season. It'll be Brett Cecil toeing the rubber for the Blue Jays in this contest. Lefthander Cecil is 7-4 with a 4.06 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Phillies listed as 125-moneyline favorites versus the Blue Jays, while the game's total has not yet been posted. John Buck and Alex Gonzalez smacked two-run homers as the Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 5-1 on Saturday. The Blue Jays won that game as +115 underdogs, while the six runs went UNDER the posted over/under (9) set by sportsbooks. Aaron Hill also went deep for the Blue Jays, while Shaun Marcum scattered five hits and one run over six innings for the win. Cole Hamels was tagged with the loss, giving up seven hits and five runs over four innings. Team records: Philadelphia: 39-33 SU Toronto: 40-35 SU Philadelphia most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing Cincinnati are 7-3 After playing Toronto are 2-8 After a loss are 5-5 Toronto most recently: When playing on Sunday are 2-8 Before playing Cleveland are 8-2 After playing Philadelphia are 5-5 After a win are 4-6 A few trends to consider: Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games on the road Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Toronto's last 11 games at home Toronto is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Philadelphia Toronto is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games at home Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games Next up: Philadelphia at Cincinnati, Monday, June 28 Toronto at Cleveland, Monday, June 28

MMA Strikeforce, World Cup Round of 16 Odds, Chavez, Jr vs. Duddy Boxing Odds

It's a big Saturday in sports betting odds. MMA Strikeforce sees Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (9-1) vs Jan Finney (8-7) (official betting preview) or in boxing Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (41-0-1, 30 KOs) vs John Duddy (29-1, 18 Kos) (official professional gambler's breakdown).

The USA vs. Ghana World Cup match sees the United States as a rare case of a favorite in the Round of 16.

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: Uruguay takes on South Korea and the United States battles Ghana in World Cup matchups, while the Mets play host to Minnesota.

Chasing the World Cup . . .

The Round of 16 begins at the World Cup in South Africa on Saturday, with Uruguay vs. South Korea and the United States vs. Ghana. Uruguay won Group A with seven points, and they're -120 favorites against South Korea (+350), which finished second in Group B with four points.

Draw odds for that match are +230. The United States is favored at +135 over Ghana after they won a tiebreaker atop Group C with England with five points. Ghana, which finished second in Group D with four points, is the +200 underdog with draw odds of +220. Winners of those two games go to the quarterfinals. At press time the Uruguay vs. South Korea score has Uruguay up 1-nil in the 65^th minute.

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

OffshoreInsiders.com is now fully multi-media now with sports betting podcasts and sports handicapping videos, perfect for beating online sportsbooks that pay on time.

The Mets will send Johan Santana (5-4, 3.31 ERA) to the mound on Saturday afternoon as they continue their interleague series against the Twins and Carl Pavano (8-6, 3.64 ERA). Lefthander Santana will be looking to bounce back from a loss to the Yankees in his last outing; Santana gave up four earned runs on eight hits over his six innings of work in that contest, and fanned just three. Righthander Pavano dominated the Phillies in his last start, allowing just one run on four hits over nine innings pitched.

Also on the MLB schedule for Saturday: San Diego at Florida, St. Louis at Kansas City, Houston at Texas, Washington at Baltimore, Philadelphia at Toronto, Arizona at Tampa Bay, Seattle at Milwaukee, Detroit at Atlanta, the Yankees at the Dodgers, Cleveland at Cincinnati, the Cubs at the White Sox, Colorado at the Angels, Pittsburgh at Oakland, and Boston at San Francisco. Clay Buchholz (10-4, 2.47 ERA) will take on Joe Martinez (0-1, 4.91 ERA) in that BoSox/Giants matchup. Righthander Buchholz has won seven of his last eight starts, allowing no more than three runs in any outing.

Top expert picks on today's card…

Matt Rivers, who was the winningest handicapper ever—nobody came close—on a large network of sites and his biggest bet this year goes today. A 500,000* play is pretty much as strong of a rating as there is. This is a bomb dropping experience and a play that just cannot be passed up, as in ever! One play and one play only as this is the closest thing to a sure thing and a game that I am going absolutely bonkers over.

There is no reason at all to truly tinker with anything else today. It's a 500,000* Lock of my Life between the Yankees and Dodgers. The price seems a bit cheap on the superior Yankees but AJ Burnett has been awful of late. What gives? I'll let you know and brag about it in a few hours! Click now to purchase

Rounding out the Roundup . . . Finally, there's just one game on the WNBA schedule for Saturday with Minnesota at San Antonio. The Lynx (5-9 straight-up, 7-7 against-the-spread) have won three straight games, beating New York 75-68 on the road last time out. Minnesota guard Candice Wiggins is out for the season with a ruptured achilles tendon. The Silver Stars (4-7 SU, 4-6-1 ATS) were bounced 82-61 on the road by Seattle last time out. Becky Hammon and Chamique Holdsclaw each scored 12 points for San Antonio that game.

Baseball Odds: Rockies vs Angels

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Angel Stadium in an interleague contest. Righthander Aaron Cook will take the mound for the Rockies to start this game. Cook is 2-4 this season with a 4.82 ERA. The Angels will counter Cook with Joe Saunders. Lefthander Saunders has a 5.07 ERA to go along with a 5-8 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Angels listed as 130-moneyline favorites versus the Rockies, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Jonathan Herrera knocked in the winning run in the 11th inning to give the Rockies a 4-3 win over the Angels on Friday, as -168 favorites. That game's seven runs went UNDER that game's posted over/under (8.5) set by sportsbooks. Matt Belisle tossed 2 2-3 innings of relief for the win, and Manuel Corpas closed out the game for his 10th save. Francisco Rodriguez gave up the winning run in relief and suffered the loss for the Angels. Current streak: Los Angeles has lost 2 straight games. Team records: Colorado: 39-34 SU Los Angeles: 41-35 SU Colorado most recently: When playing on Saturday are 5-5 Before playing LA Angels are 5-5 After playing LA Angels are 4-6 After a win are 6-4 Los Angeles most recently: When playing on Saturday are 6-4 Before playing Colorado are 5-5 After playing Colorado are 6-4 After a loss are 7-3 A few trends to consider: Colorado is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games Colorado is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Angels Colorado is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Angels Colorado is 4-9 SU in their last 13 games when playing LA Angels LA Angels are 9-4 SU in their last 13 games when playing Colorado LA Angels are 15-7 SU in their last 22 games LA Angels are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing Colorado LA Angels are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado Next up: LA Angels home to Colorado, Sunday, June 27 Stevie Vincent is the former Executive Editor of the scorephone Tailgate Parties, which were the reports every gambler flocked to in the pre-Internet days. A pro gambler since 1993, his picks went public in 2007. He is the founder of groundbreaking forensic sports handicapping.

Baseball Betting: Pirates vs Athletics

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Oakland Athletics will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in an interleague contest. Daniel McCutchen will be the starting pitcher for the Pirates on this day. Righthander McCutchen is 0-2 this season with a 14.73 ERA. McCutchen's opponent in this one will be Trevor Cahill. The Athletics righthander has a 3.21 ERA to go along with a 6-2 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Athletics listed as 190-moneyline favorites versus the Pirates, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Cliff Pennington drove in three runs and the A?s crushed the Pirates 14-4 on Friday, as -180 favorites. That game's 18 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (8) set by sportsbooks. Daric Barton and Mark Ellis had a pair of runs batted in for the A?s. Ben Sheets picked up the win for the A?s, allowing eight hits and four runs over his six innings. Brad Lincoln surrendered eight hits and five runs over six innings in the loss for the Pirates. Current streak: Pittsburgh has lost 4 straight games. Team records: Pittsburgh: 25-48 SU Oakland: 35-40 SU Pittsburgh most recently: When playing on Saturday are 3-7 Before playing Oakland are 1-6 After playing Oakland are 0-6 After a loss are 1-9 Oakland most recently: When playing on Saturday are 4-6 Before playing Pittsburgh are 6-1 After playing Pittsburgh are 5-1 After a win are 2-8 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 10 games Pittsburgh is 2-16 SU in its last 18 games Pittsburgh is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road Pittsburgh is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oakland Oakland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home Oakland is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games Next up: Oakland home to Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 27 Stevie Vincent is the former Executive Editor of the scorephone Tailgate Parties, which were the reports every gambler flocked to in the pre-Internet days. A pro gambler since 1993, his picks went public in 2007. He is the founder of groundbreaking forensic sports handicapping.

Baseball Odds: Indians vs Reds

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The fans at Great American Ball Park will be treated to a interleague game between the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds when they take their seats on Saturday. The Indians will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Justin Masterson in this game. Masterson has a 2-6 record and a 4.87 ERA this season. Masterson's opponent in this one will be Sam LeCure. The Reds righthander has a 4.50 ERA to go along with a 1-4 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Reds listed as 145-moneyline favorites versus the Indians, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Drew Stubbs hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs as the Reds cruised to a 10-3 win over the Indians on Friday. The Reds won that game as -200 favorites, while the 13 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (9.5) set by sportsbooks. Aaron Harang scattered eight hits and three earned runs over his eight innings for the Reds victory. Aaron Laffey surrendered five runs off five hits over four innings in the loss. Current streak: Cleveland has lost 6 straight games. Cincinnati has won 4 straight games. Team records: Cleveland: 26-46 SU Cincinnati: 41-33 SU Cleveland most recently: When playing on Saturday are 8-2 Before playing Cincinnati are 3-7 After playing Cincinnati are 3-7 After a loss are 2-8 Cincinnati most recently: When playing on Saturday are 6-4 Before playing Cleveland are 6-4 After playing Cleveland are 7-3 After a win are 5-5 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cleveland's last 11 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games on the road Cleveland is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cincinnati Cleveland is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati Cincinnati is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Cleveland Cincinnati is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Cincinnati's last 9 games Next up: Cincinnati home to Cleveland, Sunday, June 27 Stevie Vincent is the former Executive Editor of the scorephone Tailgate Parties, which were the reports every gambler flocked to in the pre-Internet days. A pro gambler since 1993, his picks went public in 2007. He is the founder of groundbreaking forensic sports handicapping.