NASCAR Betting Odds – Who’s Got the Edge in the LifeLock.com 400?

This week NASCAR heads to Chicagoland Speedway for the LifeLock.com 400. The favorite in the NASCAR sportsbook to win the LifeLock.com 400 is Jimmie Johnson at +325.

Johnson has done very well lately on the Sprint Cup Circuit when winning 2 out of the last 3 Sprint Cup races, but he might not be the best bet in the sportsbook. Any driver going off at such low odds has to have a big advantage in order for me to make a wager on him.

Can Jimmie pull it off and make it 3 out of the last 4 Sprint Cup races?

NASCAR: LifeLock.com 400

Where: Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Il

When: July 10th, 2010 at 7:30 pm EST

Track: D-shaped oval, 1.5 miles

TV: TNT

Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)

To Win

Best NASCAR Bet A: Jimmie Johnson +350

Guess what? JJ does have a big advantage going into this race. Even though he’s never won at Chicagoland, he has finished in the Top 5 five times and actually has an average finish of 8.1 on the track. Not only that, but he lost by .415 seconds to fellow Hendrick driver Mark Martin in this race last year. Those are all very good advantages for Jimmie. I see him breaking through with a victory at Chicagoland this Saturday.

Best NASCAR Bet B: Jeff Gordon +700

Gordo only has 1 victory to his credit at Chicagoland but he’s been oh so close to taking home the checkered flag in 2010 with 9 Top 5 finishes. Gordon is on the cusp of a victory, I know, I’ve written that before, but I have to believe it. At the NASCAR betting odds, he should be taken seriously to win the Lifelock.com 400 because his average finish of 9.2 is very good.

Best Underdog NASCAR Wager: Mark Martin +2500

Martin hasn’t had a very good 2010 with no victories, but he has finished in the Top 5 five times this year. Not only that, but he did win this race in 2009 and eventually he’s going to kick it into gear. So, Martin is the best underdog bet to win this race.

Others to Consider

Denny Hamlin +500 – - Hamlin’s never won at Chicagoland, but he’s having an excellent 2010. Ignore him at your own risk.

Kyle Busch +500 – - Kyle has won at Chicagoland and he’s definitely going to try to make amends for his horrible finish last week. He’s got a shot to win this.

Kurt Busch +900 – - No victories at Chicagoland on his resume. He doesn’t even have a Top 5 finish on his resume, but Kurt’s one of those drivers that, anytime you believe he’s out of it, he comes up big.

Tony Stewart +1500 – - 2 victories at Chicagoland and 7 Top 5 finishes means that Smoke definitely has a shot. He stubbed his toe last week, but before that, it appeared he was turning things around.

This week NASCAR drivers head to the Chicagoland Speedway for the LifeLock.com 400! Log onto the sportsbook and bet the LifeLock.com 400!

MLB Free Picks – Blue Jays Host Injury Depleted Red Sox

There’s probably no team more eager to take a break at the mid-point of the season than the injury riddled Boston Red Sox. Losers of their last four games, the boys from Bean Town visit Toronto over the weekend to try and get back to winning form. The oddsmakers have listed them as -135 favorites on the moneyline, but the Jays are a sneaky team at home.

The Red Sox still have major injuries to deal with, and the losing streak is a concern especially as the Tampa Bay Rays inch closer to the division leading Yankees. One of the reasons Boston is getting an edge in the MLB betting odds is because of who they’re sending to the mound tonight.

Jon Lester is 10-3 SU with a 2.76 ERA in 17 starts. He faced Toronto at the Rogers Centre in late April, going 7.0 innings and allowing 1 hit and zero runs. With Boston ailing at the plate, Lester has been resilient at the stripe.

Boston Red Sox (49-36) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (43-43)
Friday, July 9th — Rogers Centre — 7:07pm EST
MLB Betting Lines:
BOS – Jon Lester (L) -1.5 +120 / -135 / O 7.0 -120
TOR – Ricky Romero (L) +1.5 -140 / +115 / U 7.0 EV

Toronto, however, is a dangerous team at home. They just finished a series against the Twins where they scored 20-runs in three games. They average 5.0 runs per game in their own house, and while Boston still has the second best road scoring average with 5.2 runs per game on the road, much of that is based on a team that is stacked with big names. Too bad those names are on the DL right now.

Where To Watch: NESN, RSN

Toronto counters with Ricky Romero, a dangerous lefty who is trying to break out of a three game slump. He’s allowed 22 hits and 10 runs in his past three goes, lasting 17.2 innings collectively. On the season, he’s 6-5 SU with a 3.39 ERA.

Romero hasn’t faced Boston yet this season, and even if he did, he wouldn’t have been hurling against the lineup he’ll face on Friday. I can’t place stock value in a group of call-ups and scabs. Romero may get off to a bad start, but the offense will give him tons of run support and the bullpen can swoop in for the save if necessary. Solid moneyline to get your weekend off to a good start.

Furious MLB Free Pick – Toronto RL and ML (UNDER)

In case that wasn’t enough for your baseball online betting palette, we’re introducing a new feature right below! Along with your daily MLB free picks, I’m adding a parlay recommendation along with it. The following is not for the weak of heart. You’re getting two for the price of one now, might as well double up your pleasures in MLB betting too.

Warning: for tough guys only!

Tough Guy Parlay Pick – Toronto +115 ML and Kansas City +135 ML

MLB Betting Lines:
KC – Bruce Chen (L)  +135 ML
CWS – Mark Buehrle (L) -155 ML

Game Time – U.S. Cellular Field — 8:10pm EST

MLB Betting Trends:

• Kansas City is 6-1 SU in last 7 games overall
• Kansas City is 6-1 SU in last 7 road games
• Kansas City is 4-2 SU in last 6 against CWS
• CWS is 5-0 SU in last 5 games
• CWS is 11-1 SU in last 12 games at home

 

Horse Racing Betting – Night Spirit as Top Pick

Racing returns to the Jersey Shore on Friday afternoon, with Monmouth Park offering up a dozen races, with a later post time, the first race kicking off at 2:10 ET.

The heat on the east coast will subside a few degrees this afternoon, with temperatures in the high 80’s at Belmont Park and Monmouth Park.

Belmont Park gets underway first today, and our play of the day comes later in the card, the seventh race, which is a $40,000 claiming race.

Our top pick is Night Spirit who steps into a tougher spot while retuning to the turf for the first time since last summer.

Her last turf try came at Colonial Downs where she was a well beaten ninth, but she has the turf pedigree to handle the surface, and she looks much sharper now than she did last summer.

The late Pick 3 starts with the tenth race at Monmouth Park, a three race sequence that includes three longshots.

It appears we can beat all three of the likely favorites, and the final leg of the wager leaves us four deep with a pair of runners that could go off at double-digit odds, which should give us a good shot of padding our bankroll with just a $24 investment.

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 7 Clm $40,000B (4:12 ET)

#2 Night Spirit 7/2

#3 Spiritual Tune 9/2

#4 Hey Babe 5/2

#1 Little Miss Macho 6/1

Analysis: #2 Night Spirit rolled over $25K non-winners of two last out in a race taken off the turf in her first go off a nine-month layoff. Her first two tries on grass were not great, but both came over ground with give to it at Colonial. She has a decent turf pedigree, out of the stakes winner Night Fax ($242K) who has dropped a couple of turf winners.

#3 Spiritual Tune pressed the early pace and finished gamely to prevail against $25K non-winners of two in her first start against winners. Back to back hard fought efforts could lead to a bounce here as she steps up another notch in class, but there is not much else in here to get excited about.

Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 5/2 or better.

EX: 2,3 / 1,2,3,4

TRI: 2,3 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,7

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Monmouth Park:

Starting in Race 10: $1: 1,3 / 2,4,6 / 5,6,8,10 = $24

MTH Race 10 Clm $10,000 (6:30 ET)

#1 R Little Nugget, #3 Papaleo

#1 R Little Nugget came up the inside with a good late rally to grab the runner up spot for this tag. The gelding was claimed out of the race by the Pompay barn that is 41% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. The gelding gets a jock upgrade here form the ten-pound bug to Marquez, who hits at a 33% clip when riding for the barn.

#3 Papaleo makes his first start since January where the gelding had to check in traffic while down along the inside on the far turn and finished evenly for third. Two runners came out of that race to win next out. The Volk barn is 19% winners with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff and this guy finds a good spot here dropping in for a $10K tag.

MTH Race 11 OClm $75,000N2X (6:58 ET)

#2 Ms. Short Pockets, #6 Profiteroles, #4 Reprieve

#2 Ms. Short Pockets made a good late rally to get up and beat Alw-1 foes last out in her first start off the claim by the Dibona barn. The filly has now won three of five over the turf here and makes her third start off the bench here for a underrated barn. She has some pedigree, out of the stakes winner Ms. Deep Pockets ($225K) who has dropped a couple of nice runners in Witch Woman ($145K) and Sligovitz ($415K). Elvis departs to stick with our second choice in here.

#6 Profiteroles was a good-looking Alw-1 winner and earned the top last out speed fig in the effort. She is a logical player here for the Breen barn.

MTH Race 12 Md $20,000 (7:25 ET)

#6 Vested in Town, #5 Beat the Blues, #8 Lady Symphony, #10 Bible Belt

#6 Vested in Town ships in from Chuck Town for a sharp barn in Houghton. Last out against maiden special weight company the three year old tracked the early pace and came up short in the stretch in the two-turn sprint over the tight turns. The runner up Yellow Brass was a next out graduate at the maiden special weight level at the WV track on June 19. This gal was competitive for a tag in Maryland and fits well here.

#5 Beat the Blues was off poorly and made a mild late run to finish third last out for a $50K tag at Calder. She makes her first start since December for the Volk barn that is 23% winners with newcomers to the barn. The filly has a couple of quick works on the morning tab.

Price Plays From Belmont Park:

These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

R4: #5 Mike’s Instinct 12/1

R8: #6 Heaven’s Voice 10/1

R9: #5 Classroom Legend 8/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

MLB Parlay Picks – Cash in as Orioles Look to Record Consecutive Wins at Texas

The Baltimore Orioles will be looking to record consecutive victories for the first time in nearly two weeks when they battle the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark tonight at 8 PM ET.

Friday, July 9, 8:05 PM ET

MLB Odds

Baltimore Orioles +1½ -115 +170

Brian Matusz -L

Texas Rangers -1½ -105 -200

Scott Feldman -R

Over 10 Ev

Under 10 -120

TV: MASN 2 HD, TXA-21 HD

Radio: Sirius 179 XM

Baltimore (26-59 SU, 36-45-4 O/U, 35-50 RL)

Texas (50-35 SU, 41-40-4 O/U, 41-44 RL)

Felix Pie homered and had two RBI to lead Baltimore Orioles to a 6-4 win over the Rangers on Thursday. David Hernandez picked up the victory in short relief while Frank Francisco gave up three runs in relief to get saddled with the loss for the Rangers.

Here is a look at the key trends for each team, followed by my in-depth analysis and MLB Free Picks.

• Rangers are 4- 0 in Feldman’s last 4 starts vs. Orioles.
• Over is 5- 1 in the last 6 meetings in Texas.
• Under is 5- 2 in the last 7 meetings.

Baltimore 411

• Orioles are 3- 11 in their last 14 games following a win.
• Orioles are 2- 7 in Matusz’s last 9 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Orioles are 3- 13 in Matusz’s last 16 starts.
• Orioles are 1- 6 in Matusz’s last 7 road starts.
• Julio Lugo went 2-for-4 with one RBI and Scott Moore added a solo homer in the win.

Texas 411

• Rangers are 6- 2 in their last 8 games following a loss.
• Rangers are 8- 3 in their last 11 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
• Rangers are 4- 1 in Feldman’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
• Rangers are 5- 2 in Feldman’s last 7 starts vs. American League East.
• Josh Hamilton went 3-for-4 with a solo home run for Texas in the loss.

The Starters: Tonight, the Orioles will hand the ball to left-hander Brian Matusz (3-9, 4.56 ERA) while the Texas Rangers counter with right-hander Scott Feldman (5-8, 5.51 ERA).

Matusz was brilliant the last time out, shutting out the Boston Red Sox in seven innings, allowing just two hits along the way.

Feldman has been pounded in three straight starts and allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in six innings of a 5-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Analysis: I like the Texas Rangers to bounce back against the lowly Orioles in a big way tonight as they’ve gone a perfect 4- 0 in Scott Feldman’s last four starts against the Orioles and 8- 3 in their last 11 home games against a left-handed starter.

While the Orioles have managed to go just 1- 6 in Matusz’s last seven road starts, the Rangers have generally bounced back well from a loss, going 6- 2 in their last eight games following a loss while also going a consistent 4- 1 in Feldman’s last five starts against a team with a losing record.

In addition to playing the Rangers to record the Run Line victory in an emphatic home win, I also like the Over to top tonight’s O/U total as it has gone 5- 1 in the last six meetings between these teams when they meet in Texas.

MLB Free Picks: Rangers -1½ Runs/Over 10 Total Runs

Speed at a Premium at Calder on Saturday

The $1.35 million Summit of Speed is on tap at Calder Race Course on Saturday, with seven stakes races, four graded, featuring some of the quickest horses in training.

The series of sprints continues to attract the speediest runners each year. Among the horses that have competed in the past are Lost in the Fog, Cajun Beat, Maryfield, and Orientate.

With an all stakes Pick 4 and two of the four graded stakes part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series, there will be plenty at stake on Saturday.

Here is a quick look at the graded stakes action at Calder:

Race 8 $150,000 Azalea (G3)

Buckleupbuttercup started her career running for a $35,000 tag and has already earned four times that in purses by winning four of her first eight starts.

Last out she pressed the early pace and weakened to finish fifth in the Acorn (G1) at Belmont Park going a mile.

The cut back to a sprint will suit and if she runs back to her win two back in the Eight Belles (G3) at Churchill Downs in the slop she will be tough here.

Pica Slew went gate to wire to win the Leave Me Alone Stakes over a couple of runners she faces again today.

She is one very fast filly, but she may have to deal with Rapport in the early going.

That filly breaks from the rail for trainer Bob Baffert. If those two hook up early it could set things up nicely for Buckleupbuttercup.

Race 9 The Carry Back (G2)

The Richard Dutrow trained D’Funnybone looks like a free square in the Pick 4, as the colt is going to be very tough to beat here at a puny price.

In his last start the colt earned a career top sped figure winning the Woody Stephens (G2) at Belmont Park going seven furlongs.

The runner up in that race was Discreetly Mine, who returned to win the Jersey Shore (G3) on July 4.

Coffee Boy beat a couple of these runners when he won the Unbridled last out over the main track at Calder.

The colt is in a dangerous barn with Marty Wolfson, but will have to run another career best to beat the morning line chalk.

Race 10 Smile Sprint Handicap (G2)

The winner of the Smile Sprint earns an automatic berth in the Breeders’’ Cup Sprint (G1) later this fall at Churchill Downs.

Go Go Shoot is shipping in from Monmouth Park where last out the gelding dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish third in the Decathlon in his first start off a six month layoff.

The gelding caught a main track on the Jersey Shore that was playing to outside stalkers and closers that day. He is capable of running big and should be tighter for his second start off the layoff.

Big Drama won three stakes as a two year old and five of six over the surface so far in his career. The colt tuned up for today with a sharp win in the Ponche Handicap in his first start off a nine month layoff.

Taqarub is going to be a pace factor and is coming off a sharp win in the Maryland Sprint at Pimlico on Preakness Day.

The runner up in that race was Roaring Lion, who came back to win the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park in his next outing on July 5.

Race 11 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1)

Warbling dueled for the early lead and faded to finish fifth last out in the Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs in the slop.

The filly either did not like the off going or bounced off the career top two back earned winning the Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream Park going seven furlongs.

The runner up and fifth place finishers in that race returned to win stakes in their next starts. She figures to bounce back with a sharp effort here.

Dubai Majesty is coming off a sharp looking win in the Winning Colors (G3) at Churchill Downs in her most recent outing.

The runner up in the race was Secret Gypsy, who came back to win the Saylorville on June 25 at Prairie Meadows. The mare has run well over the main track at Calder including a runner up finish in the Azalea (G3) back in ’08.

In addition to the Summit of Speed, there is plenty of stakes action around the country.

Blind Luck will be the favorite in the $250,000 Delaware Oaks (G2) at Delaware Park, taking on six overmatched three year old fillies.

There is a pair of Grade 1’s on the menu at Hollywood Park, the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap and the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap.

At Belmont Park, Gio Ponti is the headliner in the $600,000 Man O’ War, taking on a field of seven runners including Interpatation, who upset him in last fall’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).

Summit of Speed Is Sprint Day of the Year at Calder

Saturday’s Summit of Speed at Calder features seven stakes worth $1.35 million that has lured scores of sprinters from throughout the country.

Two stakes, each valued at $350,000, are designated Win and You’re in the Breeders’ Cup: The Princess Rooney and Smile Sprint handicaps. Each six-furlong racecarries a $350,000 purse and attracted 13 entries.

The Princess Rooney attracted fillies and mares 3-years-old and up aiming for a spot in the $1 million BC Filly & Mare Sprint.

Shippers have dominated the Grade 1, winning all prevision 10 contests. Trainer Tood Pletcher’s Hour Glass comes from Belmont where she won the Vagrancy at 6 ½ furlongs on May 29, his fifth victory in nine starts.

Dr. Zic ran second at Woodbine on May 16 after leading at the six-furlong marker of a Grade 3 at 6 ½ furlongs. Three of her eight triumphs were at Tampa Bay Downs, including two stakes.

Warbling, winner of the $200,000 Inside Information at Gulfstream in February, ships in from Churchill Downs where she ran fifth in the seven-furlong Humana Distaff in the slop on May 1 after setting the pace into the stretch.

Leading Calder’s home team is First Passage, winner of the $150,000 Azalea on last year’s Summit card, who captured the U Can Do It Handicap on June 12.

The daughter of Giant’s Causeway has won all four of her outings in stakes at the South Florida track.She’sone of six runners Marty Wolfson will saddle in three of the four graded stakes on the card.

The trainer also sends out Jessica Is Back, a veteran performer at Calder where she’s 6-5-1 in 17 races. The 6-year-old daughter of Put It Back finished sixth in the 2009 Princess Rooney.

Wolfson also entered Causeway’s Kid in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint for 3-year-olds and up hoping to gain a berth in the $2 million BC Sprint.

The son of Giant’s Causeway has raced exclusively in South Florida, finishing second in two Calder stakes, both routes.

Likely favorite is Big Drama, a Florida-bred trained by David Fawkes, who won Calder’s Ponce Handicap by 3 ¾ lengths at the Smile distance June 12 after a 10-month layoff.

The 4-year-old son of Montbrook has taken five of six races at Calder, the last four stakes dating back to his three-race sweep of the 2008 Florida Stallion series for 2-year-olds.

His main local challenger is Mambo Meister, winner of both graded stakes staged during the meeting: the Miami Mile and Memorial Day Handicap, Grade 3s contested around two turns.

The 7-year-old How’s Your Halo is trying to win the Smile in his fourth attempt. In ’07, the son of Halo’s Image ran fourth to Mach Ride, second behind ’08 Eclipse champion Benny the Bull and fourth to Eaton’s Gift last year.

The top invader is Not for Silver exiting a rough off-the-board trip in the Maryland Sprint at Pimlico on Preakness Day. The son of Not for Love shipped in last July for the Carry Back and romped to victory by 4 ½ lengths.

This year’s Carry Back for 3-year-olds marks the return of D’Funnybone, one of the leading sprinters in the nation trained by Rick Dutrow.He only faces four challengers in the six- furlong dash.

The son of D’wildcat broke his maiden at Calder in his career debut 14 months ago by 7 ¼ lengths at 4 ½ furlongs on a sloppy surface.The colt has captured five stakes, all sprints, including the Woody Stephens at seven furlongs on Belmont Day.

The top local hope is Wolfson trainee Coffee Boy, a lightly raced son of Yonaguska that rallied for half-length score in the Unbridled Stakes on June 12 – his second win in four outings.

Horse Bet of the Day: Grade III Azalea Stakes at the Calder Summit of Speed

Who says that you can’t find the best bet of the day in a graded race on a Saturday?

I believe I’ve done it! The Grade III Azalea Stakes at the Calder Summit of Speed this Saturday might not look like a great race to bet at first, but after carefully studying all of the angles, that’s exactly what it is!

A great race to bet!

Horse Bet of the Day – Saturday

Where: Calder – Race 8

When: July 10th, 2010 at 4:17 pm EST

TV: HRTV

$150,000 Grade III Azalea Stakes

For Fillies Three-Years-Old

6 furlongs over dirt

6-Bronx City Girl – - 6/1 morning line horse betting odds

Trainer Martin Wolfson claimed this daughter of Yankee Gentleman for $50,000 at a race at Churchill Downs.

Now, Wolfson throws this gal into a Grade III. Wolfson is winning at a 31% clip at the Calder meet and is an amazing 78% first after the claim.

Sure, he’s only claimed 9 horses this year, but that’s 7 out of 9 first time winners after the claim. This gal can definitely lie right behind the speed, take charge, and then win going away.

If Wolfson feels that she can win this, then I’m not arguing with him.

1-Rapport – - 5/2 morning line horse betting odds

Pica Slew, who is 2 for 2 over the Calder racing strip, is the 9 to 5 morning line favorite mainly because everybody believes she’ll be able to sit behind Rapport and then take over from that one at the top of the stretch.

I don’t think so. I’ve seen Rapport run live and let me tell you, she’s fast! She’ll take the lead and then try to separate from Pica Slew.

I believe she will and while Pica Slew throws in the towel, Rapport will keep on going.

She could very well wire this field and deserves to be considered for the win slot.

5-Buckleupbuttercup – - 3/1 morning line horse betting odds

She got trounced in the Grade I Acorn but before that she won the Grade III Eight Belles over the slop at Churchill Downs.

She’s definitely the classiest horse in this field and that could carry her home first, but she’s not really a sprinter having not run at this 6-furlong distance since breaking her maiden.

Leparoux will get her in a good position, but I don’t believe she quite gets there first for the victory.

Horse Wagering Strategy

Bronx City Girl is a serious threat to win this first off the claim for Marty Wolfson. I’ll bet her to win and place.

I will also bet an exacta keying Bronx City Girl over Buckleupbuttercup and Rapport. I’ll reverse the exacta for less.

Good luck!

Log onto the top horse racing sportsbook on the Internet and bet the ponies!

Is Arizona the Right Favorite to Back in the MLB Sportsbook on Friday Night?

Are the Arizona Diamondbacks the right team to back in the MLB Sportsbook on Friday night? The D’Backs, because they send Dan Haren to the mound, are -140 favorites in the sportsbook to beat the Florida Marlins.

It hasn’t exactly been a Dan Haren-type year so far for ‘Zona’s ace. Mr. Haren is 7 and 6 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He and his team have been awful lately. The D’Backs have lost their last 4 games that Haren has started. Haren is 0 and 2 in those 4 games with the other two games being no-decisions.

Can Haren prove he’s a legitimate baseball betting favorite in tonight’s game against the Marlins?

Florida Marlins vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Where: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

When: July 9 th, 2010 at 9:40 pm EST

TV: Florida – FS-F

Arizona – FS-A

Radio: Florida – WAXY 790, WAQI 710

Arizona – KTAR 620, KSUN 1400

MLB Betting Odds

Florida Marlins

Ricky Nolasco – R +1 ½ -165 +120

Arizona Diamondbacks

Dan Haren – R -1 ½ +145 -140

The wagering trends give a shot to both the D’Backs and the Marlins in this game.

• The Florida Marlins are 1 and 5 in their last 6 games after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
• The Florida Marlins are 13 and 3 in Ricky Nolasco’s last 16 starts on the road versus a team with a losing record.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks are 1 and 5 in their last 6 games at home.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks are 8 and 2 in Dan Haren’s last 10 starts as a favorite at home of -110 to -150.

The winner of this game could come down to the team that hits the ball best. Both pitchers have thrown very well in their last few games.

Against Arizona Diamondbacks, Nolasco is 5 and 1 with a 3.53 ERA. He’s also been very good in his last 3 starts. Nolasco won all three. He gave up a total of 9 runs off of 18 hits in those 3 starts. The main reason for the victories has been his teammates giving him run support.

The Marlins don’t figure to give him too much run support on Friday night. Haren just hasn’t been on the lucky side of things lately. For instance, in his last start, he gave up only 1 run off of 6 hits to the Dodgers yet the D’Backs still lost the game.

Against the Marlins, Haren’s ERA is great, 2.86, but he’s only 1 and 2 out of 4 starts. Recently, however, he’s been fantastic against the Marlins. In July, he struck out 10 of Florida’s batters in an 8 to 0 Arizona win.

The D’Backs had lost 5 games in a row before beating the Florida Marlins 10 to 4 on Thursday night. I believe with Haren on the mound they are legitimate favorites and deserve to be bet as such.

I’m going to actually take a swing and say that Haren dominates and that the D’Backs either get to Nolasco early or rough up the Marlins’ relievers. What does that mean? A bet on the run line, my friends!

MLB Betting Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks -140

LeBron’s Final Decision

The King will have a new court.

That’s right, after seven years in Cleveland, six All-Star appearances, four first team All-NBA’s, two MVP’s and a 2007 NBA Finals appearance, LeBron James is leaving the only professional city he’s ever called home.

He’ll be playing for the Miami Heat this coming fall, after his long drawn out free agency came to an end Thursday night.

In a move that was highly reported, but still shocking- especially to those in Cleveland- James announced on ESPN during his 9 p.m. EST press conference that he’d be joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach.

While the news was a surprise to some, it was hardly shocking considering that most reports had pointed towards James landing in South Beach.

Still, as the press conference drew near, many experts didn’t believe that James would go on national television and break the hearts of his fellow Ohioans.

Only he did.

In his adopted hometown of Cleveland- a mere few minutes from his true hometown of Akron- the streets flooded with angry fans, some burning James’ jerseys.

Fuel was only added to the fire late Thursday night, when Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert posted a scathing message on the team’s website, ripping his former most valuable player.

For James, who is still searching for his elusive first NBA title, the move south made sense. He’ll star in a backcourt featuring Wade, his former Olympic teammate, and the 2006 NBA Finals MVP, as well as Bosh, a 6’11 power forward and All-Star for each of the past five seasons.

With each of the three making close to a maximum contract, it is intriguing to see how team president Pat Riley fills out this roster. Only one player- Mario Chalmers- remains from last year, after forward Michael Beasley was traded to the Timberwolves late Thursday night.

In Cleveland the re-tooling process will begin, as James- the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft out of Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary High School- leaves town, in addition to last year’s starting center Shaquille O’Neal.

The lineup will look vastly different, but feature 2009 All-Star point guard Mo Williams, in addition to former All-Star Antawn Jamison, who was acquired last year at the trade deadline.

James had also considered playing in Chicago with the Bulls and their newest free agent acquisition Carlos Boozer, or in New York or New Jersey, two franchises which heavily courted him.

Still, the news here is in Miami, where the Heat will likely become the most loathed team in the NBA, but also the basketball odds on favorite to unseat the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the process.

For now though, James is Miami.

Whether he gets his first NBA title next spring… Well only time will tell.

NBA – What Happens To The Cleveland Cavaliers Now?

Dan Gilbert is one pissed-off owner, and you can’t exactly blame him.

Maybe it was ridiculous for Cleveland to believe that LeBron James was going to remain a Cavalier, but for all intents and purposes, the guy who calls himself “The King” pretty much strung a quarter of the NBA, and his own home state fans, on a wild goose chase.

Given the justified outrage in Cleveland, a sign-and-trade to give James more money seems implausible.

So now what happens to the Cleveland Cavaliers?

For the fans, Thursday night was a gut wrenching moment.

They had hung on to every moment of the LeBron Teaser Tour and hoped that one of their own would not betray them.

Suddenly, and egotistically, the man who had been their leader for seven years was gone and used a nationally televised ego-fest to slap his former fans in the face.

I wrote after the Cavs were bounced in the second round of the playoffs that if LeBron leaves Cleveland, the fans should actually blame the team.

But now they’re stuck with the likes of Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison as the cornerstones of their team.

Williams was supposed to be LeBron’s running mate, but never showed the type of consistency that made him a scoring dynamo in Milwaukee.

He averaged 15.8 points per game last season and 5.3 assists, but it’s impossible to expect a guy who has never averaged more than 17.8 points per game to suddenly balloon in to the best scoring point guard in the league.

That leaves a lot of scoring up front with Anderson Varejao, Jamison and J.J. Hickson forming the backbone of the offense.

On paper, it’s actually not that bad of a lineup. Aside from Jamison, these are all young guys who now have a chance to emerge in the wake of LeBron’s departure.

What made the Cavaliers such dogs in the playoffs is the hero-worship the rest of the roster had.

They just expected LeBron to come up huge when it mattered, and nobody took responsibility for wins. They didn’t have a moment like the Lakers did when Ron Artest had a put back to beat Phoenix.

There was no Rondo-type on the team willing to seize control of the game early on.

Sadly, it was just one hero and a roster full of witnesses.

With just over $49 million over the cap, the Cavaliers still have some room to pick up a slasher-scorer type, but even that seems a stretch.

If players like Bosh were unwilling to come to the city of Cleveland when LeBron was here, what chance will they have of getting worthwhile players now?

It’s hard to imagine the Cleveland Cavaliers being competitive in the immediate future.

They were the best team in the East at 61-21 SU last season, but with Boozer arriving in Chicago, the Miami Heat scoring three of the best players of the generation, Boston, Atlanta, Orlando and Milwaukee all coming back, there isn’t much room for the Cavs.

Toronto and Indiana Pacers will be fighting with Charlotte and Cleveland for that final playoff spot, and we still don’t know what to make of New York or Washington.

LeBron James has left the Cleveland Cavaliers behind to move on to bigger and better things.

The Cavaliers must try and do the same, but the rebuilding process is a logistical nightmare.

Rebuilding the shattered hearts of the collective fan base is a whole other story.

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