The Phillies will hang their 2008 World Series banner in pregame festivities, then take the field at Citizens Bank Park to face the Braves in the opener of the Major League Baseball season. Brett Myers (10-13, 4.55 ERA in 2008) is set to oppose new Atlanta hurler Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.24).
Philadelphia went 11-3 in the playoffs last season and closed on a 38-15 streak overall and a 21-5 run at home. The Braves finished last year on a 7-15 slide in road contests and were 4-10 in their last 14 on the highway against right-handed starters.
The Phillies were 14-4 against Atlanta last season, but they’re 0-4 in Myers’ last four starts against the Braves, and they’ve lost five straight games to Atlanta with Myers on the hill at home.
Myers went 2-1 for Philadelphia in the playoffs last fall, beating the Brewers 5-2 in the division series, allowing two runs on two hits in seven innings and then beating the Dodgers 8-5 in the NLCS, allowing five runs on six hits in five innings. He pitched well in the World Series, allowing four runs (three earned) in seven innings, but lost to the Rays 4-2 in Game 2.
In the regular season last year, Myers was 7-5 with a 3.01 ERA in 14 home starts. However, he’s 4-8 with a 4.60 ERA in 26 appearances (19 starts) against the Braves, including 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA in two starts last year (both at home).
As a Dodger last year, Lowe gave up just six earned runs in three playoff appearances, beating the Cubs in Chicago in the division series 7-2, allowing two runs on seven hits. He then faced the Phillies twice in the NLCS and gave up three runs (two earned) in a 3-2 loss in Game 1, then got a no-decision in Game 4, allowing two runs on six hits in five innings of a 7-5 defeat.
Lowe was just 5-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 17 road starts last season. On the bright side, the veteran is 4-1 with a 3.02 ERA in his career against the Phillies, including 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts at Citizens Bank Park.
The under was 7-3 in the Braves last 10 roadies last season and 39-19-2 in their last 60 on the road against right-handed starters. For the Phillies, the under was 21-8-3 in Myers’ last 32 Sunday starts, 10-4-1 in his last 15 starts overall – including 7-3 in his last 10 at home – and 9-4-1 in his last 14 outings on grass. Finally, four of the last five meetings between these division rivals last year stayed under the total.
San Antonio (49-26, 37-36-2 ATS) at Cleveland (61-15, 45-31 ATS)
The Cavaliers will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season when they host the Spurs inside the Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland had an ugly two-game road trip, falling 109-101 in Washington on Thursday as a 9½-point favorite and then went to Orlando on Friday and got smoked 116-87 as a 3½-point ‘dog for its worst loss of the season. LeBron James put up 26 points and had nine rebounds against the Magic, but none of his teammates were able to manage more than 10 points.
San Antonio got a 126-121 victory in Indiana on Friday, narrowly cashing as a four-point road favorites. The Spurs have won four of their last six but they have been brutal at the wagering window lately, cashing in just three of their last 10 outings.
The road team is on a five-game winning streak (4-1 ATS) in this rivalry, including Cleveland’s 97-86 win in San Antonio back on Feb. 27, cashing as a four-point favorite as San Antonio played without both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs have been victorious in their last three trips to Cleveland, including the final two games of the 2007 NBA Finals in which they won 4-0 (3-1 ATS). The chalk is 5-2 in the last seven series clashes, and the Cavs are on a 5-2 ATS swing when they get the Spurs in Cleveland.
San Antonio is on ATS slides of 2-6 on Sundays and 1-5 after getting one day off, but it is 4-1 ATS in its last five against Eastern Conference squads. Cleveland is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 overall, 2-6 ATS in its last eight at home and 2-6 ATS in its last eight after getting a day off. However, the Cavs are on positive ATS streaks of 19-9 against Western Conference teams, 7-1 against Southwest Division squads and 52-25-1 following a straight-up loss. Also, for the season, Cleveland is an NBA-best 36-1 SU at home and 25-12 ATS.
The Spurs have stayed under the total in eight of 11 games against Central Division teams, but they have topped the total in five of their last six overall. For the Cavs, the under is on runs of 5-2 overall, 38-14 on Sundays, 4-0 at home and 4-1 against Southwest Division teams.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Phoenix (42-34, 32-42-2 ATS) at Dallas (45-31, 36-40 ATS)
The Suns will try to keep their playoff hopes alive when they visit American Airlines Arena in Dallas today to take on the Mavericks.
Phoenix is on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff picture, but back-to-back wins have the Suns going in the right direction. They got a big 114-109 home win over the Rockets on Wednesday, cashing as 1½-point favorites, and then they followed up with Friday’s 139-111 home victory over the Kings, covering as a 14½-point chalk.
Dallas lost at Memphis 107-102 as a seven-point road favorite Friday night. They have gone just 1-4 ATS in their last five overall, and their offense has been very erratic, going anywhere from 128 points to 74 points in their last six contests.
The Mavericks have taken two of three from the Suns this season, including a 112-97 home win back on Dec. 4 as a four-point chalk. The last time these two met was March 10 when the Mavs got a 122-117 win in Phoenix as a six-point pup. However, the Suns are 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings in Dallas.
Phoenix is just 6-14 ATS in its last 20 against teams with a winning home record and 12-27-1 ATS in its last 40 after a spread-cover, but the Suns are on positive ATS streaks of 8-3 overall, 5-2 after a straight-up win and 4-1 when they get a day off. Dallas is just 1-5 ATS in its last six after getting a day off and 0-5 ATS in its last five against teams with winning records, but the Mavs are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 after a non-cover and 6-1 ATS in their last seven against Pacific Division squads.
The Suns have been flying over the total lately, currently riding streaks of 5-1 overall, 8-3 on the road, 7-3 on Sunday, 5-1 against the Western Conference and 5-2 after a spread-cover. Dallas has topped the total in seven of nine at home and four of five against teams with winning records, but it’s on “under” runs of 4-1 overall, 19-7 on Sundays, 5-1 after a non-cover and 4-1 after getting a day off. Finally, the over is 4-1 in the last five clashes in this rivalry..
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Portland (48-27, 41-34 ATS) at Houston (48-28, 36-39-1 ATS)
The red-hot Trail Blazers carry a four-game winning streak into the Toyota Center in Houston today for a matchup with the Rockets.
Portland is on a 4-0 SU and ATS run, including a 107-72 burial of Oklahoma City on Friday, easily cashing as a five-point favorite. The Blazers have won seven of nine overall (8-1 ATS), including four of five on the road (5-0 ATS). Nate McMillan’s squad has increased its scoring lately, averaging 111 points per game – well above its season average of 99.5 points a game – and shooting 49.8 percent from the floor.
Houston has dropped two straight and three of four (all SU and ATS), including Friday’s 93-81 defeat to the Lakers as 5½-point road ‘dogs. The Rockets have won and covered in their last two at home, but that was against the Clippers and Timberwolves. In their last meaningful game at the Toyota Center on March 18, they beat Detroit 106-101 but failed to cash as a 9½-point chalk.
The Rockets have owned this rivalry lately, winning six of the last seven (3-4 ATS), but the teams have split two games this season with the host winning each time and Portland going 2-0 ATS. The ‘dog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight series clashes.
Portland is on a plethora of ATS streaks, including 5-0 on the road, 6-1 after a spread-cover, 10-4 after getting a day off and 5-0 against Western Conference squads. Houston is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven at home, but is otherwise riding ATS streaks of 35-17-1 after a non-cover, 9-4 after a straight-up loss, 4-1 on Sunday and 4-1 against Northwest Division teams.
For the Blazers, the under is on streaks of 6-2 on the road, 4-1 after getting a day off and 9-4 against teams with winning marks. The Rockets are on “under” runs of 9-4 overall, 11-3 after a non-cover, 4-0 on Sundays and 8-3 against the Western Conference. Also, the under has been the play in four of the last five series meetings in Texas.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Utah (46-30, 37-39 ATS) at New Orleans (47-28, 32-41-2 ATS)
The struggling Jazz limp into New Orleans Arena to face the Hornets, who have dropped three straight overall and seven of eight in this series.
Utah lost in Denver 114-104 on Thursday, coming up short as a five-point ‘dog, then returned home Friday and got bitten by the lowly Timberwolves 103-102 as a whopping 13-point favorite. The Jazz allowed Minnesota to shoot 40-for-75 from the floor and got pounded on the boards, 42-28. Not only have the Jazz come up short in their last three games, but they’re 0-6 ATS in their last six overall and 1-6 SU and ATS in their last seven on the highway.
New Orleans had its modest three-game winning streak snapped Friday night at Golden State, losing 111-103 as a five-point road favorite. The Hornets have topped the century mark in each of their last three games after going nine straight without hitting the 100-point plateau.
Utah has won both meetings against the Hornets this season SU and ATS and seven of the last eight overall (6-1-1 ATS). The Jazz scored an ugly 77-66 win in New Orleans last season as a 5½-point ‘dog, and they’ve won three of the last four played on the bayou (2-2 ATS). The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between these two, with the chalk going 6-1-1 ATS in the last eight.
It’s all ugly ATS trends for Utah, including 1-6 on the road, 0-6 after a straight-up loss, 0-5 after a non-cover, 0-6 overall, 3-13 on the road against teams with winning home records and 0-5 against Western Conference teams. New Orleans is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 Sunday contests, but just 1-4 ATS in its last five against Northwest Division teams and 2-7 ATS in its last nine after a straight-up loss.
For Utah, the over is on runs of 4-0 overall, 4-0 after a non-cover, 4-1 on the road against teams with winning home records and 4-1 against the Western Conference. Conversely, the Hornets are on a bevy of “under” streaks, including 10-2 overall, 20-8 at home, 11-5 on Sundays, 8-1 after getting a day off, 7-2 against the Western Conference and 10-2-1 against teams with a winning record. Finally, the under is 5-1-1 in the last seven Jazz-Hornets battles overall.
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