NBA and Baseball Betting Previews From Sportsbook.ag
Carrie Stroup here with your NBA and Baseball betting previews from our good friends at Sportsbook.ag.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (61-29) at HOUSTON ROCKETS (60-28)
Western Conference – Semifinals – Game 2
Sportsbook.ag Line: Houston -7.0, Total: 214.0
The Clippers will try to steal another win when they take their 1-0 series lead into Houston for Game 2 Wednesday. The team caught fire from the outside in Game 1, hitting 13-of-31 from behind the arc. Los Angeles also outrebounded Houston 58-49 and the Rockets will need to make more of an effort to hit the glass in Game 2.
The Clippers have had a lot of success when playing in Houston, winning-and-covering in their last four trips to the Toyota Center. PF Blake Griffin is going to be the player to watch in this game. PG Chris Paul (Hamstring) is doubtful for the Clippers and Griffin would be counted on to carry this team on Wednesday like he did in Game 1 if Paul indeed does decide to sit. He racked up 26 points, 14 boards, 13 assists and a steal in 40 minutes of action in that one. He has now had a triple-double in two straight games for Los Angeles.
Something to keep an eye on is that the Clippers are 25-14 against the spread after two straight games with 10 or less offensive rebounds this season. The Rockets, however, are 10-1 against the spread off a home loss this season. The Rockets are without SG K.J. McDaniels (Elbow), PF Donatas Motiejunas (Back) and PG Patrick Beverley (Wrist) for the remainder of the year.
CHICAGO BULLS (55-34) at CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (57-30)
Eastern Conference – Semifinals – Game 2
Sportsbook.ag Line: Cleveland -5.5, Total: 195
The Cavaliers attempt to even up the series at 1-1 when they host the Bulls in Game 2 Wednesday. The Bulls turned in a vintage performance on Monday, defeating the Cavaliers 99-92 as 4.5-point underdogs in Cleveland to take a 1-0 series lead. Chicago won that game by playing well on the defensive end, holding the Cavaliers to just 34-of-81 shooting from the field. The Bulls were also better on the glass, outrebounding Cleveland 51-45.
The Cavs will need to be tougher and also find a way to get some easy baskets on Wednesday. PF Tristan Thompson will be the x-factor for Cleveland, as he’s going to be starting at power forward Wednesday. He has a high motor and will really get after it defensively. Before losing Game 1, the Cavaliers had won two home games in a row SU against the Bulls. Four straight games played between these teams at Quicken Loans Arena have gone Under the total.
The Bulls are a lousy 7-18 against the spread when coming off of a road win this season and that will be trouble as they face a Cavaliers team that is 64-41 against the spread in home games after playing four straight games as a favorite since 1996. The Bulls enter this game completely healthy, but the Cavs will be without SG J.R. Smith (Suspension) for another game and PF Kevin Love (Shoulder) and C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) for the remainder of the year.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (12-12) at NEW YORK METS (17-10)
Sportsbook.ag Line: New York -108, Baltimore -102, Total: 7
In the second contest of a short two-game set, the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets do battle in Queens on Wednesday night.
It has not been the start that Baltimore was looking for as it has split its first 24 games of the year, but do come into this tough matchup with wins in five of its past seven games. The Orioles are fresh off a series win against the Rays in which the pitchers allowed a mere four runs in the three games while scoring just eight runs of their own. They were unable to do much in terms of offense once again in the opener of this series, losing 3-2 on Tuesday night with both of the runs coming over the final two innings. Each of the Orioles runs came off of solo shots from 3B Manny Machado (.250) and 1B Chris Davis (.274) while the team failed in their three chances with RISP.
Many predicted that New York would be a much improved team in 2015, but not many saw them leading the NL East by four games in May. The team has, however, lost six of its past nine contests. They’ve lost each of their past three series and despite allowing a meager two runs in two games against Washington over the weekend, were shut out twice and lost both times. Tuesday’s game against this Baltimore team was solid as they won by a run and had saw three of their seven hits go for extra bases. With just two HRs on the year, 1B Lucas Duda (.302) has yet to show the 30 homer power from last year, but has at least one hit in eight of the past 10 games.
Looking to add to his already impressive campaign will be RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-1, 1.59 ERA) who is getting the start for Baltimore as he looks to outduel the 2014 rookie of the year, RHP Jacob DeGrom (2-3, 3.34 ERA), of the host Mets. The road hasn’t been all that kind to the Orioles in the early going of 2015 as they are 4-7 when away from home and will be going against a Mets group which is a tremendous 12-3 in front of their hometown faithful. These two clubs have had very little contact in the past with their last series before this one coming in 2012 when New York swept Baltimore over three games and outscored them 14-3 at home.
Bettors should know that the Orioles are 42-32 (.568) as a road underdog of +100 or more in the past two seasons while the Mets are a perfect 10-0 as a home favorite of -110 or better this year. Plenty of players will continue to miss time for Baltimore as C Matt Wieters (Elbow), SS J.J. Hardy (Shoulder), 2B Jonathan Schoop (Knee) and 3B Ryan Flaherty (Groin) are on the DL while big boppers 3B David Wright (Hamstring) and C Travis d’Arnaud (Hand) are out for New York.
Jimenez is not far removed from his years with the Rockies and Indians when he was an “ace” and is looking more like that pitcher with his performances thus far in 2015. He’s posted nearly a strikeout per inning (8.7 K/9) and is coming off a great showing when he faced the White Sox in his last start, going seven innings and allowing just three hits with two runs (0 ERA) as he struck out six batters (1 BB).
He’s now totaled six starts against this New York squad over his career, putting together a 2-3 record with a 3.40 ERA (1.21 WHIP) as he has given up well less than a hit (27) per inning pitched (39.2), but struggled with control (21 BB). He has not seen them since 2011 and had one start that year, allowing five runs on three hits and six walks over 3.2 innings. The only player on the Mets with an RBI against him is 2B Daniel Murphy (1-for-6, 2 RBI) while OFs Michael Cuddyer and Curtis Granderson are a combined 2-for-21 with five strikeouts in the matchup.
Baltimore’s bullpen has put up a 4-3 record with a 3.93 ERA (1.23 WHIP) and is 6-for-8 in save chances. Zach Britton (1.69 ERA, 5 saves) is 5-for-6 in his save opportunities and has a great 15:3 K/BB ratio in his 10.2 innings.
DeGrom made the big splash last year in his rookie season, earning rookie of the year honors behind a 2.69 ERA over 22 starts. He continued his dominance in the first three starts of 2015, allowing a mere two runs on 19 hits in his first three starts (19.1 IP) with a 17:3 K/BB ratio. Things have taken a little bit of a turn recently, though, and in his last two games, the 26-year-old has taken two losses after giving up 11 runs (9 ER) on 13 hits over 10.1 frames.
He has yet to face-off against the Orioles in his young career and the only player that he has seen is OF Travis Snider who has an 0-for-3 mark against him. DeGrom will need to pitch carefully when going against OF Adam Jones (.402) who leads the league by .030 points in batting average and has a team-high 21 RBIs. On the other hand, 1B Chris Davis (.274) is always a threat to hit one out with his five homers, but has also struck out in 38.5% of his at-bats.
A key factor in the great start for New York has been its bullpen and they have gone 3-2 with a 2.85 ERA (0.92 WHIP) while successfully closing out 13-of-14 contests. Jeurys Familia (1.88 ERA, 11 saves) has been amazing, allowing a miniscule five hits in 14.1 innings with 17 strikeouts in the closers role.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
