Michael Cannon
NBA Playoffs: 16-9-1 (+105 dimes)
Monday's Plays...
15 Dime –
RANGERS (With Padilla as listed pitcher)
Take the Rangers for the home win tonight over the Mariners.
The Mariners just can’t hit, other than Ichiro. Believe me, when a pitcher like Erik Bedard takes the mound at this price, it’s almost a sure thing to back him.
But the left-hander hasn’t received any run support, having lost two straight and getting just one run to work with during that span. Bedard is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts versus the Rangers this season.
Vicente Padilla will start for the Rangers and he’s been virtually unhittable lately. He’s 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA over his last three starts. He has given up just one run in two starts over 13 innings against Seattle this year.
Texas has rebounded after a poor start to go 11-5 over the last 16 games.
Take the Rangers as they grab the home win.
10 Dime –
CELTICS
Take the Celtics over the Cavs tonight in Game 4 of their playoff series.
Boston has had its troubles on the road this postseason after having so much success during the regular season. I’m not sure why all of a sudden they can’t get it done on the road, but this is a perfect opportunity to back them as I feel they are really going to bring it here tonight.
Look, the Cavaliers offense is putrid. Throw out what happened in Game 3 because that was a classic case of everything going right for them while Boston didn’t even show up.
The most glaring thing to come out of that Game 3 win was that LeBron James continued to struggle from the field despite the Cavs 24-point margin of victory.
James hit just 5-of-16 shots in Game 3, putting him at an abysmal 13-for-58 in the series.
You don’t think everything is going to fall tonight for the Cavs like it did on Saturday, do you?
Of course not.
Boston is determined to end its road woes in the playoffs right now, and I feel like this is the perfect opportunity to back them as they are listed as the small dog.
Take the Celtics over the Cavs as they bring it tonight.
5 Dime –
CARDINALS (With Wainwright as listed pitcher)
Take the Cardinals as the road chalk for the win tonight over the Brewers.
St. Louis will send Adam Wainwright to the mound and he’s turned into the real horse of this rotation.
The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA on the season, and the win total would surely be higher if the bullpen would have done its job behind him. Wainwright has allowed just one run in 13 1-3 innings over his last two starts but hasn’t received a decision in either outing. The bullpen squandered leads in both games.
Wainwright has made two starts against the Brewers this season, going 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA.
The Brewers will turn to Dave Bush, who is back in the rotation after an injury to Yovani Gallardo.
Bush is 0-4 with a 6.98 ERA on the season and is 1-4 with a 6.98 ERA in five career starts versus St. Louis.
Take the Cardinals as they grab the road win.