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Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - July 8, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Saturday, Jul 08, 2023

In MLB on Thursday, we saw underdogs win four of 12 with just three games being a pick. Yesterday's Big Dawg that barked loudest was the Colorado Rockies (+165, DraftKings) in a 5-2 upset of the San Francisco Giants.Seeing the Rockies win in Frisco was quite a shock, considering they were mired in a four-game skid and had lost 15 of their previous 19. Then again, maybe not, since the Giants have lost seven of nine and can't seem to find any offensive rhythm. Since June 28, the Giants are hitting a meager .198. Be wary of this series over the last two days before the All-Star Break.I went 1-0 on Friday with my N.L. East Game of the Month on the Phillies cashing in for us. That's two straight Division Games of the Month in as many days, as I gave you the Guardians Run Line on Thursday. Now on an overall 30-22 roll since June 13, including a 27-14 MLB run for a net profit of $12,490. And over the L30 days, I'm No. 1 on the leaderboard with $11,460 NET$. Tonight I cash in with another rock-solid DIVISION GAME OF THE MONTH.The WNBA had four games in action, with the favorites and dogs splitting the bill.The Washington Mystics (-1) covered the slim number with a 96-88 victory over the Indiana Fever. With the win, Washington halted a two-game skid both SU and ATS. The Mystics have covered six of their last eight.With my comp winner on Friday, the Dallas Wings (+10) beat the Las Vegas Aces outright, 80-78. The defending WNBA champion Aces, who lost for just the second time this season, has failed to cover four of their last six.The Atlanta Dream (+1) went into Chicago and beat the Sky outright, 82-68. The Dream has won and covered four in a row now.The Minnesota Lynx (-5) continued their climb back from the cellar by trouncing the Phoenix Mercury, 75-64. The Lynx, once in last place in the WNBA, have won and covered five in a row.The 11-day, 76-game NBA Summer League in Las Vegas got underway with No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama making his long-anticipated debut. And while the lines can be tough to figure out with uncertainty in the lineups, there tends to be one or two games pop up with pure value. Stay tuned.The CFL will be something to keep an eye on now that the season is well underway.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, CFL and CONCACAF Gold Cup Previews and Odds - 07/08/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jul 08, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in MLB, the CFL, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees host the Chicago Cubs at 1:05 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite, with the total set at 8.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Toronto Blue Jays visit Detroit to play the Tigers at 1:10 PM ET as a -215 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 2:10 PM ET. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Chicago against the White Sox. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 4:05 PM ET. The Texas Rangers travel to Washington to play the Nationals as a -190 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. The Colorado Rockies are in San Francisco to play the Giants. Five MLB games begin at 4:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Cleveland Guardians host the Kansas City Royals as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at Arizona against the Diamondbacks. The Miami Marlins are at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Oakland A’s as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two MLB games start at 7:15 PM ET in regional coverage on Fox. Houston hosts Seattle, with Framber Valdez taking the ball for the Astros to pitch against Bryan Woo for the Mariners. Houston is a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Atlanta visits Tampa Bay with the Braves tapping Spencer Strider to battle the Rays' Taj Bradley. Atlanta is a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels play across town against the Dodgers at 9:10 PM ET. The San Diego Padres are at home against the New York Mets at 10:10 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.Week 5 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats play at home against the Ottawa Redblacks on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM ET. The Tiger-Cats lost their third straight game to start the season with a 38-12 upset loss against Montreal as a 2.5-point favorite on June 23rd. The Redblacks won for the first time in their three games with a 26-7 victory against Edmonton as a 2.5-point favorite on Friday. Hamilton is a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 44.The quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup begin with two matches on FS1 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Panama faces Qatar at 7 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Mexico goes against Costa Rica at 9:30 PM ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. 

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Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - July 7, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Friday, Jul 07, 2023

In MLB on Thursday, we saw underdogs win five of 12 with just one game being a pick. Yesterday's Big Dawg that barked loudest was the Philadelphia Phillies (+118, Caesars) in a 3-1 upset of the Tampa Bay Rays.Though the price might not have been indicative of what I normally peg as a "big dog," it's more so about what the Phillies have been doing of late. Philadelphia has now won three in a row, and since June 3 is on a 22-7 run. Built inside the win streak is a 12-0 road win streak. During their impressive 29-game stretch, the Phils are hitting .269 and slugging .444 while averaging 5.3 runs per game. The Phils close out a six-game road trip with tonight's series opener in Miami.I'm on an overall 29-22 roll since June 13, including a 26-14 MLB run for a net profit of $11,490 after hitting my A.L. Central Game of the Year on the Cleveland Guardians, a 6-1 winner over the Kansas City Royals. I'm now on an overall 29-22 roll since June 13, including a 26-14 MLB run for a net profit of $11,490. Tonight I cash in with a rock-solid DIVISION GAME OF THE MONTH.The WNBA got back in action last night with one game, and it wasn't anything to write home about.The Connecticut Sun (-10') made quick work of the Seattle Storm, cruising to a 20-point win with a 93-73 decision. The total stayed under by a 1/2-point. The Sun outscored the Storm 29-6 in the first quarter leaving Seattle its largest first-quarter deficit in franchise history. Connecticut’s All-Stars, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner led the Sun in scoring, combining for a total 32 points. The Sun snapped a two-game skid on the court and at the window. Connecticut has won seven of 10 straight-up while covering six of them.The 11-day, 76-game NBA Summer League in Las Vegas gets underway today, and while the lines can be tough to figure out with uncertainty in the lineups, there tends to be one or two games pop up with pure value. Stay tuned.The CFL will be something to keep an eye on now that the season is well underway.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 07/07/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jul 07, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in MLB and the CFL.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Miami to play the Marlins as a -125 money-line road favorite, with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Toronto Blue Jays play in Detroit against the Tigers as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Atlanta Braves on Apple TV+. The Rays are on a five-game losing streak after their 3-1 loss at home against Philadelphia yesteday. The Braves won for the tenth time in their last 11 games with their 8-1 victory at Cleveland on Wednesday. Tyler Glasnow takes the ball for Tampa Bay to pitch against Charlie Morton for Atlanta. The Rays are a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Texas Rangers are in Washington to play the Nationals as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. The New York Yankees plays at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games begin at 7:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians are at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -190 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Oakland A’s visit Boston to play the Red Sox. Four MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Houston Astros are at home against the Seattle Mariners as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Chicago against the White Sox, with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins host the Baltimore Orioles on Apple TV+ at 8:10 PM ET. The Twins won their third straight game with a 5-0 win against Kansas City on Wednesday. The Orioles won their second game in a row after a 14-1 in New York against the Yankees yesterday. Minnesota sends out Bailey Ober to pitch against Baltimore's Cole Irvin. The Twins are a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games begin at 9:40 PM ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks. The San Diego Padres host the New York Mets as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 10:10 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the Colorado Rockies at 10:15 PM ET.Week 5 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Calgary Stampeders at 8:30 PM ET. The Blue Bombers raised their record to 3-1 this season with a 17-3 win at Montreal as a 6-point road favorite on Saturday. The Stampeders’ record dropped to 1-2 this year after a 29-26 upset loss in overtime at home to Saskatchewan as a 1.5-point favorite back on June 24th. Winnipeg is an 8-point favorite, with a total of 46.5.

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The Consistent Inconsistency from Blake Snell Rises Again

by Team Del Genio

Thursday, Jul 06, 2023

Blake Snell has become a poster child for being consistently inconsistent. For the third straight year, the left-hander has struggled early in the season only to right the ship and put up spectacular numbers in the second half of the season. In 2021, the 30-year-old began the year by posting a 5.44 era and a 1.61 whip in his first nineteen starts. Snell then completed the season by registering a 1.83 era and a 0.76 whip in his last eight starts.In 2022, Snell reverted back to that early form of the previous season by compiling a 5.22 era and a 1.48 whip in his first ten starts. Yet once again, Snell made adjustments and pitched to a 2.19 era and a 1.03 whip in his final fourteen starts. Snell's increased reliance on his slider was credited for much of the success in the second half of the year. This year, Snell had a 5.04 era and a 1.56 whip in his first ten starts. The lefty then went in the opposite direction from last year by throwing his slider less. He struck out at least ten batters for the fourth straight time last Wednesday (June 28th) at Pittsburgh while allowing only two runs in six innings of work. Snell had not given up more than two earned runs in seven straight appearances. During that span of seven starts, Snell had a 0.86 era and a 0.83 whip while striking out 66 batters and only walking 15 in 42 innings.                                              Snell carried a 4-7 record with a 3.21 era and a 1.21 whip into his first start this month in a home game for San Diego against the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched five scoreless innings for the Padres to lead them to a 10-3 victory on Monday, July 3rd. The effort was his eighth straight start in which he did not give up more than two earned runs. While his double-digit strikeout streak ended with him punching out seven Angels' hitters, he continues to average more than a strikeout per inning during his latest midseason renaissance. He is striking out 31.3% of the batters he has faced this season, making it the sixth straight season in which he has struck out at least 30.9% of the batters he has faced. Snell's walk rate is an area of concern. He is issuing free passes in 11.9% of the batters he has faced this year. He walked four batters on Monday against the Angels, the most bases on balls he had given up in seven starts. He had only walked five batters in his previous three starts, and his 2.7 walks per nine inning rate in his last four appearances remains a significant improvement over his 4.5 walk rate per nine innings for the season.The lefty carries a 5-7 record along with a 3.03 era and a 1.26 whip into an expected start at home against the New York Mets on Saturday, July 8th, in his final trip to the mound before the all-star break. He has struck out 121 batters and issued 46 walks in the 92 innings that consist of his seventeen starts this year. Yet bettors might be more successful focusing on his 0.77 era and 0.98 whip in his last eight starts since May 25th. He has a 4-1 record during this run while giving up only four earned runs. By striking out 73 batters in those 47 innings, he is averaging a remarkable 13.98 strikeouts per nine innings. Snell can surely frustrate bettors early in the season counting on him to maintain his strong form from the previous year. Yet once the lefthander adjusts and trusts what is working for him, the inconsistent pitcher becomes very reliable.Good luck - TDG.

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Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - July 6, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Jul 06, 2023

In MLB on Wednesday, we saw underdogs win three of 11 with just three games being a pick and another being postponed. Yesterday's Big Dawg that barked loudest was the Oakland Athletics (+192, Caesars) in a 12-3 upset of the Detroit Tigers.It marked the second-straight loss to the Athletics, as the Tigers continue their struggle since late June. Detroit has now lost eight of 14 with a lethargic offense that is hitting .223 while its pitching staff has been hammered for 20 home runs and has a 4.79 ERA in that stretch. Opposing teams are hitting .270 in those 14 games. Oakland has now won four of five against teams from the American League Central.I'm on an overall 28-22 roll since June 13, including a 25-14 MLB run for a net profit of $10,490. And tonight I have my strongest play of the entire campaign, to date. My FIRST GAME OF THE YEAR is ready to roll, as I've isolated one game on the card that garners DIVISION GAME OF THE YEAR status. This one gets there by at least four runs. Don't miss this blowout winner, as we cash in huge.The WNBA got back in action last night with eight teams playing in four games. Three of the four underdogs cashed in last night.The Phoenix Mercury (+15, Caesars) lost by only four to the Liberty in New York. The Mercury are slowly showing a different side of their team than we saw open the season losing 11 of 13. Since failing to cover six straight, the Mercury have covered two of their last three.The Minnesota Lynx (-2) were the lone favorite to cover, taking care of the visiting Indiana Fever in a 90-83 win. The Lynx won despite Rookie of the Month Aliyah Boston scoring 22 points on 89% shooting. The Lynx are on a 4-0 ATS roll.The Dallas Wings (+13) led by 10 in the third quarter, but couldn't maintain the lead as the Las Vegas Aces remained unbeaten at home this season thanks to an 89-82 come-from-behind win. Dallas has covered three straight.Finally, the Atlanta Dream (+1') were dominant in a 90-79 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, who continue to struggle with injuries, most notably Lexie Brown. The Dream have covered three in a row and gone over in five straight.The NBA Summer League has gotten started, but the value there is tough to figure out with uncertainty in the lineups.The CFL will be something to keep an eye on now that the season is well underway.

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North of the Border: CFL Week 5 News and Notes

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, Jul 06, 2023

After a lighter schedule featured only three games in CFL action last week, it's back to a four-game slate for Week 5, beginning with Thursday's Elks vs. Roughriders West Division showdown on Thursday night. Here's a look at some news and notes regarding the Friday-Sunday matchups north of the border.Big Bomber bounce-backWinnipeg suffered an inexplicable 30-6 rout at the hands of the B.C. Lions, at home no less, two weeks ago but rebounded nicely last Saturday, securing a 17-3 victory in Montreal. The Blue Bombers defense got off to a poor start this season but showed signs of turning it around against the Alouettes and now draw an inconsistent Calgary Stampeders offense in Week 5. Of note, Winnipeg forced four turnovers in last week's win after picking up only two in its first three games. The Stamps enter Week 5 having turned the football over six times through three contests. The Bombers check in a perfect 9-0 ATS in Weeks 5 through 9 over the last two seasons. Laying the hammer down?The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have yet to taste victory this season, off to an 0-3 start following losses to the Blue Bombers, Argonauts and Alouettes. They'll get another shot at their first win as they host the 1-2 Ottawa RedBlacks on Saturday. You would have to go back eight meetings - all the way to 2018 - to find the last time Ottawa managed to defeat Hamilton. The RedBlacks have to be feeling pretty good about themselves after notching their first victory of the campaign in lopsided fashion against the lowly Elks last week. Note that Ottawa rushed for a whopping 208 yards in that contest after picking up only 97 rushing yards in its first two games. Hamilton is a woeful 3-11 ATS against East Division foes going back to the start of last season.East-West showdownIf it's not the game of the week, it's a close second (behind the Stamps-Bombers) as the Alouettes challenge the Lions in Vancouver on Sunday. Both teams suffered their first loss of the season this past week with both of those setbacks coming in blowout fashion. For B.C. this is a bit of a tough scheduling spot as it travels across the country on just five days' rest following Monday's contest in Toronto. In that game, Lions QB Vernon Adams Jr. tossed six interceptions. Part of the blame has to be placed on him, but the team as a whole played an extremely sloppy game - the first time we've seen that type of performance from the Lions this season. Note that Montreal checks in a long-term 29-47 ATS when playing on the road after winning two of their last three games, as is the case here. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 07/06/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Jul 06, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in MLB and the CFL.Major League Baseball has 11 games on its schedule. The Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds at 1:05 PM ET. MacKenzie Gore gets the ball for the Nationals to pitch against Brandon Williamson for the Reds. Washington is a -120 money-line favorite, with the total set at 10 (all odds from DraftKings). The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Oakland A’s at 1:10 PM ET. The Tigers tap Michael Lorenzen to face the A’s Hogan Harris. Detroit is a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Chicago Cubs at 2:10 PM ET. Freddy Peralta takes the mound for the Brewers to battle against Marcus Stroman for the Cubs. Milwaukee is a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays play in Chicago against the White Sox at 5:10 PM ET in the opening game of their doubleheader after their rainout on Wednesday. Jose Berrios pitches for the Blue Jays against Lance Lynn for the White Sox. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Miami hosts St. Louis on FS1, with the Marlins turning to Eury Perez to duel against the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty. The Marlins are a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.  Philadelphia travels to Tampa Bay, with Cristopher Sanchez taking the hill for the Phillies to pitch against Shawn Armstrong for the Rays. The Baltimore Orioles are in New York to play the Yankees at 7:05 PM ET. The Orioles send out Kyle Bradish to pitch against the Yankees’ Luis Severino. Baltimore is a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 PM ET. Cleveland plays at home against Kansas City, with Tanner Bibee getting the ball for the Guardians to go against Jordan Lyles for the Royals. The Guardians are a -195 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Texas visits Boston with the Rangers sending out Nathan Eovaldi to face the Red Sox’s Sutter Crawford. The Rangers are a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.        Two MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners play in Houston against the Astros. The Blue Jays turn to Yusei Kikuchi to pitch against a White Sox pitcher yet to be determined in the second game of their doubleheader. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home against the New York Mets at 9:40 PM ET. Ryne Nelson toes the rubber for the Diamondbacks to pitch against Carlos Carrasco for the Mets. Arizona is a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 10:10 PM ET. The Dodgers turn to Julio Urias to battle against the Pirates’ Johan Oviedo. Los Angeles is a -240 money-line favorite with a total of 9.Week 5 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with one game. The Saskatchewan Roughriders play at home against the Edmonton Elks on the CBS Sports Network at 9 PM ET. The Roughriders improved their record to 2-1 this season with a 29-26 upset win in overtime at Calgary as a 1.5-point underdog on June 24th. The Elks remained winless in their first four games of the season after a 26-7 loss at Ottawa as a 1.5-point underdog on Friday. Saskatchewan is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5.

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Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - July 5, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Jul 05, 2023

In MLB on Tuesday, we saw underdogs win five of 14 underdogs cover with just one game being a pick. Yesterday's Big Dawg that barked loudest was the Pittsburgh Pirates (+222, Caesars) in a 9-7 upset of the Los Angeles Dodgers.It hasn't just been recent, as the Dodgers' pitching staff has struggled since June 3, which is why they're 12-15 since then. Their pitching staff has a 4.70 ERA and teams are hitting .254 off of them. They're also allowing nearly a home run per game (26 in 27 games). It's no wonder they have to depend on the offense, and also no wonder they've gone over in six of their last seven.Went 0-1 on Tuesday. Nevertheless, I'm still on a 27-20 overall roll since June 13, including a 24-13 MLB run for a net profit of $10,370. Tonight I've got two Major League plays for you tonight, with TWO DOGS OF THE MONTH. I've got one from Interleague play and one from a specific division. Don't miss this potential two-team parlay if you're into those things, as I sweep the MLB board with my MLB DOG OF THE MONTH DUO.The WNBA was idle Tuesday and returns to action on tonight. I hit my WNBA Non-Conference Game of the Month on the New York Liberty blasting the Storm in Seattle on July 2. After taking a couple days off, the league is back in action tonight, and I'm looking to bank on a key conference showdown. To compliment my MLB Dog of the Month Duo, I have my WNBA CONFERENCE GAME OF THE MONTH. The NBA Summer League has gotten started, but the value there is tough to figure out with uncertainty in the lineups.The CFL will be something to keep an eye on now that the season is well underway.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 07/05/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Jul 05, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in MLB.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Houston Astros host the Colorado Rockies at 2:10 PM ET. J.P. France takes the ball for the Astros to pitch against Chase Anderson for the Rockies. Houston is a -225 money-line favorite, with the total set at 9 (all odds from DraftKings). Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Tampa Bay plays at home against Philadelphia, with the Rays tapping Zack Little as their opening to go against the Phillies Taijuan Walker. The Rays are a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Miami is at home against St. Louis, with Bryan Hoeing taking the mound for the Marlins to face a starting pitcher for the Cardinals that has yet to be determined. Detroit hosts Oakland with the Tigers sending out Eduardo Rodriguez, coming off the disabled list, to duel against the A’s Ken Waldichuk. The Tigers are a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. Cincinnati travels to Washington with Graham Ashcraft going to the hill for the Reds to duel against Josiah Gray for the A’s. The Reds are a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Baltimore plays in New York, with the Orioles turning to Dean Kremer to pitch against the Yankees’ Randy Vasquez. The Orioles are a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games begin at 7:10 PM ET. Boston plays at home against Texas, with Brayan Bello taking the bump for the Red Sox to battle against Sonny Gray for the Rangers. The Red Sox are a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Atlanta visits Cleveland with the Braves tapping Michael Soroka to take the hill against the Guardians’ Cal Quantrill. The Braves are a -165 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The Minnesota Twins are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 7:40 PM ET. Pablo Lopez gets the ball for the Twins to go against Alec Marsh for the Royals. Minnesota is a -240 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 8:10 PM ET. Toronto travels to Chicago with the Blue Jays turning to Jose Berrios to pitch against the White Sox’s Lance Lynn. The Blue Jays are a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Chicago plays in Milwaukee, with Justin Steele taking the ball for the Cubs to duel against Adrian Houser for the Brewers. The Cubs are a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres host the Los Angeles Angels at 8:40 PM ET. The Padres send out Seth Lugo to pitch against the Angels’ Patrick Sandoval. San Diego is a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Seattle Mariners at 9:05 PM ET.  Alex Cobb gets the starting assignment for the Giants to take on Tommy Milone for the Mariners. San Francisco is a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets visit Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM ET. The Mets tap Kodai Senga to duel against the Diamondbacks’ Tommy Henry. New York is a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 10:10 PM ET. Bobby Miller gets the ball for the Dodgers to pitch against Osvaldo Bido for the Pirates. Los Angeles is a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. 

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The Most Memorable Moments in Sports on the Fourth of July

by Oskeim Sports

Tuesday, Jul 04, 2023

It’s a memorable day on the calendar each year. First and foremost, it is the celebration of the independence of the United States of America. It also marks a sort of mid-point to the summer. July 4th lands just about halfway through the Major League Baseball season as well. However, it’s not just baseball that has provided some of the more memorable sports moments on the Fourth of July.  Richard Petty Wins 200th It was two days after his 47th birthday. Petty would win for the final time in his storied career at the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Petty had appeared in over 1,200 races in his career and had seven NASCAR Cup Series championships. On July 4, 1984, Petty won his record-setting 200th race that day. He would go on to race for another eight years but never won another NASCAR Cup Series event.  John McEnroe Beats Bjorn Borg Wimbledon begins near the end of June and often some of the Grand Slam tournament’s events occur on July 4. In 1981, John McEnroe faced Bjorn Borg for the men’s singles title. McEnroe was just 22 years old and Borg had won five straight Wimbledon titles. At the time, Borg had won 41 straight matches at Wimbledon. McEnroe would upset Borg for his first Wimbledon title. He would win twice more in his career.  Kevin Durant Signs with Golden State It wasn’t an on-field performance, but in 2016 the free agent Durant announced he would be leaving Oklahoma City to head to Golden State. The Warriors had just set an NBA record with 73 wins in the previous season. Durant would go on to win consecutive NBA Finals MVPs the next two seasons. Phil Niekro, Nolan Ryan Get to 3,000 Ks In 1980, Ryan went up against the Cincinnati Reds and their loaded lineup. He struck out Ken Griffey Sr. in the first inning and then got Cesar Geronimo in the second for his 3,000th strikeout. Ironically, Geronimo was also the 3,000th victim of Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. Four years later, Phil Niekro would add his name to the list of MLB pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts. The knuckleball pitcher would finish his career with 3,324 strikeouts. Righetti’s No-No In 1983, Yankees pitcher Dave Righetti pitched a complete game no-hitter against his team’s biggest rival – the Boston Red Sox. Righetti would strike out Red Sox star Wade Boggs to complete the feat. Boggs would strike out only 36 times all season and end up winning the AL batting crown.  Righetti’s teammate, SS Bert Campaneris, would add to his MLB record. Campaneris played in 11 no-hitters during his career. Righetti would go on to win three World Series championships as a coach of the San Francisco Giants from 2000 to 2017. The Luckiest Man Alive It was about a month after one of the greatest players in New York Yankees’ and MLB history was forced to retire. Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games, won six World Series titles, was a seven-time All-Star, and won the American League MVP twice. On July 4, 1939, he gave a speech that still brings chills to those that listen to it. Gehrig had been diagnosed with the disease that now bears his name. He returned to Yankee Stadium where he made his final public appearance that day.  Gehrig’s speech was just 275 words, but the most famous of those was this, “…today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” The Yankees would split a doubleheader with the Washington Senators that day. Gehrig would pass away less than two years later.

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Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - July 4, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Jul 04, 2023

In MLB on Monday, we saw underdogs win two of seven games with three games being a pick. Yesterday's Big Dawg that barked loudest was the Houston Astros (+125, DraftKings) in a 12-11 marathon win over the Texas Rangers.The Astros have now won five of six thanks to an offensive surge that has seen them hit .295 since June 28, and stroke 11 home runs and score an average of 8.0 runs per game in that span. Houston is also slugging .530. Toss out yesterday's run barrage, and the Astros' pitching staff had a 3.48 ERA in their previous five games.Went 1-0 on Monday with my lone baseball release, my NL Central Game of the Month on the Brewers. Now on an overall 27-19 roll since June 13, including a 24-12 MLB run for a net profit of $11,570. And tonight I put the money to work for us with a DIVISION TOTAL OF THE MONTH. I'm on a 7-3 run with MLB totals - all MLB Totals of the Month, including my Interleague Total of the Month on the Rockies/Tigers OV on July 2. Tonight I do it again with another DIVISION TOTAL OF THE MONTH.The WNBA was idle Monday and returns to action on WednesdayThe NBA Summer League has gotten started, but the value there is tough to figure out with uncertainty in the lineups.The CFL will be something to keep an eye on now that the season is well underway.

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