Picks And Parlays

5-unit Play Take Chicago Blackhawks/Boston Bruins UNDER (8:05pm ET) What a series it's already been between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. With four overtime periods in two games and plenty of drama, it already feels like we should be playing Game 5. Instead it's only Game 3 as the series shifts back to Boston tied up 1-1. There are a couple of things we know from watching these teams go at it for so long already. First, these goaltenders are absolutely amazing. Both teams have had their fair share of scoring chances in both games, but these goalies have put up ridiculous numbers. There have been a total of 179 shots combined in the series and only 10 of made their way to the back of the net. That's an amazing .944 save percentage, especially given the quality of shots we've been witnessing. In addition we've seen that the two coaches, Joel Quenneville and Claude Julien, are great at matching up. Neither coach has been shy about shuffling up the lineups and getting the matchups that they want on the ice. This tactical game of chess will go on the entire series and will make it even tougher to score in my opinion. Given that we've only seen 10 goals in 10 periods of hockey so far, we have to look for another low scoring game tonight. The goalies are just playing too well and the coaches are doing a great job on matchups. Play the Under tonight.

4-unit Play Take #53 Boston Bruins over Chicago Blackhawks (8:05pm ET) They're back at it again after one of the longest games in NHL history in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. That game could have easily gone either way as both teams had many chances in the extra periods, but Chicago was able to get the job done 4-3 in triple overtime. That game was also a testament to just how evenly-matched these two squads really are, and is why we're looking to the underdog here. The Bruins are a resilient team that is not going to let the last game affect them. They've been here before and have always stepped up in big spots. In fact, they were down by two goals with a minute left in Game 7 against Toronto this postseason and were able to come back and win. That's performing under pressure. Today's game shouldn't require a comeback effort like that, but there's no doubt that Boston needs this one. People forget that the Bruins were in control in Game 1, leading 3-1 in the latter part of the third period. They were the better team for most of the game, but just couldn't hold on. I expect Game 2 to be played very similarly, but this time Boston will be able to hold on. Take the Bruins as the dog here.

4-unit Play Take #980 Cleveland Indians over Washington Nationals (7:15pm ET) The Cleveland Indians host the Washington Nationals in an Interleague battle. Both teams come into today's contest at 33-33 after the Indians took the first game of the series on Friday night. For Washington, it's been a very frustrating season as the expectations were extremely high on this team. They were supposed to be the best in the NL and take another step forward in 2013. It hasn't worked out that way, and the main reason is their lack of offense. The Nationals are 14th in the NL in runs scored with 3.52 per game, ahead of only the lowly Marlins. They also are particularly bad against left-handers so far in 2013 and that's bad news since they go up against one in Scott Kazmir today. Washington has just a .584 OPS against southpaws this season, which is the worst in the major leagues. Kazmir is pitching better than expected in his comeback effort in 2013. While his ERA is above 5.00, he is striking out 9.1 batters per nine innings and has gotten his velocity up to where it needs to be for him to be effective. He's caught some tough breaks with a .362 batting average on balls in play, so we should see better results from him going forward. Washington sends Jordan Zimmermann to the hill today, which will be a tough matchup for the Indians. He's 9-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 0.89 WHIP this season, but his peripherals don't support it. He has been lucky on batted balls in play at .229 and his strikeout rate is only 5.8 per nine. While Zimmermann is definitely improved this season, some regression is in order for him. I like the home team today. Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

3-unit Play Take Toronto Blue Jays/Texas Rangers OVER (4:05pm ET) We have the perfect conditions for plenty of runs in Arlington today as the Texas Rangers host the Toronto Blue Jays. To begin, it's going to be hot. Preliminary weather reports have this game in the mid-90's, which always helps the ball travel a little bit farther. We also get two starting pitchers who can't be trusted at the moment. R.A. Dickey pitches for Toronto and he clearly hasn't been himself this season. He comes in 5-8 with a 5.11 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 14 starts. Just this week we found out that Dickey has been suffering through a back injury that would put most pitchers on the disabled list. He's given up 19 earned runs in his last four starts, so don't expect anything to change today. On the other side is relief pitcher Josh Lindblom. The 26-year old is making a start today due to the vast amount of injuries to the Rangers' staff right now. He's been mediocre in his first two starts and the Rangers will be happy if he can just go five or six innings. Finally, we have two very solid offenses in this contest. Both teams are in the middle of the pack in the AL in runs scored, but they both have the potential to be much better. Play the Over in this one.

Free MLB Play from Doc’s Sports Take #926 Los Angeles Angels over New York Yankees (10:05pm ET) The New York Yankees come to Anaheim to take on the Los Angeles Angels. There’s quite a contrast in how these teams will be feeling coming into tonight’s game. The Yankees went 18 innings on Thursday night in a 3-2 loss in Oakland. They utilized their entire bullpen and are surely a bit fatigued after playing the equivalent of two games and then traveling afterwards. The Angels, meanwhile, had the day off on Thursday as they prepared for their series with the Yanks. Baseball is a long season and these types of extreme situations do occur from time to time, but rarely with teams on either end of it. C.J. Wilson and Andy Pettitte will go head-to-head in this one. They have similar numbers on the season, but Wilson has fared better against the Yanks in his career and New York struggles against southpaws. Pettitte is also going to be asked to go a little deeper than usual with the bullpen getting overworked yesterday, so that could affect the 41-year old. The Angels are well-rested and I think they get the job done today.

4-unit Play Take #914 San Diego Padres over Arizona Diamondbacks (10:10pm ET) There's clearly something wrong with Arizona Diamondbacks starter Trevor Cahill. In his last four stars, the normally reliable right-hander is 0-3 with a 7.94 ERA and 1.68 WHIP. It's easily the worst stretch he's had in two years with Arizona as his strikeout-to-walk ratio during that stretch is only 8-6. He may be fighting through an undisclosed injury or his mechanics could be a little off. Either way, the San Diego Padres should get some good whacks tonight. The Padres come in as winners of seven of their last nine contests and the offense has been a big reason. They've averaged 5.2 runs per game in those nine contests and haven't been held under three runs in any of them. Southpaw Eric Stults takes the hill for San Diego tonight. He doesn't get a lot of attention, but is a solid middle of the rotation arm. He's 5-5 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.15 WHIP and should have a big edge tonight against an Arizona lineup that struggles against lefties. The Padres have also been very good in Petco this season at 19-14. All signs point to the Pads in this matchup.

2-unit Play Take #907 St. Louis Cardinals over Miami Marlins (7:10pm ET) The St. Louis Cardinals have put together quite a season so far in 2013. They have the best record in the big leagues at 43-23 and also hold the best run differential at +102. Today they are an even better team as they get back right-hander Jake Westbrook from the disabled list. Westbrook was having a sensational season when he went down with an elbow injury. Through his first six starts, the right-hander was 2-1 with a miniscule 1.62 ERA. His peripheral numbers weren't as good, but his propensity to keep the ball down in the zone is the key to his success and his groundball rate is at a whopping 61%. Westbrook looked amazing in his two rehab starts in the minor leagues before coming back. He had a 1.69 ERA and struck out 10 batters with no walks. Today he'll face another lineup that is minor-league quality in the Miami Marlins. Miami has really struggled to score runs at an average of just 2.98 runs per game - dead last in the majors. Making matters even worse, Miami hitters have also struggled mightily against Westbrook over his career. Rookie Jose Fernandez pitches for the Marlins in this one, and he's been one of the few bright spots for the team this season. However, he hasn't faced a lineup like the Cardinals feature and I expect Fernandez to struggle as the season goes on due to his early success as a rookie. Once you do well in this league, everyone starts to pay attention and study your weaknesses. The Cardinals are one of the best organizations in the sport, and I fully expect them to find the chinks in the armor for Fernandez. Take the Cardinals in this spot. Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

1-Unit Play. Take #607 Los Angeles at Phoenix (10:00 p.m., Friday, June 14) The Sparks are 2-1 on the young season and Candace Parker and company are coming off an overtime nail bitter against Tulsa last Saturday. With almost a full week to rest and think about some of the mistakes they made and how poorly they played Los Angeles should be more than ready to come out and make a statement against Phoenix. Los Angeles is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games as well as 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings with the Mercury. Phoenix comes in to tonight's matchup riding high off of their first win of the season as they took care of business last Saturday against the defending champion Fever. The Mercury have not played particularly well early on and with Griner possibly out for this one it could be a struggle. Phoenix is an astounding 6-20 ATS in their last 26 home games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 against a team with a SU winning record. Both these teams are going to have to shake off the rust but I think the Sparks welcome the 1.5 points and take control of this game late with an easy victory in Phoenix.

1-Unit Play. Take #604 Atlanta over Seattle (7:30 p.m., Friday, June 14) Atlanta suffered its first loss of the season Sunday in New York so signs point to the Dream coming out with focus that has led some to believe they are the best team in the league thus far. Angel McCoughtry is leading them is points and assists and with her first down game last time out, 4-16 from the floor for 15 points, she will look to come out guns blazing. Atlanta is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games, 6-1 ATS in the last 7 Friday games and 4-1 ATS on the season. Seattle has been underwhelming all season and is trying to adjust to life without Bird and Jackson. Their lone win came at home against a Phoenix team searching for their identity. The Storm is 0-4 in their last 4 meeting with Atlanta and this one should prove no different.

1-Unit Play. Take #602 New York over Connecticut (7:30 p.m., Friday, June 14) There has been a big swing in this line movement and I think that is a good indicator in how this one is going to go. The Liberty already knocked off Atlanta in the Big Apple and I think that they can take care of rival Connecticut here as well. New York has lost four in a row to Connecticut, including a loss already once this season, but the Liberty are 3-0 at home this year and I think that they will snap the streak. This is a revenge game. And we're going to follow the sharp line movement on this one. New York is 5-2 ATS at home and Connecticut is 1-4 ATS off just one day of rest. This is back-to-back road games for them and I don't see them winning two in a row. Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

4-unit Play Take #954 Chicago Cubs (+115) over Cincinnati Reds (2:20pm ET) The Chicago Cubs aren't going anywhere in 2013, but there are plenty of bright spots on this team and the future is promising. One of those bright spots is staff ace Jeff Samardzija. At 28-years old, the right-hander is becoming one of the better pitchers in the National League. He is amongst the strikeouts leaders in 2013 and comes in with a 3.18 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 13 starts. He has struck out at least seven batters in five straight starts, including a complete game shutout against the White Sox in which he allowed only two hits and two walks. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves because he's on a bad team, and that gives us a little bit of value today. He'll face the Cincinnati Reds in this one, and they are loaded up with right-handers in the lineup which is an advantage for Samardzija. I also think the Cubs are underrated as a team as their run differential on the season is only -18 and they're 13 games below .500. Those numbers don't quite add up and the main reason is the Cubs have struggled in one-run games going 7-14. As long as the Cubs don't start trading away too many parts, I think they'll be better with just neutral luck (instead of bad luck) going forward. The Reds are a solid club but I think the Cubs get the job done today in Wrigley. Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

Free Play from Doc's Sports: Thursday June 13th 2013- Take #961 Boston over Baltimore (7:05pm est): Baltimore sends one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball to the hill in this one. Kevin Gausman has struggled so far in his first four career starts. Even more alarming than the 8.84 ERA Gausman has posted, is the fact some of the key hidden numbers I like to look of his aren’t very good either. He has a higher than normal contact rate and gives up way too many fly balls to my liking. Now he faces the top on base average offense in baseball against right-handers, the Boston Red Sox. Boston will counter with lefty Felix Doubront in this one. Doubront has had awful luck so far this season as teams have a BABIP of .356. In fact all the advanced metrics show that Doubront should have an ERA a full run lower than it is at this time. The Boston lefty faces an Orioles offense that isn’t nearly as potent when going up against southpaws. Baltimore ranks 7th best in on-base average versus RHP but are just 19th against lefties. Boston is the better play here. Take Boston in this one.

his has been a clear under series, and Game 3, the only game so far that has gone over, should have gone under as well. Just think that the bookies should have adjusted this total downward a bit more instead of pretty much standing pat. First of all, Tony Parker is hurt. He has a sprained hamstring and is listed as probable for Game 4. He is the key to the Spurs success on offense, and even if he is limited at all in terms of minutes or performance, that is sure to account for a couple points being knocked off the total. Game 3 barely went over in the final minute of the game (garbage time), and that is with the Spurs just going off from long distance with 16 made threes. At the end of the game they were just running up the court and chunking up longballs. We think this game will be closer and that they will not be able to play this way, and they aren’t going to shoot like they did in Game 3, either. We think that the Heat will play better on both offense and defense, and a close game can really benefit the under late in the game as both teams really lock down on defense for the last few possessions for each team. For the last two games one team had broken out offensively, but these teams are really getting to know each other and we just think that this will be one of the most defensive games in the series as both teams should be real focused for this crucial Game 4.