NBA
Lakers at Suns (-10.5)
Nuggets (+8.5) at Spurs
Warriors at Mavs (-9)
MLB
Astros (Oswalt) -140 at Brewers (Bush): The Houston Astros (9-7) will play the Milwaukee Brewers (10-7) in a rubber-game this afternoon that will also determine which team is in first place in the NL Central. The Astros send their ace Roy Oswalt (3-0, 2.89) to the mound against the Brewers' Dave Bush (1-1, 5.82). The Wizard has looked nasty this year and has done very well against the Brewers throughout his career, posting a 3.39 ERA and an 11-6 lifetime record against them. Bush, on the other hand, is struggling with consistency this season, despite his decent career record against Houston (2-0, 2.17). Prior to last nights loss, the Astros had won 5 in a row behind the bats of Chris Burke and Jason Lane. Look for them to get another winning streak going today behind the ultra-competitive Oswalt, especially since yesterday's loss was largely fueled by a fluke 2 home-run day from Brewers' shortstop J.J. Hardy.
Mariners (Weaver) at Angels (Santana) -1.5 runs (+140): The Los Angeles Angels (8-9) have won 2 in a row against the Seattle Mariners (5-8) and will look to go to .500 on the year with a sweep this afternoon. Today's Angels' starter, Ervin Santana (1-2, 7.63), must be thrilled to be pitching at home again. After getting blasted this past Monday on a cold rainy day in Boston, he will be making his start today in a park where he always seems to take his pitching to another level. In 32 starts in Anaheim, Santana is 20-5 with a 3.07 ERA. The Angels (8-9) have won 2 in a row from the Mariners (5-8). Seattle's starter, Jeff Weaver (0-2, 15.75), has been dismal in 2007, allowing 17 hits and 14 ER through 8 innings of work. It's unlikely that Weaver will have an answer for the Angels' hitting machine, Vladimir Guerrero, who has lit up the Mariners pitching staff for 4 hits in 7 AB's, including 2 home-runs, in the current series. Big Daddy Vladdy has only faced Weaver 9 times in his career, but does have one HR to show for it.