Daily tips for May 15

Racing for May 15

Horse racing: Sportingbet Park Lakeside (Vic), Canterbury (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld), Gawler (SA), Belmont (WA)

Harness racing: Charlton (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Redcliffe (Qld), Ballarat (Vic) 
Greyhound racing: The Meadows (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Dubbo (NSW), Richmond (NSW), Shepparton (Vic), Albion Park (Qld), Rockhampton (Qld), Warrnambool (Vic), Ballarat (Vic), Dapto (NSW), Cannington (WA)

Today’s eight-race card at Canterbury Park kicks-off with the Become An ATC Sponsor Handicap for 3yo fillies over 1250 metres. #2 Commanding Wit looks the one to beat here. Trained by John O’Shea and ridden here by James McDonald, Commanding Wit is making just her second start after finishing second of 10 behind the impressive It Girl at Wyong back in September.

She’s trialled twice since, most recently on May 3 when she won over 1050m. There’s not a lot to beat here and she looks hard to beat. We’ll also be keeping an eye on #7 Knoydart (ed: finished second, that kid of day!) in race 5. Out of the Snowden stable, this 3yo colt has only raced against his own age in six starts to date but has the ability and form on the board to be winning here.

Suggested bet: Canterbury R1 #2 Commanding Wit WIN (two units @ $3.00) LOSE (3rd)

Other tips

Sportingbet Pk R3 #6 Mumbeilly (win) LOSE (3rd)

Sportingbet Pk R4 #3 Oneman Wolfpark (E/W) 3rd ($1.60)

Canterbury R4 #6 Rastro (win) LOSE (2nd)

Gawler R2 #1 Finniss Power (E/W) 3rd ($1.80)

Harness racing tip: Ballarat R7 #11 Rebel Rustler (win) 1st ($1.30)

Greyhound racing tip: Dapto R8 #1 Premier Asset (win) 1st ($2.00)

MLB for May 15

Kansas City Royals (19-16) @ Los Angeles Angels (14-24), Angel Stadium of Anaheim, CA, Wednesday, May 15, 12.05pm

The Angels may have lost the majority of their games so far this season, but they’ve been a regular winner for us and we’re confident that these high-priced underperformers can again fail as favourites. Looking to string a pair of wins together to open their West Coast road trip, the Kansas City Royals have to be feeling good about their chances with the seemingly unbeatable Jeremy Guthrie on the mound.

Guthrie will try to extend his franchise-record streak of consecutive starts without a loss against an Angels team that has been in a rut offensively. Kansas City (19-16) had dropped three in a row and six of seven before opening its nine-game trip with an 11-4 victory in Anaheim on Monday.

After being one-hit by Chicago’s Chris Sale in a 1-0 loss Sunday, the Angels’ offensive woes continued in Monday's loss. They managed just three runs and six hits against Luis Mendoza, who entered the contest with a 6.38 ERA. LA, which has lost six of eight home games, has tallied seven runs while hitting just .177.

Suggested bets: Royals WIN (two units @ $2.05) LOSE, game total +8.5 (one unit @ $2) LOSE (2-6)

Other tips

Padres @ Orioles WIN LOSE (3-2)

Mariners @ Yankees -7 PUSH (3-4)

Brewers @ Pirates WIN WIN (3-4)

Giants WIN @ Blue Jays LOSE (6-10)

Astros @ Tigers -1.5 WIN (2-6)

Rockies @ Cubs +10.5 WIN (9-4)

Red Sox WIN @ Rays LOSE (3-5)

Mets @ Cardinals -1.5 WIN (4-10)

Nationals @ Dodgers -1.5 WIN (0-2)

NHL playoffs for May 15

Eastern Conference semi-finals, game 1: Ottawa Senators @ Pittsburgh Penguins, CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Wednesday, May 15, 9.40am

The Penguins were relieved to finally escape the relentless Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. New York dominated for long stretches in the series, using its speed to fluster Pittsburgh's talented but sometimes plodding roster of veterans. Though the Penguins never trailed, they were seemingly never really in control over the final five games.

Meanwhile, the Senators’ confidence is sky-high. Ottawa's disciplined attack is built on being physical in front of its own net and counterpunching. The Senators allowed just 104 goals all season – the second-lowest total in the league – and surrendered just nine in five games against the Canadiens.

However, we’re sticking with Pittsburgh here. Every Pens fan knows they can score, but somehow they can also manage to lose games even after scoring four or five goals. The Pens will want to show that they have the ability to stay in this for the long haul, and to do that you cannot strictly rely on offence. Expect a great defensive performance by both sides, with the Pens coming out on top.

Suggested bets: Penguins WIN (three units @ $1.54) WIN, game total -5.5 (one unit @ $1.80) WIN (4-1)

Other tips

WCSF1: Sharks @ Kings WIN WIN -5 WIN (0-2)

NBA playoffs for May 15

Eastern Conference semi-finals, game 4: New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN, Wednesday, May 15, 9.05am (Pacers lead 2-1)

Two fairly one-sided playoff games are scheduled today but extracting value looks a tougher proposition. We’ve settled on the Pacers to continue their strong run of playoff form on their home floor.

After blowing a chance to take command of the Eastern Conference semi-finals in Game 2, the Pacers rebounded for an 11-point win in Game 3 and have another opportunity to take command of this best-of-seven series.

Only two teams – Indiana and Memphis – started the week with perfect home playoff records. Indiana has won its four games by an average of 16.5 points and Memphis headed into Monday night’s game with a 13-point victory margin at home.

As for the Knicks, they’re 0-3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this season. Throw in illness and injury concerns for guard J.R. Smith, forward Kenyon Martin and Iman Shumpert, and it’s hard to see the Knicks prevailing here.

Suggested bets: Pacers -5.5 (two units @ $1.91) WIN, game total -180 (two units @ $1.91) WIN (82-93)

Other tips

WCSF5: Warriors +7 LOSE @ Spurs, game total +195 WIN (91-109)

* Prices with thanks to Centrebet, correct at time of publication