Daily tips for May 20

NRL (R10) for May 20

Melbourne Storm v Manly Sea Eagles, AAMI Park, Monday, May 20, 7pm

It’s not quite panic stations but the Storm will be out to avoid a third successive loss in tonight’s intriguing clash at a cold and wet AAMI Park in Melbourne when they host their great NRL rivals Manly. We’re expecting the Storm to respond but there’s solid value at the line in favour of the visitors.

The Storm began 2013 with seven consecutive wins which combined with their run to the premiership last season had them at 15 wins on the trot and chasing the all-time record of 19 set by the Roosters in 1975. But they’ve lost to Canberra and Penrith over the past two weeks, and have even surrendered the competition lead to South Sydney.

Much like Melbourne, Manly began the season strongly yet they too have stumbled – albeit largely due to a run of injuries that is starting to become a major headache. Their depth is being tested and although they are still well placed on the ladder in fourth, they have lost both games against fellow top-four sides Souths and the Roosters this season. (Preview with thanks to NRL.com)

Suggested bet: Manly +7.5 (two units @ $1.91) WIN, game total -34.5 (one unit @ $1.85) WIN (10-10)

Racing for May 20

Horse racing: Pakenham (Vic), Port Macquarie (NSW), Tamworth (NSW)

Harness racing: Albion Park (Qld), Bankstown (NSW), Canberra (ACT), Globe Derby (SA), Horsham (Vic), Pinjarra (WA)
Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Angle Park (SA), Ballarat (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Bulli (NSW), Cranbourne (Vic), Launceston (Tas), Northam (WA), Shepparton (Vic)

After a profitable weekend on the punt, we kick-off the new racing week in Tamworth for today’s seven-race card, which will be held in fine conditions on a dead (4). The last of the day is the TD's Paint Right Class 3 Hcp over 1400m, which features a trio of last-start winners – Perfect Scout, Leaders Row and Been Awakened. That suits us, as it will ensure a decent price for our pick #1 Perfect Scout.

The 3yo filly has won three of her 11 career starts including her latest two. At Scone she rolled forward from the outside barrier, taking over when asked and racing away to win impressively. The two-length margin was flattering to her rivals, if anything, and the form behind her has since stood up, with two coming from behind her to win since. Things get no easier here for the Kris Lees-trained charge, with the handicapper out to catch her but she looks capable of continued improvement today.

Suggested bet: Tamworth R7 #1 Perfect Scout E/W (two units) 1st ($4.20/$1.90)

Other tips

Tamworth R2 #13 Nell (E/W) 3rd ($1.20)

Tamworth R4 #6 Run Legless (E/W) 2nd ($2.80)

Pakenham R2 #5 Bashboy (win) 1st ($1.40)

Pakenham R8 #14 Crown Gem (E/W) 1st ($5.30/$2.30)

Port Macquarie R8 #5 Upearly (E/W) 1st ($4.40/$1.90)

Harness racing tip: Horsham R6 #3 Maybe Better (E/W) 1st ($4.80/$2.00)

Greyhound racing tip: Shepparton R7 #2 Arizona Dozer (win) 1st ($1.04 – sorry!)

MLB for May 20

Detroit Tigers (23-18) @ Texas Rangers (28-15), Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, TX, Monday, May 20, 10.10am

Based on Doug Fister’s short, but telling, road history in Texas, the Rangers should feel confident they can get the best of another Detroit Tigers starting pitcher as the surging Rangers look to build on another strong offensive performance against the struggling Tigers.

The Tigers (23-18), who won 2-1 on Friday, have dropped seven of 11 since winning nine of 10. Detroit also has lost 10 of 13, including the playoffs, at Texas. Fister (5-1, 3.06 ERA) has made only two starts at Texas, but he’s lost both while allowing 14 runs and 19 hits (including five homers) in nine combined innings.

Texas counters with Derek Holland (3-2, 2.93), who looks for a third consecutive victory but hopes for a better performance than his last outing. Holland allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-5, 10-inning win at Oakland on Tuesday. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA in three home starts this season. He's posted a 4.26 ERA without a decision in four starts, including the playoffs, versus Detroit.

Suggested bet: Game total -9 (one unit @ $2.00) LOSE, Rangers WIN (three units @ $1.78) WIN (11-8)

Other tips

Diamondbacks @ Marlins -7.5 WIN (1-2)

Blue Jays @ Yankees WIN POSTPONED

Rays WIN @ Orioles WIN (3-1)

Reds @ Phillies WIN WIN (2-3)

Red Sox WIN @ Twins WIN (5-1)

Astros +1.5 @ Pirates WIN (0-1)

White Sox @ Angels +8 PUSH (2-6)

Royals @ Athletics -8 WIN (3-4)

Giants @ Rockies WIN WIN (0-5)

NHL playoffs for May 20

Eastern Conference semi-final, game 3: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators, Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Monday, May 20, 9.40am

The Pittsburgh Penguins protected their home-ice advantage by winning the first two games of their second-round series with Ottawa. Now the venues change and Senators have the home-ice advantage that was so kind to them in the regular season Jason Spezza makes a timely return for the Senators – the star forward hasn’t played since January 27 after undergoing back surgery for a herniated disk.

Rallying against the Penguins certainly means tighter defence on Sidney Crosby. Ottawa played tentatively in its own end against the superstar in Game 2 and Crosby took advantage, needing just over one period to complete his second playoff hat trick in the 4-3 victory. Pittsburgh outshot Ottawa 42-22 after the Senators held a 36-30 advantage in the opener. The Penguins will look for a similar effort as they look to take a stranglehold on the series before a hostile crowd but we have a lean to the home side here.

Suggested bet: Game total +5.5 (two units @ $1.95) LOSE, Senators WIN (two units @ $2.10) WIN (1-2)

Other tips

ECSF2: Rangers @ Bruins -1.5 WIN +5 WIN (2-5)

NBA playoffs for May 20

Western Conference final, game 1: Memphis Grizzlies @ San Antonio Spurs, AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX, Monday, May 20, 4am

The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs split four regular-season meetings, as the two teams prepare to open up a best-of-seven series to earn the right to play either the Indiana Pacers or Miami Heat in the 2013 NBA finals.

Memphis has undoubtedly had the toughest path to the third round of any team in the 2013 NBA playoffs, as it advanced past the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizzlies are 8-3 straight up and 10-1 against the spread in the post-season, with the OVER going 7-4 in those 11 contests.

This series will likely be won in the paint, with the Grizzlies frontcourt tandem of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph crashing the offensive glass. San Antonio was outmanned on the glass in the first four games of its semi-final series, but was able to turn the tide in winning the battle in the last two contests. The Spurs should open with a comfortable win here.

Suggested bet: Spurs -4.5 (three units @ $1.91) WIN, +181.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (83-105)

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