Daily tips for May 14

Racing for May 14

Horse racing: Geelong (Vic), Grafton (NSW), Mackay (Qld)

Harness racing: Terang (Vic), Menangle (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Narrogin (NSW)

Greyhound racing: Bendigo (Vic), Gawler (SA), Devonport (Tas), Goulburn (NSW), Horsham (Vic), Townsville (Qld), Lismore (NSW), Warragul (Vic), Gosford (NSW), Mandurah (WA)

It looks like a wet and windy afternoon at Geelong but that won’t be a major concern for runners in the eight-race card scheduled on the synthetic track. We like the look of #4 Dark Arrow in race 6, a 1000m scamper for the 0-68 raters. This is just the fifth start for this 3yo gelding, which is trained at Cranbourne by Robbie Griffiths. His first campaign ended with a win and two placings last summer.

After a trial at Cranbourne two weeks ago, he returns to action here with Craig Newitt taking the ride and looks to get a good track into the race behind likely leader Dimi The Dancer – a lesson learned after attempting to lead wire-to-wire in his last run here.

Suggested bet: Geelong R6 #4 Dark Arrow WIN (two units @ $2.60) LOSE (2nd)

Other tips

Geelong R2 #1 Darciwood (win) 1st ($1.70)

Grafton R7 #7 Private Express (win) 1st ($2.00)

MLB for May 14

Houston Astros (10-28) @ Detroit Tigers (20-15), Comerica Park, Detroit, MI, Tuesday, May 14, 9.10am

The Detroit Tigers’ Anibal Sanchez owns one of the AL’s best ERA’s but has had trouble getting consistent run support. Judging by his career numbers against the lowly Astros, he might not need too much help here. Sanchez (3-3, 1.97 ERA) has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his seven starts but has received a combined three runs from the offence.

Houston (10-28) heads into this game with the worst record in the majors and with 11 losses in its last 12 road games. The Astros are 3-14 overall since April 24 and were outscored 37-8 during a four-game sweep by Detroit from May 2-5 in Houston.

The Astros' most effective starter, Bud Norris (4-3, 3.40), will try to help add to that skid while winning in back-to-back outings for the first time in 2013. He gave up one run and scattered nine hits over eight innings in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the LA Angels.

Suggested bet: Tigers -1.5 (three units @ $1.70) WIN, game total -8 (one unit @ $1.83) LOSE (2-7)

Other tips

Yankees WIN @ Indians (game 2) WIN (7-0)

Mets @ Cardinals -7.5 LOSE (3-6)

Brewers WIN @ Pirates WIN (5-1)

White Sox @ Twins WIN WIN (3-10)

Braves @ Diamondbacks -8 LOSE (10-1)

Royals @ Angels -9 LOSE (11-4)

Nationals WIN @ Dodgers WIN (6-2)

Rangers WIN @ Athletics LOSE (1-5)

NHL playoffs for May 14

Eastern Conference quarter-finals, game 7: New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals, Verizon Center, Washington, Tuesday, May 14, 10.10am (series tied at 3-3)

One goal by the New York Rangers was enough to send this series against the Capitals back to Washington for a decisive Game 7. One goal will likely be the margin of difference as these teams fight to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Last year’s series also went the distance, with the Rangers posting a 2-1 victory in Game 7 as Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves while Braden Holtby stopped 29 shots. Eleven of the last 12 playoff games between the teams have been decided by one goal (including the last five) with New York outscoring Washington 26-25 in the 13 games overall.

The Rangers are 0-5 on the road in Game 7s in franchise history, and their only two road wins to decide playoff series came in 1986 at Philadelphia and the 1928 Stanley Cup final at Montreal when both were best-of-5s. Washington lost its last Game 7 at home to Montreal in the first round in 2010, and is 3-7 all-time in such contests. The Capitals are 2-5 at home in Game 7s, with the only other victory coming in 1988 against Philadelphia.

Suggested bet: Capitals WIN LOSE (one unit @ $1.80), game total -5 (three units @ $1.74) PUSH (5-0)

Other tips

ECQF7: Maple Leafs @ Bruins WIN WIN +5 WIN (4-5) (3-3)

NBA playoffs for May 14

Eastern Conference semi-finals, game 4: Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls, United Center, Chicago, IL, Tuesday, May 14, 9.05am (Bulls lead 2-1)

All three games have ended in double-digit wins for the Heat, but we’re expecting a steelier performance from the beaten-up Bulls in Game 4 of this semi-final series. The Heat are trying to repeat as champions after a dominant regular season, and if they keep this up, they won’t have to worry about Chicago much longer.

Miami has a chance to take a 3-1 lead in a series with no shortage of hard fouls, technicals, ejections and fines. One thing in short supply is healthy bodies for the Bulls, with Luol Deng still recovering from a spinal tap and Kirk Hinrich from a bruised left calf. The odds that either would play seem slim at best once again.

The Heat, meanwhile, continue to face questions about Dwyane Wade and his sore right knee. He took just seven shots and scored 10 points in Game 3, but he insisted that had more to do with the flow of the game and the Bulls packing the lane than his health.

Suggested bet: Chicago Bulls +7.5 LOSE (two units @ $1.91), game total -185 (two units @ $1.91) WIN (88-65)

Other tips

WCSF4: Thunder +5 WIN @ Grizzlies -185 (1-2) LOSE (94-94)

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