Daily tips for June 6

Racing for June 6

Horse racing: Geelong (Vic), Gosford (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld), Tatura (Vic), Pinjarra (WA). Harness racing: Yarra Valley (Vic), Newcastle (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld), Ballarat (Vic), Penrith (NSW), Northam (WA). Greyhound racing: Warragul (Vic), Dubbo (NSW), Geelong (Vic), Maitland (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Sandown Park (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Hobart (Tas), Dapto (NSW), Mandurah (WA).

Today’s NSW meeting is being hosted by the Gosford Racing Club, where an eight-race card will be held on a track rated a slow (6). There are no shortage of scratchings, which have helped open up the EGroup Carpark Management BM65 Hcp over 2100 metres (race 5). This loomed as a contest between Tamariz for Gai Waterhouse and the Guy Walter trained Knead the Dough but with both horses scratched, #5 Diamond Tiara looks the next logical pick. Trained by Gary Portelli at Warwick Farm and wearing the Gerry Harvey colours, this 3yo filly has won one of eight and her last two runs at Gosford have shown merit. Courtney Van Der Werf’s two-kilogram claim means she’ll carry just 52kg, and should be good enough to account for this middling bunch.

Suggested bet: Gosford R5 #5 Diamond Tiara E/W (two units) LOSE (4th)

Other tips

Gosford R2 #2 Redhawks (E/W) 3rd ($1.50)

Gosford R3 #2 Barachello (win) 1st ($1.80)

Geelong R2 #9 Romancingthestone (win) 1st ($2.00)

Geelong R3 #7 Meilucca (E/W) SCRATCHED

Geelong R7 #7 Mahjong (E/W) LOSE (4TH)

Rockhampton R7 #2 Sporting Page (E/W) SCRATCHED

Harness racing tip: Ballarat R5 #1 Miss Precious Mach (win) 1st ($2.20)

Greyhound racing tip: Dapto R8 #2 Mystic Fancy (E/W) 1st ($1.90)

MLB for June 6

San Diego Padres (26-32, 10-18 away) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (25-32, 16-15 home), Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, June 6, 12.10pm

The Los Angeles Dodgers turned to top prospect Yasiel Puig to provide a spark for the struggling club – so far, so good. With two very good performances under his belt, Puig looks to help LA earn a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres as Clayton Kershaw takes the mound here. The Dodgers (25-32) had lost four of five and decided to give Puig a crack at the big leagues after a solid stretch in the minors. Batting lead-off on Tuesday, Puig went 2 for 4 then hit two HRs for five RBIs on Wednesday.

Los Angeles, which hasn't won three straight since sweeping Pittsburgh from April 5-7, will look to Kershaw (5-3, 1.85 ERA) to help keep the team rolling. Kershaw's ERA is third-best in baseball, though he hasn't been at his best over his last two outings and struggled the last time he faced San Diego, too. But he was 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA over his previous seven starts versus the Padres, who will look to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat.

San Diego looks to get back on track with help from Jason Marquis, who hasn't lost in seven outings. Marquis (6-2, 3.82) had won five straight starts while posting a 2.27 ERA, though he's struggled while not getting a decision in his last two. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA in his last three starts versus the Dodgers, including allowing one run in 7 2/3 innings of a 9-2 road win April 16.

Suggested bet: Dodgers -1.5 (1.5 units @ $1.95) LOSE, game total +6.5 (2.5 units @ $1.80) WIN (6-2)

Other tips

Indians @ Yankees +8 WIN (4-6)

Rays WIN @ Tigers WIN (3-0)

Rockies @ Reds WIN LOSE (12-4)

Pirates @ Braves WIN WIN (0-5)

Rangers @ Red Sox -9 WIN (3-2)

Athletics WIN @ Brewers WIN (6-1)

Orioles -1.5 @ Astros LOSE (7-11)

White Sox @ Mariners -7 LOSE (7-5)

Twins @ Royals -8.5 WIN (1-4)

Marlins @ Phillies WIN WIN (1-6)

NHL playoffs for June 6

Eastern Conference finals, game 3: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins, TD Garden, Boston, MA, Tuesday, June 2, 10.10am

This series has the scent of a sweep after the Bruins went 2-0 in Pittsburgh, and return to the TD Garden with the Eastern Conference title firmly in their sights. Pittsburgh led the NHL in scoring in the regular season. It averaged 4.27 goals per game in the first two rounds of the playoffs. It poured in 13 goals in the last two games of the Eastern Conference semi-finals but managed just one goal in two losses on their home ice to Boston.

The Bruins won the opener 3-0 but led just 1-0 after two periods. The second game was much different. They rolled to a 4-1 lead after one period and remained aggressive in finishing off their 6-1 rout. The Penguins’ effort waned as the game went on. Combine that with the Bruins' high level of play – disciplined on defence, organised on offense – and the pre-series chatter about the Penguins being favourites seems like so much nonsense.

Winning the first two games is a good start but doesn't always lead to a good finish. Both teams have overcome 2-0 deficits and gone on to win Stanley Cups. In 2009, the Penguins dropped two games at Detroit by a combined score of 6-2 then took four out of five to clinch their first championship since 1992. In 2011, the Bruins lost two games of the opening round at home against Montreal then won the next two on the road and captured the series on an overtime goal in Game 7.

Suggested bet: Bruins WIN (one unit @ $1.91) WIN, game total -5.5 (two units @ $1.80) WIN (1-2)

Note: NBA Finals series starts tomorrow

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