Daily tips for June 4

Football for June 4

World Cup 2014 Asian final qualifying round match day 8; Japan v Australia, Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, June 4, 8.30pm

These nations are enjoying a rapidly growing rivalry that continues to shape as one of Asia’s most eagerly anticipated match-ups. Japan enter this penultimate match seeking to become the world’s first qualified team, after agonisingly failing to grasp early progression with an unexpected 2-1 loss in Jordan. A draw is all that the hosts need to complete their mission, with qualification able to provide Zaccheroni’s side with a timely boost heading into their 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup opener against Brazil on June 15.

Trailing second-placed Jordan by a point, Australia are all too aware that a win will strengthen their hopes of the section’s second spot. With a mere six points from five outings, the Australians are hoping to revive their stuttering fortunes with a second victory. If Holger Osieck’s side revive their first-leg form in which they battled from behind to draw 1-1 against Japan with 10 men, they could cause some problems for the hosts but we think the hosts will do everything in their power to ensure a draw here.

Suggested bet: Game total -2.5 (four units @ $1.80), Japan by 1 (0.5 units @ $3.90)

Racing for June 4

Horse racing: Geelong (Vic), Taree (NSW), Mackay (Qld), Devonport (Tas). Harness racing: Albion Park (Qld), Globe Derby (SA), Mildura (Vic), Menangle (NSW), Gloucester Park (WA). Greyhound racing: Bendigo (Vic), Gawler (SA), Devonport (Tas), Goulburn (NSW), Horsham (Vic), Ipswich (Qld), Lismore (NSW), Warragul (Vic), Gosford (NSW), Townsville (Qld), Mandurah (WA).

We get a reprieve from the wet tracks today with an eight-race program scheduled on the synthetic track at Geelong. Our best of the day comes up in the last for the in-form partnership of Robert Smerdon and Dwayne Dunn. The Centrebet 0-62 Handicap will be run over 2000 metres, which looks the logical step up for #5 Host of the Party. This 3yo gelding finished five lengths behind Tatra in the G2 Sandown Guineas last spring, and was most recently fourth over 1850m at Kyneton. He won a trial at Cranbourne over 1550m last week, and looks poised to collected his second win from eight starts here.

Suggested bet: Geelong R8 #5 Host of the Party WIN (two units @ $2.10) 1st ($2.40)

Other tips

Geelong R2 #7 Sky Host (win) 1st ($1.30)

Devonport R2 #6 Kentucky King (E/W) 2nd ($2.80)

Devonport R4 #1 Lander Dollar (E/W 1x4) LOSE (4th)

Mackay R2 #2 Mr Risky (win) 1st ($2.40)

Taree R1 #2 Pretty Uncanny (win) LOSE (4th)

Harness racing tip: Mildura R4 #1 Hexham Heartbeat (win) 1st ($1.80)

Greyhound racing tip: Gosford R6 #1 Rose Buzzard (win)

MLB for June 4

Chicago White Sox (24-30) @ Seattle Mariners (24-33), Safeco Field, Seattle, WA, Tuesday, June 4, 12.10pm

Chicago (24-30) has lost seven in a row on the road for the first time since a nine-game skid from May 30-June 22, 2008. The current slide is also part of six-game overall losing streak, and the White Sox haven't had a longer won since dropping seven straight from September 11-17, 2011. The White Sox haven’t had as many issues when facing Seattle (24-33) – winning 26 of the past 31 games over the past three years – including two of three at home from April 5-7. They're 10-2 in their last 12 games at Safeco Field, winning eight straight behind a 1.73 ERA and .292 average.

John Danks (0-1, 5.40 ERA) has played a key role, going 7-0 with a 1.31 ERA in eight starts versus the Mariners, including a 4-0 record in five visits to Seattle. The Mariners have dropped 12 of 16 after being held to five singles in Sunday’s 10-0 loss at Minnesota. Joe Saunders (3-5, 5.57) is expected to get the ball, and he’s 9-1 with a 2.23 ERA in 14 starts at Safeco. The left-hander is 3-1 with a 2.41 ERA in five games at Seattle this year compared to 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in six road outings. Saunders has lost his last two starts against Chicago, allowing 12 runs in 11 innings.

Suggested bet: Game total +7 (two units @ $1.83) LOSE, Mariners WIN (two units @ $1.93) WIN (2-4)

Other tips

Indians WIN @ Yankees LOSE (4-7)

Marlins @ Phillies -1.5 WIN (2-7)

Astros @ Angels +8.5 LOSE (2-1)

Pirates @ Braves -7 LOSE (2-7)

Rockies @ Reds WIN WIN (0-3)

Athletics @ Brewers WIN LOSE (10-2)

Diamondbacks @ Cardinals WIN WIN (1-7)

Padres @ Dodgers WIN WIN (1-2)

NHL playoffs for June 4

Eastern Conference finals, game 2: Boston Bruins @ Pittsburgh Penguins, CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Tuesday, June 4, 10.10am (Bruins lead 1-0)

The Bruins rode David Krecji’s two goals, Tuukka Rask’s 29 saves and a hefty amount of antagonism to frustrate the Penguins into a Game 1 defeat via the kind of chippy play that does few favours to one of the NHL’s most talented teams. The NHL’s leading scorer during the post-season, Krecji pushed his point total to 19 with his sixth and seventh goals of the playoffs. He beat Tomas Vokoun with a semi-flubbed wrist shot in the first period then added a gritty score in the third period when he charged the net and knocked in a rebound.

Rask made a sprawling stop on Evgeni Malkin at the end of the first period kept the Bruins in front and he appeared to get stronger as time wore on. Pittsburgh trailed all of 17 minutes in regulation during a five-game romp over Ottawa in the conference semi-finals. Boston tripled that number in one game. There’s an interesting stat that five of the 12 games Pittsburgh lost this season were immediately followed by another loss. Great value about the Bruins to go two-up here.

Suggested bet: Bruins WIN (two units @ $2.40) WIN, game total +5.5 (one unit @ $2.10) WIN (6-1)

NBA playoffs for June 4

Eastern Conference finals, game 7: Indiana Pacers @ Miami Heat, AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL, Tuesday, June 4, 10.30am (series tied 3-3)

To the winner, a trip to the NBA Finals; to the loser, an off-season loaded with regret. It's that simple now for the champion Heat and the confident Pacers, who meet in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night in Miami – a perk the Heat earned by finishing with the league's best record this season. Monday’s winner will open the NBA Finals on Thursday against San Antonio.

History suggests that the odds are long for the Pacers. Since the NBA went to its current playoff format in 1984, home teams are 16-2 in Game 7s played in the conference finals or NBA Finals. Then again, the Pacers were colossal underdogs heading into this series, and if it weren’t for a last-second collapse in Game 1, they would probably be East champs.

The Heat may have Chris Andersen back, but Dwyane Wade’s sore right knee is not getting better anytime soon, and he’s stopped even wanting to discuss it. Chris Bosh said he needed to get back in the gym yesterday and regain some lost rhythm. Ray Allen is shooting 13 for 46 in this series, Shane Battier is at 2 for 16, and they're a combined nine for 39 from 3-point range against the Pacers. With little confidence, we’ll have a small play on the Pacers at the line and the ‘under’ game total, but much prefer to watch this one.

Suggested bet: Pacers +7 (one units @ $1.91) LOSE, game total -180 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (76-99)

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