Daily tips for July 22

Racing for July 22


No racing tips will be posted today – lean pickings at Echuca, Cessnock and Dubbo, so we'll keep our powder dry for tomorrow!

CFL (week 4) for July 22

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-2) @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-0), Mosaic Stadium @ Taylor Field, Regina, SK, Monday, July 22, 9.10am

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats face their biggest test of the season as they visit Mosaic Stadium for the first of back-to-back games against the undefeated Saskatchewan Roughriders. With storylines such as the return of Kent Austin to Riderville and a chance for Rey Williams to seek revenge against his former team, Sunday’s match-up could easily inspire a new hit daytime drama. The Roughriders have dominated both sides of the ball over the first three weeks of the season, with running back Kory Sheets on a record-setting pace.

No running back in CFL history has recorded as many rushing yards in the first three weeks as Sheets, who has a whopping 442 – on pace to break Mike Pringle’s CFL rushing record of 2065 yards. Quarterback Darian Durant, who suffered a sprained foot in last week’s 39-28 victory over the Argonauts, was back at practice on Thursday and is expected to start. Durant has completed 54-of-75 passes for eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Saskatchewan’s defence, led by linebacker Renauld Williams (14 tackles, three sacks, one interception), has limited opponents to 88 rushing yards or fewer.

Tiger-Cats quarterback Henry Burris leads the league in passing yards with 957, including 362 and two touchdowns in a 25-20 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 3. Hamilton, however, continues to show big holes in its run defence, allowing a 75-yard gain and three rushing touchdowns against Winnipeg’s lacklustre offence. The Tiger-Cats sacked the Blue Bombers six times and recorded one interception but, unless they can slow down Sheets, that might not be enough against Saskatchewan.

Burris, who has recorded more than 4000 passing yards in a season nine times, also leads Hamilton in rushing yards with 113. The 38-year-old pivot has spread the workload amongst his receiving corps, with five wideouts (Greg Ellingson, Bakari Grant, Andy Fantuz, Samuel Giguere and Ed Gant) recording more than 100 yards. Fantuz did not play in Week 3 and is considered doubtful, while running back C.J. Gable, who also missed last week, did not practice during the week.

Suggested bets: Saskatchewan -7.5 (3.5 units @ $1.91) WIN, game total +59.5 (1.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE (0-37)

MLB for July 22

Seattle Mariners (45-52, 20-27 away) @ Houston Astros (33-63, 17-34 home), Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX, Monday, July 22, 4.10am

The Seattle Mariners are enjoying their longest winning streak of the year. They would appear to have a good chance to extend it with Felix Hernandez on the hill – he’s out to win a season-high sixth consecutive decision as the visiting Mariners go for a sixth straight victory against the Houston Astros. After taking the opener 10-7, Seattle (45-52) pulled out a 4-2 victory despite managing one hit; a tiebreaking two-run double from Michael Saunders with two outs in the seventh inning.

The Mariners have hit 10 homers and outscored opponents 32-15 during their winning streak; their longest since posting eight consecutive victories on August 14-22. They became the second team since 1916 to score at least four runs with one or no hits, and the first since the Chicago White Sox were no-hit but beat the New York Yankees 4-0 on July 1, 1990. The Mariners now turn to Hernandez (10-4, 2.53 ERA), the AL leader in ERA. The right-hander, who pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star game, has won back-to-back starts and gone 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in his past nine outings.

Hernandez had everything working his last time out, allowing seven hits in eight innings to beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-0 last Saturday. Hernandez baffled the Astros in a 7-1 road victory on April 22, going six scoreless innings and striking out nine. Houston (33-63) has dropped four straight and 14 of 17 after Saturday’s bizarre loss. The Astros have walked 14 in the first two games of this series and are second in the major leagues in walks per nine innings at 3.67. Carlos Pena, mired in an 8-for-65 (.123) slump, has gone 1 for his last 19 against the Mariners.

The Astros try to bounce back behind Jordan Lyles (4-3, 4.02), who went 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA in his final four starts before the break. The right-hander yielded four runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-4 loss at St. Louis last Wednesday. Lyles allowed three hits and struck out a career-high 10 over seven scoreless innings but didn't get a decision in a 6-1 win at Seattle on June 12. That was the only time he’s faced the Mariners. Lyles has gone 2-1 with a 2.64 ERA in his last five home starts.

Suggested bets: Mariners WIN (three units @ $1.60) WIN, game total -7.5 (two units @ $2.06) LOSE (12-5)

Other tips

IL: Braves @ White Sox WIN $2.12 WIN -8.5 $2.02 WIN (1-3)

AL: Rays @ Blue Jays WIN $1.85 LOSE (4-3)

AL: Yankees WIN $2.25 LOSE @ Red Sox +9 $2.00 WIN (7-8)

AL: Tigers WIN $1.85 @ Royals WIN (4-1)

AL: Indians WIN $1.68 @ Twins WIN (7-1)

AL: Orioles @ Rangers -9.5 $2.00 WIN (4-2)

AL: Athletics WIN $1.92 @ Angels WIN (6-0)

NL: Phillies @ Mets WIN $1.88 WIN -6.5 $1.81 WIN (0-5)

NL: Pirates WIN $2.38 WIN @ Reds -8 $2.04 WIN (3-2)

NL: Dodgers WIN $1.87 WIN @ Nationals -7 $1.77 LOSE (9-2)

NL: Marlins @ Brewers WIN $1.60 WIN +8.5 $1.82 LOSE (0-1)

NL: Padres @ Cardinals -1.5 $2.04 LOSE (2-3)

NL: Cubs @ Rockies -1.5 $2.25 LOSE (3-4)

NL: Diamondbacks @ Giants WIN $1.56 LOSE +7 $1.87 LOSE (3-1)

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