Daily tips for August 20

NFL pre-season (week 2) for August 20

Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) @ Washington Redskins (1-0), FedEx Field, Landover, MD, Tuesday, August 20, 10am

Monday Night Football returns, kinda, for 2013 as the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field to complete week 2 of the NFL pre-season. From time to time exhibition games can be interesting to watch. This game may not have the tangible impact of a regular season game, but it should serve as a fine display for young players aching to make an immediate impact. For the Steelers, Le'Veon Bell and Jarvis Jones are jockeying to become the team's first two rookies to start right away since Maurkice Pouncey laid claim to the team’s starting center position. On offense, the team is currently down two tight ends and a wide receiver. Heath Miller is making his way back from a torn ACL, and Matt Spaeth is a candidate for the PUP list due to a foot injury. Plaxico Burress, meanwhile, may be done for the season after landing on injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff. At least Bell is expected to finally make his much-anticipated debut. On defense, injuries are stacked up once again. Only six cornerbacks dressed for the Steelers’ pre-season opener, with four players out nursing lower leg injuries.

For the Redskins, Bacarri Rambo will be looking to prove that his strong rookie training camp hasn't been a fluke. Unfortunately, fellow rookie safety Phillip Thomas won’t be joining him this season. Of course Robert Griffin III made headlines this week. RGIII is amping up his participation in training camp, and lobbying head coach Mike Shanahan to let him play during the pre-season. Reactions are mixed towards the quarterback's overtures, especially given how well his backup has performed. Kirk Cousins went 6-for-7 passing for 52 yards and a touchdown during the Redskins’ win over the Tennessee Titans in their preseason opener, and will start once again against the Steelers. Defensively, the Redskins had a strong showing against the Titans despite being depleted. In addition to Thomas, the Redskins have also lost defensive end Adam Carriker to injury, potentially for the season, and defensive end Rob Jackson and lineman Jarvis Jenkins to four-game PED suspensions. The team’s defensive depth will be tested yet again when the Redskins begin substituting in the second- and third-team units Monday.

Suggested bet: Redskins -2.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (13-24)

MLB for August 20

Seattle Mariners (57-66, 26-34 away) @ Oakland Athletics (70-53, 38-23 home), O.co Coliseum, Oakland, CA, Tuesday, August 20, 12.10pm

Kyle Seager’s clutch hitting in the Mariners’ last series actually did Oakland a favour, as they took two of three from the AL West leaders to help the Athletics pull within 1/2 game of the division’s top spot. He won’t be receiving any thanks from the A’s if he stays hot through this three-game set! The Mariners’ wins helped Oakland (70-53) gain a game on the Rangers, as the A’s also took two of three from Cleveland after winning 7-3 on Sunday. Oakland’s starter Jarrod Parker has gone 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts against the Mariners, most recently allowing three runs in seven innings of Oakland's 6-3, 10-inning loss on June 23. Parker (8-6, 3.87 ERA), though, is coming off the longest outing of his career, as he allowed one run in 8 1/3 innings before the A’s fell 2-1 to Houston in 11.

He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 12 of his last 16 starts, going 6-1 with a 2.73 ERA in that stretch. Oakland owns a 52-29 record in the chalk role this season and going back to last year they are now 61-29 when favoured at home. Aaron Harang will oppose Parker – he’s been struggling before a better outing last time out. After allowing seven runs in back-to-back starts, Harang (5-10, 5.77) gave up three in five innings as Seattle fell 5-4 at Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He’s 1-5 with a 6.75 ERA in eight road starts. The right-hander made his only start in Oakland on June 19, 2012, allowing three runs and walking a career-worst eight in 3 2/3 innings of a 3-0 loss while pitching for the Dodgers. He gave up three runs in five innings before the Mariners rallied for a 7-5 win over the A’s on June 22.

Suggested bet: Athletics WIN (four units @ $1.56) WIN (1-2)

Other tips

IL: Mets WIN $2.11 @ Twins WIN (6-1)

IL: Red Sox @ Giants WIN $2.15 LOSE -7 $2.06 PUSH (7-0)

AL: Rays @ Orioles WIN $2.16 LOSE -7.5 $2.00 WIN (4-3)

AL: Astros @ Rangers -1.5 $1.67 WIN (5-16)

AL: Indians @ Angels -7.5 $1.85 WIN (5-2)

NL: Rockies WIN $2.12 LOSE @ Phillies -9 $1.95 PUSH (4-5)

NL: Diamondbacks WIN $2.53 @ Reds LOSE (3-5)

NL: Dodgers @ Marlins WIN $2.17 WIN (2-6)

NL: Nationals WIN $1.75 LOSE @ Cubs +8.5 WIN (1-11)

NL: Cardinals WIN $1.68 @ Brewers WIN (8-5)

NL: Pirates WIN $1.73 WIN @ Padres +6.5 $1.95 LOSE (3-1)

EPL for August 20

Manchester City v Newcastle United, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK, Monday, August 20, 5am

It’s out with Mancini and in with Manuel as the savvy and serene Chilean Manuel Pellegrini has been tasked with bringing togetherness back to Manchester City after they lost their Premier League crown and the FA Cup final. Pellegrini is not without his doubters, who point to his failure to win a trophy in nine seasons in Spain. That, though, overlooks the fact he took unfashionable Villarreal and Malaga into the Champions League either side of amassing a then-club record 96 points in his only season at Real Madrid. He can hardly be blamed for the fact it still wasn’t enough to eclipse Barcelona!  City have spent bigger and better than last summer. Fernandinho adds athleticism and steel to midfield, Jesus Navas provides pace and width, Stevan Jovetic has quick feet and a quicker mind, and Alvaro Negredo combines strength and good technique with an excellent goal record.

United’s first three home games – against West Ham, Fulham and Hull – represent more inviting fixtures than this opening trip. Newcastle have fitness doubts over Davide Santon (hip), Steven Taylor (toe) and Jonas Gutierrez (hamstring). The club's only new recruit, striker Loic Remy, is unavailable because of a calf strain. Newcastle have never won at the Etihad and have a dismal return of two points out of a possible 27 there. Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League meetings with Newcastle, winning 11 including the last seven. City have scored 30 goals during that run, conceding only eight. Newcastle have only won two of their 10 previous away games on the opening day of a Premier League season (W2, D4, L4) while the Magpies only scored one league goal from a corner in 2012-13. It was the worst record in the division.

Suggested bet: Manchester City by 2+ (two units @ $1.79) WIN (4-0)

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