As the calendar hits June today, we’ve got hot division races across the board. Even Arizona, which snapped a five-game losing streak in Saturday’s 4-0 home win against Washington, has seen its once-comfortable lead in the NL West dwindle.

Let’s take a look at several key games for today and tonight, including the nightcap matchup between the Mets and Dodgers at Shea Stadium.

Advertisement

**Tigers at Mariners**

-- Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Detroit (23-32, -1,443) as a minus 125 road favorite with a total of nine flat (-110 either way). The Tigers are plus 120 on the run line (risk $100 to win $120).

--Jim Leyland will give the starting nod to veteran left-hander Kenny Rogers, who is 4-4 with a 5.88 ERA. Rogers has an 11-12 record and 4.58 lifetime ERA against the Mariners. The 43-year-old is 2-3 with a 5.77 ERA in seven road assignments this year.

--Miguel Batista (3-6, 5.98) has been mostly horrible through 12 starts this year. The right-hander has been especially ineffective at home, compiling a 2-3 record and 8.00 ERA in six starts and one relief appearance. Batista is 1-4 with a 5.12 career ERA against Detroit.

--Seattle (21-35, -1,598) has a 14-15 home record after capturing a 5-0 win Saturday over Detroit..

--Seattle has been atrocious against lefties, compiling an abysmal 4-11 record.

--The ‘over’ is 28-27 overall for the M’s, but the ‘under’ is 15-13 in their home games.

--The ‘over’ is 29-28 overall for the Tigers, but the ‘under’ has cashed at an 18-13 clip in their road outings.

**Dodgers at Mets**

--LVSC opened New York (27-27, -617) as a minus 165 favorite with a total of 7 ½ ‘over’ (minus 120). Gamblers can dodge the ‘chalky’ straight price and get the Mets on the run line (minus 1 ½ runs) for a plus 140 return.

--Johan Santana (6-3, 3.41) will take the ball from Willie Randolph in this spot. Santana is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA in four home starts since coming over to the NL from Minnesota.

--Only a few players in the Dodgers lineup have ever faced Santana. They have combined to go just 1-for-11 against the hard-throwing lefty.

--Los Angeles (27-28, -459) went into Saturday’s action in second place in the NL West. Thanks to Arizona’s recent struggles the Dodgers are just 2 1/2 games off the pace.

--Hiroki Kuroda (2-4, 3.29) has only faced the Mets once, struggling mightily in a May 6 home start. The right-hander didn’t get out of the fourth inning, giving up eight hits and walking three batters.

--Joe Torre’s team has feasted on southpaws this season, posting a 10-4 record.

--The ‘over’ is 28-27 overall for the Dodgers, 13-14 in their road contests.

--The Mets have watched the ‘over’ go 33-23 overall, 17-12 in their home games.

--ESPN will have the first pitch at 8:05 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--The ‘under’ is an MLB-best 35-22 in Atlanta games.

--The ‘over’ is an MLB-best 37-18 for the Pirates. They have watched the ‘over’ hit at a 21-8 clip in their road games. In other words, I think all bettors should back Pittsburgh 'overs' on a daily basis until the system starts to fail (no signs of that at all recently.)

--Cincy slugger Ken Griffey Jr. cracked his 599th career homer Saturday.

--Kansas City snapped a 12-game losing streak in Saturday’s 4-2  home win over Cleveland. The Royals hooked up backers with a generous plus 150 payout as home 'dogs.

Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.