It’s June and that means it’s hot as hell. It also means the division races are heating up and things are getting testy.

This past week, we saw the Rays and Red Sox fighting among themselves and against each other. The Dodgers and Rockies also went at it. Then on Monday, the benches cleared in Pittsburgh as the Pirates and Diamondbacks wrapped up their four-game set.

What’s in store for tonight’s stacked card? Let’s take a look…

Advertisement

**Braves at Cubs**

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Chicago (40-24, +1,033) as a minus 145 favorite, but most books are now at minus 155 or minus 160. The total is 9 1/2 flat (minus 110 either way), while the Cubs are plus 135 on the run line (risk $100 to win $135). The wind is blowing out to right center at 10-13 miles per hour.

--One factor likely leading to a more expensive price compared to LVSC’s opening number is the expected absence of Braves slugger Chipper Jones. The veteran third baseman, who is enjoying a career year with a .420 batting average, is “doubtful” with a quad injury.

--Atlanta (32-32, -652) comes to the Windy City after a rough weekend. Philadelphia came into Turner Field and swept a three-game series, including Sunday’s 6-3 triumph. The Braves are in third place in the National League East, 6 ½ games back of division-leading Philadelphia.

--Chicago returns home from a 4-3 road trip out west. Lou Piniella’s squad took two of three at San Diego before splitting a four-game set against the Dodgers. The Cubs have the majors’ best record and lead St. Louis by 2 ½ games in the NL Central.

--The Cubs have been outstanding at home all year, cashing tickets at a 26-8 clip at Wrigley Field. On the flip side, the Braves have the majors’ worst road record (7-21).

--Chicago has won eight consecutive home games and 16 of its last 18. As for the Braves, they have lost 14 of their last 17 road games.

--Tom Glavine (2-2, 4.47 ERA) has a 15-13 record and 3.61 ERA in 35 career starts against the Cubs. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in six road assignments this season.

--Chicago LHP Ted Lilly (5-5, 5.23) is 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA in five lifetime starts against Atlanta. The southpaw is 3-2 with a 5.23 ERA in six home starts this season.

--Aramis Ramirez has feasted on Glavine with 12 hits in 25 at-bats for a .480 batting average. Ramirez has two doubles and three homers against the lefty. Derek Lee is 16-for-55 (.291) with six doubles and a pair of homers vs. Glavine, while Alfonso Soriano is 8-for-20 (.400) with one double and one homer. On the other hand, Mark DeRosa is just 1-for-13 (.077) and Jim Edmonds is 4-for-21 (.190) off Glavine.

--The Cubs are 14-7 against southpaws, while the Braves are 11-13 versus lefties.

--The ‘under’ is on a 9-3-1 for the Braves, who have seen the ‘under’ go 40-25 overall, 19-7 in their road outings.

--The ‘over’ is 34-32 overall for Chicago, 19-16 in its home games.

--WGN will provide television coverage at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Yankees at A’s**

--LVSC opened New York (32-32, -1,121) as a minus 138 ‘chalk’ with a total of 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus 120). Gamblers can back the Yankees on the run line (minus 1 ½ runs) for a plus 120 return.

--Oakland (34-29, +617) is in second place in the AL West, four games behind the division-leading Angels. The A’s own a 21-15 home record.

--Joe Girardi will send Chien-Ming Wang (6-2, 4.57) to the bump in this spot. Wang is 3-0 with a 2.62 ERA in five road outings this year. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in a pair of career starts against Oakland.

--Oakland LHP Dana Eveland (4-4, 3.82) will get the starting nod in the lid-lifter of this series. Eveland is 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA in six home starts this year.

--The Bronx Bombers are 9-11 against left-handed pitching this year and 14-17 on the road. On the other hand, they are a perfect 6-0 against AL West foes.

--New York is in a last-place tie with Baltimore in the AL East. Both teams trail division-leading Boston by seven games.

--The ‘under’ is 33-26 overall for Oakland, 18-15 in its home games.

--The Yankees have watched the ‘under’ go 35-30 overall, 19-15 in their road games.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Ken Griffey Jr. belted his 600th career homer Monday against Florida’s Mark Hendrickson. The Reds won a 9-4 decision as minus 130 favorites.

--The ‘under’ has cashed in seven consecutive games for the Phillies. On the other hand, the 'over' has hit in six straight games for the Marlins, who have the best 'over' record in the majors (43-22). Something has to give tonight as the Fish host Philadelphia with a total of 9 1/2 flat (minus 110 either way). Brett Myers and Ricky Nolasco will oppose each other.  

--Pittsburgh has MLB's second-best 'over' record (40-24), but the 'under' is on a 6-1 run for the Pirates. They play host to Washington tonight. Tim Redding will toe the rubber for the Nationals, who are plus 135 underdogs. Redding is the majors' fifth-best money pitcher, as Washington has a 10-3 record (+887) in 13 assignments.

--The start time for Boston's home game tonight against Baltimore has been moved up to 6:00 p.m. Eastern due to the Celtics-Lakers' tip-off at 9:05 p.m. ET.

--Houston RHP Roy Oswalt has a 12-8 record and 3.69 ERA in 24 career starts against Milwaukee.

--Tampa Bay RHP James Shields owns a 3-1 record and 2.62 ERA in five career starts against the Angels. Remember, Shields was ejected early and threw only 27 pitches in Thursday’s start at Boston.

--I'm on an 8-4 run the last six days, leading "dime players" to $4,175 of profit. Here's my pick pack for tonight, including this guaranteed selection!

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