Click Away for Free Picks from the Nations Best   Baseball Comebacks Provide Go-Against Opportunities By Bryan Leonard 2003 Nothing is more thrilling in sports than a great comeback. From football’s fourth quarter comeback to force overtime, to the Anaheim Angels’ rally monkey during last October’s World Series, dramatic finishes keep fans glued to their seats. As a professional handicapper for 18 years, I love sports comebacks, but for a different reason: They can provide good go-against spots the next game. Exciting comebacks give players and fans a surge of adrenaline after a team pulls off a dramatic home run in the ninth, for example. The opponent, however, can feel a different type of surge a rush of frustration and anger. You may have heard the old sports axiom. Losing hurts more than winning feels good. Professional athletes often can’t wait to get back on the field after a frustrating, heart-breaking loss to atone for the previous game’s sour ending. This can make the team that comes off the big win a go-against the next game. I pay close attention to baseball comebacks because many times the same two teams play each other the next day. On opening day of this baseball season, the Red Sox held a 4-1 ninth inning lead at Tampa Bay, only to watch in horror as the Devil Rays roared back to win 6-4 on a walk-off home run. The next day Boston bounced back with a win, which provided great relief after the embarrassing opening day shocker. On April 11 the Phillies suffered a frustrating loss against Cincinnati. Philadelphia battled from behind with five runs in the 8th and 9th innings to take a 6-5 lead. On came Jose Mesa and poof went the lead, as Austin Kearns belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth for a 7-6 Cincy win. But the next night the fired-up Phillies got the win, 8-5. Another factor to consider is the lineup. If a team is riding a nice win streak managers often begin to give players a rest and turn to their bench, which is understandable. But a manager riding a 5-game losing streak or off of a frustrating collapse might be more inclined to go with his best players, rather than give a star player the day off. It’s important to carefully scan teams and situations. Naturally, many teams can’t wait to get back on the field after a stunning collapse because they’re in an unhappy mood looking for revenge. Which, if the situation is right, means I’m in a happy mood heading to the betting window!  Don't miss Bryan Leonard's daily Guaranteed MLB Selections   Owned and operated by Alliance Sports Media  Any information furnished by this site is for information and entertainment only and is not to be used in violation of any federal, state, provincial or local laws - Privacy Policy Contact Servus - Picks2bet.com