Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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04-25-23 | Yankees v. Twins -120 | 2-6 | Win | 100 | 11 h 0 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Twins have lost three of their last five games, but they’ve won five of their last nine home games. They struggled offensively in recent games, scoring only nine runs in their last three games, but they will play well in this game because they hit the ball well against right-handers and they hammered Brito in Yankee Stadium less than two weeks ago, scoring seven runs in less than one inning against him. With New York’s bullpen also struggling in recent games, they will have a hard time slowing down the Twins in this game. The Yankees have lost two of their last three games. They struggled offensively during that stretch, scoring only five runs. Their offensive struggles will continue in this game because Gray has been dominant on the mound for the Twins, giving up only two runs in four starts. |
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04-25-23 | Islanders v. Hurricanes -150 | 3-2 | Loss | -150 | 10 h 19 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Islanders are looking to keep their season alive but the Hurricanes have controlled this series and winning nine of their last 10 home playoff games, they look to control this game from the first period. The Hurricanes look to build off a five-goal game and constantly find the back of the net with Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with cross-ice passes and great puck movement while defensemen Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin generate shots on the net from the blue line. The Hurricanes, who have only allowed 11 goals in this series, should also limit the Islanders' offense with Burns, Slavin, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shooting lanes, allowing goaltender Antti Raanta to make plenty of big saves to close out the game. The Hurricanes should win Game Five to advance to the next round with a strong performance at home. |
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04-25-23 | Rangers -144 v. Reds | 6-7 | Loss | -144 | 10 h 24 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Cincinnati looks to take the three-game series on Tuesday behind Luke Weaver (0-1, 6.00 ERA). The right-hander got off to a rough start in his Reds debut last Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates after missing the first three weeks of the season with a right elbow flexor strain. Weaver allowed four first-inning runs before following with five shutout innings in a 4-3 loss. He finished with eight strikeouts against two walks and four hits. Texas, which is coming off just its second loss in its past eight games, will turn to left-hander Martin Perez (3-1, 3.38). He allowed three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks over 5 2/3 innings in a 12-3 win over the host Kansas City Royals last Wednesday. Perez will pitch against the Reds for the first time in nearly a decade and for just the second time in his 12-year major league career. Perez threw 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just six hits with three strikeouts and a walk, in a 4-0 win in June 2013. The Rangers are averaging 8.75 runs per game over their past eight contests. |
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04-24-23 | Grizzlies v. Lakers -190 | 111-117 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Lakers are excelling on defense in this series, anchored by Davis. Los Angeles is giving up only 106.0 points per 100 possessions to Memphis through three games, and the Lakers lead the playoffs with 8.7 blocked shots per game. The Lakers are also securing almost 73% of available defensive rebounds and yielding only 19.0 free throw attempts per game. Los Angeles is allowing 42.4% shooting from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range, and the Lakers have been operating at a high level on defense for an extended period. Los Angeles was a top-five defensive team in the NBA after the All-Star break, giving up only 1.11 points per possession, and the Lakers led the league in free throw prevention (20.8 attempts per game) during the regular season. In addition, the Lakers finished No. 2 in the NBA in 3-point defense (34.4%) in 2022-23, with top-10 marks in defensive rebound rate (72.3%) and field goal percentage allowed (46.9%) for the season. |
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04-24-23 | Tigers v. Brewers -152 | 4-2 | Loss | -152 | 11 h 47 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Milwaukee Brewers will be out to remain the only team in the majors that has not lost consecutive games this season when they host the Detroit Tigers today in the opener of a three-game series. Right-hander Colin Rea (0-0, 4.22 ERA), summoned from Triple-A Nashville after Brandon Woodruff went on the injured list, makes his third start for Milwaukee, while left-hander Matthew Boyd (0-1, 4.50) gets the nod for Detroit. Brewers are facing a team that has put up six runs in their last five games. The Tigers are also the lowest-scoring team in the majors. Milwaukee is top-10 in pitching and offense right now, something that should be on full display against a lackluster Detroit team. |
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04-24-23 | Maple Leafs v. Lightning +102 | 5-4 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 13 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Maple Leafs look to take a 3-1 lead back to Toronto but the Lightning look to step up on their home ice and control Game Four. The Lightning should constantly find the back of the net with Nikita Kucherov, Corey Perry, and the rest of the forward unit controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes to the face-off circles and the slot. The Lightning look to bounce back after allowing four goals in their last game and limit the Maple Leafs' offense with Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to make plenty of big saves. The Lightning should win Game Four to even up the series with a strong win at home. |
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04-24-23 | White Sox v. Blue Jays -155 | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Both pitchers have had their struggles this season but Bassitt’s real issues came in his first start of the year. He’s pitched well in his last three starts, turning in a sub-two ERA, and is coming off a stellar outing in Toronto’s win over Houston. Meanwhile, Lynn has been roughed up repeatedly this season, posting an ERA north of nine in his last three starts, and was tagged by Philadelphia in his previous outing. The White Sox entered Sunday losers of eight of their 12 road games on the season. Those numbers don’t bode well for the Pale Hose and with Bassitt pitching well, coupled with the depth in the Blue Jays’ lineup, you have to lean toward the hosts in this contest. |
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04-24-23 | Rangers -108 v. Reds | 6-7 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 57 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The high-octane Rangers recorded their 10th win in 13 outings with a 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Texas is no stranger to lighting up the scoreboard, with the team's loud bats going a long way toward providing great comfort to the club's pitching staff. Conversely, the ice-cold Reds have lost six in a row following Sunday's 2-0 setback to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They mustered just four hits en route to being shut out for the third time during that stretch. Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40 ERA) snapped a two-start losing skid by tossing six strong innings in a 12-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals last Tuesday. He allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out five in that outing. Eovaldi, 33, is 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA in two career appearances (both starts) versus the Reds. He will be opposed by Cincinnati left-hander Nick Lodolo (2-1, 4.98), who is looking to turn the corner following a disastrous outing in his last trip to the mound. Lodolo, 25, yielded eight runs on 12 hits -- including three homers -- in 4 2/3 innings in a 10-0 shellacking by the high-powered Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. |
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04-23-23 | Nuggets v. Wolves +4 | 108-114 | Win | 100 | 11 h 6 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The big game for Denver was game 3 to essentially put the Timberwolves away. Since an 0-3 deficit is virtually a death knell for a team, Denver may take the foot off the gas a bit here while Minnesota will be focused on not being swept and getting at least one win. Make no mistake Denver will end this in 5 back in Denver, but Minnesota finds a way to win here at home on Sunday night. Also, the Timberwolves are 18-8 against the spread in their last 26 Sunday games. Take the Timberwolves here getting the points. |
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04-23-23 | Oilers -154 v. Kings | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 51 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Kings are looking to win on their home ice but the Oilers look to even up the series and control this game from the first period. The Oilers, who averaged 3.96 goals per game, should pile on the goals with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with great puck movement. The Oilers, who have only allowed nine goals in the series, should limit the Kings' offense with Darnell Nurse, Cody Ceci, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Stuart Skinner to make plenty of big saves. The Oilers should win Game Four with a strong performance on the road to even up the series. |
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04-23-23 | Mets -106 v. Giants | 4-5 | Loss | -106 | 9 h 53 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units With right-hander Tylor Megill (3-1, 3.00 ERA) slated to start the series finale for the Mets, the Giants could elect to activate Joc Pederson (sprained right wrist) from the injured list. San Francisco already saw the return of former Met Michael Conforto (tight left calf) earlier in the series. Megill won each of his first three starts, limiting the Miami Marlins (twice) and San Diego Padres to a total of four runs on 12 hits in 16 innings. The visitors will test their mettle on Sunday against Giants right-hander Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.30), who will be making his second start of the season. Stripling was in the Giants' opening rotation, albeit for only for one start -- a 6-0 loss to the New York Yankees in which he allowed four runs in five innings. He since has made three relief appearances, serving up six runs in 7 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old has made just one previous start against the Mets. He's 0-0 with a 3.52 ERA in three career appearances against them. |
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04-23-23 | Celtics -5.5 v. Hawks | 129-121 | Win | 100 | 9 h 42 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units This is a great opportunity to lean heavily on a Celtics team that has a huge talent edge over the Hawks. Boston spent far too much of game three trying to outscore the Hawks rather than dig in defensively. Atlanta dominated the glass against what appeared to be a disinterested Boston front line. Boston failed to record a blocked shot for the first time in the series and the league's fifth-best defensive unit allowed Atlanta to shoot 56%. Look for Boston to make the necessary adjustments in game four to gain back control against an Atlanta team that was given free rein to drive to the basket for easy buckets in game three. I expect to see a heavy dose of Celtics defense in game three and a comfortable Boston win. |
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04-23-23 | Red Sox v. Brewers -161 | 12-5 | Loss | -161 | 4 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Milwaukee Brewers hope to see a healthy Corbin Burnes on the mound Sunday when they play the rubber match of a three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox. Burnes (2-1, 4.76 ERA) left his most recent start Monday at Seattle in the sixth inning with a left pectoral strain. The right-hander reported no issues following his bullpen session on Friday, however. Right-hander Brayan Bello (0-1, 16.88) will make his second start for Boston since coming off the injured list. Burnes got the victory in his start against the Mariners, allowing two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings before exiting with the injury. In his previous start, he gave up just three hits over eight scoreless innings in a 7-1 win at the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 11. Opponents are batting .207 this season against Burnes, who has yet to face the Red Sox in his career. Bello, who posted a 2-8 record with a 4.71 ERA last season as a rookie, will make his second start after coming off the injured list. He was tagged for five runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings in his first outing on Monday, leaving following a rain delay in a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. |
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04-23-23 | Blue Jays -132 v. Yankees | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 4 h 36 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units After battling against the Yankee ace Saturday, I see the Blue Jays hitting Yankee starter Clarke Schmidt early and often Sunday. Schmidt is yet to make it past four innings in a start, and has allowed at least three runs in each outing. Runs will be harder to come by for the New York offense against Kevin Gausman. Gausman has been the opposing pitcher at Yankee Stadium 14 times in his career. Although he took some lumps earlier in his career with the Orioles, he posted a 1.42 ERA in two starts in New York last season. Gausman also is 9-5 with a 2.52 ERA in his last 19 road starts dating back to last season. |
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04-22-23 | Avalanche -140 v. Seattle Kraken | 6-4 | Win | 100 | 13 h 46 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Kraken host the first-ever playoff game, and the atmosphere in Climate Pledge Arena will be electric. However, the Avs are used to a hostile environment, so I’m looking for the defending champions to step up and get the home-ice advantage back. Colorado has played exceptionally well over the last few weeks. The Avs have won 16 of their final 19 games in the regular season and are undefeated in 11 consecutive showings on the road. Their defense has improved a lot lately, so I’m looking for the Avalanche to slow down the Kraken, whose 5-on-5 offense has been outstanding all season. |
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04-22-23 | Padres -140 v. Diamondbacks | 5-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 14 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Musgrove will be making his first start of 2023 and will likely be on a pitch count. However, Musgrove will be turning the game over to the fifth-best bullpen ERA in the middle to late innings. Kelly, on the other hand, will turn the game over to the third-worst bullpen ERA in the later innings. Keep an eye on Kelly's ability to throw strikes with the right-hander averaging three walks per outing. San Diego is 13th in baseball with nearly four walks per game and will certainly try to make Kelly work. The Padres now possess arguably the best lineup in baseball with all-stars Tatis, Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts highlighting a dominant top half of the lineup. The Diamondbacks have lost two straight games heading into game two of this series while the Padres have won two straight. The Padres have now won four straight games in Arizona heading into Friday night. Look for the Padres to gain more ground in their chase to the top with a win here. |
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04-22-23 | Dodgers -128 v. Cubs | 9-4 | Win | 100 | 5 h 1 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Dodgers' starter Dustin May has not pitched a whole lot due to injuries but has great stuff. He has accrued a 3.22 career ERA and a 1.06 career WHIP and has conceded two or fewer runs in three of his four starts on the season. He has great command as well and will issue very few walks. Cubs’ starter Hayden Wesneski is still learning what it takes to be an effective big league starter. The rookie surrendered eight runs in his first two outings spanning only six innings which occurred against the Reds and Mariners. While he silenced the Athletics last time out, they have the worst lineup in baseball. I expect the Dodgers' veteran lineup to get to the rookie. |
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04-22-23 | Blue Jays v. Yankees -162 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 4 h 4 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Yankees are trying to avoid their first series loss after Toronto recorded a 6-1 victory on Friday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Brandon Belt later added a two-run homer and a two-run double. Cole (4-0, 0.95 ERA) heads into today as the first pitcher in team history to record at least 30 strikeouts with a sub-1.00 ERA through his first four outings since earned runs were first recorded in 1913. He notched 10 strikeouts on Sunday when he threw a 108-pitch two-hitter in a 2-0 home win over the Minnesota Twins for his 23rd double-digit strikeout game as a Yankee, tying Ron Guidry's team record. Cole also has yet to allow a homer after leading the AL with 33 yielded last year, when he also racked up a major-league-best 257 strikeouts. Toronto starter, Manoah (1-1, 6.98 ERA) has been tagged for 15 runs while allowing four homers and 15 walks in 19 1/3 innings. Manoah has struggled to get deep into games and that means the Yankees will get a good look at a Blue Jays' bullpen that has an ERA of 4.20 to start the season. |
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04-22-23 | 76ers -125 v. Nets | 96-88 | Win | 100 | 4 h 33 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Nets blew their best opportunity to make a series of things as they had the 76ers on the ropes only to let it slip away. After all, Embiid was floundering, Harden was ejected and they led by six after three quarters before falling apart. That 11-1 game-ending run that Brooklyn gave up was the continuation of a trend that we saw all too often in the regular season from the Nets. Philadelphia showed their grit with their tough play down the stretch as Maxey willed them to rally down the stretch, scoring 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. That loss has to deflate the Nets a bit and it’s impossible to back a team that is 0-7 against their opponent this season. Give this one to the 76ers as they close out the series and advance to the second round. |
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04-21-23 | Nuggets -130 v. Wolves | 120-111 | Win | 100 | 10 h 43 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Nuggets have won three straight games and four of their last five games against the Timberwolves. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 113 points per game in their last three games while making 50 percent of their shots. They rebounded the ball aggressively during that span and averaged more than 11 offensive boards per game, so expect them to get a lot of extra-scoring opportunities. The Timberwolves have struggled defensively this season and they’re giving up more than 114 points per game at home, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Nuggets in this game. The Timberwolves have lost three of their last four games. They struggled offensively during that stretch, scoring less than 105 points per game. Their rebounding also dropped off, so don’t expect them to get a lot of extra-scoring opportunities against the Nuggets. They’ve also been careless with the ball at home, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Nuggets, who average more than seven steals per game. The Nuggets are playing very well defensively, holding opponents under 100 points per game in their last three games, and won’t have trouble keeping Minnesota’s offense in check. Go with Denver to cover the spread. |
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04-21-23 | Cavs v. Knicks -115 | 79-99 | Win | 100 | 11 h 48 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The New York Knicks are led by Tom Thibodeau, who has a career 26-37 playoff record. Although the record may not seem overly impressive, that's 63 games of playoff experience and eight appearances under his belt. On the other side, the playoffs are still relatively fresh territory for Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff's only other head coaching playoff experience was in 2016, when his Houston Rockets lost to the Warriors in five games in the first round. Bickerstaff lost two play-in tournament games last season with the Cavs and overall is 0-3 in road playoff games in his career. Donovan Mitchell has playoff experience, but this will still be a tough spot for young Cavs teams entering Madison Square Garden. Cleveland was 3-13 straight up as a road underdog this season, and I don't see that translating over well in their first road playoff test here. |
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04-21-23 | Red Sox v. Brewers -159 | 5-3 | Loss | -159 | 11 h 47 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Boston starting pitcher Nick Pivetta gave up six runs on five hits in four innings with three walks and served up one home run when facing the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday. Pivetta has allowed three runs or more in two of his three starts. Boston will play without Adam Duvall who, before being injured, was leading Boston with four home runs and 14 RBIs through the first eight games. Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta is coming off a poor outing but prior to that had two strong outings in which the right hander allowed only one run on six hits through 12 innings. Milwaukee's pitching staff has the third best team ERA, the 5th best WHIP and is holding opposing hitters to the fifth lowest batting average. Boston has lost each of its last four interleague games and the Red Sox have lost 35 of the last 51 played on the road. |
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04-21-23 | Astros v. Braves -110 | 6-4 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 10 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pitching and defense were especially strong in the series against the Padres, in which the Braves gave up a combined two runs in three games. Right-hander Bryce Elder (2-0, 1.53 ERA) gets the start on Friday, looking to continue Atlanta's excellent pitching into the homestand. Elder has struck out 17 in 17 2/3 innings over three starts thus far in 2023. Friday's contest is Elder's first against the Astros in his career. The series also is the first meeting between the winners of the last two World Series since Atlanta took two of three games at home last August. Elder is also facing a Houston offense that's not as dangerous as Atlanta's, even ignoring any inconsistency. Maybe if Jose Altuve or Michael Brantley were playing for the Astros I'd consider differently, but neither player is healthy. |
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04-21-23 | Hurricanes +112 v. Islanders | 1-5 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 27 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Islanders are desperate to come back in this series but the Hurricanes have had their number and I see them once again stepping up and controlling Game Three. The Hurricanes look to build off a four-goal game and constantly find the back of the net with Sebastian Aho, Martin Necas, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes while defensemen Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin generate shots on the net from the blue line. The Hurricanes, who allowed only 2.56 goals per game this year, should continue to limit the Islanders' offense with Brent Burns, Jaccob Slavin, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shooting lanes, allowing goaltender Antti Raanta to make plenty of big saves. The Hurricanes should win Game Three to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. |
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04-21-23 | Dodgers -168 v. Cubs | 0-13 | Loss | -168 | 5 h 21 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Los Angeles Dodgers always have a great chance to win when Julio Urias is on the hill. They have won three of the four games that the ace has started this season. He has been on his game, limiting his opponent to two or fewer runs in all four performances. The Dodgers have won 21 of the last 24 games started by Urias. Cubs’ starter Drew Smyly has not been effective. The veteran has conceded 15 runs in his 9.1 innings of work. He has recorded a poor 4.66 ERA in his career against LA. He does not strike out many betters and has a FIP of 4.69 on the season which suggests his 4.70 ERA is justified. |
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04-20-23 | Suns -150 v. Clippers | 129-124 | Win | 100 | 10 h 27 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Suns swept a pair of road games against the Clippers this season and they'll grab the win in this one as well. Injuries will be the difference between the two sides, especially as the Clippers continue to be without George. The Suns core continues to get more and more time together and considering they have two of the most electric scorers in the league at their disposal, that is likely to help them lead the way. Add in plenty of length on the perimeter and size in the frontcourt, and there isn't much reason to think that they can't dominate both ends. Additionally, according to covers.com, the Suns are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between the two in LA and are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings overall. |
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04-20-23 | Jets v. Golden Knights -156 | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 13 h 57 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Golden Knights can only play better than they did in Game 1. Vegas swept a three-game regular-season set against Winnipeg (5-2, 2-1 in OT, and 6-5), so I’m expecting the Golden Knights to bounce back and tie the playoff series against the Jets. Winnipeg leans on its defense and Connor Hellebuyck, who’s one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. However, their offense is far away from an elite level, and I don’t trust the Jets despite that five-goal performance in the opener. The Golden Knights will be way more aggressive in Game 2. They have a lot of experienced players who’ll know how to deal with huge pressure, as avoiding a two-game hole is a must for Vegas. |
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04-20-23 | Kings +6 v. Warriors | 97-114 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 41 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Draymond Green just can't keep his emotions in check and that has cost the Warriors throughout his career, as he has been absent before from big games like this one because of his actions on the court. I think the Warriors will hold on here for the win, just because I have complete faith in Steph Curry to not let his team down. Plus, the Warriors are like night and day when playing at home and on the road. They are great at home and awful on the road. The home crowd here will push them to a win, but the scrappy Kings will cover. Take Sacramento getting the points. |
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04-20-23 | Mets -123 v. Giants | 9-4 | Win | 100 | 13 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units New York enters this contest rolling, while San Francisco finally ended a four-game losing streak. The Giants got a sensational performance out of the bullpen, but they have been rather mediocre through the first few weeks of the season. This is one area where New York has a significant advantage. The starting pitchers should give New York a slight edge, but it is in the bullpen where the Mets will close out this game. San Francisco has the better power production, but they have struggled to produce runs over their last five, averaging 3.71 per game. New York is just slightly better than that number over the last five (3.91), but one can understand the struggles when they were facing the Dodgers in Los Angeles for three games and, yet, they still scored 13 runs in those three games. Right now, New York clearly looks like the better team, and it makes sense to go with them in this contest. |
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04-20-23 | Reds v. Pirates -155 | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 10 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Pirates, who host the Reds for four games starting today, have won 11 of 16 since that opening set, including sweeps at Boston and Colorado. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has lost 10 of 15 and hasn't won a series since. The Pirates just completed that second sweep, winning all three against the Rockies in Denver, including a 14-3 win Wednesday. They outscored Colorado by a whopping 33-9. They have won four of their past five overall. In fact, Pittsburgh has not lost two straight games since dropping the final two games of that opening series against Cincinnati. Pirates starters have gone at least six innings and turned in a quality start in nine games in a row. In the series opener today, Cincinnati right-hander Luke Weaver is scheduled to make his season debut against Pittsburgh right-hander Roansy Contreras (1-1, 6.00 ERA). In his third start of the year, Contreras got a no-decision Saturday in St. Louis, giving up two runs in six innings. Contreras did not face Cincinnati in the earlier series but is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three career starts against the Reds, all in 2022. |
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04-20-23 | Twins v. Red Sox -111 | 5-11 | Win | 100 | 4 h 18 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Right-hander Kenta Maeda (0-2, 4.09 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for Minnesota today. The Red Sox will counter with right-hander Tanner Houck (2-0, 4.50 ERA). Maeda exited his first start of the season due to arm fatigue, and then allowed eight hits and four runs in six innings during latest outing, on April 10 against the Chicago White Sox. Maeda skipped his next turn in the rotation and will enter the Thursday game with extra rest. He is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. Houck won his first two starts of the year, then gave up two runs on four hits in four innings against the Los Angeles Angels during a no-decision on Friday. Houck has a 1-0 record with a 2.61 ERA two career starts vs. the Twins. In his most recent meeting with Minnesota, he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings en route to a victory on April 16, 2022. |
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04-19-23 | Heat v. Bucks -6 | 122-138 | Win | 100 | 14 h 9 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units With all eyes glued to the status of Giannis, it's actually the injury woes for Miami that will make this game fall in Milwaukee's favor. The Heat will be without their top perimeter threat in Herro and could be without one of their most experienced backcourt pieces in Lowry. For the Bucks, the supporting cast isn't going to be a shocked in Wednesday's showdown to have carry much more of workload, though if Giannis can go, that'll only increase their likelihood to win with ease anyway. The Bucks were one of the best teams in the league at home, while Miami was one of the worst road teams of the playoff teams, which will further ensure things swing back into Milwaukee's favor in this one. |
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04-19-23 | Blue Jays +105 v. Astros | 1-8 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 22 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Right-hander Luis Garcia (0-2, 7.71) will start the series finale for Houston. Despite recording a season-high seven strikeouts against the Texas Rangers on Friday in his most recent outing, Garcia was the pitcher of record in the Astros' 6-2 loss after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He has yet to log more than 15 outs in a start this season. Garcia is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA over three career starts against the Blue Jays. He went 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two outings against Toronto last season, including a home start on April 24 during which he allowed five runs on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts over six innings but did not factor into the decision of the Astros' 8-7 victory. The Astros' lineup still is trying to find its foothold without Altuve at the top of the order. Toronto played very well against Houston last season, sporting a 4-2 record against the World Champs. |
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04-19-23 | Islanders v. Hurricanes -168 | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 12 h 4 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The New York Islanders were not particularly threatening late in the season when they were battling for their playoff lives. They went 3-3 in their last six games and did not clinch until the last regular season game. The Carolina Hurricanes were in first place for a good portion of the season. They have a lot more firepower than the Isles. NYI only managed 25 shots in game one on Monday. The Hurricanes have dominated the Islanders all season. They have won each of the last four meetings against the division rivals including Monday's win, outscoring them 12-4 in that span. New York did not have much offensive zone time in game one and isn’t going to win if they can’t manage more than 25 shots on net. |
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04-19-23 | Mets -122 v. Dodgers | 5-3 | Win | 100 | 16 h 28 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units It's difficult to bet against Max Scherzer ever, especially not in a park where he's had extensive success pitching in. Noah Syndergaard is by no means a bad pitcher, but he hasn't been sharp in the past two starts, which he'll need to be to duel with Scherzer. Both offenses are capable of scoring in bunches, as evidenced by last year, this year, and game one of this series. When it comes to pitching in this game, the Mets have the better starter and the bullpen that's been more reliable. The Mets should take this game. |
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04-19-23 | Rangers +101 v. Royals | 12-3 | Win | 101 | 7 h 27 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Texas deluged Kansas City with five runs in the sixth inning and another four in the eighth en route to a 12-2 win on Tuesday. The rout improved the Rangers to 4-1 against the Royals on the season and marked Kansas City's eighth loss in its last nine outings. A win today gives Texas its first sweep since opening the season with three wins over reigning National League champion Philadelphia. Left-hander Martin Perez (2-1, 2.87 ERA) takes the mound for Texas on Wednesday. Perez scored the win his last time out, striking out four and giving up two earned runs on five hits and four walks in the Rangers' 6-2 win at Houston on Friday. Perez has a 5-1 record in 12 appearances against Kansas City dating back to 2013. He has posted four straight victories against the Royals, including in each of his last two starts at Kauffman Stadium -- the most recent a six-inning performance with six strikeouts, seven hits and four earned runs last June 27. Right-hander Brady Singer (1-1, 7.88) starts for the Royals. After an impressive first start to the season (one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks over five innings in an April 3 win against Toronto), Singer has struggled in his last two appearances. Singer gave up eight hits and five earned runs over six innings April 8 at San Francisco, then took the loss on Friday with 10 hits and eight earned runs surrendered to Atlanta over five innings. Singer is 0-2 all-time against Texas, with both starts coming in 2021. |
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04-18-23 | Seattle Kraken v. Avalanche -185 | 3-1 | Loss | -185 | 13 h 11 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The road team won each of the three meetings between the teams this season but that was in the regular season. There is a vast gulf between the teams when it comes to postseason experience, especially when you consider that the Avalanche are the defending champs. Sure, Colorado will miss Gabriel Landeskog, who was ruled out for the postseason recently, but they have plenty of other weapons to work with offensively. After all, this is a team that came back from 14 points down in the standings in mid-January to win the Central Division crown. Grubauer has had postseason success in his career but the majority of that came with the Avalanche. It’s safe to say that if any team knows the strengths and weaknesses of a goaltender, it’s his former teammates. The Kraken will hang around but the talent plus experience factors are clearly point to the Avalanche as they take the opener of this series. |
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04-18-23 | Brewers v. Mariners -149 | 6-5 | Loss | -149 | 13 h 1 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units These two teams have headed in opposite directions since the Padres took three of four in Atlanta April 6-9. The Braves have won six straight since that rough series, while the Padres have dropped five of seven games since that point. Snell has struggled this season and has continued to have problems with his control. Meanwhile, Strider has been striking out hitters at a prodigious rate and if he can be a bit more efficient as far as pitch count goes, he’ll be even more dangerous as the season goes forward. Right now, the Braves are hitting while the Padres are struggling at the dish despite their star-laden lineup. Strider doesn’t make it any easier for San Diego and that gives Atlanta the upper hand in this contest as they earn the win. |
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04-18-23 | Cubs -162 v. A's | 4-0 | Win | 100 | 13 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units While the Oakland offense has been getting better and they got much better pitching in the final two games against the Mets over the weekend, they have a real challenge in Stroman. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.21 ERA in six appearances against Oakland, but all of that damage was done against him during his time with Toronto, and he looked great against Oakland in his final two outings, both in 2019 when he allowed one run in 15.0 combined innings. Waldichuk looked “better” in his last outing, but how could he not? He had been crushed through his first two outings of the year, and he is facing a Cubs team that is not lighting up the offense. However, he has his work cut out for him facing Stroman, so Chicago will win this game easily. |
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04-18-23 | Blue Jays v. Astros -108 | 4-2 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 16 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Right-hander Jose Urquidy (1-0, 2.35 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Tuesday. He tossed six scoreless innings in a 7-0 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday, allowing two hits and three walks while recording two strikeouts. Urquidy is 2-1 with a 5.73 ERA over four career starts against the Blue Jays. He finished 1-0 with a 5.06 ERA in two appearances against Toronto last season. In a home start against the Blue Jays last April 23, he allowed two runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. He finished with a no-decision in the Astros' 3-2 loss. Six days later, Urquidy got the win as Houston prevailed 11-7. He gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings, with one walk and six strikeouts. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (1-2, 7.63 ERA) has the starting assignment for Toronto on Tuesday. He is coming off a loss his last time out, although it was his best outing of the season. On Thursday, he surrendered two runs on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over six innings in a 3-1 setback to the visiting Detroit Tigers. It marked the first start of his three this season in which he didn't give up a home run. Bassitt is 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA over 11 career appearances (10 starts) against the Astros. |
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04-18-23 | Lightning v. Maple Leafs -152 | 7-3 | Loss | -152 | 11 h 34 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Lightning look to steal a game on the road but the Maple Leafs look to make a statement in Game One and control this game on their home ice. The Maple Leafs, who average 3.39 goals per game, should constantly find the back of the net with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and the rest of the forward unit controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating open shots with great puck movement. The Maple Leafs, who allow only 2.68 goals per game, should limit the Lightning offense with Mark Giordano, Justin Holl, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shooting lanes, allowing goaltender Ilya Samsonos to make plenty of big saves. The Maple Leafs should win Game One with a strong performance on their home ice. |
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04-18-23 | Knicks +6 v. Cavs | 90-107 | Loss | -110 | 3 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units With how New York has performed this season in this matchup, there's no reason to think that they won't at least keep things competitive in this one. Their balance in the frontcourt and backcourt is crucial, especially when compared to Cleveland's struggles last game. New York's depth seems to be an advantage but having to win two games in a row overall might be too much to ask. Expect the Knicks to focus on the defensive end and slowing the game down, which might not serve them well in the result but will allow them to stay right within striking distance as the game comes to a close. Additionally, according to covers.com, the Knicks are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 games following an ATS win, while also sitting 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings with Cleveland overall and 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in Cleveland. |
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04-18-23 | Hawks v. Celtics -10 | 106-119 | Win | 100 | 10 h 45 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Until they got sloppy in the second half, the Celtics' offense was able to get whatever they wanted. Brown and Tatum's drives to the basket went unchallenged and the Celtics consistently found themselves with open looks from long range. Atlanta's inability to consistently shoot the three will ultimately do them in against a Celtics team that shoots the 3pt shot at the second-highest rate in the NBA. The Hawks, for their part, shoot the highest percentage of two-point shots in the NBA. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Boston's Al Horford, and Rob Williams III consistently met players at the rim and altered their shots on Saturday. The pair combined for three of Boston's seven shot blocks in the game. Look for Boston to establish both Brown and Tatum going to the basket, which will again open up their shooting from long range. |
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04-17-23 | Wild v. Stars -138 | 3-2 | Loss | -138 | 8 h 19 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Wild stumbled down the stretch, posting a 2-3-2 mark in the final 7 games. That might not seem like a big deal, but Minnesota was in the mix for the Central Division until the final few games. Instead of winning the division, it not only didn’t finish 1st, it fell to 3rd, losing home-ice advantage in this opening series. The Stars missed out on the Central Division title by a single point. Dallas won each of its final 4 regular-season games, while going 7-3 in the final 10 games against winning teams. The Stars won 6 in a row to close out the season, too. These teams split the 4 regular-season meetings, with the home team winning the final 2 battles. |
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04-17-23 | Pirates v. Rockies -135 | 14-3 | Loss | -135 | 12 h 53 m | Show | |
Rating; 2 Units Rich Hill (0-2, 7.20 ERA) will take the mound against Colorado's Kyle Freeland (2-0, 0.96). Hill is 1-4 with a 5.68 ERA in seven career starts against Colorado, with his only win coming at Coors Field on Sept. 9, 2018, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was his last start against the Rockies. Pittsburgh has been struggling to score runs without Cruz in the lineup. With him in the lineup, the Pirates averaged 4.7 runs a game, but have posted an average of just 3.4 since he's been out. The challenge is replacing Cruz's bat atop the order. Ke'Bryan Hayes and Ji Hwan Bae have platooned at leadoff for the past week. Freeland has looked like he did in 2018 when he finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting. He started this season by not allowing a run in his first 13 innings and left his last start with a lead before St. Louis rallied to win. Freeland is making his eighth career start against the Pirates and is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in his previous outings against them. Freeland has learned from his struggles the past few seasons as he tries to recapture the form that saw him go 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA in 2018. |
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04-17-23 | Nets v. 76ers -10 | 84-96 | Win | 100 | 6 h 24 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Nets simply don't have the star power to keep up with this 76ers team, especially not on the road. They have some fantastic players, but nobody on that team is going to take over a game the way that Joel Embiid or James Harden can. Playing on the road against a 76ers team that's superb at home, the Nets don't stand a chance. We've seen them fall to Philly five times already between the regular season and game one, and this game should go the same way. The 76ers control the game and take a 2-0 lead in the series. |
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04-17-23 | Giants v. Marlins -117 | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 10 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The San Francisco Giants have not looked good early this season. They only have one series win all season and have lost six of their last eight games after a series loss in Detroit. The Miami Marlins are playing well, collecting the victory in four of their last five games. Giants’ starter Logan Webb has not been effective. The right-hander has surrendered four runs in two of his three outings including four home runs in that span. This is not ideal considering the Giants are also having problems with the bullpen. They stand 27th with a poor 6.08 ERA. Marlins’ starter Jesus Luzardo has been outstanding, conceding only four runs in 18.2 innings pitched on the season, good for a minuscule 1.93 ERA. |
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04-17-23 | Rays -137 v. Reds | 1-8 | Loss | -137 | 9 h 55 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Reds, who have lost five of their last seven, will be looking to rebound from their worst loss of the season, a 14-3 thrashing at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. The Reds surrendered 23 hits and had their starting third baseman Spencer Steer leave in the ninth inning holding his side after diving for a ground ball. Tampa just rocked All-Star Alex Manoah, and bring their powerful bats to the most home run-happy venue in MLB, Great American Ball Park. The Rays' offense should feast this series, and their pitching staff is too good to allow Cincinnati to string hits together. The Reds haven't proven they can consistently take pitchers out of the park. Expect the Rays to jump on Hunter Greene, who has been shaky in 2023, and take this game comfortably. |
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04-16-23 | Wolves v. Nuggets -7.5 | 80-109 | Win | 100 | 13 h 0 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Minnesota has at least sharpened their edge as they have played twice since the end of the regular season. That is a double-edged sword as it has helped keep the rust off but it has added extra wear and tear to key players in the rotation. Denver was on cruise control over the final month or so of the season as they held the advantage for both the Northwest Division and the top spot in the Western Conference. That gave the Nuggets the ability to rest some of their key players, like two-time reigning MVP Jokic, and prepare for the postseason run. Denver was a sparkling 34-7 at home this season while the Timberwolves were 20-21 as the road team on the year. Give the Nuggets the upper hand in this contest as the rest factor works in their favor. |
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04-16-23 | Heat v. Bucks -9 | 130-117 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 44 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units It will be interesting to see how the Heat chooses to defend Antetonkoumnpo. They could defend him with Adebayo but that might force the team's best rebounder to the bench with foul trouble. Butler, arguably the Heat's best defender, doesn't have the length to cover the Greek Freak and I'm not sure Spoelstra will want to wear out his best offensive player by covering Antetonkoumnpo all night. With that in mind, I like the Bucks to dominate the first game. Milwaukee exposed the Heat's other defenders this season on the perimeter, nailing over 18 3pt field goals per matchup. Miami will adjust but that adjustment will likely come after a substantial game-one loss. This will be the first time all season that the Heat will face the Bucks at full strength and the combination of Antetonkoumnpo and Middleton will be too much for them. Don't discount the ability of Holiday to take his man in the paint for easy buckets as well. Beyond Adebayo and Butler, the Heat do not possess quality man-to-man defenders. |
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04-16-23 | Orioles v. White Sox -141 | 8-4 | Loss | -141 | 7 h 30 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The White Sox are without Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada but there's still enough firepower in this Chicago offense to win, especially with ace Dylan Cease on the bump. The veteran right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 33 strikeouts in four starts (23.1 innings) against Baltimore in his career. The Orioles are hitting left-handed pitching much better than righties this season, too .370 OBP, .866 OPS, and 27 K-rate versus left-handers and a .332 OBP, .757 OPS, and a 29% K-rate versus right-handers). |
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04-16-23 | Pirates +1.5 v. Cardinals | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 5 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Pirates will start right-hander Mitch Keller (1-0, 3.57 ERA) in the series finale. Keller has delivered two quality stars in April, allowing just three runs on 10 hits in his last 13 innings. He is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in eight career starts against the Cardinals. Tommy Edman (5-for-16, double, three walks, three RBIs) and Lars Nootbaar (4-for-8, double, three walks) have had success against him. St. Louis will counter with struggling veteran Miles Mikolas (0-1, 10.05 ERA). In his last start, the right-hander allowed six runs on 10 hits, including three homers, in five innings of a 9-6 victory at Colorado. Mikolas is 5-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 19 career appearances against the Pirates, including 16 starts. Bryan Reynolds (9-for-28, four doubles, three RBIs) and Ke'Bryan Hayes (4-for-10, double) have hit well against him. St. Louis has only won three of its last 10 games against divisional opponents. |
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04-16-23 | Twins v. Yankees -155 | 0-2 | Win | 100 | 4 h 3 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Gerrit Cole held the distinction of leading the major leagues in strikeouts while also allowing the second-most home runs last season. This season, Cole is off to one of the best starts of his career, partially due to his ability to avoid allowing homers. He seeks a fourth straight win Sunday afternoon when the New York Yankees attempt to get a split of a four-game series with the visiting Minnesota Twins. Cole (3-0, 1.40 ERA) has won three straight starts to begin a season for the third time in his career (2013, 2020). Last year, Cole allowed three of his 33 homers and had a 6.35 ERA through his first three outings. So far, Cole has allowed 11 hits -- no HRs -- through his first 19 1/3 innings while beating the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Guardians. Cole is 4-0 with a 3.21 ERA in five career starts against the Twins. He struck out 14 in 6 2/3 innings Sept. 7 in New York. |
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04-15-23 | Warriors v. Kings -110 | 123-126 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units This game is basically a pick 'em, with the Kings installed as only a 1 point favorite. So, I really can't see the Kings, who have not been in the playoffs since 2006, not winning this first game. The fans, not having had a playoff game in their building in 17 years, will be raucous, particularly since it is against their biggest rival, the Warriors. They will like nothing more than to see the Kings "light the beam" on top of the Golden 1 Center. These teams know each other, so there won't be any surprises, and they play similar styles, so I have to go with the home team. Take the Kings to cover the spread. |
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04-15-23 | Braves -133 v. Royals | 9-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 35 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Right-hander Bryce Elder (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his third start of the season for the Braves on Saturday. In his most recent outing, a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, Elder allowed six hits through 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out seven. Elder has never faced Kansas City. Left-hander Kris Bubic (0-1, 1.64) will get the nod for the Royals after pitching well in a no-decision against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Bubic surrendered just two hits through six scoreless innings without issuing a walk. He also matched his career high with nine strikeouts. The Braves are destroying left-handed pitching this season. Ahead of this series, the Braves owned a .336/.411/.478 slash line in 113 at-bats against lefties. |
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04-15-23 | Guardians -165 v. Nationals | 6-4 | Win | 100 | 9 h 51 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Right-hander Chad Kuhl (0-0, 8.10 ERA) will be Washington's starter on Saturday. He has gone five innings in both his outings this season, with the Nationals losing each time. Cleveland will have right-hander Zack Plesac (0-0, 9.00 ERA) as its starter. He worked seven innings and gave up two runs in a no-decision against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Plesac, who has surrendered a home run in both of his starts, was the starter in two games that went to extra innings this season. He has made one career appearance against Washington, when he gave up two runs in a five-inning start as a rookie near the end of the 2019 season. The Guardians will have their bullpen intact behind Plesac after their Friday starter, Cal Quantrill, tossed six innings of three-run ball. The Nationals have now lost 14 of their last 18 games, including seven of their last eight home games. Cleveland has won five of its last six road games and is the much better team in this matchup. |
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04-15-23 | Hawks v. Celtics -9.5 | 99-112 | Win | 100 | 5 h 54 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Celtics provide several difficult matchups for a Hawks' team that struggles against athletic wings. Both Tatum and Brown will be able to get what they want both going to the rim and on the perimeter and that will force the Hawks to send help to both matchups. This will create tons of good looks from long range for a Celtics team that has thrived on the 3pt shot. The Celtics averaged over 22 3pt field goals per game against Atlanta this season, shooting over 46%, which indicates the Hawks' difficulty with keeping up with the Celtics' inside-out offense. Young will get his points in this series but Boston is one of the few teams in the NBA that can match up multiple players, Marcus Smart and White, to make him work for those points. Murray was not as effective against the Celtics this year thanks to Boston's length at the wing position. Williams III can neutralize Capella on the glass as well and the Hawks simply don't have the depth to match Boston. |
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04-15-23 | Orioles -113 v. White Sox | 6-7 | Loss | -113 | 5 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Since allowing four runs in five innings on Opening Day, Baltimore right-hander Kyle Gibson (3-0, 3.44 ERA) has been especially sharp. Gibson enters the matinee against Chicago with victories in his first two April starts, having struck out nine and yielded three runs in 13 1/3 innings. He is coming off a Monday home win against the Oakland A's, when he yielded one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Gibson will oppose Chicago right-hander Michael Kopech (0-2, 6.75 ERA) as the White Sox try to even the series. Kopech is a prime example of what has gone wrong for the White Sox. He couldn’t throw strikes in his season debut and was roughed up by the Giants, giving up five homers in a 12-3 loss. |
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04-14-23 | Rockies v. Mariners -170 | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 13 h 30 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I’m going with the Mariners only because of their bullpen. The starting duo will have a tall task in this matchup, and I’m expecting Seattle’s relievers to make a difference down the stretch. Marco Gonzales won’t miss a lot of bats, for sure, and it’s hard to trust Austin Gomber, too, as the Rockies’ lefty has been pretty much awful over the last two years. The Mariners are not hitting the lefties well in 2023 (.607 OPS), but that could easily change when they meet Gomber. The Rockies’ bullpen is struggling early in the season, and I’m expecting to see more of the same at T-Mobile Park. |
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04-14-23 | Guardians -153 v. Nationals | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 9 h 29 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Quantrill has been inconsistent in his two starts but should have success against the Nationals' soft-hitting lineup. The Nationals are last in baseball in home runs thus far. In addition, they have just one win at home this season compared with five losses. The Guardians are just 29th in the league in home runs but they are exceptional at playing small ball; advancing runners, stealing bases, and timely hitting. While Williams has done a nice job getting the Nats into the middle innings in each of his first two starts, he turns the ball over to one of baseball's worst bullpens. This game will be one in the late innings by the more opportunistic Guardians. |
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04-14-23 | Diamondbacks +145 v. Marlins | 1-5 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 49 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Diamondbacks have won five of their last six games and three of their last five road games. They’ve been on a roll offensively in recent games, scoring 22 runs in their last four games. Expect them to continue playing well in this game because they have been great against left-handers and they’re going up against Rogers, who has struggled on the mound through two starts, giving up seven runs in his first two starts. He gave up five runs the last time he faced the Diamondbacks. The Marlins also have a bullpen that has been one of the worst in the league so far, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Diamondbacks in this game. The Marlins split their last six games, but they’ve lost four of their last seven home games. They have struggled offensively at home, scoring only seven runs in their last three games. Their offensive struggles will continue in this game because they haven’t had a lot of success against Bumgarner, who gave up seven runs in his first two starts, which isn’t bad considering he was facing the Dodgers in both games. He gave up four runs in his last four starts against Miami and will keep their offense in check. Go with Arizona to cover the money line. |
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04-13-23 | Pirates v. Cardinals -1.5 | 5-0 | Loss | -125 | 11 h 41 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Jordan Montgomery (2-0, 2.25 ERA) will start the series opener against the Pirates. He allowed three hits in seven innings in his latest start, a 6-0 victory at Milwaukee on Saturday. He struck out nine batters and walked two. The Pirates will turn to Vince Velasquez (0-2, 9.82 ERA) as they open a seven-game road trip. The right-hander lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his latest start, an 11-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. He allowed five runs on six hits and four walks with one strikeout. Velasquez is 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA in seven career appearances against the Cardinals, including six starts. |
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04-13-23 | Twins v. Yankees -140 | 11-2 | Loss | -140 | 11 h 30 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Yankees have owned the Twins at Yankee Stadium over the past five seasons with 13 wins in 15 games. Rookie right-hander Brito has gotten off to a strong start with two straight wins and an ERA of 0.90. Ryan, however, was hit hard in his only start against New York last season and allowed over a run more per game on the road than at home. Ryan is not a high-volume strikeout pitcher which could lead to a big night for the Yankees' powerful bats. Heading into Wednesday's game, the Twins scored a total of six runs in their last five losses. Look for the Yankees to continue their dominance over the Twins at home. |
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04-13-23 | Phillies v. Reds -120 | 2-6 | Win | 100 | 9 h 28 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Philadelphia Phillies have struggled on the road in the early going of the season, losing five of their six road decisions. They have scored three or fewer runs in four of the games in that span. The Cincinnati Reds have won three out of their last four home games. Reds’ starter Nick Lodolo has been outstanding, conceding only two runs in his 12 innings of work. He just sailed through seven shutout innings against this Phillies squad last week. He has been incredible when pitching against Philly in his young career, sporting a minuscule 1.86 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP in 19.1 innings, and has allowed zero home runs. |
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04-12-23 | Stars -155 v. Blues | 5-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 36 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Stars are looking to secure the top spot in the Central Division and I see them controlling this game from the first period. The Stars, who average 3.44 goals per game, should pile on the goals against the Blues, who allow 3.65 goals per game, with Jason Robertson, Joe Pavelski, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick puck movement. The Stars, who allow only 2.66 goals per game, should limit the Blues' offense with Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shooting lanes, allowing goaltender Jake Oettinger to make plenty of big saves. The Stars should win the game to extend their winning streak to five games with a strong performance on the road. |
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04-12-23 | Red Sox v. Rays -130 | 7-9 | Win | 100 | 9 h 24 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Rays moved to 18-4 against Boston in the past 22 contests in the domed park. With No. 2 starter Zach Eflin (back tightness) going on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, the Rays called up No. 1 prospect Taj Bradley to make his major league debut. The right-handed Bradley, 22, is considered the No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, No. 42 by Baseball America and No. 60 by ESPN. When Boston's Chris Sale (1-0, 11.25 ERA) returns to the mound near the town where he grew up, the veteran left-hander will look for a better start than the one in Detroit last Thursday. Boston's staff desperately need a return to form by Sale, who has looked shaky in his first two outings. Across eight innings against the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit, the lanky lefty has given up 11 hits and 10 runs with 13 strikeouts and five walks. He also has surrendered four homers. |
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04-12-23 | A's v. Orioles -177 | 8-4 | Loss | -177 | 9 h 0 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Orioles have won four of their last seven games. They are playing well offensively, scoring 16 runs in their last four games. They scored five runs in the first game of the series and won’t have trouble scoring once again because they have been great against left-handers and Waldichuk hasn’t looked good on the mound so far, giving up 14 runs in his first two starts. He has given up 19 runs in his last four road starts and is backed up by one of the worst bullpens in the league, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Orioles in this game. The Athletics have lost eight of their last 10 games and four straight road games. They have one of the worst offenses in the league and they played worse in recent games, scoring only one run in their last three games. Even though Kremer struggled on the mound in his first two starts, the Athletics’ offensive struggles will continue in this game because they have been terrible against right-handers, batting under .200 against them. They also struggled when they faced Kremer last season, scoring only two runs in six innings against him. Baltimore’s bullpen has also done a good job in recent games, so don’t expect them to have a hard time keeping Oakland’s inept offense in check. |
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04-12-23 | Astros -162 v. Pirates | 7-0 | Win | 100 | 3 h 14 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Astros have crushed lefties early on, with .292/.354/.542 slash line through 72 at-bats. That includes four of their 10 team home runs in a quarter of the at-bats. Hill also hasn't been pitching well and Father Time may have finally come to collect on a long career. Opposing him, Urquidy gets to face an offense that's not nearly as threatening, outside of Bryan Reynolds. Houston has picked up a pair of comfortable wins recently, and this will probably be another one. |
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04-11-23 | Dodgers -148 v. Giants | 0-5 | Loss | -148 | 13 h 31 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units May has been excellent in his first two starts this season as he continues to round back into form well over a year after Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Wood was roughed up in his first outing this season and struggled in all three of his starts against the Dodgers last season. The left-hander will have to contend with the powerful right-handed bats of Mookie Betts, JD Martinez and Will Smith tonight. Be wary that Wood allowed four home runs in his three starts against LA last season. Following Monday's win, the Dodgers have now won 16 of the last 20 meetings against the Giants. LA has also now won eight straight games in San Francisco. I expect that trend to continue on Tuesday night and for the Dodgers to win yet again. |
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04-11-23 | Cardinals v. Rockies +1.5 | 9-6 | Loss | -106 | 11 h 19 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units St. Louis has sputtered mightily at the plate this season in key situations and that is a major reason why they are in the cellar of the NL Central. The Cardinals are hitting .275 with the bases empty and .315 with runners on base, but that number craters to .230 with runners in scoring position on the year. They are zero for eight with the bases loaded so far this season. Mikolas has struggled in his first two starts, allowing five runs in each outing as he’s been tagged for a league-high 19 hits. Colorado has been up and down this season but Freeland has been stellar in his two outings this season. The Rockies are a prolific offensive team at home and that works in their favor here, especially facing an eminently hittable pitcher like Mikolas. Give Colorado the advantage at home as they prevail behind another solid start from Freeland. |
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04-11-23 | Capitals v. Bruins -1.5 | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 9 h 16 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Bruins look to wrap up their historic season with a win and should overwhelm a struggling Capitals team on both ends of the ice. The Bruins, who average 3.64 goals per game, should find the back of the net at will with David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and the rest of the forward unit controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick puck movement. The Bruins, who allow only 2.10 goals per game, should eliminate the Capitals' offense with Hampus Lindholm, Charlie McAvoy, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the neutral zone and defensive zone alike while goaltender Linus Ullmark blanks the shots on the net. The Bruins should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win on their home ice. |
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04-11-23 | Maple Leafs v. Lightning -130 | 4-3 | Loss | -130 | 9 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Toronto will be playing its second game in as many nights when visiting Tampa Bay after playing on the road Monday night against the Florida Panthers. Tampa Bay has one of the better goaltenders in hockey in Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has a 2.63 goals against average and .916 save percentage while posting four shutouts in 59 appearances. Toronto will face a barrage of offense from Tampa Bay that has five players with 26 goals or more and will be playing its second consecutive game on the road. Down the stretch Toronto has found little to no consistency alternating between wins and losses in each of its last 11 games which has seen Toronto fall behind first place Boston by 26 points. |
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04-11-23 | Yankees -159 v. Guardians | 11-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 45 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Yankees turn to Cole on Tuesday night and the trends certainly steer toward the Bronx Bombers. Cole was 2-0 against the Guardians in the regular season last year and followed that up with two dominant starts in the AL Divisional round. He has gotten off to a strong start this year, with two straight wins and 19 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched. Cleveland's offense is predicated on long at-bats and base running. Cole's ability to get swings and misses will keep the Guardians off the base paths. Meanwhile, Gaddis takes the mound for Cleveland and is not the swing-and-miss pitcher that Cole is. Gaddis is a contact pitcher and will struggle against this powerful Yankees' lineup. I expect the Bombers to get back on track with the long ball against Gaddis and pull away for a series-tying win in game two of the series. |
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04-10-23 | Dodgers -148 v. Giants | 9-1 | Win | 100 | 21 h 41 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Los Angeles dominated San Francisco last season, winning the final five games of the series. The Dodgers have also won seven consecutive games in San Francisco, so they are going to be confident entering this matchup. Their offense has been rolling early in the season, even though they were unable to overcome their bad pitching over the weekend. That should not be an issue on Monday night with Urias on the mound. He is about as trustworthy as any team in the majors over the few years, posting a 2.16 ERA last year. Urias has been outstanding through his first two starts this season as well, while Webb is coming off a pair of rough starts. |
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04-10-23 | Yankees v. Guardians -140 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 17 h 57 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Yankees have used a similar formula from last season to win six of their first nine games this year; the long ball and a solid bullpen. They have homered in each of their first nine games and are fifth in home runs thus far. The Guardians, meanwhile, thrive on base running and timely hitting. They will have Bieber on the hill, who has yet to allow a long ball this season. Cleveland will lean on their ace in the series opener and should be able to push across enough runs against German to pick up a low-scoring win against the Bombers. |
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04-10-23 | White Sox -102 v. Twins | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 13 h 1 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The White Sox send Cease to the hill in this matchup and he was lights-out against the Twins last season, failing to allow a run in 16 innings. He was also stellar on the road with an ERA of 2.00 in 2022. Lastly, Cease has been solid this season with 18 strikeouts in two starts. The Twins have scored just three runs total in their three losses and I expect Cease to silence their bats in this one as well. Maeda pitched well in his first game back since the 2021 season. Expect the Twins to be careful with him once again in this game and the White Sox to get a good look at their bullpen in the second half of this game. |
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04-09-23 | Clippers -12.5 v. Suns | 119-114 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units This one is an absolute no brainer. As it stands right now, the Suns look like they are going to rest all of their star players - Durant, Paul, Booker and Ayton. So, expect a lot of big minutes from bench players. The Clippers should be playing everyone, because they will need this to lock down a top 6 seed in the West and avoid the play-in. The Lakers and Warriors are both playing at the same time. There is some question as to whether teams will avoid the fifth seed to avoid the Suns, but no one wants to be 7th either. I love the Clippers here. Take the Clippers to win and cover. |
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04-09-23 | Nationals v. Rockies -136 | 6-7 | Win | 100 | 13 h 54 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Nationals are expected to be at the bottom of the standings and their poor start is no surprise. They are stumbling, winning just three games on the young season. The Rockies have been competitive. They won two of four against the Padres and are always dangerous at Coors Field. Washington starter Chad Kuhl has struggled against the Rockies in his career, posting a poor 4.64 ERA and a. 1.40 WHIP in 21.1 innings. He gave up four runs in five innings against the Rays in his opening start. Kuhl was a member of the Rockies' last season and had difficulty at Coors Field, recording a 5.18 ERA in his 74.2 career innings pitched in the hitter's park. |
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04-09-23 | Cardinals v. Brewers -140 | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 12 h 57 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I am concerned about St. Louis’ pitching situation on Sunday afternoon, especially against a Milwaukee team that is off to an excellent start to the year. The Cardinals are without Wainwright, leaving them scrambling for an additional starter in their rotation. They turned to Woodford on Monday, and he was lit up by Atlanta’s powerful lineup. He will make another start today, but this could be his final turn through the rotation. Peralta was a solid starter for Milwaukee last year and got off to a strong start on Monday. He threw six scoreless innings and should have some wiggle room with Woodford opposing him in this matchup. |
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04-09-23 | A's v. Rays -1.5 | 0-11 | Win | 100 | 11 h 3 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Rays enter the game with a plus-46 run differential after winning their first eight games by four runs or more. That run differential through eight games is the largest in the modern era of MLB, eclipsing the plus-40 marks recorded by the 1955 Chicago White Sox and tied by the 1999 Cleveland club. The Rays also are on their longest winning streak since May 2021, when they won 11 games in a row. Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents 64-18 in their season-starting blitz -- although they've faced the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals and the A's, teams which combined for winning percentage of just .372 in 2022. Right-hander James Kaprielian (0-0, 9.00 ERA) -- a former first-round pick of the New York Yankees -- will take the ball as the A's hope he can slow Tampa Bay's juggernaut offense. In his most recent start, on April 3, Kaprielian was tagged for five runs on seven hits in five innings in a wild 12-11 loss against the Cleveland Guardians. Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.00), a right-hander, will start for the Rays on Sunday. He held the Nationals to two hits over six shutout innings with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 6-2 win on April 3. In his only career start against Oakland, Rasmussen earned the victory on May 2, 2022, giving up one run and throwing five innings of one-hit ball. |
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04-08-23 | Marlins v. Mets -148 | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 14 h 52 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units This line is higher than it was when this same pitching matchup took place last Sunday, but I am still happy to take New York. I think we learned two valuable lessons from that contest, creating value here even after the line movement. One, Rogers’ struggles from last season continued, looking more like the 2022 version of himself rather than the 2021 version. Two, Senga is the real deal, bringing heat all game and not shying away from the moment. The Mets have gone 13-5 in their last 18 home games against the Marlins and have dominated the season series so far this year. |
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04-08-23 | Blazers v. Clippers -16.5 | 125-136 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 31 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Los Angeles has covered the spread in six straight home games against Portland, and I do not expect that trend to end on Saturday afternoon. The Trail Blazers enter this game with no motivation, as they are resting almost all of their key players and are already eliminated from playoff contention. Los Angeles is as motivated as any team in the NBA, as it needs a win to avoid the play-in tournament. The Clippers have won 11 of the last 12 meetings between these teams and should continue their dominance on Saturday. Portland has only picked up one win in its last eight games and is not playing competitive basketball without Lillard. |
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04-08-23 | Royals v. Giants -125 | 6-5 | Loss | -125 | 14 h 42 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I'm choosing to believe in San Francisco's streak of offensive dominance every other game. It's a weird thing very early in the season, but baseball is a weird sport. On a serious note, I can't see the Royals winning consecutive games frequently this season, especially not with the way their offense has performed on most nights. They haven't won two straight yet. Even if Singer has another terrific start, he's handing the ball over to a suspect bullpen. Roll with the Giants at home here. In addition, SF starter Brady Singer for his career he is 6-10 with a 4.07 ERA on the road. That includes a 2-3 record with a 3.99 ERA last season. |
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04-08-23 | Nuggets v. Jazz +6.5 | 114-118 | Win | 100 | 13 h 2 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Throw out all the stats and trends for this game, because you are going to see two teams playing deep bench players. It will basically be like a summer league game. So, any trends I might be able to dig up would not be relevant as they don't pertain to the players who are going to be out on the court for this one. So, I'm going to defer here to the home team. The Jazz are in front of their home fans, the ones that show up for this meaningless game, that is, and that should be enough to push them to a win. Take the Jazz here to win and cover. |
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04-08-23 | Astros v. Twins -110 | 6-9 | Win | 100 | 12 h 45 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Despite a tough start against the Astros in his only appearance against them lifetime, I like Ryan at home in this game. Ryan had a solid 3.03 at home last season and was the Twins' most consistent pitcher throughout the season. He picked right up where he left off in game one of this season after allowing just three hits in a win over the Royals. The Astros lineup has struggled without Altuve at the top of the order to be a catalyst for the likes of Bregman and Pena. Those two in particular are off to slow starts and Ryan should be able to exploit their struggles. Garcia finished poorly last season and started slowly this year as well while taking the loss to the White Sox. Garcia is likely in danger of losing his spot in the rotation when the Astros get some of their injured arms back. |
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04-07-23 | Blue Jays v. Angels -115 | 4-3 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 23 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Left-hander Patrick Sandoval (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will start for the Angels, and if his season debut is any indication, he's not going to be the club's hard-luck pitcher again this season. Last year, Sandoval won just six games in 27 starts despite a 2.91 ERA, in large part the result of a lack of support from the offense. The Angels offense averaged 3.3 runs per game in his starts and scored more than four runs only five times in the 27 starts. During the month of July, the Angels scored a total of six runs over Sandoval's five starts. But last Saturday in Sandoval's season debut, the Angels scored 13 runs against Oakland, considerably more than enough for the Angels' No. 2 starter, who allowed one run and two hits in five innings for the victory. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-1, 24.30 ERA) will start for Toronto, his second start of 2023 following a forgettable performance his first time out. Last Sunday against St. Louis, Bassitt lasted just 3 1/3 innings and allowed nine runs and 10 hits, including four home runs. Bassitt said all six of his pitches were hit hard in the game, and it was his goal to figure out why during his time between starts. |
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04-07-23 | Bulls v. Mavs -8.5 | 115-112 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 55 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I don't love backing the Mavs, but it's now or never for them. With Dallas still competing for a play-in spot and the Bulls' postseason hopes already decided, the Mavericks have a strong advantage. Expect to see the Bulls give a lot of minutes and opportunities to players outside of their big three. I expect Chicago to play hard, but they have dropped two straight games by double-digits, and with Dallas' season on the line, I expect them to pull away for a big win. |
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04-07-23 | Raptors +1 v. Celtics | 102-121 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 58 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Only one of the two teams in this matchup has anything to gain from a win. Toronto will trot out their regular lineup in this one while I expect the Celtics to rest more than at least one of their key players. Toronto has a lot to gain by potentially catching the Hawks in the standings. The Raptors are just 14-26 on the road this season but a far more respectable 26-14 at home. Look for Toronto to control the pace and take advantage of a depleted Celtics roster. |
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04-07-23 | Astros v. Twins -120 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 8 h 51 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Today's game will be the home opener for the Twins in a game that originally was scheduled for Thursday but was pushed back a day because of inclement weather. Temperatures in the Twin Cities today are expected to reach 50 degrees after they were in the 30s on Thursday. Right-hander Sonny Gray (1-0, 0.00 ERA) still is expected to start for the Twins despite the schedule shift. Gray has a 4-4 record with a 3.08 ERA in 10 career starts against the Astros. Jose Urquidy (0-0, 6.75) is Houston's scheduled starter. He needed 82 pitches to get through four innings in his debut, a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. He allowed three runs on seven hits, struck out five and walked one. Houston's bullpen has not been dominant to start the season posting a 4.13 ERA in games against the White Sox and Tigers. The loss of Altuve has also been an adjustment for the Astros lineup. |
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04-07-23 | Marlins v. Mets -163 | 3-9 | Win | 100 | 5 h 9 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The last time the New York Mets played at home, they had trouble generating consistent offense and their starting pitchers struggled at the most inopportune time. The Mets begin their home schedule anew this afternoon against the Miami Marlins to kick off a three-game series. Tylor Megill (1-0, 3.60 ERA) is slated to take the mound for the Mets against Edward Cabrera (0-0, 4.50 ERA) in a battle of right-handers opposing each other for the second time this season. Megill and Cabrera made their season debuts in the Mets' 6-2 win last Saturday. Megill allowed two runs over five innings while Cabrera gave up two runs in four innings. Cabrera is 1-1 with a 6.63 ERA in five starts against the Mets. |
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04-06-23 | Thunder -6.5 v. Jazz | 114-98 | Win | 100 | 9 h 12 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Both teams have struggled of late and that is why we enter the final days of the season with one team fighting to hang on for the final playoff spot in the West and the other fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. Injury issues and the trades that Utah made at the deadline may have bolstered their chances for the future but made things tougher for making the postseason. Oklahoma City is at as close to full strength as they have been in the last couple of months here and they have to be motivated. The Thunder took the last two meetings between the teams last month, both at home: they make it three straight and eliminate the Jazz from playoff contention, with a win here. |
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04-06-23 | Heat v. 76ers -145 | 129-101 | Loss | -145 | 8 h 35 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Philadelphia has been excellent at home of late, winning five of its last six games. The 76ers have gone 29-11 in their 40 home games overall this season, and Miami has only covered the spread once in its last six road games. The Heat have not been in their best form overall, covering the spread once in their last five contests. They are on the road for the second straight game and do not have the firepower to keep pace with Philadelphia. That was on full display when these teams met last month, as the 76ers rolled to a 119-96 win. |
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04-06-23 | Padres v. Braves -156 | 6-7 | Win | 100 | 21 h 28 m | Show | |
The Padres have not looked threatening yet this season, going 3-3 against subpar opponents in the Rockies and Diamondbacks. The Braves have been raking at the dish, ranking top 10 in most hitting categories, and scored 16 runs in the three-game sweep of the Cardinals this week. Padres’ starter Blake Snell had trouble in his first start, conceding three runs in only 4.1 innings. The Braves’ starter Spencer Strider was the best rookie pitcher in the Major Leagues last year and registered six shutout innings against the Nationals in his season debut. He limited the Padres to just two runs in his lone career meeting. Strider was especially difficult to solve at home last season where he posted a 6-1 record and a stifling 2.17 ERA. |
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04-06-23 | Nationals v. Rockies -140 | 0-1 | Win | 100 | 18 h 21 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Colorado always has a major home-field advantage based on the altitude at Coors Field, and this will be its first home game of the season. The Rockies have plenty of powerful bats in their lineup with Bryant, Cron and Charlie Blackmon, which does not bode well for Gray after he looked bad in his first start. Freeland shut down one of the league’s best lineups last Friday in San Diego and closed the 2022 campaign with 5.2 innings of one-run baseball against the Dodgers. The Rockies have an advantage on the mound and at the plate on Thursday afternoon, so I am thrilled to back them at a cheap price, especially with Washington not having the day off on Wednesday. |
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04-06-23 | Red Sox v. Tigers +1.5 | 6-3 | Loss | -135 | 3 h 12 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Detroit's Spencer Turnbull will be making his first home start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021. The 30-year-old right-hander, who tossed a no-hitter against Seattle on May 18, 2021, will pitch at Detroit's Comerica Park for the first time since May 29 that same year. He recorded his last win that day when he held the New York Yankees to one run in 5 2/3 innings. He's 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. Boston left-hander Chris Sale gave up seven runs on seven hits, including three homers, to Baltimore in three innings Saturday. Sale was bailed out by the Red Sox offense, which rallied for a 9-8 victory. Boston committed two errors in the series finale and has allowed 14 stolen bases without a caught stealing this season. |
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04-05-23 | Angels -148 v. Mariners | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 7 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Betting against Ohtani right now seems like a terrible idea, especially when the line is this cheap against a fill-in pitcher. Seattle racked up a ton of runs on Tuesday night, but it is facing one of the league's best starters on Wednesday. Ohtani was outstanding during the World Baseball Classic and it carried over to his Opening Day start against Oakland. He put together the best pitching numbers of his career last season and is motivated to lead his team to a series win on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Flexen is being inserted into the rotation due to Ray’s injury, and he relies too heavily on his defense to get outs. |
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04-05-23 | Giants v. White Sox -133 | 3-7 | Win | 100 | 5 h 23 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units After holding the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros in check on Opening Day, Chicago White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease now braces for the slugging San Francisco Giants. Cease (0-0, 1.42 ERA) stands in San Francisco's way after limiting the Astros to one run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings Thursday. The runner-up in the 2022 American League Cy Young race, Cease walked zero while fanning 10, matching Jack McDowell's 1991 club record for most strikeouts in the season opener. San Francisco ace Logan Webb (0-1, 6.00) is eager to rebound from an uneven season debut Thursday. Webb fanned a personal-best 12 New York. Yankees in six innings to set a franchise Opening-Day record, but still saw enough of his pitches squared up. He yielded four runs and four hits, including two homers, in a 5-0 defeat. Cease has faced the Giants once in his career, defeating them in San Francisco on July 2 behind five innings of one-run ball with four hits, three walks and four strikeouts. Wade Jr. reached Cease for a leadoff home run. Webb opposed Cease in that game and took the loss in his only career appearance against Chicago, giving up five runs (three earned) and six hits in six innings with one walk and five strikeouts. |
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04-05-23 | Phillies v. Yankees -156 | 2-4 | Win | 100 | 5 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units These teams have gone in opposite directions to start the season. The Phillies have been outscored 37-12 in their first four games entering Tuesday night’s action. Meanwhile, New York has outscored the opposition 24-6 in their first four games of the year and posted a pair of shutouts. Nola started the year strong before getting roughed up in a nine-run fourth inning for the Rangers in his debut. Meanwhile, Cole stifled the Giants in his season debut and the Yankees played well in the first week of the season. New York has looked good at the plate and with the Phillies giving up runs by the truckload early on, you have to back the Yankees in this contest. |
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04-04-23 | Nuggets -9 v. Rockets | 103-124 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 42 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Nuggets have won five of their last seven games and two of their last three road games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 112 points per game on the road. They do a good job finding the open man and they were very aggressive on the offensive glass in their last three games, which will give them more scoring chances. They also cut back on their turnovers in their last three games and won’t give the Rockets a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Rockets aren’t very good defensively and gave up more than 120 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Nuggets in this game. The Rockets have lost eight of their last nine games and three of their last four home games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 114 points per game in their last three games. Their ball movement isn’t very good, but they’ve been attacking the offensive glass relentlessly in recent games, so expect them to get extra-scoring chances. They have been very careless with the ball, even at home, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Nuggets, who averaged more than eight steals per game in their last three games. The Nuggets are playing very well defensively, holding their last three opponents under 107 points per game, and won’t have trouble keeping Houston’s offense in check. Go with Denver to cover the spread. |
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04-04-23 | Celtics +2 v. 76ers | 101-103 | Push | 0 | 29 h 55 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Boston Celtics take on Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in Eastern Conference play today. The 76ers are 8-6 against the rest of their division. Philadelphia averages 115.1 points while outscoring opponents by 4.5 points per game. The Celtics are 9-4 in division play. Boston is second in the Eastern Conference with 35.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Jayson Tatum averaging 7.8. The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Celtics won 110-107 in the last matchup on Feb. 26. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points, and Embiid led the 76ers with 41 points. |