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Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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05-03-18 | Cavs +6.5 v. Raptors | Top | 128-110 | Win | 100 | 11 h 33 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cavaliers have knocked the Raptors out of the playoffs in each the last two postseasons, as the Cavaliers won the conference final in six games over the Raptors in 2016 and swept a semifinals meeting last season en route to their third consecutive conference crown. However, the Raptors were finally the favored team in 2018, as the teams met for Game 1 of this year's Eastern Conference semifinal series. If Game 1 is an indication, nothing much has changed. LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers once again got the better of the Toronto Raptors, winning 113-112. The Cavaliers will now attempt to maintain their postseason dominance over the Raptors with a chance tonight to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, before heading back home for Games 3 and 4. Cleveland: LBJ recorded his 21st career playoff triple-double (26-11-13) as Cleveland erased a 13-point deficit in the second half and survived multiple chances for the Raptors to win late in regulation and again in the closing seconds of overtime. JR Smith (20) and Kyle Korver (19) came up big for the Cavs, who never once led in regulation. The Cavs take the court tonight having won nine of 11 playoff meetings with the Raptors over the last three postseasons. One reason being, that Cleveland has hit at least 13 three-pointers in all five playoff games against Toronto over the last two seasons. Toronto: "A lot of things, we did to ourselves," head coach Dwane Casey told the media after the game. "I think we're a better team. We just didn't make the shots down the stretch. I know it sounds simplistic, but we had our open looks, had our opportunities, that we didn't cash in on, and some other things we could clean up defensively." Toronto has certainly heard all the talk of being owned by Cleveland and it seemed to lose its mental edge when the Cavaliers made things tight down the stretch on Tuesday. That said, center Jonas Valanciunas had 21 points and 21 rebounds to become the first player in franchise history with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a postseason game. However, the Raptors also committed 14 turnovers that led to 21 points for Cleveland, while forcing just six TOs. The pick: The Raptors changed their approach in Game 1, trying for a more balanced attack and creating an athletic and effective bench. Why not, after being eliminated two years in a row by the Cleveland Cavaliers? However, the more things change, the more they stay the same. For as much as the Raptors controlled Game 1 at the Air Canada Centre, they could not close it out (note: the Raptors missed their final 11 field goal attempts in regulation!) and the Cavaliers eked out a 113-112 overtime victory. The Raptors shot 32.1 percent from beyond the arc (9-for-28) and while they shot 42.9 percent (39-for-91) from the floor overall, they shot only 20.8 percent (9-for-24) in the fourth quarter. I had Cleveland in Game 1 and will take the points again here, in Game 2. Make Cleveland a 10* play. |
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05-03-18 | Braves v. Mets OVER 8.5 | Top | 11-0 | Win | 100 | 6 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: The NY Mets opened 2018 at 11-1 and have spent most of the season's opening five weeks atop the National League East. However, after dropping the first two of a three-game home series against the Atlanta Braves, they are now 'looking up' at the surprising 18-11 Braves in the division. Surprising actually understates what the Braves have done early on in 2018, as the team's current record puts them on pace to win 100 games this year, after averaging 71.5 wins per season the last four! The Braves have won the first two games, including Wednesday night, when Jason deGrom suffered a hyperextended right elbow while batting in the bottom of the third inning and left after tossing four scoreless innings in Atlanta's 7-0 victory. The Mets will likely learn Thursday just how seriously ace right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom is hurt (more on that later). Getting back to the Braves, last night's win was the team's fourth in a row, moving them into first place in the NL East, a half-game ahead of the Mets. The pitching matchup: Mets lefty Jason Vargas (0-1, 22.09 ERA) is scheduled to face the Braves' Julio Teheran (1-1, 4.50 ERA) in the finale of this three-game series this afternoon at Citi Field. Vargas won a career-best 18 games and was an All-Star for the first time last season with Kansas City. He cashed in by signing a two-year, $16 million deal over the winter and figures to eventually be the No. 3 starter behind Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom. The veteran underwent surgery on his hand back on March 20 (he suffered a broken right hand on March 16) and returned to the mound in his season debut Saturday, when he gave up nine runs over 3 2/3 innings as the Mets fell to the San Diego Padres 12-2. Vargas is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Braves but has not faced them since 2006. Teheran didn't factor into the decision last Friday, when he gave up three runs over three innings as the Braves lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3. He left because of tightness in his right upper trapezius but felt fine while throwing this week. Teheran is 8-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 21 games (20 starts) against the Mets in his career. The pick: The Mets are 9-5 in games started by deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, who have combined to post a 2.46 ERA. However, New York is a more modest 8-6 when anyone else starts with the quartet of Vargas, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler combining to post a 5.93 ERA. Vargas will be facing an Atlanta lineup which leads all of MLB with a .273 team BA, while ranking third in both runs scored (5.55 per) and OPS (.787). The news has been pretty good lately for the Braves, who are in first place for the first time since April 14, 2015. Atlanta has gotten off to a hot start despite facing eight ace-caliber starters -- deGrom, Syndergaard, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Yu Darvish. Jose Quintana and Aaron Nola -- 12 times in the first 29 games. Make the Over an 8* play. |
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05-02-18 | Orioles v. Angels -143 | Top | 7-10 | Win | 100 | 15 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: The Los Angeles Angels opened the 2018 season 13-3 but quickly fell into a tailspin by dropping nine of their next 12 games. However, they halted their four-game slide last night with a 3-2 victory in the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Los Angeles squandered a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning on Tuesday but Justin Upton singled home the decisive run in the bottom of the inning for the one-run win. The Angels have now won just four of their last 13 games and at 16-13, have slipped to third place in the American League West. Baltimore had slugger Mark Trumbo (quadriceps) in the lineup for the first time this season but he was hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts. Manny Machado recorded two hits for the fourth time in his last five games to raise his major league-leading average to .366 but to no avail, as the Orioles have dropped seven of their last nine contests, tying them with the KC Royals for the AL's worst record at 8-21. The pitching matchup: Dylan Bundy (1-3, 2.97 ERA) takes the mound for the Orioles and he'll be opposed by the Angels' Andrew Heaney (0-1, 6.91 ERA). Bundy was 'lit up' in a 9-5 loss to Tampa Bay in his last outing, as he allowed eight runs - seven earned - and 11 hits in just 4 2/3 innings. That was quite a departure, as he had been superb over his first five outings of 2018, giving up just five ERs during the stretch (1.42 ERA ) while yielding five hits or fewer on four occasions. Bundy is 1-0 with a 6.48 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Angels. Heaney allowed two runs - one earned - and five hits in five innings of a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last outing. The 26-year-old struck out nine batters, the second-best total in his career and he has 22 Ks in just 14 1/3 innings this season. Heaney owns a 7.59 ERA in two career starts against Baltimore. The pick: Bundy and Heaney have plenty in common. They are both former first-round draft picks from the state of Oklahoma and each has also had Tommy John surgery in the past five years. The Angels stumbled after a quick start but they are in way better shape than the Orioles, who are off to their worst start since 2010. After going 29-52 on the road in 2017 (with MLB's second-worst road moneyline mark of minus-$1989), Baltimore is off the the worst road start of any MLB team in 2018, going 3-11 away from Camden Yards. Make the Angels an 8* play. |
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05-02-18 | Jazz +11.5 v. Rockets | Top | 116-108 | Win | 100 | 13 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: As great as LBJ is, most believe that James Harden will win this year's MVP award. No one will get any arguments from the Utah Jazz. Harden scored 41 points in Houston's series-opening 110-96 victory to continue his season-long assault of the Jazz. He averaged 34.3 points in four meetings with the Utah in the regular season, including a 56-point outing, and the defensive-minded Jazz once again had no answers on slowing down the MVP candidate. Defensively, the Jazz were overrun by the Rockets' exceptional three-point shooting (17 for 32) and victimized early by some leaky transition defense. The Jazz lacked energy in the first half following a short turnaround from the completion of their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder less than 48 hours prior to tip-off. However, Utah isn't fretting over the Game 1 loss as it also lost the opener of its first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder before recovering to win in six games. Utah: The Jazz were inundated with a number of causes behind their Game 1 loss but it all starts with the team missing starting PG Ricky Rubio (hamstring). Rookie guard Donovan Mitchell and veteran swingman Joe Ingles produced five assists each plus Utah received steady play from guards Dante Exum an Alec Burks off the bench. However, the Jazz missed Rubio's ball-handling skill and passing acumen. Mitchell picked up a large portion of the ball-handling and he committed four turnovers to go with 9-of-22 shooting while scoring 21 points in the opener. Mitchell's point total was his lowest in seven games this postseason (27.4 PPG this postseason) and he was also hampered by a sore ankle, although he insists won't be a problem in Game 2. The Jazz also missed the defensive presence of center Rudy Gobert, despite the fact that Gobert logged 35 minutes in the Game 1 loss. A Defensive Player of the Year candidate and league leader by a healthy margin in defensive real plus-minus, Gobert was a non-factor on that end, failing to record a block for the first time this postseason and just the eighth time overall. Gobert averaged 2.3 blocks and ranked second in the NBA in block percentage (6.0), yet the Rockets had success attacking the rim with Gobert stationed there to defend it, shooting 8 of 9 with Gobert within three feet of the rim. Gobert finished with 11 points and nine rebounds Houston: Harden received complementary help in Game 1 from PG Chris Paul (17 points), center Clint Capela (16 points, 12 rebounds) and forward PJ Tucker (15 points) in the opener. However, reserve SG Eric Gordon, who averaged 18.0 PPG during the regular season, missed all six of his shots in Game 1 and is shooting just 31.4 percent from the floor in the postseason while averaging a modest 12.5 PPG. The pick: The Rockets have been the NBA's best team so far this regular and postseason but head into this game just 20-24-1ATS on their homecourt. It remains unclear whether Rubio will return later in the series but I will back Utah (with some big points) in this Game 2, as the Jazz are 33-9 SU over their last 42 games. Take the points and make Utah a 10* play. |
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05-02-18 | Phillies -156 v. Marlins | Top | 6-0 | Win | 100 | 12 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: The Miami Marlins opened the season going 7-18 through their first 25 games but have all of a sudden raised the outlook in South Florida on the strength of a season-high four-game winning streak. Meanwhile the Philadelphia Phillies, after starting 14-7, have seen their fortunes take a tumble with losses in four straight and six of eight overall. The 11-18 Marlins look for their first series sweep of the season on Wednesday when they wrap up the three-game set versus the visiting 16-13 Phillies. The Marlins won 2-1 last night on a walk-off single in the 10th inning and has now answered a miserable 3-15 stretch with wins in six of its last seven. In contrast, the Phillies' positive start has been dampened due in large part to an offense that has mustered just seven runs during the team's four-game skid. The pitching matchup: Aaron Nola (3-1, 2.58 ERA) gets the nod for Philadelphia and Jose Urena (0-4, 4.91 ERA) will go for Miami. Nola recorded his fourth consecutive quality start and second straight victory by overcoming a bumpy start in which he allowed three runs in the first inning before tossing six scoreless frames the rest of the way in Friday's 7-3 triumph against Atlanta. However, he posted just a 1-3 mark with a 7.59 ERA and 1.59 WHIP while permitting the Marlins to bat .308 against him in 2017. Urena posted a 14-7 mark in 2017 but his rough start to 2018 continued on Friday as he was handed the hard-luck loss versus Colorado despite yielding just one run on six hits over seven innings in a 1-0 setback. In fact, he now owns an 0-5 mark in eight starts since defeating the New York Mets back on Sep. 20 of last season (note: Miami is also 0-8 in those starts!). However, Urena pitched well in a pair of outings versus Philadelphia last season, permitting three runs in a 7-4 triumph on Aug. 22 before settling for a no-decision two weeks later despite allowing one run in seven innings. The pick: Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies and Jose Urena of the Miami Marlins each earned the distinction of Staff "ace" in 2017, as each led their respective teams in wins. However, while Nola has pitched well in 2018, Urena has fallen apaart. It's true that the Marlins are playing better right now than the Phillies but I'm taking Nola over the struggling Urena in this one, as the Marlins fail to get the sweep. Make Philly an 8* play. |
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05-02-18 | Lightning v. Bruins -133 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -133 | 12 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: The Tampa Bay Lightning lost 6-2 at home in Game 1 of their series with the Boston Bruins but made a strong response physically in Game 2's 4-2 win to even the Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Lightning totaled 42 hits and center Brayden Point rebounded from a rough series opener (minus-5 rating) to register a goal and three assists in Monday's victory. The Lightning have a 67-44 edge in shots over the first two games but the Bruins hope to turn those numbers around at home, where they went 31-9-5 this season, including a pair of wins against Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay: Head coach Jon Cooper said he never considered taking Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson off the assignment of checking Boston’s top line after Game 1 and the trio responded by each scoring a goal Monday. However, Tampa Bay has yet to get a point from its top line of J.T. Miller, captain Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov in the series, even though the trio registered 12 shots on net combined and Miller had six hits Monday. Johnson is tied with Vincent Lecavalier for third in Tampa Bay franchise history with 24 playoff games after his goal in Monday’s win. Boston: The Bruins top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak had four assists Monday (but no goals) after posting three goals and 11 points in Game 1. However, that line should get better matchups on home ice Wednesday. Rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who regularly pairs with captain Zdeno Chara, scored his first career playoff goal Monday and has four points to go along with a plus-5 rating in the first nine games of the postseason. Pastrnak leads the team in scoring during the playoffs (18 points) but was limited to one shot on goal in Game 2 and is a minus-6 in Boston’s four losses in the postseason while posting a plus-10 in the wins. Defenseman Torey Krug became the fourth Bruin to reach 10 points in the playoffs Monday and has tied his career high in the postseason last season (two goals, eight assists). The pick: The Lightning were a more-than-respectable 25-13-3 on the road during the regular season and have split two games away from home in the playoffs. However, Boston is 31-9-5 at TD Garden, including 3-1 this postseason. Boston outscored opponents 3.76-to-2.58 GPG during the regular season at home and then in taking three of four home playoff games, outscored the Maple Leafs 22-12. The Bruins won both home games against Tampa Bay in the season series and have won three straight and four of the last five -- and are 17-4-0 over the Lightning at TD Garden over the last seven years. If you want to stretch it out, the franchise has just nine wins in 54 games in Boston, including playoffs. Make the Bruins a 10* play. |
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05-01-18 | Padres v. Giants -121 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -121 | 15 h 36 m | Show |
The San Francisco Giants opened 8-12 through their first 20 games but posted a 6-5 victory in their series opener last night over the San Diego Padres, getting them over .500 at 15-14. The team has won seven of nine, including a 6-2 start to their current 10-game homestand. Their three-game series with the 10-20 Padres continues tonight. The Giants scored three runs in the first inning and then three more in the ninth to pull out the victory. Pinch hitter Nick Hundley delivered a walk-off two-run single against the team with which he began his career, giving him all six of his RBI this season over his last six contests. Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria each recorded two hits and drove in a run, with the latter improving to 5-for-13 with six RBI over his last three games. San Diego scored five times during the middle three innings to overcome its early deficit before falling apart in the ninth en route to its fifth loss in six contests. Only the 7-22 Reds own a worse record in the NL than San Diego. The pitching matchup: Tyson Ross (2-2, 3.64 ERA) gets the ball for San Diego and will be opposed by the Giants lefty Andrew Suarez (0-1, 6.75 ERA). Ross is coming off his shortest outing of the season, a four-inning effort at Colorado in which he allowed four runs on six hits and three walks en route to a 5-2 loss. He struck out to give him 31 in 29 2/3 innings this season but he has issued six of his 10 walks over his last two outings. Ross owns a 4-4 record and 3.24 ERA in nine starts and two relief appearances against San Francisco. Suarez is being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to make the second start of his career, keeping the members of the Giants' rotation on their regular rest (San Francisco had to use two starters in a double-header against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday). He made his major-league debut on April 11, taking the loss against Arizona after allowing four runs on four hits (including two HRs) over in 5 1/3 innings. Suarez, who has gone 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in three starts for Sacramento, struck out seven and did not issue a walk to the Diamondbacks. He has never faced San Diego. The pick: Suarez will be making only his second major league start but the good news (for San Fran bettors) is that the Padres have struggled against left-handed starters this season, hitting just .217. Last night's win was not only Giants' seventh in their last nine games but it also helped take some of the sting out of them losing three of four to the Padres in San Diego earlier this season. Another win here will 'soothe that sting' even more. Make the Giants a 10* play. |
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05-01-18 | Blue Jays v. Twins -138 | Top | 7-4 | Loss | -138 | 13 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The Toronto Blue Jays have rebounded from losing six of seven to win back-to-back games Sunday (7-2 at home over the Rangers) and then 7-5 on Monday over the Minnesota Twins. Justin Smoak and Russell Martin homered last night, as the Blue Jays increased their season total to 40, second-most in the majors. Kevin Pillar carries a five-game hitting streak (7-for-18) into Tuesday’s contest while Teoscar Hernandez has hit safely in six in a row (7-for-24) for Toronto, which is 7-1 against ALCentral opponents in the early going. Nothing seems to be going right these days for the Minnesota Twins. Monday's loss was the Twins' 10th in their last 11 games, leaving Minnesota 2-11 since center fielder Byron Buxton went on the disabled list and 9-15 overall to start what was expected to be a special season in the Twin Cities. The pitching matchup: Marco Estrada (2-2, 6.00 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto, while Kyle Gibson (1-1, 3.33 ERA toes the rubber for Minnesota. Estrada has given up five runs in each of his last two starts, suffering a 5-4 loss against Boston on Thursday after managing an 8-5 road victory versus the New York Yankees on April 20. He has 23 strikeouts and nine walks over 27 innings but has served up seven HRs, four in his last two outings. Estrada is 3-2 with a 3.96 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts) against the Twins. Gibson allowed one hit and struck out 10 over six scoreless innings last time out but settled for a no-decision at New York (Twins lost 4-3). He is winless in his last four starts, permitting 10 ERs across 21 innings (4.29 ERA) since working six hitless innings in his season debut to defeat Baltimore, 6-2 at Camden Yards back on March 31. Gibson is 3-1 with a 4.95 ERA in six career starts versus the Blue Jays. The pick: Most are surprised by Minnesota's poor start but those Minnesota bats could wake up here vs. Estrada. Home runs have plagued the veteran this season, as he's allowed seven through five starts after giving up 31 in 33 starts a year ago. Toronto ranked 27th (of 30 MLB teams) in the moneyline standings last season (minus-$1775), while Minnesoat checked in fifth-best, at plus-$1148. Make the Twins an 8* play. |
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05-01-18 | Cavs +6.5 v. Raptors | Top | 113-112 | Win | 100 | 12 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: LBJ led the Cavs to a first-round victory over the Indiana Pacers but if took seven games. James had 45 points in the Game 7 clincher (105-101) and he's now a perfect 13-0 in opening round playoff series in his career. However, the Cavs hardly looked dominating, as the Pacers covered SIX of the seven games. LeBron averaged 34.4 PPG in the series, with only Kevin Love (11.4) joining in in double digits in scoring for the seven-game set. The Toronto Raptors are the East's top seed (won a franchise record 59 games this regular season) but also didn't have an easy time of it in the first round. Toronto took a 2-0 lead over the Wizards but WWashingtonm won Games 3 and 4 at home, before the Raptors closed them out in six games. The Cavaliers have knocked the Raptors out of the playoffs in each the last two postseaons, as the Cavaliers won the conference final in six games over the Raptors in 2016 and swept a semifinals meeting last season en route to their third consecutive conference crown. However, the Raptors are finally the favored team and hope to play like it when the teams begin their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup Tuesday night with Game 1 in Toronto. DeMar DeRozan, who averaged 26.7 PPG vs. Washington, feels that his team is finally ready to topple Cleveland, even if the roster is roughly the same. "Sometimes you have to keep it together, because there's nobody better than the guys you've failed with," DeRozan told reporters. "You might not have accomplished the goal, you do understand how to regroup." Cleveland: LBJ played 41.2 minutes per game in the series with Indiana, after playing all 82 games during the regular season. James, who admitted after Sunday's win that he was "burnt right now," produced 29.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 8.0 eight assists in three matchups with the Raptors during the regular season plus averaged 36 points in last year's sweep of the Raptors. Toronto: DeRozan (26.7 & 4.8 APG) and Lowry (17.2 & 8.3 APG) need to play great plus Toronto would love to see reserves Wright (10.7) and Miles (9.3) continue their solid play off the bench. Center Valanciunas (13.5 & 9.3) posted good numbers but played little during the fourth quarter for most of the series. PG Ibaka was the Game 1 star (23 & 12) but averaged a "missing in action" 6.0 PPG over the series' last five games. Toronto can't afford that. The pick: Toronto figures to have a big advantage when the teams go to their benches and the Raptors' reserves were given a big boost with the return of guard Fred VanVleet for Game 6 against Washington (he missed four games in the series due to a shoulder injury. Cleveland knows all about VanVleet's ability to provide a spark, as the second-year pro averaged 15.7 points and five assists in 25.3 minutes off the bench against the Cavaliers this season. However, this series is still about "King James," and remarkably he is showing no ill effects of his heavy workload. He's like the "Energizer Bunny." James became the NBA's career playoff leader in steals and minutes played during the first round, after he became the points leader in 2017. James ranks first in points (6,404), first in minutes played (9,415), first in steals (399), third in assists (with 1,543), sixth in games played (224), seventh in rebounds (1,993) and 19th in blocks (216) in the all-time playoff ranks. Make LBJ (I mean Cleveland) a 10* play. |
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05-01-18 | Capitals v. Penguins -145 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -145 | 12 h 1 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Capitals own a troubled playoff history and the 2018 postseason opened on a similar path. The Caps lost Games 1 and 2 at home vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets but they were able to rebound by winning four in a row (three in Columbus). However, Washington immediately coughed-up its home ice advantage to the Penguins in Game 1 of the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal with a 3-2 loss, after taking a 2-0 lead. That meant that in seven postseason games, including three of their four at home , the Caps had frittered away a two-goal lead four times. Washington allowed three third-period goals during a span of 4:49 in Game 1 and had to regroup quickly for Game 2. The Capitals were able to do just that, evening the series with Sunday's 4-1 triumph by ending Pittsburgh's streak of road playoff victories at six. Washington: After blowing four two-goal leads through the first seven games of the playoffs, Washington at least temporarily solved that problem. Ovechkin beat Matt Murray 1:26 into Game 2, Jakub Vrana scored on the power play later in the first period and, unlike Game 1, the Capitals made it 3-0 when Brett Connolly scored on a breakaway early in the second. Braden Holtby stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced to frustrate the Penguins, robbing captain Sidney Crosby and linemate Jake Guentzel with sliding pad saves to continue his strong play in the postseason. The Caps have now won all three road games this postseason and seven of nine dating to last year, including two of three at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh during last year's postseason. Evgeni Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie are expected to play on Tuesday despite both sustaining minor hand injuries during the tail end of the third period in Game 2. Pittsburgh: The Penguins were without star center Evgeni Malkin for the third consecutive game because of an apparent leg injury. Headc coach Mike Sullivan said Malkin could return for Game 3 (it will be a game-time decision). The former Hart Trophy recipient centered the second line between wings Dominik Simon and Bryan Rust during Monday's practice while fellow forward Phil Kessel shuffled to the third line alongside Derick Brassard and Conor Sheary. Carl Hagelin (upper body) and Dumoulin (upper body) also are questionable to play in Game 3, with the former changing his non-contact jersey to a traditional yellow one midway into Monday's practice while the latter wore a non-contact sweater throughout. The pick: Ovechkin tied Crosby and Guentzel for the playoff lead in goals (all three have seven) with his Game 2 tally. Holtby looks good in net plus the Capitals have thwarted all five short-handed situations versus the Penguins this series, improving to a perfect 22-for-22 since Game 2 of their first-round set versus the Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh's Matt Murray has yielded seven goals on 67 shots (just an .896 SP) en route to dropping two of three home decisions in the playoffs. However, it's difficult to trust the Caps in a crucial (although not critical) Game 3. History says the Pens are the play in this one. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play. |
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04-30-18 | 76ers v. Celtics +3.5 | Top | 101-117 | Win | 100 | 13 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics open their seven-game series tonight at TD Garden and missing will be Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Kevin McHale, Hal Greer, John Havlicek and Billy Cunningham. The point being, it's a new day and new time in this rivalry. The Process" is no longer a punch line, as the 76ers won their final 16 regular season games and then eliminated the Heat handily in teh first round of teh 2018 playoffs, 4-1. As for the Celtics, the era of Pierce, Garnett and Allen had come to an end when Brad Stevens took over in 2013-14, with the Celtics going 25-57.However, that season was no more than a speed bump, as "Butler Brad" has Boston back among the Eastern Conference elite, despite battling key injuries. The Celtics needed everything they had to survive a seven-game, first-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks and their reward is an Eastern Conference semifinals matchup with one of the hottest teams in the league in the rested Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia: The Sixers eliminated the Heat back on April 24 and the extra rest cannot be a bad thing for star center Joel Embiid, who returned from an orbital fracture to play the final three games of the series with the Heat. He averaged 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in those three games and shot 8-of-14 from the floor in Game 5. JJ Redick was Philadelphia's top scorer versus the Heat with 20.0 PPG but rookie PG Ben Simmons was nothing short of "special" in his first-ever postseason series, averaging 18.2-10.6-9.0 and 2.4 steals. The Sixers have waited through years of tanking to get back to respectability and now get their latest shot at their long-time rivals. Boston: The Celtics rose to the challenge of a Game 7 (nothing new there) against the Bucks this past Saturday, shooting 53.6% in a 112-96 win. However, the big question heading into Game 1 of this series will be the status of shooting guard Jaylen Brown, who left the clincher against Milwaukee due to a hamstring injury. Brown had been Boston's top scorer through six games and hopes to not miss any time. "I was told that if we got in a pinch that he could play," head coach Brad Stevens told reporters after the win. "We decided that that was not going to happen. With hamstrings, let's see how he feels tomorrow." Brown averaged 17.9 points against the Bucks (also 4.7 RPG), just a shade behind Horford's 18.1 PPG (and team-high 8.7 RPG). Three others also average in double digits in Rozier (17.6-4.3-6.7), Tatum (15.4 & 5.3) and Morris (13.3 & 4.9). The pick: This is the NBA's top rivalry in terms of series played. The teams meet for the 20th time in what has always been the Celtics but also been the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia Warriors/Sixers. The rivals last met in the playoffs in 2012, when Boston won a conference semifinals matchup in seven games.However, as noted above, that was then and this is now! The Celtics won three of four meetings during the regular season, including a matchup in London on Jan. 11. No many could have imagined at the start of the 2018 playoffs that Boston would have been a home dog against the 76ers in a Game 1 matchup at Boston. Make Boston a 10* play. |
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04-30-18 | Phillies -135 v. Marlins | Top | 4-8 | Loss | -135 | 12 h 23 m | Show |
The set-up: The 16-11 Philadelphia Phillies open a three-game series tonight against the host 9-18 Miami Marlins. Sunday's 10-1 rout by Atlanta means the Phillies have dropped four of six overall, after losing two of three to the Braves for the third time this season. Meanwhile,the Marlins posted their fourth win in five games with Sunday's 3-0 triumph over Colorado. but the NMarlins are still playing just .333 baseball. "Early in the season, we were finding a way to lose," Miami manager Don Mattingly told reporters. "To put a couple of series in a row together, that's the only way we're going to ever get marching down the road toward respectability." The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (3-0, 1.82 ERA) gets the ball for Philly and will be opposed by the Marlins' Dan Straily (2017: 10-9, 4.26). Arrieta Signed to a three-year, $75 million deal in teh off-season but didn't put his best foot forward in his first start of the 2018 season, exiting after four innings of a no-decision versus the Miami Marlins back on April 8. However, he's won all three of his starts since, allowing just three ERs while scattering 12 hits and striking out 13 in 20 2/3 innings. Straily is coming off the disabled list to make his first start of 2018, after being sidelined with a right forearm inflammation. He struck out 12 over 13 innings during three rehab starts and looks to provide a workhorse presence for Miami after logging a team-high 181 2/3 innings last season (was 10-9 with a 4.26 ERA in 33 starts) He owns a 4-2 career mark versus Philadelphia but a less-than-desirable 5.35 ERA and 1.78 WHIP while allowing the club to bat .338 against him (??). The pick: No one can be quite sure how effective Straily will be in his 2018 debut but we do know that Arrieta, who won the Cy Young award in 2015 and the World Series in 2016 for the Cubs, has looked sharp. The Marlins aren't playing any better at home (5-10), than they are on the road (4-8). Make Philly an 8* play. |
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04-30-18 | Bruins v. Lightning -140 | Top | 2-4 | Win | 100 | 12 h 20 m | Show |
The set-up:The Bruinns have had an eventful last two weeks. With a chance to earn the East's No. 1 seem, Boston lost its final home game of the regular season 4-2 to the Panthers. The Bruins then let 2-0 and 3-1 leads slip away against the Maple Leafs in their opening round series, as Toronto force a Game 7. The Maple Leafs took a 4-3 lead into the third period in Game 7 at the TD Garden but Boston exploded for four final period goals for a 7-4 win. Up next for Boston was the top-seeded Lightning for Game 1 at Amelie Arena, where Tamp Bay had gone 32-10-2. The Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak line led the way to 6-2 Boston victory on Saturday. Marchand (one goal) and Pastrnak (four assists) each posted four points ,while Bergeron had two goals to go along with an assist as the trio combined for a plus-12 rating in the win. Tampa Bay finished with a 36-24 edge in shots in Game 1 but could not contain the top line and made just enough mistakes to thwart their chance to climb back in the contest after falling behind 2-0. Tampa Bay’s leading scorer Nikita Kucherov (five goals, 10 points in the playoffs) attempted eight shots in Game 1 and only two ended up on net Boston: Goalie Tuukka Rask made 34 saves in Game 1, including several big stops in the first period and with a one-goal lead later in the contest, after a subpar performance in the first round against Toronto (.899 save percentage). Left wing Rick Nash scored twice in the series opener after managing one goal in the first round and rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy added two assists to give him three in the playoffs. Tampa Bay: The Ondrej Palat-Brayden Point-Tyler Johnson line, along with defensemen Anton Stralman and Ryan McDonagh, were matched up against the Bergeron trio in Game 1 and likely will get the job again, despite being out-played. "You dance with the one that brung you." the numbers. “We have to raise the battle level in the defensive zone,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters. “For all the battle level we had in the offensive zone, if we turn that into the defensive zone for some of those plays, maybe they don’t go in.” The pick: Hard to imagine Boston's top line outplaying Tampa Bay's that badly again. Tampa Bay MUST slow down the trio of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, or it won't matter much even if the Lightning do improve in other areas of the ice. "There was just some tough coverage moments where I think everything they shot went in,” Cooper told reporters. “They were opportunistic, but that’s how you win games.” This is almost a "must win" situation for Tampa Bay and they will need a better effort from goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who stopped just 18 of 23 shots on Saturday. Yes, he's just 1-4-1 in six career regular-season games against Boston but he did own a .922 save percentage versus them. He's more than capable of bouncing back and remember, Rask looked very vulnerable in the Toronto series (a reminder above). Make Tampa Bay an 8* play. |
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04-29-18 | Yankees v. Angels -115 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -115 | 23 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The Yankees sure weren't happy about being 9-9 through their first 18 games of the highly-anticipated 2018 season. However, the Yankees haven't lost a game in over a week and they look to complete a three-game sweep tonight in Anaheim against the LA Angels (on ESPN). New York scored five runs in each of the first two innings on Saturday, en route to an 11-1 triumph that extended its winning streak to eight games. New York hasn't lost since dropping an 8-5 decision in Toronto on April 20, dominating opponents during the winning streak by outscoring the competition 62-17 while allowing one run on four occasions. In contrast, the Angels' 2018 season got off to a 13-3 start but they've now lost eight of 11 overall, including seven of eight at home. The pitching matchup: CC Sabathia (1-0, 1.86 ERA) gets the nod for the Yankees and Tyler Skaggs (3-1, 2.96 ERA) for the Angels, in a battle of lefties. Sabathia's first three starts of 2018 resulted in no-decisions (Yanks were 1-2) but he is coming off his longest outing of the season, one that resulted in his first victory. He limited Minnesota to an unearned run and two hits over six innings on Tuesday in an 8-3 win. Only half of the eight runs the 37-year-old Californian has allowed this year have been earned, with three of them coming on three solo homers by Baltimore on April 6. The long-time vet has made 21 career starts against the Angels, going 9-9 with two complete games and a 3.91 ERA. Tyler Skaggs answered his worst start of the season (he allowed six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings against Boston at home on April 18) with one of his best this past Monday. He scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory at Houston. Skaggs has made 62 starts in his career but will be facing New York for the first time. The pick: The 17-9 Yankees have won eight in a row, matching their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in June 2012 and will trot out 2007 AL Cy Young winner CC Sabathia on Sunday, who has not allowed an earned run in his past two starts. Opposing him will be Tyler Skaggs, he of the 16-22 career record with a 4.46 ERA. That said, let it be noted that Skaggs has been matched against some of the best pitchers in the American League this season. In four of his five 2018 starts, Skaggs has been matched against Sean Manaea of the Oakland Athletics, Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians, Rick Porcello of the Boston Red Sox and Gerrit Cole of the Houston Astros. Manaea and Cole entered the weekend with the two lowest ERAs in the AL. Manea has also thrown a no-hitter this season and his four wins are tied for the AL lead among a group of nine that includes Kluber, the 2014 and 2017 AL Cy Young winner, and Porcello, the 2016 AL Cy Young winner. The Angels are 4-1 in Skaggs five starts this season and a win would make him 4-1 for the second time in his six-year major league career. I say he gets it, Make the Angels a 10* play. |
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04-29-18 | Dodgers -142 v. Giants | Top | 2-4 | Loss | -142 | 20 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The Dodgers and Giants are one of MLB's great rivalries but this weekend’s series might be just as newsworthy for its injury list as it is for the actual results. Giants second baseman Joe Panik landed on the disabled list Saturday with an injured left thumb that could require surgery, and both teams could be without several starters on Sunday, when the Dodgers, who lost Friday's opener 6-4, look to salvage a split of the four-game set. Playing without Panik and left fielder Mac Williamson (concussion), the Giants opened Saturday’s doubleheader with a 15-6 loss before bouncing back with an 8-3 victory in the nightcap. Los Angeles outfielder Yasiel Puig left the opener with a sore left foot after crashing into a wall and sat out the nightcap, but X-rays were negative and he could return Sunday. Outfielder Matt Kemp left Friday’s game with a tight left quadriceps but appeared as a pinch-hitter in Saturday's nightcap. The pitching matchup: Kenta Maeda (2-1, 3.10 ERA) will start Sunday's series finale for LA and the Giants will counter with lefty Ty Blach (1-3, 4.31). Maeda will be making his fifth start (LA is 2-2 in his first four) of 2018 in this one and made his season debut against the Giants back on March 31, earning the victory after registering 10 strikeouts over five scoreless s. innings of a 5-0 final. He settled for a no-decision against Miami on Tuesday, despite allowing just one run on four hits with seven strikeouts over six innings (LA lost 3-2). Maeda is 4-1 with a 4.40 ERA in seven career games (six starts) versus San Francisco. Blach worked five scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers back on March 29 but hasn't won since. He recovered from a case of food poisoning in time to face Washington on Tuesday and gave up three runs in four innings of a 4-3 LA win. He owns a 3-2 record and 1.90 ERA in nine career games (six starts) against Los Angeles. The pick: Blach has a nice history against the Dodgers but it's hard to get too excited about playing San Francisco. The Giants tied the Tigers for MLB's fewest wins in 2017 (64) plus owned MLB's worst moneyline mark, at minus-$3775. Both teams are off to sub-.500 starts this season but the team most likely to get things turned around is LA, which has won five straight NL West titles. Make the Dodgers an 8* play. |
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04-29-18 | Penguins v. Capitals -112 | Top | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 18 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Capitals own a troubled (that's a nice way to put it, right?) playoff history and the 2018 postseason could be following a similar script. Yes, the Caps came back to win four straight games over Columbus after losing both games at home in the first round but Washington immediately coughed-up its home ice advantage to the Penguins in Game 1 of the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal. Even more troubling is that in seven postseason games, including three of their four at home , the Caps have frittered away a two-goal lead four times ,this postseason. Washington allowed three third-period goals during a span of 4:49 in Game 1 and now have to regroup quickly if thgey want to even their best-of-seven series with Pittsburgh at one game apiece when they host their bitter rivals in Game 2 on Sunday afternoon. The Capitals need a stronger response at home considering they are 1-3 at Capital One Arena, while the Penguins are a perfect 4-0 on the road in the 2018 postseason.. Pittsburgh: Center Evgeni Malkin shed the non-contact jersey for a more traditional yellow one in practice on Saturday and will be a game-time decision for Game 2, after sitting out two contests with a lower-body injury following a collision with Philadelphia's Jori Lehtera. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, Malkin, Phil Kessel and Matt Murray tend to dominate the headlines but Jake Guentzel routinely 'comes alive' when the postseason rolls along. The 23-year-old capped the late goal surge by linemates Crosby and Patric Hornqvist to extend his point streak to five games (four goals, eight assists) and boost his league-leading total in scoring with 16 (seven goals, nine assists). Washington: The Caps took a 1-0 lead just 17 seconds into Game 1 and had several odd-man rushes but never put Pittsburgh away. Alex Ovechkin scored and set up a goal in the series opener but the team's superstar captain and his linemates, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson, were on the ice for all three of Pittsburgh's goals in the third period. They don't need a lot of chances," Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen told NHL.com. "If they have one good look, they can snipe. But you can't overthink it either. You've just got to play your game. But when it's your guy, when it's your turn to check, you've got to check hard and really take away their space." The pick: The Capitals are no strangers to being behind in a series, having lost the first two games at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets before winning four straight in the opening round. In fact, Washington lost the first two games at home against the Penguins a year ago but was able forced a Game 7 on home ice. Naturally, the Caps lost that one. However, this is NOT a Game 7 and I expect Washington to even the series with a win. Make the Caps a 10* play. |
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04-29-18 | Pacers v. Cavs -5.5 | Top | 101-105 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 46 m | Show |
The set-up: LeBron James returned to Cleveland after a four-year 'mission' in Miami and has led the Cavs to three consecutive NBA Finals (won one and lost two). However, his three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers will host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday afternoon, trying to avoid a first-round exit. Cleveland went into Indiana on Friday with a chance to close out the series but got rocked 121-87. James was the only starter to score in double figures with 22 points, as the remaining four starters combined for a total of 22 points. The Cavs shot only 31.6% from three-point range (12 of 38) and adding insult to injury, made just 9 of 16 FTs (56.2%). Meanwhile, the Pacers played their most complete game of the series in Game 6, shooting 56.3 percent from the floor and forcing 15 turnovers. Oladipo led seven Pacers players in double figures, as Indiana shot 15-of-30 from three-point range. Indiana: Oladipo had lost his shooting touch in Games 3, 4 and 5, going a combined 12-of-50 (24.0%) from the floor but recorded a triple-double with 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 6. He became the third Pacer to post a playoff triple double. Domantas Sabonis, the other key acquisition in the Paul George trade, had 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and is averaging 20 points on 26-of-35 shooting (74.3%) over the last three games. Cleveland: Jeff Green (13) and Rodney Hood (12) came off the bench in Game 6 to join LBJ in double figures but overall, it was brutal game by the Cavs. Kevin Love managed just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and is now averaging 11 points on 32.4 percent shooting in the series, after posting 17.6 points on 45.8 percent during the regular season. "He's a huge part of our success or our non-success," James told reporters of Love. "Obviously, we try to go to him, we want to go to him. Obviously, we can't make the shots for him. He has to step up and knock those down. Those things you can't control." Making matters worse is that no other Cavs player is averaging double figures for the series. The pick: The Cavs have been 'living on the edge' all season and now face this do-or-die game. James is 4-2 all time in Game 7s and more importantly, has never lost an opening round series (12-0). Meanwhile, the Pacers are 3-5 in Game 7s, including 2-5 on the road. Indiana is also trying to avoid being eliminated by a James team (Cavs, Heat) for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. "The pressure is on both teams," Indiana head coach Nate McMillan said. "The loser goes home. So, for us, we take it one game at a time and we prepare ourselves for that next game. The next game is on the road. We understand the conditions we're playing in, but to say they feel more pressure than us? No. The losers go home. So there's pressure on both teams." I think he's 'whistling past the graveyard.' We saw Milwaukee fail miserably on Saturday in Game 7 at Boston (just not ready for primetime) and I believe the same fate awaits the Pacers. Make Cleveland a 10* play. |
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04-28-18 | Pelicans v. Warriors UNDER 224.5 | Top | 101-123 | Win | 100 | 15 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: Anthony Davis entered the 2018 postseason without a playoff win on his resume but his New Orleans Pelicans (West's No. 6 seed) were dominant in sweeping the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. Davis averaged 33 points on 57.6 percent shooting and 11.8 rebounds in the four-game sweep of Portland. He and his teammates now know they have a much bigger challenge up next, facing the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors (three straight Finals appearances with two titles). Golden State ran out to a 3-0 lead against the Leonard-less Spurs (also 3- ATS), before losing Game 4 and then taking Game 5 to close out the series in a non-cover. These teams met in the 2015 postseason (AD's only other playoff experience), with the Warriors sweeping the Pelicans but going just 1-3 ATS. New Orleans: Davis is the unquestioned leader and star of this team, but guards Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo plus power forward Nikola Mirotic are keys to an offense that is clicking on all cylinders. After a 97-95 win in Game 1, the Pelicans averaged 120.3 PPG in taking the final three games against Portland. Holiday averaged 27.8-4.0-6.5, Rondo 11.2-7.5-13.2 and Mirotic 18.2 & 9.5. "The unselfishness," Rondo told the team's website, when asked which area the Pelicans have shown the most growth this season. "I think we’re rooting for the next man beside us. Early in the season, I couldn’t really say that for this team. But now, it seems like guys are happy for one another, genuinely. Regardless of whether guys are playing bad or playing great, when we come in that locker room, if we got a ‘W’, everyone has the same mindset, the same joy for each other." Golden State: The Warriors hope to have Stephen Curry back in the lineup Saturday night. The former two-time MVP practiced with his teammates Thursday and Friday but noted afterward a final decision on whether he plays for the first time since March 23 rests in the hands of Golden State's medical staff after the Game 1 warmups (Curry suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in a collision with teammate JaVale McGee in a game against Atlanta). Curry sat out the last 15 games of the regular season and all five vs. the Spurs. However, Kevin Durant averaged 28.2 points in the first round to help cover some of Curry's lost scoring while shooting guard Klay Thompson averaged 22.6 points and shot 51.6 percent from three-point range. Draymond Green was his usual disruptive self, averaging 11.4-11.2-8.0 (he had 17 points and 19 rebounds in Game 5). The pick: The Warriors took three of four meetings with the Pelicans in the regular season but I'm staying away from either team here. No one can be sure what Curry's status will be but expect Golden State to brings its "D," which is so often looked because the team is the NBA's highest scoring and best-shooting club. VERY high total in this contest makes the Under a 10* play. |
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04-28-18 | Mets v. Padres -127 | Top | 2-12 | Win | 100 | 13 h 22 m | Show |
The set-up: The NY Mets posted a 5-1 victory in the series opener at San Diego last night. The win improves New York to 16-9, as the Mets have very early on looked as if they've put last year's injury-plagued 70-win season behind them. The Mets lead the NL East by a half-game (over the surprising Phillies) but have to be buoyed by the fact that they sit six games clear of the Nationals, who won the NL East last season and finished 27 games ahead of them. In contrast, the Padres are coming off a 71-win season in 2017 and the team's 9-18 start in 2018 has them on pace to win just 54 games! Eric Hosmer, the team's big FA acquisition in the off-season, went 0-for-3 with a walk in his return after a two-game absence due to family reasons and has produced only four RBIs in 88 at-bats (.250 BA & 2 HRs).. The pitching matchup: Jason Vargas (2017: 18-11, 4.16 ERA) will make his 2018 debut for the Mets and San Diego will counter with Joey Lucchesi (2-1, 2.70 ERA), making it a battle of lefties. Vargas won a career-best 18 games and was an All-Star for the first time last season with Kansas City. He cashed in by signing a two-year, $16 million deal over the winter and figures to eventually be the No. 3 starter behind Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom. The veteran underwent surgery on his hand on March 20 and is back in the majors after throwing 66 pitches in Monday's rehab start. The 35-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.39 ERA in four career starts against San Diego. Lucchesi is coming off a rough outing in which he gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in five innings of a 4-2 loss to Arizona. However, he had put together three solid starts prior to that defeat, allowing just one ER over 17 innings (he was 2-0 and the team 2-1). The pick: I realize the Mets have high expectations for Vargas but is that realistic? Vargas has been around since 2005 and owns an 85-81 record with a 4.17 ERA. He's off a "career season" in 2017 but was limited to just 12 starts in 2015 and 2016. Injuries are nothing new to Vargas. He suffered a torn labrum in his hip in 2008. In 2013, Vargas missed time with a blood clot in his left armpit. The following season, he missed time following an appendectomy and in 2015 he suffered a flexor strain before having Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. He's a huge question mark in my view. The 24-year-old Lucchesi will be facing the Mets for the first time. The Padres' fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, has made five starts and is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He is the only Padres pitcher with a winning record. He leads all major league rookies in ERA and opponents' on-base percentage (.283), ranks second in innings pitched (26 2/3) and opponents' batting average (.229) plus ranks third in strikeouts (29). Make San Diego a 10* play. |
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04-28-18 | Sharks v. Golden Knights -168 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -168 | 13 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The NHL's first round features 16 teams and eight series. Just two of those eight series ended in 4-0 sweeps, as the expansion Vegas Golden Knights did so against the LA Kings and the San Jose Sharks brushed aside the Anaheim Ducks. One of the two Western Conference semifinal series will feature those two 'sweepers, as the Vegas Golden Knights take on the San Jose Sharks. Vegas allowed just three goals to Los Angeles in its half of the Pacific Division derby, while San Jose manhandled Anaheim, outscoring the Ducks 16-4. The teams opened their series Thursday night, with the Golden Knights playing their first game in nine days, while the Sharks were taking the ice for the first time in eight days. Vegas has experienced a string of firsts in its record-setting expansion season but jitters have not been among them. The bright lights of the postseason have done nothing to slow the Golden Knights, who look to take a 2-0 lead over visiting San Jose on Saturday in their Western Conference semifinal after thrashing the Sharks 7-0 in the series opener. The Golden Knights scored seven goals in the four-game sweep of Los Angeles in the first round but matched the total in the series opener, essentially delivering an early knockout punch by scoring four times in a span of just over seven minutes in the first period. and went on to win, 7-0. After suffering the worst playoff loss in team history on Thursday night n the first game of the Western Conference semifinals, the San Jose Sharks awoke to find that the sun did indeed come up in the morning. San Jose: Head coach Peter DeBoer cited a "laundry list of issues" in the Game 1 beating, a list that got longer when Sharks forward Evander Kane received a one-game suspension Friday for cross-checking Vegas defenseman Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. "It's the first adversity we've faced in the playoffs. It's on us to respond now," DeBoer said. "You don't get extra points for winning by a touchdown like they did. We have to be better." Kane was San Jose's big-ticket acquisition from Buffalo at the trade deadline and scored three times in the first-round sweep of Anaheim, after netting nine goals in 17 regular-season games. Martin Jones allowed four goals in four games versus the Ducks but was chased 3 1/2 minutes into the second period after surrendering five goals on 13 shots. Vegas: "We did good things," said Golden Knights forward James Neal, who capped the scoring with a power-play goal. "For us, I think we have to look at them, they're going to be a hungry team, they're going to be a lot better. They'll be putting that one behind them pretty quick and looking to be a better hockey team so we gotta be ready." The early cushion certainly made his job easier, but Marc-Andre Fleury became the 14th goaltender in history, and first in 14 years, to record three shutouts in his team's first five playoff games. Fleury has a staggering .982 save percentage and 0.54 goals-against average in the playoffs. Vegas received goals from seven different players, with its top line of Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith accounted for nine points. The pick: The Sharks came into this series as arguably the most impressive team in the first round of the playoffs, opening with two wins in Anaheim before rolling up eight goals in Game 3. Yes, Vegas also was off a four-game sweep but each game was decided by just one goal. Can San Jose bounce back? Sure they can but I won't bet that they will. Vegas is now a dominating 32-10-2 at T-Mobile Arena outscoring opponents on average, 3.55-to-2.34 GPG. In Fleury we trust. Make the Golden Knights an 8* play. |
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04-28-18 | Bucks v. Celtics UNDER 195.5 | Top | 96-112 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: Two of the eight first round series are headed for a Game 7 with Milwaukee and Boston being up first (Sunday, it's Indiana and Cleveland). The home team is a perfect 6-0 so far (5-1 ATS) but Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo said he is out to change that pattern in Saturday's Game 7. The "Greek Freak" scored 31 points and added14 rebounds as the Bucks forced a Game 7 with Thursday's 97-86 victory. The second-seeded Celtics unexpectedly find themselves in need of a win to keep their season alive. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens told reporters. "Game 7 in TD Garden is what you play for. It should be what you're excited most about. What you worked for all summer, what you worked for all year. It's a blast." Milwaukee: Antetokounmpo has scored 30 or more points on three occasions in the series and is averaging 26.3-9.7-6.5 through six games. Middleton (23.5- & 5.7) has been consistently good but the duo needs someone from the trio of guard Eric Bledsoe (12.0 PPG on 38.9% shooting), forward Jabari Parker (10.2) and guard Malcolm Brogdon (9.8) to step up on Saturday. "We're a team that has shown a lot of resiliency all year," interim coach Joe Prunty said. "We've had a game this year, twice, where we've been down 20 and found a way to come back and win both times. We continue to battle. We fight." Boston: Failing to close out the series in Milwaukee didn't seem to faze most of the Boston players, as they return to a venue in which they have won three times during the playoff matchup, by an average of 8.3 points. Second-year shooting guard Brown is one of five Celtics averaging in double digits in the series, leading the way at 20.5 PPG (RPG). Center/PF Al Horford (16.8 & 8.8), guard Terry Rozier (16.2-4.0-6.3), small forward Jayson Tatum (14.7 & 5.2) and power forward Marcus Morris (13.8 & 5.0) being the others. Morris (thigh) was injured in Game 6 and insists he is fine for the series finale. The pick: With Milwaukee's awful recent playoff history (see above), I can't take the Bucks. However, I'm not convinced Boston (minus Kyrie) is really better than the Bucks. With the series tied two-all, Boston won Game 5, 92-87 and facing elimination, Milwaukee won Game 6, 97-86. That's an average of 181.0 PPG. In this do-or-die Game 7, why NOT expect another low-scoring contest? Make the Under an 8* play. |
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04-28-18 | Reds v. Twins -143 | Top | 1-3 | Win | 100 | 7 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cincinnati Reds opened a MLB-worst 3-15 and that stumbling start cost manager Bryan Price his job. It was "business as usual" for interim manager Jim Riggleman in his first three games as the team's new skipper, as the Reds dropped all three games in St. Louis from April 20-22. However, Cincy's bats 'woke up in splitting a four-game series in Atlanta (Reds scored 19 runs in the two wins) and The pitching matchup: Sal Romano (1-2, 4.78 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds and he'll be opposed by the Twins' Jake Odorizzi (1-2, 4.50 ERA). Romano is coming off his best performance of the season Monday against Atlanta, allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings. It was his first quality start in four tries since his season debut, while his one walk and five strikeouts were both his best marks of the year. He has never faced the Twins but he was pummeled for five runs over four innings by Boston in his only career interleague start last season. Odorizzi was a regular part of Tampa Bay's rotation the last four years, winning 40 games while making between 28 and 33 starts each season. After yielding one home run over 16 1/3 innings in his first three starts, Odorizzi has surrendered five in his last two turns, including two in Monday's 14-1 loss to the New York Yankees. That outing came six days after giving up three HRs in five innings versus Cleveland. Odorizzi was charged with three runs across seven innings of a no-decision in his only career start against Cincinnati in June. The pick: The Reds owned the dubious honor of playing the worst baseball in the majors throughout most of the first month of the season but that 'title' looks as if it's shifting over to the Minnesota Twins. However, I don't believe the Twins are close to being as bad as the team has played lately and with the Reds off a 20-hit, 15-run game, this sure 'feels' like a good spot for Minnesota. Odorizzi has proven he can pitch regularly in a starting rotation (see above), which is something Romano has yet to do (Reds are 9-12 in his 21 career starts). Make the Twins an 8* play. |
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04-27-18 | White Sox v. Royals -131 | Top | 7-4 | Loss | -131 | 12 h 19 m | Show |
The set-up: The Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals began a five-game series on Thursday (doubleheader scheduled for Saturday to make up a postponement from April 1). Chicago's 5-16 start was the team's worst since 1950, with the White Sox having lost 14 of their last 16 games entering last night's game. Meanwhile, Kansas City opened this long weekend series just 5-17, entering having lost 12 of their last 14 contests. Chicago White Sox belted five HRs, two by Matt Davidson, while notching a 6-3 victory on Thursday. Welington Castillo, Yoan Moncada and Trayce Thompson also went deep as Chicago won for just the third time in 17 games. Davidson has hit seven HRs this season, with five coming at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox are saddled with a 6-16 record, but half of their victories have occurred in Kansas City, where they swept a season-opening two-game series. Kansas City has now dropped 13 of its last 15 games and owns the American League's worst record at 5-18, including a 1-10 mark at home. The pitching matchup: Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 1.50 ERA) will get the ball for the White Sox, while the Royals counter with lefty Danny Duffy (0-3, 5.26 ERA). It seems unfair that Lopez is winless in his four starts, as he's allowed just four ERs and 12 hits over 24 innings. In fact, Lopez hasn't yielded more than four hits in any of his outings but he has experienced some control issues with four or more walks in three of his starts. Good news for Chicago is that Lopez is 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts against the Royals. Duffy had an excellent 2016 season (team was 12-3 with a 3.651 ERA and KC was 17-9 in his 26 starts, going plus-648 vs. the moneyline) but he couldn't repeat his 2016 season, going 9-10 with a 3.81 ERA last year. Duffy is not just 0-3 on the season but the Royals also have failed to win any of his five starts. Duffy was roughed up by Detroit in his last outing as he gave up six runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He began 2018 on a bad note when Chicago's Abreu, Davidson and Anderson all went deep off him in the fourth inning on Opening Day as he allowed five runs and seven hits in four frames. Duffy is now 7-6 with a 4.47 ERA in 21 career appearances (19 starts) against the White Sox. The pick: It's difficult to explain Duffy's 2018 woes plus is it really possible the Royals are actually this bad? I won't 'chase the Royals' but will play them here. It's not often we see a game between two pitchers who each have yet to see their respective teams win any game in which they've started. The Royals are 0-5 in Duffy's starts and the White Sox are 0-4 in games started by Lopez. One pitcher HAS to break through here with at least a team win, if not an actual "W." Make the Royals a 10* play. |
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04-27-18 | Jets +1.5 v. Predators | Top | 4-1 | Win | 100 | 12 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: The Nashville Predators were an 8-seed in the West last season but made an impressive Stanley Cup run that didn't end until Game 6 of the Finals! Nashville built off last year's playoff success and entered this year's playoffs as the team with the most points (117) of any NHL club during the regular season. The Winnipeg Jets entered the Stanley Cup playoffs as a legitimate championship contender, after putting together the greatest regular season in franchise history by going 52-20-10. The team's 114 points did fall three shy of that of the Central Division-winning Nashville Predators but the Jets accumulated more points than any other NHL team save the Preds! The two Central Division rivals combined for 231 points during fantastic regular seasons, setting up what is expected to be an entertaining Western Conference semifinal. The Nashville Predators will host the Winnipeg Jets in the series opener tonight, after finishing 3-1-1 against them in the regular season. Each team owns one victory on road ice and the two combined for 41 goals in those five games, a testament to the offensive firepower on both rosters considering both teams have Vezina Trophy finalists in Pekka Rinne of the Predators and Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck. Winnipeg: The Jets had four players finish with 60-plus points, including the NHL co-leader in assists (Blake Wheeler had 68) and the second-highest goal scorer in the league (Patrik Laine had 44). Winnipeg smothered Minnesota in the opening round with waves of offense, getting three points or more from seven players in the five games, led by four goals and an assist from center Mark Scheifele and a pair of goals from Laine along with defenseman Tyler Myers. Hellebuyck did not face tremendous pressure for large stretches of the series but even though he was pulled from Game 3 he still finished with a .924 save percentage and a 1.93 goals against average. After the Wild won Game 3 by a 6-2 score, Hellebuyck posted back-to-back shutout victories, 2-0 and 5-0. Nashville: The Predators finished the regular season with eight players recording 40 or more points, including a pair of defensemen (Roman Josi and P.K. Subban). Forsberg lead the team with 64 points and Arvidsson led with 26 goals. Nashville had to go six games before eliminating Colorado, doing so emphatically Sunday with a 5-0 decision that included Pekka Rinne's fourth career playoff shutout and three points for the first time in 81 postseason games for center Nick Bonino. One aspect Nashville hopes to improve on from its first-round victory over Colorado is its second line, as Fiala, center Kyle Turris and forward Craig Smith combined for just five points. Forward Austin Watson and center Colton Sissons were fantastic in the first round, combining for seven goals and 14 points, while Rinne shook off a rough performance in Game 3 to stop 140-of-154 shots on goal (.909 SP). The pick: As befits a matchup of the teams with the league's top point totals, there simply isn't much difference across the board. The Jets were second in the NHL in goals and the Predators were seventh. Nashville was second in the league in fewest goals allowed and Winnipeg was fifth. I'm taking the 1 1/2 goals and making Winnipeg a 6* play. |
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04-27-18 | Cavs v. Pacers OVER 204 | Top | 87-121 | Win | 100 | 12 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: LeBron James capped off a 44-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist performance by nailing a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cavaliers a 98-95 victory in Game 5 and their first lead of the series. No one can nor will dispute LBJ's gretaness but the Pacers have a real beef with what happened just prior to "The Kng's" buzzer-beater. LBJ's game-winner came right after he swatted away a dunk attempt by Indiana's Victor Oladipo at the other end, a play the NBA declared on Thursday should have been called a goal-tend. "It is what it is," Pacers center Myles Turner told reporters. "It was clearly a goal-tend. They didn't review it. There's not anything you can say about it. It's frustrating. It doesn't change the fact that LeBron still hit that game-winning shot, but it's still a pivotal moment in the game that I feel does need a review." A bigger issue for Indiana is Victor Oladipo, who started out hot in the series, but is struggling over the last three games. He was just 2-of-15 from the floor while scoring 12 points on Wednesday, making him just 12-of-50 (24.0%) over the last three contests after going 20-of-37 (54.1%) in the first two games. Cleveland: Kevin Love added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday and felt confident that his teammate was the right person to take the final shot. "We wanted to free up 'Bron as best we could," Love told reporters. Kyle Korver was the only other player to score in double figures with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting for Cleveland. For teh series, LBJ is averaging 34.8 PPG. 23 points more per game than the team's second-leading scorer Kevin Love (11.8 PPG). JR Smith went scoreless on 0-of-8 shooting in 33 minutes on Wednesday, George Hill (back) has now missed the last two games and is questionable for Friday Indiana: The Pacers were ahead 56-49 at halftime but the game turned in the third quarter when the Cavaliers opened with a 21-4 spurt to take a 10-point lead. Point guard Darren Collison said the Pacers can't dwell on the missed call or loss. "We've got to forget about it," Collison told Fox Sports Indiana. "You can't worry about what happened. That's not going to help us. We know (James) made a tough shot. We'll be prepared mentally coming in." Obviously, Oladipo needs to regain his shooting touch but Indiana has to like the fact that after scoring a total of just 17 points in the first three games of the series, backup center Domantas Sabonis has scored 41 off the bench in the last two games (on 17-of-24 shooting). The pick: An LBJ-led team has never lost an opening round series (12-0) and the team may not lose this one. However, one can't ignore that the Cavs, although up 3-2 in the series, are 1-4 ATS. Also of note is the fact that series has gone "under the total" in all previous five games. I lean to the Pacers but will make the Over an 8* play. |
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04-27-18 | Raptors v. Wizards -1.5 | Top | 102-92 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: The Bucks won Game 6 at home last night to send the Boston/Milwaukee series to a Game 7, as the home team has each of the first six games (5-1 ATS) in that matchup. The Wizards will look to "repeat that script" tonight when the host the Toronto Raptors at the Verizon Center. Toronto's 108-98 win over the Wizards in Game 5 gave the home team a perfect 5-0 SU & ATS mark in this series . DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points and handed out five assists to lead the top-seeded Raptors in that critical Game 5 win, while Delon Wright chipped in 18 points in 26 minutes off the bench. The Wizards had a chance in Game 5 but were outscored 29-20 in the 4th quarter, as they shot 8 of 24 in the final 12 minutes. John Wall was 2 of 6 in the fourth, while backcourt mate Bradley Beal missed five of six shots in the final stanza. Toronto: Head coach Dwane Casey discovered something down the stretch in Game 5 with an odd grouping of DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, C.J. Miles, center Jonas Valanciunas (who had yet to play in the fourth quarter this series) and Wright. DeRozan scored 30 points before the fourth quarter while Wright scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth, Valanciunas totaled six points and seven rebounds, helping the Raptors control the glass by a 15-12 margin in a game where they were outrebounded 50-35. Besides the relatively new lineup, the Raptors also reverted to its style of emphasizing three-point shooting. Toronto made 11 of 25 three-pointers, after attempting just 18 (made seven) in Game 4. Washington: The Wizards won Games 3 and 4 at home to even this series, before the Raptors seized a 3-2 series advantage with Wednesday's win in Toronto. However, are confident they can force a do-or-die Game 7 with the Raptors. "We love our chances," PG John Wall told reporters of the eighth-seeded Wizards' quest to stave off elimination at home. "We're very confident." Wall is averaging 26.6-5.8-12.2 in teh series and his fellow All Star backcourt partner, Bradley Beal, is averaging 21.4 PPG. Five others are contributing between 9.4 and 1.4 PPG in the series but Washington could sure one of that group to "step up" here in Game 6. Kelly Oubre, who is 3-of-16 from three-point range in the series, might gain a larger role if fellow forward Otto Porter Jr. is unable to go. Porter has been wrestling with a bone bruise in his left leg and will be reassessed Friday. Head coach Scott Brooks knows he needs more from Porter, who averaged 14.7 points this season but has been held to single digits three times in the series. "We need Otto to be more than a 9-10 point scorer for us to win this series," Brooks told reporters. The pick: Here's the bottom line. As noted, the home team is 5-0 SU & ATS in the series so far, but that's only part of the storyline. The Wizards come into this game having won their last eight playoff games in the nation's capital and have yet to lose to Toronto at home in a postseason game! Enough said. Make Washington a 10* play. |
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04-26-18 | Sharks v. Golden Knights OVER 5 | Top | 0-7 | Win | 100 | 14 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The NHL's first round features 16 teams and eight series. Just two of those eight series ended it 4-0 sweeps, as the expansion Vegas Golden Knights did so against the LA Kings and the San Jose Sharks brushed aside the Anaheim Ducks. The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs opens tonight and one of the two Western Conference semifinal series will feature those two 'sweepers.' The Vegas Golden Knights host the San Jose Sharks in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal, after Vegas allowed three goals to Los Angeles in its half of the Pacific Division derby, while San Jose manhandled Anaheim, outscoring the Ducks 16-4. The Golden Knights rely on a raucous crowd at T-Mobile Arena and were dominant against Pacific opponents, finishing 20-6-3 in division play and winning three of four matchups (3-0-1) against the Sharks, a series that included three one-goal decisions. The Sharks come in full of confidence, as they were the most impressive team in the first round of the playoffs, opening with two wins in Anaheim before rolling up eight goals in Game 3. San Jose: The Sharks are now better able to counter Vegas' four lines thanks to the trade-deadline acquisition of forward Evander Kane, who had nine goals in 17 regular-season games with the Sharks before scoring three times in the first round on the top line with captain Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi. Logan Couture scored a team-high 34 goals during the regular season and has 74 points in 90 career postseason games, including a playoff-high 30 in leading San Jose to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. Goaltender Martin Jones was outstanding against Anaheim but posted a 1-2-0 mark with a 3.32 goals-against average and .899 save percentage versus Vegas. Vegas: Jones may have been good vs. Anaheim but the Golden Knight's Marc-Andre Fleury was nearly impregnable against the Kings. He came into the 2018 postseason with plenty of playoff experience as part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Pittsburgh Penguins and was near-perfect against the Kings. Vegas won all four games by just one goal, with Fleury owning an 0.65 GAA and .977 SP. Vegas managed only seven goals against Los Angeles but featured four players with at least 25 goals during the regular season, led by William Karlsson (43), who has scored four times to go with an assist in the four matchups against San Jose. The pick: Vegas is 31-10-2 at home but will be facing a veteran San Jose squad that is 22-14-7 on the road. The "elephant in the room" is which team can shake off the rust quicker? Vegas will be playing its first game in nine days, while San Jose will be taking the ice for the first time in eight days. I just don't see a 1-0 or 2-1 contest. "5" seems like an easily attainable plateau. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-26-18 | Brewers v. Cubs -150 | Top | 0-1 | Win | 100 | 12 h 22 m | Show |
The set-up: The Milwaukee Brewers led the National League Central (and the defending World Series champs) for most of the summer, but folded down the stretch. as the Cubs went on to win the division by eight games. The Cubs took three of four at Milwaukee earlier this month (April 5-8) but as the two rivals get set for another four-game set Thursday (this time at Wrigley Field), the Brewers enter on an eight-game winning streak that has them atop the NL Central with a 16-9 record (the Cards are in second, one game back). The Cubs just split two games at Cleveland but have won four of their last six. Still, the Cubs enter the series just a single game over .500 at 11-10, leaving the fourth in the NL Central, three games behind the Brewers. The pitching matchup: Chase Anderson (2-1, 3.25 ERA) takes the mound for Milwaukee and Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 4.09 ERA) does so for Chicago. Anderson opened the season winless in his first three starts (0-1 / team was 2-1) but has won his last two. He gave up a pair of HRs but not much else in a win over Miami last time out, allowing three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Anderson is 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA in eight starts in his career against the Cubs. Hendricks picked up his first win of the season Friday at Colorado, allowing three runs and five hits over five innings. He did not issue a walk after allowing seven in his first three starts but he did give up his fifth HR of the season. Hendricks is 6-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 16 career starts vs. the Brewers. The pick: The Milwaukee Brewers certainly come in on a roll have experienced plenty of positivity during their recent winning streak but they will begin their four-game weekend set at Wrigley Field without first baseman Eric Thames, who is expected to miss up to two months with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. The Cubs were able to win three of four at Miller Park in early April and I see no reason for them not to be able to do the same here at Wrigley Field. That said, one should always take things one game at a time. Make the Cubs an 8* play here on Thursday. |
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04-26-18 | Celtics v. Bucks -4.5 | Top | 86-97 | Win | 100 | 12 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: The Celtics will be in Milwaukee for Game 6 of this first round series against the Bucks, a series in which the home team has won each of the first five games (4-1 ATS). The second-seeded Celtics took a 3-2 series lead with a 92-87 win at home Tuesday night, meaning the host Bucks face a do-or-die Game 6 tonight. Al Horford switched from power forward to center and led Boston with 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Celtics survived an old-fashioned defensive contest. "We needed to make an adjustment and do something," Horford told reporters of the lineup changes, which included the return from injury of guard Marcus Smart and a rare start for rookie forward Semi Ojeleye. "Coach (Brad Stevens) saw that and he went with his gut and that, and a combination of Marcus Smart, I think paid off for us tonight." The Bucks shot well over 50 percent from the floor in the previous three games before being held to 36.8 percent in Game 5, with Giannis Antetokounmpo being limited to just 10 shot attempts. Boston: Smart had been out since March 11 with a thumb injury but added an instant dose of defense and toughness that Boston lacked while allowing an average of 110 points in losing games 3 and 4. Smart only scored nine points in 25 minutes of work but was a force on the defensive end. Ojeleye had just five points in his 31 minutes was one of the main reason the "Greek Freak" was quieted. Boston was outplayed in Games 3 and 4 in Milwaukee but during the regular season was an impressive 27-13 SU on the road. Milwaukee: "It's on me. I had open shots, but they wasn't my shots," Antetokounmpo told the media. "I think my teammates did a great job finding me, but coming the next game, Game 6, I've got to be more aggressive and make more plays." Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 23 points but was just 9-of-21 from the floor after shooting 40-for-65 through the first four games of the series. Antetokounmpo is averaging in the series and Middleton. Interim Bucks coach Joe Prunty said his team needs a better all-around effort if it wants to keep its season alive for another day. "It's not just one guy, it's everyone we call on," Prunty said. "We need them to come in and play solid defense, we need guys to come in and knock down shots." The pick: A loss tonight by Milwaukee would not only end the Bucks' season but also mark the final game played at the Bradley Center, their home since 1988. The team is moving into a new facility located right next door next season. The Bucks are looking for their first series victory since 2001 and it's also heard to ignore that they never won a series after trailing 0-2, going 0-17 in such situations. Meanwhile, the Celtics have never lost a series they led 2-0, winning all 35 times going into their current situation. League history tells us that teams are 19-276 all-time when trailing a series 0-2, including this postseason. Will the Bucks make that 19-277? Maybe in Game 7, but not tonight! Lay the points and make Milwaukee a 10* play. |
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04-26-18 | Braves -130 v. Reds | Top | 7-4 | Win | 100 | 5 h 52 m | Show |
analysis soon The set-up: The Cincinnati Reds welcomed the Atlanta Braves to Great American Ball Park on Monday for the start of a four-game series with MLB's worst record (3-18). Cincy surprised the Braves with 10-4 and 9-7 (12 inn.) wins in the first two games, before the Braves won 5-4 on Wednesday. Atlanta got a boost from several of their talented young prospects. Outfielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. made his major-league debut in Wednesday’s 5-4 victory, contributing an eighth-inning single and scoring the game-tying run before third baseman Johan Camargo doubled home Ozzie Albies with the decisive run in the ninth. Albies and Camargo both made their major-league debuts last season. To cap the victory, rookie A.J. Minter earned his first save as the Braves moved to a surprising 13-10 record on the season. The Reds will try to take this series but despite wins Monday and Tuesday, are just 3-8 at home this season, allowing an average of 5.82 RPG. The pitching matchup: The Braves will send lefty Sean Newcomb (1-1, 3.74 ERA) to the mound and he will be opposed by the Reds' Homer Bailey (0-3, 3.68 ERA). Newcomb gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings against the Mets on Friday and has struck out six hitters or more in three of his four starts in 2018 (Braves are only 1-3 in those starts). Newcomb, whose lone victory this season featured six scoreless innings at Colorado on April 8, won his only appearance against Cincinnati as a rookie in 2017. Bailey has pitched far better than his record would indicate, as he has surrendered more than three ERs just once in five starts and is holding opposing batters to a .218 average on the season. He settled for a no-decision Saturday at St. Louis, giving up three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in a game the Reds would lose 4-3. He owns a 2-2 lifetime record with a 4.54 ERA in six career starts against the Braves but has not faced Atlanta since 2014. The pick: With the Braves off to an encouraging start, they've decided to speed up the timetable a little and push the future of the franchise into the present. Ronald Acuna Jr., rated the majors' best prospect by multiple scouting outlets and the winner of multiple minor league player of the year awards last season, is now on a big league roster. Acuna's spring training numbers (.432, four HRs & 11 RBI) solidified his status as the top prospect coming into this season other than pitcher-outfielder Shohei Otani of the Los Angeles Angels. Meanwhile, the Reds are now 5-19 and averaged 2.9 runs on 7.3 hits per game during a 3-18 start. However, they have scored 23 runs on 34 hits through the first three games of the series. That's the good news. The bad news is, Cincinnati relievers gave up two runs on six hits in four innings Wednesday, and its bullpen enters the series finale at 2-6 on the season with a 5.34 ERA. Make Atlanta a 10* play. |
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04-25-18 | Mets v. Cardinals -144 | Top | 1-9 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The Mets won 90 games in 2015 and then made it to the World Series, before making the playoffs as a wild card team in 2016 with 87 wins. Therefore, last year's 70-win season was to say the least, a huge disappointment. New York has a new manager in Mickey Callaway and the team believes that it made wise off-season investments. The team's 70-92 mark in 2017 loosened the purse strings as outfielder Jay Bruce (three years, $39 million), third baseman Todd Frazier (two years, $17 million), left-hander Jason Vargas (two years, $16 million) and right-hander Anthony Swarzak (two years, $14 million) signed contracts. Bruce paid immediate dividends with a fast start to the season before the bottom fell out during a 1-for-22 stretch at the plate. Undaunted, Bruce has slowly regained his form by cashing in at the plate. he capped a three-hit performance with a HR in the 10th inning of a 6-5 triumph on Tuesday. The St. Louis Cardinals remained in the wild-card chase until game No. 159 last season. They've made winning seem like a birthright since the last round of expansion, as the Cards have made the playoffs in 12 of the last 20 years and have missed the postseason in back-to-back years just twice, 2007-08 and 2016-17. The team has no interest in seeing 2018 become a 'hat trick' and the team is off to a solid 13-9 start, as last night's loss was just its second in 10 games. The Mets are 15-6, having won eight of 10 road games in 2018, as the teams square off in the rubber match of this three-game series tonight. The pitching matchup: Lefty Steven Matz (1-1, 4.42 ERA) starts for New York, while Michael Wacha (3-1, 4.22 ERA) goes for St. Louis. Matz lost 5-1 to the Cards back on April 1, surrendering two HRs and three runs total in four innings. He also exited after just four innings in his last outing against Washington, although he had retired 10 in a row after serving up a three-run HR first. Matz has just two career starts vs. St. Louis and is 0-2 with an 8.64 ERA (ouch!). Wacha's 2018 debut 9March 31) was against the Mets and he allowed four runs (two HRs) over 4 2/3 innings of a 6-2 setback. However, he answered that outing with three straight wins, highlighted by a strong effort against Cincinnati on Friday in which he allowed season lows in runs (one) and walks (one) while going 6 2/3 innings in the 4-2 victory. Wacha owns a 4-2 mark with a 2.70 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in six career meetings with the Mets. The pick:The Mets have played better than the Cards so far but the Cards are slightly hotter at the moment (8-2 last 10) plus Matz has been awful in two career tries against St. Louis while Wacha has been very good against New York. Make St. Louis a 10* play. |
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04-25-18 | Maple Leafs +1.5 v. Bruins | Top | 4-7 | Loss | -190 | 12 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up:The Toronto Maple Leafs have faced series' deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 against the Boston Bruins but the Maple Leafs staved off elimination with a 4-3 win at Boston in Game 5, before prevailing 3-1 on Monday night. Toronto has not won a postseason series since 2004 but the Maple Leafs can end that a streak tonight when they visit the Boston Bruins in a winner-take-all Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. It appeared the Bruins would make it a short series after winning the opening two games by a combined 12-4 but the Bruins now find themselves in a Game 7. Toronto: Frederik Andersen entered the series with a 10-1-0 record against Boston, but he was pierced early and often before turning in superb performances in the past two outings, making 42 saves in Game 5 and turning aside 32 of 33 shots in Game 6. Mitch Marner is riding the momentum of a stellar series, delivering the tie-breaking score Monday to give him two goals and six assists during a five-game point streak. Leo Komarov is ready to return after sitting out four games but coach Mike Babcock will wait until Wednesday to make a decision on him. Boston: The Bruins insist they remain confident. “If anybody would have told us at the start of the year that we’d be going into a Game 7 in the first round at home, we would have taken it," Boston forward Brad Marchand said. "Whatever has happened in the last six games doesn’t mean anything. ... It’s going to be a challenge. They’re a great team and they’ve played really well in this series. It’s gonna be fun and we’re looking forward to it.” Boston's top line of Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak amassed a staggering 20 points in the first two games of the series, but the unit has been held off the scoresheet in each of the three losses while posting a minus-16 in those games. The pick: The last time Original Six rivals Boston and Toronto met in the postseason, the Bruins needed a miraculous comeback in the final minutes of Game 7 before ousting the Maple Leafs in OT. Now, five years later, Toronto was in position of needing a miracle comeback of its own, trailing this best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Saturday's Game 5 at Boston's TD Garden. However, the Maple Leafs needed to only look to the past for inspiration, as they also trailed the series 3-1 in 2013, before winning Games 5 and 6 only to become the first team in history to cough up a three-goal third-period lead in Game 7 ( blew a two-goal lead in the final 90 seconds!). This series has been eerily reminiscent of that 2013 meeting. Why should it end differently than five years ago? After converting on 5 of 10 power plays in the first two games, Boston is 1-for-9 on the power play over the past four games. What's more, while Toronto's Andersen has been 'lights out' the last two games, note that Boston goalie ruins G Tuukka Rask is 5-12 in elimination games.I took the Maple Leafs in Game 5 and in Game 6, saying " this series is headed back to Boston for a Game 7." Why should I back off here? I will slightly though, by taking the 1 1/2 goals and making Toronto a 6* play. |
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04-25-18 | Wizards v. Raptors OVER 215.5 | Top | 98-108 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 23 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors beat the Wizards in Game 1 by eight points, as the dynamic backcourt duo of DeRozan and Lowry totaled a modest 28 points. PF Ibaka (23 & 12) was the star, while Wight (18) and Miles (12) played big roles off the bench. However, in Game 2's 130-119 win, DeRzoan (team's leading scorer at 23.0 PPG) exploded for 37 points on 14-of-23 shooting.Center Valanciunas accounted for a double-double (19 & 14), while Miles (18) and Wright (11) again played well off the bench. The Wizards fell behind early in Game 1 and were down 44-27 at the end of the first quarter in Game 2. " The Wizards decided to get physical with the Raptors in Game 3 and it worked, as they won 122-103 . Washington then took Game 4, 106-98.All of a sudden, this series is tied at two-all as Toronto hosts Game 5 on Wednesday. Washington: The Wizards allowed an average of 122 points in the first two games of the series but cut that number down to 100.5 PPG in the next two. Shooting guard Bradley Beal fouled out of Game 4 with just under five minutes left but PG John Wall took over down the stretch and finished with 27 points and 14 assists in the win. When Wall got hurt late in the regular season, there was some talk that Washington was fine without him. No one is saying that now, as Wall is averaging 26.3 points, 13 assists and three steals in the series. Toronto: DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 35 points in Game 4 but was just 10-of-29 from the floor. "I took some shots that I wish I could have had back," DeRozan told reporters. "But it's just my mindset going out there and being aggressive, wanting to win, wanting to feel like I was doing whatever it took offensively to push us to a win. But with that came some bad shots that I will definitely understand next time." DeRozan and Kyle Lowry (7-of-15) combined for more than half of Toronto's shot attempts in the loss. Toronto's reserves were key in Games 1 & 2 at home but were not ready for primetime in the two games at Washington. The pick: Toronto won a franchise-record 59 games during the regular season and earned the top seed in the East for the first time while playing a brand of basketball that encouraged ball movement and three-point shooting. However, some of those traits were hard to find down the stretch in Game 4's 106-98 setback. The Raptors led by 14 points during the third quarter on Sunday but the score was tied at 92 when Beal fouled out (then Wall took over for the Wizards!). The Raptors used their full bench successfully during the season but they started to again rely heavily on their All-Star guards DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry in the two games in Washington. Toronto needs better balance but a return home could be just what teh doctor ordered. Remember, the Raptors averaged 122.0 PPG in Games 1 & 2 at AirCanada Centre. Washington's Beal averaged 29.5 points in the two home games but just 14 points at Toronto in the first two contests. PF Mike Scott, who averaged 15.3 points in the first three contests, was held to just four points on Sunday (is he returning to earth?). Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-25-18 | Padres v. Rockies -150 | Top | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 7 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: The Padres and Rockies opened a three-game series at Coors Field on Monday with San Diego winning 13-5. However, Colorado bounced back from that drubbing with an 8-0 shutout win on Tuesday to even this series. The rubber match of the three-game set goes this afternoon, as Colorado also tries to take a two-game lead in the season series (Rockies currently lead 5-4). The Rockies had allowed double digits in runs in three of their previous five contests and nine in another, so Kyle Freeland combining with two relievers on the shutout, scattering three hits over seven innings, was a welcome relief. Eric Lauer did not fare well for San Diego in his major-league debut, surrendering seven runs on six hits and four walks over three innings, The pitching matchup: Tyson Ross (2-1, 2.81 ERA) will get the ball for San Diego and Jon Gray (1-4, 7.09 ERA) for Colorado. Ross comes in off back-to-back starts, allowing just two runs (one earned) and eight hits while registering 15 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings. He settled for a no-decision at Arizona on Friday, despite striking out 10 while keeping the Diamondbacks hitless for 7 2/3 innings before yielding a run-scoring double and exiting. The bad news here for San Diego is that Ross owns a poor 1-5 record and 3.54 ERA in 12 career appearances against Colorado. In stark contrast to Ross, Gray has been hit hard in each of his last three starts, going 0-3 while surrendering 19 runs (18 ERs) on 26 hits over 15 2/3 innings (10.34 ERA). His latest 'disaster' came on Friday, when he yielded seven runs - six earned - on eight hits and three walks in five frames against the Chicago Cubs. A bright spot is that Gray is 5-3 with a 2.88 ERA in 12 starts versus San Diego. The pick: Colorado is historically an outstanding home team but has opened the 2018 season at 4-7. Expect that to change and while San Diego is 6-6 so far on the road this season, considering that the Padres were 28-53 on the road last season, after going 29-52 the season before, we surely don't expect San Diego to be a .500 road team in 2018. I noted Ross' poor record against Colorado above and will add here that all five of his career losses against the Rockies have come at Coors Field. Meanwhile, Gray's only complete game of his career (a shutout!), has come against the Padres. Make Colorado an 8* play. |
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04-24-18 | Spurs v. Warriors UNDER 205 | Top | 91-99 | Win | 100 | 22 h 22 m | Show |
The set-up: LaMarcus Aldridge has been the Spurs' lone consistent scorer this series(actually, this season) and he again led the way for San Antonio with 22 points and 10 rebounds in Sunday's Game 4. However, the team's spark was provided by Manu Ginobili, the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer. Ginobili had scored a total of just 19 points in the first three games of the series, as the Spurs fell behind 0-3. However, he scored 16 points in 25 minutes on Sunday, as the Spurs proved they had too much pride to get swept on their homecourt by the Golden State Warriors for the second straight season, earning a 103-90 win in Game 4. San Antonio went 15-of-28 from three-point range in Game 4, while the Warriors shot 37.8% from the floor, including just 7-of-28 on threes. San Antonio: The Spurs will be operating without head coach Gregg Popovich for the third straight game following the death of his wife, as interim head coach Ettore Messina takes over. Aldridge's 22 & 10 was his third straight double-double in the series. San Antonio never trailed on Sunday, this after the Spurs having fallen behind by at least 19 points in each of the first three games of the series. Ginobili and PG Tony Parker set an NBA record on Sunday with their 132nd playoff win as teammates. This marks Game No. 133 but will be it be their last? Golden State: Klay Thompson shot 63.3 percent from the floor and 65 percent from three-point range while averaging 25.7 points in the first three games of the series but slumped to 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting in Game 4. The Warriors committed seven of their 18 turnovers in the first quarter, setting the tone for a sloppy performance. Kevin Durant is averaging 29 points and 9.3 rebounds in the series, while Draymond Green is shooting just 33.3 percent from the floor in the series. The Warriors are not really "the Warriors," without Curry. The Warriors know they got a break drawing the Leonard-less Spurs in the opening round and I can't imagine Golden State will miss a chance to close out the series right here. However, during the regular season, Golden State lost 12 times, after losing just NINE times in making the NBA Finals in each of the last three years (won two NBA titles). What's more, Golden State was a money-burning 16-24-1 ATS at home during the regular season. Sure, the Warriors won and covered Games 1 and 2 at home in this series but I'd prefer to concentrate on the over/under in this contest, as the the Warriors have held the Spurs to just 100.3 PPG in the series, so far. OK, San Antonio went 15 of 28 (53.6 percent) in Game 4 from three-point range but that's after connecting on a combined 20 of 83 (24.1 percent) on three-pointers in the first three games of the series. The Under is a 10* play. |
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04-24-18 | Diamondbacks v. Phillies -104 | Top | 8-4 | Loss | -104 | 19 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up:The Philadelphia Phillies last produced a winning season back in 2011 and over the previous five years, have averaged just 69.2 wins per season. However, here in 2018, the Phillies have raced off to a 14-7 mark, including the team's best home start since 1964 in going 9-1. Not to be outdone, the Arizona Diamondbacks' 15-6 mark matches their best 21-game start in franchise history. Winners of four in a row and 13 of 16 overall, the Phillies go for their eighth straight win at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday when they play the opener of a three-game set against the Diamondbacks. Philadelphia recorded its first four-game sweep of Pennsylvania rival Pittsburgh since 1994 when the Phillies outlasted the Pirates 3-2 (11 inn.) on Sunday. Once again, not to be outdone, the Diamondbacks became the first National League team since San Francisco (2003) to win their first seven series of a season with Sunday's 4-2 home victory over the Padres. The pitching matchup: Arizona will send lefty Robbie Ray (2-0, 4.98 ERA) to the mound, while Philadelphia will counter with Vince Velasquez (1-2, 3.80 ERA). Ray is coming off his second straight no-decision on Wednesday, despite allowing just two runs and striking out nine in six innings versus San Francisco (D'backs lost 4-3 in 10 innings). Ray has been reached for five HRs and has walked 14 in 21 2/3 innings through four starts (Arizona is 3-1)..He owns a 2-1 mark and 4.56 ERA in four career outings versus Philadelphia. Velasquez opened 2018 by allowing seven runs (four earned) in just 2 2/3 innings of a 15-2 loss in Atlanta on March 31. However. he has responded with three straight quality starts, although his last outing resulted in a 7-3 loss at Atlanta (again!) on Wednesday. Note that he only allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings in that one. He has thrown six or more innings in each of his last three starts, after lasting that long only five times over the entire 2017 season (starts). Velasquez has not allowed an earned run and has 11 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings over three career appearances (just one start) against Arizona. The pick: It should not be ignored that Arizona has enjoyed success in Philadelphia, winning seven straight contests by a combined score of 37-14. However, let's also not ignore that this year's Philly team is a "horse of a different color!" Philadelphia starting pitchers have permitted three runs or fewer in each of their last 12 outings, with Velasquez accounting for three of them. Lastly, there is the Phillies' 9-1 home record here in 2018, where they've outscored the opposition by an average of 6.20-to-2.10 RPG. Make Philly a 10* play. |
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04-24-18 | Bucks +3.5 v. Celtics | Top | 87-92 | Loss | -116 | 19 h 53 m | Show |
The set-up: The Celtics 'held serve' at Boston in Games 1 and 2, with the Bucks' returning the favor in Games 3 and 4 at Milwaukee. The two teams will both battle history Tuesday night at TD Garden in Game 5. The Bucks are looking for their first series victory since 2001 but have never won a series after trailing 0-2, going 0-17 in such situations. Meanwhile, the Celtics have never lost a series they led 2-0, winning all 35 times going into their current situation. League history tells us that teams are 19-274 all-time when trailing a series 0-2, including the Portland Trail Blazers going out in four straight against the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2018 playoffs (the Spurs, T-wolves and Bucks can add to that sorry history by failing to win their respective series this postseason). Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo is enjoying his time in the spotlight and his reputation for being a clutch player, which was evidenced when he tipped in the winning basket with 5.1 seconds left in Game 4 to give the Bucks a series-tying 104-102 victory. Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists through four games and small forward Khris Middleton has been the second half of Milwaukee's "dynamic duo," averaging 25.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Jabari Parker, the 2014 draft's overall No. 2 pick, came up big in the back-to-back victories by averaging 16.5 points, six rebounds, two blocked shots and 1.5 steals, after averaging one point and three rebounds with no blocks or steals in the first two games. The Bucks set a franchise record with 14 blocks in Game 4, with 21-year-old backup C Thon Maker swatting away five shots for the second straight game. Boston: Shooting guard Jaylen Brown continues to excel while picking up the scoring slack in Kyrie Irving's absence. He had 34 points, eight rebounds and three steals in Game 4, his second 30-point effort of the series (he's averaging a team-high 23.8 points in the series). Point guard Terry Rozier scored 23 points in each of Boston's two home wins came back to earth by averaging 9.5 points on 5-of-19 shooting in the two losses in Milwaukee. Marcus Smart (thumb) is eyeing a return for Game 6 if he gets cleared for contact. Boston returns home after shooting 41.4% and 40.0% in the two losses in Milwaukee. The pick: Is it really as simple as coming home for Boston to regain its mojo? Can the Bucks reverse their awful postseason history while in the process, end Boston's perfect record of going 35-0 in series in which the Celtics have gone up 2-0? The winner of this game can't take the series tonight but the winner will put itself in prime to position to win. Antetokounmpo is the series' best player plus I believe Milwaukee is the better team with Irving sidelined for Boston. Make the Bucks an 8* play. |
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04-24-18 | Twins v. Yankees -128 | Top | 3-8 | Win | 100 | 18 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 2018 New York Yankees were expected to be the second coming of the legendary 1927 Yanks but New York found itself a modest 9-9 before ripping off three wins in the last three games. New York's offense is beginning to flex its muscle, as four players homered and every starter scored at least one time for the Yankees in a 14-1 win in the series opener vs. the Twins on Monday (Yanks have outscored opponents 28-3 during its three-game run). Last night's blowout was Minnesota's fourth straight defeat. The now 8-9 Twins are below .500 for the second time this season and during the skid, are getting outscored 40-15 while pitching to a 10.43 ERA. The pitching matchup: The Twins will look to end their skid with Jose Berrios (2-1, 1.63 ERA) taking the mound up against the Yankees' CC Sabathia (0-0, 2.70 ERA). Berrios is unscored upon in three of his first four starts of 2018, after limiting Cleveland to three hits over seven scoreless innings on Wednesday. He has 29 strikeouts against one walk (he's faced 99 batters this season) and opponents are hitting .155 against him. Berrios is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts against New York but he was reached for three runs on five hits and four walks in just 3 1/3 innings in his only prior outing at Yankee Stadium. Sabathia returned from an early stint on the disabled list Thursday at home against Toronto and gave up two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings. He has completed five innings just once in his first three outings this season, while throwing an average of just 71 pitches. The 37-year-old defeated the Twins with six solid innings in their lone encounter last season and is 19-9 with a 3.16 ERA in 38 career starts against them. The pick: Berrios won14 games last season but his start in 2018 seems to me like a guy pitching over his head. Not so for the veteran Sabathia, who is coming off a 2017 season in which his plus-$1163 moneyline mark (NYY were 19-8 in his 27 starts) was the fourth-best among all starters last season. If CC was to get the win here, the Twins would be the third team he has at least 20 career wins against (also the Tigers and Royals). Why shouldn't we expect him to get the win? The veteran lefty is 12-2 with a 2.48 ERA in his last 17 starts against the Twins since the start of the 2007 season and 7-1 in 11 starts against them as a Yankees pitcher. Make the Yankees an 8* play. |
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04-23-18 | Rockets v. Wolves +6 | Top | 119-100 | Loss | -110 | 33 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The Houston Rockets owned the NBA's best record at 65-17 during teh regular season and guard James Harden is likely to take home his first MVP trophy this season. He is the best player on the team with the best record in the league but he is not the whole team. The Rockets proved that in Game 2 of their series with Minnesota, as despite Harden going 2-of-18 from the floor in Game 2, Houston still managed to post a 102-82 win. Meanwhile, Minnesota clinched its first playoff berth in 14 years with a win against Denver in the regular-season finale but the T-wolves failed to get their offense going in tteh first two games of this series. In particular, All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns needed to get more involved, as he had totaled just 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting in the first two games, after averaging 21.3 PPG during the regular season. Minnesota's first home playoff game since 2004 gave the Timberwolves all the juice they needed to win Game 3 and get back into their first-round Western Conference series against the top-seeded Rockets. Minnesota shot 50 percent from the floor, 55.6 percent from three-point range (15 of 27) and handed out 29 assists against seven turnovers in Game 3 while rolling to a 121-105 win. Karl-Anthony Towns enjoyed his best game of the series with 18 points and 16 rebounds plus the team's best player, Jimmy Butler, scored 28 points after averaging 12.0 in the first two games. Harden scored 29 points in Game 3 to bounce back from that 2-of-18 shooting effort in Game 2 but the Rockets head to Game 4 shooting just 31.5% from three-point range. Houston: Yes, Harden bounced back in Game 3 but Eric Gordon continued to struggle. Gordon averaged 18.0 PPG during the regular season, is averaging just 10.3 PPG in the postseason on 28.2 percent shooting and is 6-of-26 from 3-point range (26.1%). The Rockets have noted that they now need to make an adjustment. Houston wants to get back to its defensive approach and limit Minnesota as it did in the first two games of the series. The Timberwolves averaged 91.5 points per game in the first two games and shot just 38.8 percent from the floor in Game 2. "We knew that was going to be a lot more comfortable coming home," Paul said. "They make a lot more 3s tonight, 15 for 27, and we got to be better defensively. We were just opening up the lane and letting Teague drive and all the other guys, so we know we got to be better." Minnesota: Butler and Towns finally came through but again, the team shot 50 percent, including 15 of 27 on threes. Starting PG Teague also had his best effort of the series in Game 3, scoring 23 points and handing out eight assists. Teague is averaging 15.3 PPG in the series and his backup, Derrick Rose, is averaging 14.0 PPG on 48.7% shooting after averaging a modest 5.8 PPG in nine games with Minnesota in nine games at the end of the regular season. The pick: Only the Warriors scored more points during the regular season than the Rockets' 112.4 PPG. However, Houston has scored 104, 102 and 105 points in the first three games of this series (that's just 103.7 PPG, almost 10 point less than the team's regular season average). Towns not only got more involved on the offensive end (his lack of shots had been a topic all series), as he engaged defenders down low. At the other end of the court, the Timberwolves' defensive effort became contagious team-wide with power forward Taj Gibson defending James Harden one-on-one, resulting in a poor shot attempt. Minnesota has been able to harass Houston into poor shooting from behind the arc and if that continues, this series will be tied at two apiece. That's my bet. Make Minnesota a 10* play. |
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04-23-18 | A's -132 v. Rangers | Top | 9-4 | Win | 100 | 20 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: The Oakland Athletics begin a nine-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday. The Athletics head to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex having won six of their last seven games, after Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Red Sox. That followed Sean Manaea's Saturday no-hitter in which the A's won 3-0. Khris Davis continued his strong performance at the plate on Sunday, delivering an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run homer in the eighth to give him hits in 10 of his last 11 games. Posting back-to-back victories over the best team in the major leagues has to give Oakland (now 11-11), some confidence as the A's begin their nine-game road trip. Texas halted its three-game slide on Sunday with a 7-4 win over Seattle in which Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in two runs apiece. The victory also ended a six-game skid at home for the Rangers, who have not seen much go right through their first 23 games of the season (Texas checks in at 8-15, already eight games back of the first-place Astros in the AL West). The pitching matchup: Oakland will send Trevor Cahill (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound, while Texas will counter with lefty Matt Moore (1-3, 5.59 ERA). Cahill's 2018 debut debut came just this past Tuesday, when he picked up a victory over the Chicago White Sox after striking out eight and scattering five hits over seven scoreless innings. Cahill began the 2018 season with Triple-A Nashville after signing a one-year contract in March. He has enjoyed success against Texas in his career, going 10-4 with a 2.69 ERA in 17 career starts. His 10 victories are his most versus any opponent. Moore is coming off the best of his four starts this season, a win at Tampa Bay on Tuesday in which he allowed an unearned run and five hits over seven innings. Signing Moore off last season's horrific year was a head-scratcher. He was 6-15 (5.52 ERA) with the Giants and his minus-$1223 moneyline mark (Giants were 10-21 in his starts), was among the worst of all starters. He's had big issues at home in the early going, surrendering 13 runs (12 earned) on 19 hits and seven walks over 12 1/3 in three starts (8.76 ERA), all losses. The pick: Cahill looked sharp in his 2018 debut plus has that excellent career mark against the Rangers, so why not take the A's? After all, not only has Moore struggled badly in his first three home starts for his latest team but in five career starts against Oakland, he is 1-2 with a horrid 7.07 ERA. Want more? Texas is 3-10 at home to open 2018, allowing 6.38 RPG! Make Oakland a 10* play. |
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04-23-18 | Bruins v. Maple Leafs +110 | Top | 1-3 | Win | 110 | 19 h 60 m | Show |
The set-up: The Boston Bruins blew a chance at capturing the East's No. 1 seed when they lost a home contest to the Panthers in the team's final game of the regular season. However, The Bruins regrouped quickly and won the first two games of their series with the Maple Leafs, 5-1 and 7-3. The series shifted to Toronto for Game 3, where the Maple Leafs were able to reverse the momentum of the series with a 4-2 home win on Monday night. Toronto had a chance to level the best-of-seven series in Game 4 on Thursday night but come to Boston for Saturday's Game 5 lamenting a missed opportunity in Thursday's 3-1 setback, despite the Bruins playing without the team's top-line center, Patrice Bergeron (he was a late-scratch with an upper body injury). the Bruins prevailed to gi up 3-1. However, one night after Pittsburgh and Nashville both failed to win close-out games on home ice, the Boston Bruins suffered a similar fate in their bid to KO the Toronto Maple Leafs in their Eastern Conference first-round series, The Maple Leafs scored a pair of early goals and rode a superb 42-save performance by Frederik Andersen to stave off elimination with a 4-3 victory. The Bruins get another chance to send the Maple Leafs packing when they take a 3-2 series lead into Monday's Game 6 at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. Boston: Goaltender Tuukka Rask has guided Boston to the Stanley Cup Final (2013) and won a Vezina Trophy but he lasted only nine shots and was yanked midway through the second period Saturday after giving up four goals to put his team in a catch-up situation. That was the bad news but there was some good news, as center Patrice Bergeron was back in the lineup Saturday after sitting out Game 4. That said, Boston's top line, which amassed 20 points in the first two games, was held off the scoresheet. Toronto: Speaking of No. 1 units, there was speculation as to whether head coach Mike Babcock would switch Mitch Marner to Auston Matthews' line to ignite a spark. However, Babcock elevated Connor Brown alongside Matthews, moved William Nylander to a newly formed unit with Kadri and Andreas Johnsson, and put Kasperi Kapanen with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk. Brown and Johnsson each scored their first career playoff goals and van Riemsdyk also converted. "I’m not sure we’re going to have the same lineup," Babcock said Sunday. "With last change at home, might make that different. I don’t know for sure." The pick: The last time Original Six rivals Boston and Toronto met in the postseason, the Bruins needed a miraculous comeback in the final minutes of Game 7 before ousting the Maple Leafs in overtime. Five years later, Toronto is in position of needing a miracle comeback of its own, trailing this best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Saturday's Game 5 at Boston's TD Garden. The Maple Leafs can look to the past for inspiration, as they also trailed the series 3-1 in 2013, before blowing a two-goal lead in the final 90 seconds of Game 7! I took the Maple Leafs in Game 5, with Toronto using a quick early scoring burst to hold on due to a superb effort from Frederik Andersen (note: Andersen became the fifth netminder in franchise history to make at least 40 saves for a win in an elimination game). Make Toronto a 10* play here in Game 6, as this series is headed back to Boston for a Game 7. |
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04-22-18 | Nationals v. Dodgers -170 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 13 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The Los Angeles Dodgers have won five straight NL West titles and last season took Houston to a Game 7 in the World Series before losing. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have won four of the last six NL East titles, winning between between 95 and 98 games in those four division-winning seasons. The two teams entered the 2018 season as the favorites to win the National League pennant. However, April hasn't exactly followed the script for either club. The Nats opened their three-game weekend series with the Dodgers at 9-10 and the Dodgers checked in at 8-9. Washington won 5-2 on Friday, while LA rebounded with a 4-0 win last night.The two NL 'heavyweights' will square off tonight on ESPN in the rubber match of their three-game series, with the winner beginning the new week on Monday at .500 and the loser at two games under that mark. The Dodgers have won five of their last six contests overall, while the Nats are 3-2 on their nine-game road trip (Washington heads to San Francisco for three games beginning Monday). The pitching matchup: Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) takes the mound for Washington and goes up against LA left-hander Alex Wood (0-2, 3.91 ERA). Hellickson made his Nationals debut on Monday against the New York Mets but did not factor in the decision after giving up two runs over 4 2/3 innings. He was signed to a minor-league contract in March after pitching for both Baltimore and Philadelphia last season. Hellickson is 69-69 (4.12 ERA) as he begins his 9th big-league season and 0-1 with a 6.88 ERA in four career starts versus the Dodgers. Wood bounced back from a rocky outing against Oakland by giving up just one unearned run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings versus San Diego this past Tuesday. He is still is seeking his first victory of 2018 despite limiting batters to a .186 average and recording 22 strikeouts against one walk. Wood has gone 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 career starts against Washington, including six scoreless innings at Nationals Park on Sept. 15. The pick: As far as primetime games before a national audience go, it is hard to do much better than the two best teams in baseball over the last six years. Los Angeles began the 2018 season with only four victories for its worst 13-game start in 24 years behind a mostly lethargic offense. However, the bats have 'woken up' with LA winning five of six. The Dodgers were a MLB-best 57-24 at Dodger Stadium in 2017 but are just 5-6 at home to open 2018. Look for a "return to form" shortly for LA and the Dodgers begin just that by taking this final game of their weekend series with the Nats. After all, the Nationals are only 7-13 against the Dodgers since the start of the 2015 season and Jeremy Hellickson isn't exactly a "stopper!" Make the Dodgers an 8* play. |
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04-22-18 | Raptors v. Wizards UNDER 219 | Top | 98-106 | Win | 100 | 20 h 33 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors beat the Wizards in Game 1 by eight points, as the dynamic backcourt duo of DeRozan and Lowry totaled a modest 28 points. PF Ibaka (23 & 12) was the star, while Wight (18) and Miles (12) played big roles off the bench. However, in Game 2's 130-119 win, DeRzoan (team's leading scorer at 23.0 PPG) exploded for 37 points on 14-of-23 shooting.Center Valanciunas accounted for a double-double (19 & 14), while Miles (18) and Wright (11) again played well off the bench. The Wizards fell behind early in Game 1 and were down 44-27 at the end of the first quarter in Game 2. "We need a better start," Washington head coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "All five guys need to lock in defensively. They've gotten free for a lot of jump shots, and give them credit, they made them. ... But we've got to be a little better. We've got to have a better start. It's not the only thing, but we've got to start there and then go from there." The Wizards decided to get physical with the Raptors in Game 3 and it worked, giving Washington a chance to even its best-of-seven first-round series when the teams meet for Game 4 in the nation's capital on Sunday. In a game that featured five technical fouls and plenty of chippy action, the eighth-seeded Wizards routed the top-seeded Raptors 122-103 on Friday to pull within 2-1 in the series. Toronto: "They came out and punched us," Toronto head coach Dwane Casey - whose team averaged 122 points in two victories at home to start the series - told reporters. "And we allowed them to." The top-seeded Raptors received 23 points from DeMar DeRozan had 23 points and Lowry 19 (plus eight assists) but the team's backcourt duo also combined for eight of Toronto's 18 turnovers. A bigger issue was Toronto's vaunted bench struggled to shoot just 10-for-29 (34.5%) with none of the seven reserves scoring in double figures. That unit is usually led by backup guard Fred VanVleet,but he missed his second game in the series due to a bruised shoulder and is considered day-to-day. Washington: John Wall and Bradley Beal scored 28 points apiece for Washington, which shot 55.3 percent overall and scored at least 30 points in each of the first three quarters. Beal had averaged 28.8 points in four meetings with the Raptors during the regular season but had produced a total of just 28 through the first two games of the series before breaking out Friday. Wall added 14 assists in the rout and he is averaging 26.7 points, 12.7 assists and 2.7 steals in the series. Center Marcin Gortat had 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting in Game 3, after being held scoreless in 12 minutes of Game 2. Reserve PF Mike Scott is 18-of-24 from the floor in the series (including 6-of-7 from three-point range), while averaging 15.3 PPG (he averaged 8.8 PPG in the regular season). The pick: The Raptors seemed comfortable playing the role of the "Big Dog" in Games 1 and 2 but that all changed Friday night, as the Wizards dominated Game 3. If that contest was a "must win" for Washington, then so is this one, as a loss means returning to Toronto (where the Raptors are 36-7 SU this season) to face an elimination game. The winner of each of the last two games has scored 130 and 122 points, with the two finals averaging 237.0 PPG. No way this game will be played with that kind of pace. Make the Under a 10* play. |
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04-22-18 | Warriors v. Spurs +7 | Top | 90-103 | Win | 100 | 17 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: The Golden State Warriors struggled down the stretch of the regular season due to injuries, losing 10 of their final 17 games. However, Golden State got a break in drawing the Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs in the first round. The Warriors have won and covered each of the first three games of this best-of-seven series and on Sunday, can sweep the San Antonio Spurs out of the postseason for the second straight year. The Warriors knocked the Spurs out in the Western Conference finals last spring and are trying to do the same two rounds earlier this time around Sunday afternoon at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The teams could not have had a more contrasting series over the first three games, as for everything the Spurs have done wrong, Golden State has done right. It's been a totally dominating performance so far for the defending NBA champions. Golden State: The Warriors are without Stephen Curry (he is out rehabbing a knee injury) plus they did see Kevin Durant and Shaun Livingston exit late in Game 3 after rolling ankles, although neither injury is considered serious. "We want to not come back, limit our road travel and expand our time to rest so we can get our best guys healthy, like Steph (Curry), KD and Shaun," shooting guard Klay Thompson told reporters. "That’s our motivation." The Warriors have limited San Antonio to an average of 96.7 points in the series and the defensive effort of All-Star forward Draymond Green is the key. "He's been fantastic, defensively," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Green. "He’s been all over the place. This is a team that you have to disrupt. They're excellent with their execution ... and Draymond is as good as anybody I’ve ever seen in terms of recognizing a play and blowing it up." Meanwhile, KD (27.3 PPG) and Thompson (25.7 PPG on 63.3% shooting, including 65% from beyond the arc), are handling the offensive end of the court. San Antonio: LaMarcus Aldridge is being asked to carry the team in the continued absence of Kawhi Leonard, who is away from the team while rehabbing a quad injury (does anyone really know what's up?). Aldridge turned in his second straight double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in Game 3. Veteran PG Tony Parker came off the bench and enjoyed his best game of the series with 16 points in 17 minutes on Thursday, while fellow PG Patty Mills is stepping up as well, averaging 17.5 points in the last two games after scoring just five points in Game 1. The pick: "Our guys focused in and we came in and we played," said Aldridge after Game 3. "It's been the same thing. We just aren't making shots that are there" He's right about that, as the Spurs are shooting a woeful 24.1% on threes through the first three games. However, this is a prideful bunch and I expect a great effort from the Spurs in this one. Upset alert? Just maybe but let's take the points and make San Antonio an 8* play. |
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04-22-18 | Penguins -147 v. Flyers | Top | 8-5 | Win | 100 | 16 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: The Philadelphia Flyers lost Games 3 and 4 at home to the Penguins to fall behind 3-1 in this best-of-seven series. They limped back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 but the Flyers extended their Eastern Conference first-round series by defeating the Penguins in Pittsburgh for the second time in three games. Center and Selke Trophy finalist Sean Couturier, who returned from a one-game absence due to a lower-body injury, scored the go-ahead goal with 1:15 remaining in the third period of Friday's 3-2 win. The Flyers now find themselves trailing 3-2 in the series, and once again look to stave off elimination in Game 6 on Sunday afternoon. Pittsburgh: Superstar captain Sidney Crosby was held reasonably in check with one assist and a minus-2 rating on Friday. Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist will be "game-time decisions" in Game 6, per head coach Mike Sullivan, with the former laboring after Jori Lehtera fell on his left leg in the first period while the latter has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. Malkin returned to the second period and logged 20:22 of playing time. Malkin did not practice, and coach Mike Sullivan did not comment on his status, saying all players are game-time decisions. Malkin was the Penguins' leading scorer in the regular season () and he has three goals and five points in the series. Derick Brassard likely would be elevated from the third line to second should the former Hart Trophy recipient's injury be too much after the adrenaline wears off. "(Brassard) is an important player for us, regardless of who's in the lineup. He's a good player. I thought (Friday) night was his best performance as a Penguin," Sullivan said of Brassard, who notched an assist in Game 5 and has three points (one goal, two assists) in the series. Philadelphia: Couturier had the game-winner on Friday but Valtteri Filppula turned in his most impressive performance as a member of the Flyers in Game 5, netting a short-handed goal to forge a tie late in the second period while setting up two others after failing to dent the scoresheet in his nine previous outings. "Fil's just a really good, two-way veteran. Very sound up and down the middle of the rink," Michal Neuvirth, a surprise starter in Game 5, turned aside 30 shots - including a diving stop on Crosby with 50 seconds remaining in the third period - to increase his postseason save percentage to a sterling .930 in 15 career tilts. The pick: Neuvirth seems to be Philly's likely starter in net but his "opposite" number will be Pittsburgh's Matt Murray, who sports a sizzling 9-1 record in his career in the next game after a postseason loss. Let's also not ignore what the Pens have done in four games this season on Philly's home ice. Pittsburgh has posted lopsided wins by the scores of 5-1, 5-2, 5-1 and 5-0 , with the latter two coming in Game 3 and 4 of this series. Penguins superstar captain Sidney Crosby has tuned out Flyers fans and the team itself in Philadelphia, erupting for 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and a plus-8 rating in four games this season at Wells Fargo Center. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play. |
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04-22-18 | Pirates v. Phillies -128 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 6 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The Pittsburgh Pirates earned wild card bids in three consecutive years from 2013-2015, while averaging 93.3 wins per season.. However, the Pirates lost all three of those winner-take-all matchups. The 2016 (78 wins) and 2017 (75) seasons saw thew Pirates play sub-.500 baseball and 2018 began with few expectations for the franchise. However, the Pirates surprised most (all?) observers by opening with wins in 11 of their first 15 games. The team's fast start has 'hit a wall' as of late, as Pittsburgh's offense has been in a 'deep freeze.' Pittsburgh has lost five of its last six and the Pirates have manged to score a total of only five runs in the team's five losses. That includes them totaling just three runs in dropping the first three contests of their four-game series with the Phillies. The 13-7 Phillies improved to 8-1 at home with Saturday's 6-2 triumph, moving six games over .500 behind a thriving pitching staff (team ERA of 3.14 ranks 5th) and a young offense led by Rhys Hoskins (.328 / 4 HRs / 19 RBI). Hoskins homered and drove in four runs on Saturday. The pitching matchup: The Pirates hand the ball to Trevor Williams (3-1, 1.93 ERA), while the Phillies will try to polish off the sweep behind Nick Pivetta (1-0, 2.49 ERA). Williams has pitched very well, losing for the first time in 2018 his last time out. He only allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings against the Colorado Rockies but took the hard-luck 2-0 setback. The 25-year-old has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any of his four 2018 outings. Williams lost his only start against Philadelphia last season, surrendering three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Pivetta is rolling along as well, allowing two or less runs in each of his last three starts. He has not factored in the decision in either of his last two starts, despite holding the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves to a total of three runs in 12 innings and owns 21 strikeouts with just two walks in 21 2/3 total innings on the season. Pivetta is making his first career start against the Phillies. The pick: Pittsburgh's fast start seems to be quickly fading into the rear-view mirror, while the Phillies' first-year manager Gabe Kapler is riding good pitching and timely that is adding up to more confidence for his young team. Kapler is "working the numbers hard," trying to get playing time spread equally and the players are said to be feeling good about where they are at in 2018. No reason to buck the Philies here, as they are 8-1 at home, outscoring opponents on average, 6.56-to-2.11 RPG. Surely not with a Pittsburgh team which has scored just three times in losing the first three games of this series, while accumulating only 16 hits so far (.168 team BA!). Make Philadelphia a 10* play. |
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04-21-18 | Giants v. Angels -186 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 14 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The San Francisco Giants opened their three-game IL series with the Angels by taking Friday night's game 8-1. Jeff Samardzija came off the disabled list and tossed five scoreless innings in Friday’s 8-1 victory, but the real story was San Francisco's sudden power surge. The Giants had scored a total of only six runs over their previous four games (1-3) but Mac Williamson hit a two-run HR in his season debut on Friday plus Nick Hundley and Andrew McCutchen each homered .They provided a much-needed boost for the Giants’ offense, which entered the game hitting .154 (19-for-123) with runners in scoring position. The Angels have lost four in a row following a seven-game winning streak and need more production from right fielder Kole Calhoun, who was dropped to eighth in the order Friday and is hitting .192 after going hitless in three at-bats. Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani (.342 / 3 HRs / 11 RBI) had two singles while batting sixth and hopes to take the mound on Monday after leaving his last outing early with a blister on his right middle finger. The pitching matchup: The Giants will send lefty Derek Holland (0-2, 4.60 ERA) to the mound while the Angels counter with Garrett Richards (2-0, 3.60 ERA). Holland is making his fourth start for the Giants (team is 0-3) and he's seeking his first win with his latest team, after allowing three runs over 4 2/3 innings against San Diego last Saturday in a 5-4 team loss (he took a no-decision). The 31-year-old has appeared in more games against the Angels than any other team over his career, going 10-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 28 games (25 starts). Richards struggled with his control again last Saturday against Kansas City but earned the win after giving up one run on one hit over five-plus innings. The injury-plagued 29-year-old has walked at least three batters in each of his first four starts while striking out 24 across 20 innings (Angels are 3-1 in his 2018 starts). Richards has never faced the Giants but is 4-2 with a 1.42 ERA in 18 career interleague games (11 starts) and has limited Austin Jackson to one hit in 15 at-bats. The pick: San Francisco is 7-2 this season when scoring first and 1-9 in games their opponent scores first. If LA can score first....Sure, the Angels have been outscored 35-4 during their four-game losing streak but the team was off to a 13-3 prior to that. The bottom line here is that Holland has been less that impressive in his first three starts and Richards will face a SF lineup that comes in averaging only 3.11 RPG, ranking 29th of 30 MLB teams. Make the LAA a 6* play. |
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04-21-18 | Maple Leafs +1.5 v. Bruins | Top | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 13 h 37 m | Show |
The set-up: The Boston Bruins blew a chance at capturing the East's No. 1 seed when they lost a home contest to the Panthers in the team's final game of the regular season. However, The Bruins regrouped quickly and won the first two games of their series with the Maple Leafs, 5-1 and 7-3. The series shifted to Toronto for Game 3, where the Maple Leafs were able to reverse the momentum of the series with a 4-2 home win on Monday night. Toronto had a chance to level the best-of-seven series in Game 4 on Thursday night but come to Boston for Saturday's Game 5 lamenting a missed opportunity in Thursday's 3-1 setback, despite the Bruins playing without the team's top-line center, Patrice Bergeron (he was a late-scratch with an upper body injury). Toronto: The Maple Leafs will receive a boost with the return of center Nazem Kadri, a 32-goal scorer during the regular season who received a three-game suspension for a dangerous hit on Boston's Tommy Wingels in the series opener. Kadri's return will mean a demotion for Tomas Plekanec, who scored the team's only goal Thursday (but it was his first since he was acquired from Montreal). Auston Matthews had 63 points in 62 regular season games this year but has just one goal in teh series, being held off the scoresheet in three of the four games. The team's leading goal score, van Riensdyk (36), has a modest two goals in the series, his only points. Boston: Bergeron, who is up for his fifth Selke Trophy as the game's best defensive forward, collected five assists in the first two games but with Riley Nash taking his place, Brad Marchand scored a goal and David Pastrnak continued his brilliant play with two assists to bump his series point total up to 11. Bergeron skated on his own Friday, which was called a "positive" by head coach Bruce Cassidy, who said he will make a decision on the four-time Selke Trophy winner's status at Saturday's morning skate. Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been overshadowed by the offensive exploits through much of the series but he answered the call in Game 4 by turning aside 31 of 32 shots in what Marchand termed a "phenomenal game. He’s one of the best goalies in the world and he gives us an opportunity to win every night.” The pick: The last time Original Six rivals Boston and Toronto met in the postseason, the Bruins needed a miraculous comeback in the final minutes of Game 7 before ousting the Maple Leafs in overtime. Five years later, Toronto is in position of needing a miracle comeback of its own, trailing this best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Saturday's Game 5 at Boston's TD Garden. The Maple Leafs can look to the past for inspiration, as they also trailed the series 3-1 in 2013, before blowing a two-goal lead in the final 90 seconds of Game 7! Take the 1 1/2 goals and make Toronto an 8* play. |
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04-21-18 | Mariners -157 v. Rangers | Top | 9-7 | Win | 100 | 13 h 37 m | Show |
The set-up: The Seattle Mariners scored four runs in the ninth inning last night to win the series-opener over the Texas Rangers, 6-2. The team's ninth-inning splurge was timely, considering Seattle had scored just seven runs over its previous previous five games. Texas knows more than a little about a lack of scoring too, as the Rangers have scored two or fewer runs nine times this season in opening 7-14. Seattle sits at 10-8 after Friday's win The pitching matchup: Seattle lefty James Paxton (1-1, 4.57 ERA) gets the nod for the Mariners and will be opposed by Bartolo Colon (0-0, 1.45 ERA), a veteran who apparently has a lot left in his 44-year-old right arm. Paxton entered the season primed for a big campaign after the oft-injured lefty put together his best season in 2017, finishing with career highs in wins, starts (24), innings (136) and strikeouts (156). He was named the AL's Pitcher of the Month in July when he won all six of his starts. Paxton picked up his first victory of the season Monday when he gave up one run and three hits over six innings. He has now given up fa modest five runs over his last three starts (2.65 ERA) after being roughed up for six runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings by Cleveland on March 31. Paxton is 2-4 with a 4.62 ERA in 10 career starts against Texas. Colon took a perfect game into the eighth inning of his last start against the Houston Astros, before allowing a double. That hit was the only one allowed by Colon in 7 2/3 innings but he charged with a run later in the inning for a no-decision in a game decided in 10 innings. Colon is making his fifth appearance (third start) for the Rangers and he has a stellar 0.70 WHIP while holding opponents to a .177 batting average. Colon has been around 'forever' and is 20-12 with a 3.84 ERA in 37 career starts against Seattle. The pick: The 44-year-old Colon flirted with a perfect game in his last outing, becoming the oldest pitcher to take a no-hitter into the eighth inning since Kansas City's Gaylord Perry at 44 years, 338 days on Aug. 18, 1983, at Baltimore. That said, it's VERY early and I am not buying into Colon having found the "fountain of youth." After all, Colon made 28 starts in 2017 (for Atlanta and Minnesota), posting a 6.48 ERA and 1.59 WHIP, while opponents batted .318 against him. In contrast, see above for a reminder of Paxton's 2017 season and remember he owns a 2.65 ERA over his last three outings. Make Seattle an 8* play. |
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04-21-18 | Rockets v. Wolves +6 | Top | 105-121 | Win | 100 | 12 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: The Houston Rockets owned the NBA's best record at 65-17 and guard James Harden is likely to take home his first MVP trophy this season. He is the best player on the team with the best record in the league but he is not the whole team. The Rockets proved that in Game 2 of their series with Minnesota, as despite Harden going 2-of-18 from the floor in Game 2, Houston still managed to post a 102-82 win. Minnesota clinched its first playoff berth in 14 years with a win against Denver in the regular-season finale but the T-wolves have failed to get their offense going in this series. In particular, All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns needs to get more involved, as he's totaled 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting in the first two games, after averaging 21.3 PPG during the regular season. Houston: The Rockets' supporting cast stepped up to help Harden on Wednesday, with Gerald Green coming off the bench for 21 points and Trevor Ariza adding 15. Fellow All Star Chris Paul added 27 points and eight assists in Game 2, after a so-so Game 1 in which he shot just 5 of 14 with 14 points. All-in-all, the Rockets only shot 36.5 percent from the floor in Game 2 and James Harden was limited to 12 points, yet Houston won by 20 after squeaking by with a three-point win in Game 1. "We haven't played very well so far," Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni told the Houston Chronicle. "It'll be crazy up there. They haven't been in the playoffs for a long time. It will be a very loud crowd. We have to do our part, play defense and take the crowd out of it. We have to be ready for all they got. Whatever they have left, we're going to get it full throttle right when we get on the floor to start the game." Minnesota: The T-wolves know all about "not playing well!" Not only has Towns been a "no-show" but the team's best all-around player, Jimmy Butler, has averaged 12.0 PPG on 41.2% shooting (averaged 22.2 PPG on 47.4% shooting in the regular season). Minnesota was actually the aggressor early in Game 2, leading after the first quarter. However, the T-wolves shot 38.8 percent from the floor for teh game. Swingman Andrew Wiggins scored 13 poinst and was one of just three players on the team to score in double figures (Butler had 11 and Nemanja Bjelica scored a team-high 16 points, after going scoreless in Game 1). The pick: Minnesota remains confident despite being in an 0-2 hole and is excited to play the franchise's first home playoff game since Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in 2004. "It feels good," Timberwolves swingman Andrew Wiggins told reporters after Friday's practice. "Houston took care of business up there and now we’ve got to do the same up here. I know the fans will be excited, the atmosphere will be crazy and the whole team, we're confident. We're ready." Minnesota was one of the league's best teams at home with a 30-11 record this year and a loss here, all but ends the series. Minnesota can draw confidence from the fact that the Rockets are shooting only 29.2 percent from three-point range in the series. The home dog 'barks' in this one. Make Minnesota a 10* play. |
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04-21-18 | 76ers v. Heat UNDER 215 | Top | 106-102 | Win | 100 | 7 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: The Houston Rockets had the best regular season of any NBA team but the Philadelphia 76ers have stolen most of the headlines "down the stretch" with the team's 16-0 run to close the regular season. The final eight games in the team's winning streak came with Philly's All Star center Joel Embiid (22.9 & 11.0 in the regular season) sidelined with an orbital fracture.The 76ers opened their first round series (with Embiid still sidelined) by routing the Heat by 27 points but their 17-game winning streak came to a crashing halt in Game 2, as the Heat won 1113-103. Embiid had posted an Instagram message before Game 2 that strongly indicated his desire to return, indicating that he was being "babied" by the team staff, and he participated in portions of practice the next two days. Still, Embiid's status for Game 3 remained 'cloudy.' "It's still moving forward," head coach Brett Brown told reporters Tuesday. "What I can say is there is a very unified effort with his representation and the people around him. With the people that did the operation, the doctors, with our medical staff, with the team, with me, the coaching staff. We're all doing this. There's a unified sort of spirit and line of communication." However, Ebiid would start Game 3 and had 23 points and seven rebounds as the 76ers routed Miami 128-108. As the teams get set to meet again at AmericanAirlines Arena on Saturday, the Heat will need to corral Embiid but Miami also needs to get its center, Hassan Whiteside, more involved. Philadelphia: Naturally, Embiid was Game 3's biggest storyline, as he adjusted to wearing a mask to protect the healing eye bone and had an excellent game under the circumstances (he had missed 10 consecutive contests). However, let's not ignore rookie PG Ben Simmons and second-year PF Dario Saric. Saric led Philly with 30 points in Game 3 and is averaging 21.3 & 7.0 in the series. As for Simmons, he's averaging 20.0-10.0-9.7 in his first three career playoff games (does he think he's Magic?). Philly's depth is impressive, led by SG Belinelli (20.7) and PF Ilysova (13.0 & 9.3). Miami: Whiteside played just 13 minutes on Thursday, in part because of foul trouble. He contributed just five points, two rebounds and one block. "I want to get more minutes," said Whiteside, who led the NBA with 3.7 blocks in 2015-2016 and with 14.1 rebounds last season. "Even with the fouls, I could've been out there. I would not have fouled out." Whiteside is averaged 14.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks during the regular season but his minutes per game were down seven minutes from last season and even more in the playoffs. Whiteside said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra "wants me to just be in a corner and set picks." Meanwhile, Spoelstra said "it's part of my job to figure out how he can get to his strengths and make an impact on defense and rebounding." Will (can?) Miami fix this? Miami was led by point guard Goran Dragic's 23 points and eight assists (his second straight 20-point game) and from reserve forward Justise Winslow scored a season-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. However, Miami's top three shooting guards -- Tyler Johnson, Dwyane Wade and Wayne Ellington -- combined for just 21 points. The pick: With Philly up 2-1 in the series, the outcome of this Game 4 will either put Philly in a commanding position (up 3-1) or a Miami win will portend a possible seven-game 'war.' The teams four regular season meetings averaged just 204 points and this pivotal Game 4 brings out the defensive side of both clubs. With the total currently right around 215, the play is an 8* on the Under. |
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04-20-18 | Nationals +132 v. Dodgers | Top | 5-2 | Win | 132 | 15 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The Los Angeles Dodgers have won five straight NL West titles and last season took Houston to a Game 7 in the World Series before losing. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have won four of the last six NL East titles, winning between between 95 and 98 games in those four division-winning seasons. The two teams entered the 2018 season as the favorites to win the National League pennant. However, April hasn't exactly followed the script for either club. The Nats open their series with the Dodgers at 9-10 and the Dodgers check in at 8-9. Both teams have started to pick up the pace in the last week and the winner of tonight's game will climb back to the .500 mark. Washington scored 29 runs while opening the season with four straight victories but then totaled just 27 runs while dropping eight of its next 10. However, the Nationals have scored at least five runs in each of their last five contests, although they missed out on a road series sweep of the NL East-leading New York Mets on Wednesday when they surrendered nine runs in the eighth inning of an 11-5 defeat. Los Angeles began the 2018 season with only four victories for its worst 13-game start in 24 years behind a mostly lethargic offense. However, the bats have been red-hot during a four-game winning streak during which the club is averaging 9.3 runs per contest. The Dodgers began their surge by ending their 11-game skid against Arizona in convincing fashion Sunday ,before outscoring San Diego 30-10 over the next three days to sweep the Padres in San Diego. The pitching matchup: It doesn't get much better than this, as Washington's Max Scherzer (3-1, 1.33 ERA) squares off against LA's Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 1.73 ERA). Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and was named the NL Player of the Week for his dominant efforts last week. He allowed just two hits while striking out 10 en route to his fifth career shutout on April 9 over the Braves (2-0). He then delivered an 11-strikeout performance against Colorado this past Saturday in which the only hit he allowed over seven innings was a two-run HR in a 6-2 victory. Scherzer is 3-4 with a 2.92 ERA against Los Angeles. Kershaw is a seven-time All-Star and two-time CY Young winner. He finally got the run support he had been lacking and earned his first victory in a 12-strikeout performance on Sunday against Arizona, giving up only a solo HR among the two hits he allowed over seven innings of a win. he's been moved up a day to fill in for the injured Rich Hill but will still be pitching on regular rest. Kershaw is 11-2 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) against Washington. The pick: These two pitchers have combined to win five of the last seven NL Cy Young awards, so a pitchers duel is expected. Washington has fared better away from home this season (6-3 while averaging 6.00 RPG, compared to an unexpected 3-7 mark at home) and after going a MLB-best 57-24 at Dodgers Stadium in 2017, LA is just 4-5 at home to open 2018. Make the Nats an 8* play. |
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04-20-18 | Avalanche v. Predators OVER 6 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 1 m | Show |
The set-up: The Nashville Predators were the No. 8 seed in the West last year but made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before falling in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Predators were the NHL's best team in the the 2017-18 regular season, going 53-18-11 for a league-high 117 points. However, the Predators had looked less than dominating against the 8th-seeded Avalanche, surrendering the first goal in each of their first three playoff contests. Yes, the Predators overcame early deficits in the first two to take a 2-0 lead but they were unable to do the same in the third.Nashville took a 3-0 lead in Game 4 of the series but the Avs wouldn't go away. That said, the Preds held on for a 3-2 win and are now one win away from advancing to this year's second round. The Avalanche went from the NHL's worst team a year ago (by a wide margin) to a team that went 43-30-9 this season, while earning the West's final wild card spot with 95 points (one more than the Blues' 94!). Colorado has not backed down this series. Potential Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon said, "We're still in it, it's not over yet. We can't win the series if we don't win Game 5." Colorado: MacKinnon scored twice to help Colorado snap a 12-game winless skid to Nashville in Colorado's 5-3 Game 3 win but he saw his five-game point streak (four goals, three assists) halted on Wednesday.in Game 4. Andrew Hammond has been confirmed to start in Game 5, after fellow goaltender Jonathan Bernier sustained a lower-body while making his eighth straight start contest in place of Semyon Varlamov, who is nursing a knee injury. "We've seen him catch lightning in a bottle before and win some hockey games. Hopefully he can do it again," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said of the 30-year-old Hammond. Bednar is referring to when Hammond took the hockey world by storm in 2014-15 when he posted a 20-1-2 mark with the Ottawa Senators Nashville: Filip Forsberg has been instrumental in Nashville's success with five points (three goals, two assists) in the series, including a highlight-reel goal and an assist in Wednesday's 3-2 win in Denver. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm set up a pair of goals in Game 4 to increase his assist total to four in as many contests. The Predators will attempt to close out the series without forward Ryan Hartman, who was suspended one game by the NHL on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Colorado's Carl Soderberg at 4:42 of the third period. Hartman likely will be replaced on the fourth line by rookie Eeli Tolvanen, who has yet to record a point in three regular-season games since being selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne turned aside 31 shots in Game 4 to give the Predators a commanding series lead heading back to Nashville, where he sports a 23-13-0 career mark in the playoffs with a 2.10 goals-against average. The pick: The Predators will take the ice having won 13 of their previous 14 games against the Avalanche plus they've won 15 of their last 17 postseason home games at Bridgestone Arena. It would be very hard to go against Nashville in this spot but understandably, the price is prohibitive. However, Nashville has scored five goals in each of its first two home games of this series and tonight will face Andrew Hammond, who has played just one game during the regular season and only 17 1/2 minutes in this series. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-20-18 | Celtics v. Bucks OVER 202.5 | Top | 92-116 | Win | 100 | 14 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The Milwaukee Bucks took the Boston Celtics to overtime in Game 1, before falling 113-107. However, Milwaukee fell behind by 11 points after the first quarter of Game 2 and went on to lose120-106. Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe ws quoted as saying he didn't know who Terry Rozier was. He sure knows now, as the unsung Rozier (in the staring lineup due to Kyrie Irving's season-ending knee injury) has torched the Bucks for 23 points in each of the first two games and has yet to commit a turnover. Meanwhile, Bledsoe is averaging just 10.5 PPG on 9-of-25 shooting while making six turnovers. Milwaukee has lost in the first round in its past seven postseason appearances, having last prevailed in 2001, when it reached the Eastern Conference finals before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers (remember Allen Iverson?). Boston: The Celtics came into this series not only missing Irving (24.4 & 5.1 APG) but also Marcus Smart (10.2-3.5-4.8), one of their best defenders. While Rozier has been the biggest surprise, second-year swingman Brown leads the team in scoring at 25.0 PPG. Five players are averaging in double digits, with Brown and Rozier being followed by Horford (20.8-8.5-4.0), Morris (19.5 & 6.0) and Tatum (11.5 & 8.5). Brown has been terrific and said after his Game 2 effort, "Ultimately, we just want to win games, so that’s the only thing that we are concerned with. We are confident as ever. Teams have been writing us off all year and we just keep proving people wrong, so that’s what we’re going to do." Power forwards Al Horford and Marcus Morris are also off to strong starts with Morris coming off the bench to do so. The pick: Forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.5-11.0-7.5) and Khris Middleton (28.0 & 6.0) have been superb in the series but haven't received much help from the supporting cast. "We got to play better," Antetokounmpo said. "We got to play with more effort. I think as a team we didn't show up (Tuesday). Hopefully we can go back home and protect our home and play better and get those two wins." A huge problem has been turnovers, with the Bucks committing 35 in the first two games. The Celtics have made them pay for those miscues, as 20 percent of Boston's scoring in the series has come off a Milwaukee turnover. The pick: Milwaukee's playoff history is surely 'ugly' (see above for a reminder) but this is ostensibly a "must win" game, as the Bucks would surely not be able to overcome n 0-3 deficit. The way the first two games have gone, I only see Milwaukee competing in a high-scoring affair. That's the bet. Make the Over an 8* play. |
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04-20-18 | Raptors +2 v. Wizards | Top | 103-122 | Loss | -108 | 12 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: The Raptors beat the Wizards in Game 1 by eight points, as the dynamic backcourt duo of DeRozan and Lowry totaled a modest 28 points. PF Ibaka (23 & 12) was the star, while Wight (18) and Miles (12) played big roles off the bench. However, in Game 2's 130-119 win, DeRzoan (team's leading scorer at 23.0 PPG) exploded for 37 points on 14-of-23 shooting.Center Valanciunas accounted for a double-double (19 & 14), while Miles (18) and Wright (11) again played well off the bench. The Raptors will try to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round Eastern Conference series when they visit the Washington Wizards on Friday. The Wizards fell behind early in Game 1 and were down 44-27 at the end of the first quarter in Game 2. "We need a better start," Washington head coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "All five guys need to lock in defensively. They've gotten free for a lot of jump shots, and give them credit, they made them. ... But we've got to be a little better. We've got to have a better start. It's not the only thing, but we've got to start there and then go from there." Toronto: DeRozan was the star in Game 2 plus Valanciunas outplayed his counterparts on Washington up front but PG Lowry also added a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists. Toronto was the East's highest scoring team during the regular season (111.7 PPG) and appears comfortable being the hunted after winning the East with a franchise-high 59 wins (only the Rockets won more games this season). Washington: PG John Wall averaged 26.0 & 12.0 APG in the first two games but fellow guard Bradley Beal (also an All Star) is off to a slow start offensively in the series. He was held to nine points on 3-of-11 shooting in Game 2 and returns home averaging 14.0 PPG while shooting 11 of 28 (39.3%) in two games. A bright spot for the Wizards was reserve Mike Scott, who had 20 points off the bench and was on the floor when Washington rallied in Game 2. Head coach Scott Brooks may opt to go with the 6-foot-8 Scott in place of 6-11 Marcin Gortat, who has struggled at both ends thus far. With the Wizards down 0-2, he has little to lose. The pick: Clearly, the Wizards face a "must win" in this contest but one wonders if Washington can match Toronto's overall firepower or the team's depth (see the contributions of Miles and Wright, above). However, as noted above, the Raptors seem comfortable playing the role of the "Big Dog!" Back in 2015, the No. 5 Wizards -- led by veteran Paul Pierce -- pulled off a what was a mild upset of the No. 4 Raptors, closing out the series with a 31-point rout. Not yet ready to predict a Toronto sweep but I will make the Raptors a 10* play here in Game 3. |
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04-20-18 | Twins v. Rays -120 | Top | 7-8 | Win | 100 | 12 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The Minnesota Twins have not had a typical April. Minnesota saw four games postponed due to poor weather between April 8-15 and followed that up with a two-game series as the home team in San Juan, Puerto Rico vs. the Indians. Through it all, the Twins open a three-game series in Florida against the Tampa Bays Rays having won four of their last five games and with an overall record of 8-5. The pitching matchup: Lance Lynn (0-1, 5.00 ERA) will get the ball for Minnesota and Chris Archer (1-1, 7.84 ERA) goes for the Rays. Lynn was scheduled to make his third start of 2018 last Saturday, but weather postponements forced a reshuffling of the rotation and he finally gets a chance to get back on the mound in tonight's contest. The former Cardinal was pounded in his Twins debut (4 IP / 3 hits / 6 walks / 5 ERs) before limiting Houston to three hits and four walks over five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts on April 9. Lynn is 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA in three appearances (two starts) versus the Rays. Archer is considered Tampa Bay's ace but he has yet to post a quality start or complete more than six innings in his first four trips to the mound. What's more, he is coming off his worst performance. The two-time All Star recently gave up six runs in the second inning this past Saturday and ended up allowing seven over four innings with just two strikeouts in a 9-4 home loss to Philadelphia. The pick: The good news here for Minnesota is that this game (and the weekend series) is indoors and safely away from snow and any other potential obstacles. The bad news is that Archer has been dominant against Minnesota in his career with a 6-1 record and 1.84 ERA. Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash wants another series, after the Rays earned one over teh Rangers to open the week. "We have to own the fact that we're whatever our record is right now," Cash said after Wednesday's win. "We also can be somewhat satisfied that we are playing hard. It just hasn't gone our way." It"goes the Rays' way" tonight! Make Tampa Bay a 10* play. |
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04-20-18 | Cavs +1 v. Pacers | Top | 90-92 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers scored just 80 points in a Game 1 loss to the Pacers and needed LeBron James to come out aggressive in Game 2. LBJ did just that, scoring the team's first 16 points on his way to a 46-point effort. However, the Cavs barely hung on in a 100-97 Game 2 win. The series is now tied at one apiece (although the Pacers are 2-0 ATS), as the venue switches to Indiana. The Pacers dominated the first quarter en route to a Game 1 victory and remain confident heading home despite the tight loss in Game 2. "We really wanted to go home 2-0 but we got one on the road," Indiana center Myles Turner told reporters. "We did our jobs. I can't wait to be back in front of the Indy fans. I hope these guys are ready, I know they are." Cleveland: The Cavs were embarrassed in Game 1 and head coach Tyronn Lue decided to make a lineup change for Game 2. He inserted veterans Kyle Korver and JR Smith into the starting lineup in place of Jeff Green and Rodney Hood. Korver went 4-of-8 from three-point range to help space the floor. Smith did little offensively (just five points) but after shooting 38.5% as team (including 8 of 34 on threes), the Cavs connected on 50.7% of their shots, making 11 of 28 three pointers. Lue said he plans to stick with his Game 2 lineup in Game 3 and praising the job Smith did on Victor Oladipo, the Pacers leading scorer, and the fact Korver took two charges from Oladipo. Indiana: Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 32 points in Game 1 but was limited to 22 in Game 2, although he did make 9-of-18 shots.Oladipo is averaging 27.0-4.5-5.0 in the first two games with Turner adding 17.0 & 6.5. The Pacers have shown excellent depth with eight players getting 17-minutes plus, although all five starters are averaging 32-plus minutes. The Pacers shot 52.6 percent from the floor in Game 2 but struggled to a 6-of-22 (27.3%) effort from three-point range, while committing 17 turnovers. The pick; I realize the Cavs have been an awful defensive team for most of the season but that hasn't been the team's problem in this series. After all, the Pacers have scored 98 and 97 points in the first two games. The Cavs finished fifth during the regular season in both scoring (110.9 PPG) and FG percentage (47.6%) and in this pivotal Game 3, I expect the Cavs to bring their "A game." After all, LBJ has never played on a team that has lost a first round series. Why start now, when he's coming off arguably, his best regular season ever? Make the Cavs an 8* play. |
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04-19-18 | Blazers +3.5 v. Pelicans | Top | 102-119 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The New Orleans Pelicans are in the playoffs for just the second time in Anthony Davis' six-year career. His first visit came back in 2015 when the Warriors swept them in an opening round series, despite Davis averaging 31.5 & 11.0. Davis' second time around in the postseason has so far, gone much better. The Pelicans have won the first two games of the first round series with the Trail Blazers in Portland. Davis has averaged 28.5 & 13.5 in the first two games while combo guard Jrue Holiday and veteran PG Rajan Rondo have risen to the challenge, as well. Portland entered the series having won 21 of their last 24 home games but now find themselves in an 0-2 'hole.' Star PG Damian Lillard (26.9 PPG in the regular season) has been unable to get untracked in the first two games, averaging 17.5 PPG while shooting just 31.7 percent. Head coach Terry Stotts said his Portland squad has to return serve by accumulating road wins. "We've got to win two games in New Orleans, and hopefully it's the next two," Stotts told reporters. "It's easy math - we've got to go and win two in New Orleans, and I feel we're very capable of winning both games." Portland: "Coming into the playoffs, you know teams are going to lock in, and they're going to try and make the game hard for you," Lillard told reporters afterr the Game 2 loss. "And I give a lot of credit to them for executing their game plan but the opportunities I do get, I've just got to be better. It's as simple as that." McCollum (20.5) has been the team's leading scorer but starting center Jusuf Nurkic (in the regular season) was limited to 15 minutes on Tuesday due to suffering a leg bruise in the third quarter. Nurkic needs to be healthy, as he's the only consistent scorer outside of Lillard and McCollum. New Orleans: Jrue Holiday scored a career playoff-best 33 points in Tuesday's 111-102 victory and is averaging 27.0-5.0-5.5 in the team's two wins. As for PG Rondo, he is reminding all why he's earned the tag "Playoff Rondo." He has once again elevated his play, averaging 11.0-9.0-13.0. Head coach Alvin Gentry appreciates the calmness he provides to younger less-experienced players. Also, let's not forget the contributions of 6-10 forward Mirotic, who has averaged 16.5 & 9.5 to give A.D. some 'cover' up front. The pick: The Blazers are known for being a strong home team but Portland did go 21-20 SU on the road during the regular season. If there is ever a "must win" for a team in a series other than when one is facing elimination with a loss, it's Game 3 of a series in which a team is down 0-2. I'm a big fan of Lillard and I believe he keeps his team 'alive' in this series by leading them to a Game 3 win. Make Portland a 10* play. |
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04-19-18 | Capitals v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 0 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Capitals didn't win the Presidents' Trophy this season (entered the season off back-to-back wins) but the team's 105 points were enough for them to capture their third consecutive Metropolitan Division title. Few teams can match the regular-season success of the Washington Capitals in recent years but Alex Ovechkin and company are more concerned with erasing a lengthy history of playoff flops. The Capitals have not been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1998 and have been drummed out of the playoffs in the second round in each of the past three seasons. The Capitals seemed to insist that they had less pressure this postseason than in years past, perhaps as a result of failing to win the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in three years. However, despite winning 12 of 15 games heading into the playoffs, the Capitals once again flopped out of teh box, losing two home playoff games at home in OT to the Columbus Blue Jackets (FYI... Columbus has never won a postseason series). Alex Ovechkin generated both headlines and raised eyebrows after declaring that the Washington Capitals would return to the District of Columbia tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets at two victories apiece in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Yes, it took two OTs but the Caps won Game 3 by the score of 3-2 and are now halfway to fulfilling Ovechkin's promise. Washington: Ovechkin recorded his second straight two-point performance when he notched a pair of assists in his 100th career playoff game before Lars Eller ended Tuesday's marathon after the puck caromed off him and into the net for a 3-2 win. "It was a real ugly OT-winner goal. I had a feeling it was going be one of those. It doesn't make the win less sweet," Eller told the Washington Post. Braden Holtby made his first start of the series and earned his keep on Tuesday with 33 saves, prompting coach Barry Trotz to declare the 2016 Vezina Trophy winner the starter for Game 4 the following day. Columbus: Cam Atkinson joined defenseman Seth Jones with an assist on Tuesday to extend their respective point streaks, with the former riding a 12-game stretch (10 goals, seven assists). Jones logged a team-high 35:04 and Panarin had over 31 1/2 minutes, prompting Columbus coach John Tortorella to give his team the day off from practice on Wednesday with both teams working a staggering 47:24 of overtime in the series. Two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky entered the series with a ghastly 3-10 postseason record but he has been very impressive so far. He facied 58 shots in the Game 2 win, while setting a franchise record with 54 saves. He's stopped 123 of 133 shots (.925 SP) through three games. The pick: Both teams have worked a staggering 47:24 of overtime in the series, as this series has become the 22nd in NHL history that has featured at least three consecutive overtime games. "During playoffs, to me, it's not a physical fatigue; it's a mental fatigue - and that's what breaks you down physically," Columbus head Tortorella said on Wednesday. "But if we're fatigued three games in, (expletive), we're just starting. It's a long game last night, and we've had a couple overtime games, but that's all part of this." Bobrovsky has been excellent for Columbus in goal and Trotz has finally decided that Holtby is "the man." I'm niot sure why it took himn falling behind 0-2 to realize that. After all, Holtby answered a 1-5-2 mark with a gaudy 4.82 goals-against average and .854 save percentage from Feb. 11-March 5 with a solid 5-1-0 record in his final six regular-season starts. However, Trotz went with the far less experienced Brubauer, who allowed eight goals on 49 shots (.837 SP). Make the Over an 8* play. |
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04-19-18 | Bruins v. Maple Leafs +104 | Top | 3-1 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 30 m | Show |
The set-up: The Boston Bruins blew a chance at capturing the East's No. 1 see when they lost a home contest to the Panthers in the team's final game of the regular season. However, The Bruins regrouped quickly and won the first two games of their series with the Maple Leafs, 5-1 and 7-3. The series shifted to Toronto for Game 3 and after almost being left for dead after losing the first two games in Boston, the Maple Leafs were able to reverse the momentum with a 4-2 home win on Monday night. Toronto now has a chance to level the best-of-seven series when it hosts the Boston Bruins in Game 4 on Thursday night. Boston: The Bruins did not exactly play poorly on Monday, as they were able to get 42 shots on goal but Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen made 40 saves, his highest total since Feb. 20. Boston's top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak was "all that" in the opening two games, combining for a collective 20 points but the unit was blanked in Game 3. What's more, Boston goalie Tukka Rask allowed four goals on 30 shots in Game 3 (.867 SP), after allowing just four goals in 60 shots (.933) in winning Games 1 and 2. Toronto: Knowing that only four teams in history have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, Toronto head coach Mike Babcock was keenly aware of the importance of winning Game 3 and understands his team needs a similar performance Thursday. “If we didn’t have success, I thought we were probably going to be done,” Babcock said. “(Now), you win one, you’re in a best-of-three. We’re set up real good that way. ... You still want to be in a better situation and be in the driver’s seat. So it’s important for us to even it up.” While Boston's top line dominated the first two games, Toronto's No. 1 unit was floundering by being held off the scoresheet but star forward Auston Matthews provided the biggest moment for the Maple Leafs by netting the tie-breaking goal in Game 3. The pick: The Toronto Maple Leafs were a better team than shown by the results of the first two games of their series with the Boston Bruins and they proved just that in Monday 4-2 victory at the Air Canada Centre in Game 3. Game 4 isn't a "must win" contest for Toronto but it's pretty close. A loss would mean a return trip to Boston, where the Bruins won Games 1 and 2 by a combined 12-4 score. Make Toronto a 10* play. |
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04-19-18 | 76ers v. Heat UNDER 217 | Top | 128-108 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The Philadelphia 76ers' 17-game winning streak came to a crashing halt in Game 2 against the Heat, as Miami answered a 27-point loss in Game 1 with a 113-103 win in Game 2. Veteran Dwyane Wade went "Back to the Future" in Miami's win, scoring 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting .Five other Miami players scored in double digits in the win while Philly, which shot percent in Game 1 (47.4%, including making 18 of 28 threes), shot just 41.7 percent overall (including 7 of 36 on threes). Miami: Leading the way behind Wade in Game 2 was PG Dragic, who scored 20 points. Also, James Johnson, who averaged under nine minutes a game in his first 19 playoff contests with Chicago, Memphis and Toronto, has made the most of his increased role with the Heat this postseason. He made all seven of his shots in Game 2 and finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in 37 minutes, which matches his highest total in a regulation game all season. |
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04-19-18 | Cardinals v. Cubs UNDER 7 | Top | 5-8 | Loss | -100 | 4 h 34 m | Show |
The set-up:The 2016 Cubs won 103 games and the team's first World Series since 1908. Chicago struggled early on in 2017 but closed with a surge, while the Brewers faded. The Cubs won the Central Division with 92 victories and took down the Washington Nats in an NLDS before losing to the Dodgers in the NLCS. This year's team finds itself fourth among five NL Central teams in the early going with a 7-8 record. The Cubs have struggled at the plate and it sure hasn't helped that yesterday's postponement was the third postponement in four days due to inclement weather. It's been feast or famine for Chicago so far in 2018, as the Cubs have recorded only one victory when scoring fewer than five runs and are averaging 1.75 RPG in their eight losses compared to 8.7 in their seven wins. The Cubs will look get their offense going against the St. Louis Cardinals as the two longtime rivals wrap up an abbreviated two-game series. The Cards remained in the wild-card chase until game No. 159 last season but stayed at home for the postseason. St. Louis has made winning seem like a birthright since the last round of expansion, as the Cards have made the playoffs in 12 of the last 20 years and have missed the postseason in back-to-back years just twice, 2007-08 and 2016-17. The team has opened 10-7 and with a five-game winning streak is trying to make a statement that it has no interest in seeing 2018 become a 'hat trick' The pitching matchup: Weather permitting, the Cards will send promising right-hander Luke Weaver (2-0, 2.08 ERA) up against the Cubs' Jon Lester (1-0, 4.40 ERA). Weaver was pushed into the Wednesday starting assignment in place of Michael Wacha, who has struggled at Wrigley Field. Wacha will instead make his next start on Friday against Cincinnati on eight days rest. Weaver is showing why he was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, as he has followed an outstanding spring with three strong starts to begin the regular season. He has allowed four runs over 17 1/3 innings and has struck out seven in each of his last two turns. The veteran Lester is off to a up-and-down start with one excellent outing sandwiched between two sub-par efforts. He allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh last time out, generating only 14 swinging strikes. The pick: Runs can be tough to come by at Wrigley Field this time of year with inclement weather and the pitching matchup should also make scoring runs difficult, as well. Weaver owns a 2.08 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP, has a 17-5 KW ratio and opponents are batting just .197 against him in 2018. As for Lester, he has had a bumpy start but note that he owns a 2.30 ERA in 14 career starts against St. Louis. Make the Under a 10* play. |
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04-18-18 | Astros -157 v. Mariners | Top | 7-1 | Win | 100 | 15 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: Brian McCann hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in Tuesday's 4-1 victory, as the Astros defeated the Mariners for the seventh time in eight meetings. Dallas Keuchel pitched eight innings in a 2-1 loss to the Mariners on Monday but Lance McCullers Jr. was able to earn a 4-1 win last night by allowing one run on one hit in seven innings with 11 strikeouts. The victory snapped the Astros' three-game losing streak to give them an 11-7 start in 2018 (Angels lead the AL West at 13-4). Seattle's Robinson Cano drilled his first homer of the season and the 302nd of his career, passing Rogers Hornsby for second place on the all-time list for second basemen, as the Mariners fell to 9-6. Seattle batters struck out 14 times on Tuesday and the club has now scored just four runs in its last three contests. The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (1-0, 1.29 ERA) takes the mound for Houston and Mike Leake (2-0, 3.50 ERA for Seattle. The defending champs acquired Gerrit Cole from Pittsburgh in mid-January and he as been sensational in his first three outings. Cole recorded 11 strikeouts in each of his first two starts and then increased the total to a career-best 14 over seven innings against Texas on Friday. However, he has only one win to show for his outstanding efforts, although the Astros have won all three of his starts. Leake did not factor in the decision against Oakland in his last start, after giving up three runs and seven hits over six innings. He's pitched well so far, limited opposing batters to a .221 average in three starts. Leake is 6-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 12 career appearances (10 starts) against the Astros. The pick: Cole has been everything and more for Houston so far. The Astros were counting on him bouncing back from a poor 2017 season with the Pirates in which he posted a career-worst 4.26 ERA and served up a whopping 31 HRs, well above his previous career high of 11. He owns not only a 1.29 ERA in his first three starts but also an 0.67 WHIP while holding opponents to a .141 BAA. He stood out in his lone career outing against Seattle by allowing one run and three hits back on July 27, 2016 in his only complete game in 130 major-league starts. Cole has joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in the past 110 years to start a season with 11-plus strikeouts in their first three starts of the season. That's some pretty good company. Make Houston an 8* play. |
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04-18-18 | Predators -165 v. Avalanche | Top | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 15 h 42 m | Show |
The set-up: The Nashville Predators were the No. 8 seed in the West last year but made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, before falling in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Predators were the NHL's best team in the the 2017-18 regular season, going 53-18-11 for a league-high 117 points. However, the Predators have looked less than dominating against the 8th-seeded Avalanche, surrendering the first goal in each of their first three playoff contests. Yes, the Predators overcame early deficits in the first two to take a 2-0 lead but they were unable to do the same in the third and are now in jeopardy of seeing their Western Conference first-round series knotted at two wins apiece should Game 4 at the Pepsi Center follow a similar path. Potential Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to help Colorado snap a 12-game winless skid to Nashville in a 5-3 Colorado win, continuing his torrid play in Denver. He has recorded 69 of his 102 points at Pepsi Center in the 2017-18 regular season and playoffs. Nashville: "We got what we deserved. We didn't really show up the first period," said Nashville captain Roman Josi, who joined fellow defenseman Ryan Ellis and forwards Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson in being saddled with a minus-3 rating in Monday's 5-3 setback. The Predators permitted three first-period goals and have been outscored 5-0 over the course of the opening 20 minutes of each game in the series. P.K. Subban caused a stir by unleashing an open-ice shot to the back of the head of MacKinnon during Game 3, but the defenseman didn't pull any punches when asked about it. "Yeah, I'd do it again next game," the 28-year-old Subban told the Tennessean. Austin Watson has scored in four straight games dating back to the regular-season finale to join fellow forwards Ryan Johansen and Colton Sissons with a club-best four points in the series, with the latter two each having two goals and two assists. Colorado: The Avalanche went from the NHL's worst team a year ago (by a wide margin) to a team that went 43-30-9 this season, while earning the West's final wild card spot with 95 points (one more than the Blues' 94!). However, the Avs drew the Predators in the first round. That said, the Avs have not backed down. MacKinnon has been Colorado's best player but captain Gabriel Landeskog recorded a personal postseason best with three points (one goal, two assists) in Game 3 while linemate Mikko Rantanen notched his first multi-point playoff outing with a pair of assists. The pick: Colorado's fast start in Game 3 (four goals in the first 24:25 of the game) ended goaltender Pekka Rinne's night but he wasn't the problem, head coach Peter Laviolette said. "We weren't very good in front of him," he said after the loss. "I didn't think we were giving him the support he needed. It wasn't a sharp game for us. We left (him) in after the first to see if we would be better." Rinne will back in net tonight, as he was a big reason Nashville advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals last year and is off a terrific regular season (42-13-4, 2.31 GAA & .927 SP). Colorado's win on Monday made it a closer series but the Predators are easily the better team and a bounce-back effort from the Preds would make it very tough for the Avalanche to come back against the Presidents' Trophy winners. That's my bet, as remember, Colorado's win in Game 3 broke a 12-game winning streak the Preds owned against the Avs. Nashville is an 8* play. |
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04-18-18 | Giants v. Diamondbacks -138 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -138 | 14 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The Arizona Diamondbacks' 52-29 record at Chase Field helped them earn the NL's top wild card spot in 2017 and in the early going of 2018, the Diamondbacks have gone 6-1 at home which has Arizona atop the NL West at 12-4. Lefty Patrick Corbin kept San Francisco hitless until Brandon Belt recorded an infield single with two outs in the eighth inning and registered his first career shutout in Arizona's 1-0 win over San Franciscio in the opener of a three-game series last night. David Peralta delivered an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to six games, a stretch during which he has gone 9-for-24 (Peralta has hit safely in 11 of 13 overall this season). San Francisco (6-10) has now lost four in a row after opening its 10-game road trip with a 7-0 victory in San Diego, scoring fewer than two runs in three of the setbacks. The pitching matchup: Chris Stratton (1-1, 2.60 ERA) gets the ball for San Francisco and Arizona counters with lefty Robbie Ray (2-0, 5.74 ERA). Johnny Cueto returned to the mound after missing two starts while on the disabled list, and struck out 11 in seven scoreless innings in Tuesday's loss to Arizona. However, he is the only one of the Giants' top three starters to have pitched this season. No. 1 starter Madison Bumgarner is expected to miss another month with a fractured hand and No. 3 starter has yet to take the mound, although he is on track to make his first start of the season this weekend. Stratton earned a spot in the rotation with a solid spring and has pitched well with Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija sidelined with injuries. He's allowed three runs or less in each of his first three starts and is coming off an outstanding performance at San Diego on Thursday, when he yielded just one hit over seven scoreless innings en route to his first win of the season. He has made three career starts against Arizona, going 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Ray has yet to lose this year despite a pair of subpar efforts, including a no-decision at San Francisco last Wednesday in which he gave up three runs on five hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings. He was tagged by Colorado for seven runs (six earned) on seven hits (three HRs) and three walks over five innings in his season debut back on March 30 at home. However, Ray has been excellent against San Francisco in his career, going 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA in nine starts The pick: San Francisco's Stratton is coming off his best career outing, a 7-0 victory at San Diego in which he gave up only a single in seven innings) but he's pitching for a team which was a MLB-worst 26-55 on the road in 2017, losing $2762 against the moneyline (also a MLB-worst). San Francisco is 3-6 on the road to open 2018, while averaging a woeful 1.67 RPG. Arizona's Robbie Ray will be hard-pressed to match Corbin's Tuesday effort (see above) he's off an excellent 2017 season in which he went 15-5 (D-backs were 20-8 and plus-$1166 in all of his starts, the third-best moneyline mark among all 2017 starers). He also dominated San Francisco in 2017, going 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA in four starts( team was 4-0) while striking out 29 in 24 1/3 innings. Make Arizona an 8* play. |
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04-18-18 | Wolves +10.5 v. Rockets | Top | 82-102 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: More than a few teams made significant off-season moves last summer in the hope of competing with the Warriors but clearly, Houston turned out to be the one team which accomplished it. "We've enjoyed the year. It's been a great year," Houston head coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "Now it's time for the second phase of it. I think everybody's anxious to get started." The Rockets finished an NBA-best 65-17 in the regular season but while they won Game 1 of the opening round series with the Minnesota T-wolves 104-101, it was no "walk in the park." James Harden, the odds-on favorite to win his first MVP award (30.4-5.4-8.8 assists) "came to the rescue," scoring 44 points on 15-of-26 shooting, including seven straight points during a decisive run in the fourth quarter (he also added eight assists). Minnesota: The good news was that Minnesota was able to harass Houston into 10-for-37 shooting from behind the arc but they were not able to contain Harden. Jimmy Butler drew the primary assignment on Harden and said, "I've got to do my job more effectively. What do you want: a free throw, a three-pointer, a layup? He got whatever he wanted in that game and I've got to be better at taking it away." Minnesota must also better utilize the talents of Karl-Anthony Towns on offense. Towns was second on the team in scoring during the regular season, averaging 21.3 points while attempting 14.3 shots per game. In the series opener, he scored only eight points on nine shots and was unable to take advantage of the situation when he occasionally worked against smaller defenders in the Rockets' switch-oriented defense. Houston: Harden did some offensive help in Game 1 from center Clint Capela, who collected 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 12 rebounds. However, Paul made just 5 of 14 shots (1 of 6 on threes) and added a modest four assists. Once again, the Rockets were able to shake off their poor shooting and were able to thrive in the paint. Houston outpaced the bigger Timberwolves 54-44 on paint points with Harden feasting both on driving layups and pinpoint passes to center Clint Capela. The pick: Houston took all four meetings in the regular season against Minnesota with the Rockets also going 4-0 ATS. However, I took the T-wolves in Game 1 and easily covered. That ATS win came despite poor games by both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, the team's top-two players.I'm going right back to the well again here in Game 2. Make Minnesota a 10* pick. |
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04-18-18 | Lightning -144 v. Devils | Top | 3-1 | Win | 100 | 12 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The Tampa Bay Lightning held on to the East's No. 1 seed when Boston lost its final game of the regular season at home to the Florida Panthers back on April 8. The Lightning drew the East's No. 8 seed in the New Jersey Devils, who finished 16 points behind them. Tampa Bay held serve on home ice by taking Games 1 and 2 (5-2 & 5-3) but the Devils proved in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series with the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning that they are not a team simply content with reaching the postseason. New Jersey climbed back into this first-round series with a 5-2 comeback win and can square the series when they host the Lightning in Game 4 on Wednesday. Taylor Hall registered a goal and two assists, as the Devils rallied from one-goal deficits twice and scored four times in the third period for a 5-2 victory on Monday. Tampa Bay: The Lightning led 1-0 in the second period and then 2-1 after captain Steven Stamkos’ goal 38 seconds into the third. However, the Lightning gave the Devils seven power plays, four in the third period alone, and New Jersey tied it on a 5-on-3 advantage to spark the four-goal uprising. Nikita Kucherov had a pair of assists to increase his team-leading total to six points in the series for Tampa Bay. Left wing Alex Killorn became the second Tampa Bay player to score in each of the first three games of a playoff series with a goal on Monday to join Vincent Lecavalier, who did it in four straight against New Jersey in 2007. The Lightning have scored five of their 12 goals in the series with the power play on nine chances and their much-maligned penalty kill is 10-for-12, giving up one of those while down two men. Right wing Ryan Callahan (upper-body), a key on the penalty-killing unit, sat out Game 3 but participated in the morning skate Monday and could return to the lineup soon. New Jersey: Cory Schneider replaced Keith Kinkaid in net for Game 3 and was outstanding when he needed to be, especially in the third period when he gloved a Tyler Johnson point-blank chance while laying on the ice. “(Schneider) was just unreal,” Taylor Hall told reporters. “I’m so happy for him after the last couple months, where he’s been and him sitting out. He’s such a great teammate, nothing’s changed about his personality, then he comes in a steals the game for us. It’s just awesome.” Schneider earned his first win since Dec. 27 with 34 saves Hall is coming off a Hart Trophy-worthy regular season, (39 goals and 93 points) and turned in a brilliant performance Monday. He as five points in the first three games of the series. Hall tied the game with his second goal of the series in the second period, then assisted on Butcher's game-tying tally and made a gorgeous rush up ice before setting up Stefan Noesen's eventual game-winner at 12:55 of the third period. The pick: “Any momentum they gained in that game was because of our penalties, and every penalty we took it seemed was 200 feet from our net,” Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper told reporters. “It was too bad because I thought for two periods, and then after getting the go-ahead goal, we had control of that game. … We did it to ourselves.” He's right. The Devils can be had but the Lightning didn't get the job done. However, Tampa Bay should not be lacking in confidence, even after its Game 3 loss. After all the Lightning are still up a game and in the driver's seat in the series. A win here and they would return to Florida with a chance to close out New Jersey.I expect just that to happen, as the Lightning did not trail for a single second over the first 172 minutes, 55 seconds of the series. Make Tampa Bay an 8* play. |
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04-18-18 | Pacers v. Cavs OVER 209 | Top | 97-100 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have had two full days off to ponder what happened in Game 1 of their series with the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers held the Cavs to just 80 points (on 38.5% shooting, including 8-of-34 from three-point range) in winning the first of this seven-games series by 18 points. It was LBJ's first-ever loss in an Opening Round Game 1 (his teams had been 12-0!) and the defeat ended a remarkable run of 21 consecutive first round wins by James-led teams. Cleveland was down 25-8 in the first quarter on Sunday before James attempted his first field goal, Love scored a total of just nine points and Jeff Green was shut out in 27 minutes. All-Star guard Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 32 points on 11-of-19 shoting on Sunday and keyed the defensive effort with four steals. The Pacers dominated on both ends of the floor in the 98-80 Game 1 victory and will take the court tonight looking to prevent the Cavs from evening this Eastern Conference series at one win apiece. Indiana: Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis were the key players the Pacers received from the Thunder in the Paul George deal. Oladipo has been terrific (21.3-5.2-4.3) and in about 24 1/2 minutes per game, Sabonis has averaged 11.6 & 7.7 on the season. Indiana was swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Cavaliers last spring (with George!) but the Pacers are a different (better?) team this time around thanks to the presence of Oladipo and Sabonis, plus four other Pacers who average in double digits with Stephenson (9.2 & 5.2) and Joseph (7.9) also being regular contributors. In fact, the Pacers got a big boost from reserve swingman Lance Stephenson, who embraced the challenge of guarding James and added 12 points in 17 minutes off the bench. The Pacers forced the Cavs into 17 turnovers and starting center Myles Turner scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Cleveland: James recorded his 20th career postseason triple-double on Sunday (24-10-12), second all-time behind Magic Johnson (30). However, he was clearly passive for the first 11 minutes. James is coming off arguably his finest of 15 pro seasons as he averaged career highs in rebounds (8.6) and assists (9.1) while adding 27.5 points on 54.2 percent shooting. Kevin Love did grab 17 rebounds but finished with just those nine points on 3-of-8 shooting. Not including LBJ, Cleveland's other four starters shot just 10 of 30 from the floor to contribute a modest 25 points. The pick: Head coach Tyronn Lue needs the "real LeBron" to show up in Game 1. "When he sets the tone early for us, we're usually a really good team," Lue said. "So coming out, set the tone early, be able to call plays that feature him early to be aggressive. He's always going to make the right play and the right pass, get others involved, but in Game 2 we're going to need him to set the tone early, being aggressive and attacking the basket." Why would anyone expect anything different? The problem is, the Cavs are a poor defensive team, allowing 109.9 PPG (26th) on 47.4% shooting (28th). Make the Over an 8* play. |
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04-17-18 | Pelicans v. Blazers OVER 214 | Top | 111-102 | Loss | -103 | 15 h 31 m | Show |
The set-up: The Pelicans blew almost all of their 19-point lead in Game 1 of their series with the Trail Blazers but managed to hold on for a 97-95 win. Anthony Davis felt the pressure dissipating in the final seconds of the opener. He had never been part of a playoff win until the Pelicans' victory on Saturday but after scoring 35 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking four blocked shots, he now looks help the Pelicans take a 2-0 lead when they play again tonight in Portland. "It means a lot to get that monkey off your back and get your first win," Davis told reporters. "Now that's over with, and we want to come in Tuesday and get another one. That's our mindset." Portland has to be a little stunned, as the Blazers entered Saturday's contest having won 21 of their last 24 regular-season home games. "I think it puts some pressure on us," Portland's star guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "You come in with home court, the first two games are on your floor, and you lose. And now they're saying in their locker room, 'We got one, why not get another?'" New Orleans: Davis was the key player in Game 1 (duh!) but veteran PG Rajon Rondo reminded all why he's earned the tag "Playoff Rondo." He once again elevated his play and matched the franchise record for assists in a playoff game (17 by Chris Paul in 2008) plus helped force Lillard into 6-of-23 shooting. Rondo has averages of 14.3 points, 9.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 97 career playoff games and head coach Alvin Gentry appreciates the calmness he provides to younger less-experienced players. Let's not forget contributions of combo guard Holiday (19.0-4.5-6.0 during the regular season), as he chipped in 21 points. Then there was 6-10 forward Mirotic (14.6 & 8.2 in 30 games since coming from Chicago in a trade), who produced a double-double (16 & 11), the first of his postseason career.
Portland: The Blazers have relied all season on their dynamic duo of a backcourt, as Lillard (26.9-4.5-6.6) and McCollum (21.4-4.0-3.4) combined to average just over 48 points per game during the regular season. Center Jusuf Nurkic (14.3 & 9.0) was the only other Blazer to average in double digits during the year. Portland shot just 37.8 percent from the floor in Game 1, as well as struggling to just 36 points in the first half. Lillard and McCollum combined to shoot 31.7% (13-of-41) for the game and that just won't do. Nurkic had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds but he was just 3-of-7 shooting in addition to having trouble defending Davis. Backup PF Ed Davis collected 13 rebounds in just 20 minutes in Game 1 but Portland can't expect more of that from him. The pick: Bottom line is this. Portland can't win if Lillard and backcourt mate CJ McCollum combine for three points on 1-of-15 shooting in the first half, again. However, why would anyone expect them to play so poorly again? In fact, the Blazers got un-tracked for 59 second-half points in Game 1, although it was too little, too late. .I sure expect Portland to bring its "A-game" but the Pelicans, including their Game 1 win, are an impressive 25-17 SU and 27-15 ATS on the road this season. A "typical" New Orleans road game has averaged 218.4 PPG and after a 97-95 contest in Game 1, the play here is a 10* on the Over. |
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04-17-18 | Golden Knights v. Kings OVER 5 | Top | 1-0 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: It's been a record-setting inaugural season for the Vegas Golden Knights and the team is keeping things very interesting in its first-ever Stanley Cup playoff series. Vegas took the first two games of its series with the LA Kings 1-0 and then 2-1 in double-OT. The series shifted to LA on Sunday but once again the Golden Knights prevailed by a single goal, edging the Kings 3-2. The loss was particularly galling for LA, as the Kings allowed three third-period goals to the expansion Golden Knights in Sunday's 3-2 defeat. Only four teams in NHL history have rallied from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven series and one of them was the Los Angeles Kings, who came back from the dead against San Jose in 2014 en route to winning the Stanley Cup. The Kings find themselves in that situation once again, as they try to stave off elimination against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights tonight. Vegas: Game 3 was tied at 1-1 late in the third period, when Vegas scored twice in a 21-second span, getting the tie-breaking goal from James Neal and an insurance goal from William Karlsson, who led the team with 43 during the regular season. Neal has reached 20 goals in each of his 11 seasons and is a proven playoff performer with 14 goals in 42 postseason games over the previous three seasons with Nashville. On the defensive end of the ice, the Golden Knights' Marc-Andre Fleury has been brilliant, turning aside 96 of 99 shots in the series (.970 SP) to give him an 0.84 GAA in the team's three wins. LA Kings: The Kings allowed the fewest goals in the league during the regular season (203) but a lack of offense in the playoffs is proving to be the team's downfall. It's pretty difficult win when a team scores a total of three goals in the first three games of this series. A continuing problem is the Kings at now 1-for-13 in the series with the man advantage, after failing on all five power-play chances in Game 3. Captain Anze Kopitar scored a late goal and set up the opening score in Game 3 but he is the only Los Angeles player with more than one point in the series. Poor Jonathan Quick. In just about any other series the Kings' goalie would be getting praise for his 1.69 goals-against average through three games but not here up against Fleury (see above). The pick: Only four NHL teams have squandered 3-0 leads in a best-of-seven playoff series and find it hard to believe Vegas will join this group. However, that's not to say winning in four games will come easy for teh Golden Knights. If Los Angeles is to extend the series, it will needscontributions from the team's top players. The Kings have managed three goals in the series, one from center Anze Kopitar (career-high 35 regular-season goals) and none from wingers Dustin Brown (28 goals) and Tyler Toffoli (24). The Kings have won just one of eight playoff games since hoisting the Cup in 2014 and are 1-6 in those decided by one goal. My gut says LA wins here but my bet is a 10* play on the Over. |
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04-17-18 | Red Sox v. Angels -148 | Top | 10-1 | Loss | -148 | 14 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The Boston Red Sox are off to the best start in club history with a 13-2 mark to open the 2018 season. The team's starting pitchers have posted a major league-best 2.06 ERA and Boston's team ERA of 2.94 ranks third-best. The Red Sox are averaging 5.93 RPG (2nd-best) plus the team's .275 BA and .795 OPS also rank 2nd-best in MLB. The Red Sox begin a three-game series Tuesday night in Anaheim against the Angels, a team with MLB's second-best best record (13-3), while leading all teams in scoring (6.44 RPG), team BA (.291) and OPS (.825). LA's 26 HRs are second-best overall and the team's pitching (3.19 ERA ranks 7th) is more than good enough, considering the way the team is hitting. The pitching matchup: David Price (1-1, 2.40 ERA) gets the ball for Boston and the Angels' two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani (2-0, 2.08 ERA) will be on the mound for LA. Price had trouble on (injuries) and off (arguments with reporters and people in and around the organization) the field in 2017, making only 16 appearances, including 11 starts. He finished 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA, while Boston went 6-5 in his 11 starts. Price looks healthier and seems happier in 2018 and will take the mound for his fourth start of 2018 in this one. However, Price did leave last Wednesday's 10-7 loss to the New York Yankees after allowing four runs in one inning, telling reporters that he lost feeling in his fingertips on a cold night in Boston. He is 5-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 15 starts in his career versus the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani has served as the DH in seven games for Los Angeles, which is not using him on the day before and after he pitches. He has 33 at-bats as a designated hitter, batting .367 with three HRs and 11 RBI. He was supposed to take the ball Sunday but the game in Kansas City was postponed. Ohtani carried a perfect game into the seventh inning against Oakland in his last outing April 8, permitting one hit and striking out 12 in seven scoreless innings of the Angels' 6-1 victory. He also defeated the Athletics in his first major league start, allowing three runs (on a 3-run HR) and three hits in six frames. The pick: Boston's 13-2 record is MLB's best, as is the team's plus-$1043 moneyline mark. LA is right behind them at 13-3 and at plus-$1009 vs. the moneyline. However, the Angels have the best run differential in baseball at plus-48 with the Red Sox second at plus-42. What a series it should be. Ohtani attempts to become the first Los Angeles Angels pitcher to win his first three starts since Jared Weaver in 2006 and also gets the chance to display his skills on the mound against a team other than Oakland. My bet says he moves to 3-0. Make LA a 10* play. |
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04-17-18 | Reds v. Brewers -148 | Top | 0-2 | Win | 100 | 12 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The Reds limped into Milwaukee last night mired in the team's fworst start (2-13) since the Great Depression (1931, to be exact). However, Cincinnati snapped an eight-game skid with Monday's 10-4 triumph over the Brewers. Adam Duvall collected three of Cincinnati's season-high 14 hits in helping his team 'improve' to 3-13. Duvall is 7-for-16 with three doubles and a HR in his last four contests, after stumbling out of the blocks with just four hits in his previous 12 games. The Reds haven't exactly been clicking on all cylinders, averaging only 3.38 RPG to rank 25th in all of MLB. Throw in a MLB-worst 5.72 ERA and it's easy to see why the Reds are just 3-13. "A win is salve regardless of how early or late you are in the season," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "A win makes everyone feel better. It's a long time coming, but it certainly feels good to win." The boo birds made their presence felt early and often as the Milwaukee Brewers' home woes continued with Monday's lopsided loss. The 8-9 Brewers look to turn the jeers into cheers on Tuesday, as they hope to win for just the third time in nine outings at Miller Park. Domingo Santana saw his six-game hitting streak come to an end for the Brewers last night, who have been outscored 48-20 at home in 2018. The Brewers aren't scoring much more than the Reds (3.53 RPG ranks 22nd), although the team's 4.08 ERA is more middle-of-the-pack (4.08). The pitching: Sal Romano (0-1, 5.87 ERA) gets the nod for Cincy and will be opposed by Milwaukee's Junior Guerra (1-0, 1.69 ERA). Romano has yet to win in three starts (team is 1-2) and he didn't do himself any favors by issuing four walks for the second time in three starts on Thursday, leading to his exit after allowing four runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings against St. Louis. All three of Romano's career starts against Milwaukee came last year and he went 0-3 mark with a 7.24 ERA. Guerra saw the wheels come off in a hurry after serving as Milwaukee's Opening Day starter in 2017. He would make just 21 appearances in 2017 (14 starts), going 1-4 with a 5.12 ERA and 1.48 WHIP (Brewers went 4-10 in Guerra's starts, going minus-$439 vs. the moneyline). However, he insists he's healthier now and showed it with a strong outing following his recall from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Guerra allowed just one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 3-2 victory versus St. Louis on April 11, his first start of 2018. Guerra is 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in four career appearances against Cincinnati. The pick: The Reds surprised with a Monday win but remember, Cincy won just 29 games on the road in 2017 (only the Giants won fewer games) and even Monday's win makes them just 2-6 away from home here in 2018, allowing 6.00 RPG. Romano hardly looks capable of getting things straightened out considering his 'efforts' against Milwaukee last season (see above), so I'll back the Brewers who were MLB's biggest money-earner in 2017 at plus-$1801 (at $100/game). Make Milwaukee an 8* play. |
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04-17-18 | Capitals +124 v. Blue Jackets | Top | 3-2 | Win | 124 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The Washington Capitals didn't win the Presidents' Trophy this season (entered the season off back-to-back wins) but the team's 105 points were enough for them to capture their third consecutive Metropolitan Division title. Few teams can match the regular-season success of the Washington Capitals in recent years but Alex Ovechkin and company are more concerned with erasing a lengthy history of playoff flops. The Capitals have not been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1998 and have been drummed out of the playoffs in the second round in each of the past three seasons. The Capitals seemed to insist that they had less pressure this postseason than in years past, perhaps as a result of failing to win the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in three years. However, after winning 12 of 15 games heading into the playoffs, the Capitals once again watching history repeat itself in the postseason. Columbus has never led, much less won, a postseason series but this past Sunday, the Blue Jackets became only the fifth team in history to erase multiple-goal deficits in the opening two games of a playoff series. Columbus has never won a postseason series but gets sets to host Washington on Tuesday, leading 2-0. Washington: The Caps are once again in the position of hoping to avoid another early playoff exit. "You're right now in a hard position," acknowledged Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. "But it's going to be fun when we bounce back and (we're) going to tie the series and come back here and play Game 5 at home." Washington learned Monday that forward Andre Burakovsky will miss at least the next two games after sustaining an upper-body injury and he will be replaced by Jakub Vrana, who was a healthy scratch Tuesday after collecting an assist in the series opener. Head coach Barry Trotz said he has made his decision on his starting goaltender in Game 3 but would not disclose if he is going back to Braden Holtby, after he replaced Philipp Grubauer in the third period of Sunday's loss. Columbus: Matt Calvert delivered the deciding goal in overtime on Sunday but Cam Atkinson netted two goals (he's on an 11-game points streak) to rally Columbus from a pair of two-goal deficits and continue a late-season binge that has seen him score 13 times over his last 13 games. More importantly, two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, who entered the series with a ghastly 3-10 postseason record, has been YUGE in the first two games. He has stopped 81 of 88 shots (.920 SP), including facing 58 shots in the Game 2 win, setting a franchise record with 54 saves, including 21 in the third period. The pick: Yes, the Blue Jackets are just the fifth team to overcome multi-goal deficits in back-to-back playoff games in NHL history but that's also a concern. They've fallen behind in both games largely because of too many penalties (13 combined in Games 1 and 2), with Washington converting five of those opportunities. Also, can Bobrovsky contune to 'stand tall' when facing so many shots on goal (88 in two games)? Teams that have lost the first two of a best-of-seven series at home have come back to win on only 19 of 89 occasions. Washington's playoff history gives one pause but so does Bobrovsky's postseason failures (before the first two games of this series). Plus, there is the fact that Columbus has never won a playoff series. Make Washington an 8* play. |
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04-16-18 | Spurs v. Warriors OVER 205 | Top | 101-116 | Win | 100 | 15 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: The Golden State Warriors came into the postseason injured and slumping, having lost 10 of their final 17 games to end the regular season. With Curry still sidelined, head coach Steve Kerr inserted small forward Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup and the Warriors 'flipped the switch,' in a dominating 113-92 win in Game 1 of their series against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs' starters weren't up to the challenge, as San Antonio scored only 17 points in the first quarter (Golden State had 28) and the Warriors never looked back. Only LaMarcus Aldridge (14 points) scored in double figures among the starting five. San Antonio: "I thought we were very prepared physically and mentally," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "But I was mistaken. As I said, we looked like deer in the headlights. The defense was really poor as far as following game plan of the first quarter, and it's a bad combination to play defense like that and not shoot at the other end." San Antonio shot 40 percent from the floor in Game 1 and managed only three offensive rebounds in the 113-92 setback. In all, SA starters combined for just 33 points Popovich started Rudy Gay in the second half over Kyle Anderson to generate more offense and could insert Gay into the starting lineup for Game 2. Gay led San Antonio with 15 points in Game 1, with Parker adding 14 points off the bench to match Aldridge, although he went 1-of-8 from the floor. Golden State: Even though it's been a injury-filled season, the Warriors led the league in scoring, averaging 113.5 PPG. However, the Warriors focused on defense in Game 1, with the insertion super-sub Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup in an attempt to give the game a defensive tone right from the start. It worked! Starting Iguodala over Quinn Cook left Golden State without a true point guard, leading forward Kevin Durant running the offense. Durant finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. The Warriors recorded 32 assists on 44 made field goals in the win, led by forward Draymond Green's 11 'dimes.' Green added 12 points and eight rebounds, as well, while Klay Thompson shot 'lights out' (11 of 13 from the floor, scoring 27 points).. The pick: The Warriors were a disappointing 29-12 SU at home during the regular season (only 16-24-1 ATS) but with Saturday's win, have now won 10 straight postseason games at home. Golden State shot 54.3% in Game 1 and that can't be a surprise. The Warriors not only led the NBA in scoring this season but they were also No. 1 in FG percentage (50.2), three-point percentage (39.1) and FT percentage (81.5). I'd be surprised if Golden State didn't score 113-plus points again, while the Popovich-led Spurs almost have to play (shoot) better in Game 2. Aldridge was held to 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting in Game 1 but Aldridge averaged 23.1 points and 18.0 shots from the floor during the regular season. San Antonio is shooting 45.7 percent on the season and I say "no way" the Spurs shoot 40 percent again here in Game 2. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-16-18 | Ducks v. Sharks -134 | Top | 1-8 | Win | 100 | 15 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks owned home ice advantage over the San Jose Sharks in their first round series but not only lost Game 1 at home 3-0 but followed with a 3-2 loss in Game 2. Anaheim now finds itself in an '0-2 hole,' having lost the first two games of playoff series at home for the third time in its last five postseason appearances. Anaheim closed the season with five consecutive wins to overtake San Jose by one point for second place in the division, but that's now moot. "We've been down (0-2) before. They have to win four. The series isn't over," Anaheim defenseman Brandon Montour said. However, the Sharks are 5-0-1 against the Ducks this season and have limited them to two regulation goals or fewer in eight consecutive meetings. That said, San Jose is not taking anything for granted. "We've all been around this league a long time and know that team over there has been in this position before and they have been able to claw their way back into a series," San Jose forward Logan Couture said. "We know how important the next game is." Anaheim: The Ducks entered the postseason with the fewest goals of any of the 16 teams (235) and is now tasked with having to duplicate last season's series against Edmonton, when they dropped the first two at home before rally to prevail in seven games. Rickard Rakell, the team's leading goal (34) and overall scorer (69 points), has been limited to two shots on goal through the first two games.Goaltender John Gibson has allowed six goals on 69 (.913 SP) and has now lost six consecutive starts to the Sharks. San Jose: Gibson's counter, Martin Jones, won only once in his final five starts of the regulation season but he has turned away 53 of 55 shots in the series (.964 SP) and has surrendered only seven goals in five matchups against the Ducks this season. Captain Joe Pavelski (his 66 points were 2nd-best during the regular season for the Sharks) has collected three assists in the first two game and said a key factor for San Jose was to not get rattled by the relentless physical play of Anaheim. Logan Couture led San Jose this season with 34 goals and had a goal and an assist in Game 2. The pick: Not sure I see Anaheim duplicating its comeback vs. Edmonton from last year, considering the Sharks are 5-0-1 against them this season. The series shifts to Silicon Valley, where the Sharks won 11 of their final 16 games en route to a 25-13-3 home record. San Jose goalie Jones is 'in a zone' and I say NO comeback this year for the Ducks. Make San Jose a 10* play. |
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04-16-18 | Astros v. Mariners UNDER 8 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 15 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The Seattle Mariners open a four-game series against the visiting Houston Astros on Monday., coming off a 2-1 home loss on Sunday to the Oakland A's. That defeat ended a four-game winning streak in which the Mariners had plated 29 runs. The 8-5 Mariners find themselves 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Angels (13-3) in the AL West, with the Astros (last year's World Series champs) sittiing right in front of them at 10-6. Houston started 9-2 but Sunday's 3-1 home loss to the Rangers was the team's fourth loss in its last five. The 44-year-old Bartolo Colon retired 21 consecutive Astros before Carlos Correa drew a leadoff walk in the eighth inning and then Josh Reddick followed up witha double. The pitching matchup: Lefty Dallas Keuchel (0-2, 4.20 ERA) will seek his first win of the season for Houston, while Seattle will counter with another lefty, James Paxton (0-1, 5.74 ERA). This marks Keuchel's fourth start and the former Cy Young Award winner lasted only four innings in a 4-1 loss at Minnesota on Tuesday, surrendering three runs on six hits and four walks (second straight appearance in which he's allowed four walks). Keuchel has 15 career appearances against the Mariners, including 14 starts, going 8-5 with a 2.70 ERA. Paxton had a poor 2018 debut (4.2 IP / 6 hits / 4 walks / 6 ERs) but has bounced back with two solid outings. However, he remains winless on the season (team is 1-2). He has given up just two runs in each his last two starts, including a six-inning effort at Kansas City on Wednesday in which he matched his career high with 10 strikeouts but settled for a no-decision. Paxton owns a 3-3 record and 3.38 ERA in eight lifetime starts against Houston. The pick: Both of these two pitchers are overdue for an excellent start. Keuchel was the AL's Cy Young winner in 2015 (20-game winner) and last year, went 14-5 (2.90 ERA) in helping Houston win the World Series. As for Paxton, he took over the role of Seattle's ace last season, with King Felix making only 16 starts. Paxton entered the season primed for a big campaign after the oft-injured lefty put together his best season in 2017, finishing with career highs in wins, starts (24), innings (136) and strikeouts (156). He was named the AL's Pitcher of the Month in July when he won all six of his starts. He was 7-3 with a 2.45 ERA at home last season as opposed to 5-2 with a 3.66 mark on the road while allowing just nine HRs overall. Make the Under a 10* play. |
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04-16-18 | Predators -155 v. Avalanche | Top | 3-5 | Loss | -155 | 15 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The Colorado Avalanche went from the NHL's worst team a year ago (by a wide margin) to a team that went 43-30-9 this season, while earning the West's final wild card spot with 95 points (one more than the Blues' 94!). However, the Avs drew the Nashville Predators in the first round, a team which itself was an 8-seed in the West last season but made an impressive Stanley Cup run that didn't end until Game 6 of the Finals! Nashville built off last year's playoff success and entered this year's playoffs as the team with the most points (117) of any NHL club in the regular season. The Preds held serve in Games 1 and 2, winning 5-2 and 5-4. The series now shifts to Denver, with the Avalanche hoping that the Rocky Mountain air will breathe new life into this series. The Avalanche matched franchise records for consecutive home wins (10) and total victories on the season (28) but have dropped 12 straight to the Predators, after losing the first two of this series. Nashville: The Predators have spread their offense around in the first two games of the series, with eight players responsible for the team's 10 goals. Filip Forsberg (team leader with 64 points) and Austin Watson have each scored twice. Ryan Johansen scored in Game 2 to extend his point streak to four contests while defenseman P.K. Subban set up two goals on Saturday to boost his point total to seven (one goal, six assists) in his last eight outings. Viktor Arvidsson led Nashville this year with 29 goals and has one goal and one assists this series. Pelkka Rinne was a big reason Nashville advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals last year and is off a terrific regular season (42-13-4, 2.31 GAA & .927 SP). He looked 'ready for primetime " in Game 1 (25 saves & a .926 SP) but was not as sharp in Game 2 (4 goals allowed in 30 shots). Colorado: "We have been good there all season, we used our energy to our advantage," Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon said about playing in Denver. "We have won some big games at home. Everyone feels good coming to the Pepsi Center, and hopefully we can get some offense there." MacKinnon (team high 39 goals and 97 points) recorded his fourth multi-point performance of his postseason career with a goal and an assist in Saturday's Game 2 loss. MacKinnon has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last seven games and captain Gabriel Landeskog has seven (two goals, five assists) in that stretch after scoring and setting up a goal in Game 2. While the statistics are piling up, the wins are not. |
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04-15-18 | Golden Knights v. Kings OVER 5 | Top | 3-2 | Push | 0 | 16 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: It's been a record-setting inaugural season for the Vegas Golden Knights and the team is keeping things very interesting in its first-ever Stanley Cup playoff series. Vegas leads its best-of-seven series with the LA Kings 2-0, following up a tense 1-0 victory in the series opener with an even more dramatic win in Game 2, prevailing 2-1 in double overtime. “It’s a fun series right now,” Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant said. “Fun for us because we’re up 2-0 obviously. I’m sure they’re not too happy right now, but we’re going back to their building and we know it’s going to be a battle back there." Those comments make sense, as the Kings are hoping,"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!" The Kings certainly hope a return home will enable them to turn the tables on the Pacific Division champions and avoid falling into an 0-3 hole on Sunday night at the Staples Center.Vegas: Erik Haula had scored a combined 29 goals over his previous two seasons with the Minnesota Wild but matched that in his first campaign with Vegas, although nothing could equal the feeling of his double-OT game-winner on Friday night. "It's one of the best feelings in sports, I think, is finishing the game in that fashion," said Haula, the team's second-leading goal scorer. Alex Tuch scored the other goal, the Golden Knights' first on the power play against the Kings this season. Karlsson led the team in goals (43) and points (78) but is pointless in the first two games of the series. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury hasn't needed much help, with an 0.39 GAA average and .983 SP (one goal allowed in 60 shots) in the first two games.LA Kings: Star defenseman Drew Doughty will return from a one-game suspension for the Kings, who are not showing any signs of panic despite losing the longest game in franchise history. “It’s not devastating,” Los Angeles head coach John Stevens said. “We expended a lot of energy but it doesn’t matter if you win in regulation or in quadruple overtime, it still counts as one. They won their two home games so we have to go home and get to work.” Fleury's been spectacular but the Kings can't ask for much more from their goaltender, as Jonathan Quick, who turned aside 81 of 84 shots in Las Vegas and set a franchise playoff record with 54 saves in Game 2,.
The pick: Returning to Quick, the Kings have to be worried that they have put way too much pressure on him (84 shots on goal) and are well aware that the Goldn Knights are a dangerous offensive team and eventually, some of the shots will find the back of the net. "Must win" situation for the Kings and Fleury was more vulnerable this season away from home. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-15-18 | Wolves +11.5 v. Rockets | Top | 101-104 | Win | 100 | 14 h 10 m | Show |
The set: The Minnesota Timberwolves needed to win an OT contest at home vs. the Nuggets in the team's 82nd game of the regular season to end the NBA's longest playoff drought. Minnesota outlasted the Nuggets 112-106 on Wednesday, with that victory allowing the T-wolves to enter the postseason for the first time since 2004.However, there is no rest for the weary, as Minnesota draws the Houston Rockets, who completed the regular season with NBA-best record of 65-17, seven games better than the defending champion Warriors. Houston took all four meetings in the regular season against Minnesota with the Rockets also going 4-0 ATS. Minnesota: The T-wolves have been in "playoff mode" for some time and needed to win their last three regular-season games to stay alive and finally clinch a spot in the postseason. All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler returned for the three wins and lead the way on Wednesday, scoring 31 points. Minnesota hovered around the third or fourth spot in the West for much of the season before falling off when Butler went down with a knee injury. Butler's return sparked the team down the stretch. Butler is the team's best defender, while leading the team ins scoring at 22:2 PPG (he adds 5.3 RPG & 4.9 APG). Minnesota's starting-five is impressive, with Butler being joined by center Towns (21.3 & 12.3), SF Wiggins (17.7 & 4.4), PG Teague (14.2 & 7.0 APG) and PF Gibson (12.2 & 7.1). Houston: more than a few teams made significant off-season mobves in teh hopes of competing with teh Warriors but clearly, Houston turned out to be the one team which accomplished it. "We've enjoyed the year. It's been a great year," Houston head coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "Now it's time for the second phase of it. I think everybody's anxious to get started." Houston is led by James Harden, who is the odds-on favorite to win his first MVP award this season after leading the league in scoring at an average of 30.4 points, while grabbing 5.4 rebounds and adding 8.8 assists. The difference for the team this time around in the playoffs is that Harden has another future Hall of Famer in the backcourt with the addition of PG Chris Paul (18.6-5.4-7.9)., who is in awe of his teammate. Center Clint Capela also produced a "career season, " averaging 13.9 & 10.8., while leading the league in field goal percentage (65.2%). The Rockets finished the regular season second in the NBA by averaging 112.4 PPG (guess which team was 1st?). The pick: The Rockets blitzed the T-wolves four times during the regular season, claiming the first three meetings by 18 points each and led by 25 in a 129-120 road victory March 18. Houston, the most prolific three-point shooting team in the league by volume, hit 69 of 159 threes in those four games for a robust 43.4 percent. Considering that the Timberwolves finished 23rd in defensive efficiency during the regular season, any expectation that they might lock down the Rockets this series is foolhardy. Relying on Towns (he led the NBA with 68 double-doubles), who paced the team in points (1,743), rebounds (1,012), blocks (115) and three-pointers (120), plus Butler in the post, Minnesota might unlock a pace that could prevent Houston from its usually lethal combo of layups and open threes. Matching the Rockets offensively might be as sound a strategy as anything for the Timberwolves . If it's posible, Game 1 would be the perfect opportunity. I'm in! Make Minnesota a 10* play. |
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04-15-18 | Blue Jackets v. Capitals -149 | Top | 5-4 | Loss | -149 | 13 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: The 49-26-7 Washington Capitals didn't win the Presidents' Trophy this season (entered the season off back-to-back wins) but the team's 105 points were enough for them to capture their third consecutive Metropolitan Division title. Few teams can match the regular-season success of the Washington Capitals in recent years but Alex Ovechkin and company are more concerned with erasing a lengthy history of playoff flops. The Capitals have not been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1998 and have been drummed out of the playoffs in the second round in each of the past three seasons. The Capitals seemed to insist that they have less pressure this postseason than in years past, perhaps as a result of failing to win the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in three years. However, after winning 12 of 15 games heading into the playoffs, the Capitals once again were a Game 1 flop, losing 4-3 at home in OT to the Blue Jackets, a franchise which has never won a postseason series. Columbus: The Blue Jackets finished eight points behind Washington,after closing on a 13-2-2 run to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time as the East's No. 1 wild card team. The Blue Jackets were unable to get their offense un-tracked for much of the season but a trio of trade-deadline acquisitions were vital in the late-season surge. Columbus picked up forwards Thomas Vanek, Mark Letestu and defenseman Ian Cole. Columbus averaged more than a goal per game following the deals. Former Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin (franchise-record 82 points) scored 6:02 into overtime to cap his three-point performance for Columbus. Panarin became the first player in franchise history with three points in a playoff game."We traded away a really good player in (Brandon Saad) to get (Panarin)," Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella told NHL.com. "A different type of player, a guy that makes something out of nothing. Makes a great play on the tying goal and scores just a goal that a lot of people can't score in this league. That's sometimes the difference between winning and losing." Sergei Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner with 78 wins the last two seasons, stopped 27 shots for ColumbusWashington: Speaking of goaltenders, head coach Barry Trotz decided to bypass longtime No. 1 netminder Braden Holtby in favor of backup Philipp Grubauer for Game 1. He made his second postseason start in Game 1, allowing four goals on 27 shots for a poor .853 SP! That being said, former Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby will remain on the proverbial sideline as Philipp Grubauer has been confirmed to start in Game 2. "There was nothing in (Thursday's) game that you'd say, 'Why didn't you make a change?'" Trotz said of Grubauer, who has posted a 2.06 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in his last 31 games. "Philipp's been really good, and I thought in that game, we had the game and we kept letting them off the floor." The Capitals could have their entire roster healthy Sunday if fourth-line center Jay Beagle returns after missing Game 1 with an upper-body injury. In addition to his face-off prowess, Beagle plays significant time on the penalty kill. He practiced Saturday and said he hopes to play. The pick: I've never trusted the Caps (how can anyone?) but this sure feels like a game they should win. Bobrovsky was solid in net for Columbus in Game 1 but note he had a 3.04 goals-against average and .868 save percentage versus the Capitals in four regular season games. I'm hoping (betting) that the faith Trotz has in Grubauer is well-founded. Make Columbus an 88 play. |
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04-15-18 | Jazz v. Thunder UNDER 206 | Top | 108-116 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: Utah Jazz were one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the final two-plus months of the regular season. The Jazz were 19-28 after a loss at Atlanta on Jan. 22 but stormed back with a 29-6 mark down the stretch to seize the fifth seed in the West. They hope that positive mojo will carry over into the playoffs, which begins with a visit to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series on Sunday. The Thunder boast a trio of veteran stars led by Russell Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double for the second straight season. Oklahoma City won three of four matchups with the Jazz during the regular season, with Westbrook averaging 22.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 10.0 assists in the season series. The Thunder won 14 of their final 21 games and much of that late success came with the early-March signing of veteran Corey Brewer, who is questionable for the opener due to a sprained knee. Utah: The team's turnaround roughly coincided with Gobert's return from a knee injury and he was dominant at times during the stretch run, averaging 16.6 points on 68.2 percent shooting to go along with 12.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in March. However, Utah has leaned on dynamic rookie guard Donovan Mitchell all year, as he's averaged 20.5 points in his first season and has shown no signs of 'hitting a rookie wall,' by scoring above his average in 12 of the final 14 games of the regular season. Gobert averaged 13.5-10.7-2.3 BPG on the season and his return in late January, jump started Utah's turnaround, which depended so much on the team's defensive prowess. The Jazz allowed 99.8 PPG (2nd-best in the NBA) on 44.9% shooting (6th). Oklahoma City: Following a first-round exit last season during Westbrook's MVP campaign, Oklahoma City brought in forwards Paul George and Carmelo Anthony for support, and while it took time to develop, a strong finish has the team feeling pretty good entering the postseason. Westbrook (25.4-10.1-10.3), George (21.9 & 5.7) and Anthony (16.2 & 5.8) are clearly a dynamic trio but the Thunder saw defensive stopper Andre Roberson suffer a season-ending injury in late January. It eventually opened the door for Oklahoma City to sign Corey Brewer, who has averaged 10.1 PPG in 18 games. However, as noted above, he is questionable for the opener due to a sprained knee. The pick: The season series between these two teams as over by Dec. 23, as OKC won three straight over Utah in a 19-day span that month. Much has changed (for both teams) since and this marks the first meeting in the playoffs between the teams since 2000, when the Thunder franchise was located in Seattle. This could be a 'war' and my play is an 8* on the Under. |
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04-15-18 | Pacers v. Cavs -6.5 | Top | 98-80 | Loss | -106 | 9 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the regular season a disappointing 50-32. They enter the playoffs as the East's No. 4 seed but will be in search of earning their fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals (LBJ is looking for an 8th consecutive visit!). The Cavaliers will have homecourt advantage in the first round but after that, the Cavs would need some upsets to have homecourt advantage in any future series. In contrast to Cleveland, Indiana was a surprising contender for homecourt in the East behind All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, who led the team in averaging 21.3 PPG. "We've just got to go out there and play at a high level," Oladipo told reporters. "It's not going to be easy, but it ain't been easy all year for us. We've got to go out there with that mentality and try to win it. That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to go make it close and have fun, we're trying to win." Indiana did win three of the four meetings this season but all four came before Cleveland remade its roster at the trade deadline. Indiana: Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis were the key players the Pacers received from the Thunder in the Paul George deal. Oladipo has been terrific and in about 24 1/2 minutes per game, Sabonis has averaged 11.6 & 7.7. Indiana was swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Cavaliers last spring (with George!) but the Pacers are a different (better?) team this time around thanks to the presence of Oladipo and Sabonis, plus four other Pacers who average in double digits with Stephenson (9.2 & 5.2) and Joseph (7.9) also being regular contributors. Oladipo is now Indiana's best player plus Sabonis has teamed with fellow center Turner (12.7 & 6.4) to give the Pacers an excellent center combo. Collison is Indiana's new PG and he averaged 12.4 points and 5.4 assists, while leading the NBA with a 46.8 three-point field-goal percentage. Cleveland: The Cavs traded Kyrie Irving last summer for Isaiah Thomas, Ante Zizic, Jae Crowder, and two draft picks. The Cavs also signed Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade. Then, on Feb. 8, Thomas, Crowder, Rose, and Wade (and Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert) were all traded away for George Hill, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson. With a revamped roster, the Cavs battled through some inconsistency with the new rotations and injured players until putting everything together and finishing the regular season with wins in 11 of the last 14 games. Can the team's new dynamic work in the playoffs? Cleveland's advantage over every other team in the East is the presence of LBJ, who played in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career. James averaged career highs in rebounds (8.6) and assists (9.1) while adding 27.5 points on 54.2 percent shooting. The pick: I agree the Cavs look vulnerable and I also agree that the Pacers are better this season, than last. However, look at what LBJ-led teams have done in the first round of the NBA playoffs. They have won 21 games in a row in the opening round (an NBA record) and have never lost a first-round series (12-0), nor even a Game 1 of any first round. The last time his team lost any game in the first round was back May 6, 2012, when the Miami Heat lost by two to the New York Knicks in Game 4. Make the Cavs an 8* play. |
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04-15-18 | Cardinals -161 v. Reds | Top | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 8 h 35 m | Show |
The set-up: St. Louis Cardinals have outscored the Reds by a 24-8 margin in taking the first three of a four-game series in Cincinnati. The Cards have been able inch above .500 with this "mini-run," becoming just the latest team to take advantage of the struggling Reds, who own MLB's worst record (2-12) and will need to break a seven-game losing streak to avoid a four-game home sweep. Saturday's 6-1 win came behind seven strong innings from starter Miles Mikolas, with Greg Garcia producing two HRs and a double plus Tommy Pham going 3-for-4 with a walk for St. Louis, (1st time Cards have been above .500 in 2018). The loss gives Cincinnati its worse start since 1931, when the team lost 17 of its first 19 contests. The pitching matchup: Carlos Martinez (1-1, 2.41 ERA) will get the ball for the Cards and Homer Bailey (0-2, 3.24 ERA) gets teh nod for the Reds. Martinez has just one win after three starts but he's allowed only 14 hits and has 19 Ks through 18 2/3 innings. His problem has been allowing 10 walks, although the bulk of those came in a rocky season debut (4.1 IP / 4 hits / 6 walks / 4 ERs). Martinez is 6-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 19 career games (just eight starts) against Cincinnati,. Bailey has allowed only a run in six innings in two of his first three starts but his team is 0-3 in his outings. He struck out seven and yielded two hits in his six innings of work at Philadelphia on Tuesday, getting through a start without allowing a walk for the first time in 2018. However, Bailey has fared poorly in his career against the Cards, going 6-13 with a 5.86 ERA in 23 career starts. The pick: The Cardinals have been perennial playoff contenders but hardly looked like ones in opening 5-7. The Reds have given them a chance to gain some momentum (and some confidence) and St. Louis has done just that. Martinez had a shaky 2018 debut (see above) but he's rebounded by allowing just one run in 14 1/3 innings over his last two outings. That bodes well for the Cards, as his counterpart (Bailey) has been awful in his career against St. Louis (again, see above). Absolutely nothing has gone right for the Reds, who have not just been outscored 24-8 in this series vs. the Cards but by a margin of 45-17 during the team's seven-game slide. The Reds are coming off three consecutive last-place seasons in which they've averaged 95 losses and they are currently 'ahead' of that pace in 2018. Cincy is off to its worst start in 87 years, or since the Reds were also 2-12 in 1931, when they lost 96 times during a 154-game season. Make St. Louis an 8* play. |
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04-14-18 | Pelicans v. Blazers -5.5 | Top | 97-95 | Loss | -102 | 15 h 48 m | Show |
analysis soon |
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04-14-18 | Diamondbacks v. Dodgers -162 | Top | 9-1 | Loss | -162 | 13 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: Paraphrasing Britney Spears, "Oooops, the D'backs did it again!" Arizona led LA 5-1 by the third inning last night and held on for an 8-7 victory. Amazingly, it was the D'backs' 10th consecutive regular season win over the Dodgers, as Arizona improved to 10-3, Its best start 13-game start in franchise history. 3B Daniel Descalso hit cleanup for the first time in his career Friday and went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBI and LF David Peralta returned to the lead-off spot after missing two games due to a sore left hand to 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Closer Brad Boxberger finished up, recording his fifth save while extending his scoreless streak to 14 games dating back to last season.The loss dropped the defending NL champs to 4-8 plus they received a scare when Matt Kemp crashed into the wall on a HR. However, the veteran was diagnosed with a knee contusion and said he expects to play Saturday. Leadoff hitter Chris Taylor and first baseman Cody Bellinger each homered in Friday’s loss, as the Dodgers are battling a middling .238 (14th), while averaging a modest 3.83 RPG (19th). The pitching matchup: Arizona will send Taijuan Walker (0-0, 3.27 ERA) to the mound and he'll be opposed bu LA's Rich Hill (1-0, 2.70 ERA). Walker received a no-decision last Sunday dspite holding St. Louis to one run on three hits over six innings.This marks his third start and while he's searching for his first win of 2018 (he went 9-9 with ERA in hist first season with Arizona last year), the D'backs are 2-0 in his 2018 starts. Walker is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers. Hill tossed six shutout innings against San Francisco in his season debut to earn the 9-0 home win but he allowed three earned runs over four innings in last Saturday’s rematch against the Giants, getting a no-decision in a 7-5 LA loss. Hill has battled blister problems over the past two years but the Dodgers won 14 of his last 21 starts in 2017, before going 3-1 in his four postseason starts. The bad news for LA is, Hill has posted a 1-5 record with a 4.78 ERA in nine career starts against the Diamondbacks. The pick: Will the Dodgers ever beat the D'backs? Of course they will, but when? How about right here? The Dodgers were a dominating and MLB-best 57-24 in their home park last season and while Hill posted a 4.06 ERA in 11 road starts last season, his ERA in 14 outings at Dodger Stadium was 2.77 ERA. His first home start of 2018 went well (see above), so I'm saying. ":second verse, same as the first." Make LA a 10* play. |
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04-14-18 | Maple Leafs +1.5 v. Bruins | Top | 3-7 | Loss | -185 | 12 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The Boston Bruins were the best team in hockey for a long stretch of the season but with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference there for the taking at home last Sunday against the Panthers, Boston lost 4-2. In fact, the Bruins lost four of their final five games, including that season-ending loss to Florida. However, they showed no carry-over effects from their late-season slump in their playoff opener. The Bruins turned in a dominating performance (40 shots on goal) in a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Toronto's chances of earning a split in Boston and climbing back into the series received a jarring setback when 32-goal scorer Nazem Kadri was handed a three-game suspension Friday for a dangerous hit on Bruins forward Tommy Wingels in the third period. The 49-26-7 Toronto Maple Leafs finished 3rd in Atlantic, led by an offense which averaged 3.29 GPG (4th). Toronto: Head coach Mike Babcock shuffled three of his four lines at Friday's practice, anticipating the suspension of Kadri. Former overall No. 1 pick Auston Matthews missed 20 games to injury in his second season but still finished second on the team with 34 goals (points) and showed no rust in his return from a month-long absence, collecting at least one point in his final nine games. However, he, along with his teammates, were quiet in Game 1. Kadri was expected to be a big key for Toronto and his absence will hurt. Frederik Andersen is a quality goalie and went 38-21-5 during the regular season (2.81 GAA & .918 SP). However, he was peppered with 40 shots and allowed five goals in Game 1 (.875 SP). Boston: The Bruins were clearly slumping at the wrong time but they were superb in Game 1. After all, they still finished with 112 points, won at least four straight on five different occasions and amassed an 18-game point streak. Boston's No. 1 line has set the tone all season and little changed in Game 1 as David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron combined for six points, with Pastrnak scoring once and setting up a pair of goals. Bergeron, Brad Marchand (team-high 85 points) and David Pastrnak (team-high 35 goals) each scored at least 30 goals aduring the regular season. Former Vezina Trophy winner Tuukka Rask put together point streaks of 21 (19-0-2) and 11 games (10-0-1) but entered the playoffs having lost his last three starts, including that very important game last Sunday to Florida on home ice. He was sure fine in Game 1, stopping 26 of 27 shots (.963 SP). The pick: I'm not ready to bury the Maple Leafs just yet. Frederick Andersen entered the season a perfect 9-0-0 against Boston and won two of three matchups this season, surrendering a combined eight goals.He was far from at his best in Game 1 but it was hardly all his fault. I'm going to again take the 1 1/2 goals (I did in Game 1, as well) with Toronto and make them an 8* play. |
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04-14-18 | Heat v. 76ers UNDER 212.5 | Top | 103-130 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The Philadelphia 76ers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. "The Process" has been roundly mocked in recent years, as the 76ers entered the 2017-18 season having won 19, 18, 10 and 28 games the previous four seasons. However, behind the play of All-Star center Joel Embiid (22.9 & 11.) and ROY candidate Ben Simmons (15.8-8.1-8.2, the 76ers finished this year's regular season 52-30 to earn the East's No. 3 seed. They will open postseason play tonight at home, on the heels of a franchise-record 16-game winning streak. Philly's opponent, the 44-38 Miami Heat, earned the No. 6 seed after just missing out on the postseason last year when the team's 41-41 record lost out in a tie-breaker to the 41-41 Chicago Bulls. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra has now led his squad into the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 seasons. "We feel we're battle-tested," Spoelstra told reporters. "I don't know if there's a team right now in the league more battle-tested than us in close games." Miami ended the regular season winners of five of eight. Miami: All-Star point guard Goran Dragic missed the regular-season finale with a bone bruise in his right knee but indicated that he expects to be in the lineup for Saturday's opener. Dragic leads in scoring (17.3) and assists (4.8) and his fitness will be crucial as he will be called on to slow down standout Philadelphia rookie Ben Simmons. Miami's strength is that the heat can throw a pair of stout centers at their opponents. Hassan Whiteside (14.0 & 11.4) is one of the league's best defenders and rookie Bam Adebayo (6.9 & 5.5 in less than 20 PG) is one of the league's best rebounders per 48 minutes. 76ers head coach Brett Brown noted about Miam's two centers, "They are tremendous rim protectors. You better go to jump or you better find perimeter shooters, because anything soft or non-purposeful is very difficult with those two bodies in there." Philadelphia; Simmons recorded 10 or more assists on 10 occasions during Philadelphia's 16-game winning streak. He recorded 12 triple-doubles, second all-time among rookies behind legendary Oscar Robertson (26 in 1960-61) and either Simmons or Utah guard Donovan Mitchell will win Rookie of the Year honors. The 76ers have surprsied all by winning all eight games in which Joel Embiid has missed since he broke an orbital bone. It's been confirmed that Embiid will miss the beginning of the playoffs as he recovers but that is doing little to dampen Philadelphia's spirits."We prepare the same way we've been preparing the last seven or so games without him," said Simmons, who has averaged a triple-double over the last month. "Stick with our defense, stick with our offense. We're ready to play; I love stepping up and playing against the best competition." The pick: The two teams split their four regular season games, with all taking place during a five-week stretch from early February to early March. Philadelphia won at home, 103-97, on Feb. 2, followed by a 104-102 Miami road win on Feb. 14. The teams met again two weeks later in Miami, with the 76ers scoring a 102-101 win and then the Heat closed out the season series with a 108-99 home win on March 8. Doing some quick math, the four contestes averaged 20.4.0 PPG, which is about a 'TD' lower than this over/under. Philly figures to be tight in the team's first playoff game since 2011 and I'm making the Under an 8* play. |
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04-14-18 | Pirates -153 v. Marlins | Top | 1-0 | Win | 100 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The Miami Marlins earned a 7-2 win last night at home over the Pirates in the series opener of a three-game set. It was just the second win in the last nine games for Miami, whose 4-9 record is better than only the 2-11 Cincinnari Reds in the National League. The Pirates lost for the second time in seven road contests this season and will look to bounce back tonight, after opening the 2018 season a surprising 9-4 (sit atop of the NL Central). J.B. Shuck went 4-for-4 with two runs scored in his first game for the Marlins and his first contest in the majors since 2016. Meanwhile, the top-five hitters in the Pittsburgh lineup were a combined 1-for-18 with six strikeouts and catcher Elias Diaz provided all the offense with a two-run HR in the fifth. The Pirates entered the day leading the National League in runs scored but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The pitching matchup: The Pirates had the ball to Jameson Taillon (2-0, 1.26 ERA), while the Marlins counter with Trevor Richards (0-1, 8.64 ERA). Taillon is coming off a one-hit shutout of Cincinnati last Sunday at home, using 110 pitches to complete the gem, while striking out seven. Taillon also won his 2018 debut, yielding only two runs and four hits across 5 1/3 innings while tying a career high with nine strikeouts, as the Pirates beat the Twins 5-4. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft but until last Sunday, had not made it into the ninth in his first two seasons. The 26-year-old allowed one run in five innings to get the win in his only prior career start against the Marlins last April in Miami. Richards failed to complete five innings in either of his first two career starts, after allowing three runs in four innings in a no-decision at Philadelphia on Sunday. The 24-year-old Richards posted a 2.53 ERA in 27 games (25 starts) across two levels in the minors last season. The pick: This could very well be a breakout season for Taillon (that's my prediction) and he couldn't ask for much more of a 'lightweight' opponent in the Marlins to face in looking for his third win of 2018. Miami is just 3-7 at home and Taillon's teammates come in averaging 6.14 RPG on the road so far in 2018 and get to face a struggling rookie in Richards, who not only owns an 'ugly' 8.64 ERA but a whopping 2.16 WHIP, plus opponents are hitting .389 against him (he's allowed five doubles and a HR in his first 8 1/3 innings). The Marlins have yet to win back-to-back games in 2018 and WON"T on Saturday, either. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play. |
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04-14-18 | Avalanche v. Predators UNDER 5.5 | Top | 4-5 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The Avalanche went from the NHL's worst team a year ago (by a wide margin) to a team that went 43-30-9 this season, while earning the West's final wild card spot with 95 points (one more than the Blues' 94!). However, the Avs drew the Nashville Predators in the first round, a team which itself was an 8-seed in the West last season but made an impressive Stanley Cup run that didn't end until Game 6 of the Finals! Nashville built off last year's playoff success and enters this year's playoffs as the team with the most points (117) of any NHL club in the regular season. Game 1 of this series went to Nashville 5-2 on Thursday, as the Presidents' Trophy-winning Predators earned their 10th straight victory over Colorado. Colorado: The Avalanche weren't in awe of the Predators and seized a 2-1 lead early in the second period, before folding. "I think the first two periods we outplayed them for big parts of it," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said. "We've got a big one here on Saturday. We're going to try to steal that one and get them back to the Pepsi Center where we're really good." The Avalanche's top line of Mikko Rantanen, potential Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog were not too good in the opener, however, finishing with a collective minus-6 rating. MacKinnon led the etam during the regular season in goals (39) and points (97), Rantanen was second in points (84) and Landeskog third (62). Nashville: Fi lip Forsberg (team-high 64 points) scored twice in the opener, giving him 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in his last 12 games overall and 28 points (17 goals, 11 assists) in the postseason to match defenseman Shea Weber and David Legwand for the most in franchise history. The 23-year-old Swede has flustered Colorado to the tune of 15 goals and 11 assists in 21 career encounters. Ryan Johansen notched a pair of assists to boost his point total to 10 (three goals, seven assists) in his past 11 games, while fellow forward Austin Watson joined Colton Sissons by scoring and setting up a goal, giving Watson eight points (five goals, three assists) in his past 15 outings.Viktor Arvidsson led the team with 29 goals during the regular season. Likely Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne turned aside 25 shots in Game 1 to move past Antti Niemi for the most playoff wins by a goaltender born in Finland. The pick: Pelkka Rinne was a big reason Nashville advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals last year and off a terrific regular season (42-13-4, 2.31 GAA & .927 SP), looked 'ready for primetime " in Game 1 (25 saves & a .926 SP). Nashville is now 29-9-2 at Bridgestone Arena, where it is allowing only 2.42 GPG. Colorado is averaging a modest 2.67 GPG on the road. Make the Under a 10* play. |
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04-13-18 | Diamondbacks v. Dodgers -132 | Top | 8-7 | Loss | -132 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the National League West in each of the last five seasons and in the 2017 postseason, easily dispatched the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game sweep in the NLDS. However, there can be no question that the Diamondbacks have enjoyed the upper hand in their divisional rivalry with the Dodgers as of late. Not when one looks at the fact that the Diamondbacks, who visit Dodger Stadium on Friday to open a three-game series, will be seeking a 10th straight regular-season victory against the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks continued to their recent regular-season mastery of the Dodgers early last week, winning in 15 innings in the opener before yielding a total of one run and five hits over the final two contests to conclude a third straight sweep of the defending division champions with victories of 6-1 and 3-0. Los Angeles did get the last laugh against Arizona last year by sweeping the Diamondbacks in three games during the NLDS but came up short in the 2017 World Series in Game 7 vs. Houston. LA is just 4-7 to open the 2018 season and has yet to win more than two games in a row this season. The Dodgers' pitching staff is also licking its wounds after allowing 16 runs on 21 hits in Wednesday's home loss against Oakland. In contrast, Arizona is off to a 9-3 start, while owning a 2.72 team ERA (3rd-best in MLB) that includes a 1.69 ERA by its bullpen (2nd-best). The pitching matchup: Zack Greinke (0-1, 5.06 ERA), who pitched for LA from 2013-15, will get the start for Arizona and Kenta Maeda (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for LA. Greinke struggled in the sub-40 degree conditions in St. Louis on Saturday, surrendering five runs on nine hits while striking out five in as many innings. The former Cy Young Award winner has yet to make it through six innings or throw more than 86 pitches in his two 2018 starts but one also needs to note that he owns a 14-0 KW ratio through 10 2/3 innings. Greinke went 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts against his former team last season and is 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three starts at Dodger Stadium since joining Arizona in 2016. Maeda made his first start of the season back on since March 31 but he was skipped in the rotation due to a rainout on April 6, before pitching one inning of relief at San Francisco on Saturday, In his lone 2018 start, he allowed five hits and a walk over five innings but didn't allow a run against the Giants, while striking out 10! However, he was 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in five starts against the Diamondbacks last season (Dodgers were 1-4). He is 3-3 lifetime against the Diamondbacks with a 4.72 ERA in 11 starts (LA is 4-7). The pick: Maeda's career number vs. Arizona are not good (see above) plus as noted, the D'backs have won NINE straight regular season meetings with the Dodgers. However, the Dodgers were a dominating and MLB-best 57-24 in their home park last season. The team's slow start to the current season is no more than mild concern and I'll make LA a 10* play. |
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04-13-18 | Kings v. Golden Knights OVER 5 | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: The Vegas Golden Knights set one record after another in its inaugural season and then in the team's first ever Stanley Cup playoff game, edged the LA Kings 1-0. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury 'pitched' a 30-save shutout, making Shea Theodore's first priod goal stand up. The teams are set for Game 2 tonight inb Las Vegas and the Kings will look to avoid falling into an '0-2 hole' but will be without one of their elite players. LA's top defenseman, Drew Doughty, was suspended one game by the NHL on Thursday for an illegal hit to the head of Vegas forward William Carrier. "I mean, he's the best defenseman in the League," Kings forward Dustin Brown said after learning of Doughty's punishment. "So it's a huge hole." Los Angeles: The suspension of 2016 Norris Trophy winner Doughty is a massive blow for Los Angeles, robbing the team of a player who established career highs this season with 50 assists and 60 points and who routinely plays huge minutes (28:02 in Game 1). Complicating matters for the Kings is the absence of fellow blue-liner Jake Muzzin, who has been sidelined since March 26 and skated Thursday wearing a non-contact jersey. Captain Anze Kopitar is among the front-runners for the Hart Trophy, rebounding from a dismal 52-point campaign in 2016-17 to amass a career-best 92 points (35 goals / 57 assists), 31 more than second-leading scorer Dustin Brown (28 goals / 31 assists). A difference-maker for the Kings could be veteran forward Jeff Carter, who missed more than four months with a lacerated tendon but scored 13 goals in the final 20 games, including in each of the last two matchups versus Vegas (both LA wins). Jonathan Quick had a career-high 28 losses (33-28-3, 2.40 GAA), but the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner posted a .921 save percentage and five shutouts in backboning a defense that surrendered the fewest goals (203 or 2.46 per) in the league, helped by the league's best penalty-kill unit (85.0%). However, the Kings can't win if they don't score. Vegas: The one player on the roster with ample playoff experience for Vegas is Fleury and he stood tall in the series opener to register his 11th career postseason shutout. “He was great,” said defenseman Shea Theodore, who netted the only goal. Theodore had two goals and eight points in 14 playoff games with Anaheim last season Forward Reilly Smith was sidelined for 15 games before returning for the regular-season finale and joins 43-goal scorer William Karlsson (78 points) and 27-goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault (75 points) on a top line that combined for 13 points in the four matchups against Los Angeles. Center David Perron (66 points, including a team-high 50 assists in 70 games) sat out the final six games but practiced both Monday and Tuesday. However, he did not play in Game 1. His status remains unclear for Game 2. The pick: I don't see another 1-0 game here and in fact, expect a high-scoring one. Fleury was great in Game 1 but note he was pulled from the team's last regular season game, after stopping just 12 of the 18 shots he faced. Vegas' strength this season has been its ability to put the puck in the net, averaging 3.27 GPG (5th-best in the NHL). That average jumps to 3.56 GPG here at T-Mobile Arena. Expect the Kings to play much better and for Vegas' top players (scorers) to 'join the fight.' Make teh Over a 10* play. |
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04-13-18 | Braves v. Cubs -220 | Top | 4-0 | Loss | -220 | 6 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The Atlanta Braves came into the 2018 season off winning 67, 68 and 72 games the previous three years, so the team's 7-5 start is mildly surprising. The Braves have held their own against some of the National League’s best teams, splitting six games with the Nats (97 wins in 2017) and taking two of three from the Rockies (87 wins). Atlanta will face another big test with a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs that begins Friday. The Cubs won 103 games and then the 2016 World Series and followed with 92 wins and a second straight NL Central crown last season. However, Chicago's had an inconsistent start in 2018, evidenced by it losing 8-5 on Tuesday in the first of its three-games series with Pittsburgh, then winning on Wednesday 13-5 by scoring a season-high in runs but losing the series finale on Thursday, 6-1. The Cubs have hovered around .500 out of the gate and are back there at 6-6 heading into this weekend's series against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. The Braves come into Friday's contest having had a much-needed day off Thursday, after concluding their three-game series at Washington with a 5-3 win in 12 innings. Atlanta’s bats have cooled off after a hot start, as the team has scored a total of only 12 runs over its last five games after averaging eight per game in its first seven contests. The pitching matchup: Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will get teh ball fro Atlanta and the Cubs will turn to their biggest off-season acquisition, Yu Darvish (0-0, 5.23 ERA). Sanchez beagan his career with the Marlins and threw a no-hitter for them in a 2–0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 6, 2006. Sanchez is hoping to revive his career after a couple of rough years to end his tenure with Detroit and the 34-year-old worked three strong innings of relief in his Braves debut (April 2) plus was effective in his first start for Atlanta this past Saturday at Colorado, allowing two runs and seven hits with six strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision (Braves lost 3-2). Sanchez is 3-2 with a 3.82 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs, with the last occurring in 2015. Darvish was far from sharp in his Chicago debut, allowing five ERs in 4 1/3 innings but was dominant in his second start with the Cubs. He registered nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits – including a solo homer – over six innings Saturday at Milwaukee. Darvish will be facing the Braves for the first time in his career. The pick: The Braves are wrapping up a nine-game road trip with these three games in Wrigley Field and the Braves are just 4-9 against the Cubs the last two seasons, including just 1-6 in 2017. Darvish looked very good in his last outing (plus Atlanta's bats have gone quiet) and I'm not even a little bit convinced that Sanchez has 'anything left in his tank!' Make the Cubs a 6* play. |
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04-12-18 | Sharks v. Ducks -137 | Top | 3-0 | Loss | -137 | 27 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: The 44-25-13 Anaheim Ducks' 101 points were good enough for a second-place finish in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, the 45-27-10 San Jose Sharks ended the regular season with 100 points to finish third in the Pacific. That sets up a first round showdown between the two division rivals, who will be meeting in the postseason for only the second time ever. The teams square off tonight at Hond Center, coming into the contest heading in opposite directions as the regular season came to a close. While teh Ducks earned points in 11 of their final 12 games (10-1-1), the Sharks floundered down the stretch, losing five of their final six contests (1-4-1). The Sharks won three of the four regular-season meetings, including both games in Anaheim, but the Ducks upset San Jose in the lone playoff meeting, winning their 2009 first-round series in six games. San Jose: Evander Kane proved to be a nice addition for San Jose as he recorded nine goals and five assists in 17 games after being acquired from Buffalo. Kane finished one goal shy of the career high of 30 he set in 2011-12 while with Winnipeg and returned to the lineup for the regular-season finale, after missing two games with an undisclosed injury. Defenseman Brent Burns finished with a team-high 67 points (including 55 assists), after notching two goals and 10 assists over his final 10 contests. That left him one point ahead of team captain Joe Pavelski's 66 points. Logan Couture led the team with 34 goals. San Jose's No. 1 goalie is Martin Jones and he reached 30 wins for the third time in as many seasons with the club, despite a career-worst 2.55 GAA. Aaron Dell, who won 15 games in his second season, has never played a minute in the postseason. Anaheim: The Ducks expect to have John Gibson in the crease for the opener, as the goaltender began practicing Monday after missing the final three games of the regular season with an upper-body injury. He was playing well before suffering his injury April 1 against Colorado, going 14-4-2 with a 1.95 goals-against average after the All-Star break. However, considering his numbers at home this season, Ryan Miller would be a more than acceptable option to start the opener as the veteran backup went 7-0-2 with a 1.97 GAA in 10 games at Honda Center. Rickard Rakell led the team in the regular season with career highs of 34 goals and 69 points, while captain Ryan Getzlaf tied a career low with 11 goals, but also put up 50 assists. He appeared in only 56 games, as he missed 19 between late October and mid-December after facial surgery. The pick: The Ducks are clearly playing better hockey right now and regardless of which goalie gets the nod (Gison or Miller), Anaheim is 26-10-5 at home this season. San Jose limps into the postseason and has been outscored 2.93-to-2.73 GPG on the road, despite its 20-14-7 away record. Make Anaheim an 8* play. |
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04-12-18 | Giants v. Padres OVER 7.5 | Top | 7-0 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 30 m | Show |
The set-up: The 4-9 San Diego Padres return home to open a four-game series against the 5-6 San Francisco Giants on Thursday. The Padres went 3-3 against Houston and Colorado but ended their trip with a benches-clearing brawl Wednesday at Coors Field, when Luis Perdomo threw behind Nolan Arenado in the third inning, resulting in five ejections. Perdomo’s early exit came one day after Padres outfielder Manuel Margot was hit by Scott Oberg, forcing him to the disabled list with bruised ribs The Padres are an 'ugly' 1-6 so far at Petco Park in 2018 and welcome the Giants to San Diego, as San Francisco begins an 11-day, 10-game road trip after dropping two of three against Arizona, including Wednesday’s 7-3 loss. The pitching matchup: Chris Stratton (0-1, 4.35 ERA) takes the hill for the Giants and the Padres will hand the ball to Bryan Mitchell (0-1, 4.22 ERA). Stratton's appearance will be his first in 2018 against a team other than the Dodgers. He's allowed a total of six runs (five earned) on nine hits over 10 1/3 innings against LA (Giants won one and lost one). Stratton has bounced between the minors and majors for the last two seasons but earned a spot in the rotation after posting a 3.29 ERA over 27 1/3 innings this spring, while drawing raves for his improved curveball. Stratton owns a 1-1 record with a 6.43 ERA in two career games (one start) across seven innings against the Padres. Mitchell bounced back from a rough Padres debut against Colorado (8 hits & 5 ERs over 5 IP) by holding Houston scoreless over 5 2/3 innings last Saturday. He was acquired from the New York Yankees during the off-season and the 26-year-old will be making his first career appearance against San Francisco. The pick: These NL West rivals play the first of their 19 meetings this season tonight, as the Padres open a seven-game homestand (Giants are beginning a 10-game road trip). It's true that the Giants come in averaging a MLB-low 3.00 RPG but San Diego's start at home has been dreadful. The Padres are allowing 5.14 RPG at Petco, a pitcher-friendly park, leading to their 1-6 home mark. No reason to think Mitchell will improve on San Diego's home pitching so far, as he's made a modest 50 career appearances (just 11 starts), posting a 4.87 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. As for Stratton, his "solid spring" has yet to carry over to the regular season. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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04-12-18 | Blue Jackets v. Capitals UNDER 5.5 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -115 | 24 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: The 49-26-7 Washington Capitals didn't win the Presidents' Trophy this season (entered the season off back-to-back wins) but the team's 105 points were enough for them to capture their third consecutive Metropolitan Division title. Few teams can match the regular-season success of the Washington Capitals over the past few year but Alex Ovechkin and company are more concerned with erasing a lengthy history of playoff flops. The Capitals have not been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1998 and have been drummed out of the playoffs in the second round in each of the past three seasons. Washington will face a familiar rival when it hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in Game 1 of their first-round series.The 45-30-7 Blue Jackets finished eight points behind Washington,after closing on a 13-2-2 run to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time as the East's No. 1 wild card team. However, Columbus has never won a postseason series. Columbus: The Blue Jackets were unable to get their offense untracked for much of the season but a trio of trade-deadline acquisitions were vital in the late-season surge. Columbus picked up orwards Thomas Vanek, Mark Letestu and defenseman Ian Cole. Columbus averaged more than a goal per game following the deals. Columbus will also need to rely on two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, who has notched 78 wins over the past two seasons but was 1-3-0 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .868 save percentage versus the Capitals this season. Washington: Ovechkin rebounded from a 33-goal campaign in 2016-17 to score 49 this season, claiming his seventh Rocket Richard Trophy (player with the most goals). However, hanging over his head is that he also is one of seven players in this postseason to appear in 1,000 games and have not win the Stanley Cup. However, the Russian standout is storyline No. 2 for Washington following the decision by head coach Barry Trotz to bypass longtime No. 1 netminder Braden Holtby in favor of backup Philipp Grubauer, who will make only his second postseason start in Game 1. Grubauer went 7-3-0 with a 2.31 goals-against average down the stretch. The pick: Considering Washington's longstanding playoff flops, who can blame Trotz for his Game 1 decision, especially with Grubauer playing so well. Bobrovsky's 3-10 playoff record (3.63 GAA and .887 save percentage) is somewhat concerning but I'm still saying make the Under an 8* play. |
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04-12-18 | Maple Leafs +1.5 v. Bruins | Top | 1-5 | Loss | -208 | 24 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The 49-26-7 Toronto Maple Leafs (3rd in Atlantic) will open their seven-game first round series with the 50-20-12 Boston Bruins (2nd in the Atlantic) Thursday night at the TD Garden. The high-scoring Maple Leafs (3.29 GPG ranks 4th), will present a tough test for Boston, as they won three of four against Bruins this season and pushed top-seeded Washington to six games a year ago. "We're just not happy to be here," Toronto coach Mike Babcock said. "The guys got a real belief in the room. They've earned the right, because of the way the season's gone, to feel like that. So, I think that's a little bit different feeling than we had at this time (last year)." Boston was the best team in hockey for a long stretch of the season but with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference there for the taking at home last Sunday against the Panthers, Boston lost 4-2. In fact, the Bruins lost four of their final five games, including that season-ending loss to Florida. Toronto: Former overall No. 1 pick Auston Matthews missed 20 games to injury in his second season but still finished second on the team with 34 goals (points) and showed no rust in his return from a month-long absence, collecting at least one point in his final nine games. A big key for Toronto could be the No. 2 line centered by Nazem Kadri, who matched a career best with 32 goals and is joined by veteran Patrick Marleau (27 goals) and second-year forward Mitch Marner, the team's leading scorer with 69 points. Frederik Andersen is a quality goalie and went 38-21-5 during the regular season (2.81 GAA & .918 SP). Boston: The Bruins clearly slumped at the wrong time in the season's final five games but they still finished with 112 points, won at least four straight on five different occasions and amassed an 18-game point streak. The Bruins have been one of the NHL's better defensive teams (2.57 GPG allowed ranks 4th) but they alos own more than enough offensive firepower. The No. 1 line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand (team-high 85 points) and David Pastrnak (team-high 35 goals) saw each score at least 30 goals and were the team's top three point producers. Forward Rick Nash, acquired in a blockbuster trade with the New York Rangers, practiced for the last two days after missing the final 12 games due to a concussion and is expected back in the lineup. Former Vezina Trophy winner Tuukka Rask put together point streaks of 21 (19-0-2) and 11 games (10-0-1) but enters having lost his last three starts, including that very important game last Sunday to Florida on home ice. The pick: Speaking of home ice, the Bruins went an impressive 28-8-5 at home this season, averaging 3.59 GPG. However, Frederik Toronto's Frederik Andersen entered the season a perfect 9-0-0 against Boston and won two of three matchups this season, surrendering a combined eight goals. Meanwhile, not only has Rask stumbled in his last three starts (allowing 11 goals) but he has just one win in his last six starts against the Maple Leafs the last two seasons. Take the 1 1/2 goals and make Toronto a 6* play. |
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04-12-18 | Pirates v. Cubs -175 | Top | 6-1 | Loss | -175 | 7 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: The Pirates and Cubs were postponed by bad weather on Monday and then Pittsburgh took Tuesday's rescheduled game, 8-5.The Cubs bounced back Wednesday night, banging out 16 hits in a 13-5 victory that evened the series. Every starting position player recorded at least one hit, including Javier Baez, who became the first Cubs player with consecutive multi-homer performances since Alfonso Soriano in 2008 and the first player in the majors to accomplish the feat this season. Baez now has four HRs in his last eight at-bats! The teams will play the rubber game of the series this afternoon, as the Pirates look to avoid suffering their first series loss of the year. The 8-3 Pirates have yet to lose back-to-back games this season while the 6-5 Cubs hope to move two games over .500 for the first time in 2018. The pitching matchup: Pittsburgh's Trevor Williams (2-0, 1.59 ERA) puts his perfect start to 2018 on the line this afternoon, opposed by Chicago's Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 4.09 ERA). Williams threw six hitless innings in a 1-0 win at Detroit on April 1 but issued five walks and struggled to command the strike zone. He then allowed 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings but only two runs in his second outing, a 14-3 win at home over Cincinnati this past Friday. Williams makes his third start of 2018 today. However, in five career games (three starts) against the Cubs, he has not been at his best. He is 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA in 18 2/3 innings. During that span, he has walked 10 and struck out 13. Hendricks has been on the wrong end of a pair of one-run games to open 2018.the season (both Chicago losses and no-decisions for him). He gave up a pair of HRs the last time out, allowing four runs and nine hits over five innings in a 5-4 loss at Milwaukee. Hendricks took a no-decision in his season-opener in Miami on March 30, allowing four hits and one run over six innings of a 2-1 Chicago loss. In 10 career starts against Pittsburgh, Hendricks is 4-2 with a 3.23 ERA. He has struck out 49 and walked nine in 55 2/3 innings. Last year, he went 1-1 in three starts against the Pirates, allowing five runs in 17 2/3 innings for a 2.55 ERA. The pick: Hard-fought series are nothing new to these division rivals, as despite Chicago finishing 17 games better than Pittsburgh in 2017, the Cubs barely edged the Pirates for a 10-9 season-series win. This marks Williams' second full season and he's coming off a 7-9 (4.07 ERA) mark in 31 appearances (25 starts) in 2017. Meanwhile, Hendricks was the third-place finisher in the 2016 National League Cy Young Award voting (16-8, 2.13 ERA) and is 38-22 in his career. He's also been outstanding at home in his career, going 19-9 with a 2.48 ERA in 50 games (49 starts) at Wrigley Field. Make Chicago an 8* play. |
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04-11-18 | Kings +120 v. Golden Knights | Top | 0-1 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 31 m | Show |
analysis soon |
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04-11-18 | Kings v. Golden Knights OVER 5.5 | Top | 0-1 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 12 m | Show |
The set-up: The Vegas Golden Knights completed a record-setting regular season for a first-year club, going 51-24-7 to win the Pacific Division, while their 109 points were the fourth-most of any team in the entire NHL. After shattering a slew of league records for a first-year team, the Golden Knights prepare for their first foray into the postseason when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.The 45-29-8 LA Kings finished fourth in the Pacific Division but the team's 98 points were enough to enable them to claim the top wild card spot in the West. The Golden Knights dominated Pacific foes, posting a 20-6-3 mark in division play (including two meaningless losses to close the season), and split the four-game series with the Kings, although they dropped both ends of a home-and-home on Feb. 26-27. Los Angeles has not won a postseason series in a while, but it is accustomed to the bright lights, having won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. LA Kings: Captain Anze Kopitar is among the front-runners for the Hart Trophy, rebounding from a dismal 52-point campaign in 2016-17 to amass a career-best 92 points (35 goals / 57 assists), 31 more than second-leading scorer Dustin Brown (28 goals / 31 assists). A difference-maker for the Kings could be veteran forward Jeff Carter, who missed more than four months with a lacerated tendon but scored 13 goals in the final 20 games, including in each of the last two matchups versus Vegas (both LA wins). Jonathan Quick had a career-high 28 losses (33-28-3, 2.40 GAA), but the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner posted a .921 save percentage and five shutouts in backboning a defense that surrendered the fewest goals (203 or 2.46 per) in the league, helped by the league's best penalty-kill unit (85.0%).. Vegas: If it's true that goaltending is the name of the game in the playoffs, then Vegas has an elite one in Marc-Andre Fleury, who won three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and piled up a 29-13-4 record (2.24 GAA & .927 SP) this season despite missing two months due to a concussion. Forward Reilly Smith was sidelined for 15 games before returning for the regular-season finale and joins 43-goal scorer William Karlsson (78 points) and 27-goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault (75 points) on a top line that combined for 13 points in the four matchups against Los Angeles. Center David Perron (66 points, including a team-high 50 asssists in 70 games) sat out the final six games but practiced both Monday and Tuesday. However, his status remains unclear for the series opener. The pick: The expansion Vegas Golden Knights were the feel-good story of the regular season but the question before us now is can they continue their storybook season in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Vegas opened was an eye-popping 27-9-2 as of Jan. 2 but sputtered down the stretch, including an 8-3 home loss to New Jersey and also a 7-1 season-ending clunker at Calgary, a game in which Fleury was pulled from after stopping just 12 of the 18 shots he faced. Both teams will send out playoff-tested goaltenders but Vegas' strength this season has been its ability to put the puck in the net, averaging 3.27 GPG (5th-best in the NHL). That average jumps to 3.56 GPG here at T-Mobile Arena, which should be rockin' for the club's first-ever playoff game. The play is a 10* on the Over. |
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04-11-18 | Angels v. Rangers UNDER 10.5 | Top | 7-2 | Win | 100 | 12 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The Los Angeles Angels have scored 19 runs while banging out 31 hits in taking the first two of a three-game series against the Rangers in Arlington. The team's 9-3 record is tied for the best 12-game start in franchise history, with LA leading the majors in runs scored (79), hits (128) and HRs (20). Mike Trout belted a 441-foot HR to mark the second time he's gone deep in three outings and Albert Pujols recorded his second straight multi-hit performance and fourth during his seven-game hitting streak in Los Angeles' 11-1 romp over Texas on Tuesday. Pujols resides one RBI shy of tying Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1,925) for seventh place on the all-time list. While LA is off to a great start, the reeling Rangers' 4-9 start is the Rangers' worst through 13 games since 2002. The Rangers have 15 hits over the first two games of this series but have not had a "big hit," scoring only four runs. The pitching matchup: The Angels' Jaime Barria makes his MLB in this contest and will opposed by the Ranger's Matt Moore (0-2, 11.05 ERA). Barria was signed by the Angels out of Panama at just 16 years-old. The now-21-year-old Barria is expected to be activated on Wednesday to make his major-league debut. He worked his way through High-A and Double-A before finishing with three starts in Triple-A Salt Lake last season in which he struck out 11 in 14 2/3 innings. As for Moore, he was awful last year with the Giants, going 6-15 with a 5.52 ERA (SF was 10-21 in his starts, minus-$1233 vs. the moneyline). He has now stumbled out of the box in 2018 for Texas by allowing 10 runs (nine ERs) on 12 hits in pair of sub-par performances, with his four walks in just 3 1/3 innings on Friday against Houston raising more concerns. The pick: Starting pitching was one of the biggest question marks for the Texas Rangers entering the 2018 campaign but the Rangers were expected to compensate by being able to go toe-to-toe with opponents in hitting and in the power department. So far it has not happened. The Rangers are batting a modest .236 (16th) and are even worse in runs scored, as teheteam's 3.23 RPG ranks 26th. Texas has just 10 HRs (21st) and its OPS is .600 (also 21st). Texas has the kind of lineup that a young pitcher should feel comfortable facing in his MLB debut. As for Texas' Moore, despite is ugly numbers coming in, he can gain confidence from the fact he owns a 4-0 mark with a 1.78 ERA in five career outings vs. the Angels. That ERA is fourth-lowest among active pitchers with five-plus starts against Los Angeles. Make the Under a 10* play. |
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