Sports Picks & Predictions

`After getting lucky in game one, the Thunder have rolled and are on the verge of a sweep on the New Orleans Pelicans. Without Zion Williamson in the lineup. The Pelicans are limited on the offensive end. The Thunder have done a good job attacking away the next best players and no other Pelican has stepped up to take up the slack. The Pelicans have failed to score more than 92 points in any game of the series. Oklahoma City has too many weapons and different players have stepped up in different games. The Pelicans don’t have that and without Williamson they have no chance. The Thunder get the sweep.

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The Marlins and Nationals close out a four-game set with the Nationals going for a sweep. Washington will send Jake Irvin to the mound. He is 1-2 with a 4.55 ERA. Miami will look to avoid the sweep by sending Trevor Rogers to the mound. He is 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA. Miami is just  2-13 at home this season and have not won two games in a row this season. Irvin has pitched well on the road this season, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.12 ERA in three starts. Miami got their offense going yesterday putting up 9 runs but still lost. The Marlins are reeling at the moment and just can't back them in this spot.

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The Detroit Tigers will play host to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals are coming off a loss to the Mets. They will look to turn things around by sending Steven Matz to the mound. He is 1-2 this season and has posted a 5.55 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP in 24.1 innings to go with 16 strikeouts and nine walks. Detroit comes into this game having won two in a row. They will look to keep things going with Kenta Maeda on the mound. He is 0-1 in five starts but has posted a  5.96 ERA and  1.37 WHIP in five starts. He has 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 22.2 innings. Over the last couple of starts, Maeda has been the better pitcher. Detroit also has the better bullpen. Detroit has won six of their last eight against the Cardinals. Detroit is playing better right now and has the better pitcher.

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The Chicago Cubs head to the Big Apple to take on the New York Mets. Chicago lost two of three to Boston and now have four games against the Mets before heading home. Jameson Taillon will get the start for the Cubs in this one. He is 2-0 in two starts, with a 1.69 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. The Mets have been struggling, going 2-5 over their last seven. Luis Severino will make his sixth start for the Mets. He is 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. tion. The Mets have been inconsistent this season, they started the year 0-5, then won 12 of 15 and have now lost five of their last seven six games. The Cubs have been dealing with injuries to the starting pitching and position players and are still finding ways to score runs and wins. I like the Cubs in this one as I trust their offense more in what should be a good pitching matchup.

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The Dallas Stars got back into the series with a win over Vegas last time out. Things were not looking good after Dallas lost the first two games on home ice but were able to get a win in game three in Vegas. During the regular season, Dallas put up 3.93 goals a game and allowed  2.83. That has flipped in the playoffs as they are putting up 2.33 goals and allowing 3.00. During the season, Vegas put up 3.21 goals a game and allowed 2.96. In the playoffs, they are scoring 3.00 goals a game and are giving up 2.33. Vegas blew a chance to put this series away, losing 3-2 in overtime in game three. Vegas goalie Logan Thompson has an excellent 2.14 goals against average and .927 save percentage. Dallas has lost six of the last seven versus Vegas. The Golden Knights have won five of the last seven overall and Vegas has won six of its last eight played on its home ice. Dallas has struggled on the offensive end, scoring seven goals in their last three games. I look for Vegas to take this game at home to take a 3-1 lead.

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