Sports Picks & Predictions

7* MLB Total of the Month on Cubs/Cardinals UNDER 8.5 

The Key: The UNDER is 8-1 in the last nine meetings between the Cubs and Cardinals in St. Louis.  The UNDER is 22-6 in Cardinals last 28 home games.  The UNDER is 4-0-1 in Flaherty’s last 5 starts.  The UNDER is 11-2-1 in Cubs last 14 games overall.  Lester has a 2.78 ERA in 22 lifetime starts against the Cardinals.  Flaherty has a 3.20 ERA in 11 home starts this year.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Interleague Game of the Week on Minnesota Twins -1.5 (-120) 

The Key: The Twins score 6.1 RPG on the road this season while the Marlins score just 3.4 RPG against right-handers.  Jose Berrios has a 2.95 ERA in 21 starts this year, while Sandy Alcantara has a 4.18 ERA in 20 starts.  This has the feel of a blowout in favor of the Twins, who are hungry to hold off the Indians in the AL Central.  Take Minnesota on the Run Line. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cincinnati Reds -136 

The Key: The Pittsburgh Pirates have dropped 9 straight and are just 2-15 in their last 17 games overall.  The Reds should be heavier favorites today in this matchup.  Tanner Roark has been one of the more underrated starters in baseball over the last few years.  Roark is 6-6 with a 3.95 ERA in 20 starts this year.  He has yielded only 5 earned runs in 12 innings in his last 2 starts against the Pirates.  Joe Musgrove is 7-9 with a 4.53 ERA in 21 starts this year.  Take Cincinnati. 

7* Braves/Nationals NL East *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington -145 

The Key: The Nationals need to gain ground on the Braves in this series.  It starts with Game 1 and their clear advantage on the rubber tonight.  Pat Corbin is one of the most underrated starters in baseball.  He is 8-5 with a 3.25 EAR and 1.15 WHIP in 21 starts with 151 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings.  Corbin is 5-1 with a 1.68 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 10 home starts.  Corbin is 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against the Braves.  Dallas Keuchel is 2-2 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 4 road starts this year for Atlanta.  Keuchel has never beaten the Nationals, going 0-2 (0-4 ML) with a 4.70 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  The Nationals are 9-2 in their last 11 Game 1’s.  The Nationals are 6-0 in Corbin’s last 6 home starts.  Take Washington. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Mets -126 

The Key: Big advantage for the New York Mets on the rubber today over the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Jason Vargas is 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 7 home starts this year.  Chris Archer is 0-3 with a 6.91 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 8 road starts.  The Mets are 9-4 in their last 13 games with wild card aspirations, while the Pirates are 2-13 in their last 15 games overall with nothing to play for.  The Mets are 5-0 in Vargas’ last 5 home starts against a team with a losing record.  Take New York. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Minnesota Twins -1.5 (-110) 

The Key: The Minnesota Twins are staking advantage of the schedule lightening up.  They are crushing the White Sox in this series 10-3 and 6-2 to take the first 2 games.  I don’t see them letting up here against a White Sox team that is just 3-12 in their last 15 games overall.  The Twins are 23-7 in their last 30 road games against a team with a losing record.  Martin Perez is 7-3 with a 4.10 ERA in 17 starts this year.  Ivan Nova is 5-9 with a 5.49 ERA in 21 starts for the White Sox, and 2-4 with a 6.02 ERA in 9 home starts.  Nova is 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in his last 2 starts against the Twins while yielding 3 homers and 9 runs in 11 2/3 innings.  He has already given up 23 homers this season compared to 11 for Perez.  Chicago is 3-18 in Saturday home games over the last 2 seasons.  Take Minnesota on the Run Line. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -120 

The Key: The Indians are now 18 games over .500 after going 16-4 in their last 20 games overall.  They only trail the Twins by 2 games in the AL Central now after trailing by more than 10 games a few months ago.  So they have a lot to play for here, while the Royals do not.  And the Indians are cheap considering they have the advantage on the rubber too.  Zach Please is 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 10 starts this year.  Jake Junis is 6-8 with a. 4.83 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 21 starts, including 3-4 with a. 5.37 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 11 home starts.  Junis is 3-4 with a. 5.30 ERA in 9 lifetime starts against the Indians.  Take Cleveland. 

7* AL Central Game of the Week on Minnesota Twins -149 

The Key: The Twins feel the Indians breathing down their necks.  Fortunately, they now have an easy schedule moving forward after playing a tough schedule prior to this stretch.  They just beat the White Sox 10-3 last night and they should crush them again Friday.  The White Sox are just 3-11 in their last 14 games overall and out of contention in the division now.  Chicago starter Dylan Cease is 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in his 3 starts this year.  Michael Pineda is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA in his last 4 starts coming in.  He has allowed exactly one earned run in five of his last seven starts.  The Twins are 22-7 in their last 29 road games against a team with a losing record.  Take Minnesota. 

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay Rays -129 

The Key: This one is pretty simple.  The Rays are 58-47 and in contention for a wild card berth.  The Blue Jays are 39-65 and out of contention.  I believe the Rays are cheap given their motivational advantage, and the fact that they have a very easy schedule coming up now after just facing the Yankees and Red Sox.  The Blue Jays won’t offer much resistance.  Jacob Waguespack is 0-0 with a 6.30 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 2 starts for Toronto.  Take Tampa Bay. 

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Cleveland Indians -141 

The Key: The Indians are 20-7 in their last 27 games overall, including 8-1 in their last 9 road games.  They are surging right now and should be a bigger favorite here over the Kansas City Royals.  Adam Plutko is 3-2 with a 4.30 ERA and 0.98 WHUIP in 8 starts this year, and 1-0 with a. 3.48 ERA in 2 road starts.  Plutko has yielded only 2 earned runs in 11 innings for a 1.64 ERA in his 2 starts against the Royals in 2019.  Mike Montgomery was rocked for 5 earned runs in 2 innings on July 19th in his first and only start this season.  Now the Indians get to face him again less than a week later.  The Indians are 39-19 in the last 58 meetings.  Take Cleveland. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Texas Rangers -136 

The Key: The Texas Rangers have the advantage over the Seattle Mariners on the rubber today.  Mike Minor has a 2.86 ERA in 20 starts this year.  Minor is 20 with a 2.08 ERA in his 2 starts against the Mariners this season.  Mike Leake is 0-2 with a 9.98 ERA in 3 starts against the Rangers this year.  The Mariners have lost 16 of their last 20 games coming in.  The Rangers are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.  Take Texas. 

7* AL West Game of the Week on Houston Astros -153 

The Key: The Houston Astros have won 6 straight coming in and are really grabbing a stranglehold on the AL West.  Going 8-1 against the A’s this season has certainly helped their cause as they simply have their number.  There’s no reason to believe the A’s will win this game, either.  Wade Miley is 8-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 20 starts this year, including 4-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 8 home starts.  Miley is 5-2 with a 1.61 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against the A’s.  Mike Fiers is 3-2 with a 5.57 ERA in 10 road starts this season.  Fiers is 1-2 with a 6.15 ERA in 5 lifetime starts against the Astros.  Houston is 15-1 in home games against a team that slugs .440 or better this season.  Miley is 9-0 as a favorite of -125 to -175 this season, and 12-1 as a favorite of -110 or higher this year.  Take Houston. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Houston Astros -1.5 (-118) 

The Key: The Houston Astros have won 5 straight while scoring at least 4 runs in 9 of their last 10 games overall.  They make it 6 in a row tonight behind Gerrit Cole, who is 10-5 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 21 starts this year with 194 strikeouts in 129 2/3 innings.  Cole is 7-2 with a 2.94 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 11 home starts this season.  Cole is 3-1 with a. 3.30 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts against the A’s.  Homer Bailey is 8-6 with a 4.69 ERA in 19 starts this season.  Bailey is 3-18 against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.  Houston is 19-3 at home against AL teams that score 4.9 RPG or more this season.  The Astros are 22-5 in Cole’s last 27 home starts.  Take Houston on the Run Line. 

7* AL West Game of the Month on Los Angeles Angels -127 

The Key: The Angels are licking their chops at the chance to face Yusei Kikuchi again today.  Kikuchi is 1-2 with a 10.91 ERA in 4 starts against the Angeles this season.  The Mariners are 3-14 in their last 17 games overall and having difficulty finding reasons to be motivated.  The Angels are at least back in the wild card hunt after a great finish before the break and coming out hot after the break by winning 6 of 9.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -166 

The Key: The Cleveland Indians have won 6 straight and are 12-2 in their last 14 games overall.  They are quickly closing in on the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.  Their bats are hot as they have scored 6 or more runs in 5 straight.  These streaks should continue today against Jake Junis and the Kansas City Royals.  Junis is 5-8 with a 5.08 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 20 starts this year.  He is 2-4 with a 5.98 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against the Indians, including 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in 3 starts against them in 2019, yielding 15 earned runs in 17 innings.  Adam Plutko is 3-1 with a 4.87 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 7 starts this year.  The Indians are 5-0 in Plutko’s last 5 starts.  The Royals are 3-23 in road games off 2 or more consecutive overs over the last 2 seasons.  Take Cleveland. 

7* NL East Game of the Month on Washington Nationals -117 

The Key: The Nationals are 19-6 in their last 25 games and really surging right now.  Patrick Corbin is 7-5 with a 3.39 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 19 starts this year, including a 1.80 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Corbin is 5-1 with a 1.66 ERA in nine appearances (7 starts) against Atlanta.  Julio Teheran is 0-2 with a 6.57 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Nationals.  They’ll continue their torrid hot streak thanks to their advantage on the rubber tonight.  Take Washington. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -144 

The Key: The Houston Astros have a big advantage on the rubber tonight over the Los Angeles Angels.  After scoring 11 runs yesterday, the Astros will be licking their chops at the chance to face Matt Harvey tonight.  Harvey is 3-4 with a 6.88 ERA in 11 starts this season, including 2-2 with an 8.78 ERA in 6 home starts.  Harvey is 0-2 with a 16.19 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Astros as well.  Wade Miley is 7-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 19 starts this season, including 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Miley is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against the Angels as well.  Take Houston. 

7* Interleague *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington Nationals -1.5 (-128) 

The Key: Nobody is playing better than the Washington Nationals right now.  They are 18-5 in their last 23 games overall.  The Orioles will offer little resistance.  They are 1-5 in their last 6 games overall with all 5 losses coming by 3 runs or more.  The Nationals should have no problem covering the run line once again tonight.  Erick Fedde is 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 6 starts this year, while Aaron Brooks is 2-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 7 starts.  The Nationals are 11-1 in their last 12 road games against a right-handed starter.  The Orioles are 9-46 in their last 55 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Baltimore is 1-10 in its last 11 interleague home games against a right-handed starter.  Take Washington on the Run Line. 

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Minnesota Twins -150 

The Key: The Minnesota Twins have advantages all over the field over the Mets in this game, including on the rubber.  Michael Pineda is 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 17 starts this year, 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 9 home starts, and 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last 2 starts.  Pineda is also 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA and 0.77 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against the Mets.  Steven Matz is 2-6 with a 7.07 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 9 road starts for the Mets this year.  He is 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA and 2.30 WHIP in his last 3 starts overall as well.  Minnesota is 9-0 at home against an NL team with an OBP of .325 or worse in the 2nd half of the season over the last 3 years.  The Mets are 0-12 when the total is 10 or higher over the last 2 seasons.  New York is 2-15 as a road dog of +125 to +175 this season.  Take Minnesota. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago White Sox -115 

The Key: The Chicago White Sox have a big advantage on the rubber today over the Kansas City Royals.  Lucas Giolito is 11-3 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 17 starts this year, including 6-1 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 8 road starts.  Giolito is 6-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 10 lifetime starts against the Royals.  Jake Junis is 4-8 with a. 5.33 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 19 starts this year, including 2-4 with a 5.89 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 10 home starts.  Junis is 2-1 with a 5.34 ERA in 5 lifetime starts against the White Sox as well.  Giolito is 9-1 against an AL team with a batting average of .260 or worse this season.  The White Sox are 10-3 in Giolito’s last 13 starts.  The Royals are 0-4 in Junis’ last 4 starts.  Kansas City is 1-5 in Junis’ last 6 home starts.  Take Chicago. 

7* Dodgers/Red Sox ESPN *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -103 

The Key: The Dodgers want revenge on the Red Sox after losing to them in the World Series last year.  They can get some revenge by winning Game 3 here Sunday night and taking this series from them.  The Dodgers have Cy Young favorite Hyun-Jin Ryu on the rubber tonight.  He is 10-2 with a 1.73 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 17 starts this year.  The Dodgers are 9-2 in Ryu’s last 11 starts.  Los Angeles is 14-3 in Ryu’s last 17 Sunday starts.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* AL Central Game of the Year on Cleveland Indians -140 

The Key: The Cleveland Indians suffered a devastating loss to the Twins yesterday after leading 3-1 late.  They are now 6.5 games back in the AL Central and really need to win today to close the gap.  They will come back hungry here and I believe they have a big advantage on the rubber in this one.  Trevor Bauer is 4-0 with a 2.90 ERA in his last 6 starts.  Jake Odorizzi is 0-2 with an 8.76 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in his last 3 starts, coming back to reality after a great start to the season. Odorizzi is 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 10 lifetime starts against the Indians, and his teams are 2-8 in those starts.  Bauer has yielded 3 earned runs or fewer in 8 of his last 10 starts against the Twins.  The Indians are 6-0 in Bauer’s last 6 starts and 9-1 in their last 10 games following a loss.  The Twins are 0-6 in Odorizzi’s last 6 starts against the Indians.  Take Cleveland.  

7* Dodgers/Red Sox Interleague *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles +109 

The Key: The Los Angeles Dodgers get their first shot at revenge on the Boston Red Sox since losing to them in the 2018 World Series.  They are on a mission this season at 60-32, and they want to sweep this series to get their revenge.  The Dodgers have the advantage on the rubber with Kenta Made, who is 7-5 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.07 WHP in 17 starts this year.  Eduardo Rodriquez is 9-4 with a 4.65 ERA and 1.34 WHIP I 18 starts for the Red Sox.  Rodriquez is also 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against Los Angeles.  The Dodgers are 14-1 off 6 or more consecutive home games this year.  The Red Sox are 0-7 at home with a money line of +125 to -125 this season.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* NL West Game of the Month on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+125) 

The Key: The Dodgers will be hungry to bounce back from 2 straight losses to the Padres in this series.  Ross Stripling will get the job done here as he is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 8 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 4 home starts.  Stripling is 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 5 lifetime starts against the Padres.  Joey Lucchesi is 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA in 6 road starts this year for the Padres.  Lucchesi is 0-3 with a 7.64 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against the Dodgers.  The Padres are 0-4 in those 4 games having never won.  Take Los Angeles on the Run Line. 

7* AL East Game of the Month on Tampa Bay Rays -139 

The Key; The Tampa Bay Rays come in hungry for a win Saturday after losing 3 straight overall, including the first 2 of this series to the Yankees.  Now the Rays finally have the advantage on the rubber with Blake Snell over C.C. Sabathia.  Snell is 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 8 home starts this year.  Sabathia is 1-3 with a 6.30 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 6 road starts.  The Yankees are 1-6 in Sabathia’s last seven road starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Rays are 17-4 in Snell’s last 21 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Tampa Bay. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Oakland A’s -147 

The Key: The A’s are rolling into the All-Star Break by going 5-1 in their last 6 gam3s overall with their only loss coming to the Twins by one run in extra innings.  The Mariners are coasting into the break by going 1-6 in their last seven games overall with their only win coming by one run.  The A’s have the clear advantage on the rubber tonight with Brett Anderson, who is 8-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 17 starts, and 4-2 with a 3.46 ERA in 9 road starts.  Anderson is 9-5 with a 2.28 ERA in 20 lifetime starts against the Mariners.  Yusei Kikuchi is 4-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 18 starts, and 2-3 with a 5.49 ERA in 8 home starts.  Kikuchi is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 3 starts against the A’s in 2019.  Take Oakland. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Minnesota Twins -127 

The Key: The Twins have a big advantage on the mound today over the A’s. Jose Berrios is 8-4 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 17 starts this season for Minnesota.  He’ll be opposed by Tannder Anderson, who is 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 4 starts for the A’s.  Minnesota is 18-4 against a starting pitcher that allows 1 or more HR’s/start this season.  Take Minnesota. 

7* Yankees/Mets ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on New York Mets +133 

The Key: I usually like going against starters who are coming off long stints on the injury list.  That’s the case for Domingo Herman of the Yankees tonight.  He will be making his first start in nearly a month as he was last seen against Cleveland on June 7th.  We know what we’re getting from Jason Vargas.  He is 3-3 with a 3.17 ERA in 13 starts this year, including 1-1 with a 1.61 ERA in 5 home starts.  Vargas has already beaten the Yankees as +187 road underdogs on June 11th.  German is 0-1 with a 6.51 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Mets.  Take the Mets. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -155 

The Key: The Boston Red Sox return home from London hungry for a win after losing 3 straight.  David Price should get them back in the win column. He is 5-2 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 14 starts this year.  Price is 22-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 30 lifetime starts against the Blue Jays. He’ll be opposed by Trent Thornton, who is 2-5 with a 4.60 ERA in 17 starts this year, including 0-3 with a 6.39 ERA in 7 home starts.  The Red Sox are 14-3 in Price’s last 17 starts against a team with a losing record.  The Blue Jays are 4-14 in their last 18 games off a win.  Toronto is 18-39 in its last 57 games overall.  Take Boston. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (-138) 

The Key: Ryan Stanek has a 0.52 ERA in his 11 home starts this season while yielding just one earned run in 17 1/3 innings.  He has been a great opener for the Rays to get them off to early leads.  Tampa Bay is 19-7 in Stanek’s last 26 home starts.  The Rays are 22-5 in their last 27 Monday games.  The Orioles are 12-48 in their last 60 Game 1’s.  The Orioles are 15-69 in their last 84 road games against a right-handed starter.  The Rays are 14-3 in their last 17 home meetings with the Orioles.  Take Tampa Bay on the Run Line. 

7* MLB Dog of the Month on St. Louis Cardinals +113 

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals have now lost 5 straight and are hungry for a victory Sunday.  They don’t want to get swept in back-to-back series here.  Miles Mikolas sports a 4.33 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 16 starts this year.  I like him over Joey Lucchesi.  Mikolas sports a 2.84 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 2 previous starts against the Padres, both of which came last season.  San Diego is 1-11 off a win by 6 runs or more over the last 2 seasons.  Take St. Louis. 

7* Dodgers/Rockies NL West *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles -145 

The Key: The Dodgers are 84-27 in Kershaw’s last 111 starts.  They are 41-10 in his last 51 starts against NL West teams.  We are getting him cheaper than usual today against the Rockies.  He is 22-7 with a 3.16 ERA in 40 lifetime starts against the Rockies.  Jon Gray is 3-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 12 lifetime starts against the Dodgers.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* NL East Game of the Week on Philadelphia Phillies -138 

The Key: We are getting the Philadelphia Phillies pretty cheap tonight on the road at the Miami Marlins.  Miami is 1-11 at home when the total is 8 or 8.5 this season.  The Marlins are 3-16 in home games against teams that hit 1.25 HR’s/Game or more this season.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-125)

The Key: No analysis Thursday.

7* NL East Game of the Month on Philadelphia Phillies -151 

The Key: The Philadelphia Phillies have a big advantage on the rubber today over the New York Mets.  Jake Arrieta is 6-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 15 starts this year, and 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 7 home starts.  Arrieta sports a 2.77 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 13 lifetime starts against the Mets.  Walker Lockett made his season debut on June 20th, and it did not go well as he yielded 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings to the Cubs.  Lockett is 0-1 with a 10.39 ERA in one lifetime start against the Phillies as well, which came last season. The Mets are 8-23 in their last 31 road games.  The Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 home meetings with the Mets.  Take Philadelphia.  

7* Rockies/Giants ESPN *BAILOUT* on Colorado -113 

The Key: The Colorado Rockies will be hungry for a win after getting swept by the Dodgers over the weekend, including two tough walk-off losses.  They should bounce back due to their advantage on the rubber tonight.  Jon Gray is 7-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 15 starts this year.  He’ll be opposed by Drew Pomeranz, who has been one of the worst starters in baseball this season.  He is 2-7 with a 7.09 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 13 starts.  The Rockies are 7-0 in Gray’s last 7 starts on 4 days’ rest.  The Rockies are 8-2 in their last 10 during Game 1 of a series.  The Giants are 1-8 in their last 9 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.  Take Colorado. 

7* Angels/Cardinals ESPN *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +124 

The Key: Albert Pujols’ trip back to St. Louis will not be as sweet for him if the Angels don’t win a game in this series.  After dropping the first 2 games to the Cardinals, look for the Angels to take Game 3 and salvage the series and send Pujols out a winner.  I believe the Angels have the advantage on the rubber today with Tyler Skaggs, who is 6-6 with a 4.61 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 13 starts this year with 70 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings.  He pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball against the Blue Jays last time out.  Mikes Mikolas has struggled to the tune of a 5-7 record and 4.48 ERA in 15 starts this year with only 61 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings.  Mikolas is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in one lifetime start against the Angels.  The Angels are 8-2 in Skaggs’ last 10 starts on 4 days’ rest.  The Angels are 4-0 in Skaggs’ last 4 starts against a team with a winning record.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* Braves/Nationals NL East *CA$H COW* on Washington -113 

The Key: The Nationals are coming on strong and now are just one win away from getting back to .500 this season.  They have won 5 straight coming in and will be hungry to get to .500 tonight.  They have a big advantage on the rubber in this matchup.  Anibal Sanchez is 3-6 with a 3.84 ERA in 13 starts this season, including 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last 3 outings.  He’ll be opposed by Mike Foltynewicz, who is 2-5 with a 5.53 ERA in 10 starts this season for the Braves.  Sanchez is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in his last 2 starts against the Braves while pitching 14 shutout innings with 24 strikeouts.  The Braves are 3-9 in Folty’s last 12 starts.  The Nationals are 5-0 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts.  The Nationals are 36-17 in their last 53 home meetings with the Braves, and 5-0 in the last 5 meetings overall.  Take Washington. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Diego Padres -114 

The Key: The Padres have a big advantage on the rubber today over the Pirates.  Chris Paddack is 4-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 12 starts this year with 72 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings.  He’ll be opposed by Chris Archer, who is 3-6 with a 5.85 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 12 starts this season.  He has allowed 17 homers in 64 2/3 innings already this season.  Pittsburgh is 1-10 in home games against an NL starting pitcher with a WHIP of 1.25 or less this season.  Take San Diego. 

7* NL Central Game of the Month on Milwaukee Brewers -119 

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers are hungry for a win after losing 4 straight and 6 of 7 overall.  They’ll get a win here against the lowly Reds tonight.  Chase Anderson is 2-1 with a 3.93 ERA in 8 starts for the Brewers this year.  Anderson is 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against the Reds.  Milwaukee is 14-3 in home games off 2 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 years.  The Brewers are 15-0 after allowing 7 runs or more in 2 straight games over the last 3 seasons.  The Brewers are 18-3 off a loss to a division rival as a favorite over the last 2 years.  Take Milwaukee. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Month on Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 (+115) 

The Key: The Arizona Diamondbacks will be hungry for a victory today against the Rockies after losing the first 2 games of this series to them.  They got a break with Colorado SS Trevor Story getting injured yesterday and now he won’t be playing today.  And the Diamondbacks have a massive advantage on the mound today to boot.  Robbie Ray is 5-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 15 starts, including 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 5 home starts.  He’ll be opposed by Jeff Hoffman, who is 1-3 with a 7.04 ERA in 6 starts, including 0-2 with a 9.28 ERA in 2 road starts.  Hoffman is 1-2 with a 10.79 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against Arizona.  The Diamondbacks are 5-0 in their last 5 during game 3 of a series.  Take Arizona. 

7* NL West Game of the Month on Arizona Diamondbacks -145 

The Key: The Arizona Diamondbacks lost Game 1 of this series to the Rockies by a final of 8-1.  Now they bounce back Wednesday with ace Zack Greinke taking the ball.  He is 8-2 with a 2.65 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 15 starts this year, including 3-0 with a 2.47 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 6 home starts.  Greinke has held the Rockies to 3 runs or fewer in 7 consecutive starts against them, which is no small feat since he has pitched at Coors Field 4 times during this stretch.  Jon Gray is 3-4 with a 5.06 ERA in 8 road starts for the Rockies this year.  Gray is 2-4 with a 5.80 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts against the Diamondbacks.  Greinke is 18-5 off a team loss over the last 2 seasons.  The Diamondbacks are 35-16 in Greinke’s last 51 home starts.  Take Arizona. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Seattle Mariners -130 

The Key: The Mariners have the advantage over the Royals on the rubber tonight.  Yusei Kikuchi is 3-4 with a 4.78 ERA in 15 starts this year, while Homer Bailey is 5-6 with a 5.37 ERA in 14 starts.  Bailey faced Seattle on April 8th and yielded 7 earned runs and 3 homers in 5 innings for a 12.60 ERA.  The Mariners are 6-0 in their last 6 games following a loss.  The Royals are 3-14 in their last 17 games following a win.  Take Seattle. 

7* Red Sox/Twins AL *HEAVY HITTER* on Minnesota -131 

The Key: We are getting a cheap price on the Twins at home tonight.  The Twins are 47-23 this season, and bettors must think it’s a fluke to have them this cheap against the Red Sox, who clearly aren’t as strong as they were last year when they won the World Series but are getting treated like that team.  Big advantage for the Twins on the rubber tonight with Jose Berrios, who is 8-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 14 starts, including 5-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 7 home starts.  Rick Porcello is 4-6 with a 4.68 ERA in 14 starts, including 0-3 with a 6.37 ERA in 6 road starts.  Minnesota is 15-3 as a favorite of -100 to -150 this season.  The Twins are 21-5 in their last 26 games following a loss.  The Twins are 25-7 in Berrios’ last 32 home starts.  Take Minnesota. 

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee Brewers -149 

The Key: This is the avoid the sweep game for the Brewers after two tough losses by a combined 3 runs to the Giants in the first two games of this series.  Look for the Brewers to salvage the series with a Game 3 victory today.  Chase Anderson is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 3 road starts this season, doing his best work away from home.  Anderson is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Giants, yielding only 3 earned runs in 18 18 2/3 innings.  Jeff Samardzija is 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Samardzija is 1-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 12 lifetime starts against the Brewers.  The Brewers are 4-0 in Anderson’s last 4 starts during Game 3 of a series.  The Giants are 1-5 in Samardzija’s last 6 starts.  Take Milwaukee. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Yankees -160 

The Key: I’ll lay the big juice with the Yankees today.  I just can’t see them losing the first 3 games of this series to the White Sox after dropping the first two.  They didn’t have the advantage on the rubber in those first 2 games, and it showed.  But now they do in Game 3.  Reynaldo Lopez sports a 6.21 ERA in 14 starts this year for the White Sox and he has been one of the worst starters in baseball.  Chicago is a woeful 3-15 in its last 18 Saturday home games.  The Yankees are 5-0 in Chad Green’s last 5 starts.  Take New York. 

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Cleveland Indians -160 

The Key: The Indians had yesterday off while the Tigers played the Royals in Omaha at the College World Series stadium.  Big rest and mound advantages for the Indians today.  Adam Plutko is 2-1 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 3 starts this year for the Indians.  Ryan Carpenter is 1-3 with a 7.89 ERA in 6 starts for the Tigers, including 1-3 with a 10.52 ERA in 4 home starts.  Plutko is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in one lifetime start against the Tigers, while Carpenter is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in one lifetime start against the Indians.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Raptors/Warriors Game 6 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 211.5 

The Key: Points are harder to come by the longer a series goes on simply because of teams getting more familiar with one another.  It always favors the defenses.  These teams combined for 197 points in Game 4 and 211 points in Game 5.  And now Kevin Durant is out for the remainder of the series and we still have a total higher than those two results at 211.5 tonight.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Mets -126 

The Key: The Mets had yesterday off while the Cardinals concluded a series in Miami yesterday.  We’ll gladly back the rested Mets and Cy Young winner Jacob DeGrom as a short home favorite tonight.  DeGrom is 3-6 with a 3.45 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 13 starts this year, including 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  DeGrom is 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA in 3 lifetime home starts against the Cardinals, yielding just 2 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings.  Jack Flaherty is 1-2 with a 6.67 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in 6 road starts this year for the Cardinals.  St. Louis is 2-8 in Flaherty’s last 10 road starts.  The Mets are 11-1 in their last 12 home games against a right-handed starter.  Take New York. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -140 

The Key: The Boston Red Sox have lost 3 straight, including the first 2 of this series to the Rangers.  They’ll come back hungry for a win this afternoon.  I think they’ll get that win behind Rick Porcello, who is 4-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 7 home starts this year.  Lance Lynn is 7-4 with a 4.37 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 13 starts for the Rangers this season.  Boston is 17-3 in home games after playing 6 or more consecutive home games over the last 2 years.  The Red Sox are 30-10 when playing with double revenge over the last 2 seasons.  Better yet, the Red Sox are 24-3in their last 27 after losing the first 2 games of a series.  Take Boston. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -146 

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals have a big advantage on the rubber tonight over the Miami Marlins.  Dakota Hudson is really coming on strong at 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his last 3 starts to improve to 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 12 starts this year.  Elieser Hernandez will make his first start of the season for the Marlins.  He is 0-5 with a 5.04 ERA in 6 previous major league starts.  He’s also 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA against the Cardinals in two relief appearances.  Miami is 6-25 as a dog of +125 to +175 this season, including 2-13 as a home dog of +125 to +175 this year.  The Cardinals are 20-6 as a favorite of -100 to -150 this year.  The Cardinals are 4-0 in Hudson’s last 4 starts.  The Marlins are 0-5 in their last 5 games overall.  Miami is 0-5 in Hernandez’s last 5 starts.  Take St. Louis. 

7* Warriors/Raptors Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 214.5 

The Key: The longer a series goes on, the harder it is to score points.  Familiarity makes it easy for the defenses to have the advantage as a series goes on.  We saw that in Game 4 in a 105-92 Raptors win for 197 combined points with a total of 215.  Now we have a near identical total of 214.5 for Game 5 and I think the price is right to pull the trigger on the UNDER.  The UNDER is 33-16-2 in Warriors last 51 games off a loss.  The UNDER is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 games on 2 days’ rest.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on St. Louis Cardinals -136 

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals will be hungry for a win after getting swept by the Cubs over the weekend.  I like their chances against the Marlins to get back in the win column.  The Marlins are 0-4 in their last 4 games overall and have scored just 2.0 RPG during his stretch.  Michael Wacha is 2-0 with a 4.59 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against the Marlins.  He is 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA in 5 road starts this year.  The Cardinals are 19-6 with a money line of -100 to -150 this year.  The Marlins are 6-25 as a dog of +125 to +175 this season, including 2-13 as a home dog in this price range.  Take St. Louis. 

7* MLB Dog of the Month on Cincinnati Reds +119 

The Key: Due to the advantage the Reds have on the rubber today over the Phillies, the wrong team is favored in this NL contest.  Tanner Roark has been one of the most underrated starters for years, and that has proven to be the case again this season.  He is 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA in 12 starts, including 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA in 6 road starts in 2019.  Nick Pivetta is 3-1 in spite of a 6.13 ERA in 6 starts this year, and he sports a 7.71 ERA in 5 home starts.  Pivetta is also 0-1 with a 4.85 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Reds.  Roark is 7-1 (+7.9 units) in road games when playing against a good team that wins 54% to 62% of their games over the last 2 seasons.  The Reds are 4-0 in Roark’s last 4 road starts.  The Reds are 8-2 in their last 10 games following a loss.  Take Cincinnati. 

6* Raptors/Warriors Game 4 *CA$H COW* on Golden State -4.5 

The Key: The series is on the line for the Warriors tonight.  They will come through with a big effort, especially with the return of Klay Thompson to the lineup.  The Raptors are just happy to have won Game 3 and to have reigned home-court advantage no matter what happens in Game 4.  They won’t play with a sense of urgency, and they certainly won’t shoot as well as they did in Game 3, while the Warriors should shoot better.  Take Golden State. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Philadelphia Phillies -116 

The Key: We are getting the Phillies cheap at home tonight against the Reds.  That’s especially the case when you consider the Phillies are rested after having yesterday off while the Reds played yesterday in St. Louis.  And the Phillies have a big advantage on the rubber with Zach Eflin, who is 5-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 11 starts this year, including 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 4 home starts.  Tyler Mahle is 2-5 with a 4.26 ERA in 11 starts for the Reds, including 0-5 with a 4.96 ERA in 8 road starts.  The Reds are 1-11 in Mahle’s last 12 road starts.  The Phillies are 5-1 in Eflin’s last 6 home starts.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -140 

The Key: Dakota Hudson is 4-3 with a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts this year for the Cardinals.  He has really turned it on of late at 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Anthony Desclafini is 2-3 with a 4.97 ERA in 11 starts for the Reds, 1-1 with a 5.08 ERA in 7 road starts, and 0-2 with a 7.42 ERA in his last 3 outings.  The Cardinals will be hungry to bounce back from a Game 1 loss to the Reds.  St. Louis is 18-5 with a money line of -100 to -150 this season.  The Reds are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a win.  Take St. Louis. 

7* NBA Finals Game of the Year on Toronto Raptors +4.5 

The Key: The Warriors are a mash unit right now.  Both Kevin Durant and Kevon Looney are out for Game 3, Klay Thompson is questionable, and Andre Iguodala is likely to play through his calf injury.  In their current state, the Warriors aren’t as good as the Raptors.  Toronto will be hungry to bounce back after letting the Warriors off the hook in Game 2 and blowing a double-digit lead.  The Raptors are 30-19 on the road this year and have been one of the top road teams in the NBA.  The Warriors are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games off an ATS win.  Take Toronto. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Texas Rangers -125 

The Key: The Texas Rangers are 5-1 in their last 6 games overall while scoring at least 5 runs in all 5 wins.  The Baltimore Orioles are 1-4 in their last 5 games while scoring 2 runs or less in all 4 losses.  I believe we are getting the Rangers cheap at home today against arguably the worst team in baseball in the Orioles, who are 18-41 this season.  Baltimore is 1-16 in road games off 3 or more consecutive home games over the last 2 seasons.  Dylan Bundy is 4-22 in night games over the last 2 years.  The Orioles are 2-9 in Bundy’s last 11 road starts.  The Rangers are 11-4 in their last 15 home meetings.  Take Texas. 

7* Warriors/Raptors Game 2 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 213.5 

The Key: I think we see a much lower scoring contest in Game 2 than we saw in Game 1.  The Warriors and Raptors combined for 227 points in Game 1 led by a great shooting game by Toronto, hitting over 50% of their field goal attempts.  I think after both teams had a couple days to prepare for each other having last played on Thursday it will favor the defenses.  The UNDER is 6-0 in Raptors last 6 games playing on 2 days’ rest.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Sunday games.  The UNDER is 33-16-2 in Warriors last 51 games off a loss.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Red Sox/Yankees ESPN *BAILOUT* on Boston -117 

The Key: The Red Sox do not want swept by the hated Yankees.  They lost the first 2 games in this series and are staring at getting swept with another loss here in Game 3.  I think David Price gets the job done for the Red Sox to avoid the sweep here.  Price is 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 9 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in his last 3 outings.  The Red Sox are an impressive 22-4 in their last 26 after losing the first 2 games of a series.  Take Boston. 

7* AL West Game of the Month on Houston Astros -147 

The Key: The Houston Astros get the call today against the Oakland A’s.  Brett Anderson does not enjoy facing the Astros, going 1-3 with a 7.64 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Justin Verlander likes facing the A’s, going 16-6 with a 2.40 ERA in 25 lifetime starts.  He is also 8-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 12 starts this year and well on his way to winning some awards.  The Astros are 23-5 in Verlander’s last 28 road starts.  Take Houston. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Month on Colorado Rockies -1.5 (-145) 

The Key: The Rockies have reeled off 5 straight victories and now welcome the struggling Toronto Blue Jays to Coors Field Friday for Game 1 of this series.  The Blue Jays are 1-7 in their last 8 games overall with 5 of those losses coming by multiple runs.  The Rockies have a huge advantage on the rubber tonight behind German Marquez, who is 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 12 starts this year.  Edwin Jackson is playing on his 13th different team in the big leagues.  Jackson is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 3 starts this year for Toronto.  Jackson is 2-4 with a 9.96 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts against the Rockies.  Marquez is 9-0 against an AL team with a .330 OBP or worse over the last 3 years, and the Rockies are winning by 3.6 RPG in this situation.  Marquez is 14-1 as a home favorite of -150 or more over the last 3 years with the Rockies winning by 4.5 RPG in this situation.  Take Colorado on the Run Line. 

7* Warriors/Raptors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -1 

The Key: The Toronto Raptors won both regular season meetings with the Golden State Warriors by a combined 22 points.  They are feeling good about themselves right now after taking 4 straight from the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in the Milwaukee Bucks.  Kawhi Leonard got the perfect amount of rest in between games with 4 days off.  He should be fresh and ready to go now after showing signs of wearing down a bit against the Bucks.  The length the Raptors possess will pose problems for the Warriors.  They held a potent Bucks offense to just 94, 99 and 102 points in their last 3 games, respectively.  The Warriors aren’t nearly as good without Kevin Durant contrary to popular belief after the Warriors swept the Blazers last series.  But the Blazers aren’t nearly as good as the Raptors, especially defensively.  Take Toronto. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-115) 

The Key: Big advantage for the Indians tonight over the White Sox on the rubber.  Carlos Carrasco is 7-0 with a 0.87 ERA in his last 9 starts against the White Sox.  The Indians are 9-0 in those 9 contests and 8-1 against the run line in them.  Manny Banuelos is 1-4 with a 9.49 ERA in 6 starts this year, 1-2 with an 11.67 ERA in 3 home starts, and 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Indians.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (-119) 

The Key: The Rays are 33-19 this season with 30 of those wins coming by 2 runs or more.  They give the ball to ace Blake Snell tonight looking for win their 5th straight games by at least 2 runs.  Snell is 3-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 10 starts, 2-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 5 home starts, and 0-1 with a 1.96 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Trent Thornton is 1-4 with a 4.42 ERA in 11 starts for Toronto.  Thornton is 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA in one lifetime start against Tampa Bay.  Snell is 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 9 lifetime starts against Toronto, including 2-0 with a 0.40 ERA in his last 4 starts against them, yielding only one earned run in 22 2/3 innings.  The Rays are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings with all 5 wins coming by 2 runs or more.  Take Tampa Bay on the Run Line. 

7* NL East Game of the Month on Atlanta Braves -111 

The Key: The Nationals are just 22-32 this season.  They have a mediocre lineup and a terrible bullpen with a 7.12 ERA on the season.  They just can’t be trusted.  The Braves are 30-24 and a real contender to win the NL East.  Especially with the quality starts they are getting from their young rotation.  That includes Max Fried, who is 7-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 10 starts this year, including 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 5 home starts.  Strasburg is 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in his last 2 starts against the Braves, yielding 9 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings.  The Nationals are 0-5 in their last 5 road games.  The Braves had yesterday off while the Nationals faced the Marlins and lost.  Take Atlanta. 

7* AL West Game of the Month on Oakland A’s -143 

The Key: The Oakland A’s are 9-0 in their last 9 games overall.  They’ll be hungry to extend this winning streak to 10 Monday.  And I like their chances with their huge advantage on the mound over the Angels.  Chris Bassitt is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 6 starts this year for Oakland.  Trevor Cahill is 2-4 with a 6.43 ERA in 10 starts for the Angels, and 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA in 6 road starts this year.  Cahill yielded 4 earned runs in 6 innings to the A’s on March 28th earlier this season in a 0-4 loss.  The Angels are 6-21 in their last 27 road games against a team with a home winning percentage of better than 60%.  The A’s are 5-1 in their last 6 home meetings.  Take Oakland. 

7* NL East Game of the Month on Miami Marlins +130 

The Key: The Miami Marlins had won 6 straight prior to losing the first 2 games of this series to the Nationals. Now they’ll be hungry for a win here in Game 3 today.  The good news for the Marlins is that they send their ace to the mound to get the job done.  Caleb Smith is 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 9 starts this year with 71 strikeouts in 53 innings.  Smith shut down to the Nationals on April 19th in a 3-2 victory as he yielded only one earned run in 6 innings.  Erick Fedde is no more than a fill-in starter for the Nationals who will be making just his 2nd start of the season.  Fedde is 0-8 in home games over the last 3 seasons.  Washington is 1-10 after allowing 2 runs or less this season.  The Marlins are 6-0 in Smith’s last 6 starts against a team with a losing record.  Take Miami. 

7* Rangers/Angels American League *BAILOUT* on Texas +119 

The Key: The Texas Rangers have won 8 of their last 9 and should not be dogs today to the Los Angeles Angels.  Mike Minor is their best starter, and he’s 5-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 10 starts this year.  Minor is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against Los Angeles.  Tyler Skaggs is 4-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 8 starts this year.  He is also 1-2 with an 8.21 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Skaggs sports a 4.80 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against Texas.  The Angels are 0-8 in their last 8 home games against a left-handed starter.  Take Texas. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -152 

The Key: The Cardinals had yesterday off while the Braves finished a 4-game series in San Francisco, so they had to travel to St. Louis overnight.  That’s a big advantage for the Cardinals, and they also have a big advantage on the rubber tonight.  Miles Mikolas is 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 5 home starts this year.  Mikolas is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against the Braves.  Mike Foltynewicz is 0-3 with a 6.91 ERA in 5 starts this year, and 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Foltynewicz is also 2-4 with a 9.33 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against the Cardinals.  He has yielded 14 earned runs and 5 homers in 9 1/3 innings in his last 2 starts against St. Louis.  Mikolas is 8-0 when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.  The Braves are 0-7 in Foltynewicz’s last 7 starts.  The Cardinals are 10-1 in Mikolas’ last 11 starts against a team with a winning record.  Take St. Louis. 

7* Raptors/Bucks Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -7 

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks are 22-2 off a loss this season.  They have covered in 19 of those 24 games in this situation as well.  Milwaukee is 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS at home in the playoffs with all 5 wins coming by 8 points or more.  This is a big bounce-back spot for the Bucks at home tonight.  Kawhi Leonard is hobbled and it will be asking a lot for him to lead his team to even a competitive showing here tonight.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* Phillies/Cubs National League *CA$H COW* on Chicago -108 

The Key: I really like the price we are getting on Jon Lester and the Cubs at home today against the Philadelphia Phillies.  Lester is 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 8 starts this year, including 1-1 with a 0.46 ERA in 4 home starts.  Aaron Nola sports a 4.47 ERA in 10 starts this year and a 6.13 ERA in 3 road starts.  Lester has never lost to the Phillies, going 8-0 with a 1.49 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against them.  Nola is 1-1 with a 5.12 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against the Cubs.  Take Chicago. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -1.5 (-159) 

The Key: The Houston Astros now have the best record in baseball after a 15-2 run over their last 17 games.  What makes this run so impressive is that the Astros have won all 15 games by 2 runs or more.  And that’s why I’ll take them on the Run Line tonight instead of -340 on the money line.  Gerrit Cole is a Cy Young contender with a 3.56 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 10 starts this year.  He has 93 K’s in 60 2/3 innings, which is the most of any starter in baseball.  Ivan Nova is 2-4 with a 7.42 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 9 starts for the White Sox.  Take Houston on the Run Line. 

7* Bucks/Raptors Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 217.5 

The Key: Milwaukee and Toronto were tied 96-96 at the end of regulation in Game 3 for 192 combined points. That’s 25.5 less than tonight’s posted total of 217.5.  I believe we are getting a great price with the under in what should be another low-scoring affair.  The UNDER is 13-5 in Bucks last 18 games off a loss.  The UNDER is 11-5 in Raptors last 16 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Yankees -1.5 (-159) 

The Key: The Orioles are 2-10 in their last 12 games overall with 9 of those losses coming by 2 runs or more.  Three of those losses have come to the Yankees during this stretch.  Chalk up another one tonight considering the big advantage the Yankees have on the rubber.  Domingo German is 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 8 starts this year.  He is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 2 starts against the Orioles in 2019.  David Hess is 1-5 with a 5.87 ERA in 8 starts for the Orioles, including 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA in 3 home starts.  Hess is 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against the Yankees.  Take New York on the Run Line. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Atlanta Braves -131 

The Key: Big advantage on the rubber tonight for the Atlanta Braves, who have won 7 of their last 9 coming in.  Mike Soroka has been nothing short of spectacular this season.  He is 4-1 with a 0.98 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in six starts.  He’ll be opposed by Andrew Suarez, who will be making his first start of the season for the Giants.  Suarez went 7-13 with a 4.49 ERA in 2018, and he did not make the club out of spring training.  He proceeded to go 2-3 with a 6.33 ERA in six minor league starts, so he clearly isn’t very good.  The Braves are 6-0 in their last 6 road games against a team with a losing home record.  Atlanta is 5-1 in Soroka’s last 6 road starts.  The Braves are 5-0 in Soroka’s last 5 starts against a team with a losing record.  The Giants are 0-4 in Suarez’s last 4 starts against a team with a winning record.  Take Atlanta. 

6* Cubs/Nationals ESPN *BAILOUT* on Chicago -132

The Key: No Analysis Sunday

7* Bucks/Raptors Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -2

The Key: No Analysis Sunday

7* Warriors/Blazers Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland -2 

The Key:  Must win game for the Blazers.  They’ll get the job done at home in Game 3 and get back in this series.  Take Portland. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Mets -119 

The Key: The New York Mets have a big advantage on the rubber today over the Miami Marlins.  Steven Matz is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA, including 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Pablo Lopez is 2-5 with a 5.93 ERA, including 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Matz is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 9 lifetime starts against Miami.  Lopez is 1-1 with a 12.00 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Mets.  Take New York. 

7* Raptors/Bucks Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -6.5 

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks are 9-1 SU & 9-1 ATS in the playoffs this season.  The Raptors had a chance to slow this buzz saw, but let them off the hook in Game 1, losing by 8 after leading most the way.  The Bucks were clearly rusty on a one-week layoff, but they played like themselves in the second half and never looked back.  I think they will be much sharper now, and the Raptors are still feeling a little fatigued from their seven-game series with the 76ers.  The Bucks should roll in Game 2.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* Astros/Red Sox AL *CA$H COW* on Houston -130 

The Key: The Astros want revenge on the Red Sox after losing to them in the postseason last year.  They should get it in Game 1 today thanks to their advantage on the rubber.  Gerrit Cole is 4-4 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 9 starts this year with 86 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings.  Cole is 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Rick Porcello is 3-3 with a 5.15 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 8 starts for the Red Sox.  Porcello sports a 5.59 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against Houston, including a 7.45 ERA in his last 2 while yielding 8 earned runs and 4 homers in 9 2/3 innings.  The Astros have won 8 straight and 11 of their last 12 with all 11 victories coming by multiple runs.  The Astros are also 12-1 in their last 13 road games following an off day.  Take Houston. 

7* Blazers/Warriors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland +7.5 

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are a perfect 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games when revenging a double-digit road loss.  Look for them to show some resiliency here just as they did all season and to give the Warriors a run for their money tonight.  They didn’t play well at all in Game 1 as they committed 21 turnovers and shot 36% as a team.  They were tired from their 7-game series with the Nuggets.  They should bring a much better effort in Game 2 tonight.  Take Portland. 

6* Cubs/Reds NL Central *CA$H COW* on Cincinnati -132 

The Key: Luis Castillo has been one of the best starters in baseball this season.  He is deserving of being a favorite here against Jose Quintana and the Chicago Cubs.  Castillo is 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 9 starts this year with 70 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings.  Quintana is 1-1 with a 6.32 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in his 3 road starts for the Cubs.  Chicago is 0-9 in road games after their bullpen blew a save in their last game over the last 2 seasons.  Take Cincinnati. 

7* Raptors/Bucks Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 218 

The Key: This series certainly has the makings of a defensive battle.  Both the Bucks and Raptors rely so much on their superstars on the offensive end that they have to slow it down and run it through both Giannis and Kawhi, especially the Raptors.  I think nerves will be a factor big-time in Game 1 of this series tonight, which will affect the offenses.  Both teams will be laying it all on the line defensively.  The UNDER is 6-1-1 in Raptors last 8 road games.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cincinnati Reds -124 

The Key: The Reds will cool off the Cubs tonight thanks to their big advantage on the rubber.  Sonny Gray sports a 3.92 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 8 starts this year.  Yu Darvish has been one of the biggest busts in baseball over the last 2 seasons after the Cubs paid him all that money.  Darvish is 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 8 starts this season, and he’s averaging only 4.6 innings per start.  He has already walked 33 batters and given up 8 homers in 36 2/3 innings.  Gray is 14-4 at home with a money line of -125 to +125 lifetime.  Take Cincinnati. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Arizona Diamondbacks -150 

The Key: Big advantage for the Diamondbacks on the rubber and at the plate tonight.  For starters, the Diamondbacks score 5.1 RPG this season, while the Pirates score just 3.7 RPG.  Luke Weaver is 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 8 starts for the Diamondbacks this season.  Weaver is 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in 5 lifetime starts against the Pirates.  Joe Musgrove is 1-4 with a 4.89 ERA in 7 starts for Pittsburgh, including 0-3 with an 11.67 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Musgrove is also 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against Arizona.  Musgrove is 2-14 lifetime as a dog of +100 to +150.  The Pirates are 1-8 in Musgrove’s last 9 road starts.  Take Arizona. 

7* Blazers/Warriors Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 220.5 

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors have come close to or gone over this total in all four meetings this season.  They have combined for 236, 220, 219 and 222 points in their 4 meetings this season.  And dating back further, they have combined for at least 219 points in 8 of their last 9 meetings.  The Warriors scored 118 points against the Rockets in their first game without Durant and moved the ball nicely, getting back to their old ways.  The OVER is 25-8-2 in Blazers last 35 games on one days’ rest.  The OVER is 19-7 in the last 26 meetings.  Take the OVER. 

7* AL West Game of the Month on Seattle Mariners -117 

The Key: The Mariners are coming off a tough road trip against three of the best teams in baseball in the Indians, Yankees and Red Sox.  They went just 2-8 in their 10-game trip.  They’ll certainly be happy to be back home here and should get back in the win column against the Oakland A’s.  Mike Fiers threw a no-hitter last time out, but it took more than 130 pitches and he has to still be gassed.  It’s a letdown spot for Fiers, who even after the no-hitter has a 5.48 ERA in 9 starts this year.  He is 0-2 with a 9.14 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in his 5 road starts.  The Mariners have a big advantage on the rubber with Yusei Kikuchi.  He is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 9 starts this season, including 1-0 with a 1.15 ERA and 0.51 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Fiers sports a 6.91 ERA in 9 lifetime starts against Seattle.  The A’s are 1-9 in their last 10 road games.  The Mariners are 8-2 in their last 10 against a team with a losing record.  Take Seattle. 

6* Brewers/Cubs ESPN *BAILOUT* on Chicago -132 

The Key: The Chicago Cubs have a big advantage on the rubber tonight over the rival Brewers and should be bigger favorites as a result.  Jon Lester is 2-1 with a 1.41 ERA in 6 starts this year, and he sports a 0.69 ERA in his 3 home starts while yielding just one earned run in 13 innings.  Lester is 4-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against the Brewers.  Jhoulys Chacin is 3-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 8 starts this year for the Brewers, including 1-3 with a 7.50 ERA in 4 road starts.  The Cubs are 15-2 in home games against a starter that allows one or more HR’s/start over the last 2 seasons.  The Cubs are 38-14 in Lester’s last 52 home starts.  Take Chicago. 

6* 76ers/Raptors Game 7 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 209.5 

The Key: After the last two games barely went over the total by 1.5 and 1 point, I think we see a really low scoring game in Game 7 tonight.  With so much at stake with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, this game will be played close to the vest.  Both teams will be playing nervously, which will affect their offense more than their defense.  They will be laying it all on the line defensively.  Philadelphia is 21-5 UNDER when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  Toronto is 12-4 UNDER In home games off a loss this season.  The UNDER is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 games off a win.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 games on 2 days rest.  The UNDER is 9-3 in Raptors last 12 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Blazers/Nuggets Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Denver -5.5 

The Key: The Nuggets are 39-9 at home this season.  They won by 26 points in Game 5 at home over the Blazers.  While it may not come that easily in Game 7, I think the price is right to lay the short number on the Nuggets at home.  They shoot 48% at home this season and score 113 PPG.  They only two home games they lost in these playoffs they shot 42% against the Spurs and just 34.7% against the Blazers.  So it would take a shooting aberration like that for them to not win and cover this game.  The Nuggets are a deeper, younger team that will not be as fatigued as the Blazers in this long series.  And having their home fans behind them will help them bring the energy they need today to advance to the Western Conference Finals.  The Blazers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games off a win.  Take Denver. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -125 

The Key: The Cleveland Indians have the clear advantage on the rubber tonight with Trevor Bauer over Aaron Brooks.  Bauer is 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA in his 8 starts this season, which includes a 3-1 record and a 2.88 ERA in his 5 road starts.  Brooks sports a 5.75 ERA in his 6 starts, and he’s 0-2 with a 7.54 ERA in his last 3 outings.  The Indians have been victorious in 8 of Bauer’s last 10 road starts.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -7 

The Key: The Houston Astros are 36-10 at home this season, including 5-0 in the playoffs where they have outscored their opponents by 68 points total.  The home team has won every game in this series.  The Rockets’ job got a whole lot easier with the injury to Kevin Durant.  Look for them to take advantage and make easy work of the depleted Warriors tonight.  Take Houston. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Tampa Bay Rays -155 

The Key: The Rays are one of the best teams in baseball at 23-13.  Amazingly, 22 of those 23 wins have come by 2 runs or more.  But I’ll take them just on the money line here thanks to their advantage on the rubber.  Tyler Glasnow is 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in his 7 starts for the Rays this season.  Domingo German has put up good numbers, but he is 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against Tampa Bay, both of which came last season.  The Yankees are 1-12 as road dogs of +100 to +150 over the last 2 seasons.  Take Tampa Bay. 

7* Nuggets/Blazers Game 6 *BAILOUT* on OVER 215 

The Key: The OVER is 8-1 in the 9 meetings between the Nuggets and Blazers this season.  They have combined for 222 or more points in 8 of those 9 meetings.  This is the gift that keeps on giving, and we’ll continue to ride it until it bucks us.  Take the OVER. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +6 

The Key: Each of the 4 games in this series have gone down to the wire.  All 4 games were decided by 6 points or less.  The Rockets are now 6-2 ATS against the Warriors this season, proving that they are on their level.  And to get over the hump, they need to pull off the upset here in Game 5.  I think they can and I believe they have been playing the smarter basketball in this series, playing more as a team while the Warriors are struggling to find good shots consistently for their stars.  And the Warriors have no bench, which is what is really hurting them.  The Rockets are getting key contributions from Austin Rivers and company off their bench.  Take Houston. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+103) 

The Key: The Los Angeles Dodgers are 9-3 in their last 12 games overall.  Ace Clayton Kershaw takes the ball tonight and he’s 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 4 starts this season.  Kershaw has never lost to the Braves, going 6-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 13 lifetime starts against them.  Mike Foltynewicz came off the disabled list to start the season and has been shaky.  He is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in his 2 starts.  Foltynewicz is also 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against the Dodgers.  Take Los Angeles on the Run Line.