Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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05-02-22 | Mavs v. Suns -5.5 | Top | 114-121 | Win | 100 | 13 h 17 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Pho Suns at 10:00 ET The Dallas Mavericks (No. 4 seed) visit the Phoenix Suns (No. 1 seed) for Game 1 on Monday night. Both teams overcame the absence of their young superstars in tough first-round matchups. The Mavericks ousted the fifth-seeded Utah Jazz and the Suns survived the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans, both winning in six games. Dallas was without Luca Doncic in the first three games of its series with a calf strain, while Phoenix saw Devin Booker leave Game 2 against the Pelicans with a hamstring strain, before returning in the Game 6 series-clincher in New Orleans. The Suns swept the season series 3-0 from the Mavericks, finishing with an NBA-best 68-14 record, 12 games better than the Mavs' 52-30 mark. Doncic returned to average 29.0-10.7-5.7 in Games 4 through 6 but I'd be remiss to not give a shout out to Jalen Brunson. The four-year vet from Villanova owns a career regular season line of 11.9-3.0-3.7 but averaged 27.8-4.8-4.2 against Utah. Brunson scored 20-plus points in all six games, despite NEVER having had 20-plus points in more than TWO straight regular-season games. Want more? He averaged 38 minutes per game and committed just FOUR turnovers. I find it hard to believe that Brunson can repeat that kind of effort against the NBA's best team. Phoenix head coach Monty Williams is convinced Booker's good health and that means he and Paul join a frontcourt of center Ayton, SF Bridges and veteran PF Crowder. Booker averaged 26.8-5.0-4.8 in the regular season, while in the playoffs, Paul has averaged 22.3 & 11.3 APG, Ayton 20.5 & 9.8, Bridges 17.3 & 4.5 and Crowder 7.5 & 3.5. SF Johnson has averaged 11.0 & 3.1 and backup center McGee, 8.3 & 3.7 in just 11 MPG. The Suns saw red-hot Boston lose Game 1 at home on Sunday (101-89!) and Memphis, owners of the NBA's second-best record, lose Game 1 at home against Golden St 117-116, blowing a double-digit first half lead. The Suns want NO part of giving Dallas a 'shot of confidence,' with a Game 1 win. Yes, the Suns are giving about a 'TDs' worth of points but I'm laying the points! Good luck...Larry |
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05-02-22 | Braves -104 v. Mets | Top | 5-2 | Win | 100 | 11 h 1 m | Show |
My 10* Division Game of the Month (NL East) is on the Atl Braves at 7:10 ET. The Atlanta Braves continue a seven-game road trip Monday in New York, after losing 7-3 on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers 7-3. Meanwhile, the Mets extended their franchise-record, season-opening streak of series wins to seven by beating the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Sunday night. This four-game series is the first meeting of the 2022 season between the two teams. It's the first meeting since July 29. The Braves were 51-53 at that time but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, New York went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Mets made the 2015 World Series (lost 4-1 to KC) and made a one-game wild card appearance in 2016, but they've been playoff-less the last five years. The 10-13 Braves will send Max Fried (2-2, 3.00 ERA) to the mound, while the 16-7 Mets counter with Chris Bassitt (3-1, 2.25 ERA). Fried entered this season with a 38-13 (.745) record from 2019-21 and the Braves were also an OUTSTANDING 50-19 (.724) in all of his starts. He opened the current season 0-2 (5.72 ERA) but owned a 9-1 KW ratio. He has rebounded to win his last two starts, allowing just one ER over 13 innings with a 12-0 KW ratio (that's 21-1 through four starts). Fried is 4-3 with a 2.78 ERA in 16 career games (11 starts) against the Mets. Chris Bassitt was traded to the Mets prior to the start of this season, coming off a 12-4 (3.15 ERA) 2021 season with the A's (team was 17-10 in his starts). He's had one poor outing (allowed five ERs in a 5-2 loss to the Giants but in his other three (all wins), has allowed just one ER over 18 innings. Bassitt has never faced the Braves. The Mets rank first in the majors in on-base percentage (.344), second in batting average (.262) and third in ERA (2.99), stats the current Braves can't match. The Mets' SEVEN straight series wins is an impressive accomplishment, but the Braves have already fallen SIX games behind them, and the season is not yet FOUR weeks old. No series prediction for me here but I will make a HUGE play on Fried and the Braves in Game 1 of the series! Good luck...Larry |
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05-02-22 | Yankees v. Blue Jays +116 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
My 9* Rivalry Rout is on the Tor Blue Jays at 7:07 ET.
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05-01-22 | Guardians v. A's +107 | Top | 7-3 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 47 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Oak A's at 4:07 ET. Both Cleveland and Oakland have been playoff regulars in recent years but both sat out in 2021, Cleveland with an 80-82 record and Oakland with an 86-76 mark. The two teams wrap up a three-games series Sunday in Oakland, with Cleveland winning the first two (had entered the series on a 7-game slide). Oakland has now lost FIVE of seven to fall to 10-11, while Cleveland's back-to-back wins only gets them to 9-12. The Guardians will turn to Triston McKenzie (0-2, 3.71 ERA) for the conclusion of their 10-game trip, while Oakland's James Kaprielian will take the mound for his season debut on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series.
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05-01-22 | Warriors v. Grizzlies +2.5 | Top | 117-116 | Win | 100 | 9 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the Mem Grizzlies at 3:30 ET. The Golden State Warriors made FIVE consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2019, winning three. Now, after missing out on the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons, Golden St (No. 3 seed) is hoping to make another postseason run. The Warriors took a 3-0 lead over Denver in the first round, lost Game 4 but then eliminated the Nuggets in Game. Up next will be the 2nd-seeded Memphis Grizzlies, who had a tough time in the first round against the Minnesota T-wolves. Memphis needed six games to put away Minnesota and the series featured THREE Memphis wins in which the Grizzlies overcame double-digit 4th-quarter deficits, setting an NBA playoff record. Beating Minnesota marked the franchise's first playoff series win in SEVEN years.
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05-01-22 | Angels v. White Sox +110 | Top | 6-5 | Loss | -100 | 5 h 29 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Chi White Sox at 2:10 ET. The Angels are coming off a 77-85 season and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years (got swept 3-0 in a 2014 ALDS in its lone appearance in that span). The White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games. Chicago expected even more in 2022. However, as the Angels and White Sox get set to play the third game of this four-games series on Sunday, the Angels' 14-8 record has them in first place in the AL West, while the 8-12 White Sox are in third place in the AL Central, 3 1/2-games behind the Twins. The Angels won Friday's opener 5-1 but the White Sox responded with a 4-0 victory on Saturday.
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05-01-22 | Astros v. Blue Jays -140 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 7 h 57 m | Show |
My 8* Weekend Wipeout is on the Tor Blue Jays at 1:37 ET. The Houston Astros entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East. Houston opened 4-1 but then lost EIGHT of 11 to fall to 7-9. However, after winning 11-7 in the series opener at Toronto on Friday, will took a four-game winning streak and an 11-9 record into Saturday's contest. Friday's loss dropped the Jays to 13-8, 1 1/2-games behind the first-place Yankees and a half-game ahead of the third-place Rays. The Jays won 2-1 on Saturday, led by George Springer's two solo HRs. The 11-10 Astros and 14-8 Jays play the "rubber match" of this three-games series on Sunday. Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.15 ERA) starts for Houston and Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.19 ERA) for Toronto.
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04-30-22 | Braves -108 v. Rangers | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Atl Braves at 7:05 ET. The Atlanta Braves won the NL East for the fourth straight year in 2021 with just 88 wins. They entered the postseason with the fewest wins of ANY of MLB's 10 playoff teams but went on to win their second-ever World Series title since the franchise moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966 (previous WS win was in 1995). Speaking of the World Series, the Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. The Braves and Rangers opened a three-game IL series last night in Arlington. The Braves came away with a 6-3 win to get within a game of .500 at 10-11 (Atlanta is chasing the 15-6 Mets in the NL East). As for the Rangers, they fell to 6-14 and aren't chasing ANYONE.
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04-30-22 | Mariners -101 v. Marlins | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -101 | 12 h 46 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Month is on the Sea Mariners at 6:10 ET. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought (the longest active one in MLB) to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Marlins joined the National League in 1993 and entering the COVID-shortened season of 2020, had made the postseason just TWICE. However, the Marlins would capture the World Series each time, in 1997 over the Indians and in 2003 over the Yankees. The Marlins overcame all sorts of team COVID issues to end a 16-year postseason drought in 2020 but the 2021 team finished 67-95. The teams played the opener of this three-game series in Miami last night, with the Marlins winning 8-6. Miami has now won SIX straight games, its longest streak since 2020. It's also the longest active win streak in the National League but at 11-8, the Marlins are three games behind the 15-6 Mets. It was Seattle's third straight loss and at 11-9, the Mariners find themselves 'looking up' at the 14-7 Angels in the AL West. Seattle will send Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.91 ERA) to the mound, while Miami counters with Jesus Luzardo (1-1, 3.71 ERA).
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04-30-22 | Astros v. Blue Jays -125 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 45 m | Show |
My 9* Afternoon Delight is on the Tor Blue Jays at 3:07 ET. The Houston Astros entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East. Houston opened 4-1 but then lost EIGHT of 11 to fall to 7-9. However, after winning 11-7 in the series opener at Toronto on Friday, will take a four-game winning streak and an 11-9 record into Saturday's contest (note: The Angels have opened 14-7 in the AL West). Friday's loss dropped the Jays to 13-8, 1 1/2-games behind the first-place Yankees and a half-game ahead of the third-place Rays. Saturday's starters are Luis Garcia (1-0, 4.60 ERA) and Jose Berrios (1-0, 4.91 ERA).
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04-29-22 | Braves -130 v. Rangers | Top | 6-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 58 m | Show |
The 3rd pick of my STP is an 8* on the Atl Braves at 8:05 ET. Note: This play on Atlanta is "action," as it is possible the Rangers could switch their "opener." Either way, Atlanta is the choice.
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04-29-22 | Twins v. Rays -129 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
The 2nd pick of my STP is a 9* on the TB Rays at 7:10 ET. The Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. However, after a 4-8 start in 2022, Minnesota has won SEVEN in a row and is atop the division after three weeks, at 11-8. The Tampa Bay Rays are off three straight postseason appearances and back-to-back AL East titles but while their 11-8 record matches Minnesota's, the Rays are third in the AL East behind the 13-7 Blue Jays and 13-6 Yankees.
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04-29-22 | Red Sox -135 v. Orioles | Top | 3-1 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
The 1st pick of my STP is an 8* on the Bos Red Sox at 7:05 ET. The Boston Red Sox visit Baltimore for a three-game series with the Orioles starting Friday night. The Red Sox are just 8-12, after losing SEVEN of their last nine games. Meanwhile, the Orioles are 6-13 and open the series on a four-game slide. Boston has FIVE one-run losses this season, including four in the last eight days. The latest came Thursday, when the Red Sox were held to four hits in a 1-0 defeat to the host Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox have scored two or fewer runs in SEVEN of their last 10 games. However, this weekend it's the sad-sack Orioles, who have lost 100-plus games in THREE of the last full seasons and while it's early, are on pace to do so again in 2022.
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04-28-22 | Mavs v. Jazz | Top | 98-96 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* 'Signature' LEGEND Play is on the Ut Jazz at 10:00 ET. The Utah Jazz are on the brink of elimination, after getting routed 102-77 at Dallas in Game 5. The Jazz won Game 1 in Dallas (no Doncic for the Mavs but lost Game 2 (in Dallas) at Game 3 (in Utah), despite Doncic's absence. Doncic returned in Game 4 and scored 30 points with 10 rebounds. The Jazz led by 16 points in the late second quarter but Doncic's three-pointer with 39.6 seconds remaining gave Dallas a 99-95 lead. However, everything went Utah's way in those final 40 seconds. Utah won 100-99 to tie the series at two-all. Game 5 was a Maverick blowout, winning at home by the score of 102-77. Doncic has 33 points and 13 rebounds, while fellow guard Brunson scored 24 points. Brunson's been a "breakout star' this series, averaging 28.6-5.2-4.6. He has scored 20-plus points in five straight playoff games, despite NEVER having had 20-plus points in more than TWO straight regular-season games. Utah's Mitchell (26.7 PPG) limped off the court and grabbed at his hamstring with 4:55 to play in Game 5. An ensuing MRI was negative, and Mitchell said Wednesday, "I'm good to go. I'll be ready." The Mavs did not make the postseason in Doncic's rookie season and in each of the last two postseasons, they have been eliminated in the first round. Dallas (with Doncic) is now just ONE win away from its first playoff series win but getting a 'W" here, will be a challenge. The Jazz have underachieved in recent postseasons but with Mitchell playing, the Jazz have the players to match Dallas. Clarkson is averaging 18.0 PPG off the bench, SF Bogdanovich (17.8 & 4.2) has had a strong series both offensively and defensively plus center Gobert (12.4 & 13.4) is easily the best big man in the game. I think the home court WILL matter here. Utah made just 3 of 30 from three-point range in the Game 5 blowout loss and it not only was that the worst three-point field-goal percentage in Jazz history (minimum 20 attempts), it was the least-accurate performance in NBA postseason history (minimum 25 attempts), according to ESPN Stats & Info. This series is headed back to Dallas for a Game 7 on Saturday. Good luck...Larry |
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04-28-22 | Guardians +145 v. Angels | Top | 1-4 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Cle Guardians at 4:07 ET. Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021 and opened the current season looking for a return to the postseason. Meanwhile, the Angels are coming off a 77-85 season and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years (got swept 3-0 in a 2014 ALDS in its lone appearance in that span). It's early but Cleveland fans have to be disappointed with the team's 7-11 start, while Angel fans have to like their team's 12-7 start. The Angels are looking to complete a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday afternoon in Anaheim, with Cleveland having lost SIX in a row while Los Angeles has won four in a row. Cal Quantrill (1-0, 3.94 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season for the Guardians, while Reid Detmers (0-1, 6.57 ERA) will also make his fourth start of the season for the Angels. This marks Quantrill's fifth season, and he was a career-best 8-3 last season (40 appearances, including 22 starts), posting a 2.89 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Reid made five starts for the Angels last season, going 1-3 with a 7.40 ERA and 1.79 WHIP. Quantrill is coming off his longest outing of the season, going 6.1 innings against the New York Yankees on Saturday, when he got a no-decision after allowing three runs and six hits. He's made just one start vs LA and that was last season, pitching seven scoreless innings of a 3-0 win. Detmers is coming off his best start of the 2022 season, giving up two runs on three hits and one walk in five innings but was tagged with the 5-3 loss against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. He made his only start against Cleveland in 2021, allowing three ERs on seven hits in just 3.2 innings of a 5-1 loss. I believe Quantrill owns a solid edge over Detmers on the mound and I'm not convinced the Angels are any better than the Guardians, despite both teams currently headed in opposite directions. Great price on the road underdog. Good luck...Larry |
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04-28-22 | Brewers v. Pirates +156 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 7 m | Show |
My 9* Getaway Day Game of the Week is on the Pit Pirates at 12:35 ET. The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the AL Central in 2021. The Pittsburgh Pirates have missed the playoffs in each of the last SIX years, with the lone winning season in that stretch came when they went 82-79 in 2018. Milwaukee went 95-67 last season, while Pittsburgh finished 61-101 (34 games behind). The Brewers look to sweep their series in Pittsburgh on Thursday, which would make them 6-0 against the Pirates after sweeping them in a home series last week. The Brewers outscored the Pirates 15-5 during that 3-game sweep in Milwaukee and won 12-8 on Tuesday, before winning 3-1 on Wednesday. In this "Getaway Day Game," it's Freddy Peralta (0-1, 7.50 ERA) for Milwaukee and Jose Quintana (0-1, 3.86 ERA) for Pittsburgh. Peralta was 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA and 0.97 WHIP (195-56 KW ratio) last season in 27 starts (Brewers were 18-9). Peralta is still looking for his first win of 2022, as he makes his fourth start. He is coming off a no-decision Friday in the Brewers' 4-2 loss at Philadelphia, when he allowed one run and three hits in five innings with six strikeouts and two walks. That was more like the Peralta of 2021, as he had an 11.75 ERA after his first two starts and has been working on some mechanics. "It's a good sign for me," Peralta said. "It's what I've been working on, and finally I was feeling a little more comfortable than the last two games." Peralta is 2-1 with a 3.19 ERA in 14 games, five of them starts (team is 3-2 in his starts, with Peralta posting a 2.17 ERA), against Pittsburgh. Quintana's career began back in 2012 and he won 13 games in 2016 with the White Sox and 13 games for the Cubs in both 2018 and 2019. However, he's done almost NOTHING since. The Pirates signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and this marks his fourth start. He's pitched a modest total of 14 innings, but his ERA is 3.86 and the Pirates have won TWO of his three starts. What's more, Quintana is 9-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 18 games, 17 of them starts vs Milwaukee, with those nine wins being his most against any team. His teams are 12-5 in his 17 starts against the Brewers and that includes him going 3-0 against Milwaukee back in 2019. He hasn't faced them since. I've got some good 'vibes' here with Quintana and will take the 'juicy' home underdog. Bow Wow! Good luck...Larry |
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04-27-22 | Astros -114 v. Rangers | Top | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 49 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Hou Astros at 8:05 ET. The Astros remain the team everyone 'loves to hate.' Houston won the AL West last season with a 95-67 record, capturing the division for the FOURTH time in the last five years. Houston won the 2017 World Series (over the Dodgers), lost the 2019 World Series (to the Nats) and then lost it again last season to the Braves. The Astros opened the current season winning FOUR of five but have gone 3-8 since, after losing 6-2 last night to the Rangers in Arlington. Texas appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973.
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04-27-22 | Mariners v. Rays -134 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 20 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the TB Rays at 6:40 ET. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought (the longest active one in MLB) to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances, winning the AL East in both 2020 and 2021.Seattle won the opener of this three-game series at Tropicana Field 8-4 last night and the teams continue their three-game series tonight. The victory was Seattle's fourth straight and at 11-6, sit atop the AL West (Angels are 11-7). The Rays fell to 9-8 with the loss and are 2 1/2-games behind the 1st-place Blue Jays in the AL East (two games behind the Yankees).
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04-26-22 | Pelicans v. Suns -6 | Top | 97-112 | Win | 100 | 14 h 55 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Pho Suns at 10:00 ET. The Pelicans heavily rely on SF Ingram (29.8-6.8-5.0), SG McCollum (24.0-7.3-6.0 and center Valanciunas (15.0 & 16.0). "Brandon is playing some of his best basketball of the season, and he's doing it on the biggest stage, and it's great to see," New Orleans coach Willie Green said. "I'm just trying to move out of the way and let him do his thing." Ingram scored 16 of his 30 points in the pivotal third quarter of Game 4 and became the first Pelicans player to score 30 points in three consecutive playoff games. Valanciunas bounced back from a poor performance in Game 3 (1 of 5 shooting for six points) to add a career playoff-high 26 points and 15 rebounds. Here's what Phoenix head coach Monty Williams said after the Game 4 loss. "We can't worry about whether Book comes back. Obviously, we need Book back, but that's not why we lost the game. They played much harder than we did." He added, "They outplayed us; they deserve to win. (But) that's a free throw disparity that you have to look at." He was referring to the fact that the Pelicans shot 42 free throws (making 32) and the Suns shot 15 (making 10).Williams may have a point but the Suns can't afford Paul to repeat his Game 4 performance (2 of 8 shooting for four points). The Suns have outstanding depth and will need it here. Ayton is averaging 20.5 & 10.8 in the four games, while Paul has added 19.8 and 12.3 APG, despite his 4-point Game 4 performance. SFs Bridges (13.8 & 4.8) and Johnson (11.3 & 2.8) have been consistent plus backup center McGee has averaged 11.5 & 4.3 in just 13 1/2-minutes. |
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04-26-22 | Astros v. Rangers OVER 9 | Top | 5-1 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* O/U Game of the Week is Hou/Tex Over at 8:05 ET. The Astros remain the team everyone 'loves to hate.' Houston won the AL West last season with a 95-67 record, capturing the division for the FOURTH time in the last five years. Houston won the 2017 World Series (over the Dodgers), lost the 2019 World Series (to the Nats) and then lost it again last season to the Braves. The Astros opened the current season winning FOUR of five but have gone 3-8 since, after losing 6-2 last night to the Rangers in Arlington. Texas appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. The Rangers won the opener of this four-game series against their in-state rival last night, the team's FOURTH win in its last five games.
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04-26-22 | Wolves v. Grizzlies -6 | Top | 109-111 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the Mem Grizzlies at 7:30 ET. |
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04-26-22 | Royals v. White Sox -144 | Top | 6-0 | Loss | -144 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Chi White Sox at 7:10 ET. The Royals played in back-to-back World Series in 2014 (lost to the Giants 4-3) and in 2015 (beat the Mets 4-1) but six playoff-less seasons have followed. The 2016 team went 81-81 and the 2017 team went 81-81. However, the last four seasons have seen KC go 217-329 (.397). KC fans may be sensing some "deja vu," as after the 1985 team won the franchise's first World Series crown, the Royals didn't make the playoffs again until 2014 (that's a span of 28 years!). The White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games. Chicago expected even more in 2022.
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04-25-22 | Guardians +109 v. Angels | Top | 0-3 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 12 m | Show |
My 9* Late-Breaker is on the Cle Guardians at 9:38 ET. Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021 and opened the current season looking for a return to the postseason. Meanwhile, the Angels are coming off a 77-85 season and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years (got swept 3-0 in a 2014 ALDS in its lone appearance in that span). The Angels feature not only Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon but also the defending American League MVP Shohei Ohtani. Trout and Rendon missed most of last season because of injuries, with Trout playing in just 36 games and Rendon in 58. Trout didn't play at all after May 17, while Rendon's last game was July 4. Ohtani hit 46 HRs with 100 RBI (also 26 SBs) plus went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA, striking out 156 batters in 130.1 IP. The 7-8 Guardians and 9-7 Angels open a four-game-game series in Anaheim on Monday. The starters for tonight will be Shane Bieber (1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts) and Michael Lorenzen (1-1, 4.82 ERA in two starts). Bieber was a rookie in 2018 and in 2019 went 15-8 and was the All-Star Game's MVP. In the COVID-shortened 2020 season he went 8-1 in 12 starts (team was 10-2), leading the AL in wins, ERA (1.63) and Ks (122), while posting an 0.87 WHIP and .167 BAA. He won the AL's Cy Young award. Bieber missed a chunk of the 2021 season (7-4 with a 3.17 ERA but 134 Ks in 96.2 IP) with a strained throwing shoulder. He was expected to be back at full strength this season and that looks like the case. He is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts (team is 2-1) with a 16-3 KW ratio and a 0.69 WHIP. Lorenzen spent his previous six seasons as a reliever but the Angels decided to make him part of their starting rotation in 2022. He has had one good start and one not-so-good one. He held the Miami Marlins to one run in six innings in his first start on April 11 (to earn a 6-2 win) but last Monday he gave up four runs and was knocked out of the game after 3.1 innings against Houston (took an 8-3 loss). Lorenzen is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight career games against Cleveland, all relief appearances. Meanwhile, Bieber is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in three career starts vs the Angels starts. He's native of Orange County, Ca. (attended Laguna Hills High School). Bieber vs Lorenzen gives Cleveland a BIG edge plus note that SIX of LA's nine wins have come against 5-10 Texas, 6-10 Baltimore and 7-8 Miami. The Guardians are the play. Good luck...Larry |
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04-25-22 | Jazz v. Mavs -2.5 | Top | 77-102 | Win | 100 | 14 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Dal Mavs at 9:30 ET. Dallas ended the regular season 52-30, three games better than Utah's 49-33 mark. That earned the Mavs the No. 4 seed and the home court edge in their first round series with the Jazz. However, Dallas star Luka Doncic (28.4-9.1-8.7) would miss the first three games of the series due to a strained left calf. Utah won Game 1 in Dallas but the Mavs rebounded to win Games 2 and 3. Doncic returned in Game 4 and scored 30 points with 10 rebounds and four assists. The Jazz led by 16 points in the late second quarter but Doncic's three-pointer with 39.6 seconds remaining gave Dallas a 99-95 lead. However, everything went Utah's way in those final 40 seconds. Utah won 100-99 and the series is now tied at two-all.
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04-25-22 | Astros -130 v. Rangers | Top | 2-6 | Loss | -130 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Hou Astros at 8:05 ET. The Astros remain the team everyone 'loves to hate.' Houston won the AL West last season with a 95-67 record, capturing the division for the FOURTH time in the last five years. Houston won the 2017 World Series (over the Yankees), lost the 2019 World Series (to the Nats) and then lost it again last season to the Braves. The Astros opened the current season winning FOUR of five but had gone 2-7 before salvaging the final contest of a three-game home series with the Blue Jays on Sunday (8-7 in 10 Innings). The 7-8 Astros remain in Texas but not in Houston, as they open a four-game series in Arlington against the Rangers. Texas appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. The Rangers won the first two contests of their three-game series in Oakland against the A's but fell 2-0 on Sunday to fall to 5-10 on the season.
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04-24-22 | Suns -2.5 v. Pelicans | Top | 103-118 | Loss | -110 | 17 h 42 m | Show |
The 3rd pick of my STP is a 9* on the Pho Suns at 9:30 ET. The 64-18 Suns were easily the NBA's best team this season and their first round series against the Pelicans (36-46) was expected to be a 'walk in the park!' The Suns won 110-99 in Game 1 but Devin Booker (26.8-5.0-4.8) sustained a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Tuesday's Game 2. He injured his right hamstring while chasing New Orleans' Jaxson Hayes in transition as the latter scored on a dunk. The Suns called timeout with 4:35 left in the quarter but Booker's night was done with the Suns trailing by three. The Pelicans then outscored Phoenix 48-40 the rest of the way to record a 125-114 road victory. Booker is expected to miss the rest of the series (maybe much longer). Suddenly, eighth-seeded New Orleans (36-46) had life in the series plus homecourt advantage, with three of the potential five remaining games on its home floor.
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04-24-22 | Heat v. Hawks +2 | Top | 110-86 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 5 m | Show |
The 2nd pick of my STP is a 10* on the Atl Hawks at 7:00 ET. The Atlanta Hawks made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals last season, while the Miami Heat, after making it to the NBA Finals two years ago (lost to the Lakers 4-2), got swept 4-0 in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks. Much was expected from Atlanta this season but the Hawks finished as the East's No. 9 seed and needed two 'play in' wins to earn the final playoff spot in the East. As for the Heat, they spent most of the season at or near the top of the highly competitive East and finished with the No. 1 seed (53-29), two games better than Celtics, Bucks and 76ers (all 51-31).
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04-24-22 | Dodgers -140 v. Padres | Top | 10-2 | Win | 100 | 7 h 12 m | Show |
My 8* Rivalry Game of the Month is on the LA Dodgers at 4:10 ET. The San Diego Padres see the LA Dodgers as their No. 1 rival but for the Dodgers, it's the Giants, dating back to their days in New York. That said, the Dodgers can't deny that this is a rivalry and it's growing. The Dodgers have opened 10-4 (best record in MLB) and the Padres are not far behind at 10-6, after the teams split the first two contests of this three-game series. The Dodgers finished with a 12-7 record against the Padres in 2021, a year in which the Dodgers won 106 games and competed in the postseason for the NINTH consecutive season (longest active streak in MLB). As for the Padres, after ending a 13-year playoff drought in 2020 (37-23 in a COVID-shortened season), they finished 79-83 (27 games behind the Dodgers!).
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04-24-22 | Rangers v. A's +112 | Top | 0-2 | Win | 112 | 9 h 45 m | Show |
My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the Oak A's at 4:07 ET. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. The Oakland Athletics had a run of three straight playoff appearances snapped in 2021 with an 86-76 record. The two AL West rivals will complete a three-game series today in Oakland. Texas won Friday's game 8-1 and I had a HUGE play on the A's in Saturday's second game of the series. Here's part of what I wrote in my analysis.
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04-24-22 | Blue Jays v. Astros -126 | Top | 7-8 | Win | 100 | 7 h 52 m | Show |
My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Hou Astros at 2:10 ET. The Blue Jays finished just ONE game behind the Yankees for the AL's second wild-card spot in 2021 and many (most?) think Toronto is "the team to beat'' in the AL East in 2022. The Blue Jays are off to a 10-5 start, after taking the first two contests (4-3 and 3-2) of this three-game series in Houston. The Astros remain the team everyone 'loves to hate.' Houston won the AL West last season with a 95-67 record, capturing the division for the FOURTH time in the last five years. Houston won the 2017 World Series (over the Yankees), lost the 2019 World Series (to the Nats) and then lost it again last season to the Braves. The Astros opened the season winning FOUR of five but have gone 2-7 since. They look to avoid the home sweep here, as well as snapping a four-game losing streak.
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04-24-22 | Bucks -3.5 v. Bulls | Top | 119-95 | Win | 100 | 8 h 7 m | Show |
The 1st pick of my STP is a 9* on the Mil Bucks at 1:00 ET. The Chicago Bulls ended a four-year playoff drought this season by going 46-36 (East's No. 6 seed). Chicago's first round opponent would be the third-seed Bucks, who are the NBA's defending champs. Milwaukee won a low-scoring contest in Game 1 (93-86) but the Bulls shocked the Bucks with 114-110 win in Game 2, as the Bulls' key trio of DeRozan, Vucevic and LaVine went 33 of 62 (53.2 percent) from the floor while scoring a combined total of 85 points. To add insult to injury, Milwaukee's Khris Middleton (20.1-5.4-5.4 in the regular season) sprained the MCL in his left knee, leaving Game 2 with 6:49 remaining. He did not return and he is expected to miss the remainder of the series (at least!).
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04-23-22 | Grizzlies v. Wolves +3 | Top | 118-119 | Win | 100 | 16 h 18 m | Show |
The 3rd pick of my STP is a 9* on the Min T-wolves at 10:00 ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves shocked the Memphis Grizzlies by winning Game 1 in Memphis 130-117 However, the second-seeded Grizzlies rebounded to win 124-96 in Game at home and then 104-95 in Minnesota in Game 3. The Game 2 was expected but the game 3 win needed a HUGE comeback. Minnesota seemed to be on a path toward duplicating its opening success when it put up 39 points in the first quarter and then 32 in the third, while leading by as many as 26 points in Game 3 at home. However, Memphis would outscore Minnesota 37-12 in the fourth quarter, making 12 of 23 (52.2 percent) and retrieving five of its misses with offensive rebounds.
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04-23-22 | Celtics v. Nets -2.5 | Top | 109-103 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* 1st Round Game of the Year is on the Brk Nets at 7:30 ET. The Nets were preseason favorites in the East and were fighting for the East lead back in January but at 29-16 through Jan 21, went on an 11-game losing streak. The Nets were not able to hold onto a top-six seed and entered the 'play-in' round as the No. 7 seed, where they beat the Cavs 115-108 to earn this first-round contest with the Celtics. Boston was just 25-25 back on Jan 28 but ended the regular season on a 26-6. Boston's 51-31 matched that of Milwaukee and Philadelphia, but the Celtics got the No. 2 seed via tiebreakers. The Nets have had a chance in each of the first two games in this series but the Celtics have gone up 2-0. Boston won 115-114 on a last second basket by Tatum in Game 1 and then outscored Brooklyn 29-17 in the fourth quarter of Game 2 (Nets shot 5 of 19) to win 114-107. It's safe to say "it's NOW or NEVER for the Nets!" Boston's "Dynamic Duo" of Tatum (5.0-5.0-9.0) and Brown (22.5-4.5-4.5) have led the way plus have been ably supported buy veteran PF/C Horford (18.0 & 10.5) and Defensive POY Smart (16.0-4.0-5.5). Durant (25.0-4.0-4.0) and Kyrie (24.5-6.5-3.5) have similar numbers to Tatum and Brown but K.D. has been "off his game." The Celtics held Durant to 9-of-24 shooting in Game 1 and forced him into six turnovers. Boston erased a 17-point deficit in Game 2 and held Durant to 4-of-17 shooting with another six turnovers. Looking closer, KD was 2 of 12 in the first half of Game 1 and 0 of 10 after halftime in Game 2. "It's on me to just finish it and figure it out," Durant said. "I'm not expecting my teammates or the defense to give me anything. I just got to go out there and play." He added, "I've just got to come back and play. Get ready to work, just keep grinding. I'm going to be expected to be aggressive throughout the rest of this series, so control some of that stuff and look at film and keep playing." Boston's on a roll (to say the least) but this is a game the Nets HAVE to win and WILL win! Expect a HUGE game from KD. Good luck...Larry |
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04-23-22 | Mavs v. Jazz -5.5 | Top | 99-100 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 55 m | Show |
The 2nd pick of my STP is a 9* on the Ut Jazz at 4:30 ET. The Utah Jazz had a great chance to take a 2-0 lead in their series with the Dallas Mavericks after winning Game 1 at Dallas 99-93. Doncic was a definite "no go" in Game 2 but Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 41 points plus Dallas made a team playoff-record 22 three-point and had only THREE turnovers in a 110-104 Dallas. Utah returned home tied 1-1 and still owned the home court edge but the Jazz fell behind by 17 points at home in Game 3 and got outplayed down the stretch against a team still missing its superstar. The Doncic-less Mavericks won Game 3 by a score of 126-118 at Vivint Arena (Brunson had 31 points!) and it didn't sit well with the home crowd. The boos from Utah fans were aimed at their own team
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04-23-22 | Rangers v. A's -123 | Top | 2-0 | Loss | -123 | 7 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* 'Signature' LEGEND play is on the Oak A' at 4:10 ET. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. The Oakland Athletics had a run of three straight playoff appearances snapped in 2021 with an 86-76 record. The two AL West rivals opened a three-game series last night in Oakland, with Texas winning 8-1. The Rangers moved to 4-9 with the win, while the A's fell to 8-7 The Rangers are averaging 5.31 RPG (2nd-best in MLB) but Texas has been an all-or-nothing team this season. The eight runs Friday gave them eight or more five times this season. They've gone 4-1 in those games. However, they are 0-8 when scoring six or less, and have been held to three or less six times. The Rangers will send left-hander Martin Perez (0-2, 6.75 ERA) to the mound, while the A's counter with Frankie Montas (2-1, 3.63 ERA). This marks Perez's 11th season and while he has three seasons of 10 wins plus had a career-best 13-12 record in 2017 (4.82 ERA and 1.54 WHIP), he remains a journeyman (career record of 63-71 with a 4.72 ERA and 1.46 WHIP). He has allowed six ERs in eight innings in losses to the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels to open this season. Montas began his career in 2015 but last year was the first season he made more than 16 starts. He was 13-9 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.18 ERA in 32 starts. Montas was Oakland's Opening Dat-y Starter on April 8th in Philly. He pitched poorly in a 9-5 loss, allowing five ERs in five innings. However, he has won back-to-back starts, 4-2 at Tampa Bay and 5-1 at home to Baltimore. He's gone 12.1 innings in the two wins, allowing two ERs (1.46 ERA) on seven hits with a KW ratio of 11-2. Really 'LOVE' Montas here over Perez, who can't expect much help from a bullpen that owns a 4.73 ERA (2nd-worst in MLB). Good luck...Larry |
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04-23-22 | 76ers v. Raptors OVER 213 | Top | 102-110 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 23 m | Show |
The 1st pick of my STP is a 9* on Phi/Tor Over at 2:00 ET. Toronto won 50-plus games over a five-year stretch prior to last season (won the NBA title in 2019), playing .693 basketball. However, the Raptors 'dropped like a rock' last season, finishing 27-45 (.375). The Raptors were a .500 team in late January, but an eight-game winning streak got them back in playoff position. The team was a modest 34-30 in early March but ended the season winning 14 of 18 and wound up with the East's No. 5 seed. Philadelphia battled at the top of the East all season but in the end, Miami (53-29) won the East, while Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia all finished 51-31. Due to tiebreakers, the 76ers wound up as the No. 4 seed and got Toronto in the first round.
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04-22-22 | Suns -1 v. Pelicans | Top | 114-111 | Win | 100 | 28 h 26 m | Show |
The 3rd pick of my STP is a 10* on the Pho Suns at 9:30 ET. The 64-18 Suns were easily the NBA's best team this season and their first round series against the Pelicans (36-46) was expected to be a 'walk in the park!' The Suns won 110-99 in Game 1 but Devin Booker (26.8-5.0-4.8) sustained a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Tuesday's Game 2. He injured his right hamstring while chasing New Orleans' Jaxson Hayes in transition as the latter scored on a dunk. The Suns called timeout with 4:35 left in the quarter but Booker's night was done with the Suns trailing by three. The Pelicans then outscored Phoenix 48-40 the rest of the way to record a 125-114 road victory. Booker, who scored 31 points in the first half of Game 2, is expected to miss the rest of the series (maybe much longer). Suddenly, eighth-seeded New Orleans has life in the series plus homecourt advantage, with three of the potential five remaining games on its home floor.
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04-22-22 | Bucks -2.5 v. Bulls | Top | 111-81 | Win | 100 | 27 h 59 m | Show |
The 2nd pick of my STP is a 9* on the Mil Bucks at 8:30 ET. The Chicago Bulls ended a four-year playoff drought this season by going 46-36 (East's No. 6 seed). Chicago's first round opponent would be the third-seed Bucks, who are the NBA's defending champs. Chicago shot just 32.3 percent from the floor in Game 1, scoring just 86 points in a seven-point loss. That couldn't have come as a surprise, as the Bulls fell to 0-5 against Milwaukee this season and 1-17 against them going back to 2018. What's more, while the Bulls were in the mix all season in the competitive East, they had gone just 2-21 against the top-four teams in both conferences.
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04-22-22 | White Sox +100 v. Twins | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 33 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Chi W Sox at 8:10 ET. The White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games. Chicago expected even more in 2022.The Twins, who won World Series titles back in 1987 and 1991, entered last season off back-to-back years of winning the AL Central but IMPLODED in 2021, finishing 73-89, 20 games behind the division-winning White Sox! Chicago opened 6-2 but visits Minnesota for this three-game series on a four-game slide, As for the Twins, they a have started 5-8.
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04-22-22 | Heat v. Hawks +2 | Top | 110-111 | Win | 100 | 26 h 28 m | Show |
The 1st pick of my STP is a 9* on the Atl Hawks at 7:00 ET. The Atlanta Hawks made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals last season, while the Miami Heat, after making it to the NBA Finals two years ago (lost to the Lakers 4-2), got swept 4-0 in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks. Much was expected from Atlanta this season but the Hawks finished as the East's No. 9 seed and needed two 'play in' wins to earn the final playoff spot in the East. As for the Heat, they spent most of the season at or near the top of the highly competitive East and finished with the No. 1 seed (53-29), two games better than Celtics, Bucks and 76ers (all 51-31).
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04-22-22 | Red Sox v. Rays -137 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -137 | 10 h 29 m | Show |
My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the TB Rays at 7:10 ET. The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004. Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season but surprised most by going 92-70 and reaching the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros. The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances, winning the AL East in both 2020 and 2021. We are 15 days into the current season with Boston checking in at 6-7 and Tampa Bay at 7-6. Toronto leads the AL East at 8-5 and the Yankees are tied with the Rays at 7-3. The Red Sox and Rays meet for the first time in 2022, with a three-game series which starts Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fl. Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.96 ERA) will make his third start of the year for the Red Sox, while Corey Kluber (0-0, 1.86 ERA) will do the same for the Rays. Wacha made a big 'SPLASH' for the Cards back in 2013 as a rookie and then went 17-7 in 2015. However, from 2016-2021 he's gone just 37-34, while battling injuries. Corey Kluber won 18 games three times and 20 games once for the Indians from 2013 thru 2018, capturing an AL Cy Young award in 2014 and 201=8. However, arm problems have limited him to just 24 starts from 2019-2021 (he was 7-6 with a 4.40 ERA). However, both have looked sharp in their first two starts this season (see above). That said, while Klueber is 4-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 11 career starts against Boston (teams are 6-5), Wacha has lost all three of his starts against the Rays, posting an 8.16 ERA and 1,75 WHIP. The Rays have been an excellent home team these last three playoff seasons, going 120-71 (.628) and I'll back them here with Kluber looking as if he's fully recovered. Good luck...Larry |
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04-22-22 | Brewers +111 v. Phillies | Top | 2-4 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 35 m | Show |
My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Mil Brewers at 7:05 ET. The Milwaukee Brewers opened 2022 as favorites to win the NL Central, having made the playoffs in each of the last four years. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies opened the season having failed to make the playoffs in each of the last 10 years! Even with Christian Yelich off to a slow start (.195 BA with one HR after the opening two weeks, the 8-5 Brewers will look for their fifth consecutive victory when they open a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Philadelphia is 5-8 and already in last-place in the NL East, 4 1/2-game behind after playing only 13 games. The Brewers will hand the ball to Freddy Peralta (0-1, 11.57 ERA), while the Phillies counter with Ranger Suarez (1-0, 5.87 ERA). Short and sweet. No reason to give up on Peralta after two bad outings, as he was 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA and 0.97 WHIP (195-56 KW ratio) last season in 27 starts (Brewers were 18-9). Suarez has been with the Phillies since 2018 and has been used mostly in relief, as entered this season with just 15 starts in his 83 appearances. He's made two starts in 2022, lasting only 7.2 innings, while allowing five ERs in 11 hits for a 5.87 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. He shouldn't last long and bullpen help should NOT be expected, as Philadelphia's 4.97 bullpen ERA is the second-worst in MLB. Milwaukee gets that FIFTH straight win at a 'bargain price!' Good luck...Larry |
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04-21-22 | Warriors v. Nuggets +2.5 | Top | 118-113 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the Den Nuggets at 10:00 ET. PG Jamal Murray has never played a game for Denver this season and SF Michael Porter Jr. was lost after he played in just nine. However, the Nuggets would go 48-34 to earn the West's No. 6 seed. Denver drew the Golden St Warriors in the first round, the West's No. 3 seed. Steph Curry missed the final 12 regular season games with the Warriors going 6-6. However, they entered the playoffs having won their last FIVE. The Warriors have opened the series with two impressive wins, as Poole has taken Curry's place in the starting lineup. Poole (18.5 PPG). scored 30 points in Game 1 and scored 29 in Game 2. As for Curry, he had 16 points in Game 1 in 22 minutes off the bench, then scored 34 points (again off the bench in 23 minutes) in Game 2. Thompson (20.0) and Wiggins (14.5 & 8.5) have also had two solid games. Denver had a solid regular season even without two of their top-three players but have NOT been able to stay with Golden St in San Francisco, allowing 123 and 126 points in 16- and 20-point losses. Jokic has averaged 25.5-10.5-5.0 in the first two games but swingman Barton (18.0-8.0-3.5) is the only other Nugget to play well. PF Gordon (15.0 PPG in the regular season) has been awful (7.5 PPG) and a fairly deep group of role players have NOT been up to the challenge. The Nuggets didn't have an answer for the Warriors' small lineup of Curry, Thompson and Poole (trio combined for 84 of the Warriors 126 points in Game 2). Denver NEEDS a win Thursday in Game 3 or will face the possibility of being swept out of the postseason for the second straight season. "We've got to figure it out, because getting swept again, not a good look for nobody, and it's embarrassing," PG Monte Morris said. "If we've got any pride, we've got to find out real soon because it's not going to get no easier for us." The Warriors are off two near-perfect efforts, so I'm taking the small home underdog. Good luck...Larry |
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04-21-22 | Rangers v. Mariners -125 | Top | 8-6 | Loss | -125 | 11 h 48 m | Show |
Larry's 9* Late Show play is on the Sea Mariners at 9:40 ET. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. Seattle finished second in the American League West with a 90-72 record in 2021, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001, when the team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Rangers and Mariners complete a three-game series tonight in Seattle, with the Mariners having won the first two by scores of 6-2 and 4-2. Texas is now 2-9 to open the season, while Seattle has moved to 7-5.
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04-21-22 | Cardinals v. Marlins -122 | Top | 0-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 32 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Mia Marlins at 6:40 ET. The Marlins joined the National League in 1993 and entering the COVID-shortened season of 2020, had made the [postseason just TWICE. However, the Marlins would capture the World Series each time, in 1997 over the Indians and in 2003 over the Yankees. The Marlins overcame all sorts of team COVID issues to end a 16-year postseason drought in 2020 but the 2021 team finished 67-95. The St Louis Cardinals have a LONG history of winning and have been a playoff team in 15 of the 21 seasons this century (won World Series titles in 2006 and 2011). The Cards and Marlins opened a three-game series in Miami on Tuesday, with St Louis winning the first two by scores of 5-1 and 2-0. The 7-3 Cards go for a series sweep in Miami on Thursday against the 4-7 Marlins with the starting pitchers expected to be Jordan Hicks (1-0, 0.00 ERA and Pablo Lopez (1-0, 0.87 ERA). Like St Louis has done many times before with its pitching staff, the Cards are turning Hicks from reliever to starter. He has made 114 major-league relief appearances but ZERO starts. Hicks has 20 major-league saves and a 3.52 career ERA. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns and lasted just 10 innings in 2021 before an elbow injury ended his season in early May. Hicks has pitched twice in relief for a total of four innings in 2022, but StL manager Oliver Marmol feels this is the right time to put him into the rotation. Miami's bats have been stifled by Wainwright (5.2 IP / 5 hits / 1 ER) and Mikolas (5 scoreless innings / 4 hits) but let's see how they fare here against someone making his first major league start. Hicks draws a tough mound opponent in Miami's Lopez, who has grown the previous two seasons. In 31 starts, he's allowed 139 hits in 160 innings with a 174-44 KW ratio and a 3.26 ERA. He's been excellent in his two starts this season, both Miami wins. He's pitched 10.1 innings, allowing just one ER on seven hits with an 8-3 KW ratio. His ERA is 0.87 and his WHIP is 0.97. He's made two career starts against the Cards (Marlins are 0-2) but he's allowed a modest four ERs on seven hits with an 11-3 KW ratio (2.563 ERA and 0.73 WHIP). Miami avoids the home sweep behind the pitching of Lopez. Good luck...Larry |
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04-21-22 | Orioles v. A's -123 | Top | 4-6 | Win | 100 | 8 h 31 m | Show |
My 9* Getaway Day of the Week is on the Oak A's at 3:35 ET. The Baltimore Orioles began the 2022 season on a streak of FIVE straight losing campaigns, having lost 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons. The Oakland Athletics had a run of three straight playoff appearances in 2021 with an 86-76 record. The teams began a four-game series in Oakland on Monday, with the A's winning the first two (5-1 and 2-1) but the Orioles earned a 1-0 victory on Wednesday. Wednesday's win was Baltimore's first on the road this season (1-5) and one should take note that Baltimore has scored just one run in all THREE games of this series. The Orioles are averaging 2.00 RPG, LAST in all of MLB. The 2022 A's won't remind anyone of the Canseco and McGwire teams but they are averaging 4.62 PPG (ranks 8th). Right-handers Tyler Wells (0-1, 6.35 ERA) of the Orioles and Paul Blackburn (1-0, 1.80 ERA) of the A's are the expected starters. Wells made 44 appearances last season (zero starts), going 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA. He made two starts in 2022, lasting only 5.2 IP with a 6.35 ERA and 1.76 WHIP (Orioles are 0-2). Blackburn has been around since 2017 but entered the current season with a modest 30 appearances (27 starts). He's opened this season with two solid outings, allowing just two ERs over 10 innings (1.80 ERA) with a 10-1 KW ratio (0.90 WHIP). Blackburn won't remind anyone of Dave Stewart but he should have little trouble with this 'punch-less' Orioles team. Good luck...Larry |
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04-20-22 | 76ers v. Raptors +2.5 | Top | 104-101 | Loss | -111 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Tor Raptors at 8:00 ET. Full, detailed analysis by 7:00 ET. |
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04-20-22 | Blue Jays v. Red Sox OVER 9 | Top | 6-1 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* Division O/U Game of the Month (AL East) is on Tor/Bos Over at ET. The Jays and Red Sox opened a three-game series last night in Fenway with Boston winning 2-1. The Red Sox had just THREE hits and the Jays lone run came on a solo HR in the second inning. Expect a MUCH different outcome tonight. Toronto sends Jose Berrios (0-0, 11.81 ERA) to the mound, while Boston counters with Nick Pivetta (0-2, 9.39 ERA). Both will be making their third starts of 2022 and there is little reason to expect that either will pitch well. Berrios made his third Opening Day start (1st for Boston) on April 8 and recorded just ONE out against the Texas Rangers (allowed three hits, two walks and four ERs). He did fare better in his most recent start Wednesday against the New York Yankees, allowing three ERs with five strikeouts over five innings of a 6-4 win (he got a no-decision). I may have looked for him to continue to improve but he's 0-5 with a 4.43 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in seven career starts vs Boston (teams are 16). Pivetta has taken two losses in as many starts, allowing four ERs in each and nine total hits, including three HRs. "Hopefully the mechanics are right," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Pivetta. "The timing of his arm and everything else is not there. That's why you see the velocity down. If you look at the games, the fastball wasn't great and the slider was OK." Pivetta said this following last week's start, "For me right now, that's what it kind of feels like. I didn't have that consistency with the velocity. Just didn't feel great. It was disappointing. But just gotta keep moving forward from here." I don't see him "moving forward" just yet, as in seven career starts vs Toronto (teams are 3-4), he owns a 5.77 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. This one is Goin' Over! Good luck...Larry |
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04-20-22 | Rays -110 v. Cubs | Top | 8-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the TB Rays at 7:40 ET. The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 20210). Meanwhile, here's how one preseason magazine summed up the Cubs' situation heading into 2022. "Highly successful early in the 20th century, followed by 100 years of mediocrity, then a six-year burst of winning and now back into the abyss." The Rays and Cubs play the "rubber match" of their three-game series tonight at Wrigley. The Cubs won 4-2 on Monday but Tampa Bay rebounded to win 6-5 last night. The 6-6 Rays will send Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 5.00 ERA) to the mound, while the 6-5 Cubs counter with Marcus Stroman (0-1, 6.00 ERA). Rasmussen was not credited with the win in his first start of 2022 (Rays beat the Orioles 5-3 back on April 9) but he kept his record perfect at 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA in 11 career starts, extending his run without a loss to the 15th-longest in major-league history. That streak ended last Friday in Chicago, as the White Sox won 3-2. Rasmussen did not pitch all that poorly, allowing three ERs in five innings. This will be his first start vs the Cubs. The Cubs are counting on Stroman this season and he pitched well in his Chicago debut on April 10, allowing just one run on two hits against Milwaukee (took a no-decision in a 5-4 Brewers win). He did NOT fare well last Friday at Coors Field, allowing five ERs in four innings in which he took the loss in a 6-5 Colorado win. Stroman has a lengthy history against the Rays, but it isn't a good one. He's 5-7 with a 4.57 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 15 starts (teams are 7-8). A "W" would allow the Rays to finish 3-3 on a trip that started with three games against the White Sox. More importantly, since opening the season on April 8, the Rays have not had a day off. They will get one Thursday and another Monday sandwiched, around a three-game home series against the Boston Red Sox. The Rays are just a better team than the Cubs in every aspect of the game and I say, Cubs Lose! Cubs Lose! Good luck...Larry |
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04-19-22 | Rangers v. Mariners -128 | Top | 2-6 | Win | 100 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the Sea Mariners at 9:40 ET. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. Seattle finished second in the American League West with a 90-72 record in 2021, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001, when the team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. Texas has opened the current season 2-7 and after a Monday "off day," will open a three-game series Tuesday night in Seattle against the Mariners, who have started 5-5. Texas can score (5.44 RPG ranks 2nd) but its pitching staff owns a MLB-worst 6.19 ERA (starters' ERA is 6.96). Jon Gray (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will take the mound for Texas and Seattle will counter with Robbie Ray (1-1, 4.73 ERA). Gray spent his first seven seasons with Colorado and from 2016-19, reached double digits in wins. However, in 2020 and 2021, he was 10-16 with a 5.03 ERA. Gray signed as a free agent in the offseason and started on Opening Day in Toronto for the Rangers. He retired the side in order in the first three innings but ran into trouble in his fourth and final inning, giving up three runs. He was placed on the 10-day injured list after that game because of a blister on his right middle finger and makes his return here. Seattle signed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray (13-7 with a 2.84 ERA in 32 starts in 2021) away from the Toronto Blue Jays to a five-year, $115 million contract in the off season. Ray triumphed in his Opening Day start, limiting host Minnesota to one run on three hits in seven innings but he took the loss last Wednesday at Chicago, giving up six runs in 6.1 innings to the White Sox in a game delayed by rain. Looking a little closer, FOUR of those runs came in the second inning during a downpour. "It was a little muddy. It wasn't the greatest conditions," Ray said. "But we're professionals and I'm not wanting to make excuses. After that second inning, I told myself, ‘Get as deep as you can into this ballgame and just don't crush the bullpen. The Mariners pulled within a run before losing 6-4. "Robbie really competed his tail off," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He really settled down to give us a chance to get back into the game." I have to like Ray (and Seattle) over Gray (and Texas) in this one! Good luck...Larry |
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04-19-22 | Wolves v. Grizzlies -6.5 | Top | 96-124 | Win | 100 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Playoff Game of the Day is on the Mem Grizzlies at 8:30 ET. The Memphis Grizzlies opened the season just 9-10 but then won 10 of 11. From there, it was a steady climb up the Western Conference standings, as the Grizzlies would finish 56-26 by going 47-16 after that 9-10 start. Only the 64-18 Suns had a better regular season at 64-18 (Suns' winning percentage was .780 and Memphis' was .746 over its final 63 games). Minnesota went 46-36 and finished as the top-seed in the 'play-in' tournament (No. 7). The T-wolves needed a big 4th-quarter comeback against the Clippers in the 7 vs 8 game but got it and earned just its second postseason appearance since 2004. In Game 1, the T-wolves pulled away for a 130-117 victory.
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04-19-22 | Hawks +7.5 v. Heat | Top | 105-115 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 15 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Atl Hawks at 7:30 ET. Much was expected from the Hawks after they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season. However, Atlanta was just 17-25 through Jan 15, before a seven-game winning streak put them back in 'play-in' position (hovered around .500 since that winning streak). Atlanta finished 43-39 (No. 9 Seed) but beat the Hornets 132-103 and Cleveland 107-101 on the road to capture the No. 8 seed. The Heat made an improbable run all the way to the NBA Finals in 2020 but last season were swept 4-0 in the first round by Milwaukee, the eventual NBA champs. Miami hung around the top of the East all season and clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference playoff during the final week, giving Miami (53-29) its fourth No. 1 seed in team history. In Game 1, it was all Miami in Game 1, as the heat won 115-91.
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04-19-22 | Cardinals -105 v. Marlins | Top | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 8 h 51 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the StL Cardinals at 6:40 ET.
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04-18-22 | Nuggets +7 v. Warriors | Top | 106-126 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Den Nuggets at 10:00 ET. Steph Curry missed the final 12 regular season games with the Warriors going 6-6. However, they entered the playoffs having won their last FIVE. Golden St hosted Denver in Game 1 on Friday and Jordan Poole got the start over Curry, who came off the bench. All Poole (18.5 PPG) did was score 30 points to tie Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond (1989) for the second-highest scoring playoff debut in Warriors' history, as Golden St won 123-107. Four more teammates joined Poole in double digits, led by Thompson's 19 points and Curry's 16 (off the bench). Wiggins had 16 & 9, while Green's line was 12-6-9. The Warriors made 54.2% from the floor, including 16 of 35 on threes. Denver's Nikola Jokic (27.1-13.8-7.9), the favorite to repeat as league MVP, registered 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Denver. However, his impact was minor, as the Nuggets trailed by as many as 24 points. Swingman Barton had 24-6-5 and was really the only other Denver player to have a good game. Denver made 46.2% for the game, including 11 of 35 on threes. Steve Kerr has not announced whether Poole will start again but the Warriors will feel confident either way. "Wow, what a playoff debut," Klay Thompson said. "He's just incredible. What a star in the making." The Nuggets didn't look anything like the team that won three of four regular-season outings against the Warriors. There also continue to be rumblings that star guard Jamal Murray -- out the past 12 months due to an ACL tear -- could return later in the series. Then, after the Game 1 loss, forward Michael Porter Jr. said he might return during the series. Porter has been sidelined five-plus months due to back woes that included undergoing surgery for the third time in the past 4 1/2 years. I sure wouldn't count on those guys coming back and if they did, how effective could they be. The Nuggets have plenty of depth and I expect them to bounce back here, with Jokic leading the way. Denver's recent playoff history has been that of a team that just "never gives up" and I expect the Nuggets will be a 'tough out' in this one. Take the points. Good luck...Larry |
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04-17-22 | Astros +100 v. Mariners | Top | 2-7 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 26 m | Show |
The 3rd pick of my STP is a 9* on the Hou Astors at 4:10 ET.
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04-17-22 | Nets v. Celtics -4 | Top | 114-115 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* "Signature" 38-Club Play is on the Bos Celtics at 3:30 ET. The Nets were preseason favorites in the East and were fighting for the East lead back in January but at 29-16 through Jan 21, went on an 11-game losing streak. The Nets were not able to hold onto a top-six seed and entered the 'play-in' round as the No. 7 seed, where they beat the Cavs 115-108 to earn this first-round contest with the Celtics. Boston was just 25-25 back on Jan 28 but ended the regular season on a 26-6. Boston's 51-31 matched that of Milwaukee and Philadelphia, but the Celtics got the No. 2 seed via tiebreakers. The Nets beat the Cavs last Tuesday in large part due their "Dynamic Duo" of to its superstar firepower. Kyrie Irving (27.4-4.4-5.8) and Kevin Durant (29.9-7.4-6.4). Kyrie had 34 points and 12 assists, while KD added 25 points and 11 rebounds. PF Aldrige (12.9 & 5.5) and guard Mills (11.4 PPG) have been solid contributors on the season (note: Mills missed just ONE game). Guard Curry has averaged 14.9 PPG and center Drummond (11.8 & 10.3) have played VERY well after coming to Brooklyn in the Harden-Simmons trade. Speaking of Dynamic Duos, the Celtics own one in Tatum (26.9 & 8.0) and Brown (23.6 & 6.1). I guess all the talk that Tatum and Brown were NOT getting along and that they were NOT able to "play well with others," is nothing but a distant memory (distraction). Guard Smart (12.1-3.8-5.9) is a team leader and its best perimeter defender. White has joined him in the backcourt to add 11.0 PPG in his 26 games since coming from the Spurs. C/PF Horford (10.2 & 7.7) is the veteran of many playoff 'wars' but the Celtics will be without Roberts Williams (10.0 & 9.6), due to meniscus damage in his left knee. The Nets won the first meeting of the season with the 123-10 (Nov 24) but have lost the last three (played from Feb 8-Mar 6), allowing 126,129 and 126 points. Defense is NOT a Brooklyn strength. Meanwhile, the Celtics led the NBA in several defensive categories, including points allowed at 104.5 per game (isn't that the MOST important defensive stat?). Holding opponents to 43.4% shooting (including 33.9% on threes), are also two pretty good stats to rank No. 1 in! Boston's rookie head coach Ime Udoka, a longtime assistant to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, believes having six days off leading into Game 1 has benefited him and his team. "I think nine years of being an assistant, and making the playoffs every year, and playing in a few championships in high-pressure situations has prepared me for this," he claimed. "I think the team is ready as well." I'm with Ume. Lay the modest points. Good luck...Larry |
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04-17-22 | Giants v. Guardians +115 | Top | 8-1 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 37 m | Show |
The 2nd play of my STP is a 9* on the Cle Indians at 1:40 ET. The Giants' franchise has been around since the late 1880s and has a rich history. Jumping ahead to this century, the Giants won THREE World Series titles in a five-year span from 2012 through 2014 (won in 2012, 2014 and 2016) but entered the 2021 season off four straight losing years. However, the Giants surprised all by going a MLB-best 107-55 and ending the Dodgers' streak of EIGHT consecutive NL West titles, although they lost 3-2 to the Dodgers in the NLDS. Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021 and looks for a bounce-back season in 2022.
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04-17-22 | Nationals -104 v. Pirates | Top | 3-5 | Loss | -104 | 7 h 17 m | Show |
The 1st pick of my STP is a 9* on the Was Nats at 1:35 ET. The Washington Nationals went 65-97 last season (last in the NL East) and the Pittsburgh Pirates finished 61-101, finishing last in the NL Central. The Nats and Pirates conclude a four-game on Sunday, with the Nat looking to salvage a 2-2 split, after Pittsburgh won 6-4 on Saturday (Pirates won 9-4 on Thursday, with the Nats winning 7-2 on Friday). Washington enters 4-6 and Pittsburgh 4-4 (neither are expected to be playoff teams).
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04-16-22 | Cardinals v. Brewers -112 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -112 | 12 h 43 m | Show |
My 10* Division Game of the Month (NL Central) is on the Mil Brewers at 7:10 ET. The Milwaukee Brewers opened the 2022 as favorites to win the NL Central, having made the playoffs in each of the last four years. However, the St Louis Cardinals are not exactly "also-rans," as they've been a playoff team in 15 of the 21 seasons this century (won World Series titles in 2006 and 2011). The Brewers held on to win the NL Central title last season by going 95-67, while the Cards' late season surge gave them a wild card spot at 90-72. The Brewers won 5-1 on Thursday but the Cards pounded out 14 hits in Friday's 10-1 win. St Louis has dealt with some bad weather and are 4-2, while the Brewers check in at 4-4. |
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04-16-22 | Raptors v. 76ers -4 | Top | 111-131 | Win | 100 | 14 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the Phi 76ers at 6:00 ET. Toronto won 50-plus games over a five-year stretch prior to last season (won the NBA title in 2019), playing .693 basketball. However, the Raptors 'dropped like a rock' last season, finishing 27-45 (.375). The Raptors were a .500 team in late January, but an eight-game winning streak got them back in playoff position. The team was a modest 34-30 in early March but ended the season winning 14 of 18 and wound up with the East's No. 5 seed. Philadelphia battled at the top of the East all season but in the end, Miami (53-29) won the East, while Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia all finished 51-31. Due to tiebreakers, the 76ers wound up as the No. 4 seed and will get Toronto in the first round. The Raptors have FIVE players scoring 15-plus PPG, led by PF Siakam (22.8-8.5-5.3) and PG VavVleet (20.3-4.4-6.3). They also have quality big men coming off the bench in Boucher (9.4 & 6.2) and Achiuwa (9.1 & 4.5). The 76ers thought their championship window would be open for a decade with the Embiid-Simmons pairing, only to watch their relationship with Simmons disintegrate. They traded him to Brooklyn for Harden. Embiid (30.6-11.7-4.2) has MVP-worthy numbers, plus PG Maxey (17.5 & 4.3 APG) and PF Harris (17.2 & 6.8) have had strong seasons. In fact, Embiid won the scoring title this season and joined Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain as the only 76ers to average at least 30 points in a season. As for Harden, he's averaged 21.0-7.1-10.5 in his 21 games with Philly, with the Sixers going 14-7 (.667). In games before Harden arrived and in games he missed while with Philly, the 76ers are 37-24 (.607). The verdict is in. Philly is a better team with Harden and the team believes it's in "full win-now mode." The best Philly team in Embiid's tenure was in 2019 when the 76ers lost to the Raptors on Kawhi Leonard's four-bounce Game 7 buzzer-beater in the second round. The Raptors went on to win the NBA title. The 76ers have seemingly never recovered from one of the more crushing defeats in team history. Philly needs to get off to a winning start in this series and the fact that Toronto won THREE of the four meetings this season will provide all the motivation the team will need. Lay the modest points. Good luck...Larry |
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04-16-22 | Twins v. Red Sox -118 | Top | 0-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Bos Red Sox at 4:10 ET. The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004. Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season but surprised most by going 92-70 and reaching the ALCS before closing 4-2 to the Astros. The Twins, who won World Series titles back in 1987 and 1991, entered last season off back-to-back years of winning the AL Central but IMPLODED in 2021, finishing 73-89, 20 games behind the division-winning White Sox! The teams meet tonight in Fenway (second contest of a four-game series) with each looking to get to .500 on the season. The Twins won Friday's series opener 8-4, getting them to 3-4, while the Red Sox fell back to 3-4 with the loss. Sonny Gray (0-0, 3.86 ERA) gets the nod for the Twins, while Tanner Houck (0-0, 8.10 ERA) takes the mound for the Red Sox.
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04-16-22 | Rays +123 v. White Sox | Top | 2-3 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 27 m | Show |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the TB Rays at 2:10 ET. The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 20210). The Rays opened the current season 4-3 and starting last night, will be in Chicago for six days, playing the White Sox (Fri-Sun) and the Cubs (Mon-Wed). The White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. Chicago then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games. Chicago opened its season 4-2 and improved to 5-2 with a 3-2 win last night in the first contest of this three-game series with Tampa Bays (Rays fell to 4-4 with the loss). |
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04-15-22 | Pelicans v. Clippers -3.5 | Top | 105-101 | Loss | -115 | 16 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the LA Clippers at 10:05 ET. The New Orleans Pelicans haven't seen Zion Williamson on the court all season and similarly, the LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard never got near the court this season and Paul George was limited to 31 games. However, ONE of the two teams will grab final Western Conference postseason berth Friday night in LA. The Pelicans began the season losing 12 of 13 games but the bottom half of the Western Conference was VERY weak this season, so despite a 36-46 record, the Pels made the 'Play-In' round as the No. 9 seed. They advanced to this game by beating the visiting Spurs, who were just 34-48, 113-103. The Clippers were one of the final four teams standing last season before falling to the Suns in six games in the Western Conference finals but the club has often been in disarray this season with Leonard sidelined all season and fellow star Paul George missing more than three months with an elbow injury. The Clippers finished 42-40 (No. 8 seed) and played at Minnesota (No. 7 seed) on Wednesday, losing 109-104 (more in a bit). The midseason acquisition of guard CJ McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers has helped New Orleans reach this stage. He averaged 24.3-4.5-5.8 in 26 regular season games with New Orleans, joining SF Ingram (22.7-5.8-5.6) and center Valanciunas (17.8 & 11.4) as the team's mainstays. In the Pels' win over SA, McCollum scored 32 points (added six rebounds and seven assists), Ingram had 27-5-5 and Valanciunas 222 & 14. Doing the math, those three accounted for 72% of New Orleans' points. Meanwhile, George (24.3-6.9-5.7) was superb in his return from an elbow injury that sidelined him for more than three months. He has averaged 22.6-5.6-6.8 in the five games after rejoining the team on March 29, making 21 of 40 three-point attempts (52.5 percent). The Clippers are also a deep team, as FIVE season-long regulars are scoring in double figures (PG Jackson tops the list averaging 16.8 PPG), plus trade pickup PF Covington (10.4 & 5.1) has added notable contributions. The Clippers received a MAJOR boost last week when Norman Powell returned from a foot injury that sidelined him for 22 games. He came from Portland in early Feb and averaged 21.0 PPG in three games, then went down with an injury. However, in his two games back, he's scored 24 and 20 points, making 7 of 10 from three-point range. The Clippers HAD the T-wolves beat on Tuesday, leading by 10 points with 8:54 remaining before the Timberwolves took control with a 16-2 surge. Amazingly, most of that run occurred after Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out with 7:34 left. The contest against Minnesota was George's sixth since returning and he poured in 34 points while making six 3-pointers. Jackson added 17-7-5 and Powell had 16 points off the bench. The Clippers hope to have backup guard Luke Kennard (11.9 PPG on 44.9% shooting from three-point range) back from a hamstring injury in the regular-season finale against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He sat out the game in Minnesota after being injured. Both LA head coach Lue and George have been quick to say the Clippers need to set aside the disappointing setback at Minny in the team's second-chance play-in game. "That's our focus now," Lue said of the must-win contest. "Got one game to win to get into the playoffs. We'll be ready to go on Friday." Surprisingly, the Pelicans went 3-1 against the Clippers this season with the victories coming by an average of 18.7 points. However, Los Angeles won the final meeting, 119-100 at home on April 3. That's what I'm expecting here. as LA's playoff experience (led by George) produces a B-L-O-W-O-U-T! Good luck...Larry |
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04-15-22 | Astros -123 v. Mariners | Top | 1-11 | Loss | -123 | 14 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Hou Astros at 9:42 ET. The Houston Astros remain the team everyone "loves to hate." Houston won the AL West last season with a 95-67 record, capturing the division for the FOURTH time in the last five years. Houston won the 2017 World Series (over the Yankees), lost the 2019 World Series (to the Nats) and then lost it again last season to the Braves. Seattle finished second in the American League West last season with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001, when the team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season.
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04-14-22 | Blue Jays v. Yankees -112 | Top | 0-3 | Win | 100 | 13 h 53 m | Show |
My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the NY Yankees at 7:05 ET. The Blue Jays finished just ONE game behind the Yankees for the AL's second wild-card spot in 2021 and many (most?) think Toronto is "the team to beat'' in the AL East in 2022. The Blue Jays scored 20 runs (had seven HRs) in their season-opening three-game series with the Orioles but failed to complete a 3-0 sweep on Sunday when they blew a 5-run lead in a 12-6 loss. Monday marked the start of a stretch where 20 of the next 23 games would come against the Yankees, Astros and Red Sox, whom the Blue Jays were 22-22 against last season. The Yankees began the season with a three-game home series with the Red Sox, winning 6-5 (11 inn.) on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday, before losing 4-3 in the 2022 debut of Sunday Night baseball.
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04-14-22 | Braves +100 v. Padres | Top | 1-12 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 10 m | Show |
my 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Atl Braves at 8:10 ET. The Braves entered last season having won THREE straight NL East titles but the Braves were still under .500 (52-55) through Aug 1. However, a 36-18 surge to end the season gave them a FOURTH straight NL East title. The Braves then won just the franchise's second World Series crown since moving to Atlanta in 1966. The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants. As the Braves and Padres get set to open a four-game weekend series in San Diego, both teams have reached the midpoint of season-opening schedules that have them playing games on 14 straight days before their first day off. That said, while the 4-3 Padres will be celebrating their home opener, the 3-4 Braves are going on their first road trip. Charlie Morton (1-0, 3.38 ERA) gets the nod for the Braves, while the Padres counter with Joe Musgrove (0-0, 3.00 ERA).
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04-14-22 | Angels -133 v. Rangers | Top | 5-10 | Loss | -133 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* Division Dominator (AL West) is on the LA Angels at 8:05 ET. The Angels are coming off a 77-85 season and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. It seems like even more than two decades to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years (got swept 3-0 in a 2014 ALDS).The Angels feature not only Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon but also the defending American League MVP Shohei Ohtani. Trout and Rendon missed most of last season because of injuries, with Trout playing in just 36 games and Rendon in 58. Trout didn't play at all after May 17, while Rendon's last game was July 4. Ohtani hit 46 HRs with 100 RBI (also 26 SBs) plus went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA, striking out 156 batters in 130.1 IP. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including the team losing 100-plus games in 2021 (60-102) for the first time since going 57-105 in 1973. The Angels open a four-game series tonight in Arlington at 3-3, while the Rangers have opened 1-4. The starters will be Shohei Ohtani (0-1, 1.93 ERA) and Dane Dunning (0-0, 5.40 ERA). Dunning first full season in the majors was 2021 and he made 27 appearances (25 starts) for Texas last year, going 5-10 with a 4.51 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Dunning's first start of 2021 was decent, as he gave up three runs and five hits in five innings in Toronto, getting a no-decision in a 4-3 Blue Jays victory. Dunning has made three career starts vs the Angels, going 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. Ohtani pitched 4.2 innings in the Angels' season-opener, allowing four hits, just one ER and nine Ks! Ohtani has struggled at the plate (,160 BA, without a HR or RBI) but I will back him here on the road, against a team he's gone 3-0 against in four career starts (Angels are 4-0), posting a 2.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Good luck...Larry |
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04-13-22 | Mariners v. White Sox -113 | Top | 4-6 | Win | 100 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Chi White Sox at 7:10 ET. Seattle finished second in the American League West with a 90-72 record in 2021, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001, when the team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. The White Sox then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games.Seattle opened this season winning 2-1 and 4-2 at Minnesota but then lost the final two games of that series 10-4 and 4-0, before losing the first of a three-game series in Chicago to the White Sox 3-2 last night. Chicago led the Tigers 3-1 in Detroit on Opening Day but lost 5-4 by allowing two runs in the 8th and 9th innings. However, the White Sox took the last two games of that series 5-2 and 10-1. After a Monday "off day," Chicago won 3-2 in last night's series opener vs Seattle. Seattle signed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray (13-7 with a 2.84 ERA in 32 starts in 2021) away from the Toronto Blue Jays to a five-year, $115 million contract in the off season. He allowed one run on three hits over seven innings in a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day and gets his second start here, opposed by Chicago's Dallas Keuchel (9-9, 5.28 in 2021). This will be Keuchel's first start iof 2022 and he is looking for a fresh start after struggling late last season. He posted a 4.25 ERA before the All-Star break before recording a 6.82 mark in 14 games (13 starts) in the second half. Ray was sharp in his Seattle debut but I'm still somewhat skeptical as to just how good he really is. More importantly, the Mariners are NOT hitting, having scored just 12 runs after five games (2.40 per), while batting .183 (both stats rank 28th of 30 MLB teams!). Keuchel is a solid vet and in 20 career starts vs Seattle, he owns a solid 3.37 ERA and excellent 1.08 WHIP. What's more, he takes the mound for a team that was an AL-best 53-28 at home last season and ione that is averaging 5.50 RPG to open 2022. Great price on the White Sox in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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04-13-22 | Hornets +5.5 v. Hawks | Top | 103-132 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* "Win or go Home" play is on the Cha Hornets at 7:00 ET. The Charlotte Hornets went 33-39 last season but then got routed 144-117 by the Pacers in the 'play-in' round, missing the postseason for the FIFTH straight season. The Hornets improved to 43-39 this season but are in the 'play-in' round again, this time against the Atlanta Hawks. Much was expected from the Hawks after they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season. However, Atlanta was just 17-25 through Jan 15, before a seven-game winning streak put them back in 'play-in' position (hovering around .500 since that winning streak). Atlanta would go 26-14 its last 40 games (won SEVEN of the last nine) and would finish 43-39. The Hawks own a tiebreaker edge over the Hornets and that means tonight's "Win or go Home" game will be played in Atlanta.
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04-13-22 | Mets +102 v. Phillies | Top | 9-6 | Win | 102 | 5 h 41 m | Show |
My 9* Getaway Day Game of the Week is on the NY Mets at 1:05 ET.
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04-12-22 | Clippers +3.5 v. Wolves | Top | 104-109 | Loss | -115 | 15 h 18 m | Show |
My 10* 'Play-In' Payoff is on the LA Clippers at 9:30 ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves began the current season having reached the playoffs just once since the 2003-04 season and had a winning record just TWICE in that 17-year span (in 2004-05 and in 2017-18, the team's lone postseason appearance). However, the 46-36 T-wolves can clinch a postseason spot tonight when they host the Los Angeles Clippers in a play-in game. The Clippers finished 42-20 in a season in which Kawhi never got near the court and Paul George was limited to 31 games. However, George (24.3-6.9-5.7) has been superb since his return from an elbow injury that sidelined him for more than three months. He has averaged 22.6-5.6-6.8 in the five games after rejoining the team on March 29, making 21 of 40 three-point attempts (52.5 percent). The Clippers are a deep team, as FIVE season-long regulars are scoring in double figures (PG Jackson tops the list averaging 16.8 PPG), plus trade pickup PF Covington (10.4 & 5.1) has added notable contributions. The Clippers received a MAJOR boost last week when Norman Powell returned from a foot injury that sidelined him for 22 games. He came from Portland in early Feb and averaged 21.0 PPG in three games, then went down with an injury. However, in his two games back, he's scored 24 and 20 points, making 7 of 10 from three-point range. Minnesota's "Big 3" consists of center Towns (24.6 & 9.8), SF Edwards (21.3-4.8-3.8) and PG Russell (18.1 & 7.1 APG). Beasley (12.1) is the fourth double digit scorer but Minnesota also has SEVEN more players adding between 6.9 and 9.2 PPG. Of concern for Minnesota is that PG Russell is dealing with hamstring soreness and it remains to be seen if he will be available for tonight's contest. It's hard NOT to root for Minnesota but the team struggled down the stretch, going 4-6 SU and 2-8 ATS. The Clippers own a big experience edge, having made the postseason in NINE of the previous 10 seasons, reaching the Western Conference finals before losing to the Phoenix Suns in six games last year. The Clippers have averaged 127.3 PPG in winning SIX of their final seven games (lone loss was in OT at Chicago), while the Timberwolves are allowing 122.8 PPG over their last 10 games. Take the points. Good luck...Larry |
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04-12-22 | Dodgers -128 v. Twins | Top | 7-2 | Win | 100 | 11 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* AL/NL Game of the Month is on the LA Dodgers at 7:40 ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers won 106 games last season but saw their run of EIGHT consecutive NL West titles end when the Giants won 107 games. The Dodgers beat the Giants in an NLDS matchup but lost to the Braves in the NLCS, ending the team's chances to win back-to-back World Series titles. The Twins entered last season off back-to-back years of winning the AL Central but IMPLODED in 2021, finishing 73-89, 20 games behind the division-winning White Sox! The Dodgers lost TWO of three at Coors Field to open the 2022 season, as an offense billed by some as the best in baseball after adding former National League MVP Freddie Freeman, managed just 11 runs and four extra-base hits over three games. Minnesota also got off to a rough start to its season-opening series, managing just four hits in each of its first two games against the visiting Seattle Mariners while dropping 2-1 and 4-3 decisions. However, the Twins bounced back to win the final two games of the series with a six-homer, 10-4 victory on Sunday followed by a 10-hit, 4-0 win on Monday night. The Dodgers and Twins will each have a free agent newcomer make his first start when the teams open a two-game series tonight in Minneapolis. Andrew Heaney, who was a combined 8-9 with a 5.83 ERA last season with the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees, makes his Dodgers debut after signing a one-year, $8.5 million contract in November. Chris Archer, who went 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA in six appearances (five starts) during an injury-shortened season with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, will make his first start for the Twins after signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal on March 28. Heaney has been around since 2014 but is just 32-38 (4.72 ERA) in his career. Archer is in his 11th season and despite being an All-Star in 2015 and 2017 with the Rays, he hasn't had a winning season since going 10-9 in 2014 (was 9-7 in 2013). Archer has a decent 3.81 ERA in his career but checks in with a career mark of only 61-81. I think most are tired of hearing about Archer's "good stuff" and I am ONE of those people. He's made only three career starts vs LA but at 0-3 with a 6.19 ERA, why should we expect a good effort here, especially against a Dodger lineup that is overdue to have a big game. Meanwhile, Heaney is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three career starts (teams are 3-0) against Minnesota, including 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts at Target Field. That win came last July 22, when he outdueled Kenta Maeda in a 3-2 victory for the Angels, allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings while striking out seven. Dodgers roll! Good luck...Larry |
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04-12-22 | Cubs -115 v. Pirates | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 9 h 41 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the Chi Cubs at 4:12 ET. Here's how one preseason magazine summed up the Cubs' situation heading into 2022. "Highly successful early in the 20th century, followed by 100 years of mediocrity, then a six-year burst of winning and now back into the abyss." However, the Cubs opened the season with 5-4 and 9-0 wins, before losing 5-4 on Sunday. The Cubs will spend the current week on the road, beginning with two games in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Tuesday's starting pitchers will be a pair of left-handers, Chicago's Drew Smyly (11-4, 4.48 ERA with the Braves last season) and Pittsburgh's Jose Quintana (0-3, 6.43 ERA with the Angels and Giants in 2021). Both pitchers began their careers back in 2012 and while Quintana (83-80, 3.84 ERA) has the better overall record (Smyly is 46-39, 4.18 ERA), it's Smyly who is coming off a World Series title with Atlanta last season. 2021 was the best season of his career, making 29 appearances, including 23 starts in which Atlanta went 14-9. As for Quintana, he has made just 33 appearances (just 11 starts) in the 2020 and 2021 season combined, going 0-3 with 6.16 ERA.
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04-11-22 | Mariners +117 v. Twins | Top | 0-4 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Sea Mariners at 7:40 ET. Seattle finished second in the American League West last season with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001, when the team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Twins entered last season off back-to-back years of winning the AL Central but IMPLODED in 2021, finishing 73-89, 20 games behind the division-winning White Sox! Both teams made big news since last season, as Seattle signed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray away from the Toronto Blue Jays to a five-year, $115 million contract. As for Minnesota, the Twins signed former Houston shortstop Carlos Correa, arguably the top free agent position player, to a three-year, $105 million deal. Flexen has made two career starts vs the Twins (he's 1-0 and his team 2-0) and while it seems unlikely he'll match last season's success, I am confident he will be a solid performer in 2022. One more thing. Seattle was MLB's best moneyline team in MLB in 2021 (+$3,670) and I'll take them here as a slight dog to win the final game of this series.
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04-11-22 | Blue Jays -102 v. Yankees | Top | 3-0 | Win | 100 | 10 h 58 m | Show |
My 9* Division Game of the Month (AL East) is on the Tor Blue Jays at 7:05 ET. The Blue Jays finished just ONE game behind the Yankees for the AL's second wild-card spot in 2021 and many (most?) think Toronto is "the team to beat'' in the AL East in 2022. The Blue Jays scored 20 runs (had seven HRs) in their season-opening three-game series with Orioles but failed to complete a 3-0 sweep on Sunday when they blew a 5-run lead in a 12-6 loss. Monday marks the start of a stretch where 20 of the next 23 games come against the Yankees, Astros and Red Sox, whom the Blue Jays were 22-22 against last season. The Yankees began the season with a three-game home series with the Red Sox, winning 6-5 (11 inn.) on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday, before losing 4-3 last night in the 2022 debut of Sunday Night baseball. Getting the ball for Toronto will be Alek Manoah, who was 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 20 starts, as a rookie in 2021. Jameson Taillon, who underwent offseason ankle surgery, gets the start, as he begins his second season for the Yankees. He said he has not felt any issues since the surgery. Taillon was 8-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 29 starts in 2021 (Yanks were 17-12), coming off a second Tommy John surgery in May 2019. Taillon's a solid starter when healthy (he claims he is to open 2022) but I still favor the Jays behind Manoah, as Toronto was 16-4 in his 20 starts last season, giving him MLB's 9th-best moneyline mark (+$806). Toronto won EIGHT of 10 in the Bronx last season and I have them taking the first contest of this four-game series tonight. Good luck...Larry |
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04-11-22 | Indians v. Royals -105 | Top | 10-7 | Loss | -105 | 7 h 21 m | Show |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the KC Royals at 2:10 ET. Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians), opening with a four-game series against the Royals in Kansas City. Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021 and looks for a bounce-back season in 2022. The Royals made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 (lost 4-3 to the Giants) and in 2015 (beat the Mets 4-1) but have missed the last SIX postseasons, and over the last four years KC is just 217-329 (.397). The Guardians had trouble scoring runs last season and that was the case in the first two games of this series, as Cleveland lost 3-1 and 1-0 (10 inn,), with a total of just 12 hits in 19 innings. However, the Cleveland bats 'woke up' with Sunday's 17-3 win (22 hits). Oscar Mercado had his first career grand slam and a career-high five RBI. Owen Miller had a career-high four RBI and Jose Ramirez had three hits, three RBI and three runs scored for the Guardians. Monday's pitching matchup features two young pitchers coming off promising seasons. Cleveland's Aaron Civale was 7-10 (3.69 ERA) in his first two seasons (22 starts) but went 12-5 with a 3.84 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 21 starts in 2021 (Cleveland was 14-7). Carlos Hernandez has been overshadowed by Kansas City's quartet of pitchers who were first-round draft picks in 2018 but after appearing in five games (three starts) in 2020, Hernandez proved that he belonged with a solid 2021 season. He made 24 appearances (11 starts), going 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. The Royals were 8-3 in his 11 starts. Cleveland's Sunday outburst will NOT carry over and as for Civale, he made 15 starts for Cleveland last season before exiting his June 21 start against the Chicago Cubs with a finger sprain on his pitching hand. He went on the injured list for the next 2 1/2 months. He returned to make six starts and posted a 5.74 ERA. in three career starts vs KC, Civale owns a 5.82 ERA. KC is the play! Good luck...Larry |
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04-10-22 | Red Sox v. Yankees OVER 9 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 14 m | Show |
My 10* O/U Game of the Week is on Bos/NYY Over at 7:08 ET. It's the debut edition of Sunday Night Baseball for 2022, as the Red Sox and Yankees complete a three-game series in the Bronx. Boston will try to avoid the sweep after losing 6-5 (11 inn.) on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday. The Red Sox let one "slip away" on Friday but then got just five hits on Saturday, with Alex Verdugo’s two run HR serving as the lone scoring for the BoSox. The Yankees had just FOUR hits on Saturday but two of the four were Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton each hitting two-run HRs to make up the scoring for New York.
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04-10-22 | Brewers -119 v. Cubs | Top | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 7 h 4 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Mil Brewers at 2:20 ET. The Milwaukee Brewers opened the 2022 as favorites to win the NL Central while the Chicago Cubs were seen as also-rans. Here's how one preseason magazine summed up the Cubs' situation. " Highly successful early in the 20th century, followed by 100 years of mediocrity, then a six-year burst of winning and now back into the abyss." However, the Cubs have opened the 2022 season with 5-4 and 9-0 wins, and Sunday look to complete a three-game sweep of the Brewers.
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04-09-22 | Padres v. Diamondbacks +146 | Top | 5-2 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 29 m | Show |
My 9* Division Game of the Month (NL West) is on the Arz D'backs at 8:10 ET. The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants. The D'backs last made the postseason in 2017 and while Arizona was not expected to be a playoff contender in 2021, no one saw a 52-110 season coming, the second worst in franchise history (the 2004 team was 51-111). No one will be surprised that the D'backs were also MLB's worst moneyline team in 2021 (-$3,941) but more than a few a may be surprised that the Padres (just four games under .500), were the third worst at -$2,738. The Padres and Diamondbacks meet Saturday from Chase Field for the third contest of this four-game series. The Diamondbacks won 4-2 on Thursday (Opening Day) but the Padres evened things up last night with a 3-0 shutout win. The Padres will hand the ball to Joe Musgrove, who went 11-9 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.08 WHIP (31 starts) last season. Zach Davies will start for the Diamondbacks, coming off a 6-12 season in 2021. He made 32 starts with a 5.78 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. Musgrove clearly had the better season in 2021 (his first with SD) but note that Davies had some good years with Milwaukee (2016-19). Musgrove has made six career starts vs Arizona, going 2-2 with a 4.24 ERA (teams are 2-4), while Davies is an impressive 5-0 with a 2.79 ERA in seven career starts vs San Diego (teams are 6-1). I'm ''barking' with the home dog here, hoping Davies can rely on some 'muscle memory' up against the Padres. Good luck...Larry |
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04-09-22 | Indians +112 v. Royals | Top | 0-1 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 12 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Cle Indians at 4:10 ET. Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians), opening with a four-game series against the Royals in Kansas City. Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021 and looks for a bounce-back season in 2022. The Royals made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 (lost 4-3 to the Giants) and in 2015 (beat the Mets 4-1) but have missed the last SIX postseasons, and over the last four years KC is just 217-329 (.397). The teams played Game 1 of the series Thursday. In a matchup of former Cy Young Award winners, Cleveland ace Shane Bieber and erstwhile Royals star Zach Greinke dueled to a 1-all stalemate before turning the game over to the bullpens on a cold day at Kauffman Stadium. KC's two-run 8th was the difference, as the Royals won 3-1.
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04-09-22 | Mariners v. Twins -130 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -130 | 8 h 60 m | Show |
My 9* is on the Min Twins at 2:10 ET. Seattle finished second in the American League West last season with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001, when the team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Twins entered last season off back-to-back years of winning the AL Central but IMPLODED in 2021, finishing 73-89, 20 games behind the division-winning White Sox! Both teams made big news since last season, as Seattle signed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray away from the Toronto Blue Jays to a five-year, $115 million contract. As for Minnesota, the Twins signed former Houston shortstop Carlos Correa, arguably the top free agent position player, to a three-year, $105 million deal.
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04-08-22 | Astros v. Angels -113 | Top | 13-6 | Loss | -113 | 12 h 2 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the LA Angels at 9:38 ET. My 10* Season Opener was on the Astros over the Angels on Thursday night and I cashed, as Houston won 3-1. I pointed out that Houston has been an excellent road team over the last five seasons (save the 60-game 2020 season) and also that Shohei Ohtani had had little success against the Astros, posting a 6.87 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in five career starts. Ohtani was fine (4.2 IP with one ER and 9 Ks) but the LA bats were shut down. Valdez pitched 6.2 scoreless innings and three relievers allowed just one run over 2.1 IP (Angels had only FOUR hits). The teams are back at it tonight from Angel Stadium. Jake Odorizzi gets the nod for the Astros and Reid Detmers for the Angels. Odorizzi showed some promise back with Tampa Bay (2013-17) but he has had just ONE winning season since leaving the Rays and that was in 2019 (15-7 with a 3.51 ERA with the Twins). He was 6-7 with a 4.21 ERA with Houston last season. The Angels were originally going to go with Sandoval but will instead try another lefty, Reid Detmers. He made five starts for the Angels last season but was just 1-3 with a 7.40 ERA and 1.79 WHIP. Clearly, I'm NOT backing the Angels because of Detmers but rather I'm going against the overrated Odorizzi, while expecting the Angels' big sticks to 'wake up.' LA's 1-2-3 hitters last night (Ohtani, Trout and Rendon) combined to go 1 of 11. Handicapping MLB is "about the numbers" but it's also about 'feel.' The bet Friday is on a bounce-back by the Angels. Good luck...Larry |
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04-08-22 | Hawks +2.5 v. Heat | Top | 109-113 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* Eastern Conference Game of the Month is on the Atl Hawks at 8:10 ET. Much was expected from the Hawks after they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season. However, Atlanta was just 17-25 through Jan 15, before a seven-game winning streak put them back in 'play-in' position (have hovered around .500 since that winning streak). The 42-38 Hawks visit Miami having secured a 'play-in' berth and are tied with the Nets for the No. 8 seed. Atlanta has won SIX of seven and a chance at earning that No. 8 seed WILL provide motivation plus both the Hawks and Nets are just ONE game behind the Cavs (No. 7 seed). As for Miami, the Heat made an improbable run all the way to the NBA Finals in 2020 but last season were swept 4-0 in the first round by Milwaukee, the eventual NBA champs. Miami has been around the top of the East all season and clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs on Thursday. Losses by the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics gave Miami its fourth No. 1 seed in team history. The Heat came out on top of the competitive conference despite Jimmy Butler (21.4-5.9-5.6), Bam Adebayo (19.0 & 10.1) and Kyle Lowry (13,4-4.5-7.6) missing significant time throughout the season. Herro (20.8-5.0-3.9) seems a shoo-in to win 6th-man-of-the-year. PG Young (28.3 & 9.7 APG) continues to shine for Atlanta but PF Collins (16.2 & 7.8) has played in just FOUR of the team's last 25 games. Five more Hawks contribute double digits, spanning from SG Bogdanovich (14.9 & 3.9) to center Capela (10.9 & 11.8). Young scored 30 points in Wednesday's win over the Wizards, Danilo Gallinari added 26, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored his 18 points off 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range as a reserve. I noted earlier that the Hawks enter having won SIX of seven and will add here that in each of their six wins, the Hawks have scored 118 points or more. Atlanta has LOTS to play for here (end season at the pathetic 20-60 Rockets), while Miami is just biding time until it learns which one of the four 'play-in' teams will be its first round opponent (could be Atlanta). The Hawks roll in this one, as it would be no surprise if Miami rested some players. Good luck...Larry |
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04-08-22 | Mariners v. Twins -104 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -104 | 8 h 11 m | Show |
My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Min Twins at 4:10 ET. The Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins will open the season Friday afternoon, after their scheduled Thursday opener was pushed back because of the forecast of rain and snow and highs in the mid-30s in Minneapolis. Seattle finished second in the American League West with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001, when the team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season (one COULDN'T make that up!). The Twins entered last season off back-to-back years of winning the AL Central but IMPLODED in 2021, finishing 73-89, 20 games behind the division-winning White Sox! Both teams made big news since last season, as Seattle signed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray away from the Toronto Blue Jays to a five-year, $115 million contract. As for Minnesota, the Twins signed former Houston shortstop Carlos Correa, arguably the top free agent position player, to a three-year, $105 million deal.
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04-08-22 | White Sox v. Tigers +124 | Top | 4-5 | Win | 124 | 5 h 26 m | Show |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Det Tigers at 1:10 ET. The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. The White Sox then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games. The Tigers finished 77-85 in 2021 (16 games behind the White Sox), as Detroit missed the postseason for the EIGHTH consecutive season. The two teams open their respective 2022 seasons with a three-game series in Detroit. The White Sox are again expected to be the AL Central's best team but watch out for Detroit, as the Tigers were much improved last year in their first season under manager AJ Hinch. Chicago ace Lance Lynn will miss the first month or two of the season recovering from right knee surgery, so the White Sox will give Lucas Giolito (11-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts in 2021) the Opening Day start. Detroit will counter with free agent left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. He was a 19-game winner in 2019 for Boston and went 13-8 with a 4.74 ERA for the Red Sox last season. Rodriguez was sharp in spring training and pitched five-plus innings in his last preseason start. Giolito is a modest 5-5 with a 4.57 ERA in 14 career starts vs Detroit (team is 8-6), while Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in his five career starts vs Chicago (Red Sox were 4-1). Rodriguez has been one of MLB's top earners (vs the moneyline) these last few years and I'll back him in his debut with Detroit as a home dog. Good luck...Larry |
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04-07-22 | Astros +112 v. Angels | Top | 3-1 | Win | 112 | 14 h 52 m | Show |
My 10* MLB 2022 Season-Opener is on the Hou Astros at 9:38 ET.
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04-07-22 | Grizzlies v. Nuggets -4.5 | Top | 109-122 | Win | 100 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
My 10* Western Conference Game of the Month is on the Den Nuggets at 9:10 ET. The 55-24 Memphis Grizzlies are locked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and won't know who they will face in the first round until the play-in tournament is complete. "The Grizz" are in Denver tonight to take on the 47-33 Nuggets, who had a chance to clinch at least the No. 6 seed with a home win over San Antonio on Tuesday night. Minnesota had lost at home earlier on Tuesday, giving Denver a chance to clinch a dedicated playoff spot as a top-six team in the conference, but was blown out 116-97 by the Spurs. Good luck...Larry |
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04-07-22 | 76ers +1 v. Raptors | Top | 114-119 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 36 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the Phi 76ers at 7:40 ET. Toronto won 50-plus games over a five-year stretch prior to last season (won the NBA title in 2019), playing .693 basketball. However, the Raptors 'dropped like a rock' last season, finishing 27-45 (.375). However, the Raptors posted a 118-108 win over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night to earn a spot in the top six of the Eastern Conference and avoid the play-in tournament. It was Toronto's 12th win in its last 15 games. The Raptors look to clinch the season series against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night, having won two of the first three meetings with Philadelphia this season.
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04-07-22 | Indians -120 v. Royals | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -120 | 9 h 23 m | Show |
My 9* Division Game of the Month (AL Central) is on the Cle Guardians at 4:10 ET. It's Opening Day 2022 and Cleveland starts a new era (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians) with a four-game series against the Royals in Kansas City. Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021 and looks for a bounce-back season in 2022. The Royals made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 (lost 4-3 to the Giants) and in 2015 (beat the Mets 4-1) but have missed the last SIX postseasons, and over the last four years KC is just 217-329 (.397). Thursday's starting pitchers will be a pair of two former Cy Young winners but while Cleveland's Shane Bieber is "in his prime," Zack Greinke just signed with KC as a free agent during spring training. Bieber was a rookie in 2018 and in 2019 went 15-8 and was the All Star Game's MVP. In the Covid-shortened 2020 season he went 8-1 in 12 starts (team was 10-2), leading the AL in wins, ERA (1.63) and Ks (122), while posting an 0.87 WHIP and .167 BAA. He won the AL's Cy Young award. Bieber missed a chunk of the 2021 season (7-4 with a 3.17 ERA but 134 Ks in 96.2 IP) with a strained throwing shoulder but is expected to be back at full strength. Greinke began his career with KC back in 2004 and won the 2009 Cy Young award. He asked for and received a trade prior to the 2011 season. The haul the Royals received in the trade was part of the core that won back-to-back American League championships in 2014 and 2015 (see above). Greinke's had an impressive career since leaving KC, pitching for the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, D'backs and Astros. He doesn't throw as hard as he did early in his career, but he still has excellent control. That said, he's a modest 14-12 with a 4.12 ERA over the last two seasons. The Guardians had trouble scoring runs last season but will undoubtedly be a better team than the Royals in 2022. As far as Opening Day, it's Bieber over Greinke, Bieber is 4-0 with a 3.65 ERA in 10 career starts against the Royals (team is 7-3), while Greinke has faced Cleveland 26 times during his career, going 10-8 with 3.53 ERA. It's 'youth over age' in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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04-06-22 | Wizards v. Hawks UNDER 231.5 | Top | 103-118 | Win | 100 | 13 h 41 m | Show |
My 10* O/U Game of the Week is on Was/Atl Under at 8:10 ET. The 35-44 Washington Wizards and the 41-38 Atlanta Hawks get together at the State Farm Arena on Wednesday night in Atlanta. The Wizards are playing out the string but do enter having won FIVE of seven, including an impressive 132-114 win last night in Minnesota. Much was expected from the Hawks after they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season, However, Atlanta was just 17-25 through Jan 15, before a seven-game winning streak put them back in 'play-in' position (have hovered around .500 since that winning streak). The Hawks enter tonight's game having won 17 of their last 23, but saw their five-game winning streak end 118-108 last night in a loss at Toronto. Atlanta is tied with the Nets, with both teams trailing the Cavs (No. 7 seed) by 1 1/2-games (note: Brooklyn owns the tie-breaker over Atlanta). The current Wizards look nothing like the team did at the midpoint of the season, when guards Beal and Dinwiddie were joined by a trio of former Lakers (Caldwell-Pope, Harrell and Kuzma) plus undersized center Gafford as the team's "Core 6." Beal's season ended after playing just 40 games, Dinwiddie and Harrell have both been traded, while Kuzma is currently out of commission with right knee tendinitis. In last night's win at Minnesota, Porzingis led the team with 25 points, Gafford added 24 points with 12 rebounds off the bench, Rui Hachimura added 21 points while Deni Avdija chipped in with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists off the bench. The Wizards shot 55 percent from the floor, including 13 of 30 from the three-point line. PG Young (28.2 & 9.67APG) continues to shine for Atlanta but PF Collins (16.2 & 7.8) has played in just FOUR of the team's last 24 games. Five more Hawks contribute double digits, spanning from SG Bogdanovich (14.9 & 3.9) to center Capela (10.8 & 11.9). Young led the team with 26 points and 15 assists in last night's loss at Toronto, followed by Huerter's 21 points, Hunter's 20 points and Bogdanovic's 19 & 9 off the bench. I expect the Hawks to grab the win here, as earning the No. 8 seed would give the team a much better chance to reach the playoffs through the play-in round. Both teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back and at this stage of the season, fatigue is a factor. After an offensive "outburst" by Washington last night (132 points on 55% shooting), expect the Wizards to play closer to their season form (108,9 PPG). Go UNDER! Good luck...Larry |
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04-05-22 | Grizzlies v. Jazz -4.5 | Top | 115-121 | Win | 100 | 14 h 24 m | Show |
The 3rd pick of my STP is a 10* on the Ut Jazz at 9:10 ET. Memphis picked up an impressive win last Friday when it beat the Suns at home 122-114, snapping Phoenix's nine-game winning streak. The win came even though Ja Morant (knee), Desmond Bane (ankle), Steven Adams (calf), Tyus Jones (hand) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh) were sidelined with injuries. The Grizzlies have gone 19-2 without Morant (27.6-5.7-6.7), a record that is somewhat hard to believe. 55-23 Memphis comes into this contest having won SEVEN games in a row and is locked into the West's No. 2 seed. The Utah Jazz were 33-21 through Feb 7 and 45-26 through March 20, but a five-game slide followed, before they beat the 'sad-sack' Lakers 122-109 at home last Thursday. However, the Jazz lost Saturday night in San Francisco, again blowing a big lead. Utah held a 21-point lead but the Warriors scored 18 straight points on six 3-pointers to rally past the Jazz for a 111-107 win. 46-21 Utah is now the No. 6 seed in the West, (with four games left), but just a half-game behind Denver, which has three games remaining. Most importantly, the Jazz need to hold on to a top-six finish (last of the guaranteed playoff spots), The Jazz lead the 45-34 Timberwolves (No. 7 seed) by 1 1/2-games, who have just three games remaining.
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04-05-22 | Hawks +4.5 v. Raptors | Top | 108-118 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 53 m | Show |
The 2nd pick of my STP is a 9* on the Atl Hawks at 7:40 ET. Much was expected from the Hawks after they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season, However, Atlanta was just 17-25 through Jan 15, before a seven-game winning streak put them back in 'play-in' position (have hovered around .500 since that winning streak). The Hawks enter tonight's game having won 17 of their last 22, including FIVE in a row. At 41-37, they enter on a five-game winning streak and as owners of the No. 8 seed. Goal No. 1 this final week is to stay ahead of the Hornets and Nets, who are within ONE game of Atlanta. Toronto won 50-plus games over a five-year stretch prior to last season (won the NBA title in 2019), playing .693 basketball. However, the Raptors 'dropped like a rock' last season, finishing 27-45 (.375). Toronto is currently 45-33, tied with the Bulls. PG Young (28.3 & 9.6 APG) continues to shine for Atlanta but PF Collins (16.2 & 7.8) has played in just FOUR of the team's last 23 games. Five more Hawks contribute double digits, spanning from Bogdanovich (14.8 & 3.8) to center Capela (10.8 & 11.8). Toronto has FIVE players averaging more than 15.0 PPG. The starting lineup consists of PF Siakam (22.4-8.4-5.2), PG VanVleet (20.4-4.5-6.6), SG Trent (18.1) plus SFs Anunoby (17.3 & 5.4) and Florida rookie Barnes (15.4 & 7.5). Adding some muscle to the frontcourt are the 6-8 Boucher (9.2 & 6.2) and the 6-9 Achiuwa (8.9 & 6.7). The Raptors had a five-game winning streak before falling 114-109 at home to the Miami Heat on Sunday. Anunoby missed the Miami game with a bruised thigh, continuing a trend of lineup-shuffling that Raptors coach Nick Nurse would like to see stop. Anunoby had been one of the Raptors' best players during the five-game winning streak, averaging 16.0 points, shooting 54.7 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent on 3-pointers. He could be back here. The Raptors can clinch a playoff berth Tuesday night, but that would require not only a win by them but also a loss by the Cleveland Cavaliers (43-36) at Orlando. Bottom line is, I'm not sure if it matters much if the Raptors finish 5th or 6th in the East. Meanwhile, keeping at least the No. 8 seed clearly gives the Hawks a better chance to advance in the 'play-in' round. Atlanta's averaging 18.4 PPG during their five-game winning streak (Young has 30 or more points in FOUR of the wins) and I'm taking the points. Good luck...Larry |
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04-05-22 | Hornets +6 v. Heat | Top | 115-144 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 1 m | Show |
The 1st pick of my STP is a 9* of the Cha Hornets at 7:40 ET. The Hornets went 33-39 last season but then got routed 144-117 by the Pacers in the 'play-in' round, missing the postseason for the FIFTH straight season. The Hornets are destined for the 'play-in' round gain, as they are currently 40-36, tied with the Nets for the 9th and 10th spots. Both teams are one game behind the Hawks (No. 8) and two games back of the Cavs (No. 7). Being able to get that No. 8 seed really helps and maybe the return of Gordon Hayward will make a difference for the visiting Hornets when they play the 51-28 Heat tonight in Miami. The Heat made an improbable run all the way to the NBA Finals in 2020 but last season were swept 4-0 in the first round by Milwaukee, the eventual NBA champs. Miami has been around the top of the East all season and currently the Heat are two games up on the 49-30 Celtics (both have three games remaining) for the East's best record plus lead the Bucks and 76ers both at 48-30 and with four games left). Hayward (15.9-4.6-3.6) has missed 29 games due to injuries, but his return leaves the Hornets with FIVE players averaging more than 15 PPG. Bridges (20.3 & 7.10 lead the way, followed by Ball (19.9-6.7-7.50 and Oubre (15.2). Then there is Harrell (11.3 & 5.1 in his 22 games since the trade) and PF Washington (10.3 & 5.7). Miami is without head coach Erik Spoelstra due to the NBA's health and safety protocol and assistant coach Chris Quinn ran the team Sunday night in a 114-109 win in Toronto. The Heat faced the Raptors without injured starters Jimmy Butler (toe) and P.J. Tucker (knee) as well as reserves Dewayne Dedmon (ankle) and Gabe Vincent (toe). Butler (21.3-5.9-5.5) could return on here. Herro (20.6-5.0-3.9) is an elite off-the-bench scorer and seemingly a 'lock' for 6th-man-of-the-year. Center Adebayo (18.9 & 10.2) has had a terrific season plus the Heat are 'loaded' on the perimeter with PG Lowry (13.4-4.5-7.6) and SGs Robinson (10.9) and Strus (10.6). Miami will likely hold on to the No. 1 seed but while the Hornets can't control what the Nets and Hawks do, they CAN "take care of their own business." Charlotte's back on the court for the first time since Saturday's embarrassing 144-114 Saturday loss in Philly and tonight, will be looking to avoid losing to the Heat for the FOURTH time this season. I want the points! Good luck...Larry |
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04-03-22 | Heat v. Raptors -3.5 | Top | 114-109 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 34 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Tor Raptors at 7:10 ET. The Heat made an improbable run all the way to the NBA Finals in 2020 but last season were swept 4-0 in the first round by Milwaukee, the eventual NBA champs. Miami has been around the top of the East all season but began the week on a four-game losing streak. The Heat snapped that season-worst streak on Monday by beating the visiting Sacramento Kings, plus have followed with wins at Boston (Wed) and Chicago (Sat). They are currently 50-28 (have reached 50 wins for the first time since 2013-14) and 1 1/2-games up on Milwaukee for the East's No. 1 seed. However, Boston is just two games behind and Philly 2 1/2-games behind, so nothing is 'written in stone' just yet. Toronto won 50-plus games over a five-year stretch prior to last season (won the NBA title in 2019), playing .693 basketball. However, the Raptors 'dropped like a rock' last season, finishing 27-45 (.375). Toronto is currently 45-32, after a FIVE-game winning streak. The Raptors are currently the East No. 5 seed (a half-game better than the Bulls) and more importantly, 2 1/2-games clear of the Cavs, who are now the No. 7 seed (top-six are guaranteed a playoff spot). Jimmy Butler (21.3-5.9-5.5) led SEVEN Miami players in double digits with 22 points in the Heat's 127-109 win last night in Chicago. Guard Herro (20.6-4.9-3.9), who typically comes off the bench), plus center Adebayo (19.0 & 10.2) give Miami three high-quality scorers. SIX more Heat players chip in between 7.6 and 13.3 PPG, led by PG Lowry (13.3 & 7.6 APG). Toronto's never been healthier, with FIVE players averaging more than 15.0 PPG. The starting lineup consists of PF Siakam (22.3-8.4-5.2), PG VanVleet (29=0.3-4.5-6.6), SG Trent (18.1) plus SFs Anunoby (17.3 & 5.4) and Florida rookie Barnes (15.4 & 7.5). Adding some muscle to the frontcourt are the 6-8 Boucher (9.3 & 6.2) and the 6-9 Achiuwa (9.0 & 6.7). Here's the rub. This is the second of a back-to-back for Miami and its FOURTH road game this week. Meanwhile Toronto has won 11 of 13 (10-3 ATS) and FIVE in a row entering this contest, after a Friday win in Orlando. Raptors get the "W' and the cover. Good luck...Larry |
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04-03-22 | 76ers v. Cavs UNDER 224.5 | Top | 112-108 | Win | 100 | 9 h 2 m | Show |
My 9* O/U Game of the Day is on Phi/Cle Under at 6:10 ET. The last thing the Philadelphia 76ers needed was a three-game losing streak to end March but that's exactly what happened the 27th thru the 31st. Philly did rebound in a big way with a 30-point 144-114 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Philly is back in action again on Sunday, taking a 47-30 record into a game with the Cavs in Cleveland. The 76ers are currently the East's No. 4 seed (last to get home court in the 1st round), two games clear of Toronto (No. 5 seed). Looking up, the 76ers are just a half-game behind the Celtics (No. 3 seed) and one game behind the Bucks (No. 2 seed). The Cleveland Cavaliers entered this season having gone 60-159 (.274) the previous three seasons but through Feb 11, were one of the league's biggest surprises with a 35-21 record. However, the Cavs have won just EIGHT of their last 22 games and at 43-35, have dropped out the top-six. They are now the No. 7 seed and TWO games behind the Bulls (No. 6 seed) with only four games left to play. The 76ers still have a decent chance to move up at the top of the East standings and while the Cavs will likely be stuck in the 'play-in' round, I do expect them to give it their best shot here. The Cavaliers will be shorthanded again on Sunday without center Jarrett Allen (finger) and PF Evan Mobley (ankle). "I think we're learning from our past," head coach Bickerstaff said after last night's 119-101 win at the Knicks. "I don't think we played particularly well in Atlanta. I didn't like the way that we played in Atlanta (a loss on Thursday). What this afternoon showed is that we can take steps and learn quickly. Before the game today in our meeting we watched clips of us at our best offensively and it wasn't a lot of ball holding." Both teams are playing the second of back-to-back games and both are coming off big offensive efforts. Philly, in particular, set season highs in points (144), three-pointers made (21) and assists (38). However, take note that these are two excellent defensive teams, as Cleveland has allowed 105.1 PPG (4th) and Philadelphia 106.8 PPG (8th). This O/U is too high. Go UNDER! Good luck...Larry |
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04-03-22 | Mavs v. Bucks -5 | Top | 118-112 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 49 m | Show |
My 9* Afternoon Delight is on the Mil Bucks at 1:10 ET. The 48-30 Mavs are in Milwaukee this afternoon to take on the 48-29 Bucks. Both teams are coming off embarrassing Friday losses, as Dallas lost 135-103 in Washington, while Milwaukee lost 153-119 at home to the LA Clippers. Dallas is currently the West's No. 4 seed, one game behind Golden St (No. 3). The Mavs also own a two-game cushion on the Jazz and Nuggets, who are battling for the No. 5 and 6 seeds. The defending champion Bucks are 1 1/2-games behind the East's No. 1 seed (Miami), with the Celtics (a half-game back) and the 76ers (one game back) right on their tails. Dallas features three players listed as PGs, including the "do-everything" Doncic (28.3-9.1-8.6). Dinwiddie (16.7 & 4.0 APG in 19 games) has been an excellent pick up plus Brunson (16.3-3.9-4.9) has played well all season. Forwards Finney-Smith (10.9 & 4.8), Bullock (8.4) and Kleber (7.0 & 5.9) join center Powell (8.4 & 4.8) up front. Brook Lopez has finally made his long-awaited return for Milwaukee, after recovering from back surgery. He is currently on a minutes restriction (about 20 per game) and in nine games has averaged 9.7 & 3.6). The Bucks also recently got guard Connaughton (10.1) back from a hand injury on March 19 and in seven games, he has averaged 10.3 PPG. The starting-five for most of the season is a very good one. Antetokounmpo (30.1-11.7-5.8) is having another MVP-like season, with SF Khris Middleton (20.3-5.5-5.4) and PG Holiday (18.6-4.5-6.7) giving the Bucks their own version of a "Big 3." PF/C Bobby Portis (14.7 & 9.1) has been a 'savior' with Lopez missing all that time, plus Allen (11.1) has been a steady presence at SG. The Mavs' 135-103 loss at the Wizards snapped a three-game win streak but it also marked the team's FOURTH loss in its last five road games. As for Milwaukee's home loss to the Clippers, the 153 points were a franchise record for LA in a regular-season game, as the Clippers shot 60.9 percent from the floor. However, there is a caveat. Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Holiday and Lopez all were ruled out hours before game time. All FOUR are expected to be back in action on Sunday and the Bucks had won SIX straight at home (averaging 124.3 points) prior to Friday's massacre! Lay the points with Milwaukee. Good luck...Larry |
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04-02-22 | North Carolina v. Duke -4 | Top | 81-77 | Loss | -105 | 37 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* ONE & ONLY CBB Game of the Year is on Duke at 8:49 ET. Everyone knows the set-up by now. The UNC-Duke rivalry is over 100 years old but the schools have never gone head-to-head in the NCAA tournament until now. It comes in Mike Krzyzewski's final season, While Coach K is in his 13th Final Four (most of any coach in NCAA history) his "opposite number" will be UNC's Hubert Davis. He is the first first-year head coach to make the Final Four since Bill Guthridge, who also did so with UNC after taking over for Dean Smith in 1998. You can't make this stuff up! 28-9 North Carolina is the lowest seed at No. 8 but the Tar Heels have already spoiled Coach K's homecourt goodbye (94-81 back on Mar 5) in a game Hubert Davis believes flipped the switch for what he felt was an underachieving team up to that point. When Carolina takes the court Saturday in New Orleans, the Tar heels will take a 10-1 run (9-2 ATS) into the contest. 32-6 Duke opened the season No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll and for most of the season, were the lone ACC team ranked in the top-25 (Blue Devils finished 9th in the AP's final regular season poll). North Carolina is 4-0 ATS in the tournament so far, while after beating CS-Fullerton by 17 points (as an 18 1/2-point favorite), Duke covered in its wins over Michigan St, Texas Tech and Arkansas, North Carolina has an excellent frontcourt duo in the 6-10 Bacot (16.5 & 12.8) and 6-9 Oklahoma transfer Manek (15.2 & 5.9). It was a trio, but 6-11 Marquette transfer Garcia (9.0 & 5.5) left the team in mid-January and has not returned. Sophomore guard Love (15.7-3.4-3.7) teams with freshman Davis (13.4-4.0-3.7) in the backcourt, with Black (4.9 & 4.3) starting in Garcia's place. Manek has been great in the tourney by averaging 21.5 & 8.0 and Bacot his usual self (16.5 PPG but also an impressive 15.8 RPG!). Love scored just FIVE points vs Baylor but has averaged 22.3 PPG in the other three. Davis stepped up with 30 points vs Baylor and is averaging 13.8 & 6.0 in the tourney. Duke has had three freshmen make major contributions. The 6-10 Paolo Banchero (17.1 & 7.7), guard Keels (11.3) and the 6-6 Griffin (10.5 & 3.9). That trio has started for most of the season along with junior SF Moore (13.5-5.2-44) and 7-0 sophomore center Williams (11.3 & 7.5). Guard Roach (8.6) has mostly come off the bench. In the tourney, Bacot (18.5 & 7.0), Williams (14.5 & 8.8) and Moore (13.5-3.5-3.5) have all reached double digits in all four games. Griffin has averaged 11.5 & 4.8 plus Roach (12.3 & 3.8 APG) has replaced Keels in the starting lineup, scoring in double digits in three of the four (nine points in the other one). Keels' minutes have been reduced and he's averaging a modest 6.8 PPG in the tourney. Neither school has much depth but both are playing great. Kudos to the job that Davis has done but Coach K's ]magical' last season run WON'T run here. When all is said and done, Duke's loss to North Carolina in Coach K's final regular season game may have been "just what the doctor ordered" for the Blue Devils. See you Monday in the championship game. Good luck...Larry |
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04-02-22 | Jazz v. Warriors +2 | Top | 107-111 | Win | 100 | 14 h 58 m | Show |
My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the GS Warriors at 8:40 ET. The Utah Jazz were 33-21 through Feb 7 and 45-26 through March 20, but a five-game slide followed, before they beat the 'sad-sack' Lakers 122-109 at home on Thursday. At 46-31, Utah is currently the West's No. 5 seed but are just a half-game better than Denver (No. 6 seed) and 2 1/2-games clear of Minnesota (No. 7 seed). Looking up in the standings, the Jazz trail the Mavs (No. 4 seed) by 1 1/2-games and the Warriors (No. 3 seed) by two games. The Jazz will be in San Francisco tonight to meet the Warriors, who spent a good part of the season battling the Suns for the West's best record. Golden St opened 18-2 and was 41-13 through Feb 7, with Phoenix checking in at 43-10. Those days are LONG gone, as the Warriors are currently 48-29, while the Suns are 14 games better at 62-15. Memphis has clinched the No. 2 seed in the West and the Warriors are now trying to hang onto the No. 3 seed, with the Mavs just a half-game behind, the Jazz two games behind and the Nuggets 2 1/2-games behind.
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04-02-22 | Nets -1.5 v. Hawks | Top | 115-122 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 3 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Brk Nets at 7:40 ET. The 'play-in' round features the teams that finish 7-10 in each conference. In the East, the 42-35 Cavs are currently the No. 7 seed, while the Nets, Hornets and Hawks are all at 40-37. All four teams have five games remaining to sort things out. The Nets will be in Atlanta tonight to take on the Hawks. The Nets were preseason favorites in the East and were fighting for the East lead back in January but at 29-16 through Jan 21, went on an 11-game losing streak. However, the best the Nets can do now is hope to get the No. 7 seed. They enter this game off a 120-1119 OT loss at home against the Bucks but have gone 8-4 in their last 12 games. Much was expected from the Hawks after they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season, However, Atlanta was just 17-25 through Jan 15, before a seven-game winning streak put them back in 'play-in' position (have hovered around .500 since that winning streak). The Hawks have won 14 of their last 22 and enter on a four-game winning streak. With their regular seasons dwindling to a handful of games, the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks seem destined for the NBA play-in tournament but overtaking the free-falling Cavs, who have lost five of their past six games for the No. 7 seed is clearly attainable. KD (29.6-7.3-6.2) and Kyrie (26.9-4.2-5.6) lead the way, along with regulars Aldridge (13.5 & 5.6) and Mills (11.7). Guard Curry (15.1) and center Drummond (11.8 & 9.9) have really made excellent additions since coming over in the Harden trade. PG Young (28.2 & 9.6 APG) continues to shine for Atlanta but PF Collins (16.2 & 7.8) has played in just FOUR of the team's last 22 games. Five more Hawks contribute double digits, spanning from Bogdanovich (14.9 & 3.9) to center Capela (10.8 & 11.8). This is the final meeting between the two teams but the first since Dec 10. Is there any significance to the fact that the Nets have won each of the first two? I don't think so. That was THEN and this is NOW. Getting that No. 7 seed is no small deal, as it would give the 'owner' a chance to secure a place in the playoffs by winning a home against the No. 8 seed or by winning a home game over the winner of the No. 9 vs No. 10 game. Let's NOT forget that the Nest were the Eastern Conference favorites at the opening of the season and that while they have a "different look" now, are still a better team than Atlanta. Durant is averaging 30.6 points per game in March, is averaging 28.6 in 25 career games against Atlanta and 31.5 points in two games this season. KD leads the way to a Brooklyn win! Good luck...Larry |
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04-01-22 | Wolves v. Nuggets -3.5 | Top | 136-130 | Loss | -110 | 16 h 49 m | Show |
My 10* Division (Northwest) Game of the Year is on the Den Nuggets at 9:10 ET. The Timberwolves were just 24-25 through Jan 28 but an 18-5 surge put the team in position to challenge for a top-six seed in the West, as Minnesota was looking to earn a playoff spot for just the SECOND time since 2004. However, the T-wolves will 'limp' into Denver having lost FOUR of five (also 1-4 ATS) and at 43-34, find themselves THREE games behind in the chase for that No. 6 seed. Denver won 10 of 11 games from Feb 12 through March 9 but then went 3-5 its next eight. However, three straight wins have given the 46-31 Nuggets a chance to win the Northwest Division and possibly get a top-four seed in the conference. The Jazz are also 46-31, as those teams battle for the Northwest Division title but also hope to catch either Mavs or Warriors, who are both 48-29 and fighting over the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds. Minnesota revolves around its "Big 3" of center Towns (24.4 & 9.8), swingman Edwards (21.0-4.8-3.7) and PG Russell (18.0 & 7.0 APG). Guard Beasley (12.1) has joined that trio in double digits this season but he's missed the last two games with an ankle issue. Head coach Chris Finch said recently that Beasley isn't "anywhere close" to returning to game action," However, Minnesota does own a deep bench. It is still undetermined whether the Nuggets' two injured stars, Jamal Murray (ACL) and Michael Porter Jr. (back), will return before the end of the regular season. Both got some work in with the G-League and are progressing, but Denver won't rush either one back, especially Murray, who hasn't played since last April. However, the team revolves around Nikola Jokic, who is making a serious bid to repeat as the league MVP. He is averaging 26.5. points, which ranks ninth in the NBA, and his 13.6 rebounds per game are second. Throw in his 8.0 assists average per game, and he has solid credentials for the NBA's top award. Also playing key roles for Denver have been swingman Barton (14.7-4.9-3.9), PF Gordon (14.4 & 5.7) and PG Morris (12.7 & 4.4 APG). Minnesota is THREE games behind Denver and its chances of catching the Nuggets (or the Jazz, who have the same record) seems unlikely with just FIVE games remaining. Meanwhile, after tonight's game, the Nuggets play in LA vs the 'sad-sack" Lakers and then finish with home games against the Spurs, the Grizzlies and the Lakers (again). Denver has a real chance at winning 50 games despite not having their two best players besides Jokic this season. What's more, the Nuggets will also likely remember losing 130-115 at Minnesota back on Feb 1 (T-wolves have won two of the three meetings this season). Lay the 'cheap price!' Good luck...Larry |
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Larry Ness ALL Sports Top Picks
Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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05-02-22 | Mavs v. Suns -5.5 | Top | 114-121 | Win | 100 | 13 h 17 m | Show |
05-02-22 | Braves -104 v. Mets | Top | 5-2 | Win | 100 | 11 h 1 m | Show |
05-02-22 | Yankees v. Blue Jays +116 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
05-01-22 | Guardians v. A's +107 | Top | 7-3 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 47 m | Show |
05-01-22 | Warriors v. Grizzlies +2.5 | Top | 117-116 | Win | 100 | 9 h 10 m | Show |
05-01-22 | Angels v. White Sox +110 | Top | 6-5 | Loss | -100 | 5 h 29 m | Show |
05-01-22 | Astros v. Blue Jays -140 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 7 h 57 m | Show |
04-30-22 | Braves -108 v. Rangers | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
04-30-22 | Mariners -101 v. Marlins | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -101 | 12 h 46 m | Show |
04-30-22 | Astros v. Blue Jays -125 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 45 m | Show |
04-29-22 | Braves -130 v. Rangers | Top | 6-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 58 m | Show |
04-29-22 | Twins v. Rays -129 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
04-29-22 | Red Sox -135 v. Orioles | Top | 3-1 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
04-28-22 | Mavs v. Jazz | Top | 98-96 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
04-28-22 | Guardians +145 v. Angels | Top | 1-4 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 37 m | Show |
04-28-22 | Brewers v. Pirates +156 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 7 m | Show |
04-27-22 | Astros -114 v. Rangers | Top | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 49 m | Show |
04-27-22 | Mariners v. Rays -134 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 20 m | Show |
04-26-22 | Pelicans v. Suns -6 | Top | 97-112 | Win | 100 | 14 h 55 m | Show |
04-26-22 | Astros v. Rangers OVER 9 | Top | 5-1 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 21 m | Show |
04-26-22 | Wolves v. Grizzlies -6 | Top | 109-111 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 16 m | Show |
04-26-22 | Royals v. White Sox -144 | Top | 6-0 | Loss | -144 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
04-25-22 | Guardians +109 v. Angels | Top | 0-3 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 12 m | Show |
04-25-22 | Jazz v. Mavs -2.5 | Top | 77-102 | Win | 100 | 14 h 5 m | Show |
04-25-22 | Astros -130 v. Rangers | Top | 2-6 | Loss | -130 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
04-24-22 | Suns -2.5 v. Pelicans | Top | 103-118 | Loss | -110 | 17 h 42 m | Show |
04-24-22 | Heat v. Hawks +2 | Top | 110-86 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 5 m | Show |
04-24-22 | Dodgers -140 v. Padres | Top | 10-2 | Win | 100 | 7 h 12 m | Show |
04-24-22 | Rangers v. A's +112 | Top | 0-2 | Win | 112 | 9 h 45 m | Show |
04-24-22 | Blue Jays v. Astros -126 | Top | 7-8 | Win | 100 | 7 h 52 m | Show |
04-24-22 | Bucks -3.5 v. Bulls | Top | 119-95 | Win | 100 | 8 h 7 m | Show |
04-23-22 | Grizzlies v. Wolves +3 | Top | 118-119 | Win | 100 | 16 h 18 m | Show |
04-23-22 | Celtics v. Nets -2.5 | Top | 109-103 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
04-23-22 | Mavs v. Jazz -5.5 | Top | 99-100 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 55 m | Show |
04-23-22 | Rangers v. A's -123 | Top | 2-0 | Loss | -123 | 7 h 21 m | Show |
04-23-22 | 76ers v. Raptors OVER 213 | Top | 102-110 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 23 m | Show |
04-22-22 | Suns -1 v. Pelicans | Top | 114-111 | Win | 100 | 28 h 26 m | Show |
04-22-22 | Bucks -2.5 v. Bulls | Top | 111-81 | Win | 100 | 27 h 59 m | Show |
04-22-22 | White Sox +100 v. Twins | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 33 m | Show |
04-22-22 | Heat v. Hawks +2 | Top | 110-111 | Win | 100 | 26 h 28 m | Show |
04-22-22 | Red Sox v. Rays -137 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -137 | 10 h 29 m | Show |
04-22-22 | Brewers +111 v. Phillies | Top | 2-4 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 35 m | Show |
04-21-22 | Warriors v. Nuggets +2.5 | Top | 118-113 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 50 m | Show |
04-21-22 | Rangers v. Mariners -125 | Top | 8-6 | Loss | -125 | 11 h 48 m | Show |
04-21-22 | Cardinals v. Marlins -122 | Top | 0-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 32 m | Show |
04-21-22 | Orioles v. A's -123 | Top | 4-6 | Win | 100 | 8 h 31 m | Show |
04-20-22 | 76ers v. Raptors +2.5 | Top | 104-101 | Loss | -111 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
04-20-22 | Blue Jays v. Red Sox OVER 9 | Top | 6-1 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
04-20-22 | Rays -110 v. Cubs | Top | 8-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
04-19-22 | Rangers v. Mariners -128 | Top | 2-6 | Win | 100 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
04-19-22 | Wolves v. Grizzlies -6.5 | Top | 96-124 | Win | 100 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
04-19-22 | Hawks +7.5 v. Heat | Top | 105-115 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 15 m | Show |
04-19-22 | Cardinals -105 v. Marlins | Top | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 8 h 51 m | Show |
04-18-22 | Nuggets +7 v. Warriors | Top | 106-126 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
04-17-22 | Astros +100 v. Mariners | Top | 2-7 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 26 m | Show |
04-17-22 | Nets v. Celtics -4 | Top | 114-115 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
04-17-22 | Giants v. Guardians +115 | Top | 8-1 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 37 m | Show |
04-17-22 | Nationals -104 v. Pirates | Top | 3-5 | Loss | -104 | 7 h 17 m | Show |
04-16-22 | Cardinals v. Brewers -112 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -112 | 12 h 43 m | Show |
04-16-22 | Raptors v. 76ers -4 | Top | 111-131 | Win | 100 | 14 h 34 m | Show |
04-16-22 | Twins v. Red Sox -118 | Top | 0-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
04-16-22 | Rays +123 v. White Sox | Top | 2-3 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 27 m | Show |
04-15-22 | Pelicans v. Clippers -3.5 | Top | 105-101 | Loss | -115 | 16 h 13 m | Show |
04-15-22 | Astros -123 v. Mariners | Top | 1-11 | Loss | -123 | 14 h 10 m | Show |
04-14-22 | Blue Jays v. Yankees -112 | Top | 0-3 | Win | 100 | 13 h 53 m | Show |
04-14-22 | Braves +100 v. Padres | Top | 1-12 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 10 m | Show |
04-14-22 | Angels -133 v. Rangers | Top | 5-10 | Loss | -133 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
04-13-22 | Mariners v. White Sox -113 | Top | 4-6 | Win | 100 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
04-13-22 | Hornets +5.5 v. Hawks | Top | 103-132 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 48 m | Show |
04-13-22 | Mets +102 v. Phillies | Top | 9-6 | Win | 102 | 5 h 41 m | Show |
04-12-22 | Clippers +3.5 v. Wolves | Top | 104-109 | Loss | -115 | 15 h 18 m | Show |
04-12-22 | Dodgers -128 v. Twins | Top | 7-2 | Win | 100 | 11 h 35 m | Show |
04-12-22 | Cubs -115 v. Pirates | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 9 h 41 m | Show |
04-11-22 | Mariners +117 v. Twins | Top | 0-4 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 34 m | Show |
04-11-22 | Blue Jays -102 v. Yankees | Top | 3-0 | Win | 100 | 10 h 58 m | Show |
04-11-22 | Indians v. Royals -105 | Top | 10-7 | Loss | -105 | 7 h 21 m | Show |
04-10-22 | Red Sox v. Yankees OVER 9 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 14 m | Show |
04-10-22 | Brewers -119 v. Cubs | Top | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 7 h 4 m | Show |
04-09-22 | Padres v. Diamondbacks +146 | Top | 5-2 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 29 m | Show |
04-09-22 | Indians +112 v. Royals | Top | 0-1 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 12 m | Show |
04-09-22 | Mariners v. Twins -130 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -130 | 8 h 60 m | Show |
04-08-22 | Astros v. Angels -113 | Top | 13-6 | Loss | -113 | 12 h 2 m | Show |
04-08-22 | Hawks +2.5 v. Heat | Top | 109-113 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 48 m | Show |
04-08-22 | Mariners v. Twins -104 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -104 | 8 h 11 m | Show |
04-08-22 | White Sox v. Tigers +124 | Top | 4-5 | Win | 124 | 5 h 26 m | Show |
04-07-22 | Astros +112 v. Angels | Top | 3-1 | Win | 112 | 14 h 52 m | Show |
04-07-22 | Grizzlies v. Nuggets -4.5 | Top | 109-122 | Win | 100 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
04-07-22 | 76ers +1 v. Raptors | Top | 114-119 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 36 m | Show |
04-07-22 | Indians -120 v. Royals | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -120 | 9 h 23 m | Show |
04-06-22 | Wizards v. Hawks UNDER 231.5 | Top | 103-118 | Win | 100 | 13 h 41 m | Show |
04-05-22 | Grizzlies v. Jazz -4.5 | Top | 115-121 | Win | 100 | 14 h 24 m | Show |
04-05-22 | Hawks +4.5 v. Raptors | Top | 108-118 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 53 m | Show |
04-05-22 | Hornets +6 v. Heat | Top | 115-144 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 1 m | Show |
04-03-22 | Heat v. Raptors -3.5 | Top | 114-109 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 34 m | Show |
04-03-22 | 76ers v. Cavs UNDER 224.5 | Top | 112-108 | Win | 100 | 9 h 2 m | Show |
04-03-22 | Mavs v. Bucks -5 | Top | 118-112 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 49 m | Show |
04-02-22 | North Carolina v. Duke -4 | Top | 81-77 | Loss | -105 | 37 h 37 m | Show |
04-02-22 | Jazz v. Warriors +2 | Top | 107-111 | Win | 100 | 14 h 58 m | Show |
04-02-22 | Nets -1.5 v. Hawks | Top | 115-122 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 3 m | Show |
04-01-22 | Wolves v. Nuggets -3.5 | Top | 136-130 | Loss | -110 | 16 h 49 m | Show |