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

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

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

The Key: No Analysis Sunday

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

The Key: No Analysis Sunday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7* 76ers/Raptors Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia +6.5 

The Key: Kawhi Leonard is having to do way too much for the Raptors.  I just don’t know if he can keep shouldering this kind of load.  He’s not getting much help.  The 76ers are the more talented team, and I have to think that they are going to do everything in their power to make someone else beat them in this game.  Joel Embiid was sick in Game 4 and a non-factor, but he should be much healthier two days later.  The Raptors don’t have an answer for him when he’s healthy.  Philadelphia is 9-1 ATS off a loss to a division opponent this season.  The 76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a loss.  Take Philadelphia. 

6* Interleague *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (+110) 

The Key: The Rays are 22-12 this season with 21 of those wins coming by 2 runs or more.  Now they are up against rookie right-hander Taylor Clarke, who will be making his first big league start for the Diamondbacks tonight.  They hung 12 runs on the Diamondbacks yesterday in a 12-1 victory.  Arizona is 22-51 in its last 73 interleague road games against a team with a winning record, and 8-20 in its last 28 interleague road games overall.  The Rays are 49-21 in their last 70 home games, and 8-1 in Ryan Stanek’s last 9 home starts.  Take Tampa Bay on the Run Line. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -1 

The Key: The Houston Rockets are 35-10 at home this season.  They are 4-0 at home in the playoffs and have won by a combined 64 points in those 4 games.  And they are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.  I like the price here as only 1-point favorites after being 3.5-point home favorites in Game 3.  I think we are getting a confident Rockets team at a cheap price here in what is a must-win Game 4 for them.  Take Houston. 

6* MLB *Total* Annihilator on Red Sox/Orioles OVER 9.5 

The Key: Two youngsters in Josh Smith and Josh Means make starts for the Red Sox and Orioles, respectively.  I think both get rocked tonight.  The Red Sox have scored at least 4 runs in 7 straight games and just put up 24 runs in two games against the White Sox over the weekend.  The Orioles give up 6.1 RPG on the season and 7.5 RPG at home.  Baltimore is 11-3 OVER as a home dog of +100 or higher this season.  The OVER is 7-1 in Orioles last 8 home games against a team with a losing record.  Take the OVER. 

6* Cardinals/Cubs ESPN *BAILOUT* on St. Louis +124 

The Key: The Cardinals don’t want swept by the rival Cubs after losing the first 2 games of this series.  I like the price we are getting with them in Game 3 here in the avoid the sweep game.  Adam Wainwright has turned back the clock this season with a 3.73 ERA in 6 starts.  Jose Quintana has a 3.94 ERA in 5 starts for the Cubs.  Quintana yielded 6 earned runs in 3 innings for an 18.00 ERA in his last start against St. Louis.  The Cardinals are 23-9 off 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 3 seasons.  The Cardinals are 7-0 in their last 7 during Game 3 of a series.  Take St. Louis. 

7* Nuggets/Blazers Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 210.5 

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the OVER in this game considering the first three totals in this series were 215 or higher, and Game 4’s total is only 210.5.  Oddsmakers are over adjusting for these teams being tired off a 4 OT game.  Well, that could just as easily affect their defensive effort as their offense.  The OVER is now 6-1 in the 7 meetings between these teams this season with combined scores of 223 or more points in 6 of the 7 meetings.  Take the OVER. 

7* NBA Western Conference Playoffs Game of the Year on Houston Rockets -3 

The Key: The Rockets are in must-win mode tonight while the Golden State Warriors can afford a loss.  The Rockets played the Warriors well, losing by a combined 10 points in their two meetings at Golden State.  And they won 3 of 4 regular season meetings.  The Rockets are 34-10 at home this year and have a huge home-court advantage, which was on display against the Jazz last series as they won all 3 home meetings with the Jazz by an average of nearly 20 PPG.  Take Houston. 

6* Nuggets/Blazers Game 3 *BAILOUT* on Denver +4

The Key: No analysis Friday.

7* Bucks/Celtics Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +2

The Key: No analysis Friday.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Texas Rangers -141

The Key: No analysis Friday.

7* Raptors/76ers Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 217 

The Key: After combining for 203 points in Game 1, the Raptors and 76ers combined for just 183 points in Game 2.  And now we’re seeing yet another total set that is too high here at 217 points.  The Raptors are 19-3 UNDER when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  Take the UNDER. 

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Washington Nationals -147 

The Key: The Nationals have lost the first 3 games of this series to the Cardinals.  They won’t be getting swept with a Game 4 loss here as they’ll be hungry to avoid it.  And they have a huge advantage on the rubber with Stephen Strasburg, who has yielded just 2 earned runs in 15 innings in his last 2 starts with 20 strikeouts.  Strasburg is 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against St. Louis.  Dakota Hudson sports a 5.78 ERA and 1.93 WHIP in 5 starts this year, including a 10.12 ERA and 2.50 WHIP in 2 road starts.  He has been awful.  Take Washington. 

7* Blazers/Nuggets Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Denver -4 

The Key: The Denver Nuggets have won 4 of 5 meetings against the Blazers this season.  The only one they didn’t win was when they rested their starters in their final meeting this season.  The Blazers can’t stop Nikola Jokic, and now the injury to Jusuf Nurkic is finally starting to rear its ugly head.  Enes Kanter can score, but he is one of the worst defenders in the NBA.  The Nuggets pick the Blazers apart in the pick and roll with Jokic and Jamal Murray.  Denver is 38-8 at home this season.  The Nuggets are 18-4 ATS in home games off an ATS win this season.  The Nuggets are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings with the Blazers.  Take Denver. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -139 

The Key: Collin McHugh has had four dominant starts this season, one mediocre, and one terrible.  That one terrible start at Texas is inflating his ERA.  But he has a 1.06 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 32 innings, so he is a great starter.  McHugh is 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA in 5 lifetime starts against Minnesota.  Martin Perez sports a 4.63 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in his eight-year career in the big leagues.  That’s why I’m not ready to give him any respect for his solid start this season.  He’s finished the season with a 4.38 ERA or worse in 6 of his 7 seasons.  The Astros are 30-8 in their last 38 road games against a left-handed starter.  The Astros are 15-5 in the last 20 meetings.  Take Houston. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +5.5 

The Key: Houston is 3-2 SU & 4-1 ATS in their 5 meetings with the Warriors this season.  The Rockets also took the Warriors to 7 games last year despite not having Chris Paul for the final 2 games.  And Houston only lost by 4 in Game 1 at Golden State despite shooting 8% worse and having the refs against them.  Houston is 8-0 ATS after losing 2 straight games to an opponent this season.  Take Houston. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on St. Louis Cardinals -107 

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall with 8 of those 9 wins coming by 2 runs or more.  I like the price on the Cardinals today against the Nationals.  Adam Wainwright is 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA in 5 starts this year.  Wainwright is 8-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 15 lifetime starts against Washington.  Anibal Sanchez is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 5 starts this season for the Nationals.  The Cardinals are 9-1 against a team with a bad bullpen (ERA 4.70 or worse) this season.  The Cardinals are 44-15 in Wainwright’s last 59 starts against a team with a losing record.  Take St. Louis. 

7* 76ers/Raptors Game 2 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 220.5 

The Key: These teams combined for just 203 total points in Game 1 despite 45 points from Kawhi Leonard.  The Raptors’ suffocating defense continued as they held the 76ers to 95 points and 39.3% shooting.  Toronto is holding its opponents to just 92.5 PPG and 38.9% from the field through their first 6 postseason games.  The 76ers are 18-3 UNDER when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Milwaukee Brewers -114 

The Key: The Brewers are cheap at home today with Kyle Davies on the mound.  Davies is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his 5 starts this year, and he has pitched 10 2/3 innings at home without allowing a single earned run.  Kyle Freeland is 1-2 with a 5.62 ERA in his last 3 starts for the Rockies.  Colorado is 4-12 in its last 16 games off a loss.  The Brewers are 37-15 in their last 52 Game 1’s.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* Indians/Astros ESPN *CA$H COW* on Houston -105 

The Key: The Houston Astros are cheap today.  And they have the advantage on the mound today.  Wade Miley sports a 3.58 ERA in 5 starts this season, and a 2.31 ERA in 2 home starts.  Carlos Carrasco sports a 6.00 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 5 starts this season, and a 9.00 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in 3 road starts this year.  The Astros are 58-27 in their last 85 games following a win.  Take Houston. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +5.5 

The Key: The Houston Rockets had the Warriors down 3-2 last year in the conference finals.  Then Chris Paul went down with injury, and they lost the final two games.  Now the Rockets are healthy and they’ve been looking forward to this rematch for a year.  The Rockets took out their frustration on the Warriors during the regular season, too.  They won three out of four meetings, and their only loss came by two points.  This is a game they’ll likely win outright, but we’ll take the +5.5 for some insurance.  Take Houston. 

7* Spurs/Nuggets Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio +6

The Key: No analysis Saturday

6* Yankees/Giants Interleague *CA$H COW* on San Francisco -106

The Key: No analysis Saturday

7* National League Game of the Month on St. Louis Cardinals -143

The Key: No Analysis Friday.

6* Yankees/Angels MLB *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -108 

The Key: The Angles have to be hungry for a victory.  They’ve somehow managed to lose all 3 games in this series to the Yankees despite all of the injuries for New York.  Add Clint Frazier to the long list after he got hurt yesterday.  It’s an Angels team that has lost 9 of their last 10 coming in.  At some points, they have to say enough is enough here, and I think they will tonight.  They will throw the steady Trevor Cahill, one of the more underrated starters in the big leagues.  He’ll be able to handle this Triple-A Yankees’ lineup.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* Nuggets/Spurs Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio -3 

The Key: The Spurs have won 14 of their last 15 home meetings with the Nuggets.  They are 33-10 at home this season as well.  This team has too big of a home-court edge to only be laying 3 points at home tonight with their season on the line.  I don’t trust the Nuggets to show up because they aren’t used to close out games and know that they have a home game if needed in Game 7.  Popovich will have his guys ready tonight.  Take San Antonio. 

7* Jazz/Rockets Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 213 

The Key: The Rockets and Jazz have combined for 212 or fewer points in eight of their last 11 meetings, including three of four meetings in this series.  The longer the series goes on, the more familiar they become with one another, making points harder to come by.  These are two of the best defensive teams in the playoffs and it’s showing in this series.  The UNDER is 6-0-1 in Rockets’ last 7 games off a loss.  The UNDER is 7-2-1 in Rockets last 10 home games.  The UNDER is 20-8-1 in Rockets last 29 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Philadelphia Phillies -122 

The Key: The Phillies have lost 3 straight and 5 of 6.  They’ll be hungry to get back in the win column tonight against the rival Mets after losing the first 2 games of this series to them.  They want to avoid the sweep.  They definitely have the advantage on the rubber tonight with Vincent Velasquez over Jason Vargas.  Velasquez sports a 2.70 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in his 3 starts this year, while Vargas sports a 6.75 ERA and 2.14 WHIP in his 3 starts.  Vargas is only averaging 3.1 innings per start.  The Mets are 14-36 in their last 50 games as a home underdog of +100 or higher.  New York is 3-11 in its lsat 14 home games off 2 or more consecutive wins.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* NBA Total of the Week on Magic/Raptors UNDER 206 

The Key: The UNDER is 4-0 in the first 4 games in this series.  The Raptors and Magic haven’t once topped 205 combined points, and we have a 206-point total for Game 5 here.  They’ve combined for 205, 193, 191 and 192 points in the first 4 games, respectively.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Pittsburgh Pirates -105 

The Key: Trevor Williams was one of the best starters in baseball after the All-Star Break last year.  Williams has picked up where he left off, going 1-0 with a 2.59 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 4 starts in 2019.  He’s better than Luke Weaver, who is 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 4 starts this year.  We are getting Williams and a Pirates at a cheap price at home here Tuesday night.  Pittsburgh is 7-0 after 2 straight games where they committed no errors this season.  The Pirates are 11-3 after allowing 10 runs or more over the last 2 years.  Take Pittsburgh. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Colorado Rockies -116 

The Key: The Rockies have righted the ship following a disastrous start to the season.  They are 6-1 in their last 7 games overall and are laying a small price at home here to the Nationals.  Tyler Anderson has never lost to the Nationals, going 1-0 (3-0 money line) with a 2.50 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Jeremy Hellickson is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against Colorado.  He has never pitched at Coors Field though, and his great numbers to this point have him getting too much respect from the books.  Take Colorado. 

7* Bucks/Pistons Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit +13 

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the Pistons tonight.  They go from being 9-point home dogs in Game 3 to 13-point dogs in Game 4, a 4-point adjustment.  This despite the fact that Blake Griffin is expected to play tonight.  The Pistons won’t go down without a fight here.  They have been tough at home all season with a 26-16 record.  The Pistons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Take Detroit. 

7* Raptors/Magic Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Orlando +5.5 

The Key: The Magic showed a lot of heart in Game 3.  They managed to only lose by 5 despite shooting just 36.2% as a team.  In fact, they’ve kept this series close despite not once shooting better than 40% from the field in a single game.  I have to think they are primed for their best shooting performance of the series yet here in Game 4, which should allow them to stay within this 5.5-point spread and possibly win outright.  Orlando is 12-4 ATS in home games when revenging a loss this season.  The Magic are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall, and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.  Take Orlando. 

6* Sunday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Twins/Orioles OVER 9 

The Key: Both bullpens have to be gassed after the Twins and Orioles played a high-scoring double-header yesterday.  The Twins won 6-5 in Game 1 and 16-7 in Game 2.  I think we see more than 9 combined runs again today with two terrible starting pitchers and two tired bullpens.  Kyle Gibson sports a 7.36 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in his 3 starts this season for the Twins, while Dylan Bundy sports a 7.79 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in his 4 starts for the Orioles.  Gibson is 4-2 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts against the Orioles.  Bundy is 0-3 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against the Twins.  Baltimore is 9-0 OVER in home games against a bullpen that averages 3.2 or more innings this season, and 9-0 OVER against good power teams that average 1.25 or more HR’s/game this season.  Take the OVER. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Washington Nationals -1.5 (-124) 

The Key: The Washington Nationals lost Game 1 in Miami yesterday to the lowly Marlins, who are just 5-15 on the season.  They won’t be losing two in a row to this team, not with the advantage they have on the rubber tonight.  Max Scherzer is the best pitcher in baseball.  He sports a 3.33 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in his 4 starts this season.  Scherzer is 12-3 with a 2.98 ERA in 19 lifetime starts against the Marlins, including 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in his last 3, yielding just 1 earned run in 21 innings.  Jose Urena is 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 4 starts for the Marlins this year.  Scherzer is 15-1 in road games against an NL team that hits .255 or worse over the last 3 seasons, and the Nationals are winning by 3.1 RPG on average.  The Nationals are 7-0 in Scherzer’s last 7 starts against the Marlins.  Take Washington on the Run Line. 

7* Nuggets/Spurs Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio -3.5 

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs have basically dominated this series.  They have led for basically 11 of the 12 quarters played, with the only exception when Jamal Murray went off for 21 points in the 4th quarter of Game 2 to lead the Nuggets to a comeback victory.  The experience and coaching of the Spurs is winning out over the youth, talent and inexperience of the Nuggets thus far.  Expect more of the same tonight.  After all, the Nuggets are now 0-14 SU in their last 14 trips to San Antonio.  This is a short number for the Spurs to have to cover at home given that trend.  Take San Antonio. 

7* Raptors/Magic Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -5 

The Key: The Toronto Raptors dominated the Magic like they should in Game 2 with a 111-82 victory.  They made their statement, especially Kyle Lowry, who got much more aggressive after failing to score in Game 1.  Look for them to build on that performance and regain control of this series with a win and cover in Game 3 in Orlando Friday.  Bets on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points in a game between two teams that score 102 or more PPG after 42 or more games, after allowing 90 points or less are 71-31 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Toronto. 

7* Warriors/Clippers Game 3 *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +9 

The Key: The Clippers showed they weren’t going to back down in Game 2.  They erased a 31-point deficit and won outright.  The Warriors were deflated like they’ve never been before in the locker room after the game.  And a big reason for that is the season-ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins.  I think they suffer a hangover effect here from that stunning loss and injury.  I love the price we are getting on the rejuvenated Clippers at home tonight as the Warriors would have to beat them by double-digits to cover this spread.  Golden State is 10-23 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  Los Angeles is 27-10 ATS after allowing 105 points or more in 5 straight games this season.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Diego Padres -162 

The Key: The San Diego Padres come in hungry for a victory after losing 3 straight.  And they come in rested after having yesterday off, while the Reds finished up their series in Los Angeles with their 4th straight loss yesterday.  The Reds are now 1-8 on the road this season.  The Padres have the advantage on the rubber tonight with Chris Paddack, who has emerged on the scene in 2019 with a 1.29 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 3 starts.  Tanner Roark sports a 4.30 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 3 starts for the Nationals.  He is 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA in his last 2 stats against the Padres, yielding 9 earned runs in 11 innings.  The Reds are 1-10 off a loss this season.  The Padres are 10-1 in their last 11 games following an off day.  Take San Diego. 

6* Pistons/Bucks Game 2 *CA$H COW* on Detroit +15 

The Key: Rarely will you see a 15-point spread in the playoffs.  I have to take the points here because of the price.  The public doesn’t want to bet the Pistons without Blake Griffin, but keep in mind they made the playoffs without Griffin down the stretch by winning some must-win games.  And whatever they have to give they will be putting on the court tonight to try and get a win in Game 2.  Look for the Bucks to just go through he motions after everything came easy for them in Game 1.  Bets on dogs of 10 or more points revenging 2 straight loss of 10 points or more, off a loss by 10 points or more to a division opponent are 55-23 ATS since 1996.  Take Detroit. 

7* Pacers/Celtics Game 2 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 207 

The Key: After combining for just 158 points in an 84-74 victory by the Celtics in Game 1, it’s going to take a lot for these teams to make up 49 points, which is what they’ll have to do to reach this 207-point total.  I think there’s value with the UNDER in Game 2 as well.  Indiana is 34-13 UNDER when playing against a team with a winning record in the 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 26-8-1 in Pacers last 35 road games against at team that wins more than 60% of its home games.  The UNDER is 21-10 in the last 31 meetings in Boston.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Wednesday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Royals/White Sox UNDER 8.5 

The Key: Both Brad Keller and Lucas Giolito have had tremendous success in their careers against the opposing lineups tonight.  Keller is 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 5 lifetime starts against the White Sox, while Giolito is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against the Royals.  Keller has yielded only 2 earned runs in 19 innings in his last 3 starts against Chicago.  The wind is expected to be blowing in from center today as well.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Thunder/Blazers Game 2 *BAILOUT* on OVER 223 

The Key: The Blazers have to go smaller without Jusuf Nurkic.  This has been an OVER series during the regular season.  The Thunder and Blazers combined for 250, 231, 237 and 220 pints in their 4 meetings.  That’s an average of 234.5 PPG.  After a low-scoring affair in Game 1, I look for both offenses to get unleashed tonight.  The Thunder shot just 39.8% overall and 15.2% from 3-point range in Game 1.  The Blazers weren’t much better at 41.9% overall.  I can’t foresee both teams being shut down like that again.  I think it was just playoff nerves in Game 1, and both teams will relax and there will be a lot more offensive flow in Game 2 tonight.  Portland is 12-1 OVER in home games against teams that allow 106 or more PPG in the 2nd half of the season this season.  Take the OVER. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago Cubs -133 

The Key: The Cubs have the advantage on the mound tonight with Jose Quintana over Pablo Lopez.  They have the advantage in all other aspects of this game as well.  Quintana pitched 7 shutout innings while striking out 11 batters in his last start against the Pirates.  He gave up one run in 6 innings in his last start against the Marlins.  Lopez is 1-2 with a 6.60 ERA in 3 starts this year for Miami.  The Marlins are 1-8 in Lopez’s last 9 starts.  Take Chicago. 

7* Clippers/Warriors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles +13.5 

The Key: The Clippers shot 40.4% in Game 1 compared to 49.5% for the Warriors.  That includes 36.7% from 3 compared to 46.7% for the Warriors.  Yet they still only lost by 17.  A slight adjustment in shooting percentage in their favor would certainly allow them to stay within 13.5 points tonight, and I think that is very likely.  The Warriors are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games off a win by more than 10 points.  The road team is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Angels -122 

The Key: The Angels have a big advantage on the rubber tonight over the Rangers.  Trevor Cahill sports a 3.50 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 3 starts this season.  Cahill is 11-4 with a 3.22 ERA in 20 lifetime starts against the Rangers.  Shelby Miller is 0-1 with a 9.52 ERA in 2 starts this season for the Rangers.  Miller is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Angels.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -142 

The Key: The Dodgers have done enough losing of late they are tired of it.  They have lost 6 in a row.  Enough is enough.  They’ll be hungry for a win today and take advantage of their edge on the rubber.  Ross Stripling is 0-1 with a 3.78 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 3 starts this year, and he sports a 2.32 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Stripling shut out the Brewers in his only lifetime start against them.  Jhoulys Chacin is 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in 3 starts for the Brewers this year.  He is 12-10 with a 4.32 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 27 lifetime starts against the Dodgers, who are very familiar with him, and that will be a huge advantage for them.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* Thunder/Blazers *Total* Annihilator on OVER 225 

The Key: The Blazers have to go small ball now without Jusuf Nurkic.  That will lend itself to more higher-scoring games in this series with the Thunder, who already like small ball and playing at a fast pace.  And this has been an OVER series this season.  The Thunder and Blazers have combined for 250, 231, 237 and 220 points in their last 4 meetings this season, respectively.  That’s an average of 234.5 PPG.  And we have a 225-point total for Game 1, so I like the price we are getting with the OVER.  Portland is 9-0 OVER in its last 9 home games against teams that average 88 or more shots per game.  The Blazers are 12-1 OVER in their last 13 home games against good offensive teams that score 106 or more PPG.  Take the OVER. 

7* Pacers/Celtics Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -7 

The Key: The Boston Celtics didn’t have the regular season they expected.  But they’re now in the playoffs, and it’s time to turn on the after burners.  They won 4 of their final 5 games during the regular season to clinch home-court advantage over the Pacers, including their 117-97 win in Indiana on April 5th that sealed the deal.  The Celtics are 3-1 against the Pacers this season with their only loss coming by a single point at Indiana.  Their 3 wins have come by a combined 49 points, or by an average of 16.3 PPG.  This is a tired Pacers team that doesn’t have much left in the tank without Victor Oladipo.  The Pacers are just 2-10 SU in their last 12 road games.  Indiana is 1-8 ATS in road games revenging a home loss this season.  Boston is 10-1 ATS in home playoff games over the last 2 years.  The Celtics are 11-1 ATS off an upset win as a road dog over the last 2 seasons.  Take Boston. 

6* Brewers/Dodgers MLB *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -112 

The Key: The Dodgers will be hungry for a victory after losing 5 in a row coming in.  I think we are getting them at a cheap price due to that 5-game skid.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* Magic/Raptors Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -8.5 

The Key: The Toronto Raptors closed the season by going 7-1 SU & 6-2 ATS in their final 8 games overall.  They are playoff-ready now, used to having Marc Gasol in the lineup and playing to his strengths.  Look for them to take care of the Magic by double-digits in Game 1 of this series, similar to what they just did on April 1st when they beat the Magic 121-109 at home as 6.5-point favorites.  But now the Raptors are a full strength basically, and this is a real title contender now.  The Raptors are 8-0 ATS in April home games over the last 2 seasons.  The home team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Toronto. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -142 

The Key: The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost 4 in a row and will be hungry for a victory at home Friday night.  They send uber-talented Julio Urias to the mound and his 3.11 ERA in 2 starts this year.  Urias sports a 1.64 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Brewers.  Corbin Burnes sports a 9.90 ERA in 2 starts for the Brewers this season, and he has already yielded 6 home runs in 10 innings.  The Dodgers will feast on him today.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* AL East Game of the Month on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+101) 

The Key: The Boston Red Sox will wipe the slate clean and get going today.  They have opened 3-9 in defense of their World Series title, but 11 of those 12 games were on the road.  And after getting their rings on Tuesday, they had Wednesday off to get over the distraction.  Look for them to come back focused and hungry Thursday against the Blue Jays.  Nathan Eovaldi owns the Blue Jays, going 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Aaron Sanchez has lost his last 2 starts against the Red Sox while yielding 8 earned runs in 12 innings for a 6.00 ERA.  Boston is 21-3 revenging a loss as a home favorite over the last 2 seasons and winning by 2.2 RPG.  Take Boston on the Run Line. 

7* NBA Eastern Conference Game of the Month on Atlanta Hawks -1 

The Key: No analysis Wednesday. 

6* NBA Western Conference *CA$H COW* on San Antonio Spurs -14 

The Key: No analysis Wednesday. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals +100 

The Key: No analysis Wednesday. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Diego Padres -118 

The Key: Joey Lucchesi is an up-and-comer who is coming off a great rookie season last year and simply building off that this year.  Luchesi is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in his 2 starts this season with 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.  Lucchesi is 2-0 with a 2.20 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against the Giants.  Derek Holland was awful last year and that has carried over into 2019 as he’s 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in two starts.  Holland is 1-3 with a 6.29 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts against the Padres.  San Diego is 7-0 in its last 7 against a left-handed starters.  The Giants are 15-37 in their last 52 games overall. San Francisco is 1-7 in its last 8 home games.  The Giants are 1-6 in Holland’s last 7 starts.  Take San Diego. 

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit Pistons -10.5 

The Key: The Pistons have dropped 4 straight and now are just one game ahead of both the Heat and Hornets for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  They own the tiebreaker over the Heat, so they’re good there, but they don’t over the Hornets.  And the Hornets close with the Cavs and Magic, so they are likely to go 2-0.  That makes these must-win games for the Pistons.  Tonight they host the Grizzlies, who are sitting basically every important player on their team.  They have 8 guys on the injury report missing this game.  You have to think with the importance of this game, Blake Griffin will be making his return tonight for the Pistons, and they’ll be at full strength.  The Pistons are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 home games.  The Grizzlies are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 against the Eastern Conference.  Take Detroit.

7* NCAA Tournament Game of the Year on Texas Tech +1.5 

The Key: This one is as easy as it gets.  Texas Tech has won 4 of its 5 NCAA Tournament games by double-digits against better completion than Virginia has faced.  And the only exception was beating Gonzaga by 6.  Virginia has trailed in the 2nd half in 4 of their 5 games.  It’s been a minor miracle that they are even here.  Texas Tech is simply too good, too deep and too disciplined to let them off the hook tonight.  The Red Raiders have won 14 of their last 15 games overall while going 13-2 ATS in the process.  Take Texas Tech. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Oakland A’s -131 

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles are who we thought they were.  After a surprising start to the season, the Orioles just lost all 3 games at home to the Yankees and gave up 14 home runs, the second-most ever by a home team in a 3-game series.  Now it’s Andrew Cashner’s turn to get lit up to the A’s.  Cashner is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 2 starts this year.  Cashner is 1-1 with a 7.22 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against the A’s.  Marco Estrada is 9-3 with a 3.41 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 17 lifetime starts against the Orioles. Estrada sports a 2.76 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 3 starts for the A’s this season spanning 16 1/3 innings.  The A’s are 40-14 in their last 54 against a team with a losing record.  The Orioles are 18-44 in their last 62 home games.  Take Oakland. 

7* Dodgers/Rockies ESPN *BAILOUT* on Colorado +145

The Key: No Analysis Sunday.

6* Clippers/Warriors NBA *CA$H COW* on Los Angeles +11.5

The Key: No Analysis Sunday.

6* Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Minnesota Timberwolves +6.5

The Key: No Analysis Sunday.

7* Auburn/Virginia *HEAVY HITTER* on Auburn +6 

The Key: I’ve been a lot more impressed with Auburn than Virginia down the stretch.  The Tigers have won 12 straight games, including their three consecutive victories over three blue bloods in Kentucky, UNC and Kansas.  Virginia barely escaped with wins over Purdue and Oregon the last 2 rounds.  And if they win tonight, it won’t be by more than 6 points.  Take Auburn. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on St. Louis Cardinals -118 

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Cardinals as small home favorites today against the San Diego Padres.  The Cardinals will want to avenge their upset 3-5 loss from Game 1.  They should get their revenge behind Michael Wacha, who has never lost to the Padres, going 3-0 with a 2.32 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against them.  Take St. Louis. 

6* Rangers/Angels MLB *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -134 

The Key: The Angels opened the season with 6 straight road games and it did not go well for them as they went 1-5.  I think they will win their home opener tonight against Texas and will lay the price with them.  The Rangers are coming off two straight upset wins over the Astros and are in a letdown spot.  Edinson Volquez has a 9.00 ERA after yielding 4 earned runs and 10 base runners in 4 innings to the Cubs in his opening start. Volquez is 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.11 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against the Angels.  Matt Harvey pitched 6 solid innings allowing 2 earned runs in a 6-2 win at Oakland in his first start with the Angels.  Texas is 7-23 in its last 30 games off 2 straight upset home wins as underdogs against division opponents.  Los Angeles is 38-15 as a favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 2 seasons.  The Rangers are 1-7 in Volquez’s last 8 road starts.  The Angels are 6-1 in the last 7 home games.  The Angels are 5-0 in their last 5 home meetings with the Rangers.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* NBA Game of the Week on Cleveland Cavaliers +9.5 

The Key: The Kings won’t be too interested tonight in beating the Cavaliers, let alone beating them by 10-plus points to cover this spread.  This number is too high.  Especially when you consider the Cavs are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 when playing on 2 days’ rest.  The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Cleveland. 

6* Lipscomb/Texas NIT *CA$H COW* on Texas -1 

The Key: The Texas Longhorns have beaten Colorado and TCU by a combined 27 points in their last 2 games coming in.  Lipscomb had to have a pair of comeback wins over NC State and Wichita State to get here.  I have no doubt the Longhorns are the better team in this matchup and that will show on the court Thursday night as they take down the NIT title.  Take Texas. 

7* Rockets/Clippers NBA TV *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +1 

The Key: The Clippers come in on 2 days’ rest and playing their best basketball of the season.  They have won 13 of their last 15 games overall.  The Rockets will be playing the second of a back-to-back.  The Rockets are coming off 3 straight wins and covers, but they are just 1-11 ATS in their last 12 off 3 straight covers as a favorite.  The Clippers have won both meetings with the Rockets this season and are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -1.5 (-135) 

The Key: Gerrit Cole is a legit Cy Young candidate in the American League.  The Astros have a big edge with him on the mound over Mike Minor of the Rangers tonight.  Cole is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against the Rangers, and his teams are 5-0 in those games.  Minor is 1-2 with a 4.93 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against the Astros.  Cole has a 1.50 ERA in his lone start this year, while Minor has an 11.56 ERA after yielding 6 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 4-12 loss to the Cubs in his first start this season.  Take Houston on the Run Line. 

6* Celtics/Heat NBA TV *CA$H COW* on Miami +1 

The Key: Miami wants to avenge Monday’s 105-110 loss in Boston in this home and home situation.  The Heat get the Celtics at home tonight and will have their revenge.  The Heat are 25-12 ATS as underdogs this season.  Miami is 5-0-1 ATS in its last 6 games off a loss.  The Heat are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 against Atlantic division teams.  The Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games off a win.  The Heat are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take Miami. 

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings +5.5 

The Key: The situation is a great one for the Kings tonight.  They want to avenge their 108-119 road loss at Houston on March 30th just a few days ago.  They actually led that game entering the 4th quarter before folding in the closing minutes.  They get the Rockets at home this time around, and the Kings are 23-15 SU & 24-13-1 ATS at home this year.  The Kings are 27-13-1 ATS in their last 41 games playing on one day of rest.  The Rockets are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games off an ATS win.  The Kings are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against a team that wins more than 60% of their games.  The home team is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.  Take Sacramento. 

6* Texas/TCU NIT *CA$H COW* on Texas +2 

The Key: You can bet Texas wants to avenge its two regular season losses to TCU.  The Longhorns lost by 4 on the road and by 13 at home.  They will get their revenge and win Game 3 tonight in the NIT semifinals.  I was very impressed with their 68-55 win over Colorado in the quarterfinals in which they led by 20-plus and were in control the entire way.  Shaka Smart is 15-3 ATS after playing 2 consecutive games as a home favorite as the coach of Texas.  The Longhorns are 7-1 ATS after playing 2 consecutive home games this season.  TCU is 6-14 ATS in Big 12 games this season.  Take Texas. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on New York Mets -124 

The Key: The Mets will be one of the most improved teams in the big leagues this season.  They bolstered their lineup and their bullpen, which were their two biggest weaknesses.  And they already have one of the best rotations in baseball.  They have opened 3-1 while averaging 6.2 runs per game.  I think we are getting them at a cheap price today against one of the worst teams in baseball in the Marlins, who are hitting .225 and scoring 3.4 RPG this season.  And they have one of the worst rotations in baseball.  Jason Vargas went 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his 2 starts against the Marlins last season, yielding only 2 earned runs and 8 base runners in 11 innings.  Jose Urena was rocked for 6 runs and 10 base runners in 4 2/3 innings in his first start of the season against the Rockies.  The Mets are 6-1 in Vargas’ last 7 starts.  The Marlins are 6-13 in Urena’s last 19 home starts.  Take New York. 

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -129 

The Key: The Boston Red Sox lost 3 of their 4 games in their opening series at Seattle.  They will be playing with a sense of urgency tonight in Oakland to try and get on track after winning the World Series last year.  David Price was their World Series hero and went 16-7 with a. 3.58 ERA during the regular season.  Price is 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against the A’s.  Aaron Brooks hasn’t thrown a meaningful pitch in the majors since 2015.  He pitched just 3 times in the majors last season, all late in one-sided games.  Boston is 13-1 in road games after a combined score of 15 or more runs over the last 2 seasons.  The Red Sox are 9-1 in their last 10 Monday games.  Take Boston.