6* American League *CA$H COW* on Minnesota Twins +125 

The Key: The Twins lost 2-1 to the Mariners in Game 1 of this series last night.  They will bounce back with a win here Saturday.  Wade LeBlanc starts for the Mariners and is one of the worst starters in the big leagues.  Jake Odorizzi has proven to be a great addition for the Twins this offseason.  He has gone 3-2 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 10 starts, including 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  He pitched 6 shutout innings against the Mariners in his last start against them on May 14th.  The Twins are 7-3 in their last 10 road games.  The Twins are 9-4 in their last 13 meetings in Seattle.  Take Minnesota. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -11.5 

The Key: No Chris Paul, no chance for the Rockets.  They suffered a huge blow when he hurt his hamstring in the final seconds of Game 5 and has now been ruled out for Game 6.  He is the heart and soul of this team.  He is also a massive part of their game plan.  Mike D’Antoni staggers the minutes of Paul and Harden to make sure that at least one of them is on the court at all times.  Now the onus will be on Eric Gordon to take over Paul’s role, but he’s much better working off the ball.  And the Rockets will have to go deeper into their thin bench.  Houston knows it has a home game in its hip pocket coming up in Game 7, so I don’t expect the Rockets to be giving 100% trying to win Game 6.  It’s do or die for the Warriors, so they should come out like gangbusters and cover this 11.5-point spread with ease.  Take Golden State. 

7* Celtics/Cavs Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -7 

The Key: Home-court advantage has made all the difference in this series thus far, and I don’t see that changing in Game 6 in this do-or-die game for Cleveland.  The Celtics know they still have a home game in their back pocket, which is huge considering they are 10-0 at home in these playoffs.  They can afford to not show up tonight.  The Cavs don’t have the same luxury.  The Cavs are 7-0 at home in the playoffs, while the Celtics are 1-6 on the road.  The home team is 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings in this series with an average win of 18 PPG.  Take Cleveland. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Mets -123 

The Key: The New York Mets have a big edge on the mound tonight with Noah Syndergaard over Junior Guerra.  Syndergaard is 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 10 starts this season, including 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA in 3 road starts.  Syndergaard has never lost to the Brewers, going 2-0 with a minuscule 0.49 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Guerra was terrible last season and while he has held his own thus far in 2018, it’s not going to last.  He is 1-2 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 4 home starts this year.  The Mets are 12-4 on the road with a total of 7.0 to 8.5 this season.  New York is 11-2 in Syndergaard’s last 13 starts vs. NL Central teams.  The Brewers are 1-5 in Guerra’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Take New York. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 219.5 

The Key: I’m surprised the books keep setting the number too high in this series.  The UNDER is 3-1 and we’ve seen lower scoring games as the series has gone on.  Houston beat Golden State 95-92 for only 187 combined points in Game 4.  Now this total is 219.5 for Game 5, which is 32.5 points more than their Game 4 result.  They will likely score more points than in Game 4, but they won’t reach 220 or more.  These teams are very familiar with each other now and defense is winning out.  It has become an isolation series as neither team is able to move the ball on offense.  That results in longer possessions and contested shots at the end of the shot clock frequently.  Houston is 13-2 UNDER when the line is +3 to -3 this season.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 games overall.  The UNDER is 38-18 in Rockets last 56 games overall.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Rockets last 5 Thursday games.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Red Sox/Rays AL East *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay +120 

The Key: The Tampa Bay Rays will be hungry to avoid the sweep tonight after losing the first two games of this series to the Red Sox, and three straight overall.  They had won six straight prior to this skid.  Blake Snell has been the Rays’ best starter this year and is capable of shutting down the Red Sox.  Snell is 5-3 with a 3.07 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 10 starts this season, including 2-1 with a 1.07 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 4 home starts.  Rock Porcello is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.673 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  This will be the 4th time that Porcello has faced the Rays already this season, which is a big advantage for the home team having already seen him 3 times.  Snell has held the Red Sox to just 2 earned runs in 13 innings in his 2 starts against them in 2018.  The Rays are 6-2 in their last 8 games after losing the first 2 games of a series.  The Rays are 8-2 in Snell’s last 10 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Tampa Bay. 

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 206.5 

The Key: Boston will control the tempo playing at home tonight just as they did in Games 2 and 3.  The Celtics and Cavs combined for just 191 points in Game 1 and 201 points in Game 2.  Now we’re seeing a total of 206.5 in Game 5, which I believe to be too high here.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  The UNDER is 14-6 in Cavs last 20 games following an ATS win.  The UNDER is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Boston.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Braves/Phillies NL East *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia -116 

The Key: The Phillies have lost 7 of their 11 meetings with the Braves this season.  They won’t get to play them again until September 20th, so they want some revenge here.  They also want to end with a series win after splitting the first two games.  Jake Arrieta will get the job done for them tonight.  Arrieta is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 8 starts this year, including 2-0 with a 1.07 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 4 home starts.  He is also 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Atlanta.  Luis Gohara will be making his first start for the Braves this season.  He has made three previous appearances out of the bullpen, but he cannot be expected to go deep into this game, which favors the Phillies getting into the Braves’ bullpen earlier.  The Braves are 1-4 in Gohara’s last 5 starts.  The Phillies are 14-3 in their last 17 home games vs. a left-handed starter.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +9 

The Key: The Houston Rockets will put forth a much better effort in Game 4 than they did in Game 3.  It was mind-blowing how poorly they played, and the Warriors took advantage.  But the Warriors will likely not have Andre Iguodala tonight, a key piece in their Hampton’s 5 lineup.  Buckets will be easier to come by for Houston without having Iguodala’s presence on the defensive end tonight.  And the Rockets surely won’t shoot as poorly as they 39% they shot in Game 3 as they continued to miss layup after layup.  They made great adjustments in Game 2, and I expect the same for Game 4 tonight.  Take Houston. 

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -1.5 (-125) 

The Key: The Houston Astros have a big edge on the mound tonight with Gerrit Cole over Andrew Suarez. Cole has been lights out in Houston, going 4-1 with a 1.75 ERA and 0.80 WHIP while striking out 93 batters in 61 2/3 innings.  Cole is also 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  Andrew Suarez is 1-3 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 5 starts for the Giants, including 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in his last 2 starts while yielding 9 earned runs, 18 base runners and 3 homers in 10 innings against the Pirates and Reds.  The Astros will be the toughest lineup he has faced yet this season. San Francisco is 3-16 in road games vs. a bullpen with a WHIP of 1.15 or better over the last 2 seasons. They are losing by 3.1 RPG on average.  Take Houston on the Run Line. 

7* Celtics/Cavs Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -7 

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers are 35-13 at home this season, including 6-1 in the playoffs.  The Boston Celtics have been vulnerable on the road in the playoffs.  They are just 1-5 in their 6 road playoff games.  The Cavs won Game 3 by 30 and should have no problem covering this generous 7-point spread at home tonight to square this series.  Tyronn Lue is 16-5 ATS off a blowout home win by 20 points or more as the coach of the Cavs.  Take Cleveland. 

6* Diamondbacks/Brewers NL *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee +103 

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers should be able to win as home underdogs against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.  It’s shocking that the Diamondbacks are favored considering they are just 1-10 in their last 11 games overall.  This poor stretch is largely due to all the injuries in their lineup.  The Brewers keep winning on the regular and are now 28-19 this season, consistently undervalued.  Chase Anderson is 3-3 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 8 starts this year.  Zack Greinke is 1-2 with a 7.27 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 3 road starts, continuing his career trend of being great at home but sub-par on the road.  Anderson is 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts vs. Arizona.  Greinke is 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. Milwaukee.  Arizona is 3-14 vs. an NL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.25 or better this season.  Milwaukee is 17-4 vs. teams who average 2.75 or fewer extra base hits this season.  Take Milwaukee. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 226 

The Key: Points will be harder to come by as this series goes along and the Rockets and Warriors learn offensive tendencies.  These teams are both better defensively than they get credit for.  Houston is 9-1 UNDER off a combined score of 215 points ormolu in two straight games this season.  The Rockets are 7-0 UNDER in road games off three consecutive home games this season.  The UNDER is 11-1 in Rockets last 12 vs. NBA Pacific division.  The UNDER is 21-10 in Rockets last 31 overall.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Warriors last five games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Indians/Astros ESPN *BAILOUT* on Houston -132 

The Key: The Astros will be able to take down the Indians at home tonight behind Lance McCullers.  The right-hander has been dominant at home in his young career.  McCullers is 14-5 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 32 home starts.  He has gone 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 3 home starts this year.  Carlos Carrasco has allowed 9 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings in his last 2 starts against Houston.  The Astros are 32-14 in their last 46 home games.  The Astros are 56-27 in their last 83 games following a loss.  Take Houston. 

7* Celtics/Cavs Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -6 

The Key: This is a great situation to back the Cavaliers.  They are down 0-2 and returning home for a must-win game.  They will be 100% locked in.  It also helped them having three days off after last playing on Tuesday, especially Lebron James who really needed the rest.  The Cavs should come out like gangbusters tonight.  The Celtics will likely relax knowing that they have a cushion now after keeping their home-court advantage.  And while the Celtics haven’t lost at home in these playoffs, they are just 1-4 on the road with their lone victory coming in overtime.  Take Cleveland. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Pittsburgh Pirates -134 

The Key: The Pittsburgh Pirates have won 8 of their last 10 games overall and are looking to bounce back from a one-run loss to the Padres yesterday.  They should get the job done thanks to their edge on the mound in this game.  Nick Kingham is a nice young prospect for the Pirates.  He is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA and 0.65 WHIP in 2 starts while striking out 16 batters in 12 1/3 innings.  Clayton Richard is 2-5 with a 5.20 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 9 starts for the Padres, including 1-2 with an 8.36 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in 3 road starts.  The Padres are 1-5 in Richard’s last 6 road starts.  San Diego is 5-16 in its last 21 games following a win.  The Pirates are 5-0 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  The Pirates are 19-7 in their last 26 home games.  Take Pittsburgh. 

7* NL Central Game of the Month on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (+100) 

The Key: The Chicago Cubs come into this series with the Reds hungry for a victory after dropping 3 of their last 4 games.  They will win by multiple runs tonight thanks to their edge on the mound.  Jon Lester is 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 8 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in his last 3 starts.  He’ll be opposed by Homer Bailey, who is 1-5 with a 5.59 ERA in 9 starts, 0-4 with a 6.33 ERA in 5 home starts, and 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Bailey sports a 4.53 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 18 lifetime starts against the Cubs.  The Cubs are 9-0 in Lester’s last 9 Friday starts.  Chicago is 27-6 in Lester’s last 33 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Reds are 5-16 in Bailey’s last 21 home starts.  Cincinnati is 5-22 in its last 27 division games.  The Reds are 0-4 in Bailey’s last 4 starts vs. Chicago.  The Cubs are 43-18 in the last 61 meetings.  The Cubs are 11-2 in Lester’s last 13 starts vs. Cincinnati.  Take Chicago on the Run Line. 

7* American League Game of the Month on Toronto Blue Jays -112 

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the Toronto Blue Jays are small home favorites over the Oakland A’s today.  The A’s are in a massive letdown spot in this series with the Blue Jays.  They are coming off back-to-back road series at the Yankees and Red Sox and won’t be nearly as excited to face Toronto.  The A’s are getting way too much respect from oddsmakers in Game 1 of this series.  Andrew Triggs is 3-1 in spite of a 5.31 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 8 starts for the A’s this season.  He’ll be opposed by Aaron Sanchez, who is clearly the better starter at 2-3 with a 4.08 ERA in 8 starts.  The A’s are 1-7 in Triggs’ last 8 starts during Game 1 of a series.  Oakland is 12-27 in its last 39 road games vs. a team with a winning record.  Toronto is 6-0 in Sanchez’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Blue Jays are 11-3 in Sanchez’s last 14 starts during game 1 of a series.  Take Toronto. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -1.5 

The Key: The Houston Rockets will be hungry to even this series and get right back in it.  They did win two out of three against the Warriors during the regular season, so they know they are capable.  And it’s unlikely Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson shoot that well again.  The Warriors are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 games off a win by 10 points or more.  Golden State is also just 4-14 ATS in its last 18 games when playing on one day of rest.  Take Houston. 

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Francisco Giants -145 

The Key: I’ve backed the Giants each of the last two days with success and I’m back on them against against the lowly Cincinnati Reds as they cap off the series sweep.  They have the edge on the mound once again with Andrew Suarez, who is 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 4 starts, and 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Matt Harvey is 0-2 with a 5.04 ERA in 5 starts this season, and 0-1 with a 6.00 WHIP in 3 road starts.  Harvey is on a pitch count right now and will allow the Giants to get into the Reds’ bullpen early.  Harvey has never beaten the Giants, going 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Take San Francisco. 

6* Reds/Giants National League *BAILOUT* on San Francisco -128 

The Key: I cashed in the Giants last night and I’m back on them again tonight at a very generous price at home against one of the worst teams in baseball.  The Reds were getting too much love from the books due to their 6-game winning streak coming into this series.  They continue to get too much love tonight.  They are still just 14-28 on the season.  The Giants came into the series not getting any love after a 1-6 stretch.  And that continues here in Game 2.  I like Ty Black over Tyler Mahle in this one.  Blach gave up only 2 earned runs in 7 innings in his last start against the Reds.  Cincinnati’s best hitter Joey Votto was injured last night and may not play tonight.  The Reds are 13-35 against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.  The Giants are 5-0 in their last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.  Take San Francisco. 

7* NBA Playoffs Game of the Year on Cleveland Cavaliers +1 

The Key: I’m shocked the Cavs aren’t big favorites over the Celtics in Game 2 tonight.  They got their asses kicked in Game 1 and are sure to come back with a big effort tonight.  They made only 4 3-pointers in the game and shot just 15% from distance.  The odds of them shooting anything close to that again from deep are slim to none.  The Cavs will come with a much better game plan after making some adjustments, and they are clearly the more talented team in this series.  That talent will shine through in Game 2 tonight.  The road team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings, and the Cavs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 trips to Boston.  Take Cleveland. 

6* Reds/Giants National League *BAILOUT* on San Francisco -138 

The Key: The San Francisco Giants return home from a brutal 10-game road trip.  They went 1-6 over their final 7 games and will be hungry for a victory Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds.  The Reds are in a letdown spot off a shocking 4-game sweep of the Dodgers and a 6-game winning streak overall.  That’s why we are getting the Giants at a lower price than we should be here.  Chris Stratton has been effective for the Giants this season and should shut down this Reds’ lineup.  Sal Romano is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 3 road starts this year.  The Giants are 8-0 in Stratton’s last 8 starts with a total set of 8 to 8.5.  San Francisco is 7-1 in Stratton’s last 8 home starts.  Cincinnati is 15-41 in its last 56 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  The Reds are still just 16-37 in their last 53 games overall.  Take San Francisco. 

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

The Key: The Houston Rockets are the only team in the NBA that has the goods to beat the Warriors.  They are very similar teams, but the Rockets have the deeper bench and will be able to hang with the Warriors in this series.  I think they take Game 1 tonight in Houston.  They won 2 of 3 meetings with the Warriors during the regular season.  They are hungry for a title and realize this is their best chance since Hakeem Olajuwon.  Houston is 22-8 ATS off a home ATS loss where they won straight up as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.  The Rockets are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games when playing on 3 or more days of rest.  Take Houston. 

6* Sunday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Reds/Dodgers OVER 7.5 

The Key: This total has been set lower than it should be today.  Luis Castillo and Rich Hill have both been awful this year and should get rocked.  Castillo is 2-4 with a 6.47 ERA in 8 starts, and 1-2 with a 7.22 ERA in 5 road starts.  Hill is 1-1 with a 7.11 EREA in 4 starts this year, including 0-1 with a 10.38 ERA in his lsat 3 starts.  The OVER is 4-0 in Hill’s last 4 starts overall.  Take the OVER. 

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -1.5 

The Key: Lebron James and the Cavaliers will prove to be too much for the Celtics in this series, and it starts with Game 1 tonight.  They are extra rested after sweeping the Raptors and will look to continue their dominance of the Celtics in the playoffs.  The Cavs are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a blowout home win by 20 points or more.  That’s a 91% angle backing the Cavs here this afternoon.  Take Cleveland. 

7* MLB Total of the Month on Red Sox/Blue Jays OVER 9 

The Key: We should see plenty of runs tonight between the Red Sox and Blue Jays.  David Price is returning from injury and is 0-3 with an 8.47 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Marco Estrada has struggled all year to the tune of a 5.21 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 7 starts.  Estrada has allowed 12 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Red Sox.  Take the OVER. 

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+105) 

The Key: The Dodgers have lost 4 of their last 5 and will be hungry for a victory here Friday against the Reds.  They should get it with room to spare. Kenta Maeda has pitched well at home this year at 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 3 starts.  Maeda is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his lone lifetime start vs. Cincinnati. Matt Harvey can’t be too motivated after getting traded to the terrible Reds. Harvey has been broken over the last few years.  He is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 4 starts this season.  Harvey is also 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles.  The Dodgers are 10-3 in Maeda’s last 13 home starts.  The Reds are 26-56 in the last 82 meetings.  Take Los Angeles on the Run Line. 

7* Red Sox/Yankees AL East *Total* Annihilator on OVER 9 

The Key: I expect plenty of runs tonight between two of the best offenses in baseball.  The Yankees are scoring 5.7 RPG overall and 6.4 RPG at home.  The Red Sox are scoring 5.5 RPG overall.  C.C. Sabathia has pitched well this year but he’s getting too much respect from oddsmakers with this low total.  And Eduardo Rodriquez sports a 5.29 ERA in 6 starts this year, including a 7.02 ERA in his last 3 outings.  The Yankees are 8-1 OVER as a home favorite of -125 to -175 this season.  New York is 13-2 OVER in home games after scoring 9 runs or more over the last 2 seasons.  The OVER is 6-1 in Rodriquez’s last 7 starts.  The OVER is 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 home starts.  Take the OVER. 

7* 76ers/Celtics Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston +1 

The Key: The Boston Celtics simply do not lose at home.  They have not only gone 7-0 straight up, but also 7-0 against the spread in their last 7 home games.  Now they are home underdogs to the 76ers in Game 5, where they just have to win to cover.  Sign me up.  The Celtics are 10-0 ATS as home underdogs this season.  They are also 10-0 ATS when playing with revenge from a double-digit loss this season.  Couple these trends with the 7-0 home trend and we have a 27-0 angle backing the Celtics.  Take Boston. 

6* Interleague *CA$H COW* on Pittsburgh Pirates -106 

The Key: The Chicago White Sox are a mess right now and cannot be getting this much respect from oddsmakers.  The White Sox are 1-8 in their last 9 games overall.  The Pirates hung 10 runs on them yesterday and have now scored a combined 19 runs over their past two games.  Their bats should stay hot against Reynaldo Lopez, who gave up 5 runs in his last start against the White Sox.  Trevor Williams has been lights out for the Pirates this season.  He is 4-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 7 starts this year, including 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 4 road starts.  The White Sox are 3-14 at home this year, including 1-9 in home day games.  The Pirates are 9-2 in their last 11 interleague games.  Take Pittsburgh. 

7* Pelicans/Warriors Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 228.5 

The Key: The Pelicans and Warriors have combined for 224, 237, 219 and 210 points in games 1-4, respectively.  They have been lower scoring games than oddsmakers have anticipated, and I think there’s a good chance Game 5 stays well UNDER 228.5 points as well.  Bets on the UNDER on road teams where the total is 200 or more, an extremely well rested team playing 5 or less games in 14 days, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a winning team are 67-34 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Washington Nationals -116 

The Key: The Washington Nationals are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall.  They have gotten some key pieces back from injury in their lineup, and their pitching has been lights out.  This is a generous price on the Nationals tonight as small road favorites over the Padres, who are just 13-23 this season.  Jeremy Hellickson sports a 3.00 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 4 starts this year.  He’ll be opposed by Clayton Richard, who is 1-4 with a 6.21 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 7 starts.  The Padres are 2-12 as a home underdog of +100 or higher this season.  San Diego is 5-21 in Richard’s last 26 starts against NL East opponents.  The Padres are 0-6 in Richard’s last 6 starts against the Nationals.  Take Washington. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia Phillies -105 

The Key: The Phillies get the nod tonight due to their edge on the mound.  Zach Eflin was sharp in giving up just one earned runs in 6 innings against the Marlins in his last start.  He has a 1.50 ERA on the season.  Jeff Samardzija is making his way back from injury, and it has been a rocky start to the season.  Samardzija is 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 3 starts this year.  He is also 1-3 with a 9.23 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against Philadelphia.  The Phillies are 10-1 in their last 11 home games off 9 straight games against division opponents.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* Celtics/76ers Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia -6 

The Key: The 76ers have blown late leads in each of the last two games in this series.  They know they are better than Boston and still have hope that they can make this a series.  It starts with a victory in Game 4 tonight.  Philadelphia is 11-2 ATS in home games when playing 4 or less games in 10 days over the last 2 seasons.  The 76ers are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 home games.  Take Philadelphia. 

6* Sunday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Orioles/A’s OVER 9 

The Key: Expect plenty of runs between the Orioles and A’s this afternoon to push this total OVER 9 runs.  Both starting pitchers are terrible.  Alex Cobb has gone 0-3 with a 9.68 ERA and 2.38 WHIP in 4 starts this year for the Orioles.  Andrew Triggs is 2-1 with a 5.20 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 6 starts for the A’s, including 0-0 with a 9.95 ERA and 2.05 WHIP in two home starts.  Oakland is 28-12 in its last 40 home day games.  Baltimore is 37-20 OVER in its last 57 road day games.  The OVER is 10-4 in Orioles last 14 road games.  The OVER is 9-2 in Triggs’ last 11 starts.  Take the OVER. 

7* Warriors/Pelicans Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -6 

The Key: The Golden State Warriors had an uncharacteristic poor shooting night in Game 3 and were blown out by the Pelicans 119-100.  They shot just 38% as a team and 29% from 3-point range.  The chances of them shooting anything close to that poorly in Game 4 are slim to none.  The Pelicans are 2-14 ATS in their last 16 games off an upset win by 15 points or more as a home underdog.  Bets on road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points when revenging a loss where the other team scored 100 points or more against an opponent that’s off a home win where they scored 110 or more points are 32-11 ATS since 1996.  Take Golden State. 

6* Astros/Diamondbacks Interleague *CA$H COW* on Houston -120 

The Key: The Houston Astros didn’t need their bullpen at all last night as Gerrit Cole tossed a complete game shutout in an 8-0 victory.  They likely won’t need their bullpen much in this one either with Charlie Morton on the mound, but it’s nice to know they are fresh.  Morton has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last 2 seasons.  He has been especially good this season, going 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 6 starts with 45 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings.  Zack Greinke has been hittable this season as he’s 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 6 starts.  Morton is 4-1 with a 3.57 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against Arizona, including 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his last 4 starts against the Diamondbacks, yielding just 4 earned runs in 25 1/3 innings.  The Astros are 7-0 in their last 7 road games.  The Diamondbacks are 0-6 in their last 6 interleague games against a right-handed starter.  Take Houston. 

7* Celtics/76ers Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia -8.5 

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers blew a 22-point lead at Boston in Game 2.  I expect them to get up big in Game 3 as well and not relinquish the lead this time playing in front of their home fans.  They know this series is far from over if they handle their business at home these next two games.  I always like backing the team that’s down 0-2, especially when their at home because they usually give their best effort in Game 3 in this situation.  Philadelphia is 8-0 ATS in Saturday home games this season.  The 76ers are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 home games overall.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* Warriors/Pelicans Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on New Orleans +5 

The Key: If the Pelicans are going to win a game in this series, it’s likely to be Game 3 tonight at home.  They were impressive in Game 2 in giving the Warriors all they wanted in a 5-point loss as 11-point underdogs.  Now they are catching 5 points at home tonight, which is too much.  The Pelicans are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.  New Orleans is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 home games.  Golden State is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than 60%.  Take New Orleans. 

6* NL East Game of the Week on Washington Nationals -121 

The Key: The Washington Nationals have been grossly underrated after their 11-16 start to the season.  They have since reeled off 5 straight victories to get to .500 and have a chance to get a winning record here today as they host the Phillies.  They have the clear edge on the mound with Gio Gonzalez, who is 3-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 6 starts, and 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 3 home starts.  Nick Pivetta is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in 6 starts for the Phillies, but 0-0 with a 4.00 ERA in 2 road starts.  Pivetta is 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA in two lifetime starts against Washington.  Gonzalez is 10-7 with a 2.69 ERA in 23 lifetime starts vs. Philadelphia.  The Phillies are 34-71 in their last 105 road games.  Take Washington.

6* A’s/Mariners AL West *BAILOUT* on Oakland -108 

The Key: The A’s have a huge edge on the mound tonight and should be bigger favorites against the Mariners.  Sean Manaea has been virtually unhittable to this point.  He is 4-2 with a 1.03 ERA and 0.62 WHIP in 6 starts this season.  Manaea is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 8 lifetime starts against Seattle.  He held the Mariners to 1 run and 2 hits in 7 innings of a 2-1 victory in Seattle on April 15th in his last start against them.  Wade LeBlanc will be making his season debut for the Mariners tonight and will be on a short leash.  The A’s are 6-0 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.  Oakland is 8-2 in Manaea’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Mariners are 1-4 in their last 5 home games.  Take Oakland. 

7* Cavs/Raptors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -6.5 

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are in a must-win situation already after giving away Game 1.  The Cavaliers’ role players like JR Smith and Kyle Korver got hot from 3-point range and helped stage a comeback from 14 points down.  The Cavs would win in overtime.  I look for the Cavs to relax and the Raptors to be going pedal to the metal in Game 2.  The Cavs are still just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.  The Raptors are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Toronto is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Take Toronto. 

6* Yankees/Astros AL *CA$H COW* on Houston +112 

The Key: It’s rare that you get the opportunity to back the Houston Astros as home underdogs.  We’ll take advantage tonight as they host the New York Yankees.  The head-to-head pitching matchup clearly favors the Astros.  Dallas Keuchel is the Yankees’ killer, going 6-3 with a 1.59 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts against them.  Luis Severino has never beaten the Astros, going 0-2 with a 7.16 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Take Houston. 

7* Jazz/Rockets Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Utah +11 

The Key: Bets against home favorites when leading in a playoff series, a team that wins 75% or more of their games against a team with a winning record are 45-21  ATS since 1996.  The Rockets are 1-10 ATS off 3 consecutive covers as a favorite over the last 2 years.  The price is right to back the Jazz as double-digit underdogs in Game 2 tonight.  Take Utah. 

6* Yankees/Astros AL *CA$H COW* on Houston -160 

The Key: Justin Verlander still hasn’t lost as a member of the Houston Astros.  Verlander is 9-0 with a 1.22 ERA in 11 starts during the regular season with Houston.  He is 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA in 6 starts this season.  Jordan Montgomery isn’t good enough to take hime down.  He’s 2-0 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 5 starts this year as walks have been an issue for him.  Montgomery is 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA in 2 lifetime starts vs. Houston.  Verlander is 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Yankees, yielding just 2 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings.  The Yankees are 0-7 in their last 7 meetings in Houston.  The Astros are 14-2 in Verlander’s last 16 starts.  Take Houston. 

7* Cavs/Raptors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -6.5 

The Key: Toronto has a big rest advantage in Game 1 of this series.  They haven’t played since April 27th, while the Cavs played two days ago on April 29th.  The Cavs were pushed to the brink by the Pacers and needed a Game 7 at home to win that series.  Their 4 wins in that series came by a combined 14 points.  They are clearly more vulnerable than they have been in years’ past.  The Raptors have a huge home-court advantage.  They are 37-7 at home this year and winning by over 10 PPG on average.  They are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.  The Cavs are just 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  Lebron and company are in over their heads here in Game 1.  Take Toronto. 

7* 76ers/Celtics Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 205 

The Key: The 76ers have become an offensive juggernaut.  They have scored 103 or more points in 21 consecutive games now.  They will look to blitz the Celtics in Game 1 of this series to try and take the upper-hand.  They haven’t played in 6 days and will be looking to push the tempo every possession possible.  The Celtics have still managed to be efficient offensively despite their injuries.  They have scored 101 or more points in eight of their last 11 games overall.  The OVER is 11-2 in Boston’s last 13 playoff home games.  The OVER is 7-1 in Celtics last 8 home games overall.  The OVER is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 games when playing on 3 or more days rest.  Take the OVER. 

6* Monday MLB *Mound Mismatch* on Philadelphia Phillies -140 

The Key: The Philadelphia Phillies come in hungry for a win after losing 3 of 4 to the Braves over the weekend.  They won’t be taking the Marlins lightly.  The Marlins are off rare back-to-back wins to improve to just 9-18 this season.  Dan Straily will be making his first start of the season for the Marlins and cannot be expected to pitch past the 5th inning.  Jake Arrieta is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 4 starts this year, and he’s worth laying this price with today.  Arrieta has never lost to the Marlins, going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against them.  Straily sports a 5.35 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against the Phillies.  Take Philadelphia. 

6* Yankees/Angels ESPN *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +100 

The Key: The Los Angeles Angels will be hungry for a victory on ESPN tonight after losing the first 2 games of this series to the Yankees.  I think they have the edge on the mound in this game with Tyler Skaggs over C.C. Sabathia, who will face his stiffest challenge yet tonight.  Skaggs is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 5 starts this year.  The Angels are 6-1 in Skaggs’ last 7 starts.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* Jazz/Rockets Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 206 

The Key: The OVER is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings between the Jazz and Rockets.  They have averaged 216.7 combined points per game in those 7 meetings.  They have combined for at least 213 points in 6 of those 7 meetings.  I think the price is right to back the OVER in Game 1 of this series based on those recent head-to-head results.  Take the OVER. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on San Diego Padres -127 

The Key: The San Diego Padres will get back in the win column today behind rookie sensation Joey Lucchesi.  He has gone 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 5 starts this season.  Jason Vargas will be making his season debut for the Mets tonight.  New York is 18-46 in its last 64 games vs. a starting pitcher who strikes out 5 or more batters per start.  The Mets are 0-5 in their last 5 games following a win.  Take San Diego. 

7* Bucks/Celtics Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -4.5 

The Key: Home-court advantage has meant everything in this series.  The home team is 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in the six games thus far.  I see no reason for that trend to change with everything on the line in this Game 7 tonight.  The Bucks are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.  The Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.  Boston is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games following an ATS loss.  The Celtics are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings, including 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home meetings.  Take Boston. 

7* Thunder/Jazz Game 6 *BAILOUT* on Oklahoma City +6.5 

The Key: The Utah Jazz must be shell-shocked after blowing a 25-point lead in Game 5 when they could have closed out the Thunder.  Now all the pressure is on them, and the Thunder are oozing with confidence after staving off elimination in dramatic fashion.  I think this number is a bit high here getting the Thunder as 6.5-point underdogs given the situation.  They still have the two best players in the series, and Russell Westbrook and Paul George refused to lose by the way they played in the 2nd half of Game 5.  I trust that duo to keep them competitive in Game 6.  The Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take Oklahoma City. 

6* Friday MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-113) 

The Key: The Indians lost Game 1 4-5 to the Mariners last night.  They will come back hungry for a victory here in Game 2 and should have no problem winning by multiple runs with ace Corey Kluber on the mound.  Kluber is 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 5 starts this season.  Kluber is 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Seattle.  Erasmo Ramirez will be making just his 2nd start of the season for the Mariners.  He gave up 5 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings at Texas in his first start on April 22nd.  It won’t go much better for him here against the Indians tonight.  The Mariners are 1-6 in Ramirez’s last 7 starts.  Seattle is 1-7 in Ramirez’s last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Indians are 40-14 in their last 54 home games.  Cleveland is 39-15 in Kluber’s last 54 starts.  The Indians are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line. 

7* Celtics/Bucks Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -4 

The Key: The home team has won every game in this series and has covered all but one.  The lone exception was when the Bucks nearly blew a 16-point halftime lead in Game 4 and won by 2 as 6-point favorites.  Now they are only 4-point favorites in Game 6 with their season on the line, and I think this is a generous price for them tonight.  The Bucks have shot better than 52% in 3 of their last 4 games against the Celtics and have clearly figured out how to score on them, especially at home.  Make it 6 straight wins for the home team in this series tonight with a win and cover by the Bucks.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* AL East *CA$H COW* on Baltimore Orioles -117 

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles will be hungry to stop their losing streak tonight.  They should get it done due to the edge they have on the mound in this one.  Dylan Bundy has pitched like an ace, going 1-2 with a 1.42 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 5 starts with 40 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings.  Chris Archer is 1-1 with a 6.58 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 5 starts for the Rays.  Archer is 5-7 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 16 lifetime starts vs. Baltimore.  Archer has allowed 5 earned runs or more in 3 of his last 4 starts against the Orioles. Tampa Bay is 1-9 after having won 6 or 7 of their last 8 games over the last 2 seasons.  The Orioles are 5-1 in Bundy’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Rays are 0-4 in Archer’s last 4 road starts vs. Orioles.  Take Baltimore. 

7* Jazz/Thunder Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City -3.5 

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder have gone 15-1 in their last 16 home meetings with the Utah Jazz.  They have outscored the Jazz by over 13 PPG in those 16 games.  Now they’re laying only 3.5 points in Game 5 in this do-or-die situation.  I think this is a generous price for the Thunder tonight.  Take Oklahoma City. 

6* Wednesday MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Washington Nationals -151 

The Key: The Washington Nationals have lost 4 straight and will be looking to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Giants today.  Look for them to deliver a win here and stop the bleeding with their ace on the mound.  Max Scherzer continues to be the best starter in baseball.  He is 4-1 with a 1.36 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 5 starts this season with 47 strikeouts in 33 innings.  Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Giants.  Jeff Samardzija will be making just his second start this season.  He is 0-5 with a 6.43 ERA in his last 5 starts against Washington, giving up 20 earned runs in 28 innings.  The Nationals are 6-1 in their last 7 after losing the first 2 games of a series.  Washington is 38-15 in Scherzer’s last 53 starts.  The Giants are 1-4 in Samardzija’s last 5 starts.  Take Washington. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-120) 

The Key: The Miami Marlins are now just 5-17 on the season with 13 of their 17 losses coming by 2 runs or more.  The Dodgers are 7-1 in their last 8 games with 5 of the 7 wins coming by 2 runs or more.  The Dodgers are 53-15 in home games over the last 2 seasons.  The Marlins are 6-22 in their last 28 road games.  Kenta Made has 22 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings pitched this season and clearly has his stuff dialed in.  Dillon Peters is 2-2 with a 6.98 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 4 starts for Miami, including 0-2 with a 15.94 ERA and 2.73 WHIP in 2 road starts.  The Dodgers are 16-5 in Maeda’s last 21 home starts, and 7-1 in Maeda’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Los Angeles on the Run Line. 

7* Bucks/Celtics Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -3.5 

The Key: The Boston Celtics could get a nice boost with the possible return of Marcus Smart for Game 5.  He has missed the entire series, but he has been upgraded to questionable, which means there’s a good chance he plays.  The Celtics haven’t needed him to outplay the Bucks thus far in this series, but his energy and defense could be a big boost as this series returns to Boston for the all-important Game 5.  Boston is 11-2 ATS when revenging a road loss this season.  The Celtics are 18-5 ATS revenging all losses this season.  The Bucks are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.  The Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Bucks.  Take Boston. 

7* Thunder/Jazz Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City +4.5 

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder have their backs against the wall tonight down 2-1 in this series.  Look for them to respond in a big way with an upset victory in Salt Lake City.  Russell Westbrook guaranteed that Ricky Rubio would not have another great game like he did in Game 3 out of nowhere, and I look for a big game from Westbrook in this one.  The Thunder are 35-19 ATS in their last 54 road games revenging a loss of 10 points or more.  Take Oklahoma City. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-120) 

The Key: Walker Buehler is the top prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system.  He gets his chance at a spot start here in place of Rich Hill (blister).  Buehler is 1-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 3 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City.  In 13 innings, he had 16 strikeouts and only 4 walks.  He is up against the Marlins, who are 5-16 and hitting .223 and scoring 3.3 RPG as a team this season.  13 of Miami’s 16 losses have come by 2 runs or more.  The Dodgers are 6-1 in their last 7 games with 5 of the 6 wins coming by 2 runs or more.  The Dodgers are 52-15 in home games over the last 2 seasons.  Los Angeles is 40-12 in its last 52 games vs. a left-handed starter.  Miami is 6-21 in its last 27 road games.  The Mariners are 1-6 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.  Take Los Angeles on the Run Line. 

7* NBA 1st Round Total of the Year on Raptors/Wizards UNDER 218.5 

The Key: The price is right to back the UNDER in this game between the Raptors and Wizards.  The over is 3-0 through the first 3 games, which has forced oddsmakers to set a total higher than it should be for Game 4 knowing that the public will be betting the over again.  The total was only 213.5 exactly for the first two games in this series, and now it’s 218.5 for Game 4, a 5-point adjustment.  As a series goes on teams get more familiar with one another and that favors defense.  Both teams have shot lights out thus far, but the points won’t be as easy to come by in Game 4.  Washington is 10-2 UNDER after scoring 105 points or more in 3 straight games this season.  Bets on the UNDER on road teams where the total is 210 to 219.5 a good team that outscores their opponents by 3 or more points per game, after 4 straight games where both teams scored 100 points or more are 40-13 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+120) 

The Key: It has been free money this season fading the Marlins on the Run Line.  The Marlins are just 5-15 this season with 12 of their 15 losses coming by 2 runs or more.  Junior Guerra is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in his 2 starts this season and should also shut down this weak Marlins lineup.  Caleb Smith is 0-2 with a 6.90 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 4 starts for the Marlins this year.  Take Milwaukee on the Run Line. 

6* Saturday MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Tampa Bay Rays -130 

The Key: The Tampa Bay Rays are playing well.  They are 3-1 in their last 4 games and have scored a combined 22 runs in those contests.  Blake Snell finished strong last season, had a great spring training, and is off to a great start this season.  Snell is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 4 starts with 26 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings.  Snell is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Kyle Gibson is a below-average starter in this league.  And Gibson is 1-4 with a 7.05 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. Tampa Bay.  The Twins are 2-8 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of less than 40%.  The Rays are 7-1 in Snell’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Tampa Bay. 

7* Blazers/Pelicans Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland +7.5 

The Key: This line suggest that the Portland Trail Blazers will just pack it in after starting down 0-3 in this series.  But I highly doubt that will be the case.  The price is right to back them as 7.5-point dogs in Game 4.  They were only 4-point dogs in Game 3, so this is a 3.5-point adjustment.  It’s enough to warrant a wager on the Blazers here Saturday.  Bets against home favorites who have beaten the spread by 54 or more points in their last 10 games against an opponent that went under the total by 48 or more points in their last 10 games are 42-13 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Portland. 

7* Celtics/Bucks Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 205.5 

The Key: The Bucks shot 59.7% while the Celtics shot 53.3% in Game 2.  That’s not going to happen again.  It was a high scoring game and it made the oddsmakers go from setting totals of 199 in Games 1 and 2 to 205.5 in Game 3.  That’s a 6.5-point adjustment and the reason that the price is right now to back the UNDER in Game 3.  The UNDER is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in Milwaukee.  Boston is 11-2 UNDER in Friday road games over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER. 

6* AL West *CA$H COW* on Texas Rangers -115 

The Key: Texas had yesterday off while Seattle lost its 3rd straight game to Houston, which is a nice rest advantage for the Rangers.  The Mariners have scored 2 runs or fewer in 5 consecutive games.  Mike Minor resurrected his career in Kansas City last year, and he’s pitching well thus far in 2018.  He is 1-1 with a 4.59 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 3 starts, including 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Minor sports a 1.29 ERA in one lifetime start vs. Seattle.  Felix Hernandez is a shell of his former self.  He gave up 6 runs in 3 1/3 innings in his last start against Texas.  Hernandez is 2-2 with a 5.49 ERA in 4 starts this season, including 1-1 with a 10.24 ERA in 2 road starts.  Seattle is 3-13 after batting .200 or worse over a 3-game span over the last 2 seasons.  The Rangers are 11-3 in their last 14 games following an off day.  Take Texas. 

6* Red Sox/Angels AL *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -105 

The Key: The Los Angeles Angels will be hungry to avoid the sweep by the Red Sox after getting embarrassed in the first two games of this series by a combined score of 19-1.  Look for them to get their bats going against the erratic Eduardo Rodriquez.  He faced the Angels once in his career, and it did not go well as he gave up 7 earned runs and 9 base runners in 1 2/3 innings of an 11-1 loss.  Nick Tropeano will be making his 2nd start this season.  His first was a gem as he pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings in a 7-1 win at Kansas City.  The Red Sox are 1-6 in Rodriquez’s last 7 starts.  The Angels are 8-0 in the last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  Los Angeles is 6-0 in its last 6 during game 3 of a series.  The Angels are 7-1 in Tropeano’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* Warriors/Spurs Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio +4.5 

The Key: This will be a ‘win one for the gipper’ type situation tonight.  Greg Popovich just lost his wife yesterday.  His players will rally around him and put forth a big effort.  On the other side, the Warriors will feel bad for him and won’t be on their ‘A’ game.  It’s really the perfect storm here for the Spurs to get a win and cover.  Golden State is 3-11 ATS off 2 or more consecutive home wins this season.  San Antonio is 43-21 ATS in its last 64 home games off a blowout loss by 15 points or more.  The Spurs are 33-8 SU & 26-14-1 ATS at home this season.  The Warriors are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than 60%.  The Spurs are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.  Take San Antonio. 

6* Indians/Twins Puerto Rico *CA$H COW* on Cleveland -118 

The Key: The fans in Puerto Rico are rooting for Francisco Lindor and the Indians in this 2-game set.  That was evident when Lindor hit a homer that broke the game open in a 6-1 victory last night.  Now the Indians have the edge on the mound once again with Carlos Carrasco taking the ball.  Carrasco is 3-0 with a 3.48 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in his 3 starts this season.  He went 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA in his 3 starts against the Twins last season, giving up just 2 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings while striking out 30 batters.  Jose Berrios is just 2-2 with a 5.31 ERA in 4 lifetime starts vs. Cleveland.  Barrios is 0-9 against the money line in night games played away from home over the last 2 seasons.  The Indians are 22-5 in Carrasco’s last 27 starts vs. AL Central teams.  Cleveland is 15-3 in its last 18 road games vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Pacers/Cavs Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -7.5 

The Key: For the first time in his career, Lebron James is down 0-1 in an opening round playoff series.  In fact, it’s the first time ever that he has even trailed in an opening round series.  Look for James to rally the troops tonight and come forth with a big effort after an embarrassing Game 1 showing.  The Cavs trailed by 20 points before James even attempted a shot on Sunday.  He will be much more aggressive from the opening tip in this one, which is when the Cavs are at their best.  Bets on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points off 2 or more consecutive home losses, in April games are 37-11 ATS since 1996.  Indiana is 6-14 ATS off a win by 10 points or more this season.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Bucks/Celtics TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +2.5 

The Key: Bets on road teams where the line is +3 to -3 after 2 or more consecutive road losses, well rested team playing 6 or less games in 14 days are 72-26 ATS since 1996.  The Bucks are 15-4 ATS off 2 or more straight road losses over the last 3 years.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago Cubs -119 

The Key: We are getting a great price on the Chicago Cubs at home tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals.  It’s not often you can back them as this small of a home favorite.  The main reason is because Tyler Chatwood is little-known, but he has been great everywhere he has pitched outside of Coors Field.  He is 21-18 with a 3.28 ERA in 321 1/3 innings pitched away from home.  That’s a big reason the Cubs went out and got him this offseason.  Adam Wainwright is far past his prime and just doesn’t have it anymore.  He is 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 2 starts this season.  The Cubs are 8-1 in their last 9 meetings with the Cardinals, including 5-0 in their last 5 home meetings.  Take Chicago. 

7* Heat/76ers NBA *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216 

The Key: Both teams really shot lights out from the 3-point line in Game 1, which led to a shootout and 233 combined points.  But that is unlikely to happen again.  The 76ers made 18 3-pointers and shot 64.3% from beyond the arc, while the Heat made 12 and shot 46.2%.  It was a rare high scoring game in this series.  The previous 4 meetings between the Heat and 76ers saw 207 or fewer combined points.  Miami is 23-12 to the UNDER in road games when revenging a loss over the last 2 seasons.  Philadelphia is 32-12 UNDER in its last 44 home games off 2 consecutive covers as a favorite.  Take the UNDER.

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Yankees -1.5 (-125) 

The Key: The New York Yankees have a big edge on the mound tonight with Luis Severino over Caleb Smith.  They also have one of the best lineups in baseball, while the Marlins have one of the worst.  The Marlins are just 4-11 this season and 10 of their losses have come by multiple runs.  Severino had a sub-3.00 ERA last season and struck out 230 batters, quickly becoming one of the elite starters in baseball.  Smith has never won a game and has a 6.47 ERA in 32 big league innings.  Take New York on the Run Line. 

7* Jazz/Thunder NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City -3.5 

The Key: It’s no secret that the Oklahoma City Thunder have had the Utah Jazz’ number.  The Thunder are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.  But that only tells half the story.  The Jazz simply cannot win in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are 14-0 in their last 14 home meetings with the Jazz and are winning by nearly 15 PPG on average.  Take Oklahoma City. 

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Pittsburgh Pirates -145 

The Key: The Pittsburgh Pirates have a big edge on the mound today with Ivan Nova over Jose Urena.  They are also the better team at 10-4 compared to 4-10 for the Marlins, who are probably the worst team in baseball.  Ivan Nova has never lost to the Marlins, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.27 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against them.  Both of those starts came in 2017 as he pitched 15 shutout innings while allowing only 4 base runners.  Urena is 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 3 starts this season.  Urena is also 1-1 with a 5.90 ERA in 2 lifetime starts vs. Pittsburgh.  Nova is 21-7 against the money line in his career when favored by -100 to -150 on the road.  The Pirates are 6-0 in their last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.  The Marlins are 0-5 in Urena’s last 5 starts.  Miami is 0-5 in Urena’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Pittsburgh. 

7* Pelicans/Blazers NBA *BAILOUT* on Portland -5.5 

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers have been absolutely unbeatable at home down the stretch of the season.  They have gone 21-3 SU & 19-4-1 ATS in their last 24 home games.  They have also upped their game against the better teams in the league.  The Blazers are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Portland is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on 2 days’ rest as well.  The favorite is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings, and the home team is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings as well. Take Portland. 

6* Saturday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Dodgers/Diamondbacks OVER 7 

The Key: I hit the OVER 6.5 with ease last night in a 15-run outburst between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.  I’m back on the OVER 7 tonight.  These teams have combined for 7 or more runs in 5 of their last 7 meetings.  Taijuan Walker and Rich Hill haven’t had the greatest of success in their careers against their opponents.  Walker is 2-2 with a 6.07 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles, while Hill is 1-6 with a 4.98 ERA in 11 lifetime starts vs. Arizona.  The OVER is 4-0 in Hill’s last 4 starts against the Diamondbacks.  Take the OVER. 

7* Diamondbacks/Dodgers NL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 6.5 

The Key: This is a very low total for two of the better offenses in the National League.  And it’s not like Zack Greinke and Kenta Maeda are exactly lockdown starters.  Greinke has been roughed up this season with a 5.06 ERA through 2 starts.  He is 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts vs. Arizona.  Maeda is 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA in 11 lifetime starts vs. Arizona.  The Diamondbacks are 16-4 OVER following an off day over the last 2 seasons.  They are 35-15-1 OVER in their last 51 games following an off day dating back further.  The OVER is 7-3 in Maeda’s last 10 starts vs. Arizona.  Take the OVER. 

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -137 

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals have a big edge on the mound tonight and should make easy work of the 2-9 Cincinnati Reds.  This is a team Michael Wacha certainly looks forward to facing every time out.  Wacha is 8-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 14 lifetime starts vs. Cincinnati.  He won both starts against the Reds last season while limiting them to 2 earned runs in 12 innings.  Sal Romano is 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in two starts for the Reds this season.  The Cardinals are 21-7 in Wacha’s last 28 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  St. Louis is 40-18 in its last 58 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below 40%.  The Reds are 1-9 in their last 10 home games.  The Cardinals are 11-1 in Wacha’s last 12 starts vs. Reds.  The Cardinals are 5-0 in their last 5 meetings in Cincinnati.  Take St. Louis. 

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Washington Wizards -5.5 

The Key: The only chance the Wizards have of moving up from their current 8th position is to win tonight.  And moving up is important because they want the 7th seed and to face the Celtics in the first round.  That is possibly considering the Heat face the Raptors tonight and they need the Heat to lose.  The Magic have mentally checked out and won’t offer much resistance tonight.  Take Washington. 

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Arizona Diamondbacks -113 

The Key: The Arizona Diamondbacks have a big edge on the mound tonight and should be bigger favorites over the San Francisco Giants as a result.  Robbie Ray pitched like a Cy Young contender on the road last season and is off to a great start on the road this year, limiting the Cardinals to one run in 6 innings while striking out 9 in his last turn.  Ray is 4-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 8 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  Andrew Suarez will be making his major league debut tonight for the Giants, and it won’t go well for him opposite Ray.  The Diamondbacks are 18-5 in Ray’s last 23 starts, including 6-1 in his last 7 road starts.  Take Arizona. 

6* A’s/Dodgers MLB *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -121 

The Key: It’s not often you will get the opportunity to back the Los Angeles Dodgers as only -121 home favorites this season.  Especially against a team as poor as the 4-7 Oakland A’s.  We’ll take advantage of this price here Tuesday.  The A’s may have the better starter on the mound with Manaea over Ryu, but the Dodgers have a significant edge at the plate and in their bullpen.  The A’s are 0-3 against left-handed starters this season and scoring just 1.7 RPG in those games.  Oakland is 21-52 as a road underdog of +100 or higher over the last 2 seasons.  The Dodgers are 17-2 in home games after allowing one run or less in a win over a division opponent over the last 3 seasons.  Los Angeles is 50-13 in home games off a win over the last 2 years.  The A’s are 14-51 in their last 65 road games vs. a left-handed starter.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte Hornets +3 

The Key: There are so many good situations favoring the Hornets here tonight.  For starters, this is a home-and-home situation as they want revenge from a 117-123 home loss to the Pacers on Sunday.  Now they get to face them just two days later and in their season finale to boot.  The Pacers are locked in to the 5th seed in the East and will be resting starters, which is the key handicap here.  They won’t care about winning this game at all.  Take Charlotte. 

7* Pelicans/Clippers ESPN *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +8.5 

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers are stuck in the 10th spot in the West.  They will be drafting in the same spot no matter what as they cannot improve their chances of ping pong balls.  What they can do is try and run the Pelicans’ season, which is precisely what they’ll be motivated to do tonight.  This line has gotten out of hand and has been adjusted way too far in New Orleans’ favor due to the fact that they need the win more.  They are now 8.5-point road favorites tonight.  The Pelicans are 5-14 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4 games this season.  The Clippers are 24-12 ATS vs. poor defensive teams that allow 106-plus points per game this season.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* Monday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Mets/Marlins UNDER 7.5 

The Key: Two aces square off tonight in Noha Syndergaard and Jose Urena in what will be a pitcher’s duel in pitcher-friendly Miami.  Syndergaard is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Miami.  Urena is 3-3 with a 2.92 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. New York.  The UNDER is 16-5 in Syndergaard’s last 21 starts during game 1 of a series.  The UNDER is 10-4-1 in Urena’s last 15 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit Pistons -6.5 

The Key: The Detroit Pistons have really turned it on down the stretch.  They are 8-2 SU & 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  They now sit at 38-41 with a chance to get to .500 if they win out, which would be considered a success.  The Grizzlies clearly don’t care about winning games as they are just trying to improve their chances of getting the top draft pick.  They are just 21-58 on the season with the second-worst record in the league.  They have a ton of injuries right now and are basically resting all of their guys, which indicates they are trying to lose.  The Pistons are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a losing record.  The Grizzlies are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Detroit. 

6* MLB *Mound Mismatch* on Chicago Cubs -123 

The Key: The Chicago Cubs send Jose Quintana to the mound today against the Milwaukee Brewers.  This has been a great matchup for Quintana in recent years.  Quintana is 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts vs. Milwaukee, limiting them to just 3 earned runs in 30 innings.  Chase Anderson has allowed 9 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings in his last 3 starts against the Cubs.  Chicago is 27-7 in its last 34 road games vs. a right-handed starter.  The Cubs are 6-0 in Quintana’s last 6 starts vs. NL Central.  The Cubs are 7-2 in their last 9 meetings in Milwaukee.  Take Chicago. 

7* Blazers/Spurs Western Conference *BAILOUT* on San Antonio -4.5 

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are fighting for their playoff lives right now. They are in jeopardy of missing the postseason if they were to lose these last few games.  So they’ll be locked in, just as they have been for the last several weeks, especially at home.  The same cannot be said for the Blazers, who are more worried about staying healthy heading into the playoffs since they’ll be the 3rd seed for sure.  The Spurs have handled their business at home, going 8-0 SU & 8-0 ATS in their last 8 home games.  Take San Antonio. 

6* Dodgers/Giants NL West *CA$H COW* on Los Angeles -125 

The Key: After a 2-5 start that has featured three 1-run losses, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be focused tonight against the rival San Francisco Giants.  And they send Rich Hill to the mound to get it done.  Hill faced the Giants in his first start on April 1st, leading the Dodgers to a 9-0 victory while firing 6 shutout innings.  Hill is now 6-2 with a 2.23 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  Chris Stratton has never beaten the Dodgers, going 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against them.  He gave up 3 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in that start opposite Hill on April 1st.  The Dodgers are 7-1 in Hill’s last 8 starts.  The Dodgers ar e9-0 in Hill’s last 9 Saturday starts.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* MLB Total of the Month on Orioles/Yankees OVER 9

The Key: The Orioles and Yankees always seem to play in slug festers.  The OVER is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings, and 14-3 in the last 17 meetings in New York.  Helping these teams get home runs will be the fact that the wind will be blowing out to left center at 10-15 MPH.  And Kevin Gausman and C.C. Sabathia aren't good enough to contain these potent lineups.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on Los Angeles Clippers +7 

The Key: The Clippers are holding on to slim playoff hopes.  They probably need to win out to have a chance considering they are 2 games behind both the Pelicans and Timberwolves with 4 games remaining.  But they continue to fight, as evidenced by their comeback victory over the Spurs last game.  And now they are showing good value as 7-point road underdogs to the Utah Jazz tonight.  The Clippers are 11-3 ATS when playing 8 or more games in 14 days this season.  Los Angeles is 20-8-1 ATS in its last 29 road games.  Utah is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 home games.  The Jazz are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Cincinnati Reds +128 

The Key: The price is right to back the Reds tonight.  They have had two days off having last played on Monday due to weather.  They will be ready to go, and so will Homer Bailey, who gave up just 1 earned run in 6 innings for a 1.50 ERA in his opening start against the Nationals.  Bailey is 10-6 with a 3.39 ERA in 21 lifetime starts vs. Pittsburgh.  He faced them twice last year, going 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA while yielding only 2 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings.  Take Cincinnati. 

7* Celtics/Raptors ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -7 

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are now in a position where they need to win.  They have been coasting for weeks, going 0-9 ATS in their last 9 games overall.  That’s because they have had such a big lead in the East.  But now that lead is back to only 2 games, and they play the team that trails them tonight in the Boston Celtics.  The Raptors will also be out for revenge from a 99-110 loss in Boston on March 31st just a few days ago.  This game simply sets up for the Raptors to come out with one of their best performances of the season given what’s at stake now.  And the Celtics are short-handed and playing the second of a back-to-back after a loss in Milwaukee last night.  Boston is still without Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart, and now backup PG Terry Rozier is battling an ankle injury and his questionable.  Rozier has been the reason the Celtics have stayed competitive down the stretch, but without him at 100% they don’t have much of a shot tonight, especially with the Raptors 100% healthy.  The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  The Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home meetings with Boston.  Take Toronto. 

6* National League *CA$H COW* on St. Louis Cardinals -112 

The Key: After blowing a 4-1 lead in the 8th inning last night, the Cardinals will come back hungry for a victory tonight over the Milwaukee Brewers.  And given their big edge on the mound in this one, they should get the job done.  Carlos Martinez is 46-33 with a 3.45 ERA in his career and has quickly become the ace of this staff.  Martinez is 5-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 12 lifetime starts vs. Milwaukee.  Jhoulys Chacin allowed 4 earned runs and 9 base runners in 3 1/3 innings in his first start of the season at San Diego, which is a big concern.  Chacin has never beaten the Cardinals, going 0-5 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against them.  Take St. Louis. 

7* Spurs/Clippers TNT *BAILOUT* on UNDER 207.5 

The Key: With both the Spurs and Clippers having so much to play for tonight, the defensive intensity will be high.  The Spurs are trying to hold off several teams for the 4th seed in the West and a home court in the first round.  The Clippers are 2 games out of the 8th spot and just fighting to get into the playoffs.  The UNDER is 27-10 in Spurs games when the total is 200 to 209.5 this season.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 games overall.  The UNDER is 10-4 in Spurs last 14 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Indians/Angels American League *BAILOUT* on Cleveland -115 

The Key: Cleveland has a big edge on the mound tonight with Mike Clevinger over JC Ramirez.  Clevinger went 11-4 with a 2.84 ERA in 21 starts last year for the Indians, including 7-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 11 road starts.  Ramirez went 9-10 with a 4.11 ERA in 24 starts for the Angels, including 2-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 12 home starts.  Clevinger has never lost to the Angels, going 2-0 (3-0 money line) with a 3.94 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Take Cleveland.