Happy Corey Kluber day. Kluber is replacing Patrick Corbin, who actually has been pitching decently, as a former ace who has become terrible.

The 37-year-old Kluber has a 6.41 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. I'm not going to fade the Red Sox against the disappointing Padres, but Over is a way to get involved in going against Kluber. 

The Padres are way overdue to get clutch hits to bring in base runners. They are batting below .200 with men in scoring position. 

The Red Sox are familiar with San Diego starter Michael Wacha, who pitched for Boston last season. The Red Sox rank in the top three in runs, batting average and OPS. Wacha has a 4.06 ERA.

Another plus to the Over is home plate umpire Mark Wegner. He's a hitter's umpire. The Over is 36-24 (60 percent) in games he' been behind the plate during the last four years.

Step aside please, I'm boarding the crowded fade Padres train.

San Diego is 1-8 in its last nine games and 1-5 the past six times being favored. The Padres are minus injured Manny Machado and have one of the worst offenses in baseball. Not only are they last in batting average and 26th in runs, but they are batting .196 with runners in scoring position. No team in baseball history has finished with a batting average of less than .200 with runners in scoring position for an entire season.

Boston, by contrast, ranks in the top three in runs, batting average and OPS.

I'd certainly give an edge to the Red Sox, too, in starting pitching where Chris Sale goes against Joe Musgrove.

Sale is showing signs of returning to his once-dominant form going 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA and 0.73 WHIP during his last three starts.

Musgrove is 1-1 with a 6.33 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in four starts. One of those starts was in Mexico City where pitchers didn't stand a chance in that bandbox stadium and high altitude. But even if you discount that start, Musgrove still would have an ERA above 4.00. He's surrendered five homers in 19 innings.

The Nuggets and their coach, Michael Malone, believe they are being disrespected by the national media who tend to play up the high-profile Lakers.

Yes, perhaps Nikola Jokic should have won a third straight MVP award.

But the Nuggets can't be considered a great team if they can't win on the road. Denver has yet to prove that. The Nuggets finished the regular season an embarrassing 19-22 away from home and are 2-3 SU and ATS in their five playoff road games.

The Lakers are 6-0 SU and ATS at home during the postseason. They've covered five of the past six times they've hosted Denver.

The Nuggets lead the series 2-0 by virtue of winning both of their home games. However, the Nuggets didn't cover either game winning by six and five points, respectively. Denver had to hang on to win these games despite Jokic playing at the highest level and Jamal Murray averaging 34 points.

The teams have each won four of the eight quarters played. The Lakers have been to the free throw line 12 more times than the Nuggets. And this was in Denver. Now the scene shifts to LA where the Lakers are in must-win mode and the Nuggets have played much worse away from Denver.

The Lakers aren't just a two man team of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura have stepped up, combining to average 41.5 points per game.

Price and value. That's what this Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals comes down to.

Florida has played once in eight days. Carolina has played once in nine days. But the last game these two teams played was this past Thursday night/early Friday morning in Carolina. It went within 12 seconds of going into a fifth overtime.

The road underdog Panthers won it.

Now there's a huge randomness factor with the teams not just playing only once in more than a week, but how they react to that epic four overtime game. Florida is on house money leading 1-0 in the series. The Hurricanes have to be down both physically and more important emotionally. They have little time to regroup. And the pressure is all on them.

I see this game as a toss-up. So getting this nice plus price on the Panthers makes sense.

The Panthers have more than proven themselves on the road in the postseason winning seven of eight away playoff games. They are on a seven-game road win streak having defeated the Bruins three consecutive times in Boston and Maple Leafs three times in a row in Toronto entering this series.

Florida is 13-3 in its last 16 road contests. The Panthers also have beaten the Hurricanes six of the past eight times.

The teams just met last Friday in a preseason game. The Sparks buried the Mercury, 90-71.

I see LA winning again. The Sparks upgraded their roster. Most importantly, they hired Curt Miller to be their head coach. The Sparks had the worst coaching in the league last season with Derek Fisher and interim coach Fred Williams after Fisher was fired.

Now the Sparks have an elite coach in Miller, who coached Connecticut to great success leading the Sun to two championship series appearances during the last four years.

The spread is short here because Brittney Griner is back for Phoenix. Griner, though, is going to be extremely rusty. The Sparks also have a tall frontline to combat her.

I like the Twins here and the price is right to back them. Minnesota has its new-found ace, Joe Ryan, going with a rested bullpen. The Twins were idle Thursday. They stay in Los Angeles having just faced the Dodgers, while the Angels concluded a seven-game, seven-day road trip with a one-run victory against the Orioles on Thursday.

Ryan is in early Cy Young Award competition with a 6-1 record, 2.16 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. 

Angels starter Reid Detmers is 0-3 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in contrast to Ryan's outstanding numbers. Detmers faced the Twins last season and was 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA.

The oddsmaker seems to be anticipating Celtics money making Boston this big of a favorite. The Zig/Zag is in full force here with the Celtics down 0-1 in the series and playing at home. 

But I'm not buying into it. There's too much value on the Heat - just like in Wednesday's series opener - to turn down this inflated point spread.
The Celtics outscored Miami in three of the four quarters in Game 1. Yet the Heat still won, 123-116. 

The Heat are playing with tremendous confidence. They are not the No. 8 seed that had to beat the Bulls in a play-in game to even reach the playoffs. It's wrong to think of them in that context. Certainly the Bucks and Knicks don't think that way now. 

Miami is an extremely well-coached, a strong defensive team - No. 2 in the league in fewest points allowed - that is being willed to win by Jimmy Butler. He's the best all-around player on the court. The Heat also have the best big man, Bam Adebayo. 

These teams know each extremely well, which should portend a much closer game than the oddsmaker projects. Only twice in their last 20 games have the Heat lost by more than nine points. I certainly want Erik Spoelstra going for me rather than rookie coach Joe Mazzulla. 

Miami has covered eight of the last 10 times when playing on one day's rest. The Heat also are 6-1 in their last seven games following a cover and are 14-5 ATS the last 19 times playing the Celtics in Boston.

I don't see a big scoring game here. Both teams are in rebuild mode. The Sky lost four starters, including stars Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot. 

The Lynx no longer have their best player, Sylvia Fowles. So they are beginning a new era. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve usually favors a slower tempo game. 

The teams just met six days ago at neutral site, Toronto, for their final preseason games. The Sky won, 82-74, for a combined total of 156 points. So the teams are already familiar with each other. 

The Lakers shot 55 percent from the floor in Game 1 of this Western Conference Finals series against the Nuggets on Tuesday. They hit 46 percent of their 3-point shots and were 23 of 26 from the foul line. LeBron James and Anthony Davis played at their superstar best combining to go 23-for-39 from the field for 59 percent.

Yet the Lakers still lost by six points, 132-126.

The Lakers couldn't overcome Nikola Jokic - the best player on the planet - a huge size disadvantage and Denver's strong home-court edge.

The Nuggets are 7-0 in their home playoff games. The 132 points is the most points they've scored in their dozen playoff games this spring.

The Game 2 point spread, however, opened lower than it was in Game 1.

So I'm going Nuggets not forgetting Denver is a No. 1 seed. LA is a seventh-seed.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham prefers to go with a small, three-guard oriented lineup. That's not going to work against the Nuggets, who have a frontline of 6-foot-11 Jokic, 6-10 Michael Porter Jr. and 6-8 Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets slaughtered the Lakers on the boards, 47-30.

Ham isn't a moron. He knows he can't go small against the Nuggets. But to do that, he and the Lakers have to adjust on the road. LA also is trailing in a playoff series for the first time having opened with road wins against the Grizzlies and Warriors. All of this could put the Lakers out of their comfort zone.

Jokic was unstoppable with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists. The Lakers have no antidote for him. Meanwhile James and Davis could be pressed to repeat their top-notch Game 1 performances particularly Davis, who was 14-of-23 from the field and made all 11 of his free throws scoring 40 points.

Denver is 7-2 ATS in its last nine home games - and that includes not covering against the Lakers in Game 1. LA is 1-4 ATS in its last five away games. The Lakers also are 4-10-1 ATS during their past 15 games in Denver.

Prop Bet

Rui Hachimura OVER 11 1/2 points

Here's the thing about Rui Hachimura. When he plays, he's an underrated scorer. Lakers coach Darvin Ham figured out in Game 1 that he couldn't play his usual small lineup of three guards against the much taller Nuggets.

It took Ham a half to realize that. Hachimura, a 6-foot-8 rotation forward, played the entire fourth quarter. That's a strong sign Hachimura is going to draw big minutes in this Game 2. He responded by scoring 17 points in Game 1. So I look for him to score at least a dozen points in this game. 

Line value, situation, better defensive team and a huge coaching edge. Those are the four main factors that put me on Miami for this Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals series.

I'm surprised the line is this high. Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are not Doc Rivers and choke artists James Harden and Joel Embiid.

The Heat know how to play defense - No. 2 in fewest points allowed per game - and they are rested. Miami hasn't played since Wednesday. The Celtics still could be celebrating their dismantling of the 76ers this past Sunday.

Miami is extremely dangerous with time to prepare. The Heat upset the Bucks on the road in Game 1 of their first-round series. Miami repeated in Game 1 of its second round series upsetting the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Heat are 39-17 (70 percent) ATS when playing on three or more days rest. They also have covered 13 of the past 18 times against the Celtics.

Spoelstra could be the best coach in the NBA. He rates a huge edge on Boston's inexperienced Joe Mazzulla.

I'm going to lay a small road price to get behind the Phillies as they try to avoid being swept by the Giants. 

The Phillies are overdue to produce more runs. They've scored just six runs in their last three games going a mind-boggling 1-for-33 with runners in scoring position during this span.

I see the Phillies breaking through against struggling journeyman-type Ross Stripling, who has a 7.42 ERA in his last three starts. 

Philadelphia starter Taijuan Walker usually beats bad teams, which the Giants are at 19-23. Walker's teams are 19-4 (83 percent) in his last 23 starts when he's faced a sub .500 opponent. The Giants are 2-6 in their last eight games against a righty starter. 

The starters are terrible. So are the bullpens. Yet the total is below double-digits. 

So I'm going Over in the Diamondbacks-A's matchup tonight. The Over has cashed in 61 percent of Oakland's games this season.

Tommy Henry goes for Arizona. He has a 4.43 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. The Diamondbacks' bullpen has the fifth-highest ERA in the league at 4.50. 

The A's have a worse starter, Kyle Muller, and a far worse bullpen. Muller has a 7.34 ERA and 1.95 WHIP. The A's' bullpen has the highest ERA in baseball by a large margin at 6.79. 

The Guardians are seven games better than the disappointing 14-28 White Sox and have their ace going, Shane Bieber.

Bieber is off to a good start with a 3-1 record and 2.61. The same can't be said for the White Sox, who are 9-20 in their last 29 home games and could be starting Lance Lynn, who has been awful with a 1-5 record, 7.51 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.

The Guardians, who have a winning road record, rate a strong edge with Bieber on the hill no matter who the White Sox pitch today. Bieber is 8-4 with a 2.64 ERA in 17 career starts versus the White Sox.

The White Sox have been dealing with injuries to key players all season. Out for the White Sox are Elvis Andrus, Eloy Jimenez and possibly Yasmani Grandal.

On paper, it looks like the oddsmaker set a correct total with a pitching matchup of Freddy Peralta versus Jack Flaherty. But on closer inspection, that's not the case. The number is short.

The Brewers are averaging six runs per game in their last three games. Flaherty isn't nearly the pitcher he was a few years ago. He has a 6.18 ERA. His ERA is 12.75 in his last three starts. The Brewers rank in the top 10 in batting average and on-base percentage versus righthanders. 

Peralta holds a 5.94 career ERA versus the Cardinals in 13 appearances that includes nine starts. St. Louis is swinging hot bats averaging 6.2 runs in its last 10 games. 

The Over is 9-1-1 in the Cardinals' last 11 home games. 

Each team is averaging 3.4 goals per game through the first five games of this series. I'm expecting a fast tempo, especially from the Oilers, with this Game 6 shifting back to Edmonton.

The Oilers played at a face pace when they scored four goals at home in Game 4. Their tempo was slower in their 4-3 Game 5 road loss this past Friday.

Edmonton's dynamic power play, perhaps the best in the last 25 years, has converted 40 percent of the time during the series. That's even better than its league-leading 32.4 percent it achieved during the regular season.

Las Vegas is the deeper team and has dominated 5-on-5 competition outscoring the Oilers, 13-8, at even strength during the series. The Golden Knights are live to score against the below average defensive Oilers when any of their four lines are on the ice.

Neither team is getting stellar goaltending. The Golden Knights are forced to go with backup Adin Hill as starter Laurent Brossoit remains out. The Oilers have a choice of sticking with rookie Stuart Skinner and his .890 save percentage in the playoffs, or go with Jack Campbell, who had an .888 save percentage in the regular season.

The last five games between these two NL West rivals have gone Under. Expect that trend to continue today.

Tony Gonsolin is starting for LA. That's bad news for San Diego. Gonsolin has a 1.93 ERA in three starts this year. He's owned the Padres career-wise with a 4-0 record and 1.45 ERA in five starts. The Padres have scored just 10 runs in their last four games. The Under is 14-3-1 in the Padres' last 18 road games.

The Padres are pitching lefty Ryan Weathers, who has a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings this season. The Dodgers are batting .198 against lefty pitching, worst in the majors.

Often key bats are missing from the starting lineup on Sunday due to rest. Another plus is Bill Miller being the home plate umpire. He has a huge strike zone.

So we've reached Game 7 in this 76ers-Celtics series. That means plenty of defensive intensity, right?

Yes ... but the oddsmaker has wildly overcompensated for that. The total for the first six games ranged from 211 to 215 1/2. Now it's down more than 10 from that norm. It's too much. The 76ers haven't had a total nearly this low all season. Neither has Boston.

Jayson Tatum is going to shoot better than the 5-for-21 from the field he did in Game 6 and Joel Embiid is going to get more shots than the 19 he had in Game 6, hardly touching the ball during the final four minutes. The 76ers will rectify that.

The 76ers averaged 117 points in their two road victories against Boston. If anything was reinforced to the 76ers in their 95-86 home loss to the Celtics in Game 6 it's that they must push pace in order to create open shots and better looks.

I believe the 76ers have picked up on that. The Over is 4-0 the past four times following a Philadelphia ATS loss. As for the Celtics, the Over has cashed in eight of their last 10 games.

Both teams are excellent from the foul line and from 3-point range.

The 76ers were No. 1 in free throw shooting accuracy during the regular season. Boston ranked fourth in free throw percentage.

The Celtics also were sixth in 3-point shooting percentage. The 76ers were No. 1 in 3-point accuracy.

There isn't going to be a lot of substituting here. Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Embiid and James Harden are going to be firing. I trust them to get Over this extremely low total.

This is Game 6 in this Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff series between these two teams. Each of the first five games have gone Over the total with a minimum of six goals being scored in every game.

There have been nine goals produced in three of the five games.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. So I'm going to keep riding the Over in this series until proven otherwise.

The Kraken haven't been able to slow down Dallas' top line of Roope Hintz, Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson.

The Stars have scored four or more goals in six of their last seven games. They've tallied 11 goals in the last two games. This is a potential elimination game for the Kraken, who are down 3-2 in the series. So there could be empty-net goals coming Dallas' way if the Kraken trail in the later stages of the game.

Seattle was the fifth-highest scoring team in the league. The Kraken have a deep roster and fast skaters. They've proven resilient all season, including taking out the Avalanche in the first round. The Stars' goaltending has been largely disappointing in this series. So I see the Kraken certainly keeping up in the scoring column.

The Angels nipped the Guardians, 5-4, Friday night by scoring twice in the ninth inning. That was just their second road win against the Guardians in 23 games in Cleveland during the past eight years.

Now the Angels face another long-standing angle - beating Cal Quantrill. The Guardians are 21-3 for 88 percent in Quantrill's last 24 regular season starts. Quantrill is off his best performance of the season, too, shutting out the Twins for seven innings while giving up only one hit.

The Angels are starting Reid Detmers, who is 0-3 with a 5.10 ERA. This will be Detmers' sixth start of the year. He's turned in just one quality start.
I thought the Guardians would come a solid favorite here instead of being in the pick and plus range. So I'm on Cleveland.

I'm seeing positive signs now with Chris Sale, who gets the start here. The seven-time All-Star is off a 5-3 win against the Phillies. He struck out 10 in six innings. Sale's fastball was back up to 99 mph. He hasn't thrown that hard in five years.

Opposing Sale is Steven Matz. Fading Matz this season has proven quite profitable. St. Louis is 1-6 in his seven starts. Matz has a 5.70 ERA. He has a career 5.75 ERA versus the Red Sox in four starts.

Boston is five games above .500. The Cardinals have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league at 14-25.

The Red Sox are 101-49 the past 150 times when playing an opponent with a below .400 percentage.

Current form, pitching matchup and a strong situational element make the Dodgers an easy choice here.

LA is playing its best ball winning 10 of its past 12 games. San Diego is 1-4 in its last five games.

The pitching matchup is slow-starting Blake Snell versus Dustin May. Snell is 0-2 with a 5.93 ERA on the road this season. May is 4-1 with a 2.68 ERA this season. That ERA gets reduced even more to 2.20 if you go by just his last three starts.

The Dodgers are rested after being idle yesterday, while the Padres are traveling from Minnesota where they just concluded a three-game series against the Twins that finished on Thursday.

LA has defeated San Diego in 38 of the past 52 times it has hosted the Padres.

Sure the Knicks could upset the Heat in Miami. But it would take a repeat of their Game 5 performance this past Wednesday when their Big Three of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett combined to score 88 points on 27 of 52 shooting from the floor for 52 percent, while sinking 11 3-pointers.

And, realistically, I don't see the Knicks duplicating that feat. Not in Miami where the Heat have dominated in the postseason. Miami is 4-0 SU and ATS at Kaseya Center in the playoffs. This includes two victories against the Bucks by a combined 27 points and two wins against the Knicks by a combined 27 points never trailing except for 24 seconds.

It's not a fluke either. The Heat have established they are the superior team.

The Knicks gained some self-respect and redemption with their 112-103 Game 5 victory. But that's as far as they go. The Heat have covered seven of the last 10 times they've hosted the Knicks.

The NBA playoffs often are decided by three things - superstars, coaching and defense. The 76ers have the edge on Boston in all three of these categories. That's why they are going to end this series with a home victory today. Getting points with Philadelphia is just a bonus. 

Let's start with star power. The 76ers have a pair of superstars, Joel Embiid and James Harden. Tyrese Maxey is stepping up and Tobias Harris can be counted on. Boston has one superstar, Jayson Tatum. Jaylen Brown certainly is good, but he falls short of being a superstar. The Celtics don't have a reliable third wheel who can produce points the way Maxey and Harris can. 

Now, let's talk coaching. Doc Rivers is a proven winner. The Celtics know that better than any team. Maybe Rivers is more of a player's coach than a master strategist. But pitted against rookie coach Joe Mazzulla, Rivers is Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich rolled into one. 
The 76ers' coaching edge isn't tiny, but huge. 

From 2004 through the end of last season, the Celtics had strong coaching with Rivers, Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka. The Celtics, however, made the decision to suspend Udoka for this season for what they labeled ''violations of team policies.'' 

Udoka's chief assistant was 34-year-old whiz kid Will Hardy. Unfortunately for Boston, Danny Ainge poached Hardy for Utah. So the Celtics named Mazzulla, a lesser assistant coach, as their interim coach even though he had no NBA head coaching experience. 

When the Celtics got off to a hot start, the team removed the interim label making Mazzulla permanent head coach. Boston may want to rethink that move. Playoff coaching is different then regular season coaching. Miami's Erik Spoelstra is a master in that difference. Milwaukee's Mike Budenholzer wasn't. Mazzulla isn't either. This is a fatal weakness. The Bucks knew it. That's why they fired Budenholzer even though he had the best regular-season winning percentage of any Bucks coach in Milwaukee history.

It's not just Mazzulla's highly noticeable deficiency in failing to take timeouts at the proper time. Mazzulla hasn't proven adept at developing the right rotation, nor in making  adjustments. Udoka, aided by Hardy, were able to mitigate the Celtics' offensive inconsistencies, by stepping up defensively. The Celtics have yet to show that ability under Mazzulla.

Boston gave up an average of 122.5 points in its last four games to the Hawks during its first-round series. I have no faith in Mazzulla that he can lead the Celtics to a road victory against the 76ers with the season on the line after losing Game 5 at home by 12 points. 

The strain of playing for the fifth time in nine days during this marquee playoff series, should result in an Under here. These are teams whose key players are older. So I'm expecting a slow pace with both the Lakers and Warriors playing at peak defensive efficiency and intensity.

The Under is 4-1 the past five times the Lakers have played on one day's rest. The Under has cashed five of the last seven times the Warriors have played on one day's rest.

The Lakers have held the Warriors to an average of 99 points during the last two games. There were just 205 points scored in the Lakers' 104-101 Game 4 victory two days ago.

If the Warriors were to build a big lead - which could happen judging by the point spread - the Lakers might concede early in order to rest LeBron James and Anthony Davis knowing they would have two more games to close out Golden State.

Lost in the glare of the 76ers' dramatic 116-115 home overtime victory against the Celtics this past Sunday was this game had the slowest tempo of any game in the NBA playoffs this season. There were 214 points scored in regulation because of excellent shooting, especially from James Harden, who made 16 of 23 (69.5 percent) shots from the field. Harden shot 44.1 percent from the floor during the regular season. He was 5-for-28 shooting from the field in his two previous games.

Now the series is tied at 2-2 with the teams heading back to Boston for Tuesday's Game 5. Anticipate a maximum defensive intensity game between a pair of teams that ranked in the top-five in defensive scoring and 3-point defense during the regular season.

I'm expecting a crackdown, too, on offensive players getting away with obvious push-off fouls that weren't called in Game 4 with Jayson Tatum's 3-pointer with 38 seconds left in overtime being the most obvious example.

I'm going to ride the Devils in their Game 4 series matchup hosting the Hurricanes following their 8-4 home win this past Sunday. That win greatly boosted the Devils' confidence after they lost the first two games of the series in Carolina. I'm expecting a strong carryover effect for New Jersey.

I'm not sold on any of Carolina's goalies following that Devils' four-goal victory. Frederik Andersen played so poorly in Game 3 he was pulled. Antti Raanta has been sick. He's also been much worse on the road where he's 1-6 the past seven times in net with an .884 save percentage.

The Devils were able to establish their speed game at home in Game 3, something they weren't able to do in Carolina when they were too tentative.

New Jersey has won eight of its last 10 home games. The Devils also have beaten the Hurricanes seven of the last nine times when hosting them.

Because I don't trust the Warriors on the road.

Golden State has lost 33 of its 46 road games this season. If you go back to the end of last season, the Warriors are 17-37-1 ATS (31 percent) ATS in their last 55 away contests. They also have failed to cover during their last four road games against the Lakers.

LA destroyed the Warriors, 127-97, at home in Saturday's Game 3. That pushed LA's postseason home record to 5-0. All of the victories have been by six or more points.

The Lakers have peaked at the right time going 16-5 since March 17. I trust their defense more than the Warriors when Golden State is on the road. LeBron James and Anthony Davis received extra rest from Saturday's blowout victory.

The Oilers have one of the great power plays of all-time. They are home now and coming off an impressive 5-1 road victory against the Golden Knights this past Saturday to even this playoff series at 1-1.

But I find the underdog Knights an outstanding value play. Las Vegas has proven resilient all season. The Knights are an excellent road team, much deeper than the Oilers and better than the Oilers when the teams are at full strength.

Only twice have the Knights lost two consecutive games since the All-Star break. They are 10-2 after giving up five or more goals in their previous game. Las Vegas tied for the second-most road points during the regular season and are 11-3 in its past 14 away games. The Knights have outscored the Oilers, 5-3, in the series when the teams were skating five-on-five.

The Oilers can't match Las Vegas' tremendous depth. The Knights are one of the few teams with four strong forward lines and three solid defensive pairings.

Edmonton's strength is its tremendous power play unit. The Knights, though, were the least penalized team in the NHL during the regular season. So the Knights have the right antidote to the Oilers' greatest strength.

Maybe, just maybe, the buy sign is on for the White Sox. Well, it is at least for this game in a pitching matchup of Dylan Cease versus Zack Greinke.

Cease is off to a slow start with a 2-1 record and 4.58 ERA. He was an elite pitcher last year and he still rates two-to-three levels higher than Greinke, who is just an innings-eater at this late stage of his career. Greinke has a 5.25 ERA. He's been bad in four of his last five starts. Cease has a 2.58 career ERA against Kansas City in 12 starts.

If it's not broken, why fix it? That's the way I feel about going Over in this Stars-Kraken Game 3 matchup. These teams have gone Over in each of their last five meetings. That includes the first two games of this Stanley Cup series. There were nine goals scored in Game 1 and six goals produced in Thursday's Game 2 matchup.

Seattle has to be pleased having split two games in Dallas. Now the Kraken has home ice, where they've averaged four goals a game during their last seven home contests. The Kraken were the No. 5 scoring team in the NHL.

Dallas ranked seventh in scoring and fifth in power play goals. Seattle has a below average penalty kill unit. The Stars have scored four goals in each of their last four games. They also have Joe Pavelski back to spark their attack. The 38-year-old Pavelski has scored five goals already in the series.

Sometimes I'm leery about playing a baseball game Over on Sunday when days off are more frequent for starters. 

But I'm going to get involved in this Over. After all, it's the A's versus the Royals. 

The A's are starting rookie Mason Miller. He's backed by an Oakland bullpen that is the worst in the majors with a whopping 6.60 ERA. 

Kansas City is swinging its hottest bats all season averaging six runs in its last eight games. The Royals have left 22 men on base during the first two games of this series - yet still have scored 12 runs. 

Ryan Yarbrough gets the start for Kansas City. That's not good if you're a Royals fan. Yarbrough is 0-4 with a 7.40 ERA. He has thrown a mind-boggling 157 combined pitches in his last two starts spanning just 7 2/3 innings. 

The A's have scored 17 runs during the first two games of this series. The Royals have surrendered at least seven runs in six of their last nine games. Their bullpen has the fourth-worst ERA in the majors at 5.44. 

As an added bonus, the wind is blowing out to left at 10-to-15 mph. That's not good news for Yarbrough. Neither is the fact that the Over is 10-1 (91 percent) the last 11 times the A's have faced a lefty starter. 

The Orioles upset the Braves as better than a 2-to-1 underdog on Friday. I don't see Baltimore doing that again today in a matchup of Kyle Bradish versus Spencer Strider.

Strider is emerging as one of the best pitchers in baseball. He's 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA. Strider is tied for the National League in strikeouts, too.

Bradish is 1-1 with a 6.13 ERA and 1.84 HIP. He's been bashed for 10 earned runs in his last two starts versus the Red Sox and Tigers in seven innings.

The Braves have won by more than one run during nine of their past 10 victories.

Discount their two play-in games and this will be the first time in eight playoff games the Heat are favored. Justified? Yes. They are home and I fully expect Jimmy Butler to play having had five days to deal with his sprained ankle.

But this doesn't mean Miami is the right side.

The Knicks are 38-16-1(70 percent) in their last 55 road games. Julius Randle showed he was past his ankle injury by scoring 25 points, pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing off eight assists in the Knicks' 111-105 Game 2 win this past Tuesday. Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson are playing at high levels, too, for the Knicks. Josh Hart has been a key role player for New York also.

Butler was superman in leading Miami to a stunning upset of Milwaukee in the Heat's first round matchup. Butler, however, may not be as effective because of his sore ankle. Remember, too, the Heat are without their third-leading scorer and most accurate 3-point shooter with Tyler Herro out.

The Heat fluctuated from being 6-to-10 point road underdogs to the Knicks in Game 2. Now they're currently four-point favorites. So I see plenty of line value to the Knicks. Miami is 11-28-1 ATS (29 percent) in their last 40 games following a point spread cover.

It's a given the Suns are going to win Game 3 of their series against the Nuggets, right? After all, Phoenix is down 0-2 and in must-win mode coming home. The Suns are 30-14 at home. The Nuggets are 20-23 on the road.

But on closer inspection, I can't get behind the Suns. There are too many red flags. There's also a hefty point spread tax for backing Phoenix here.

You have to go back to Nov. 11 against the Celtics in Boston to find the last time the Nuggets were this big of underdogs when Nikola Jokic was in the lineup.

Denver beat Phoenix by an average of 14 points in sweeping the first two games of the series in Denver. That's with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant - the Suns' two superstars - having strong performances. Booker is averaging 31 points and seven assists in the series with Durant averaging 26.5 points and 11 rebounds. So it's hard to ask those two to do more than they already are giving.

The Nuggets have two superstars of their own. Jokic has been the best player in the NBA for the past three seasons. He rates a huge edge on Deandre Ayton. Jamal Murray had been as hot as any player until shooting just 3-of-15 from the floor in Game 2. Yet the Nuggets still won that game by 10 points.

Denver has outrebounded the Suns by 13 in the series and has displayed a much stronger rotation and bench. Even with Booker and Durant playing up to par, the Suns have averaged just 97 points in the series.

Now the Suns are not only being asked to cover what I consider an excessive point spread, but do it without point guard Chris Paul. He's out with a groin injury putting Cameron Payne in the spotlight. Payne plays faster than Paul, but he's not nearly as talented, nor does he have big-game, big-minute experience on his resume.

Paul was injured in Monday's Game 2 loss. Payne came in and scored just two points in 17 minutes going 1-for-7 from the floor. Worse, the Suns were minus-16 when he was on the court. That translates to minus-32 if Payne's minutes are doubled from 17 to 34.

Maybe Payne will step up. But I'd rather take the points and go-against him. All the pressure here is on the Suns. Let's see how they hold up. I don't see it going well for them.

There's only one way to attack this game - and that's go Over the total. It's not because the wind is blowing out either.

The A's have by far the worst pitching in the majors. This applies both to their starters and bullpen, which has a 6.78 ERA. That's the worst bullpen ERA in the majors.

Oakland is starting Kyle Muller, who has a 6.28 ERA. The Royals are swinging hot bats, scoring 23 runs in their last three games.

Brad Keller gets the start for Kansas City. He has a 5.40 ERA in his last three starts. That's similar to his past two seasons where he posted ERA's of 5.09 and 5.39.

The Over has cashed in 20 of the A's 32 games this season.

The White Sox have been a monster disappointment at 10-22 as they begin a seven-game road trip.

Lance Lynn certainly hasn't helped. Neither has Chicago's bullpen. The White Sox are 0-6 in Lynn's starts this season. Lynn has a 7.16 ERA. He's giving up 4.1 walks and 2.2 homers per nine innings. The Reds average more than five runs a game at home. White Sox relievers have the second-highest ERA at 6.47.

Oh, yes, the White Sox have also lost eight consecutive road games.

Promising Hunter Greene gets the start for Cincinnati. He's proving he's more than just a tremendous strikeout pitcher with a 2.89 ERA. Greene has yielded just one earned run during his last 14 innings. He's averaging 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

The White Sox rank 28th in road on-base percentage at .284. They are averaging just 3.6 runs when playing on the road.

We saw it Wednesday night with the Celtics. We'll see it tonight with the Warriors. NBA teams down 0-1 in a series at home in Game 2 don't lose and they cover the spread. The record speaks for itself - 20-1 SU, 19-2 ATS since 2018 in that role.

The Lakers caught the Warriors coming off a Game 7 road win against Sacramento when they defeated Golden State, 117-112, this past Tuesday. The Warriors had beaten the Kings just two days before Game 1.

Golden State will be fully ready and prepared now for Game 2. The Warriors shot just six free throws in that Game 1 loss. The Lakers went to the line 29 times making 25. Even with that unstainable disparity, the Warriors had a chance to tie the game with less than 10 seconds left if Jordan Poole could have made an open 3-point shot.

The Lakers paid a price to win Game 1. They played fragile Anthony Davis for 44 minutes.

LA also upset the Grizzlies on the road in Game 1 of its previous series. The Lakers then went on to lose Game 2 in Memphis by 10 points.

The Warriors have played far better at home this season than on the road. Their home point spread record is an amazing: 40-19-1 ATS in their last 60 home games for 68 percent.

The Brewers are due for a strong offensive performance. Look for it to come in this get-away, day game, the finale of their three-game road series against the Rockies.

This is Coors Field, after all, the best hitting stadium in the majors. The wind will be blowing out, too, at 11-to-13 mph.

Relief pitcher Connor Seabold is set to make his first start of the season replacing injured German Marquez. Seabold has a 5.27 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. He was part of the Rockies' bottom-eight ERA bullpen. Seabold career numbers are even worse - 8.49 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 35 major league innings.

Colorado has scored 22 runs in its last three games, all at home. The Rockies draw Wade Miley. He has a 4.25 lifetime ERA against the Rockies.

The Celtics were 10 1/2-point home favorites in Monday's Game 1. They lost to the 76ers straight-up. Boston opened double-digit favorites again for today's Game 2.

Maybe the Celtics even the series. But I won't turn down double-digit points with the 76ers to find out.

Boston lost Game 1 despite shooting 58.7 percent from the field, taking advantage of no Joel Embiid - who isn't likely to play here either - to outscore the 76ers, 66-42, in the paint and committed just 10 fouls. Yet lost.

The Celtics can talk about increasing their defensive intensity. The reality is, though, the Celtics were overconfident hosting the 76ers when Philly didn't have league MVP Embiid. Maybe Boston won't be overconfident anymore. The Celtics, however, can't be trusted to suddenly play better defense. Not when they've given up an average of 121.8 points during their last five games.

I don't expect James Harden to shoot 17-of-30 from the field like he did in Game 1. But Harden has his confidence up and he's backed by some underrated 76er scorers who were held back during the regular season by Embiid's dominance. This list includes Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris and Paul Reed.

The 76ers are 12-5 without Embiid this season. Even more impressive is they are 10-0 ATS in their last 10 away games minus Embiid. Philadelphia also is 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven games.

(Update: Since I released this play last night, the line has come down with word coming that Embiid may indeed play. I like the 76ers getting more than 6 1/2 points with or without Embiid. So the handicap holds.)

Two hot offenses, a hitter's park with the wind blowing out and a pair of disappointing starters should ensure double-digit runs being produced in this Blue Jays-Red Sox matchup.

Toronto is averaging 6.3 runs in its last three games. Boston is averaging 7.0 runs in its last four games.

Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah has been disappointing so far this season with a 4.88 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. Boston ranks in the top five in runs, batting average, homers and OPS.

Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta has a 5.11 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.

The Over has cashed the past seven times the Blue Jays and Red Sox have met.

The forecast is for the wind to be blowing out to left at around 5-to-7 mph. 

The Braves are not a team I normally like to go against. But I find value on the home 'dog Marlins.

Miami has a winning record on the season. The Marlins are 10-7 at home. 

The Marlins had won four in a row until the Braves shut them out, 6-0, on Tuesday. 

I see the Marlins coming back to win today's game in a starting pitching matchup of Kyle Wright versus Braxton Garrett.

Wright led the majors in wins last year going 21-5. He hasn't been that effective this season with an 0-1 record, a 4.86 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. 

Garrett has been the better pitcher with a 1-0 mark, 2.45 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Miami is 4-0 in Garrett's last four starts, including a 5-4 victory against the Braves last week when these two pitchers went against each other.  

I thought the Warriors might be invincible at home. They aren't. During their last two home games, the Lakers lost, 118-99, to the Kings last Friday and just nipped the Kings, 126-125, on April 23.

The Lakers, unlike the Kings, have superstars with playoff experience. LA also is the more rested team having eliminated the Grizzlies in a 40-point blowout this past Friday.

Golden State, on the other hand, is rushed back on the court after beating the Kings in Game 7 of its series just two days ago. The Warriors are 2-7 ATS following a victory.

The Lakers received excellent contributions from a number of their rotation players stepping up, including Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. The Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings against the Warriors, who they beat three of four times during the regular season.

It's going to be extremely difficult for the Panthers to be fully up for this Game 1 series matchup against the Maple Leafs. You can't blame the Panthers either. Florida eliminated the Bruins this past Sunday with an overtime Game 7 victory in Boston. The Bruins had set the NHL regular season record with 65 wins and 135 points.

It was a stunning loss for the Bruins and a tremendous victory for the Panthers.

Florida matched-up well to Boston. The Panthers haven't matched-well to the Maple Leafs when playing in Toronto losing nine of the past 11 times there.

Toronto should feel less pressure now after winning their first playoff series in 19 years by taking out the Lightning this past Saturday. It's a great spot for the Maple Leafs. One that should result in a victory.

Here's the thing about the Nuggets. They were outshot by the Suns, 51.2 percent to 47.5 percent, and outscored in the paint, 60-48, by the Suns during Saturday's Game 1. Kevin Durant had a big game scoring 29 points, hitting 12 of 19 shots from the field, while Nikola Jokic made just 9-of-21 shots from the field.

Yet the Nuggets won Game 1 - and won it by 18 points, 125-107.

Denver is just so tough at home being 38-7 and is peaking. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon are healthy. Guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown and Christian Braun know how to effectively defend Chris Paul, who got a pass in the Suns' first-round series victory against the Clippers with LA minus Paul George and then Kawhi Leonard the last couple of games. George and Leonard not only are great scorers, but excellent defenders.

The Suns had seven more turnovers than the Nuggets in Game 1 and pulled down 11 fewer rebounds.

Then there's Jamal Murray. He's the hottest player in the playoffs during the past two games, averaging 39 points while making 25-of-47 shots from the field and sinking 11-of-20 shots from 3-point range.

The Nuggets have won and covered four in a row against the Suns, including all three games played in Denver. Phoenix is 3-7 in its last 10 road games.

The Rangers are right where they want to be - on the road and in a Game 7 playoff series.

The Rangers are 8-3 in their last 11 visits against the Devils. Road teams are 31-18 (63%) in the playoffs this season. The No. 1 seeded Bruins and defending champion Avalanche were just eliminated yesterday on their home ice in Game 7 matchups. The Rangers went 2-0 in the Stanley Cup playoffs last year in Game 7's.

The Devils haven't won a playoff series in 11 seasons.

New Jersey could have won the series this past Saturday, but were soundly thrashed, 5-2, in Game 6.

That sets up this Game 7. I like the Rangers' momentum, track record and goalie edge.

Rookie Akira Schmid finally was exposed in net by the Rangers in Game 6. Devils coach Lindy Ruff pulled him after Schmid gave up five goals on 29 shots. Vitek Vanecek went back in goal. Vanecek was the goalie for the first two games of the series and was terrible, surrendering nine goals on 52 shots. So Ruff has a tough, unattractive goalie choice.

The Rangers, on the other hand, have an elite goalie, Igor Shesterkin, who is playing well. Shesterkin has a 1.79 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage in the series.

Both Toronto and Boston have top-10 offenses. The Red Sox are No. 3 in the majors in runs. That's not good for starting pitchers Jose Berrios and Corey Kluber.

Berrios is bad on the road. Kluber is bad at Fenway Park.

Berrios has a 7.56 road ERA. Boston has scored 15 runs in its last two games. Kluber's home ERA is 8.78.

Temperatures are only going to reach the low 50's, but the wind is blowing out to left field at 8-9 mph.

There were just 217 points scored in the Kings' 118-99 Game 6 road win against the Warriors Friday. Sacramento's upset victory has set up today's Game 7. It's not difficult to imagine both teams playing their most intense defense and tempo being slower than perceived with this being the team's third game in five days. Certainly these teams know each other extremely well by now.

The Under has covered 62 percent of the time during the past 63 Game 7's.

The Warriors-Kings haven't scored more than 220 points during three of their last five games in the series.

Rust, a feeling-out-process and two outstanding defensive teams with defensive gurus as their coaches. Those are among the reasons why I like this Game 1 of the Heat-Knicks series to go Under.

The Heat stunned the Bucks in a high-scoring series. The Knicks were the opposite. They disposed of the higher seeded Cavaliers in five games in their series with all five games going Under.

Both teams last played this past Wednesday. So they've had three full days to rest and game plan. Miami's Erik Spoelstra and New York's Tom Thibodeau are elite defensive coaches.

The Heat are without Tyler Herro, their third-leading scorer and most accurate 3-point shooter. The Knicks ranked No. 3 in defensive field goal percentage. They held the Cavaliers to an average of 89 points during the last three games of their series.

The Knicks' leading scorer, Julius Randle, is hobbled by a sprained ankle. He averaged 14.4 points in the Cavaliers series, down from his 25.1 points he averaged during the regular season. Miami surrendered the second-fewest points in the league during the regular season.

The teams last played a month ago. There were 193 points scored in that game.

The Astros host the Phillies in the middle game of their 3-game World Series rematch. Aaron Nola beat the Astros, 3-1, in Friday night's opener.

It has been 18 games since the Astros dropped consecutive games. They have won by an average of 5.3 runs following each of their past six losses.

Even with that victory, the Phillies are just 12-28 in their last 40 interleague road games. The Astros are 66-31 in their last 97 home games.

The Astros have the far superior bullpen and I give them the checkmark, too, in starting pitchers with a matchup of Zach Wheeler versus Christian Javier.

Wheeler is off to a slow start with a 4.73 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Javier has a 3.21 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP. Houston is 4-1 in Javier's five starts.

The Astros have the fifth-lowest bullpen ERA at 2.90. Philadelphia relievers rank 25th in bullpen ERA at 4.65.

Great season by the Kings, but it's closeout time now for the Warriors. The defending world champions have won the past three games in the series. They need to win this one at home knowing a loss forces them to go back to Sacramento for Game 7.

The Warriors are 12-32 on the road and 35-8 at home, including 2-0 against the Kings during this series. Needless to say, they play far better at home. Their 40-17-1 (70 percent) ATS record in their last 58 home games is proof of that.

But this huge home/road split didn't stop the Warriors from inflicting a huge defeat on the Kings in Game 5 at Sacramento, 123-116, this past Wednesday.

That loss has to be demoralizing for the upstart Kings and a huge reinforced confidence boost for the Warriors.

Golden State has all hands on deck now with Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II aiding superstar Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. The Kings don't have the defense to keep the Warriors in check ranking 25th in scoring defense and 29th in defensive field goal percentage.

The Kings need to keep pace offensively with the Warriors to stay in the game. That's even more difficult for them now with their star guard De'Aaron Fox hampered by a broken finger. The injury affected his shooting as Fox was just 9-of-25 from the floor in Game 5 in his first game dealing with the injury.

I see the Bruins ending their first-round series against the Panthers today - and doing it in convincing style.

The Panthers staved off elimination by upsetting the Bruins, 4-3 in overtime, in Boston during Wednesday's Game 5. The Bruins outshot the Panthers, 47-25, but made some horrendous turnovers that cost them the game. I don't see that happening again.

Perhaps the Bruins were pressing too much playing at home. They should be focused being in Florida where they are 2-0 in the series, outscoring the Panthers by six goals during those two games.

Boston is the best team in the NHL. The Bruins will prove it here. I'm confident enough of that to take a nice plus price on them laying 1 1/2 goals on the puck line.

These two teams each won 101 games last year. But the Braves are the better team through this first month of this season.

The Mets just got through losing a series to the lowly Nationals. New York is 1-4 in its last five games. The Mets are giving up an average of 5.8 runs in their last five games.

The Braves enter the opener of this series disgusted and mad after blowing a 4-run ninth inning leading against the Marlins on Thursday.

The pitching matchup of Max Fried versus David Peterson greatly favors Atlanta.

Fried was the National League Cy Young Award runner-up last season. He is 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA this season. Peterson is 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA. He has a 4.50 career ERA versus the Braves in eight appearances, including seven starts.

The Braves have won eight of their last nine road games.

Perhaps they feel less pressure. Some teams just play better on the road, especially when it counts the most.

The Rangers are such a team. New York rolled past the Devils, 5-1 in both Games 1 and 2, in this first-round series. Both wins were at New Jersey.

But then the Rangers seemed to play tight and without Stanley Cup playoff intensity when they returned home, losing a pair of close games to the Devils.

Now the Rangers go back to New Jersey - and I'm expecting them to win this Game 5 there.

New York is 4-1 in its past five away contests. The Rangers have defeated the Devils in eight of the last 11 meetings in New Jersey.

Look for a great effort from the Rangers after their coach, Gerard Gallant, ripped them for their poor play at home.

The Devils are braced for a strong Rangers' performance.

"We are going to see their best game," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said of the Rangers. "There is no doubt, by far, we will see their best game.''

I believe him.

I find George Kirby and lefty Matt Strahm to be two below-the-radar pitchers. Given the weather conditions, home plate umpire and these starters being underrated, I'm going Under.

Kirby has the potential to be a star pitcher. He's backed by a Seattle bullpen that has the seventh-lowest ERA in the majors.

Strahm has a 3.00 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 18 innings. The Mariners are batting only .206 against southpaw pitching. The Under has cashed the last six times the Mariners have gone against a lefty starter.

Andy Fletcher is slated to be the home plate umpire. The Under is 36-15 (71 percent) the past three years when Fletcher has been behind the plate.

This is a day getaway game. The weather isn't a plus for offense with the forecast being cloudy with temperatures only in the low 50's.

This series has been much higher scoring than expected. The Over has cashed in each of the first four games.

The Heat have the top-seeded Bucks on the verge of elimination up 3-1 in the series. Jimmy Butler is averaging 36.5 points in the series and the Heat have made 60-of-126 3-point shots for a 47.6 3-point shooting percentage.

This blazing shooting can't continue.

The Heat ranked 27th during the regular season in 3-point shooting percentage at 34.4 percent. Butler is a great player, but he's not some insane scorer like he's been through the first four games. Only once in his 13-year NBA career has he averaged more than 23 points. He averaged 22.9 points this season.

The Bucks ranked No. 2 in defensive field goal percentage and had the fourth-best defensive efficiency in the league. The Heat were the No. 2 defensive team in the NBA. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra is a defensive guru.

The intensity should be at its highest point for this game, especially from the Bucks.

Swept the past two games at home, the Panthers find themselves down, 3-1, to the Bruins and on the verge of elimination in this first-round series matchup.

I don't see Florida upsetting the Bruins in Boston in this Game 5. I'm willing, too, to turn a huge lay price into a plus price by laying 1 1/2 goals on the puck line with the Bruins. The bonus being this is a closeout spot so the Panthers won't hesitate to pull their goalie early if down by a goal or two near the end of the game. 

The Bruins have been dominant all season. They certainly are dominant at home having won 42 of their last 51 games there. Florida has lost 20 of the past 26 times in Boston. 

Boston, though, will be taking nothing for granted as the road Panthers upset the Bruins in Game 2. The stinging defeat was a wakeup call for Boston. The Bruins beat the Panthers, 4-2 and 6-2, in Games 3 and 4. Boston's last six victories now have all been by more than one goal. 

As a bonus, the Bruins could get back their captain, Patrice Bergeron. He's yet to play in the series after getting hurt in Boston's regular-season finale. Bergeron is Boston's second-leading goal-scorer. 

This one could get ugly. The Panthers are down 3-1 in the series, on the verge of elimination. They will hold nothing back. The Bruins are heavily favored. So if the Panthers find themselves trailing late in the game - a logical conclusion - they won't hesitate to pull their goalie even if they fall behind by two or three goals.

Florida certainly is capable offensively. The Panthers were the sixth-highest scoring team in the league. They also were No. 1 in shots on net.

The Bruins were the No. 2 scoring team in the NHL. Boston is averaging 4.4 goals during its past seven games, scoring at least three goals in each of these games.

The Bruins are expected to get back their second-leading goal scorer and team captain, Patrice Bergeron, today. He's missed the entire series after getting hurt during the Bruins' final regular-season game.

The Over has cashed six of the past eight times these teams have met.

This series has been dead even. It's tied 2-2 with three of the four games going into overtime. There have been 27 goals scored, 14 by Edmonton and 13 by LA.

The Kings should have won the last game this past Sunday. They built a 3-0 lead only to lose in overtime.

The Kings have proven themselves on the road going 21-14-6 during the regular season. They have split the two playoff games played in Edmonton during the series.

So I'm expecting another close game and am protected if the game reaches overtime again by taking the puck line.

The Timberwolves got their playoff victory coming from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Nuggets in overtime at home during Sunday's Game 4 of their series.

So the Timberwolves gained a little pride. The grim reality is they are down 3-1 in the series and back in Denver where they figure to get clobbered.

The Nuggets aren't going to screw around now with this overmatched opponent that could be missing three key rotation players. Minnesota definitely is minus injured Jaden McDaniels and Nat Reid and now Kyle Anderson is questionable with an eye injury.

Expect an intense effort from the now-aroused Nuggets at home. which should insure a double-digit victory. Denver has beaten Minnesota the past three times at home by an average of 24 points, including a 29-point win in Game 1. Denver has also covered six of the past seven times following a loss.

The Yankees are 2-3 against the Twins this season. They just lost, 6-1, to the Twins and former teammate Sonny Gray on Monday. The Yankees have averaged only 3.1 runs in their last dozen games while hitting just .199 during this time frame.

So why get involved with the Yankees today?

It's tough to turn down a plus price on New York when Nestor Cortes is on the hill. The Yankees are 8-1 this season when Cortes and Gerrit Cole have started. They are 5-9 in their other games.

The Yankees also have dominated the Twins despite Monday's loss going 116-43 (73 percent) versus the Twins the past 21 years.

Minnesota is starting Joe Ryan, who is 4-0 with a 3.24 ERA. Nothing against Ryan. But I prefer Cortes, who has surrendered two earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts. Cortes hasn't given up more than three earned runs during his past 16 starts.

This is my MLB Game of the Week.

The Texas Rangers lead the AL West with a 14-8 record and have their second-best pitcher, Martin Perez, starting for them today. The Reds have the third-worst record in the National League at 8-15. They are starting Luke Weaver, who is on the comeback trail and has a long way to go to regain respectability following a serious arm injury.

It's actually an advantage for the Rangers to be playing at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park because it's one of the best hitter's parks in baseball and the Rangers have the far superior offense.

Texas has scored the second-most runs in baseball. The Rangers also rank fifth in batting average and are eighth in homers. The Reds have a bottom-10 offense. They have the third-fewest homers, too.

Perez is a late bloomer. The 31-year-old earned his first All-Star honor last year after 11 years in the majors. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his four starts. The Rangers' bullpen blew Monday's game to the Reds in a 7-6 loss. But that shouldn't happen again. Texas entered this series with the second-best bullpen ERA.

The Reds had lost six in a row prior to Monday. This will be Weaver's second start of the season after throwing just 35 2/3 innings last season, mostly in relief. Weaver gave up four runs in six innings against the Pirates in his start this year, giving up two homers.

Look for the Rangers to bounce back here behind Perez and underrated offense.

The Grizzlies have been road underdogs 16 times this season. Their record in those games? 0-16 SU, 2-14 ATS.

That's powerful evidence that this isn't a good spot for Memphis.

The Lakers are peaking at the right time. Superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis are both playing at high levels. The Lakers also are getting key contributions from role players Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder.

The Grizzlies split the opening two games of this series at home. But they couldn't hang with the Lakers during Saturday's Game 3 in LA. The final score of LA winning, 111-101, is misleading. The Grizzlies were never in the game. The Lakers buried them, 35-9, in the first quarter.

Memphis lost by double-digits despite a monster performance from Ja Morant, who scored 45 points while shooting 13-of-26 from the floor. Morant scored more than half of those points during the meaningless fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies are minus big men Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke. Adams led the Grizzlies in rebounding while Clarke was fourth.

James is at his competitive best spurred on in part by being goaded by the stupidity and dirty play of Dillon Brooks, who called James old and not worthy of respect.

The Giants are proving not to be very good with an 8-13 record. One problem for them is their inability to win a series opener. San Francisco has played six series this season and lost Game 1 in five of them.

There has been no winning consistency either with the Giants. They are 1-8 following a victory.

The Cardinals are off to a slow start, too, at 9-13. But they are the superior team and I like their starting pitcher better in a matchup of Jordan Montgomery versus Alex Cobb. Montgomery's 4.84 ERA is misleading as he's had three strong outings in four starts.

Cobb has a 2.79 ERA, but has yet to win. Cobb doesn't figure to be helped by a bullpen that has the fourth-highest ERA. The Cardinals' bullpen, by contrast, ranks in the top 10 in ERA.

The Hawks just didn't beat the Celtics, 130-122, in Friday's Game 3 of this series by riding an overdue great shooting game from Trae Young. They did it by also outscoring the Celtics by 14 points in the paint and grabbing 19 more rebounds.

Atlanta has been good at home, much better than on the road. The Hawks' confidence is up and I give them a coaching edge with Quin Snyder against playoff rookie Joe Mazzulla.

There's also a possibility the Celitcs won't have guard Marcus Smart, who is questionable with a tailbone injury.

If there's a key number in the NBA it's 6. So this is enough points for me to get involved with the Hawks.

The Royals are looking terrible again. They are 2-10 in their last 12 games with nine of the 10 losses coming by multiple runs.

Angels starter Reid Detmers is up and down. He looked good, though, in his last start, holding the Red Sox to two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings last Sunday.

The Royals are going with Jordan Lyles, who has been nothing but a journeyman. Lyles traditionally hasn't fared well against the Angels with a 6.39 ERA in 10 career outings, including nine starts.

The Royals have lost 10 of their last 14 road games against the Angels.

The Bruins set the NHL regular season record for wins and points. Until proven otherwise, they are the best team in the NHL. They have taken control of their first-round series against the Panthers going up 2-1 following a 4-2 road win against the Panthers two days ago.

I don't see the Panthers getting back into the series after that loss.

The Bruins exposed 30-year-old career minor league goalie Alex Lyon, who allowed several soft goals in Friday's loss. Lyon had been a major surprise for the Panthers down the stretch. But the team may have lost confidence in him now. That could mean a pivot to Sergei Bobrovsky, who hasn't played since March 27. So there would be plenty of rust if the Panthers go with Bobrovsky in net.

The Panthers may not have their best defenseman, Aaron Ekblad, either. He's questionable after getting hurt in Game 3.

The Bruins are 41-11 the past 52 times when playing on one day's rest.

This comes down to value again for me. St. Louis is off to a slow start. But the Mariners also are below .500.

The line is high because Seattle is starting Luis Castillo. He's off to a huge start going 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA. I've always considered the streaky Castillo better than average rather than great. I think he's overrated. Castillo, a former Reds player, has a 4.25 ERA in 18 starts versus St. Louis.

Castillo's numbers are due to go up while Cardinals starter, Miles Mikolas, numbers are due to go down. The righthander has an 8.10 ERA. Mikolas had his best outing of the season in his last start, however. He held the surprising 14-7 Pirates to two runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Mariners are 2-6 the past eight times they've faced a righty starter at home.

Playoff basketball in the NBA is where defenses step up, right? You couldn't tell that at all from watching the first two games of the Heat-Bucks series. The first two games have flown Over the total.

I'm looking for reality to get a grip in this Game 3.

It doesn't matter if Giannis Antetokounmpo can play or not. I don't see the Bucks matching their two-game playoff average of 127.5 points, nor coming close to matching their series shooting percentage from the floor of 51.5 percent. Miami is the No. 2 scoring defense in the league. Erik Spoelstra is a well respected defensive coach. The Heat are home now. The teams last played on Wednesday so there has been ample time to game plan and adjust.

The same can be said for Milwaukee. The Bucks were No. 2 in defensive field goal percentage during the regular season. However, the Heat are averaging 126 points - 13 above their league-low season average - and shooting 56.5 percent from the field. That's insane.

While Antetokounmpo's status is taking center stage, the Heat definitely will be without Tyler Herro. He's Miami's third-leading scorer, its top 3-point shooter and best free throw shooter. Herro averages 20.1 points a game. The next closest to Herro on Miami's scoring list is Max Strus, who averages 11.5 points.

So, yes, I'm expecting a huge regression in the scoring and shooting percentages of these teams beginning with this Game 3.

We know the Maple Leafs' choking playoff history. They haven't advanced past the first round since 2004. 

But the buy sign is on Toronto now. The Maple Leafs came back from a 7-3 Game 1 embarrassment to blow out the Lightning, 7-2, this past Thursday. 

It's not just renewed confidence for the Maple Leafs. The Lightning are down from years past. They are not in particularly good form having lost five of their last seven games and they could be missing key defensemen Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak for a second straight game. Both were injured in Game 1. Hedman, in particular, is important. 

I am far from convinced the Cavaliers are the better team in this series. I'm backing that belief up by taking the Knicks on the money line.

The Knicks were 23-18 at home during the regular season. They beat Cleveland both times at home. The Cavaliers have a losing road record. They also lost 13 of 16 times straight-up when they were a road underdog, which is the case here.

The Knicks upset the Cavaliers in Cleveland in Game 1. The Knicks - fat and content - mailed in Game 2 and were spanked, 107-90. Now the series shifts to Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won't be fat and happy here. Their intensity will be full bore. They are dangerous with a healthy Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson. The Knicks are going to get tremendous crowd support.

The Cavaliers are an outstanding defensive team. Their offense is heavily reliant upon Donovan Mitchell. He had trouble shooting at spacious Madison Square Garden in the two regular season games there hitting just 17 of 46 shots from the floor for 37 percent.

Cleveland has failed to cover in four of its last five visits to Madison Square Garden.

If the A's weren't bad enough now the news has broken that they likely will be moving to Las Vegas. That has to be a major distraction for the Oakland players. 

Being a Las Vegas resident I say let Oakland keep the A's. Who wants them? The A's are the worst team in baseball, losers of 16 of 19 games. 

The A's have the worst run margin difference in the majors at minus-86. They have lost seven in a row, losing their last three games by an average of 7.6 runs. So I have no qualms about laying 1 1/2 runs with the Rangers on the run line.

Texas is off to a 12-6 start looking much improved. The Rangers have won four in a row. 

Texas starter Jon Gray can dominate weak-hitting teams such as the A's, who have a bottom-five offense and just lost outfielder Ramon Laureano to injury. J.P. Sears gets the start for Oakland backed by a terrible A's bullpen that ranks 29th in ERA with a 6.78 ERA. Sears has a 5.00 ERA in two career starts against Texas. 

Surprised the Islanders are favored against the Hurricanes?

Don't be. The oddsmaker has it right. After two close road losses, the Islanders get to host their first playoff game at UBS Arena.

Carolina nipped New York, 2-1, in Game 1. The Hurricanes nipped the Islanders, 4-3, in overtime in Wednesday's Game 2. The Islanders had 12 penalty minutes in Game 2. Carolina wasn't whistled for a penalty.

The Hurricanes scored the overtime winner on a sequence after the referee failed to call an obvious high stick penalty on Carolina's Jordan Martinook.

The Islanders have won their last four home games. They are due to get some breaks.

The Hurricanes' forward depth took another hit when left winger Teuvo Teravainen suffered a broken hand late in Wednesday's game. Teravainen had 37 points playing on Carolina's top line.

It shouldn't be that shocking Golden State is down 0-2 to Sacramento. After all, the first two games of this series were in Sacramento. The Warriors were 11-30 on the road.

But now the Warriors return home. That makes all the difference. Golden State is 33-8 at home. All of the Warriors' statistics are better at home than on the road. Each of Golden State's past nine home victories have been by at least eight points. The Warriors are 39-16-1 (71 percent) ATS in their last 56 home contests.

I'm not worried the Warriors won't have Draymond Green. I'm being objective here since I haven't despised a Golden State player as much as I do Green since Rick Barry (yes I go that far back). Barry was a whiner. Green is a whiner and a dirty player.

I digress. I'll gladly accept the tradeoff of laying fewer points without Green. Because the Warriors won't need Green to produce an all-out effort at home in must-win mode while the Kings come in fat and happy having accomplished what they set out to do in Sacramento.

I'm expecting a professional, focused effort from the defending world champions without having to be concerned about Green's distractions and drama. Golden State went 2-0 at home this season when they didn't have Green.

The Kings are listing their best big man, Domantas Sabonis, as questionable with a bruised sternum. I fully expect Sabonis to play. It's just an unexpected bonus if he doesn't, or is limited.

The key to getting this Over is believing each team can score 120 points. This is playoff basketball so that may seem like a tall order. But I see it getting accomplished in this Game 3 matchup.

The Kings have shot 45.3 percent from the floor during the first two games. They shot 49.4 percent from the field during the regular season. They've made 30 percent of their 3-point shots. They made 36.9 percent during the regular season.

Yet the Kings still are averaging 120 points per game in the series. They are due to shoot better. They were the No. 1 scoring team in the NBA, while ranking No. 2 in shooting percentage and ninth in 3-point percentage.

Golden State ranked 21st in scoring defense and was below average, too, in 3-point defense. And that was with Draymond Green, its best defender. Green is suspended for this game.

Tempo is going to be huge here. The Warriors will run with anybody, especially at home. But will the Kings accommodate them? Yes, according to Sacramento coach Mike Brown. Here's what he was quoted as saying, ''We keep talking pace, pace, pace, pace. We gotta keep playing fast, fast, fast, fast, even faster than (Game 2) because that's the way we play. We generate a lot of points by just pushing the ball.''

Green gets his touches, but his presence will be missed more on defense. The Warriors have better statistics across the board when playing at home. They will look to bury the Kings down 0-2 in the series in must-win mode and needing positive reinforcement.

I find this a fair price to lay in order to back the superior team and pitcher in a good situational spot.

The 12-7 Mets have won six of their last seven games. They have a strong history against weak teams, which the 6-11 Giants are. New York is 43-19 (69 percent) the past 62 times when playing opponents with a winning percentage below .400 percent.

The pitching matchup pits Kodai Senga against Sean Manaea. Senga has looked good in three starts going 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings. Manaea hasn't been as impressive with a 4.76 ERA.

The Giants are off an extra inning victory against the Marlins yesterday. They are 0-7 the past seven times following a victory. The Giants also had to make the long cross-country flight from South Florida to Northern California crossing three time zones. The Mets, on the other hand, already are in California having just concluded a successful series against the Dodgers.

Backing the Maple Leafs in the playoffs can be an exercise in futility. But I see the Maple Leafs coming up big against the Lightning at home in Game 2 of their series after being upset by four goals as a mid-sized favorite two days ago in Game 1.

Toronto is 5-0 the past five times following a home loss of three or more goals.

The Maple Leafs have the talent. Their lack of intensity and mistakes around the net prevalent in Game 1 should be cleaned up here following that opening game, 7-3, embarrassament.

Tampa Bay has lost six of its last eight road games. This is not the great Lightning team of the past few years.

The Lightning also have injury concerns, especially on the blue line. Defenseman Erik Cernak is out. Star defenseman Victor Hedman is questionable with an undisclosed injury. He didn't practice Wednesday.

The Wild played a gutty game in upsetting the Stars, 3-2, in double overtime this past Monday in Dallas to win Game 1 of this Stanley Cup series.

Dallas had won six in a row prior to Monday's game. I like the Stars to come back and win this Game 2 at home.

The Stars dominated the Wild during the third period and in the overtimes with more shots and scoring chances.

But the Wild were able to withstand the pressure despite missing two key players, defenseman John Klingberg and forward Joel Eriksson, their third-leading goal scorer. Both are questionable for this Game 2.

Three main reasons why I want the Astros going for me here: Line value, Houston home off a loss and fading Jose Berrios on the road.

The Blue Jays beat the Astros, 4-2, on Tuesday. The Astros have won by 4, 7, 6 and 7 runs following their past four defeats. Long-term, the Astros are 42-15 after losing their previous game.

Berrios had a 6.36 road ERA last season. He has an 11.17 road ERA this season in starts against the Angels and light-hitting Royals. Berrios has a 4.81 ERA in seven career starts versus Houston.

The Astros are going with Luis Garcia, who has a 4.00 career ERA against Toronto in three starts.

It's a plus for the Under if Ja Morant can't play because of a right hand injury. Even if he does, though, I still like the Under.

The Lakers' 128-112 Game 1 victory in this series has some influence on why this total is too high in my view.

The Lakers shot 53 percent from the floor and 43 percent from 3-point range in the Game 1 victory. The teams combined to make 29 of 32 free throws for 91 percent.

The Grizzlies finished first in defensive field goal percentage. The Lakers ranked 25th in 3-point shooting at 34.6 percent. LA got a huge scoring burst from role players Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves. They combined for 52 points while shooting 19 of 27 from the floor for 70 percent. I don't see a repeat of that in this Game 2.

Memphis should be applying maximum intensity and defensive pressure knowing a loss would send them to LA down 0-2 in the series.

The Lakers have been playing outstanding defense down the stretch. They've held their last four foes to an average of 106 points in regulation.

Corey Kluber isn't just past his prime. The 37-year-old days as an effective starter may be finished. Kluber is 0-3 with a 6.92 ERA this season. The Red Sox must secretly have buyer's remorse.

The wind will be blowing out at 10-to-12 miles per hour at Fenway Park.

The combination of Kluber and the wind blowing out at hitter-friendly Fenway Park help put me on the Over.

Minnesota is starting Joe Ryan. He's due for some regression being 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA. He's facing a Boston lineup that ranks sixth in runs and 10th in homers.

I had the Clippers plus 7 1/2 in Game 1 of this series expecting a huge performance from Kawhi Leonard. So I wasn't surprised when Leonard scored 38 in the Clippers' upset victory this past Sunday.

But now I'm going the other way for this Game 2 riding the Zig Zag theory. I don't see the Suns losing a second straight home game, which would put them in serious jeopardy for the series.

Kevin Durant also played well in that Game 1. The Suns are 8-1 with Durant in their lineup. They way outnumber the Paul George-less Clippers in star power. The Suns won't be taking the Clippers lightly in this must-win spot.

The Clippers are 2-6 ATS the past eight times following a victory.

The Braves have won seven in a row. They are the best team in the National League. The Padres are 2-6 in their last eight games. They've scored three or fewer runs in five of their last six games.

The starting pitching matchup heavily favors the Braves, too.

So I like the Braves a lot here.

Spencer Strider goes against lefty Blake Snell.

Strider is an emerging star in his second season. His career numbers are 13-5 with a 2.76 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a 229-to-54 strikeouts to walk ratio.

Snell traditionally begins slow. He's really struggling this season. Snell has given up 11 runs, 10 of which were earned, on 18 hits and 10 walks in his last three starts spanning 13 innings. Opponents are batting .327 against him during this span. The Braves are 5-1 versus lefty starters this season. They have the second-highest batting average against southpaw pitching at .324.

The Braves just saw Snell 12 days ago and got to him for four runs on six hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.

I want the Astros off a 9-1 home loss to the Rangers. Houston is 41-15 (73 percent) the past 56 times following a loss.

And the Astros are an underdog here.

The Blue Jays just finished a big three-game series against the Rays. So their concentration could be a little off.

Toronto holds a starting pitching edge with Kevin Gausman versus Christian Javier.

Gausman is an elite pitcher. However, he has a losing lifetime record against the Astros with a 4.55 ERA in five career starts.

The oddsmaker opened this Game 1 too short.

Each of the four regular-season games went Over the total. There was an average of eight goals scored per game in the four games.

Yes, this is the playoffs. But the Panthers aren't going to get into a grind-out battle with Boston. If you discount a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs, the Panthers have averaged 4.8 goals in their last six games. Florida ranks first in shots on goal and sixth in goals scored.

The Bruins were the second-highest scoring team in the league. They are averaging five goals a game during their last three games and facing a below average Florida defense.

Both teams play at a very slow pace. That held firm in Saturday's Game 1 where there were fewer than 91 possessions. Yet the total went Over with the 76ers winning, 121-101.

So what happened?

The Nets shot 56 percent from the floor. The 76ers set a team playoff record by making 21 3-pointers. They made 21 of 43 shots from behind the arc. That's 49 percent. The 76ers shot 38 percent from 3-point range during the regular season. 

The Nets rank fourth in defensive field goal percentage. The 76ers are third in scoring defense. If you discount a 123-point performance against the hapless Pistons, the Nets are averaging only 102 points in their last four games. 

These are two strong defenses and now they've played a playoff game against each other so defensive adjustments will be coming.

"Game 2 is going to be much more difficult,'' 76ers guard James Harden was quoted as saying. "They're going to make adjustments and we're going to make adjustments, so it's going to be the most important game of the series. ...'' 

The Nets don't have nearly the talent anymore that the 76ers have. But the Nets are pesky, spunky and will be going all out after losing, 121-101, to Philadelphia in Saturday's Game 1 playoff matchup.

That was just the fourth time in their last 21 games that the Nets lost by more than 10 points.

The 76ers made a franchise-record 21 3-pointers while hitting 48 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. The 76ers dominated the offensive glass. Philadelphia ended up getting 19 more shots than Brooklyn. The Nets committed 19 turnovers.

I'm expecting adjustments and far less sloppy play from the Nets in this Game 2.

Forget the regular season. The Clippers are in the playoffs. That makes them dangerous. They are a veteran team with arguably the best all-around player in basketball, Kawhi Leonard. Only twice during the previous two seasons did the Clippers lose by more than seven points in a playoff matchup spanning 21 games.

The Suns look far superior on paper with stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton. But The Suns aren't in sync yet due to Durant playing only eight games for them. Phoenix also doesn't have a deep bench. The Suns' reserve strength could be even more thin if injured Bismack Biyombo and Cameron Payne aren't ready to play after getting hurt during the second-to-last game of the regular season.

The Clippers have better reserves. Paul George is out, but the Clippers have Russell Westbrook along with underrated role players Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum.

The Clippers also have proven extremely tough following ample rest. They have covered 69 percent of their last 52 games when playing with three or more days rest.

The Suns are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. They ranked between fifth and seventh, overall, in many of the major defensive categories, including fewest points per game, defensive field goal percentage and blocked shots.

Phoenix's defensive intensity should be at its peak, too, now that it's playoff time. They catch the Clippers without their leading scorer, injured Paul George and his 23.8 points per game average.

The season stats might not show it, but the Clippers are a strong defensive team, too, especially during the playoffs. Toss out giving up 130 points to the Suns two seasons ago and the Clippers have allowed just 99.3 points in their last six playoff games.

The teams last played a week ago. So there could be a rust factor.

The Under has cashed six of the last eight times the Clippers and Suns have met.

Grayson Rodriguez has a high ceiling for Baltimore. But Rodriguez hasn't shown he's ready for the majors during his first two starts this season. He has a 6.75 ERA. 

The White Sox are going with their ace, Dylan Cease, who is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA. Cease was dominant last season going 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA and 227 strikeouts in 184 innings. He has 24 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings this season. 

I want Cease going for me at this price. Rodriguez is a fade until he proves himself. 

Yes, these teams can hit. But the starting pitching matchup of Shane McClanahan versus Alek Manoah trumps that. These are two legitimate Cy Young Award candidates.

McClanahan is 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA. He has a 2.87 career ERA in six starts against Toronto.

Toronto hasn't given up more than three runs in any of its past five games. The Rays' bats are cooling off. They are averaging 2.5 runs in their last two games. 

Manoah has a 1.42 lifetime ERA versus the Rays in seven starts. 

There's a huge class difference between these two teams. So I find this a short price to lay.

Promising Bryce Elder makes his 12th career start for Atlanta. He hasn't allowed a run in 12 1/3 innings this season. Elder faces an anemic Royals offense that ranks in the bottom three in runs and batting average.

The Royals are pitching lefty Kris Bubic, who had a 5.58 ERA and 1.69 WHIP last season. Bubic has pitched much better in his first two starts, but now encounters a hot Ronald Acuna and a Braves team that is batting .336 against lefties.

Maybe my trust is misplaced. But I've always been high on White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech especially now that he's healthy. Kopech has bad early numbers - 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA - but the buy sign is on for me to back Kopech and the White Sox at home at this price.

Kopech is coming off a well-pitched game. He allowed one run on two hits in six innings against the Pirates this past Sunday. Kopech has been solid against the Orioles with a 3.38 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in eight innings.

I'm not a fan of Orioles starter Kyle Gibson. He had an ERA above 5.00 with the Phillies the previous two seasons and a 5.35 ERA with the Rangers in 2020.

These are two good defensive teams. Now throw in playoff intensity, an early start time and how well acquainted they are with each other and you have the winning formula for an Under.

The Nets are a top-10 defensive team. They ranked fourth in defensive field goal percentage, too. That's not good news for James Harden. He's healthy at last. But Harden is more methodical rather than up-tempo. He holds the ball a long time taking time off the clock. Both teams rated in the bottom 10 in terms of pace.

Philadelphia had the third-stingiest defense. The 76ers rank fifth in 3-point defense. If you discount a 123-point performance against the hapless Pistons, the Nets are averaging 102.6 points in their last three games.

These teams have had six days to study each other's sets and tendencies, something they already know. They're familiar with the plays they run. This is Game 1, a feeling out process. It's an early start, too.

So don't expect a high-scoring game.

No surprise Oakland has the worst record so far at 3-10. That's because the A's are the worst team in the league.

The Mets are going with Kodai Senga, their big off-season pickup from Japan. Senga has been brilliant so far going 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. He has a rested bullpen behind him as the Mets were idle Thursday.

The A's are in action for the eighth straight day. They have a taxed bullpen and a terrible starter going today, James Kaprielian. He has an 11.17 ERA in his two starts this season bombed by the Guardians and Rays.

Each of the Mets' seven victories have come by more than one run.

Disrespected by the oddsmaker and marketplace all season, Oklahoma City has proven it is far ahead of schedule. The Thunder have covered 57 percent of their games this season going 46-34-3 ATS. They will reach the playoffs if they beat the Timberwolves.

The Thunder upset the Pelicans on Wednesday. I see them doing the same to Minnesota. Oklahoma City is on house money. The pressure is on the favored Timberwolves. Minnesota is banged-up and has chemistry issues. I find the Timberwolves untrustworthy. They are 2-7 ATS in their last nine home games.

Only twice in their last 10 games have the Thunder lost by more than five points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is as big as any star Minnesota has.

Rudy Gobert is back from his one-game suspension for throwing a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson. Gobert, though, is not 100 percent due to back trouble. Jaden McDaniels, a top defensive wing, is out. So is Naz Reid. Those are two key rotation players for Minnesota.

The Thunder have covered in six of their last seven visits to Minnesota.

Colorado needs to beat the Predators on the road here in order to edge out Dallas for the Central Division title. That is going to be easier said than done.

The Avalanche are a banged-up team and the Predators haven't shown any quit despite being eliminated from the playoffs.

Colorado's depth took a hit in its 4-2 home win against the Jets last night as forwards Andrew Cogliano and Denis Maign left with injuries.

Nashville is 4-1 in its last five games. During their last nine games, the Predators beat three clubs that won divisions - Bruins, Golden Knights and Hurricanes. Nashville has surrendered only nine goals during its past five games.

Congrats to the Bruins on setting the NHL single-season win record. Now the Bruins conclude their regular season with this road game. It means nothing to the Bruins. Their thoughts are all geared to next week's Stanley Cup action. As for Montreal, the Canadiens long ago checked out. They are 1-6 in their last seven games.

I'd compare this situation for the Bruins to an NFL team playing its final preseason game. The biggest concern is not having anybody get hurt. The Bruins are likely to be holding out players, just being content to just passing the puck around until this meaningless game is finished. Don't look for many penalties to be called. 

Montreal has scored two or fewer goals in six of its last seven games. If you discount a six-goal game against the Capitals, the Canadiens are averaging 1.1 goals in their last six games. 

These teams have a solid Under history even under normal conditions with the low side being 11-4-2 during the last 17 meetings. 

Both starting pitchers, Bailey Falter for Philadelphia and Nick Lodolo for Cincinnati, have looked good in the early going this season. But the Phillies own the superior bullpen, catch the Reds in their first home game following a six-game road trip that ended yesterday, and are the underdogs.

So given these factors, I'll take a plus price on the Phillies, who I regard as the better team.

The Phillies have defeated the Reds in six of their last seven meetings.