Saturday MLB Free play. My selection is on the 'under' between Chicago and St. Louis at 2:15 pm et on Saturday.

Erick Fedde has been a different pitcher since returning from a year in Korea. His hits and walks allowed are down while his strikeouts are up. He's posted a 4.00 FIP and a 1.07 WHIP through six starts, logging a 2.60 ERA. Several current Cardinals hitters have worn Fedde out in the past but again, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's a better pitcher now than he was during his previous stint in the majors. It certainly helps that the Cards rank 24th in baseball in home OPS this season and 22nd overall over the last seven days. Lance Lynn will take the ball for St. Louis. He'll be facing a White Sox club that averages 2.4 runs per game on the road this season, ranking 30th (that's last place) in road OPS. Behind Lynn is a Cards bullpen that has posted a collective 3.81 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 12 saves converted and only two blown. Should Lynn struggle the bullpen should be well-positioned to pick him up. Take the under.

Saturday NHL Free play. My selection is on Boston over Toronto at 8 pm et on Saturday.

The Bruins have to be feeling a sense of deja-vu after blowing a 3-1 first round series lead against the Panthers only to be ousted in Game 7 last year. Toronto isn't Florida though and I expect to see Boston rally to hold off the hard-charging Leafs and advance to the second round on this occasion. Note that Toronto is a long-term 3-7 (-6.4 net games) in Game 7 of a playoff series going all the way back to 1996. While the Leafs are 48-42 in their last 90 games following consecutive wins, as is the case here, they're a money burning -28.0 net games in that situation. Meanwhile, Boston checks in 32-11 (+17.4 net games) in its last 43 contests when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent including a 10-2 (+6.9 net games) record in that spot this season. The B's are also a long-term 267-202 (+20.8 net games) following a one-goal defeat including a 30-13 (+12.4 net games) mark over the last three seasons. Take Boston.

Eastern Conference First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Boston at 8 pm et on Saturday.

If this series went any longer would probably see 5's on the board in terms of the total. The last three games have totalled four, three and three goals noting that one of those contests required overtime and another saw a meaningless goal scored in the game's final second. I'm expecting goals to come at a premium again in Saturday's seventh-and-deciding game in Boston. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 40-28 in the Maple Leafs last 68 games after scoring two goals or less in four straight contests, as is the case here, including a 3-0 mark in that situation over the last three seasons (this is the first time it has come up this season). Meanwhile, the Bruins have seen the 'under' go 11-3 when coming off a one-goal loss against a division opponent over the last three seasons including a 4-1 record in that spot this season. The 'under' is also a long-term 32-28 with Boston coming off three straight games that totalled four goals or less. Take the under (10*).

National League Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Los Angeles at 9:10 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams were involved in an extra innings thriller last night as the Dodgers produced a 4-3 victory. I expect runs to come at a premium again on Saturday as Atlanta sends Bryce Elder to the hill against Tyler Glasnow of the Dodgers. Elder was terrific in a three-start stint at Triple-A to start the season and has been solid in two big league outings as well, logging a 3.64 FIP and 1.33 WHIP. In those two starts with the Braves, Elder drew ground balls at nearly a 65% rate. While not sustainable, it's a positive sign for the right-hander, who you may remember earned an All-Star appearance after a hot start last season. Current Dodgers hitters are just 8-for-36 off of Elder with just two extra-base hits. Glasnow has quickly rounded into Cy Young contending form with his new club, posting a 2.72 FIP and 0.93 WHIP in 43 innings of work. He'll be facing a Braves team that ranks 30th (that's last place) in the majors in OPS over the last seven days. Current Atlanta hitters have gone 8-for-53 off of Glasnow with five extra-base hits. Both bullpens entered this series in good shape thanks to an off day on Thursday. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Miami and Oakland at 4:05 pm et on Saturday.

The 'under' is 8-2-1 in the A's last 10 games following another low-scoring result to open this series last night. Entering last night's action, games played here in Oakland had totalled an average of just 7.1 runs this season. I'm expecting more of the same on Saturday as Miami sends left-hander Trevor Rogers to the hill against Paul Blackburn of the A's. Note that Oakland ranks 21st in the majors in OPS vs. left-handed pitching this season. The A's also check in tied for 27th in home OPS. Meanwhile, the Marlins rank 29th in baseball in road OPS and 26th against right-handed pitching. Rogers has been a bit of a mixed bag this season with a 3.39 FIP and 1.50 WHIP. The good news is he's getting ground balls at a better than 50% clip - well north of his career average of 43%. Blackburn will be looking to bounce back from consecutive shaky outings but still owns a 3.79 FIP and 1.09 WHIP on the campaign. Like Rogers, Blackburn has been drawing ground balls at north of a 50% clip. Both bullpens have been terrific lately but in the case of the A's, their relievers have been among the best in baseball. Take the under (8*).