44 Expert Picks
Andrew Heaney has been a solid if not unspectacular starter for the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers. He will face a Rockies lineup that has one of the highest K Rates in the league. I would also argue that Heaney is running cold on strikeouts and due for an uptick in that department.
There’s some better odds out there for this one. When Jayson Tatum’s PRA line is set at 42, he’s gone over this number once this postseason, 43 against Miami in game one. This season, he’s played the Cavaliers five times and has failed to go over 42 PRA in all five. Tatum has not gone over his PRA, when set at 42, in six of his last eight road games which include five straight.
Analytics and stats would suggest that this series being 3-0 in the Rangers' favor is a fluke. Regardless, there is something special about this NYR team. I am going with my gut and taking the Rangers to close this series out on the road with a modest 0.5 unit play here.
This is my top play for this game. Both teams are outstanding when it comes to keeping the puck out of the net, but I just have a hard time seeing this game staying under six goals. Carolina is playing for their season, but the Rangers have momentum on their side. Look for some fireworks in this Game 4 matchup.
After Boston lost Game 2 to the Heat in the first round, everyone overreacted -- partially because of the history of that rivalry -- and all the Celtics did was come out and boat race the Heat by 24 in the first half of Game 3. I don't think the lead will be that big tonight, but I do expect the Celtics to put their foot down early and often in Game 3 at Cleveland.
The Avs got outplayed for two periods in Game 2, but still managed to make things interesting, pulling to within one goal of the Stars in the third period. I expect Colorado to come out firing from the start with the sole intention of trying to avoid falling behind early for the third consecutive game. The Avs were the best home ice team in the NHL this season, and I expect that trend to continue in Game 3. I toyed with taking the Avs at -1.5 on the puck line at +180, but I settled in on the Moneyline as the play at a fairly reasonable price. Bonus: SGP will be posted on Twitter closer to game time.
This will be the first game of this series at Ball Arena, and I fully expect the Avs to push the tempo and try to use the altitude to their advantage on Saturday night. You can count on Alexandar Georgiev allowing at least a couple goals each night, but you can also count on the Colorado attack to make things difficult for Dallas on the other end. I expect a very similar output to what we saw in Game 1 and Game 2 with this contest finishing at 7+ total goals scored.
The Cincinnati Reds took game one over the San Francisco Giants as underdogs. Now the pendulum has swung in the market as big road favorites over the Giants. San Francisco’s starting pitcher in Mason Black struggled in his first start against the Phillies, surrendering five runs with three walks. Expect the Reds to build their first winning streak in five series. Take the Reds over the Giants
This is a huge number for Payton Pritchard who has been excellent through two games in this series against Cleveland, although I don't believe his current production is sustainable. This series also shifts back to Cleveland and I believe this will continue to be a low scoring environment with minimal possessions.
I don't love giving away a half run regarding that Seattle offense but I really want to fade Oakland pitcher Joey Estes. Moneyline to win and outright first five were too pricy so we roll with this. Estes had a 6.04 ERA in Triple-A this year. He made his MLB debut with the A's last year, started two games in September and allowed nine runs on 12 hits over 10 innings. Joey Chestnut might fare better. How are the best competitive eaters so thin?! Well, I think we know why. See Stand By Me ...
Obviously the Marlins are hot garbage but that Phillies lineup is a bit watered down without Trea Turner and now Kyle Schwarber. Maybe some of the fellas have a bit of South Beach flu, too, after Friday's win. Miami pitcher Jesus Luzardo generally can't be trusted on the road but at home is usually a different guy. He was 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA last season overall vs. Philadelphia.
Mason Black got to four strikeouts against the Phillies in his debut, but that came with a ton of pressure as family, friends, and college coaches were all in attendance. The close-to-home debut for Black didn't pan out as he had hoped, but he threw well for the first four innings before it all unraveled in the 5th thanks to a Bryce Harper home run. I'm not really convinced he has the length to go much beyond five innings but I do believe we have some value on this number at +133 for a 5th strikeout against this Reds team in San Fran. Worth a half unit in my opinion!
Such a massive home-ice advantage in Denver and we would see history if Valeri Nichushkin scores again for the Avs. His playoff-opening goal streak stands at seven games, sharing the longest such run in NHL history with Pat LaFontaine. I used to love PLF for some reason back in the day (great last name for sure. LaFontaine! Pat LaFontaine! Shaken not stirred. Does sound like a French James Bond). Wasn't an Islanders fan really but liked their jerseys. No Blackhawks or North Stars (not current Stars at all) or Maple Leafs or Whalers (those were epic), but they were pretty good. Then for a while they changed to that stupid Gorton's fisherman one.
Think we have to fade Livvy Dunne's BF (so bothered I know this), otherwise known as Paul Skenes, for now because we may not be able to much longer as that dude is gonna be awesome if he stays healthy. Think prime Stephen Strasburg. It's the big righty's MLB debut. Skenes topped 4.1 innings just once this season in the minors (never more than 75 pitches) as the team will obviously be careful with its potential future Cy Young winner. So I think the Cubs can get to that Pittsburgh bullpen if need be. And it's not like Justin Steele is some clown, either. Seiya Suzuki is off the injured list.
Find it tough to fathom a team this good would get swept, and that's really all this is. But there's nothing you can rely on in playoff hockey.