Winning Sports Picks

15* MLB Thursday No-Doubt Rout on Milwaukee Brewers -108

The NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers have lost the first two games of this series to the Cincinnati Reds by three combined runs in heartbreaking fashion.  They'll be highly motivated to avoid the sweep today in Game 3.

The Brewers clearly have the better starter on the mound in Jimmy Nelson, who is 5-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 15 starts while striking out 93 batters in 90 innings.  Nelson is 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA in his last four starts against the Reds, giving up only 6 earned runs in 26 1/3 innings.  The Brewers are 4-1 in Nelson's last five starts vs. Cincinnati.

Homer Bailey was awful in his first start of 2017 as he returned from injury on June 24th, giving up 8 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings of a 3-18 loss to the Nationals.  Bailey is 5-8 with a 4.64 ERA in 22 career starts against Milwaukee as well.

Cincinnati is 3-15 in home games after a game where their bullpen blew a save over the last two seasons.  The Brewers are 14-2 in their last 16 during game 3 of a series.  The Reds are 4-14 in their last 18 games overall.  Cincinnati is 4-11 in Bailey's last 15 starts.  Cincinnati is 1-8 in Bailey's last nine starts vs. NL Central opponents.  Roll with the Brewers Thursday.

15* Cubs/Nationals NL Thursday No-Brainer on Chicago +104

The Chicago Cubs have lost two straight to the Nationals to fall back to .500 on the season.  I expect them to be highly motivated for a win here in Game 4 to square this series.  And they should not be dogs today considering the massive edge they have on the mound.

Lefty Jon Lester continues to be a dominant starting pitcher in this league.  He has gone 5-4 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.235 WHIP in 16 starts, including 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.850 WHIP in his last three outings.  Lester is also 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.154 WHIP in four career starts against Washington.

Joe Ross has simply been fortunate to get good run support this year.  The right-hander is 4-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.465 WHIP in 10 starts this season.  He has never beaten the Cubs, going 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against them.

Washington is 2-7 in home games off two or more consecutive wins this season.  Plays on road teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (CHICAGO CUBS) - with a team batting average of .245 or worse on the season (NL), after two straight losses by four runs or more are 52-21 (71.2%, +34.8 units) since 1997.  The Cubs are 37-16 in Lester's last 53 starts.  Take the Cubs Thursday.

20* NL Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Colorado Rockies -117

The Colorado Rockies are highly motivated for a win right now after losing seven straight, including last night's 14-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants.  But they are a good bet today as small road favorites considering their big edge on the mound.

Kyle Freeland has gone 8-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 15 starts this season for the Rockies.  Freeland has owned the Giants, going 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two career starts against them.  Both starts have come this season in which he has allowed only one earned run in 13 innings of work.

Ty Blach is a soft tosser who can't get strikeouts.  He has struck out only 33 batters in 74 innings this season.  He is 4-5 with a 4.86 ERA in 12 starts, including 0-2 with a 9.97 ERA and 2.086 WHIP in his last three starts.  He has allowed 14 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in his last two home starts.

The Rockies are 9-4 in Freeland's last 13 starts, including 6-2 in his last eight road starts.  The Giants are 18-44 in their last 62 games following a win.  San Francisco is 3-10 in its last 13 home games.  The Giants are 0-4 in Blach's last four starts.  Bet the Rockies Wednesday.

20* NL West GAME OF THE MONTH on Colorado Rockies -134

The Colorado Rockies are highly motivated for a victory tonight.  They have lost six straight coming in and are desperate to end this skid.  They lost game 1 to the Giants, who are just 28-51 on the season.  They'll bounce back with a win in Game 2 Tuesday.

Jeff Hoffman has been dominant outside of one start this season.  He has been especially effective on the road, going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 0.541 WHIP in three starts, striking out 24 batters in 20 1/3 innings while allowing just 3 earned runs and 11 base runners.

Matt Cain is one of the worst starters in baseball.  He is 3-7 with a 5.42 ERA and 1.718 WHIP in 15 starts this season, including 0-2 with an 8.78 ERA and 2.326 WHIP in his last three.

The Rockies are 10-2 against the Giants this season.  Colorado is 5-1 in Hoffman's six starts this year.  The Giants are 6-21 in their last 27 games overall, including 2-10 in their last 12 home games.  San Francisco is 1-6 in Cain's last seven starts.  Bet the Rockies Tuesday.

20* NL Monday No-Doubt Rout on Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 (-110)

The Arizona Diamondbacks should win by multiple runs today over the lowly Philadelphia Phillies.  The Diamondbacks are 28-10 at home this season, hitting .289 and scoring 6.3 runs per game.  The Phillies are 10-30 on the road, hitting .236 and scoring 3.5 runs per game.

Zack Greinke is back to being Zack Greinke this season.  He has gone 8-4 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.048 WHIP In 15 starts, including a perfect 6-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 0.923 WHIP in eight home starts.  Greinke is also 6-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 0.909 WHIP in nine career starts against Philadelphia.

Nick Pivetta has had a rough go of it since being called up.  He is 1-3 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.488 WHIP in eight starts this season, including 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA and 1.767 WHIP in five road starts.

Philly is 1-11 after scoring one run or less this season, losing by 2.6 runs per game.  Greinke is 40-10 as a home favorite of -175 to -250 in his career, and his teams are winning by 2.1 runs per game.  Greinke is 23-4 in home games vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .245 or worse in his career.  Bet the Diamondbacks on the Run Line Monday.

20* AL Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Seattle Mariners -108

The Seattle Mariners are 25-14 at home this season.  They have gone 6-1 in their last seven games overall and are playing their best baseball of the season.  They will be highly motivated to win Game 3 and take this series with the Houston Astros, who have the best record in the majors.

I like the Mariners' chances today with the underrated Ariel Miranda on the mound.  The tall left-hander has been dominant at home this season, going 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 0.918 WHIP in seven home starts.  Miranda has held his own against the Astros too, going 1-1 with a 4.07 ERA and 1.188 WHIP in three career starts against them.

Francis Martes is no more than a fill in starter for the Astros.  He has gone 2-0 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.312 WHIP in his two starts against the A's and Rangers.  Now he's up against a hot Seattle lineup that has scored 5 or more runs in six of their last seven games coming in.

The Mariners are 8-3 in Miranda's last 11 home starts.  Seattle is 8-2 in Miranda's last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Mariners are 5-0 in their last five vs. a starting pitcher with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  Bet the Mariners Sunday.

20* MLB GAME OF THE MONTH on Tampa Bay Rays -140

The Baltimore Orioles just became the first team since the 1924 Philadelphia Phillies to allow at least 5 runs in 20 straight games when they lost 5-15 to the Rays yesterday.  That streak will continue today as they get blown out by the Rays once again.

Dylan Bundy has hit the skids after a great start to the season.  Bundy is 1-2 with a 7.63 ERA and 1.631 WHIP in his last three starts.  The right-hander is also 0-1 with a 7.43 ERA and 1.725 WHIP in three career starts against Tampa Bay, yielding 7 homers in 13 1/3 innings.

Jacob Faria is one of the top prospects in the Rays' organization.  He has been brilliant in three starts this season, going 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 0.966 WHIP while striking out 22 batters in 19 2/3 innings.  He will be facing the Orioles for the first time today, which is to his advantage.

Baltimore is 0-10 vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.100 or better this season.  The Orioles are 5-21 in their last 26 road games.  The Rays are 8-1 in their last nine home games vs. a right-handed starter.  Bet the Rays Saturday.

20* NL Friday No-Doubt Rout on Chicago Cubs -121

The Chicago Cubs are playing much better of late.  They have won four of their last five games coming in behind a dominant pitching staff that has only allowed a total of 7 runs in those five games.  Their offense got going yesterday in hanging an 11-spot on the Marlins.

John Lackey is coming off one of his best starts of the season in which he allowed just one run over six innings of a 7-1 victory at Pittsburgh.  Lackey should have his way with the Marlins in the pitcher-friendly confines of Marlins Park.

Jose Urena has held his own for the Marlins, going 5-2 with a 4.04 ERA in nine starts this year.  But he doesn't have dominant stuff with just 33 K's in 49 innings.  And he has already walked 21 batters.  Urena is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two career starts against Chicago.

Plays against home teams (MIAMI) - with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 to 4.20 on the season (NL), after a game where the bullpen was rocked for 6 or more earned runs are 82-33 (71.3%, +57.2 units) since 1997.  Plays against all underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher (MIAMI) - cold hitting team - batting .190 or worse over their last three games, after a game where the bullpen was rocked for 5 or more earned runs are 45-11 (80.4%, +29.8 units) over the last five seasons.  Bet the Cubs Friday.

20* AL Thursday No-Doubt Rout on New York Yankees -1.5 (-115)

The New York Yankees finally ended their 7-game losing streak with an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels yesterday.  I fully expect them to start a winning streak now and win this game by multiple runs over the Angels Thursday night.

Luis Severino has been awesome this season for the Yankees, going 5-2 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.045 WHIP in 13 starts.  He has tremendous stuff as he has struck out 90 batters in 81 1/3 innings, and the Angels don't have their best hitter in Mike Trout.

We'll gladly fade Jesse Chavez, who is 5-6 with a 4.69 ERA in 14 starts this season.  Chavez has been at his worst on the road, going 2-4 with a 6.27 ERA and 1.526 WHIP in seven starts away from home.

The Yankees are 19-5 in home games against right-handed starters this season, winning by 3.3 runs per game on average.  New York is 8-1 in its last nine home meetings with Los Angeles.  Bet the Yankees on the Run Line Thursday.

20* AL Run Line GAME OF THE WEEK on New York Yankees -1.5 (-120)

The New York Yankees have not lost seven straight games.  It's safe to say they'll be highly motivated for a victory tonight against the Los Angeles Angels, who remain without Mike Trout.  I expect the Yankees to win by multiple runs tonight to end this skid.

Jordan Montgomery has been one of the more underrated starters in the big leagues this season.  The left-hander has gone 4-4 with a 3.78 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 12 starts, including 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.071 WHIP in his last three outings.

We'll gladly fade Ricky Nolasco, who is 2-8 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.392 WHIP in 14 starts this season for the Angels.  Nolasco certainly doesn't enjoy facing the Yankees, going 1-2 with a 5.91 ERA and 1.594 WHIP in four career starts against them.

The Yankees are 7-1 in their last eight home meetings with the Angels.  New York is 18-5 at home against right-handed starters this season, winning by over 3 runs per game on average.  The Angels are 0-9 in Nolasco's last nine starts overall.  Bet the Yankees on the Run Line Wednesday.

20* AL Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Seattle Mariners -128

The Seattle Mariners have been a great bet at home this season.  They are 21-13 (+6.1 units) at Safeco Field this year.  The Detroit Tigers are 14-21 (-5.9 units) on the road this season.  And I believe the Mariners have the edge on the mound at home tonight to boot.

Ariel Miranda has gone 6-3 with a 4.17 ERA and 1.249 WHIP in 14 starts this year.  But he has done most of his damage at Safeco, where he is 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 0.929 WHIP in six starts.  He is averaging 7 innings pitched per home start this year.

Jordan Zimmerman has struggled on the road.  He is 5-5 with a 5.35 ERA and 1.480 WHIP in 13 starts overall this season, and 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA and 1.618 WHIP in six road starts.  Zimmerman has posted a 5.25 ERA and 1.583 WHIP in two career starts against Seattle.

The Tigers are 0-7 in Zimmerman's last seven road starts.  The Mariners are 6-1 in the last seven meetings, including 4-0 in the last four home meetings.  Seattle is 7-3 in Miranda's last 10 home starts.  Bet the Mariners Tuesday.

20* Astros/A's AL Late-Night BAILOUT on OVER 9

Expect a high-scoring affair tonight between the Oakland A's and Houston Astros in Game 1 of this series Monday.  The wind is expected to be blowing out to right center at 11 miles per hour come first pitch.  And the Astros are scoring 6.6 runs per game on the road, while the A's are scoring 5.0 runs per game at home.

Brad Peacock has just been decent as a fill-in starter for the Astros.  He has gone 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA and 1.323 WHIP in five starts, including 1-1 with a 4.61 ERA and 1.609 WHIP in his last three outings.  Peacock is 1-4 with a 5.00 ERA and 1.578 WHIP in seven career starts against Oakland as well.

Daniel Gossett will be making just his second start of the season for the A's.  His first did not go well at all as he allowed 7 runs, 6 earned, and 2 homers over 3 1/3 innings of a 6-11 loss at Miami in a pitcher-friendly park on June 14th.

Oakland is 12-2 OVER at home when the total is 8.5 to 10 this season.  The OVER is 7-2-3 in Astros last 12 road games vs. a right-handed starter.  The OVER is 8-2-1 in A's last 11 games overall.  The OVER is 5-1 in the last six meetings.  Bet the OVER in this game Monday.

20* AL GAME OF THE WEEK on New York Yankees -108

The Yankees have now lost five straight games.  It's safe to say that they will be highly motivated for a victory today against the Oakland A's to avoid the sweep in this series and end this skid.

Luis Cessa has been a nice fill in starter for the Yankees over the past few seasons, spending time between the bullpen and as a starter.  He went 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 17 games for the Yankees last year, including nine starts.

We'll gladly fade Jharel Cotton, who is 3-7 with a 5.52 ERA and 1.459 WHIP in 11 starts this season.  Cotton has been at his worst at home, going 1-3 with a 7.76 ERA and 1.650 WHIP in five home starts.  Cotton is also 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in one career start against New York.

The Yankees are 21-10 in their last 31 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  The A's are 0-5 in their last five Sunday games.  Oakland is 0-5 in Cotton's last five starts.  Bet the Yankees Sunday.

15* Royals/Angels AL No-Brainer on Kansas City -104

The Kansas City Royals are playing their best baseball of the season right now.  They are 6-1 in their last seven games overall and scored 7 or more runs in five of those wins.  Now they have a huge edge on the mound over the Angels today.

Kansas City ace Jason Vargas has gone 9-3 with a 2.10 ERA and 1.094 WHIP in 13 starts this season, including 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in his last three starts.  Vargas is 6-4 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.108 WHIP in 16 career starts against the Angels.

JC Ramirez is 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 12 starts for the Angels, including 1-1 with a 7.31 ERA and 1.687 WHIP in his last three starts.  Ramirez is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in one career start against Kansas City, which came earlier this season on April 14th in a 7-1 loss to the Royals.

The Royals are 6-1 in their last seven road games.  Kansas City is 6-0 in Vargas' last six starts vs. AL West opponents.  Kansas City is 9-1 in Vargas' last 10 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Angels are 20-41 in their last 61 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.  Take the Royals Sunday.

15* MLB Sunday No-Doubt Rout on St. Louis Cardinals -111

The St. Louis Cardinals have a massive edge on the mound today over the Baltimore Orioles.  But we are getting them at nearly even money here as -111 favorites and that is simply too good to pass up.

Lance Lynn has been St. Louis' best starter, going 5-3 with a 2.69 ERA and 1.086 WHIP in 13 starts.  He has been at his best of late, going 1-0 with a 1.76 ERA and 1.174 WHIP in his last three starts.

Ubaldo Jimenez is 1-2 with a 7.72 ERA and 1.740 WHIP in eight starts this season.  He actually lost his spot in the rotation and hasn't pitched since May 22nd.  I don't expect him to be a whole lot better in his return to the rotation here Sunday.

The Cardinals are 7-1 in their last eight interleague road games vs. a team with a losing record.  The Orioles are 2-8 in their last 10 games overall.  Baltimore is 0-5 in its last five Sunday games.  The Orioles are 1-12 in their last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.  Roll with the Cardinals Sunday.

20* AL Saturday No-Doubt Rout on New York Yankees -129

The New York Yankees have now lost four straight games.  They'll clearly be highly motivated for a victory tonight against the Oakland A's to put an end to this rare losing streak.  This team is simply too good to drop a 5th in a row today.

Masahiro Tanaka isn't having his best season, but now he's up against a team that he has dominated throughout his career.  Indeed, Tanaka is 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 0.750 WHIP in four starts against the A's.  He struck out 13 while allowing only one earned run in 7 1/3 innings against the A's on May 26th in his only start against them this season.

Jesse Hahn is overmatched here.  He is 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.754 WHIP in four home starts this season, and 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA and 1.846 WHIP in his last three starts.  Hahn has never beaten the Yankees, going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts against them.

Tanaka is 15-3 (+10.9 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -125 to -175 over the last two seasons.  Tanaka is 15-1 (+13.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last two seasons.  The Yankees are 8-0 in Tanaka's last eight road starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Bet the Yankees Saturday.

20* NL GAME OF THE MONTH on Milwaukee Brewers -152

The Milwaukee Brewers have been the best team in the NL Central this season while flying under the radar.  They are coming off three straight road victories over the Cardinals and return home for a series with the lowly San Diego Padres, who are 27-40 on the season, including 10-22 on the road.

Junior Guerra is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in five starts this season.  The Brewers are glad to have him back healthy as he's probably their most talented starter.  This is a guy that went 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.126 WHIP in 20 starts last season.  Guerra pitched 6 shutout innings in his only career home start against San Diego last season.

Miguel Diaz spent the past four years in the Brewers' farm system, so they'll have an excellent scouting report on him.  He went 1-8 with a 3.71 ERA in 26 appearances last season for Class A Wisconsin.  He began the season in San Diego's bullpen, going 1-1 with a 7.50 ERA in 21 appearances.

San Diego is 10-30 (-17.2 Units) against the money line after having won three of their last four games over the last two seasons.  The Padres are 16-39 in their last 55 road games.  The Brewers are 8-2 in Guerra's last 10 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Bet the Brewers Friday.

20* MLB Thursday No-Doubt Rout on Colorado Rockies -147

The Colorado Rockies are one of the best teams in baseball.  They have gone 42-26 on the season behind one of the best lineups in baseball and one of the most underrated staffs in the league.  Now they're set for a 4-game series with the San Francisco Giants, who are 26-41 and a total mess this season.

Speaking of underrated starters, Jeff Hoffman is 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA and 0.740 WHIP in four starts this season.  He has allowed just 6 runs and 19 base runners over 25 2/3 innings while striking out 32 batters in those four starts.

Matt Moore is straight fade material for the Giants.  The left-hander has gone 2-7 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.507 WHIP in 13 starts, including 0-4 with a 7.94 ERA and 1.912 WHIP in seven road starts.  Moore is 1-3 with a 7.92 ERA and 1.959 WHIP in five career starts against Colorado as well.

The Giants are 1-7 in Moore's last eight road starts.  The Rockies are 7-1 in their last eight home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.  Colorado is 13-3 in its last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  Bet the Rockies Thursday.

20* MLB Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Baltimore Orioles -123

The Baltimore Orioles have now lost six straight to fall below .500 on the season.  It's safe to say that they will be highly motivated for a victory here Wednesday to stop the skid, and they have their ace on the mound to help them do just that.

Dylan Bundy has been awesome this season, going 6-5 with a 3.05 ERA and 1.137 WHIP in 13 starts.  Bundy has never lost to the White Sox, going 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in two career starts against them.

Miguel Gonzalez is 4-7 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.466 WHIP in 12 starts this season, including 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA and 1.418 WHIP in his last three outings.  Gonzalez has never beaten the Orioles, going 0-2 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.342 WHIP in two career starts against them.

The White Sox are 1-7 in Gonzalez's last eight starts.  Chicago is 0-7 in Gonzalez's last seven starts against scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.  The White Sox are 0-6 in their last six during Game 3 of a series.  Bet the Orioles Wednesday.

20* MLB TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Mariners/Twins UNDER 11

Yesterday, the Mariners and Twins combined for 17 runs with the wind blowing out to right field at roughly 15 miles per hour.  Now we have the wind expected to be blowing in at 15 miles per hour from right field Tuesday.  That will help aid this UNDER with a huge total of 11 here.

Kyle Gibson has been pitching much better of late after a terrible start to the season.  He is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts this year.  Gibson is 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA in seven career starts against Seattle.  He just faced the Mariners in his last start on June 8, giving up just one run in 6 innings of a 2-1 victory.

Christian Bergman is also a hot starter right now for the Mariners, going 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 1.167 WHIP in his last three starts.  And Bergman was opposite Gibson on June 8, giving up one earned run in 5 innings to take the loss that 2-1 defeat.

Minnesota is 13-2 UNDER after a game where they had at least 10 less hits than their opponent over the last three seasons.  The UNDER is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Minnesota.  Bet the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

20* Cavs/Warriors Game 5 Total DOMINATOR on UNDER 231

Oddsmakers have over-adjusted here due to three straight overs cashing in the NBA Finals.  We saw a 221-point total for Game 2, and now we're seeing a 231-point total for Game 5.  This 10-point adjustment means that there is clearly value on the UNDER.

And there are more reasons to like the UNDER for Game 5.  As a series goes on, teams become more and more familiar with one another.  And that's the case here.  I think after the Cavs won Game 4 to extend this series, there will be a tightness about this game for both squads.

And I think that favors the UNDER as both teams will be laying it all on the line defensively, while the Warriors will be tight on offense trying to win a championship, and the Cavs as well trying to avoid elimination.  Neither team will be playing and shooting as freely as they have up to this point in the series.

Cleveland is 18-4 to the UNDER as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last two seasons.  Golden State is 8-1 to the UNDER after allowing 105 or more points in three straight games this season.  The UNDER is 11-1 in Warriors last 12 games following a loss.  The UNDER is 7-1-2 in the last 10 meetings in Golden State.  Bet the UNDER in Game 5 Monday.

15* MLB Monday No-Doubt Rout on Pittsburgh Pirates -129

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be playing for starter Jameson Taillon, who makes his return from surgery for testicular cancer today.  They will want to win this game for him after all that he has been through over the past five weeks.

Taillon is only 25 years old.  He was 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA in six starts before going on the disabled list.  He went 0-1 with a 3.21 ERA over three rehab starts between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis as well.  It gave him some time to work on things, and now he says he's 100% ready physically and mentally because it's not like he's returning from an injury.

I think this is an awful spot for the Colorado Rockies.  They just took three out of four from the defending champion Cubs at Wrigley Field over the weekend, and now this sets up to be a letdown situation in Game 1 of this series.  Plus they aren't going to be too motivated to beat up on a guy that is returning from cancer surgery.

The Pirates are 52-24 in their last 76 vs. NL West opponents.  Pittsburgh is 9-2 in its last 11 meetings with Colorado.  The Pirates are also 9-2 in their last 11 home meetings with the Rockies.  Take the Pirates Monday.

20* MLB Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Seattle Mariners -137

The Seattle Mariners have gone 10-3 in their last 13 games overall.  They are 20-12 at home this season and I believe they should be bigger favorites today against the Blue Jays, especially with their star ace on the mound.

James Paxton has been Cy Young-caliber to start the 2017 campaign.  He has gone 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in eight starts, including 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.978 WHIP in five home starts.The left-hander is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last two starts against Toronto.

J.A. Happ has struggled this season compared to last year as he has battled injuries.  The left-hander is still looking for his first win, going 0-4 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts this year.  Paxton has posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.357 WHIP in five career starts against Seattle.

The Blue Jays are 0-4 in their last four games following a win.  Toronto is 1-5 in Happ's last six starts.  The Mariners are 5-1 in their last six vs. AL East foes.  Seattle is 4-1 in Paxton's last five home starts.  Bet the Mariners Sunday.

20* MLB Run Line GAME OF THE WEEK on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-115)

The Los Angeles Dodgers should have no problem beating the Cincinnati Reds by multiple runs tonight.  They have a huge edge on the mound as far as the starting pitchers are concerned, and in the bullpen.

Alex Wood has been unhittable this season, especially of late.  Wood is 5-0 with a 1.90 ERA and 1.101 WHIP in eight starts this season, including 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.982 WHIP in his last three starts.  Wood is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against Cincinnati as well.

Asher Wojchiechowski is no more than a spot starter for the Reds.  He has struggled in his two starts this season, going 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.400 WHIP.  He gave up four earned runs and three homers in four innings of a 4-6 loss at Toronto in his only road start.

The Dodgers are 23-10 at home this season and winning by 2.2 runs per game on average.  Los Angeles is 21-3 in home games when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 46% to 49%) over the last three seasons.  It is winning by 2.7 runs per game on average in this spot.  Bet the Dodgers on the Run Line Saturday.

20* Warriors/Cavs Game 4 No-Brainer on Golden State -6

The Golden State Warriors just took the life out of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3.  They came back from a 6-point deficit in the final three minutes, outscoring the Warriors 11-0 to close the game and win 118-113.

The Cavs thought they had the game won and couldn't close, and now their state of mind is that they're beaten.  I expect the Cavs to come out and try in the first half, but once the Warriors get ahead, I think they will quit fighting and just except their fate.

Conversely, the Warriors will be more motivated than ever to win this game.  They can be the first team in NBA history to go 16-0 in the playoffs.  And what sweet revenge that would be to sweep the Cavs a year after blowing a 3-1 deficit to them.  Simply put, the Warriors are going to want this game more.

Cleveland is 1-10 ATS off a home loss this season.  Golden State is 7-0 ATS in all playoff road games this season.  The Warriors are 23-6-1 ATS in their last 30 games overall.  The Cavs are 0-7-1 ATS in their last eight vs. Western Conference foes.  Bet the Warriors in Game 4 Friday.

15* MLB Run Line PLAY OF THE DAY on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-114)

The Cleveland Indians are highly motivated for a victory here Friday.  They have lost four of their last five and had yesterday off to regroup.  Fortunately, they get to play a team in the White Sox that are struggling worse than they are right now.  Chicago is 1-7 in its last eight games coming in.

Ace Corey Kluber gets the ball looking to end this skid.  Kluber is 4-2 with a 4.36 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in seven starts this season.  The right-hander is 7-4 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.118 WHIP in 15 career starts against Chicago, including 3-0 with a 0.81 ERA in his last three, allowing just 2 earned runs in 22 1/3 innings.

Miguel Gonzalez is 4-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 11 starts this season, 1-5 with a 5.74 ERA in seven road starts, and 1-2 with a 6.27 ERA in his last three starts overall.  Gonzalez has also posted a 4.37 ERA and 1.542 WHIP in six career starts against Cleveland.

Cleveland is 12-0 in June home games over the last two seasons, winning by an average of 4.5 runs per game.  The Indians are 31-9 after having lost four or five of their last six games over the last two seasons, winning by 2.5 runs per game on average.  Gonzalez is 0-9 when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 54%) over the last two seasons, and his teams are losing by 2.5 runs per game in this spot.  Take the Indians on the Run Line Friday.

20* Twins/Mariners AL Late-Night BAILOUT on Seattle -120

The Seattle Mariners have fought their way back to .500 by playing their best baseball of the season of late.  They are 9-1 in their last 10 games overall while scoring at least five runs in all nine victories.  They won in walk off fashion last night against the Twins and come in with a ton of confidence.

The Mariners should be bigger favorites today considering their edge on the mound.  Christian Bergman is 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA in five starts this season, but 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two home starts.  He has never faced the Twins before and will have the element of surprise working in his favor.

Kyle Gibson has been one of the worst starters in baseball this season for Minnesota.  He is 2-4 with a 7.23 ERA and 1.866 WHIP in nine starts this season.  He has given up more earned runs (34) than he has strikeouts (31) in 42 1/3 innings pitched.

The Mariners are 5-0 in their last five home games.  The Twins are 3-10 in their last 13 during game 3 of a series.  Seattle is 11-2 after a 5-game span with an OBP of .375 or better this season.  Bet the Mariners Thursday.

20* Warriors/Cavs Game 3 No-Brainer on UNDER 227

The last game between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers was an aberration.  Cleveland tried to push the tempo, and it didn't work.  As a result, they lost 113-132 to the Warriors for 245 combined points.  Look for the Cavs to slow it down at home n Game 3, which is their best shot to beat the Warriors.

Before last game, the UNDER was 7-2-1 in the previous 10 meetings.  The Cavs and Warriors had combined for 217 or fewer points in all 10 of those games.  They had averaged 204.0 combined points per game in those 10 meetings, which is 23 points less than tonight's posted total of 227.

The Warriors have been much less efficient in the fast break on the road this season.  They are scoring 7 fewer fast break points per game on the road this season than they are at home.  They won't get nearly as many easy looks in Cleveland as they have in these first two games.

Golden State's defense continues to be superb.  It has held the Cavs to just 97.4 points per 100 possessions through two games.  The Cavs came into the NBA Finals averaging 120 points per 100 possessions thus far in the playoffs.  The Warriors have allowed just 98.8 points per 100 possessions through the playoffs to this point.

Cleveland is 18-3 to the UNDER as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last two seasons.  The UNDER is 19-7 in Warriors last 26 vs. Eastern Conference.  The UNDER would be 10-1 in the last 11 meetings in this series with a total set of 218 or higher, and this total is 227.  Bet the UNDER in Game 3 Wednesday.

15* NL East PLAY OF THE DAY on Atlanta Braves -133

The Atlanta Braves have lost the first two games of this series to the lowly Philadelphia Phillies.  They'll be highly motivated for a victory in Game 3 here tonight, and they should get it due to their massive edge on the mound in this one.

Mike Foltynewicz is 3-5 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.329 WHIP in 10 starts this season, including 1-1 with a 3.37 ERA in his last three outings.  He pitched seven shutout innings while striking out 10 in his last start at Cincinnati on June 2nd.  He is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last two starts against Philadelphia, yielding just two earned runs in 12 innings.

Jerad Eickhoff has gone 0-6 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.575 WHIP in 11 starts this season.  That's right, he's still looking for his first win of the year.  He has been even worse of late, going 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA and 2.071 WHIP in his last three starts.

Foltynewicz is 8-0 (+8.4 Units) against the money line in home games vs. an NL team with an on base percentage .315 or worse over the last three seasons.  The Phillies are 0-7 in Eickhoff's last seven road starts.  Philly is 0-4 in Eickhoff's last four road starts at Atlanta.  Roll with the Braves Wednesday.

15* NL Central PLAY OF THE DAY on St. Louis Cardinals -129

The St. Louis Cardinals have now lost five straight games.  They''ll be highly motivated for a win Wednesday, especially after losing 13-1 to the Reds yesterday in which they watched Scooter Gennett hit 4 homers with 10 RBIs in a single game.

Look for Lance Lynn to get the Cardinals back in the win column today.  Lynn has gone 4-3 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.068 WHIP in 11 starts this season.  He is also 9-4 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.143 WHIP in 15 career starts against the Reds.  He has won his last two starts against them while giving up just one earned run in 12 innings.

Bronson Arroyo is one of the worst starters in baseball.  He has gone 3-4 with a 6.24 ERA and 1.439 WHIP in 11 starts this season.  Arroyo is also 8-18 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.355 WHIP in 39 career starts against St. Louis.  He is 0-3 with a 6.82 ERA in his last five starts against St. Louis, yielding 24 earned runs in 31 2/3 innings.

Arroyo is 1-8 against the money line in his last nine starts against the Cardinals.  St. Louis is 34-13 off a loss to a division rival as a favorite over the last three seasons.  The Cardinals are 42-19 in their last 61 games after losing the first two games of a series.  St. Louis is 11-4 in Lynn's last 15 starts vs. Cincinnati.  Take the Cardinals Wednesday.

20* NL Central GAME OF THE MONTH on St. Louis Cardinals -123

The St. Louis Cardinals will be highly motivated for a victory tonight.  They have now lost four straight after getting swept by the Cubs and losing Game 1 of this series to the Reds.  This is a great value play with how well Adam Wainwright has been pitching of late.

Indeed, Wainwright is 4-0 with a 0.34 ERA in his last four starts.  He has allowed just one earned run in 26 1/3 innings in those four starts.  He actually has more RBI's himself than runs allowed during this stretch.  Look for Wainwright to stop the bleeding here today for the Cardinals.

Tim Adleman is 3-2 with a 5.14 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in eight starts this season, including 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.431 WHIP in four home starts.  Adleman is also 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis.

The Cardinals are 39-12 in Wainwright's last 51 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  St. Louis is 42-16 in Wainwright's last 58 starts vs. NL Central opponents.  The Red s are 1-6 in their last seven games following a win.  Bet the Cardinals Tuesday.

20* MLB DOG OF THE WEEK on Milwaukee Brewers +111

The Milwaukee Brewers are one of the most underrated teams in baseball.  They actually lead the NL Central with a 30-27 record right now after beating the Dodgers 3-0 yesterday.  And now they are showing tremendous value again as home dogs to the 23-35 San Francisco Giants Monday.

Speaking of underrated, Junior Guerra doesn't get the respect he deserves.  After going 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.126 WHIP in 20 starts last season for the Brewers, Guerra has been dominant again in 2017 after returning from injury.  He has gone 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 0.955 WHIP in three starts.

Jeff Samardzija is 1-7 with a 4.62 ERA in 11 starts this season, including 0-4 with a 4.87 ERA in six road starts.  Samardzija has never beaten the Brewers, going 0-5 with a 4.87 ERA in 10 career starts against them.  His teams are 1-9 in those 10 starts.

San Francisco is 1-9 (-9.9 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -150 this season.  Guerra is 7-0 (+8.2 Units) against the money line vs. poor power teams - averaging 0.9 or less HR's/game over the last two seasons.  The Brewers are 8-1 in Guerra's last nine starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Bet the Brewers Monday.

25* NBA Playoffs TOTAL OF THE YEAR on Cavs/Warriors UNDER 221

Oddsmakers continue to set the totals too high when the Warriors and Cavs get together.  They adjusted down to 221 for Game 2, but it's simply not low enough.  These teams know each other all too well after playing in three straight NBA Finals, and that familiarity makes points harder to come by.

The UNDER is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings in this series dating back to Game 1 of the NBA Finals last season.  The Cavs and Warriors have combined for 217 or fewer points in all 10 of those games, which is a perfect 10-0 system backing the UNDER pertaining to tonight's total set of 221.  They have averaged just 204.0 combined points per game in those 10 meetings, which is 17 points less than this total.

The Warriors are 2nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency this season.  They held the Cavs to just 34.9% shooting in Game 1 and won't let off the gas here in Game 2.  The Cavs have stepped up their defense in the playoffs and actually played well on that end in Game 1, limiting the Warriors to 42.5% shooting.

Cleveland is 9-1 to the UNDER as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  The Cavs are 10-1 to the UNDER vs. a team with a winning percentage above 70% over the last two seasons.  Cleveland is 8-0 to the UNDER in road games vs. good shooting teams who make 48% of their shots or better over the last three years.  The UNDER is 9-1-2 in the last 12 meetings at Golden State.  Bet the UNDER in Game 2 Sunday.

15* MLB Sunday Undervalued Underdog on Texas Rangers +118

The Texas Rangers will be highly motivated to avoid the sweep Sunday after losing the first two games of this series to the Houston Astros.  This underdog price is too good to pass up today given the situation.

Martin Perez has posted a 4.19 ERA in 11 starts this season, including a 4.14 ERA in seven home starts.  He's consistently undervalued, and he owns the Astros.  Perez is 5-3 with a 2.49 ERA and 1.190 WHIP in nine career starts against Houston.

Brad Peacock is no more than a fill-in starter for the Astros who spends most of his time coming out of the bullpen.  Peacock gave up four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in his last start against the Minnesota Twins, and he'll be making just his third start of the season today.

Perez is 8-0 (+9.1 Units) against the money line in June games in his career having never lost.  The Astros are 0-6 in Peacock's last six starts during game 3 of a series.  The Rangers are 8-3 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter.  The Astros are 14-38 in their last 52 meetings in Texas.  Take the Rangers Sunday.

20* MLB Run Line GAME OF THE WEEK on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-110)

The Cleveland Indians have been basically automatic with Carlos Carrasco on the mound this season.  They have gone 8-2 in his 10 starts, including 5-0 in his five road starts.  Carrasco is clearly the ace of this staff right now.

Look for the Indians to be highly motivated after getting shut out by the Royals yesterday.  Carrasco is 5-2 with a 2.89 ERA and 0.918 WHIP in 10 starts this season, including 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 0.818 WHIP in five road starts.  Carrasco is also 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.187 WHIP in 14 career starts against Kansas City.

Jason Hammel has been the worst starter for the Royals this season.  He is 1-6 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.706 WHIP in 10 starts this year.  And Hammel has struggled against the Indians, going 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA and 1.320 WHIP in six career starts against them.

The Indians are 20-5 in Carrasco's last 25 road starts vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse.  They are winning by 2.2 runs per game on average in this spot.  The Royals are 1-5 in Hammel's last six home starts, and 0-4 in his last four starts overall.  Bet the Indians on the Run Line Saturday.

20* MLB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Boston Red Sox -128

The Boston Red Sox are killing the ball right now.  They have scored at least four runs in nine of their last 11 games overall while going 8-3 in the process.  They have scored at least six runs in six of those games as well.

Look for them to hang a big number on Baltimore's Alec Asher, who is 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA in three starts this season.  Asher has never beaten the Red Sox, going 0-2 with a 9.31 ERA and 1.758 WHIP in two career starts against them.

Rick Porcello won the Cy Young last year.  He has been at his best on the road this season, going 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts.  He has posted a 1.96 ERA in his last three starts against the Orioles, giving up just five earned runs in 23 innings.

The Red Sox are 14-2 in Porcello's last 16 starts during game 2 of a series.  Boston is 7-2 in Porcello's last nine road starts.  The Red Sox are 6-1 in their last seven vs. a team with a winning record.  The Orioles are 1-7 in their last eight vs. a right-handed starter.  Bet the Red Sox Friday.

20* Cavs/Warriors Game 1 No-Brainer on Golden State -7

The Golden State Warriors have waited basically a full calendar year for their shot at revenge on the Cleveland Cavaliers.  They blew a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals and lost a tight Game 7 at the wire.  They will get their revenge in this series, starting with Game 1 Thursday night.

The Warriors have upgraded their team since last season, adding a Top 5 player in Kevin Durant, making them virtually unstoppable.  They now have four All-Stars against Cleveland's three in James, Love and Irving.  And the Warriors still have good depth with Andre Iguodala, Ian Clark, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, Shaun Livingtston, David West and Patrick McCaw all playing significant minutes.

The difference in this series is defense.  The Warriors ranked 2nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency during the regular season, while the Cavs ranked 22nd.  And the Warriors have 'Lebron stoppers' in Green and Iguodala, plus Thompson and Durant can hold their own against James when asked to.  No team is better equipped to stop Lebron than Golden State is.

Golden State is now 27-1 SU in its last 28 games, and 20-6-1 ATS in its last 27 games overall.  The Warriors have won nine straight games by double-digits in these players.  The Cavs come from the weak East, and even benefited from injuries the past two series to the opposing team's best players in Kyle Lowry and Isaiah Thomas.  They will get exposed in Game 1 tonight.  Bet the Warriors Thursday.

15* MLB Thursday Undervalued Underdog on Colorado Rockies +118

The Colorado Rockies have lost each of their first three games in this series with the Seattle Mariners.  They will be highly motivated to avoid the sweep in Game 4, and I look for them to do just that due to their edge on the mound this afternoon.

Kyle Freeland has gone 5-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.370 WHIP in 10 starts this season, including 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.321 WHIP in five road starts.  The Mariners are hitting just .240 and scoring 3.5 runs per game against left-handed starters this season.

Yovani Gallardo is 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA and 1.592 WHIP in 10 starts this season, 1-2 with a 7.00 ERA and 1.593 WHIP in five home starts, and 1-2 with an 8.81 ERA and 1.957 WHIP in his last three outings overall.  Gallardo has never beaten the Rockies, going 0-5 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.681 WHIP in 10 career starts against them.

Colorado is 5-0 in Freeland's last five road starts.  The Rockies are 12-2 after scoring 2 runs or less this season.  The Mariners are 1-4 in Gallardo's last five starts.  Take the Rockies Thursday.

20* MLB Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-105)

The Chicago Cubs have now lost five straight games and are highly motivated for a victory.  A loss today would mean they would get swept in two straight series, and they have now dipped below .500 for the season.  This team is simply too talented to keep struggling this badly.

Look for Jake Arrieta to get them out of the funk tonight and pitch a gem against the Padres.  Arrieta has a 4.00 ERA and 1.111 WHIP in his last three starts with 20 strikeouts in 18 innings.  The right-hander is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in his last two starts against San Diego, giving up just one earned run and 10 base runners in 14 innings.

Luis Perdomo has been one of the worst starters in baseball for the Padres.  He is 0-2 with a 5.61 ERA and 1.477 WHIP in eight starts this season, including 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA and 1.540 WHIP in five starts at pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

Arrieta is 19-3 against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -175 over the last two seasons.  The Cubs are winning these games by an average of 2.9 runs per game.  Arrieta is 20-3 against the money line in road games vs. teams whose hitters draw 3 walks or less/game over the last three seasons.  The Cubs are winning by 3.4 runs per game in this spot.  Bet the Cubs on the Run Line.

15* Nationals/Giants NL Late-Night BAILOUT on OVER 7.5

AT&T Park in San Francisco is usually a pitcher's park, but it certainly won't be tonight.  The wind is expected to be blowing out to straightaway center at a whopping 21 MPH come game time.  Runs will be plentiful tonight as a result.

And it's not like Gio Gonzalez and Jeff Samardzija are aces.  They are two starters on the downside of their career.  Gonzalez has a 4.74 ERA and 1.540 WHIP in four road starts this season.  Samardzija is 1-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts this year.

Samardzija has really been battered in recent starts against the Nationals.  He is 0-3 with a 7.00 ERA in his last three starts against them, giving up 14 earned runs and four homers over 18 innings of work.

Washington is 18-8 tot he OVER in night games this season.  The OVER is 6-1 in Gonzalez's last seven road starts.  The OVER is 5-0 in Gonzalez's last five starts when working on four days of rest.  Roll with the OVER in this game Tuesday.

20* National League GAME OF THE MONTH on Chicago Cubs -140

The Chicago Cubs have lost four straight games to open their 6-game West Coast trip.  They  have gone 1-for-24 with runners in scoring position during their four-game skid, and that's clearly not going to continue.  They'll be highly motivated for a victory tonight.

Eddie Butler is making a strong bid to remain in the Cubs' rotation, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA while allowing just three runs over 14 innings in his first three outings.  He'll be opposed by Dinelson Lamet, who will be making just his second career start for the Padres.

The Cubs are 38-14 in their last 53 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.  The Padres are 17-36 in their last 53 games following a win.  Chicago is 5-1 in its last six games in San Diego.  Bet the Cubs Tuesday.

15* MLB TOTAL OF THE DAY on Astros/Twins OVER 9

The Astros and Twins combined for 24 runs yesterday as Houston blew it open late with a 16-8 victory.  I expect another high-scoring affair tonight in Minnesota because of the wind conditions.  In fact, the wind is expected to be blowing 14 MPH out to straightaway center come game time.

Mike Fiers has been the weakest link in Houston's rotation.  He is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.521 WHIP in nine starts, including 1-0 with a 6.37 ERA and 1.542 WHIP in five road starts.  Fiers has allowed 8 runs and 4 homers in 9 2/3 innings in his last two starts against Minnesota.

Joe Berrios is off to a tremendous start for the Twins this season, but it is a small sample size with only three starts.  And now he's up against a red hot Houston lineup.  Berrios is 1-1 with an 8.59 ERA and 2.319 WHIP in two career starts against the Astros.

Minnesota is 32-11 OVER when the money line is -100 to -150 over the last two seasons.  The OVER is 5-1 in Astros last six road games.  The OVER is 49-17-4 in Twins last 70 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last four meetings.  Take the OVER in this game Tuesday.

20* MLB Run Line GAME OF THE WEEK on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-125)

The Chicago Cubs will be highly motivated for a victory after getting embarrassed by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend.  Not only were they swept, they were outscored 18-4 in the process.  It has clearly left a bad taste in their mouth.

Now they get to take on one of the worst teams in baseball in the San Diego Padres, who are 19-33 on the season and scoring just 3.4 runs per game, including 3.0 per game at home.  Jarred Cosart is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA and 1.565 WHIP in four starts this season.  Cosart allowed 7 runs in 1 2/3 innings of a 2-7 loss to the Cubs in his only career start against them.

Cy Young winner Kyle Hendricks gets the ball looking to build on his 4-2 record with a 3.25 ERA and 1.158 WHIP in nine starts this season.  He is 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 0.986 WHIP in four road starts.  Hendricks has never lost to the Padres, going 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 0.836 WHIP in five career starts against them.  Bet the Cubs on the Run Line Monday.

20* MLB Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+100)

The Boston Red Sox are playing their best baseball of the season right now.  They have won six straight games all by three runs or more.  They have outscored the opposition 47-15 in the process, averaging 7.8 runs per game in the process.

The Seattle Mariners are 1-7 in their last eight games overall.  Remarkably, they have been held to one or fewer runs in all seven losses and are averaging just 1.1 runs per game in the process.

Rick Porcello is 6-4 with a 3.69 ERA and 1.132 WHIP in 11 career starts against Seattle.  Christian Bergman is 1-2 with a 7.16 ERA and 1.715 WHIP in three starts this season for the Mariners.  He allowed 10 runs, 4 homers and 16 base runners in 4 innings in his last start at Washington.

The Red Sox are 14-2 in Porcello's 16 starts when playing against a bad team (Win Pct. 38% to 46%) over the last three seasons.  They are winning by an average of 4.5 runs per game in this spot.  Bet the Red Sox on the Run Line Sunday.

20* MLB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Washington Nationals -1.5 (-110)

I fully expect the Washington Nationals to win by multiple runs today against the lowly San Diego Padres.  Two of their best hitters in Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy rested yesterday, and the National still won 5-1.  Now both Murphy and Zimmerman are expected back in the lineup Saturday.

Stephen Strasburg is back to being his dominant self this season, going 5-1 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.110 WHIP in nine starts.  Strasburg is 5-1 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.167 WHIP in six career starts against San Diego.  In fact, they are 5-0 in his last five starts against them winning all five games by four runs or more.

Strasburg is 20-3 against the money line in the first half of the season over the last two seasons.  The Nationals are winning these starts by 2.5 runs per game on average.  San Diego is 15-51 in road games vs. a starting pitcher who strikes out five or more batters per start over the last three seasons.  It is losing by 2.0 runs per game in this spot.  Bet the Nationals on the Run Line Saturday.

20* MLB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+120)

The Boston Red Sox are playing their best baseball of the season right now, especially at the plate.  They have won four straight coming in while scoring a combined 38 runs in the process, or an average of 9.5 runs per game.  The Mariners have lost five of six coming in.

The bats should stay red hot against Yovani Gallardo, who is 2-4 with a 5.84 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in nine starts this season.  Gallardo has really struggled of late, going 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 1.600 WHIP in his last three starts.  He is also 2-2 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.695 WHIP in six career starts against Boston.

Eduardo Rodriquez has pitched like an ace thus far this season.  He has gone 3-1 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.117 WHIP in eight start, and 0-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two home starts.  Rodriquez gave up just one run and five base runners in 6 1/3 innings in his only career start against Seattle, which came last season.

Bets against all underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher (SEATTLE) - with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 5.70 to 6.20 on the season (AL), with a cold starting pitcher whose ERA is 7.50 or worse over his last three starts are 55-13 (80.3%) over the last five seasons.  These teams are losing by 1.9 runs per game on average.  Bet the Red Sox on the Run Line Friday.

20* Cavs/Celtics Game 5 No-Brainer on Boston +10.5

The Boston Celtics have voiced their frustration through the media about how disappointed they were in letting down their home fans in the first two games of this series.  They want to make amends and give a big effort tonight in Game 5 and go out swinging.

And the Celtics have given the Cavs trouble the past two games without Isaiah Thomas.  They have opened up their offense with a lot more passing, and it has worked.  They won Game 3 and actually held a double-digit lead at halftime of Game 4 before the Cavs pulled away in the second half for a 112-99 victory.  They only lost by 13 on the road despite the Cavs shooting 59.5% from the field for the game.

Boston is 10-1 ATS after having lost three of its last four games this season.  Plays on home underdogs of 10 or more points (BOSTON) - revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points, off a cover where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog are 46-17 (73%) ATS since 1996.  Bet the Celtics in Game 5 Thursday.

15* MLB PLAY OF THE DAY on Diamondbacks/Brewers OVER 8.5

Oddsmakers have set the bar too low tonight in this game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers.  These are two of the most underrated offenses in baseball.  The Diamondbacks are scoring 5.1 runs per game overall and 5.4 against right-handed starters.  The Brewers are scoring 5.2 runs per game overall, 5.7 at home and 5.5 against left-handed starters.

Zach Davies has not fared well this season, going 5-2 with a 5.44 ERA and 1.662 WHIP in nine starts.  He has been at his worst at home, going 3-2 with a 6.93 ERA and 1.906 WHIP in five starts.

Robbie Ray is 3-3 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.321 WHIP in nine starts, including 1-1 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.440 WHIP in his last three.  Ray gave up 5 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in his only career start against the Brewers last season.

Milwaukee is 13-2 to the OVER at home with a total set of 8 to 8.5 this season.  The Brewers are 22-8 to the OVER vs. teams whose hitters strike out 7 or more times/game this season.  Davies is 13-4 to the OVER at home when the total is 7 to 8.5 over the last two seasons.  Take the OVER in this game Thursday.

20* MLB BLOWOUT GAME OF THE MONTH on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-120)

The Boston Red Sox are finally starting to hit the ball up to their potential with one of the best lineups in baseball.  They have scored a combined 23 runs over their past two games and should stay hot at the plate tonight against the Texas Rangers.

Martin Perez is one of the worst starters in baseball.  He has gone 2-5 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.549 WHIP in nine starts, and 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA and 1.772 WHIP in three road starts.  Perez is 2-2 with a 6.58 ERA and 1.923 WHIP in five career starts against Boston.  In his last start against the Red Sox, he gave up 11 runs, 7 earned, in 4 innings of a 6-11 loss.

Chris Sale is one of the elite starters in baseball.  He is 4-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.792 WHIP in nine starts this season, striking out 95 batters in 65 2/3 innings.  The left-hander has gone 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA and 0.884 WHIP in seven career starts against Texas.  He has pitched 15 shutout innings while striking out 27 and allowing only 7 base runners in his last two starts against the Rangers.

Texas is 1-10 in road games with a team slugging percentage .410 or worse on the season (AL) this season.  It is losing by an average of 2.6 runs per game in this spot.  The Rangers are 2-8 in Perez's last 10 road starts.  The Red Sox are 10-1 in their last 11 home games vs. a left-handed starter.  Bet the Red Sox on the Run Line Wednesday.

20* Celtics/Cavs Game 4 No-Brainer on Boston +15.5

The oddsmakers made a huge adjustment after the Celtics lost the first two games of this series by double-digits.  They were 17-point dogs in Game 3 and won outright.  Now they're still 15-point dogs in Game 4, and it's still too big of an adjustment.  The Celtics will stay within the number and give the Cavs another run for their money tonight.

The Cavaliers even shot 14-of-22 from 3-point range in the first half and STILL didn't beat the Celtics.  It's unlikely that they shoot as well as they did again in Game 4, which bodes well for the Celtics covering this 15-point spread.

And the Celtics actually moved the ball perhaps better than any game they had all season, which got everyone involved without Isaiah Thomas.  They had six players score at least 10 points, and sharing the basketball will be the focal point heading into Game 4 as well.

Cleveland is 1-9 ATS off a home loss this season.  Boston is 10-2 ATS in road games against Central division opponents this season.  The road team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.  The Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last five trips to Cleveland.  Bet the Celtics Tuesday.

15* MLB Run Line PLAY OF THE DAY on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (+100)

The Indians lost Game 1 to their in-state rivals in the Cincinnati Reds.  Now I expect them to bounce back in Game 2 with a blowout victory to cover the run line Tuesday.  That was a rare win for the Reds as they are just 2-8 in their last 10 games overall.  And the Reds have allowed at least 6 runs in seven of their last eight games coming in.

Amir Garrett is the next starter in line to get rocked for the Reds.  He is 3-3 with a 5.17 ERA and 1.300 WHIP in seven starts this season.  Garrett returned from a brief stint in the minors to give up 6 runs in 4 innings of a 5-9 loss at Chicago on May 18th.

Carlos Carrasco is the best starter that the Indians have to offer.  He is 4-2 with a 2.60 ERA and 0.884 WHIP In eight starts this season, including 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.675 WHIP in four road starts.  Carrasco is also 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in three career starts against Cincinnati, and the Indians are 3-0 in those three games, winning all three by 2 runs or more.  Roll with the Indians on the Run Line Tuesday.

15* MLB TOTAL OF THE DAY on Rockies/Phillies OVER 8.5

I cashed in the Rockies/Phillies OVER yesterday and I'm on it again today.  Once again, the wind is expected to be blowing out to left field when the first pitch is thrown at Citizens Bank Park.  And that will help aid the OVER here tonight.

The Rockies are scoring 5.1 runs per game on the season and 5.3 runs per game against right-handed starters.  The Phillies have an underrated offense that is hitting .270 and scoring 5.1 runs per game at home.

German Marquez is 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.276 WHIP In five starts this season for the Rockies.  Zach Eflin is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.250 WHIP in six starts for the Phillies, including 0-1 with a 6.88 ERA and 1.882 WHIP in his last three.  Both starters are in line to get rocked today.

The OVER is 13-3 in Rockies last 16 vs. NL East opponents.  The OVER is 4-0 in Rockies last four games overall.  The OVER is 4-0 in Phillies last four home games.  The OVER is 19-6-2 in Phillies last 27 vs. NL West foes.  The OVER is 7-0 in Eflin's last seven starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.  The OVER is 5-0 in the last five meetings.  Take the OVER in this game Tuesday.

25* NBA Conference Finals TOTAL OF THE YEAR on Warriors/Spurs UNDER 218

The over is 3-0 in the first three games of this series between the Warriors and Spurs.  As a result, oddsmakers have been forced to set their highest total of the series in Game 4.  This total has been set at 218 after totals of 211.5, 209.5 and 215 in the first three games of the series.  There is clearly value on the UNDER in Game 4.

The UNDER is 6-2 in the last eight meetings in San Antonio.  The Spurs and Warriors have combined for 208 or fewer points in nine of their last 10 meetings in San Antonio.  They have averaged just 191.3 combined points per game in those 10 meetings, which is roughly 27 points less than tonight's posted total of 218.  Enough said.  Bet the UNDER in Game 4 Monday.

15* MLB TOTAL OF THE DAY on Rockies/Phillies OVER 8.5

The wind is expected to be blowing out to left field today at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.  I'm shocked that oddsmakers have set the total so low at 8.5 here when you have an elite hitting team like the Rockies and two terrible starting pitchers going.

The Rockies are scoring 5.0 runs per game on the season and 5.2 runs per game against right-handed starters.  The Phillies have swung the bats well at home, hitting .279 and scoring 5.4 runs per game at Citizens Bank Park.  They are scoring 4.5 runs per game on the season.

Jerad Eickhoff is 0-4 with a 4.73 ERA and 1.423 WHIP in eight starts this season, including 0-2 with a 6.45 ERA and 1.760 WHIP in his last three starts.  Jeff Hoffman will be making just his second start of the season for the Rockies after allowing three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 10-7 win over the Dodgers.  Eickhoff is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.000 WHIP in two career starts against Colorado.

The OVER is 5-1 in Hoffman's last six starts.  The OVER is 18-6-2 in Phillies last 26 vs. NL West opponents.  The OVER is 15-4-3 in Phillies last 22 after allowing two runs or less in their previous game.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last four meetings.  Philly is 7-0 to the OVER after allowing two runs or less this season.  Take the OVER in this game Monday.

20* Celtics/Cavs Game 3 No-Brainer on Boston +17

The oddsmakers have been forced to set a ridiculous number in Game 3 because they know the betting public will want to continue backing the Cavs at any price.  After all, the Cavs are 10-0 in the playoffs and have gone 6-0-2 ATS in their last eight games overall, so the public isn't going to stop backing them.

But this is simply too big of an adjustment.  The Cavaliers aren't 17 points better than the Celtics at home, even with Isaiah Thomas out for the rest of the playoffs.  These players had Thomas' back when he lost his sister, and now they'll rally for him and give a big effort in Game 3.

The Celtics were embarrassed by 44 points in Game 2.  This is a prideful team that won't want to go out like that.  They aren't going to quit, and in fact I think it will be the Cavaliers that relax a bit in Game 3.  They know they don't have to deal with Thomas so they won't be as focused, especially off their 44-point victory.

Boston is 9-1 ATS after having lost three of its last four games this season.  The Celtics are 14-4 ATS after allowing 105 points or more in three straight games over the last three seasons.  The road team is 9-2-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings.  Bet the Celtics in Game Sunday.

15* MLB Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Boston Red Sox -115

The Boston Red Sox have lost each of their first three games of this series with the Oakland A's.  They will be highly motivated to avoid the sweep today with a victory in Game 4 Sunday, and I expect them to get it.

Eduardo Rodriguez has gone 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.165 WHIP in seven starts this season with 45 K's in 40 1/3 innings.  Rodriquez pitched eight shutout innings while allowing only three base runners in his only career start against the A's, which came last season.

The Red Sox are 5-1 in Ridriquez's last six starts.  The A's are 14-33 after having won four or five of their last six games over the past two seasons.  Take the Red Sox Sunday.

20* Spurs/Warriors Game 3 Total DOMINATOR on UNDER 214

The first two games in this series have gone over the total with ease.  Now the betting public is all over the over in Game 3, but I see it playing out much differently.  With their season basically on the line tonight, the Spurs will fight, and that will come out more on the defensive end than anything.

And the Spurs are going to be without leading scorer Kawhi Leonard again for Game 3.  They only managed 100 points on 37% shooting without him in Game 2.  The Warriors couldn't miss, shooting 56.2% for the game with 18 made 3-pointers. That is unlikely to happen again as well.

The UNDER is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in San Antonio.  In fact, the Spurs and Warriors have combined for 208 or fewer points in each of their last nine meetings in San Antonio.  They have averaged just 187.2 combined points per game in those nine games, which is roughly 27 points less than tonight's posted total of 214.  Bet the UNDER in Game 3 Saturday.

15* MLB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Pittsburgh Pirates -121

The Philadelphia Phillies are just 3-12 in their last 15 games overall.  They are getting way too much respect from oddsmakers today as short road favorites against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who clearly have the edge on the mound in this one.

Ivan Nova gets overlooked time and time again despite the fact that he just dominates on the regular.  Nova is 3-3 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.031 WHIP in eight starts this season, including 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in three home starts.  Nova is 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA and 0.868 WHIP in two career starts against Philadelphia as well.

Vincent Velasquez has some good stuff, but he clearly hasn't been able to control it this season.  Velasquez is 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA and 1.383 WHIP in seven starts this year.  He gave up 4 runs and 11 base runners in 6 innings for a 6.00 ERA and 1.833 WHIP in his lone career start against Pittsburgh.

Nova is 42-17 (+20.8 Units) against the money line when the money line is -100 to -150 in his career.  The Phillies are 8-25 in their last 33 road games.  Philadelphia is 3-13 in Velasquez's last 16 starts.  Pittsburgh is 8-2 in its last 10 home meetings with Philly.  Take the Pirates Saturday.

15* MLB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Arizona Diamondbacks -140

The Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling right now.  They just swept the Mets at home last series and now take on the struggling Padres, who have gone just 2-8 in their last 10 games overall to fall to 15-28 on the season.

The Diamondbacks have a massive edge on the mound tonight with Taijuan Walker, who is 3-3 with a 3.91 ERA in eight starts this season.  Walker is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.500 WHIP in three career starts against San Diego.

Jered Weaver has been one of the worst starters in baseball this season.  The washed-up veteran is 0-4 with a 6.05 ERA and 1.344 WHIP in eight starts, including 0-2 with a 9.69 ERA and 1.769 WHIP in three home starts.  Weaver is 1-2 with a 5.78 ERA and 1.393 WHIP in three career starts against Arizona as well.

San Diego is 1-11 when the total is 8.5 to 10 this season.  The Padres are 0-8 in Weaver's last eight starts overall.  San Diego is 1-7 in its last eight vs. a team with a winning record.  The Padres are 2-8 in their last 10 home games.  Take the Diamondbacks Friday.

25* NBA Conference Finals GAME OF THE YEAR on Boston Celtics +6.5

This is the series for the Boston Celtics.  They can't lose both home games to open the series if they want any chance of giving the Cleveland Cavaliers a run for their money.  I expect a big effort from the Celtics here with their back against the wall after losing Game 1.

The Celtics came out sluggish in Game 1 and fell behind by double-digits right away and could never recover.  I guess you could see that coming after just winning a Game 7 against the Wizards a couple days earlier.  They were probably still fatigued too.

But they weren't aggressive at all, time and time against settling for 3-pointers instead of attacking the basket.  They went 12-of-38 (31.6%) from 3-point range in Game 1.  Look for Isaiah Thomas and company to be in attack mode from the opening tip.

Boston is 15-3 ATS after having lost four or five of its last six games over the past two seasons.  The Celtics are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games overall, including 5-1 ATS in their last six home games.  The Cavs are 4-14 ATS in road games after covering the spread in three or more consecutive games over the last three seasons.  Bet the Celtics in Game 2 Friday.

20* Interleague GAME OF THE WEEK on Toronto Blue Jays -120

The Toronto Blue Jays are highly motivated for a win here Thursday.  They have lost the first three games of this series to the Atlanta Braves and certainly want to avoid a sweep with a Game 4 victory.  And they should do just that with their ace on the mound.

Marcus Stroman is 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA in eight starts this season.  He'll be opposed by Julio Teheran, who is 3-3 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.425 WHIP in eight starts, including 1-3 with an 8.14 ERA and 1.857 WHIP in four home starts.  Teheran is 0-0 with a 6.80 ERA and 1.533 WHIP in three career starts against Toronto as well.

The Blue Jays get some good news on the injury front today as SS Troy Tulowitzki is expected to be activated and return from the DL.  The Braves have horrible news as their best hitter in Freddie Freeman is doubtful to play tonight with a hand injury.

Teheran is 1-10 (-10.2 Units) against the money line at home when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last two seasons.  Teheran is 1-12 (-12.4 Units) against the money line in home games in the first half of the season over the last two seasons.  The Braves are 2-8 in their last 10 home games.  Bet the Blue Jays Thursday.

20* Cavs/Celtics Game 1 No-Brainer on Boston +5

I think the long layoff for the Cavs is more of a disadvantage than an advantage.  They haven't played since May 7th and will be rusty.  We saw the Warriors get blitzed by the Spurs in the first half of Game 1 after their long layoff.  I think the same thing happens here.

The Boston Celtics are far from tired despite playing a 7-game series.  Rest isn't an issue in the playoffs.  And the Celtics have only played four games in the past 10 days, which would be a great situation to back a team during the regular season.

One thing that really stands out to me and points out the line value in Game 1 is the regular season lines between these teams.  Boston was a 4-point favorite and a 1.5-point favorite in its two home meetings with Cleveland.  Now it is a +5 underdog in Game 1, which is a 9-point difference from their final regular season meeting of 2017 on April 5th.

Cleveland is 3-14 ATS in road games after successfully covering the spread in three or more consecutive games over the last three seasons.  Boston is 32-17 ATS when revenging a loss vs opponent of 10 points or more over the last three seasons.  The Celtics are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall, including 5-0 ATS in their last five home games.  Bet the Celtics in Game 1 Wednesday.

15* Red Sox/Cardinals ESPN ANNIHILATOR on Boston Red Sox -112

Rick Porcello has been every bit as good as his 2016 Cy Young form when you look at advanced metrics this season.  But he's just 2-5 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.338 WHIP in eight starts.  As a result, Porcello is undervalued right now.

Porcello has struck out 52 batters in 49 1/3 innings this season.  He is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three road starts this year, and 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.105 WHIP in his last three starts coming in.  Porcello is 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in two career starts against St. Louis.

Mike Leake is overvalued right now because he has overachieved.  Leake is 4-2 with a 1.94 ERA in seven starts this season.  That's not going to last, and he has never beaten the Red Sox, going 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA and 1.583 WHIP in two career starts against them.

Leake is 4-13 (-13.5 Units) against the money line in home games over the last two seasons.  The Red Sox are 24-9 in their last 33 interleague games.  Boston is 6-0 in Porcello's last six interleague starts.  The Cardinals are 1-7 in Leake's last seven home starts, and 0-6 in his last six home starts vs. a team with a winning record.  St. Louis is 3-11 in its last 14 interleague home games.  Take the Red Sox Wednesday.

20* Spurs/Warriors Game 2 Total DOMINATOR on UNDER 210

The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are here because of defense.  In fact, these are the two best teams in the NBA in terms of defensive efficiency during the regular season.  The Spurs rank 1st at 100.9 points per 100 possessions allowed, while the Warriors are 2nd at 101.1.

The Warriors got way behind early against the Spurs in Game 1 and were playing at a frantic pace to try to get back in it the rest of the way.  That led to a high-scoring 113-111 final in the Warriors' favor.  I think Game 2 will be played much differently with the Warriors getting off to a much better start.

The Spurs and Warriors have combined for 210 or fewer points in seven of their last 10 meetings.  They have averaged just 202.8 combined points per game in those 10 meetings, showing that there's still a ton of value on the UNDER 210 here.  And leading scorer Kawhi Leonard is out now for the Spurs after getting injured in Game 1.

Plays on the UNDER on any team (GOLDEN STATE) - in a game involving two very good teams - outscoring opponents by 7+ PPG, after a combined score of 205 points or more are 53-16 (76.8%) over the last five seasons.  Plays on the UNDER on any team (SAN ANTONIO) - after one or more consecutive overs, in a game involving two very good teams - outscoring opponents by 7+ PPG in the 2nd half of the season are 24-6 (80%) over the last five seasons.  Bet the UNDER in Game 2 Tuesday.

15* MLB Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Toronto Blue Jays -138

The Toronto Blue Jays have finally turned the corner in winning seven of their last nine games overall.  But they had their five-game winning streak come to an end Monday to the Braves, and they'll be motivated to start a new one tonight.

They should do just that due to their massive edge on the mound tonight.  Marco Estrada is 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.163 WHIP in eight starts this season, including 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in three home starts.  Estrada is 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.091 WHIP in five career starts against Atlanta, including 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in his last three starts, pitching 21 2/3 shutout innings in the process.

Jaime Garcia is past his prime.  He has gone 1-2 with a 4.33 ERA and 1.415 WHIP in six starts this season, including 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.448 WHIP in five road starts.  He'll be no match for Estrada and this surging Blue Jays lineup tonight.

The Braves are 10-25 in their last 35 interleague games.  Atlanta is 0-6 in its last six after allowing 5 runs or more in its previous game.  The Blue Jays are 56-25 in their last 81 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Toronto is 7-1 in its last eight games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  Take the Blue Jays Tuesday.

20* Wizards/Celtics Game 7 No-Brainer on Boston -4.5

The Boston Celtics let one get away in Game 6, but credit to John Wall for hitting a clutch 3-pointer right before the buzzer.  And it kept the trend of the home team winning every game in this series this season alive.

In fact, the home team is now 10-0 SU & 9-1 ATS in the 10 meetings between the Wizards and Celtics this season.  The home team has won nine of those 10 meetings by 8 points or more as they have basically all been blowouts outside of Game 6.

The Celtics' home domination of the Wizards has been mighty impressive.  They are 8-0 SU & 8-0 ATS in their last eight home meetings with the Wizards, winning all eight by 8 points or more.  Boston has outscored Washington by a total of 136 points in those eight games, or by an average of 17.0 points per game.

Boston is 8-1 ATS after having lost three of its last four games over the past two seasons.  The Wizards are 0-6 ATS in their last six road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.  The Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.  Boston is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games overall.  Bet the Celtics in Game 7 Monday.

15* MLB Monday Undervalued Underdog on Miami Marlins +103

The Houston Astros are in a very tough spot here Monday.  They just played a double-header yesterday against the Yankees and concluded with a 10-7 win on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.  Their staff gave up 18 runs in the two games and will be worn out coming into Game 1 of this series with the Miami Marlins.

The Marlins are going to be motivated for a win after losing eight of their last 10 games overall.  Their most consistent starter has been Daniel Straily, who is 1-3 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.079 WHIP in seven starts this season, including 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.927 WHIP in four home starts.

Straily has never lost to the Astros, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.700 WHIP in three career starts against them.  Joe Musgrove is 2-3 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.381 WHIP in seven starts this season for the Astros.

Straily is 14-4 (+11.1 Units) against the money line when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last two seasons.  Straily is 7-0 (+7.5 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last two seasons.  Miami is 20-6 in its last 26 home meetings with Houston.  Take the Marlins Monday.

15* Astros/Yankees ESPN Sunday Night BAILOUT on New York -114

The New York Yankees have lost the first two games of this series to the Houston Astros.  They are going to want to sweep the double-header today, and I like the value we are getting with them as small home favorites in Game 2 tonight on ESPN.

Masahiro Tanaka is 5-1 with a 4.36 ERA in seven starts this season, 3-0 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.170 WHIP in three home starts, and 3-0 with a 2.82 ERA and 0.985 WHIP in his last three starts overall.  Rarely will you get to back him at home at this short of a price.

Charlie Morton is 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.361 WHIP in seven starts for the Astros.  But while he has been dominant at home, Morton is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA and 1.900 WHIP in two road starts this year.  Morton has posted a 5.14 ERA in one career start against the Yankees as well.

Tanaka is 21-4 (+16.3 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -110 or higher over the last two seasons.  Tanaka is 13-1 (+11.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -110 or higher over the last two seasons.  Tanaka is 8-0 (+8.0 Units) against the money line vs. good power teams - averaging 1.25 or more HR's/game over the last two seasons. Take the Yankees in Game 2 Sunday.

20* Spurs/Warriors Game 1 Total DOMINATOR on UNDER 212

The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are here because of defense.  In fact, these are the two best teams in the NBA in terms of defensive efficiency during the regular season.  The Spurs rank 1st at 100.9 points per 100 possessions allowed, while the Warriors are 2nd at 101.1.

I think the Spurs could be fatigued here after a hard-fought seres with the Rockets, plus with the fact that they are without Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard is very banged up and didn't play in Game 6.  And the Warriors will be rusty having last played on May 8th, both factors that should help contribute to the UNDER cashing.

The UNDER is 6-3 in the last nine meetings in this series.  The Spurs and Warriors have combined for 210 or fewer points in seven of their last nine meetings.  They have averaged just 200.4 combined points per game in those nine meetings, which is roughly 12 points less than Game 1's posted total of 212, providing plenty of value with the UNDER.

The UNDER is 13-6 in the last 19 meetings.  The UNDER is 33-16-2 in Warriors last 51 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  Plays on the UNDER on any team (GOLDEN STATE) - after one or more consecutive overs, in a game involving two very good teams - outscoring opponents by 7+ PPG in the 2nd half of the season are 24-5 (82.8%) over the last five seasons.

Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 (GOLDEN STATE) - in a game involving two very good teams - outscoring opponents by 7+ PPG, after scoring 105 points or more are 45-13 (77.6%) over the last five seasons.  Bet the UNDER in Game 1 Sunday.

20* NL GAME OF THE MONTH on Arizona Diamondbacks -158

The Arizona Diamondbacks have won three straight while outscoring the opposition 20-6 in the process.  I think they will make easy work of the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates, who have lost six straight coming in while scoring an average of 2.3 runs per game in their last 10 games overall.

Trevor Williams will be making just his 3rd career start tonight for the Pirates.  He was blasted for 8 runs, 6 earned, in 3 innings of a 12-1 loss to the Dodgers in his only start this season on May 8th.  Now he'll be up against an Arizona team that is hitting .301 and scoring 6.3 runs per game at home this season.

Taijuan Walker is 3-2 with a 3.82 ERA and 1.275 WHIP in seven starts this season, including 1-1 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.145 WHIP in his last three starts.  The Diamondbacks are 3-0 in his three home starts where he has posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.017 WHIP as well.

Walker is 11-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line vs. poor power teams - averaging 0.9 or less HR's/game over the last three seasons.  The Pirates are 11-29 in their last 40 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Diamondbacks are 23-8 in their last 31 home games.  Pittsburgh is 0-6 in its last six games overall.  Bet the Diamondbacks Saturday.

15* AL West ANNIHILATOR on Texas Rangers -114

The Texas Rangers are showing great value as only -114 home favorites over the Oakland A's in Game 1 of this series Friday night.  We'll take advantage and back them here as they come in on a three-game winning streak while scoring a combined 20 runs in the process.

Andrew Cashner isn't getting the respect he deserves from oddsmakers tonight.  The right-hander is 0-3 on the season in spite of a 2.63 ERA over five starts, so he simply has been unfortunate in the run support department.  Cashner has posted a 1.80 ERA in two home starts as well.

Jesse Hahn is having a very good season for the A's as well with a 2.73 ERA in five starts.  Hahn is 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA and 1.477 WHIP in four career starts against Texas, though.

Texas is 17-4 in home games after batting .225 or worse over a 5-game span over the last two seasons.  Oakland is 4-19 after having won five or six of its last seven games over the past two seasons.  The A's are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.  Oakland is 1-6 in Hahn's last seven road starts.  Take the Rangers Friday.

20* Celtics/Wizards Game 6 No-Brainer on Boston +5

I know the home team has absolutely dominated this series this season, going 9-0 SU & 9-0 ATS in nine meetings.  However, I'm going against the grain here as I firmly believe the Boston Celtics close out the Wizards tonight, and we'll take the 5 points for some added insurance.

The Celtics made a big statement in Game 5 with their 123-101 victory.  The Wizards have to be a bit deflated after that defeat, and now all the pressure is on them to try and keep their season alive.  These players haven't been in this situation very often and I question how well they'll handle it.  The Celtics' players will be playing loose and free.

Boston is 15-6 ATS in road games after a game where it covered the spread this season.  The Celtics are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games overall.  Boston is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games after scoring 100 points or more in its previous game.  The Wizards are 7-20-1 ATS in their last 28 games when playing on one days' rest.  Boston is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.  Bet the Celtics in Game 6 Friday.

15* MLB Thursday No-Doubt Rout on Arizona Diamondbacks -120

The Arizona Diamondbacks are showing great value as small home favorites over the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight.  Rarely will you get ace Zach Greinke at this kind of a price when pitching at home, and we'll take advantage.

Greinke has gotten back to being his dominant self this season.  The right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.168 WHIP in seven starts this season, including 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA and 1.098 WHIP in four home starts.

The Pirates are really struggling at the plate right now, scoring an average of just 2.4 runs per game in their last eight contests.  They have lost four straight and six of their last eight overall as a result.  They have some key injuries that are holding their lineup back.

The Diamondbacks are 13-6 at home this season, hitting .297 and scoring 6.3 runs per game.  The Pirates are 0-5 in their last five road games.  Pittsburgh is 1-5 in Gerrit Cole's last six road starts.  The Diamondbacks are 12-3 in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a losing record.  Arizona is 21-8 in its last 29 home games.  Greinke is 35-7 (+25.2 Units) against the money line in home games vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .250 or worse in his career.  Take the Diamondbacks Thursday.

20* Spurs/Rockets Game 6 No-Brainer on Houston -6.5

The Houston Rockets are the better team in this series.  They have outscored the Spurs despite being down 3-2 in this series.  They won their two games by 27 and 21 points.  I think we see a similar blowout tonight with their backs against the wall at home in Game 6.

The Spurs lost Tony Parker for the rest of the postseason a few games back, and now their best player in Kawhi Leonard is nursing knee and ankle injuries.  He got hurt in Game 5 and didn't return for the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.  The Spurs were fortunate to pull it out, but they have no chance of being competitive in Game 6 without him at near 100%.

The Spurs are 7-16 ATS in their last 23 games following a straight up win.  The Rockets are 19-10 ATS following a loss this season.  Bet the Rockets in Game 6 Thursday.

25* NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs GAME OF THE YEAR on Boston Celtics -4.5

The Boston Celtics probably relaxed a bit too much following their 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS run in these playoffs that extended back to Game 3 of the Bulls' series.  They were blown out in their two games at Washington in Games 3 and 4.

But now they return home focused and determined to take back control of this series.  And I think we are getting the Celtics at a cheaper price than we should be here simply because they were blown out in both games in Washington.

Home-court advantage has been bigger in this series than any other in the playoffs.  In fact, the home team is a perfect 8-0 SU & 8-0 ATS in the last eight meetings.  The Celtics are 7-0 SU & 7-0 ATS in their last seven home meetings with the Wizards, winning all seven by 8 points or more and by an average of 14.3 points per game.

Boston is 10-1 ATS in home games after allowing 105 points or more in three straight games over the past three seasons.  It is winning by 14.8 points per game in this spot.  The Wizards are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.  Bet the Celtics in Game 5 Wednesday.

20* Interleague GAME OF THE MONTH on Washington Nationals -164

The Washington Nationals have lost three straight games by a combined four runs.  They blew a 4-2 lead against the Orioles in the 9th inning last night and lost by one in extras.  They'll be highly motivated for a victory here tonight to end this skid.

Stephen Strasburg is back to being his dominant self when healthy this season.  He has gone 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 1.082 WHIP over six starts this season.  Strasburg is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.750 WHIP In two career starts against Baltimore as well.

Wade Miley has pitched above his talent level this season, and he's in line to get rocked tonight.  He has a 2.052 WHIP in his last three starts, allowing 26 base runners in 12 2/3 innings.  Miley has given up 9 earned runs over 7 1/3 innings in his last two starts against Washington.

The Nationals are 10-2 in Strasburg's last 12 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Washington is 37-14 in Strasburg's last 51 starts overall.  The Orioles are 0-5 in Miley's last five starts when their opponent allows five runs or more in their previous game.  Take the Nationals Wednesday.

15* MLB Run Line PLAY OF THE DAY on Houston Astros -1.5 (+105)

The Houston Astros are living up to their massive potential this season.  They have gone 21-11 behind a dominant starting rotation, a solid offense that's hitting .275 and scoring 4.8 runs per game, and an elite bullpen with a 3.11 ERA on the season.

Charlie Morton has proven to be a nice addition to the rotation this season.  He has gone 3-2 with a 3.97 ERA in six starts this year, including 3-0 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.083 WHIP in four home starts.  Morton is 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta.

The Braves have gone 1-6 in their last seven games overall.  Bartolo Colon is finally starting to wear down in his old age this season.  He has gone 1-3 with a 6.27 ERA and 1.424 WHIP in six starts, including 0-2 with a 6.95 ERA and 1.636 WHIP in four road starts.

Atlanta is 1-9 off a loss by 2 runs or less this season, losing by 2.4 runs per game in this spot.  Morton is 10-0 in home games in the first half of the season over the last three seasons.  His teams are winning by 3.4 runs per game in this spot.  Roll with the Astros on the Run Line Tuesday.

20* Rockets/Spurs Game 5 No-Brainer on Houston +5.5

I still think the Houston Rockets are the better team in this series, so I'm likely to back them the rest of the way, just as I did in Game 4.  And the numbers have shown that they've been the better team.

The Rockets can score at will.  They have put up 125 and 126 points in their two victories in this series, and the Spurs are a great defensive team.  They have outscored the Spurs by 12 points in four games thus far.

The main theme for me is that the Spurs are too much of a one-man show with Kawhi Leonard, while the Rockets have a number of different players that can beat you outside of James Harden.  The Rockets simply have too many weapons for the Spurs.

Houston is 13-4 ATS as a road underdog this season.  The Spurs are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.  The road team is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings.  Bet the Rockets in Game 5 Tuesday.

15* MLB Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Washington Nationals -146

The Washington Nationals (21-11) and Baltimore Orioles (21-10) have been two of the best teams in baseball this season, so this is a very intriguing series.  I expect Game 1 to go to the road team due to their massive edge on the mound.

The Nationals send ace Max Scherzer to the mound.  He has been as consistent as any elite starter in the game over the past few seasons.  Scherzer is 4-2 with a 2.66 ERA and 0.910 WHIP in six starts this season, including 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.784 WHIP in three road starts.

Ubaldo Jimenez doesn't deserve a spot in Baltimore's rotation, and he hasn't for a few years.  Jimenez is 1-1 with a 7.44 ERA and 1.740 WHIP in five starts this season, including 0-0 with a 9.40 ERA and 2.089 WHIP in two home starts.

The Nationals are 20-6 in Scherzer's last 26 road starts.  Washington is 11-3 in its last 14 road games.  The Orioles are 0-7 in their last seven Tuesday games.  Take the Nationals Tuesday.

20* Warriors/Jazz Game 4 ANNIHILATOR on Utah +9

The Utah Jazz aren't the type of team that is just going to pack it in when trailing 0-3 in the series.  They are a prideful team that wants to put an end to a 9-game losing streak in the 2nd round of the playoffs.  And even if they don't win tonight, they can still easily cover as 9-point dogs.

The Jazz have at least been competitive in all three games, losing by 12, 11 and 11 points.  And they held a lead late against the Warriors before falling apart in the final few minutes to lose by 11 in Game 3.  Plus Steph Curry and Kevin Durant couldn't miss with Durant even banking in a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock late.

Utah is 39-16 ATS when revenging a home loss vs. opponent over the last three seasons.  Plays against favorites (GOLDEN STATE) - when leading in a playoff series, a top-level team (75% record or better) playing a team with a winning record are 73-38 (65.8%) ATS since 1996.  Utah is 7-1-1 ATS in its last nine games playing on one days' rest.  Bet the Jazz in Game 4 Monday.

15* MLB Monday No-Doubt Rout on Toronto Blue Jays -112

The Toronto Blue Jays have a massive edge on the mound tonight with Marcus Stroman over Trevor Bauer.  I think they should be much bigger favorites as a result tonight as they host the Cleveland Indians for Game 1 of this series.

Marcus Stroman has gone 2-2 with a 3.89 ERA in six starts this year.  Stroman has owned the Indians, going 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.035 WHIP in three career starts against them, all of which came last season.

Bauer is 2-3 with a 7.67 ERA and 1.593 WHIP in five starts this season.  Bauer has never beaten the Blue Jays, going 0-1 with a monstrous 8.18 ERA and 1.814 WHIP in four career starts against them.

Toronto is 26-7 in home games after two straight games where the bullpen gave up no earned runs over the last three seasons.  The Indians are 0-4 in their last four during Game 1 of a series.  Take the Blue Jays Monday.

20* Spurs/Rockets Game 4 No-Brainer on Houston -5.5

The Houston Rockets have lost the last two games of this series after winning Game 1 by 27 points.  It appears they have relaxed these last two games, but now they'll be going full throttle at home tonight to try and even this series at 2-2.

Houston scored 126 points in Game 1.  But it has let San Antonio dictate the tempo these past two games, being held to just 96 and 92 points, respectively.  Look for the Rockets to get back to pushing the tempo.  They're not going to shoot as poorly as they did in Game 3 either when they shot 36.4%.

Houston is 8-1 ATS revenging a straight up loss vs. opponent as a home favorite this season.  The Spurs are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up win.  Bets on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (HOUSTON) - double revenge - two straight losses vs. opponent against opponent off an upset win over a division rival as an underdog are 50-20 (71.4%) ATS since 1996.  Bet the Rockets in Game 4 Sunday.

15* Yankees/Cubs ESPN Sunday Night BAILOUT on Chicago -129

The Chicago Cubs have lost the first two meetings of this series with the New York Yankees.  They will be highly motivated to avoid the sweep tonight.  They'll get the win with ace Jon Lester on the mound.

Lester has gone 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA in six starts this season, including 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three home starts.  Lester is 13-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 29 career starts against the Yankees as well.

Luis Severino is off to a decent start this season for the Yankees, going 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts.  But he has never been able to sustain this kind of success at the big league level.  And he allowed 5 earned runs and 10 base runners in 5 2/3 innings in his last start against Toronto.

Lester is a perfect 14-0 (+14.0 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last two seasons.  Lester is 12-0 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in home games vs. teams whose hitters draw 4 walks or more/game  in his career.  Take the Cubs Sunday.

20* Warriors/Jazz Game 3 No-Brainer on Utah +6.5

The Utah Jazz have one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA.  They are 30-14 at home this season.  They were at least competitive in their two games at Golden State, covering the spread in both games.  Now they are catching 6.5 points at home in Game 3 with the series basically on the line.  I look for a big effort from them here.

The Jazz have played the Warriors tough at home over the past few years.  They have gone 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings in Salt Lake City, not once losing by more than 7 points.  And the only non-cover came in overtime in a 96-103 loss as 4.5-point dogs last season.

Plays against favorites (Golden State) - when leading in a playoff series, a top-level team (winning at least 75%) playing a good team (60% to 75%) are 44-16 (73.3%) ATS since 1996.  Plays on home underdogs (UTAH) - revenging two straight losses vs opponent of 10 points or more against opponent off two no-covers where the team won straight up as a favorite are 37-13 (74%) ATS since 1996.

The Jazz are 10-1-1 ATS in their last 12 games when playing on one days' rest.  Utah is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall.  The Warriors are 0-4 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning record.  Utah is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.  Bet the Jazz in Game 3 Saturday.

15* MLB Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Cleveland Indians -112

We're getting the best team in the AL Central in the Cleveland Indians at a great value today against the worst team in the division in the Kansas City Royals.  We'll take advantage and back the Indians here.

Josh Tomlin hasn't been on top of his game yet this season, but that's why we're getting this good price.  But Tomlin is 8-4 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.143 WHIP in 17 career starts against Kansas City.  He is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last five starts against the Royals, giving up just 5 earned runs in 33 1/3 innings.

Jason Vargas is off to a great start for the Royals, which is why he is being overvalued now.  But don't expect much run support for him as the Royals are hitting .215 and scoring 2.9 runs per game this season.  Vargas has posted a 4.68 ERA in 13 career starts against Cleveland.

Kansas City is 1-9 (-9.0 Units) against the money line in day games this season.  Tomlin is 16-4 (+11.1 Units) against the money line when the money line is -100 to -150 over the last 2 seasons.  The Indians are 15-2 in Tomlin's last 17 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Royals are 3-14 in their last 17 vs. American League Central opponents.  Take the Indians Saturday.

15* MLB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Houston Astros -127

The Houston Astros have been one of the most profitable teams to back this season due to their 19-10 start.  They have lived up to their potential this season with one of the best lineups in baseball, one of the top bullpens, and an improved starting rotation.

Speaking of living up to their potential, 2015 AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel has returned to that form after a sub-par 2016 campaign.  Keuchel is 5-0 with a 1.21 ERA and 0.806 WHIP in six starts this season.  He is 10-2 with a 3.45 ERA and 1.274 WHIP in 14 career starts against the Angels as well.

Jesse Chavez has gone 2-3 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.345 WHIP in five starts this season.  Chavez is 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.389 WHIP in six career starts against the Astros.  He is an average starter, but he's no match for Keuchel and this potent Astros' lineup tonight.

The Astros are 5-0 in Keuchel's last five starts vs. AL West opponents.  Houston is 12-3 in its last 15 vs. AL West foes.  The Astros are 6-0 in their last six during game 1 of a series.  The Angels are 18-38 in their last 56 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.  Houston is 16-6 in the last 22 meetings, including 4-0 in Keuchel's last four starts vs. Los Angeles.  Take the Astros Friday.

15* Spurs/Rockets ESPN Late-Night BAILOUT on Houston -4

The Houston Rockets relaxed in Game 2 after throttling the Spurs 126-99 in Game 1.  They actually kept it close for three quarters before getting blown out in the 4th by the Spurs in Game 2.  The Spurs simply wanted that game more, but that won't be the case tonight as the series heads to Houston for Game 3.

I truly believe that the Rockets are the better team in this series and will win it when it's all said and done.  And Game 3 tonight is their chance to prove that they are the better team.  The Rockets have gone 33-11 at home this season and will be playing in front of a raucous home crowd.

James Harden will be motivated to redeem himself following a 3-for-17 shooting performance in Game 2.  And the problem remains for the Spurs that Kawhi Leonard has to do too much for them.  Now his task is even taller with starting PG Tony Parker out for the season with a torn quad muscle suffered in Game 2.  Leonard will have to handle the ball even more on offense for them, while also being tasked with guarding Harden on the other end.

Plays on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (HOUSTON) - revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points against opponent off a win by 20 points or more over a division rival are 35-11 (76.1%) ATS since 1996.  The Spurs are 6-15 ATS in their last 21 games following a straight up win.  Houston is 18-9 ATS off a loss this season.  Take the Rockets in Game 3 Friday.

25* NBA 2nd Round GAME OF THE YEAR on Toronto Raptors +2

This same thing happened last year before the Raptors got back in the series in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavs.  They were blown out in their first two games last year in Cleveland, but then rebounded to win Games 3 and 4 at home.  I think they'll repeat that feat again this year.

Home-court advantage has been huge the last two years in the playoffs in this series.  The home team is now 7-1 SU in the last eight playoff games between these teams  The only exception was a Cavs' win in Toronto in Game 6 last year to close out the series.  The Raptors are 30-14 at home this year, while the Cavs are a very vulnerable 22-21 on the road.

I think Cleveland is going to relax in Game 3 tonight.  The Cavaliers have won six straight games to open this postseason just as they did last year.  It's only human nature to relax when things have been going this well for them.  The fact of the matter is that the Raptors are going to want this game more, and that's going to show on the court and on the scoreboard.

Cleveland is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 road games off two straight wins by 10 points or more.  The Cavaliers are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  The Raptors are 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  Toronto is 6-0 ATS in its last six home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.  Bet the Raptors in Game 3 Friday.

20* Celtics/Wizards Game 3 No-Brainer on Washington -5.5

I've been riding the Boston Celtics with a ton of success during their 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS run in their last six games overall.  However, I'm going to switch gears here and take the Washington Wizards in Game 3.

This is do-or-die for the Wizards tonight.  It's a must-win game as they trail 2-0 after blowing Game 2 and eventually losing in overtime.  I look for them to respond in a big way at home tonight and to win by a comfortable margin.

The Wizards have had one of the most underrated home-court advantages in the NBA this season.  They are 33-11 at home while scoring 110.3 points per game and shooting 48.1% from the field.  They are much more comfortable here in DC, and I look for John Wall to have a monster game to lead the way.

Boston is 2-10 ATS off two or more consecutive home wins this season.  The Celtics are 3-15 ATS off four or more consecutive wins over the last two seasons.  The home team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings.  Bet the Wizards in Game 3 Thursday.

20* Rockets/Spurs Game 2 ANNIHILATOR on Houston +5.5

We were on the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of this series in a 126-99 victory.  They dominated from start to finish and led by 30 points at halftime.  The Spurs will give a better effort in Game 2, but the fact of the matter remains that the Rockets are the better team.

Getting 5.5 points in Game 2 is a real nice value when you look at the season series.  The Spurs have won three of five meetings, but they haven't won by more than 6 points, and three games have been decided by exactly 2 points.  The Rockets have been the better team in the season series.

The Spurs are vulnerable because they are so reliant on one player in Kawhi Leonard.  LaMarcus Aldridge has been a no-show, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli don't have much left in the tank, and Danny Green is on the downside of his career as well.  Meanwhile, the Rockets are a complete team that can beat you even if James Harden is having an off game, which is rare.

Houston is 13-3 ATS as a road underdog this season.  The road team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings.  Houston is 7-0 ATS in road games when playing 6 or fewer games in 14 days this season.  The Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last four Conference Semifinals games.  Bet the Rockets in Game 2 Wednesday.

15* NL PLAY OF THE DAY on Washington Nationals -131

After losing three of their last four games coming in, the Washington Nationals will be highly motivated for a victory tonight at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  They are scoring 6.7 runs per game this season and should get their bats going again tonight.

Robbie Ray is 2-1 with a 3.56 ERA and 1.351 WHIP in five starts this season.  He has never beaten the Nationals, going 0-2 with an 8.43 ERA and 1.781 WHIP in two career starts against them, both of which came last season.

Gio Gonzalez has been lights out for the Nationals, going 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA and 1.110 WHIP in five starts this season.  Gonzalez has pitched well against the Diamondbacks, going 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA in six career starts against them.

The Diamondbacks are 7-18 in Ray's last 25 road starts, including 2-8 in its last 10 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Nationals are 8-2 in Gonzalez's last 10 home starts.  Washington is 58-26 in its last 84 Wednesday games and 18-5 in Gonzalez's last 23 Wednesday starts.  Take the Nationals Wednesday.

15* MLB Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Kansas City Royals -112

The Kansas City Royals can finally breathe again after ending their dreadful 9-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox yesterday.  Now I believe they get back in the win column again tonight with their ace on the mound.

Danny Duffy remains one of the most underrated starters in baseball.  The left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.219 WHIP in five starts this season.  Duffy is 6-3 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.212 WHIP in 15 career starts against Chicago.

Jose Quintana knows that he's likely to be traded this season, so his focus isn't there.  Quintana has gone 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA and 1.466 WHIP in five starts this season.  The left-hander is 2-9 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.303 WHIP in 23 career starts against the Royals as well.

The White Sox are 1-5 in Quintana's last six road starts.  The Royals are 6-1 in their last seven vs. a team with a winning record.  Kansas City is 25-8 in Duffy's last 33 home starts.  The Royals are 6-1 in Duffy's last seven home starts vs. Chicago.  The White Sox are 5-17 in Quintana's last 22 starts vs. Kansas City.  Take the Royals Tuesday.

20* Wizards/Celtics Game 2 No-Brainer on Boston -5

The Boston Celtics have been on a roll ever since Isaiah Thomas returned from his first trip to Washington to see his family.  His mind has been more set at ease, and the Celtics' players have rallied around him during their impressive 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS streak coming in to Game 2.

The Celtics have been much more efficient offensively as they have scored at least 104 points in five straight games.  But perhaps the biggest difference has been defense as they've allowed 97 or fewer points in four of their last five.  This is a locomotive right now that you do not want to step in front of.

The Wizards were shelled for 123 points on 51.1% shooting by the Celtics in Game 1.  Not having Ian Mahinmi really hurts their defense, and now forward Markieff Morris has an ankle injury that he suffered in Game 1.  The Celtics really pulled away once Morris went out with that injury.

The favorite is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.  The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.  The Celtics are 6-0 ATS in their last six home meetings with the Wizards.  Bet the Celtics in Game 2 Tuesday.

20* Rockets/Spurs Game 1 No-Brainer on Houston +6

The Houston Rockets put the Oklahoma City Thunder away in five games and now have had extra rest heading into this series with the San Antonio Spurs.  They haven't played since April 25th and will be ready to go in this series, one that I think they win against a vulnerable Spurs squad.

Getting 6 points in Game 1 is a real nice value when you look at the regular season series.  Yes, the Spurs won three of four meetings, but all four games were decided by 6 points or less, including three by exactly 2 points.  There's a good chance this one goes down to the wire as well.

The Spurs are vulnerable because they are so reliant on one player in Kawhi Leonard.  LaMarcus Aldridge has been a no-show, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli don't have much left in the tank, and Danny Green is on the downside of his career as well.  Meanwhile, the Rockets are a complete team that can beat you even if James Harden is having an off game, which is rare.

Houston is 12-3 ATS as a road underdog this season.  The Rockets are 13-2 ATS in road games when revenging a loss vs. opponent this season.  Houston is 8-0 ATS in road games revenging a loss where opponent scored 110 points or more this year.  The Spurs are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games following a straight up win.  The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.  Bet the Rockets in Game 1 Monday.

15* MLB Monday No-Doubt Rout on Atlanta Braves -108

The Atlanta Braves have really gotten their bats going of late.  They have gone 4-1 in their last five games overall while scoring a combined 39 runs, which equates to 7.8 runs per game.  Those bats should stay red hot tonight against an overmatched starter in Robert Gsellman.

Gsellman is 0-2 with an 8.27 ERA and 1.742 WHIP in four starts this season.  He has given up 19 earned runs in 20 2/3 innings.  Gsellman has never beaten the Braves, going 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA and 2.024 WHIP in three career starts against them.  He gave up 6 runs and 13 base runners in 4 innings of a 2-8 loss to the Braves in his last start on April 26th.

Ace Julio Teheran is off to a solid start this season for Atlanta, going 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts.  To say Teheran owns the Mets would be an understatement as he's 8-3 with a 1.95 ERA and 1.017 WHIP in 16 career starts against them.  He has allowed just 2 runs in 12 1/3 innings in two starts against the Mets in 2017 already.

The Mets are 3-11 in their last 14 games overall.  They gave up 23 runs to the Nationals yesterday.  They are without their best hitter right now in Yoenis Cespedes.  The Braves are 6-0 in their last six home games vs. a team with a losing record.  Take the Braves Monday.

20* Jazz/Clippers Game 7 No-Brainer on Los Angeles -3.5

The road team has actually won four of the six games in this series.  That is unheard of in a playoff series, and I don't expect that trend to continue in this do-or-die Game 7.  I think that trend has offered us some tremendous line value on the Clippers here laying only 3.5 points.

The Clippers still have the best player in the series in Chris Paul, who has just been a monster in the fourth quarter all series and who I trust more than anyone to get the job done.  And the healthy return of Austin Rivers has been huge as well.  His defense on Gordon Hayward has been great, but he also scored 13 points and hit three 3-pointers in Game 6.

Utah is 17-31 ATS as a road underdog over the last two seasons.  Rudy Gobert suffered an ankle injury in the second half of Game 6 and wasn't the same player down the stretch.  I have a hard time believing it will be heeled in time for Game 7, which could be a huge factor in the outcome.  Bet the Clippers Sunday.

15* MLB PLAY OF THE DAY on Texas Rangers -101

Martin Perez has been a monster at home over the past two seasons.  The Rangers are used to winning his starts at home, and they are always at great prices like this -101 price today.  We'll back Perez and the Rangers here.

Perez has posted a 3.12 ERA in three home starts this season.  Perez has also posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.231 WHIP in eight career starts against the Angels.  Perez has been dominant at home against the Angels, going 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in four career starts, allowing just 4 earned runs in 27 1/3 innings.

JC Ramirez is getting way too much respect from oddsmakers in this game Sunday.  He is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts this season, including 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA in two road starts.  He has allowed 8 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in those two road starts.

The Angels are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.  Perez is 15-6 (+10.2 Units) against the money line when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last two seasons.  The Rangers are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.  Texas is 5-2 in its last seven home meetings with Los Angeles.  Take the Rangers Sunday.

20* NL GAME OF THE WEEK on Milwaukee Brewers -113

The Milwaukee Brewers blew leads of 4-0 and 8-4 yesterday and lost to the Atlanta Braves 10-8 after giving up two more runs in the 9th inning.  Look for them to come back highly motivated here in Game 2 to get the victory at a great value as small home favorites.

Jimmy Nelson has pitched well at home this season, posting a 3.18 ERA through two starts.  Nelson has owned the Braves in his two career starts against them, posting a 2.31 ERA while allowing just three earned runs in 11 2/3 innings.

Jaime Garcia is still looking for his first win of the season for the Braves.  He has gone 0-1 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.329 WHIP in four starts, including 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.353 WHIP in three road starts.

Plays on all favorites with a money line of -110 or higher (MILWAUKEE) - very good NL offensive team (at least 5.0 runs/game) against a team with a below avg. bullpen (4.50 ERA or worse), starting a pitcher who walked 5 or more hitters last outing are 92-35 (72.4%, +43.8 units) since 1997.  Bet the Brewers Saturday.

15* Clippers/Jazz ESPN Late-Night BAILOUT on Los Angeles +6

The Los Angeles Clippers are tired of early exits in the playoffs.  With Chris Paul healthy, they still have a shot to win this series, and I think they go on the road and get another huge win in Utah like Game 3.  Getting the 6 points here is just an added bonus.

Each of the last three games really could have gone either way.  All three were basically toss-up games in the final minutes, and the Jazz managed to win two of the three thanks to some late-game heroics from Joe Johnson.  I certainly do not believe he can keep up his level of play.

The fact of the matter is that the role players are due for the Clippers.  Both JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford have been off the entire series, but they are too good of shooters to stay cold forever.  And Doc Rivers has more options now to go small and match the Jazz with Austin Rivers healthy.  That small ball lineup got them back into the game in Game 5.

Utah is 2-12 ATS in home games after covering four of its last five against the spread over the past three seasons.  The Clippers are still 19-5 SU in their last 24 meetings with the Jazz.  Look for an inspired effort from them tonight as they try and send this series back to Los Angeles.  Take the Clippers in Game 6 Friday.

15* MLB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Milwaukee Brewers -123

The Milwaukee Brewers have been one of the most underrated teams in baseball this season.  They've gone 12-11 and have scored a combined 29 runs in winning three straight coming in.  They had yesterday off, which is a huge advantage for them here.

The Atlanta Braves just swept the New York Mets in their series yesterday.  They don't have the luxury of having a day off like the Brewers, and that should be factored into the line more.  Instead we are getting a cheap price with the Brewers here in Game 1 at home.

And Milwaukee clearly has the edge on the mound.  Chase Anderson is 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA and 1.042 WHIP in four starts this season.  He has never lost to the Braves, going 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.054 WHIP in two career starts against them.

Bartolo Colon may finally be slowing down this season.  He is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts this season, including 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA in two road starts.  Colon is 4-3 with a 4.33 ERA and 1.654 WHIP in nine career starts against the Brewers as well.

Milwaukee is 10-2 (+9.6 Units) against the money line off two straight home wins against division rivals over the last three seasons.  The Braves are 16-42 in their last 58 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.  Atlanta is 3-8 in its last 11 road games.  The Brewers are 6-0 in their last six during Game 1 of a series.  Roll with the Brewers Friday.