Handicapper Big Al McMordie Free Sports Picks

At 4:10 pm, our selection is on the Atlanta Braves over the Los Angeles Dodgers.  With the season-ending injury to strikeout king, Spencer Strider, LHP Max Fried is now the ace of the Atlanta pitching staff.  And heading into this season, there was a huge question mark hanging over the 30-year-old as Fried missed almost all of 2023 with a variety of ailments (forearm strain, hamstring, blister).  It's only six starts into 2024, but so far the Braves are breathing a sigh of relief as it appears Fried has barely missed a beat.  Over 31 1/3 IP, the veteran southpaw is 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with just 26 hits allowed and he already has a complete game, three-hit shutout to his credit.  That was two starts ago and he followed that one up with another gem, tossing six hitless/scoreless innings in Seattle on Monday.  He'll try to keep the scoreless innings coming in Tinseltown against one of the best lineups in the game.  In eight career starts vs. the Dodgers, Fried is 3-2 with a 2.68 ERA with 56 Ks and 11 BBs in just under 44 innings.  Dating back to last season, Fried has won his last eight decisions, and the Braves are 11-1 in his last 12 starts.  Take the Braves.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 1 pm, on Sunday, our selection is on the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers UNDER the total.  The Magic forced a Game 7 with a 103-96 win vs. Cleveland in Game 6.  We will take the under in this game, as Game 7s have gone Under the total 65.7% over the last 21 years when the O/U line was not greater than 200 points.  Even better:  the Magic have gone under in 16 of their last 21 road playoff games, while Cleveland is 8-1 under its last nine home playoff games.  Take the UNDER in Game 7.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.