*action on pitchers* MLB Tuesday Free Pick OVER 8.5 in Pittsburgh Pirates vs New York Yankees @ 7:05 ET – My biggest concern here is the weather. I like this play no matter who the starting pitchers are but just hope they can get the game in. The Yankees are the best team in baseball and will score their fair share of runs. The Pirates continue to be a scrappy team that is scoring decently and particularly when at home. That said, I feel we have good value here with a low total. The Yankees are scoring an average of 5 runs per game and no other team in MLB has topped the 400 run mark on the season like they have. New York is off a shutout loss Sunday but had scored an average of 6 runs per game in going 6-1 prior to that loss. The Pirates are also off a home shutout loss Sunday but had averaged 6.4 runs in their last 9 home games prior to that one and had won 6 of 8 as a host prior to that. You can see why I like this play no matter the pitchers but I will also mention that Taillon struggled often in the month of June and Quintana also struggled last month when he faced better-hitting teams. That is certainly the case here with facing the Yankees. Free Pick OVER 8.5 in Pittsburgh
Scott “The Bulldog” Rickenbach MLB Sunday Free Pick Seattle Mariners -145 vs Oakland A’s @ 4:10 ET – The Mariners Robbie Ray has a 2.45 ERA at home and a 2.84 ERA in day games. The A’s Frankie Montas has a 4.88 ERA in road games and he is 1-5 in day games this season. The Athletics have the worst record in the league while the M’s are at least a respectable team near .500 and at home for this one. Lay it! Free Pick SEATTLE -145
*action on pitchers* MLB Monday Free Pick OVER 8.5 in Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers @ 8:10 ET – The Rangers should hammer a struggling Bubic. I like overs in spots like this when it is the road team with the better pitcher on the mound because usually the home team is destined to get their runs regardless. At the same time the road team should pound at the plate when they face a struggling pitcher even though they are away from home and that is the set up we have here. Bubic is 0-3 with a 7.78 ERA at home this season. As strong as Perez has been for Texas this season, he has allowed 20 hits in 12 innings in his last two road starts. More of the same here. The Royals have scored an average of 6 runs per game last 7 home games. The Rangers have scored an average of 7 runs per game last 6 road games. Free Pick OVER 8.5 in Kansas City .
*action on pitchers* Scott “The Bulldog” Rickenbach MLB Friday Free Pick Milwaukee Brewers +105 @ Cincinnati Reds @ 6:40 ET – I know the Brewers have been struggling but this is a great value spot for them in my opinion. Milwaukee is scheduled to start Eric Lauer and he has better numbers on the season than Hunter Greene. I know Greene has perhaps deserved better but still he gives up the big hits when it matters the most and that is why he has the higher ERA. Also, regardless of starting pitchers here, note all the support for the road team in this one. Milwaukee is 19-11 in divisional games and 25-17 versus right-handers. Cincinnati is 10-13 in divisional games and 7-11 versus lefties. Also, Reds are 13-24 in night games while Brewers are 22-18 in night games this season. Solid line value with the road team at a pick’em price. Free Pick MILWAUKEE -105.
ASA play on OVER 221.5 LA Lakers @ Golden State Warriors, 10PM ET
Hasta la vista Lakers! This roster was put together by LeBron and was destined to fail right from the start. Los Angeles will miss the playoffs and will have to make major moves in the offseason if they expect to compete next season. Was it a coincidence that LeBron sat several games down the stretch against good defensive teams and when his team was in dire need of him to make the playoffs? He needs to play in the final three games to be eligible for the scoring title so I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play here. The Lakers are 12th in scoring at 111.6PPG and 7th in overall FG% offense and if they get to 110 or more this game goes Over. A big reason why will be the points the Warriors put up. Golden State is still playing for a better playoff position, so we know what kind of effort we’ll get from them. The Warriors should score plenty here against a Lakers defense that is 26th in points allowed, 22nd in FG% defense and 16th in defending the 3. The Lakers have allowed 1.230-points per possession in their last five games and 122.9PPG. The Warriors are 10th in both overall FG% and 3PT%. The three meetings this season between these two teams has ended with 240, 232 and 235 total points. More of the same here.Â