Thursday 8/23/18 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for WNBA, MLB and CFL games.
Scott Rickenbach
Aug 23 '18, 7:30 PM in 10h
CFL | Edmonton vs Hamilton
Play on: OVER 56½ -110
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach CFL Game #361 Thursday Free Pick OVER the total in Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Edmonton Eskimos @ 7:30 ET - Big total posted on this game but don't let that scare you away. Earlier this season in Week 2, Edmonton hosted Hamilton and lost big and gave up 38 points. The Eskimos have revenge on their minds and just might get it. However, I don't trust their defense. Hence the play on the over here. The Tiger-Cats Jeremiah Masoli put up over 300 yards through the air in the first meeting at Edmonton. Also, the Eskimos Mike Reilly put up over 400 yards through the air in last week's game while the Ti-Cats had a bye last week. With perfect weather expected in Hamilton Thursday night a shoot-out can be expected! In games played in weeks 10 through 15 in recent seasons, Edmonton is on an 8-4 run to the over. The Tiger-Cats last 3 meetings with the Eskimos have all gone over the total. More of the same expected Thursday night! Free Pick OVER the total in Hamilton
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Sean Murphy
Aug 23 '18, 1:05 PM in 4h
MLB | PHI vs WAS
Play on: UNDER 7 -116
Thursday MLB Free play. My selection is on the 'under' between Philadelphia and Washington at 1:05 pm et on Thursday.
I'll back the 'under' at Nationals Park on Thursday afternoon.
Aaron Nola will take the ball for the Phillies. He's coming off a masterful outing against the Mets and checks in having worked at least six innings in four straight starts, giving up just four earned runs over 27 innings pitched during that stretch. Nola has been one of the best 'under' starters in baseball this season, posting a 6-17-2 o/u mark. He has given up two earned runs or less in each of his last three starts here in Washington which is obviously no easy task.
Max Scherzer will counter for Washington. Needless to say, Scherzer has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball again this season. He checks in having allowed just three earned runs in his last five starts, spanning 34 innings of work. The last time Scherzer faced the Phillies he struck out 15 batters over 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits back on May 6th.
This hasn't exactly been a low-scoring series but I expect that to change on Thursday afternoon. This total is low for a reason. Take the under (8*).
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Larry Ness
Aug 23 '18, 7:10 PM in 10h
MLB | ATL vs MIA
Play on: UNDER 8½ -115
My free play is on Atl/Mia Under at 7:10 ET. The Atlanta Braves will open a four-game series with the Marlins tonight in Miami. The 51-77 Marlins have long since turned their focus toward 2019 and beyond. The Marlins have won three out of their last four but that's after a six-game losing streak, a skid which included being swept in a four-game series at Atlanta last week (August 13-15). Meanwhile, after winning just 67, 68 and 72 games the previous three seasons, Atlanta has scored 605 runs this season (the fastest the franchise has reached 600 since 2007) and enters this series 71-55, giving them a three-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
Atlanta lefty Sean Newcomb (10-6, 3.73 ERA) takes the mound tonight after giving up 12 runs on 21 hits over 9 1/3 innings across his past two starts. The second-year pitcher endured a similar stretch in his final three starts before the All-Star break (a 9.75 ERA while going 0-3), but rebounded after to allow just one run in each of his next three outings. Taking on Newcomb is Marlins rookie right-hander Elieser Hernandez (2-6, 5.08 ERA). August has been Hernandez's best month so far, as he has a 2.00 ERA in six relief appearances, covering nine innings.
Newcomb is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins, including 3-0 in three starts against the Marlins this season (has allowed just two runs on nine hits in 18 innings). As for Hernandez, he has a 1.13 ERA in four relief appearances against the Braves. Let's go Under.
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Mike Wynn
Free Play: Free Oakland/Minnesota Under 9½ Runs
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Razor Sharp
YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY: Take SAN DIEGO/COLORADO OVER the total of 10 runs
Jim Feist
Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Thursday, August 23, 2018
8/23 10:10 AM PT / 1:10 PM ET
MLB (903) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS VS (904) NEW YORK METS
Take: (904) NEW YORK METS
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Totals4U
Thursday's Free Selection: Atlanta/Miami over 8
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Jeff Allen Sports
Thursday's Free Selection is on the Detroit Tigers
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Atlantic Sports
Thursday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Hamilton (CFL) - 3
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#1 Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Chicago Cubs - 225
Platinum Plays
Free Pick the Cincinnati Reds w/Desclafani +200 over Chicago
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Easy Money Sports
Lee's Thursday Free Selection Is
Atlanta/Miami UNDER 8 RUNS -115
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Golden Dragon Sports
FREE WINNER for THURSDAY: Colorado Freeman -154
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Huddle Up Sports
Thursday Free Play: Kansas City Duffy +175
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Hawkeye Sports
Thursday's Free Pick: Boston Red Sox - 180
Arthur Ralph Sports
FREE play THURS Braves w/ Newcomb-160
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The Vegas Steam Line
Your free winner for Thursday: Take OAKLAND/MINNESOTA UNDER the total of 9½ runs
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High Stakes Syndicate
Free Selection for Thursday: Atlanta Braves - 170
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John Anthony Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Chicago Cubs - 220
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Nevada Sharpshooter
Your free winner for Thursday: Take ATLANTA/MIAMI UNDER the total of 8 runs
Sharp Bettor
SharpBettor FREE Play for Thursday, August 23, 2018
8/23 05:05 PM MLB (909) CINCINNATI REDS (A DESCLAFANI - R) VS (910) CHICAGO CUBS (C HAMELS - L)
Take : OVER
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Roz Wins
Roz's Thursday, August 23, 2018, Free Pick
8/23 05:10 PM MLB (917) OAKLAND ATHLETICS (T CAHILL - R) VS (918) MINNESOTA TWINS (K STEWART - R)
Take : A's
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Tommy Brunson
Both the Phillies and the Nationals have been trending towards the Over of late, but today in the series finale is where that trend stops.
Nothing like sending out two of the best in the game to quiet the bats, and that is what we get today when Phillies "ace" Aaron Nola opposes Nationals "ace" Max Scherzer.
Nola is the proud owner of a 2.24 season ERA, and over his last 3 starts that ERA is an even lower 1.42. He has seen 2 of those 3 land Under the total, and for the year the Under is 17-6-2 when Nola takes the ball.
Scherzer? How about a season ERA of 2.11, and a scant 0.45 ERA for his last 3 starts! 2 of his last 3 starts have also landed Under the posted price.
Philly will be heading up to Toronto after this game, while Washington will be heading north as well to New York to face the Mets. Look for the pitchers to see to it that both teams travel plans are not delayed.
Under in the Phillies-Nats for Wednesday afternoon.
3* PHILADELPHIA-WASHINGTON UNDER
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Jeff Benton
Your Thursday freebie is the Padres-Rockies Under the total in their late afternoon series closer from Coors Field.
Both games contested this week between the clubs have held Under, as the Under has now cashed in each of the last 3 season series meetings, and stands at 7-2 the last 9 this season between these N.L. West rivals.
The Padres enter on a 5-2 Under run their last 7, while the Rockies have held Low in 9 of their last 11 games played.
Those numbers alone are enough to warrant a play on the Under, but when you also consider that Colorado hurler Kyle Freeland owns a 2.22 ERA at home this season and 10 of his 11 home assignments have landed Under the total, well you have an even stronger case for playing the finale Under the total.
Padres-Rockies Under.
4* SAN DIEGO-COLORADO UNDER
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Jack Brayman
Let's play the Boston Red Sox on the Run Line today on the early card, as they will annihilate the Cleveland Indians.
Since every MLB wager on a run line or total auto-lists pitchers, I want you to be sure the two pitchers on your ticket, when making this play, are Adam Plutko and David Price. If they are not the pitchers of record when making your play, disregard this play.
Price steps to the hill during what has been arguably the best stretch over his three seasons with the Red Sox. Through his last six starts, the left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Further, he is 10-2 with a 2.24 ERA against the Indians during his career.
He'll get the run support, as the league's best offense will get to Plutko, who rejoined the rotation Sunday due to Trevor Bauer's trip to the disabled list. Over seven innings, the right-hander limited the Orioles to three runs in a hard-luck loss. The Red Sox certainly are not the Orioles, and Plutko has a 4.54 ERA in seven starts this year for the Tribe.
Take the Red Sox here.
3* RED SOX RUN LINE (Price over Plutko)
Chris Jordan
Looking for Comp Winner # 11 of 16 tonight, as my free play for Thursday is on the Chicago White Sox over the Detroit Tigers.
And in this game I want you listing the scheduled starters: James Shields over Matthew Boyd.
Shields toes the slab having pitched at least six innings in 19 of his last 22 trips to the mound and rolls to the hill today after a seven-inning effort that saw him allow three runs over seven innings. The right-hander is 6-2 with a 3.35 ERA over 12 starts at Comerica Park.
Boyd faces the White Sox for the first time since falling one out shy of a no-hitter against them last September at Comerica Park. He ended up with a one-hit shutout that day thanks to a Tim Anderson double. That said, the southpaw is 1-4 with a 4.99 ERA against the South Siders, and will struggle to keep pace with Shields.
All White Sox here.
4* WHITE SOX (Shields over Boyd)
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Eric Schroeder
As much as the Kansas City Royals tried to claw their way back into Wednesday night's game, the Tampa Bay Rays' bats responded to pull away.
The Royals, who have lost four straight, won't be able to come back for this series-finale at Tropicana Field and challenge Tampa Bay, which is riding a four-game win streak, and has limited foes to just four runs in those games.
IMPORTANT: As you know every single Run Line play and Total wager will automatically list the scheduled starting pitchers at the time of the wager. But with this game I am not concerned with who is pitching for either team tonight and want you playing this game on the Run Line regardless. That said, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be sure you have action even if one of the pitchers scheduled to start is scratched, by betting the game over again in the event that takes place.
The Rays have outscored Kansas City 11-4 the last three nights, and will wrap this series up with another big win against a Royals team that has the fifth-worst batting average (.240) in baseball. That number is even worse on the road, at .236.
The Royals have lost 20 of 27 and are a dismal 20-45 on the highway.
Play Tampa Bay big tonight.
1* RAYS RUN LINE
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Jimmy Boyd
Aug 23 '18, 1:05 PM in 36m
MLB | Phillies vs Nationals
Play on: Phillies +155 at MyBookie
1* Free Pick on Philadelphia Phillies +155
I just feel there's too much value here to pass up a play on the Phillies at this price. While the Nationals will have Max Scherzer on the mound, Philadelphia will have a legit Cy Young contender of their own going in this one. The Phillies will give the rock to Aaron Nola, who is 14-3 with a 2.24 ERA and 0.981 WHIP in 25 starts this season.
Nola has made two starts against Washington this season and pitched well in both, giving up a total of just 3 runs on 9 hits with 13 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings of work. That's now 5 straight starts dating back to last season in which he's held the Nationals to two or fewer runs.
Last night Washington stole game 2 of the series, as Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off home run for a 8-7 win. That's worth noting, as the Phillies are 11-1 when revenging a 1-run loss. They are also 15-3 in Nola's last 18 outings after a quality start and 8-1 in his last 9 vs a division opponent. Take Philadelphia!
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Jack Jones
Aug 23 '18, 1:05 PM in 36m
MLB | PHI vs WAS
Play on: UNDER 7 -105
Jack’s Free Pick Thursday: Phillies/Nationals UNDER 7
Runs will be very hard to come by this afternoon in Washington. Both the Phillies and Nationals send their aces to the mound in this one in Aaron Nola and Max Scherzer, respectively. That will have both extra motivated knowing what they’re up against in the opposite dugout.
Scherzer is having another Cy Young season, going 16-5 with a 2.11 ERA and 0.887 WHIP in 26 starts, including 1-0 with a 0.45 ERA and 0.750 WHIP in his last three. He owns the Phillies as well, going 9-1 with a 2.24 ERA and 0.954 WHIP in 15 career starts against them.
Nola has been nearly as good this year. He is 14-3 with a 2.24 EAR and 0.981 WHIP in 25 starts, including 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 1.053 WHIP in his last three. Nola has shut down the Nationals in two starts against them this season, going 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA while allowing just 3 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings.
The UNDER is 18-6-2 in Nola’s 26 starts this season. The UNDER is 5-0 in Nola’s last five road starts. The UNDER is 5-0 in Nola’s last five starts against the Nationals. Bet the UNDER in this game Thursday.
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Ross Benjamin
Aug 23 '18, 7:10 PM in 6h
MLB | Royals vs Rays
Play on: Rays -1½ +125 at BMaker
Kansas City @ Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
Game# 915-916
Play On: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+125)
Kansas City’s Daniel Duffy has exhibited terrible form during his last 4 starts while posting a sizable 7.54 ERA and 1.72 WHIP. The Royals are an abysmal 4-16 in their last 20. Furthermore, they’re on a current 4-game losing streak in which they scored only a combined 10 runs. They Royals have gone a futile 12-7 this year when facing a team with a winning record and were outscored by an average of 2.6 runs per game.
Tampa Bay has gone a perfect 6-0 against Kansas City this season. The Rays are presently on a 4-game win streak in which they allowed just a combined 4 runs. You may be surprised to know that Tampa Bay is a stellar 37-24 (.607) at home in 2018. The Rays Tyler Glasnow has a brilliant 0.77 WHIP over his previous 3 starts. Tampa Bay’s bullpen has compiled a sparkling 1.95 ERA throughout its last 7 games. Bet on Tampa Bay on the run line for my Thursday 8/23 MLB free pick of the day.
Dave Price
Aug 23 '18, 7:10 PM in 6h
MLB | Braves vs Marlins
Play on: Braves -1½ -108 at pinnacle
Dave’s Thursday Free Play:
1* on Atlanta Braves -1.5 (-108)
The Key: The Atlanta Braves have a great chance to take over first place in the NL East for good with a 4-game series with the Miami Marlins starting Thursday. The Marlins are coming off a shocking win over the Yankees yesterday and will be in letdown mode. The Braves just swept the Pirates and have the clear edge on the mound in this matchup. Sean Newcomb is 6-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 13 road starts this year. Newcomb is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 3 starts against the Marlins in 2018, yielding just 2 earned runs in 18 innings. Elieser Hernandez is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in his last 3 starts for the Marlins. Newcomb is 7-0 in road games vs. teams who average 2.75 or fewer extra base hits per game this season. The Braves are winning by 5.5 RPG in this spot. Miami is 0-12 in Thursday games this year. The Braves are 6-0 in Newcomb’s last 6 starts vs. NL East teams. Take Atlanta on the Run Line.
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John Martin
Aug 23 '18, 1:05 PM in 36m
MLB | Indians vs Red Sox
Play on: Red Sox -1½ -103 at pinnacle
1 Unit FREE PLAY on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-103)
The Boston Red Sox ended their three-game losing streak with a 10-4 victory over the Indians yesterday. They should hang another big number on Cleveland starter Adam Plutko, who is 4-3 with a 4.54 ERA in seven starts this season. Plutko is only in the rotation due to the injury to Trevor Bauer. David Price gets the ball for the Red Sox. He is 6-2 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 11 home starts this year. Price is pitching very well coming in at 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts. Price is also 10-3 with a 2.63 ERA in 15 previous starts against the Indians. The Red Sox are 6-0 in Price’s last six home starts vs. a team with a winning record. Boston is 9-0 in its last nine during Game 4 of a series. The Red Sox are 40-13 in their last 53 games overall. The Indians are 1-4 in their last five vs. a left-handed starter. Give me the Red Sox on the Run Line.
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Art Aronson
Aug 23 '18, 8:00 PM in 7h
NFLX | Eagles vs Browns
Play on: Browns -3 -120 at 5Dimes
This is a 1* Free Play on the Cleveland Browns.
If ever the Browns were going to beat the Eagles this season, then this is their golden opportunity. And that’s because Nick Foles and Carson Wentz aren’t expected to see a lot of time under center for Philadelphia tonight. Third-string Nate Sudfeld has been decent for the Eagles, but we think he’ll struggle on the road in this nationally televised contest against the Browns’ revamped defensive unit. Cleveland’s QB’s look better anyways in our opinion, as both Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield have been competitive in the early going. Nick Chubb and Carlos Hyde looked dominant on the ground last week with over 110 yards combined along with two TD’s. And now dynamic WR Josh Gordon returns to the fold in Week 3 for the Browns as well. It’s a perfect storm of factors working in favor of the home side in our opinion. Consider a second look at the BROWNS on Thursday night.
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Brandon Lee
Aug 23 '18, 1:05 PM in 36m
MLB | Indians vs Red Sox
Play on: Red Sox -1½ -103 at pinnacle
10* FREE MLB PICK (Red Sox -1.5, -103)
I'll gladly take my chances here with the Red Sox on the -1.5 run line against the Indians. After losing the first two games of the series against Cleveland, Boston's offense exploded in a 10-4 win on Wednesday. I look for the Red Sox to put up another big number here, as they will be up against the Indians' Adam Plutko, who has a 4.41 ERA and 1.408 WHIP in 3 road starts and you have to think there will be some nerves going up against this lineup in his first ever start at Fenway. Boston will counter with David Price, who has been lights out of late, posting a 1.89 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over his last 3 starts. Going back over his last 5 starts, Price has allowed a mere 5 runs in 33 1/3 innings of work. Give me the Red Sox -1.5 (-103)!
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Pure Lock
CLEVELAND BROWNS ‑3 ‑115
VIP Sports Lock Club
WNBA
WASHINGTON MYSTICS ‑4.5
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VIP Sports Picks Las Vegas
WNBA
CONNECTICUT SUN ‑4.5
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Brand X Sports
BOSTON RED SOX ‑200
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R and R Totals
ATLANTA BRAVES/MIAMI MARLINS o8
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Mikey Money
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES +150
Wise Guy Insider
WNBA
CONNECTICUT SUN ‑4.5
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Pinnacle Sports Picks
MLB ATLANTA BRAVES ‑175
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Top Shelf Sports Pick
BOSTON RED SOX ‑200
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Top Dog
CINCINNATI REDS +200
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Vegas Investment Picks
KANSAS CITY ROYALS +170
LPW Sports Forecast
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES/WASHINGTON NATIONALS u7
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Odds & News
CINCINNATI REDS/CHICAGO CUBS ‑105 u9
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Tys Terrific Tips
DETROIT TIGERS ‑125
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MVP Lock Club
TAMPA BAY RAYS ‑180
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Power Play Wins
ATLANTA BRAVES ‑175
Picks 2 Play
TAMPA BAY RAYS ‑180
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Bird Dog Sport Picks
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES +150
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Vegas Consultants
KANSAS CITY ROYALS +1.5 ‑130