Bob Balfe
Royals -125
Oakland was bad against left handed pitching last year and the trend this season looks like it will continue. The Royals are off to a slow start so need games in which their left handed starters take advantage of a weaker line left handed hitting line up.
Harry Bondi
TAMPA BAY +135 over NY Yankees
Yankees are playing well but it’s tough to sweep a series against a division rival and with Luis Severino on the hill for the Bombers tonight, Tampa will salvage the final game of this three game series in the Bronx tonight. Rays took two of three from on Yanks to open the season and face a seriously floundering Severino who was 3-8 with a 5.83 ERA last year.Tampa takes it!
Ian Cameron
Tampa Bay at New York
Play: Over 8
Tampa Bay’s Matt Andriese is the weakest link in an otherwise sturdy Tampa Bay Rays starting rotation. He is the fifth starter and pitched like one in his first outing of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. Andriese was lit up for five runs on seven hits and lasted only four innings. His hard contact percentage was an alarming 68.8% and keep in mind that was against a Blue Jays lineup that hasn’t hit at all thus far. Tonight, he’ll face a red hot Yankees lineup that has pounded out 4+ runs in five consecutive games and 32 runs during that span. Andriese has struggled with the Yankees during this career, allowing 11 runs in 13.1 innings. The Rays bullpen is also taxed after a relatively short starting stint by Blake Snell yesterday. On the flip side, Luis Severino is still trying to reclaim his 2015 form in which he posted a rock solid 2.89 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie. Last season was a disastrous one for him and his first start this season wasn’t much better as he allowed four runs on six hits and lasted just five innings vs. Baltimore. Severino was hammered by the Tampa Bay Rays in his lone start last season: seven runs on eight hits in only 3.2 innings of work. Severino also gave up a total of 21 runs over his last four starts at Yankee Stadium. Look for both lineups to take advantage of two below average hurlers sending this game up and over the total.
Eric Schroeder
The Anaheim Ducks aren't necessarily on anyone's radar for the Stanley Cup Final, but don't be surprised to see this team shock some folks. They come into the postseason on an 11-0-3 run, including a home-and-home sweep of Calgary earlier this month.
That momentum will carry into Game 1 of this series against the Flames, as Anaheim will surely be prepared to wrap this thing up.
The Ducks won four of five in the regular-season series with the Flames, with the only loss being an 8-3 loss on Dec. 4 in Calgary.
Anaheim is playing much different now, and has a ton of experience and veteran leadership.
Looking for a good sleeper this postseason, bet the Ducks to win the Western Conference. They're going to win this one big.
1* DUCKS -1.5
Chris Jordan
My free play for Thursday is on the Chicago Blackhawks on the Puck Line, as they host the Nashville Predators to start the postseason.
The Blackhawks are heavy favorites to win the Stanley Cup. They're not my personal choice to win it all, but they will be tough to contend with.
I don't expect this series to amount to much, as the Blackhawks are looking to win their fourth Stanley Cup since 2010, while the Predators have won just three playoff series in their 17-year history.
There is the possibility Nashville starts the postseason short-handed, as forwards Colin Wilson and Calle Jarnkrok reportedly missed Wednesday's practice with lower-body injuries. Their status for Game 1 is uncertain.
I'll take the Blackhawks, with their four talented lines and treacherous offensive prowess that can be relentless.
5* BLACKHAWKS -1.5
Brad Wilton
Hats-off to Mike Babcock for getting his young Toronto Maple Leafs into the postseason! Toronto is going to be a very dangerous team in years to come, but right now going up against the # 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Maple Leafs are simply in over their heads this Thursday night.
Washington fully expects to be skating in June for the Stanley Cup, and tonight I say they open that pursuit with a blowout win over playoff-neophytes Toronto.
The Caps took 2 of the 3 series meetings this year, and are on an overall 7-1 series run the past 8 times they have skated against the Leafs. 4 of the 7 wins, including the last series meeting - 4-1 April 4th at Toronto! - have come by 2 goals or more, so no reason to be afraid of backing Washington on their home ice -1 1/2 goals tonight.
The Maple Leafs limped to the regular season finish line, losing 3 of their final 4. In those 3 losses their offense went south, as they were held to just 4 total goals. Getting one past Brandon Holtby at anytime of the year is tough, but especially tough when your team is making their first playoff appearance in a few seasons.
Capitals take it by at least 2 goals.
3* WASHINGTON -1.5