Free Picks for Sunday, April 16th, 2017 from some of the nations best and worst handicappers
Bruce Marshall
Penguins +110
While we often like teams down 2-0 to get back into the series in Game Three, we're not sure Columbus gets back into the series this afternoon vs. Pittsburgh. Columbus has now been outscored 11-3 while winning three in a row since April 4 vs. the Blue Jackets, who are not the same team they were when winning 16 straight earlier in the season. The Pens have rallied around GK Marc-Andre Fleury.
Scott Rickenbach
Thunder vs. Rockets
Play: Rockets -7
Oklahoma City has Westbrook, Houston is stacked! That is the difference in this match-up. With all due respect to the other Thunder players, the fact is that Oklahoma City relies too heavily on Westbrook and just doesn't have enough of the other pieces to get past a team that goes as deep as the Rockets do. Yes, the Houston defense (or lack thereof) is always a concern but they have so much firepower that they are likely to get a blowout win at home in game one. The Rockets are rested and ready to as they were able to coast late in the season and Houston averages 117 points per game at home while OKC averages only 104 points on the road. The Rockets are 3-1 (SU and ATS) when playing with 3 or more days of rest this season and also they went 18-11 ATS when off of a game where they allowed 115 points or more. The Thunder went 6-12 ATS this season in games with a posted total of 220 points or more and they simply won't be able to keep up here. Long-term, OKC is an ugly 8-22 ATS in road games with a posted total of 220 points or more. Indeed, look for this one to get ugly too!
Mike Lundin
Tigers vs. Indians
Play: Indians -1½
The Cleveland Indians recorded 19 hits in Saturday's 13-6 win against Detroit, and I like their bats to stay hot here in the rubber-match of this three-game set.
Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 2.13 ERA) takes the ball for Cleveland. The right-hander is really solid and went 2-0 with a 0.51 ERA in four starts vs. the Tigers last season. He's allowed just three runs on eight hits and a walk with 14 Ks through 12 2/3 innings of work this season.
Left-hander Matthew Boyd (1-1, 5.40 ERA) takes the ball for Detroit. It will be Boyd's first career start against Cleveland, but note that the Indians are 20-7 in their last 27 home games vs. a left-handed starter and the Tigers are 3-7 in Boyd's last 10 starts when their opponent scores five runs or more in their previous game.
Scott Spreitzer
Rangers vs. Mariners
Play: Mariners +105
Texas has only one run the first two games of the series and didn't get a hit until the sixth inning in Saturday's 5-0 loss to the Mariners. Cole Hamels comes off seven solid innings against the Angels, but he has a 5.09 ERA in 10 starts against Seattle in his career and he's 2-3 with a 5.79 ERA at Safeco Field. Texas has lost 12 of its last 16 games dating to last season and five of its last six games at Seattle. Hisashi Iwakuma has allowed only three runs and six hits in 12 innings in two road contests at Houston and the Los Angeles Angels. Iwakuma is on extra rest since he hasn't pitched since Sunday and Seattle is 6-0 when the right-hander pitches with six days rest.
Doc's Sports
Hawks vs. Wizards
Play: Wizards -5
We have been on the Wizards bandwagon for a couple years now but this is the first season they have really put it together. We think this team is built for the playoffs and the Hawks are more of a team built for the regular season (to do just enough to get to the postseason and likely flame out quickly). The Wizards have won four of the last five meetings between these teams and they are also on a 6-0 ATS run in the first round of the playoffs. This team has the star power in this matchup and even though the Hawks played well down the stretch and the Wizards were more inconsistent, that just means we are getting a better line here and we think there’s a very good chance that this one could be a double-digit blowout.
Marc Lawrence
Cardinals vs. Yankees
Play: Yankees -133
Edges - Yankees: Pineda 0.84 WHIP this spring… Cardinals: Wainwright 7.28 ERA and 1.73 WHIP this spring… With Pineda in great KW firm with 21 K’s and 3 BB’s this spring, and 17 K’s and 0 BB’s this season, we recommend a 1* play on the NY Yankees.
Dustin Hawkins
Milwaukee at Cincinnati
Play: Milwaukee -110
After 123 appearances in the minor leagues, Reds pitcher Sal Romano is getting his chance.Romanos stay could be brief. Right-hander Rookie Davis is expected back next week from a bruised forearm.Cincinnati is 26-50 against the money line in home games vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse over the last 3 seasons. Play against any team when the money line is +125 to -125 (Reds) -a good NL offensive team (>=4.7 runs/game) against a team with a very good bullpen like the Brewers have .(31-12 over the last 5 seasons.) (72.1%).
Teddy Davis
Hawks vs. Wizards
Play: Wizards -5
Lay the short number here with the Wizards today. The Hawks are getting way to much respect for beating the Cavs twice at the end of the regular season. The Wizards kind of coasted in down the stretch, but that was to be expected as they wanted to rest some guys to get ready. Wall and Beal will be simply to much for the Hawks guards
Mike Anthony
Portland vs. Golden State
Play: Portland +14.5
Portland has had some injury problems - in particular with their star, Damian Lillard, as their recent stretch shows. And it's partially the reason why Portland lost their last regular season game. They have some quickness, which means they will make up for their lack in other portions of their team where they have been middling on the season. The Warriors have a history of dominance and making any team they face, earn every inch on the court. Golden State has been excellent vs Portland on the regular season - but the last game Portland seemed to put it together vs them to keep this much closer than some may think. The Blazers have been very good with keeping opponents off the glass and Al-Farouq Aminu will exploit that in this interesting 1st rd opener.
Frank Jordan
San Diego vs. Atlanta
Play: Atlanta -124
Atlanta has not played up to what they would of liked heading into this game at 4-6, but they are kicking off their new park in style with a pair of wins in their first two games. Bartolo Colon opened the previous park Turner Field and now takes his cracks at the new digs. Colon is 0-1 in his first two starts with the Braves with an ERA over six. In his first start the Braves won over the Mets 3-1, but last time out Colon didn't have it allowing six runs in four innings in a loss to Miami. Today he makes his first start at home and will look to pitch more like he did in his first start than second. Colon was 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA against San Diego in one start last year pitching into the 7th allowing three runs on six hits. San Diego started on the road went 1-3 in LA, but bounced back at home going 2-1 over San Francisco and 2-1 over Colorado, however have dropped the first two in Atlanta to enter this game 5-7. San Diego is throwing Trevor Cahill who has made one start and lost despite giving up just two runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Padres' offense that day was lacking losing the game 3-1. In this one look for both pitchers to be on their game before a big blast from Freddie Freeman shifts things in Atlanta's favor 4-2 and they win 5-2.
Cajun Sports
Atlanta vs. Washington
Play: Atlanta +5
The Atlanta Hawks are in Washington for Game One of their conference playoff series against the hometown Wizards. These teams split their season series with the most recent game back on March 22 going to the Wizards by a final score of 104 to 100. With the Wizards installed as a division home favorite coming off a road game their last time out they are only 13-30-3 ATS. The Hawks facing a division foe coming off a game in which they were installed as a road underdog and the game fell below the oddsmakers total have been money in the bank with a record of 40-19-1 ATS. We will take the points with the Atlanta Hawks in Game One of their playoff series versus the Wizards on Sunday afternoon.
Brandon Shively
Oklahoma City vs. Houston
Pick: Under 227.5
This isn't an easy bet to make considering the way the Rockets love to push the pace and pile up the points, but I do think there is value here. The under is 46-26 in the last 72 NBA playoff games with a total of 218 points or higher.
The Thunder have improved defensively down the stretch. Oklahoma City is also not running quite as much as they did early in the year.
In the NBA playoffs, the under has had a lot of value in the past in the first round. That has been especially true of the higher totals like this one. The defenses generally work a lot harder, and things slow down because there is a lot on the line.
Big Al
Cardinals at Yankees
Play: Yankees
RHP Adam Wainwright used to be one of the best pitchers in baseball, coming back from two different season-ending injuries (Tommy John surgery and a torn Achilles). But it seems like finally father time may be catching up to the now-35-year-old, as Wainwright is coming off of his highest ERA season since he came into the league and has looked far too easy to hit in his first two starts of 2017. Wainwright is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in just nine innings, and if he doesn't do something to turn it around, his days as a starter for a team that figures to be in the playoff hunt could be over. Of course, he's faced two of the NL's best in his first two outings, and although the Yankees may not be on a par with the Cubs and Nationals, it will not be easy for Wainwright once again tonight in the Bronx. And he's going opposite a RH starter who has had some of the most dominating stuff of the season so far in Michael Pineda. In two starts, Pineda has pitched 11 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts and no walks. His ERA is a bit high due to a sub-par first outing, but Pineda put it all together in his last start, shutting down the Rays over 7 2/3, two-hit innings.
Jim Feist
Canadiens at Rangers
Pick: Under
Montreal plays defense first for coach Claude Julian. Montreal is 13-3-3 under the total on the road, part of a 16-6-5 run under overall. New York is on a 4-1 run under the total and 10-3-1 under against the Atlantic division. And when these teams clash the Under is 14-6-6 in the last 26 meetings, 5-1-5 under at New York.