Jason's Picks (8 Live)
Jason's Past Picks
Luka is on a mission and even with Kyrie still too much of a facilitator/passenger and Mavs are clearly the superior team. If hey made a few foul shots in Game 4 series already over. I don't see this experienced backcourt blow a chance to close it out at home. SGA can have all the lay-ups he wants; OKC's starting lineup change kinda backfired, Mavs rotating bigs (Lively and Gafford) are a problem. Jalen Williams 41% from field in series; Dort 31%,, Giddy -5. OKC still missing one piece to win a series like this and losses at home will come back to bite them here. When Mavs beat you at home by 12 with Luka and Kyrie only totaling 43, you're in trouble.
We have been backing Royals with Lugo on bump all season, as the AL can't really seem to figure him out. He gets a faltering A's lineup here and while I think Ross Stripling is generally underrated, Sally got him twice in 7 ABs and A's pen might be running on fumes. Royals are 6-2 in Lugo's 8 starts in April/May, only losses were to teams leading division at the time (BAL and MIL) and all 6 wins by 2 runs or more. KC has +12 RD in his last 4 starts. A's in 2-11 rut, losing 9 of those games by 2+ runs. Royals are stout at home
Similar play to Fri night - Nats are fading and Gore coming off a start where the manager rode him pretty hard against a lineup that is red hot and knows him pretty well. Phils 17-8 at home and 8 of their last 10 wins are by 2 runs or more. Nats lineup lagging (I bet James Wood gets the call to MLB by Memorial Day). Nats have .594 OPS in May (worst in MLB) with a .201/.293/.301 slashline. I don't love Sanchez on the mound but figure he can battle against this group.
The Jays are not good at home (9-10) or vs above .500 teams (13-18) and they are on the brink of another in-season manager firing. Only so many meetings you can call when you never win as many games as you think you will. Lot of pressure on a group that has always cracked under pressure. Rays finding ways to win again (10 of 14), Eflin will battle and Gausman is sporting an ERA around 5. I don't buy the Jays bats. Riding Rays ML again. I smell a sweep
This signing has been the best in ball so far, and the Cubs need a win today and their bullpen stinks. I see them riding Imanaga through 7 today if at all possible and he's done it in two of his last 3 starts. Twice recently he has gone over this mark despite not throwing even 90 pitches and he's been stretched out to over 100 once this month as well. Pirates lineup has had its share of issues.
The Pirates are suddenly a little hot, but have been riding their top three starters and this ain't one of them. I have all kinds of issues with the Cubbies pen, but this starter has been as close to perfect as you get and it might take just one run over 5 innings to get us home. Some of the Cubs big bats have done damage in limited sample vs Bailey Falter. Again, if trends hold we don't need much here
The GOAT might have his best offensive season ever, he loves Dodgers Stadium (7 HR in 87 ABs, and is killing righties (1.259 OPS) and has 4 HRs off Montas in 24 career ABs. Sold.