Matt's Picks (9 Live)
The Thunder take the court for the first time in more than a week. ...
Matt's Past Picks
Just got our first 7 even though it sounds like Rudy Gobert will make it to Denver in time after the birth of his child. Obviously I don't like this if he's not playing. Jamal Murray is questionable as well but am quite sure he plays. Maybe the Nuggets blast the Wolves in a near must-win game, but Denver showed some major vulnerability in the Lakers series and frankly does not have as talented an overall roster as Minnesota in my opinion.
Boston was 4-0 vs. Florida this season and eyes payback for last year's first round upset loss, but the Bruins are turning around and playing essentially 48 hours after a very hard-fought first-round series took seven games against Toronto. Florida has been off for a week since ousting Tampa Bay in five. Yeah, the Panthers might be a bit rusty out of the gate, but I can see the B's wearing down as the game goes on.
Gonna throw a bit down simply as Pete Alonso is getting the night off for the Mets and he's obviously capable of a three-run homer at any time. New York pitcher Sean Manaea has a 1.84 ERA on the road, while the Cards' Kyle Gibson has allowed just one earned run in three straight.
Castillo has allowed just four earned runs combined over his past four starts and the winds will be blowing in today quite a bit at Target Field. Thought about Over 17.5 outs but that's up to nearly -180.
DraftKings has 8 for this game so definitely shop around depending on your lean, but 9 does feel a tad high considering it's Royals ace Cole Ragans on the hill. No Brewers have faced him in a regular-season game. Ragans has allowed one earned or fewer in three of his past four. Milwaukee is nothing special offensively, especially with Christian Yelich out, and was blanked Sunday in Chicago. Converted reliever Bryse Wilson has a 1.93 ERA as a starter this year for the Brew Crew compared to 4.50 out of the pen.
This used to be the one series a year I'd go to the dump that is Tropicana Field because I wanted to see the White Sox. Even if I still lived in the Tampa area, which I don't, I wouldn't pay a nickel to see anything Jerry Reinsdorf owns at the moment. Major payback spot for the Rays off their embarrassing sweep in Chicago late last month. Josh Lowe has been activated off the IL for TB to make his season debut. He had a breakout 2023 season. Also the season debut for Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger. Might prefer him to the Rays' Tyler Alexander, but Clevinger won't be out there more than five innings.