Generally need a reason not to back a home team in the NBA playoffs and I don't really see one here. Definitely might be some rust on the Thunder, but they are fully healthy and the Mavs aren't. Luka Doncic probably is sitting right now due to his knee if it were the regular season. Lu Dort could give him some problems defensively. Not that impressed with the Mavs beating the Clippers considering Kawhi Leonard was on one leg for the two games of the six he did play. Certainly doesn't mean Dallas won't win tonight, but Oklahoma City took three of four in the season series.

The Giants are playing now in Philadelphia and then have to fly, what, 70 percent across the country? SF has only six road wins. Lefty Kyle Harrison looks like a future ace but Tuesday will be his first-ever start in the bandbox that is Coors Field. The Rox are off today. Can't bet a ton as Colorado starting pitcher Dakota Hudson has been pretty bad, but I like everything else about this for the home side.

Actually wasn't going to play this even with the amazing Shota Imanaga on the mound for the Cubs because I don't like their lineup without the injured Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki. In a minor surprise, Bellinger has been activated so now we roll. Luis Arraez and No. 1 catcher Luis Campusano are taking a seat for San Diego. Closer Robert Suarez is likely not available after 1.2 innings in Monday's win.

Maybe a little sense of urgency for the Braves, at least as much as possible in May, after they were just tomahawk chopped on their recent six-game trip at 1-5, including coming off a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers. Boston starter Kutter Crawford has been marvelous but to the point it can't realistically continue much longer. And Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez naturally got good after the White Sox got rid of him.

Rather shocked the Rangers are home dogs again after winning Game 1 -- plus, they were the division champion in the Metro and Carolina was second. New York has the better goaltender in Igor Shesterkin and the red-hot Mika Zibanejad, who has four straight multi-point games, only the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish that in the playoffs. Shesterkin became the third goaltender in Rangers history to win each of his team’s first five games of a postseason, joining Mike Richter (1994) and Dave Kerr (1937).

Absolutely have to play something at this price. Believe it or not, Washington's Trevor Williams has a better ERA this season than Baltimore ace and AL Cy Young contender Corbin Burnes. Williams has allowed more than two ER just once. Is that sustainable? Almost surely not, but we'll take the 1.5-run headstart at plus-money at home in a rivalry game.

Carroll is not having a good sophomore season but had two hits on Sunday in his last game and is starting to heat up a little. Perhaps more important, he will hit leadoff tonight for the first time in a few weeks. How about a Carroll walk off Frankie Montas, steal, wild pitch to third and sac fly to score Carroll in the top of the first? Very doable.