Maybe I put too much into intangibles but back in the day -- and obviously I was a million miles from a professional athlete -- I always played better angry. In high school after my math teacher told me that I was going to flunk out, I went out the next day and scored more goals than anyone in the history of the hockey team. OK, I'm excellent at math actually and that's Michael Scott but you get my drift. I believe the Dodgers will be quite perturbed tonight on a two-game skid and getting spanked in the series opener last night. Any higher and I'd have to play runline but would prefer not to. James Paxton is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA at home.

Who would have guessed Miles McBride might have swung this series? Like to pride myself on knowing where 95 percent of the NBA played college hoops, but I forgot about that dude at West Virginia. But then I don't think about anything West Virginia often. Probably because I had a flat tire there once driving to Florida and as soon as I heard a banjo left the car and ran. All rural bad movies start that way (it was my radio). McBride started Game 5 and gave Tyrese Haliburton fits. I'm sure Rick Carlisle has a countermove tonight but 6.5 points? That extra day off in between games (first time this series) has to help the short-handed Knicks more. Right!? Right!? Bueller!? Bueller!?

No real reason to wait on this one since both are off today. The Rangers cashed for us Wednesday in a much-needed victory to snap a five-game skid and avoid falling below .500, and I think that might be a bit of a springboard to a good run. AL ROY second-favorite Evan Carter hasn't played since last weekend due to back issues but likely returns Friday. Lefty Andrew Heaney hasn't walked a batter in four straight starts and has a 2.00 ERA in May. I'll consider a Corey Seager total bases prop as he is a .391 hitter with triple and homer in 23 at-bats off Halos starter Tyler Anderson career. Anderson has a 2.92 ERA but is starting to fade.

Oakland was a nice story for a while but the lack of talent has caught up to the A's as they are free-falling. And played last night in Houston, while Kansas City was off. Royals ace Cole Ragans has had two really bad starts but otherwise been fairly Cy Young worthy. I would have been NBA-worthy back in the day other than being slow and the fact it's very true: White Men Can't Jump (other than maybe Rex Chapman, Brent Barry and Bobby Sura). This feels about 25 cents light in my opinion.

If it ain't broke ... don't fix it. Fade, fade, fade Chicago catchers whilst in front of the plate. I mean, yeah, Amaya could be due a ducksnort, but this is still great value. Paul Skenes might simply make Amaya retire after the first AB a la Randy Johnson/John Kruk.

The Oilers looked excellent in Game 4 but that was at home, a bit of desperation and with Calvin Pickard making his first start of the series in net and first-ever in the playoffs. He played really well and had spectacular numbers all year while in Edmonton. But he's a 32-year-old journeyman for a reason, and his road numbers in the regular season were quite a bit worse. And I guarantee you the Canucks put more than 21 shots on him tonight (and now they have a bit of a book on him). In addition, blueliner Carson Soucy is back from a one-game suspension. Truly don't care who wins overall, simply would like to see seven games in this really fun series.

Wow, we get -115 on this with Amaya hitting .188 on the season and .143 this month? That's almost in the Martin Maldonado zone (what is it with Chicago catchers?), although Marty definitely stands alone "living in the world of suck," as former Denver Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders once memorably said. I think Amaya will be in there because Yan Gomes started last night in Atlanta.

Bucs righty Jared Jones is going to be excellent in his career, but he's still a rookie making only his ninth career start -- and the Cubs just beat him last Friday in Pittsburgh. This is too cheap on Chicago and Justin Steele at home to ignore (should be at least -150 in my opinion) as the Cubs are the superior team overall ... but it may get rained out.

This is simply me thinking the Sox should not be getting +1.5 -- and at some books they aren't. Tampa Bay's bullpen could be really short-handed as the team's main guys have all been used the first two games of the series. Cooper Criswell is only about a five-inning guy for Boston but has a 2.10 ERA. Because the Sox didn't lead after the sixth inning last night, their bullpen is in much better shape.

I'm super-late to the Phillies party because I frankly think they are somewhat overrated but hard to argue with the results, and I've been missing out. Totally jinxed now. Still was on the fence here but Mets leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo was scratched, so why not at this price. Former Met Taijuan Walker has gotten better in each of his three starts this year for the Phillies.

Man the Guardians are so much better than I thought they would be. But this is also the end of seven-game trip so a natural letdown spot ahead of a flight home. Carlos Carrasco has a 6.20 road ERA. Closer Emmanuel Clase likely is not available. Pretty big sense of urgency in Bruce Bochy's clubhouse, at least for mid-May, considering the World Series champs have lost five straight and could fall under .500 for the first time this season. That's definitely some motivation. Since the start of April, Jon Gray has an AL-best 1.50 ERA.

All I want is overtime. The Avalanche will be obviously desperate down 3-1. I'm assuming one of their key guys will not be suspended for six months as the puck is about to drop tonight as happened in Game 4 to Valeri Nichushkin. Hadn't heard of that before. But blueliner Devon Toews is back after missing that injured. Never would have played Colorado ML in Game 4 had I known those two were out. The big reason I'm gonna try this, though, is Dallas will be without Roope Hintz (30G, 35A in RS). Hintz has two goals and six points in nine playoff contests. I deserve this after the Rangers' third-period fiasco the other night.

Was not on my radar at all but Ronald Acuna is getting his first day off this season -- granted, not close to what he was last year but it's significant -- and still no Austin Riley for the Braves. Javier Assad has been incredibly good for the Cubs. Like too good so it can't continue, but we only need a one-run loss.