The Rays played a third straight one-run game today against the Angels so their bullpen is a bit thin heading into Friday's series opener. The Yankees were off Thursday after an epic late comeback to avoid a sweep in Toronto on Wednesday, so their pen is locked and loaded. And NYY appears to have the clear starting pitching edge in Clarke Schmidt (1-0, 3.68) against TB lefty Tyler Alexander (6.46 ERA). Schmidt has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his past 11 dating to last year. He doesn't go deep so that rested bullpen will likely be important.

Like Mike Barner, I am a lifelong Bulls fan. I mean, they could win here but it would be so out of character. Feels just like last year when the Heat beat the Bulls in the winner-take-all game in South Florida. Obviously no Jimmy Butler is huge but at least in this game I think the Heat have enough. Then they get swept by the Celtics. Shoot, the Bulls might lose in three vs. Boston if they advance. Yes, best of 7 I know.

OK, so this is how I am different. I don't think the Pirates should be underdogs. The Boston lineup is pretty weak right now without the injured Rafael Devers (assuming out again) and Tyler O'Neill (on IL). And the Sox played Thursday and Pittsburgh didn't. So instead of taking Pirates at around -120 to win -- some books will leave teams at +1.5 on the runline for a while even if they flip to moneyline favorites, which is the case here -- I will pay the 70 cents for the insurance. I probably would take the Bucs on the moneyline if any other starting pitcher but Quinn Priester. But everything else lines up great for the home side.

I figured the books were going to start jacking up the price on the worst hitter in the majors by far, so this might be our last go-round. Thanks for the $$$ Marty! I don't want anyone to lose their job, but what is the point of the White Sox continually running this offensive black hole out there most games? I have scored as many runs and knocked as many in this season in the Show as Marty has. Remember how funny it used to be when Bartolo Colon would hit? Maldonado has gone from funny to Old Yeller sad ... but betting has no empathy.

So what I like about us being able to do unit sizes -- insert Michael Scott quote here -- isn't so much that I'm changing my patterns as showing my confidence level in a pick. I spend $50 at Wawa simply if they somehow have Bartles & Jaymes Exotic Berry wine cooler cases in stock, so I'm not too worried about the cash. But don't we have to take the far superior team at home for a little even against the ace of the worst offense in baseball? Answer: Yes. Again, I bet different. Whatever entertains me.

Thursday's rainout probably wasn't the worst thing for the Cubs as they were able to reset a bullpen that was used a ton early this week in Arizona. And the bullpen definitely will be needed with Jameson Taillon making his season debut. Might be the last chance for Marlins lefty AJ Puk to keep his rotation spot as he's 0-3 with a 5.91 ERA. He had been a good reliever the past few seasons and could be ticketed back to the pen.

Vegas still has some reason to care if it prefers to be the third-place Pacific Division team and face Edmonton in Round 1 or be the fourth-place team and second West wild-card club and face Dallas. Is there a good option? The Knights again tonight are without three key offensive players in Chandler Stephenson, Anthony Mantha and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who is important on the power play. Anaheim is the third-worst offensive team in the league.