Today's top picks: Why the Mariners will beat the Rays, plus more MLB, NHL playoffs and soccer best bets for Thursday, May 5

Host Jonathan Coachman is joined by Larry Hartstein, John Bollman and Allie O'Neill on the Early Edge podcast, powered by SportsLine. Get highlighted plays for Major League Baseball, NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and Europa League soccer for Thursday, May 5, and you can stream the show live every morning on the SportsLine YouTube page.

The experts go through some story lines, then Coach kicks things off with three SportsLine Plays of the Day. The first is an NHL pick from the SportsLine Projection Model, which has the Panthers vs. Capitals matchup (7:30 p.m. ET) going Over 6.5 goals. The Over is hitting in 68 percent of the model's simulations.

The second play is Over 6.5 runs on the Rays vs. Mariners game (9:40 p.m. ET), with the model showing it hitting the Over in 71 percent of its simulations. The third pick is from soccer expert Brandt Sutton, who is on the Europa Conference League's Roma vs. Leicester City match (3 p.m. ET) and likes both teams to score (-130).

Then it's on to Major League Baseball with Allie, who is taking the Blue Jays -0.5 runs in the first five innings (-115) against the Guardians. Cleveland pitcher Aaron Civale has allowed 17 runs in 14.1 innings pitched, while Toronto starter Jose Berrios is coming around after a rough start. The Guardians are coming off a doubleheader Wednesday, so Allie likes Toronto to jump out early.

John also has an MLB pick, going with the Mariners +115 against the Rays. Seattle left-hander Robbie Ray and Tampa Bay lefty starter Shane McClanahan have both been solid. "I think that's mostly a wash, both should be good again tonight," John says. Seattle has been hitting lefties very well the past two weeks, and the Rays' bullpen will be without Andrew Kittrich, who has pitched in three straight games. The Mariners' bullpen is rested, and Bollman expects a close game. "In a one-run game, with the Rays not having their closer, I like the plus money at home," he says. 

The Coach jumps in with his Cash with the Coach pick, and the host is on the Giants -124 against the Cardinals (9:45 p.m. ET). "The Giants are coming off a very difficult series against the Dodgers. They're ready to get out of the Dodgers' shadow," Coachman says. "I think the Giants get back on the winning track."

The Maestro wraps things up with his MLB picks, and he is fading two of the worst teams in baseball. He is going with the Brewers -1.5 on the run line (-108) against the Reds (1:40 p.m. ET). "The Reds not only are 3-21, not only have lost 19 of 20 (and 18 of those 19 losses by at least two runs), they have a COVID outbreak going on," Hartstein says. Cincinnati had to call up several players from Triple-A and just lost 18-4 to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Hartstein also is backing the Rockies -137 against the Nationals (3:10 p.m. ET). Colorado has been a different team at home, going 10-5 at Coors Field. Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela is 2-0 with a 1.84 ERA there, and Larry expects the Rockies to hit Washington's Aaron Sanchez hard.     

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