What’s up everyone? Welcome to Picks of the Day article. Every morning I’ll put out an article with your best chances to not lose your money that day. The focus will be on football, baseball, and basketball with the occasional prediction for another sport.
Basketball Winners
Game: Milwaukee Bucks @ Detroit Pistons
Line: Bucks -12
Prediction: This has been a walk-in-the-park for the Bucks as they’re up 3-0 while winning by an average of 24ppg. The Pistons will come out fighting to not get swept but I don’t think anyone is thinking they can actually win this one. 12 points is a lot of points on the road in the playoffs but expect the Bucks to cover and cruise to an easy victory to finish the sweep.
Game: Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz
Line: Houston -1.5
Prediction: Houston took Game 3 in Utah with a historically bad shooting night from James Harden. The Rockets are the arguably the second-best team in the playoffs and the only close game of the series came with the Rockets shooting less than 40% as a team. I don’t see any way the Rockets don’t win this game and win it easily. The Rockets -1.5 is a lock and the Rockets will finish their sweep.
Baseball Steals
Game: Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Starting Pitchers: Jake Arrieta (R) 2.25 vs Steven Matz (L) 4.96
Line: EV
Prediction: This is the second series of the year for these two clubs and the Phillies took the first game three-game set, 2-1. Jake Arrieta held the Mets to just two runs in eight innings while Steven Matz gave up 6 runs without recording an out. Matz will be much better than his embarrassing outing last time these two met but Arrieta will once again come out the winner. I’ve got the Phillies -110 winning a close one on ESPN to open up the series.
Game: Milwaukee Brewers @ St. Louis Cardinals
Starting Pitchers: Adrian Houser (R) NA vs Jack Flaherty (R) 5.00
Line: STL -155
Prediction: Adrian Houser is making first ever big league start today after going 1-0 with a 1.10 ERA in 3 starts in AAA. He pitched in 7 games last year in relief with a decent ERA just north of 3. Jack Flaherty has been hit hard by the Brew Crew this year giving up a total of 9 runs in 7 innings in his two starts this year. Both series between the two division rivals have come in Milwaukee with this being the first series at St. Louis. Look for the Cardinals to pull this game out in a close one. These two teams should produce good series all year but until the Brewers and MVP Christian Yelich can prove they can mash on the road, I have to go against the reigning division champs.
Free Money
If you like free money, this is the pick for you. The New York Yankees, or at least what’s left of them, are traveling to Orange County to take on Matt Harvey and the Angels. J.A. Happ is taking the mound for Yankees and while he is off to an atrocious start going 0-2 with an ERA above 7, I think the Yankees win this game easily. At an even line, this is the best odds you’ll get for the Yankees going up against a bad team. Happ had a solid outing against the Red Sox striking out 12 and expect to him to put together another good start against a weak Angels lineup. Take the Yankees -110 to get your week off to a good start.
Underdogs with a Chance
It is very rare you find a person who is willing to put any kind of money on the Baltimore Orioles but that’s what I’m telling you to do today. Baltimore is squaring off against the White Sox tonight and this all about picking the lesser of two evils. Both starting pitchers are not good and both lineups will have you scratching your head saying, “who are these guys”. Baltimore is +110 in this game but could easily (and I think for sure will) come out of this one on top.
The Texas Rangers just pulled off the impossible in actually beating in-state opponent, Houston Astros. The Rangers are now 12-8 on the year and Mike Minor has been stellar with a 2-1 record and a 2.60 ERA. At +125, the Rangers are a good pick tonight against the Oakland A’s who are throwing Chris Bassitt. Bassitt is making his season debut tonight against a red-hot Rangers lineup which is not ideal when your lineup has scored less than 2 runs in four of the last five games. The Rangers are hot and that will continue tonight in Oakland so take Texas +125 to get a good deal at the beginning of the week.
Closing
Thanks to everyone who made it this far. If there’s a game you have a question about, throw it in the comments and I’ll let you know what I think ASAP. I hope these picks help you out and look back tomorrow for your Tuesday picks.
The picks for today were:
Bucks -12
Rockets -1.5
Phillies -110
Cardinals -155
Yankees -110
Orioles +110
Rangers +125
