Skubal Supporter

Fading Manoah Until Proven Otherwise

Run And Gun

This has turned into a goalie series, especially since ...

The Padres have a stingy lineup. ...

The Cavs try to finish off the Magic. ...

Too Low For The Pacers

Down to a Game 7. ...

Dane Dunning was dominant last time out, fanning 10 Reds and walking none in 5.1 innings. He's held current Royals batters to a .200 average and .598 OPS. Royals starter Michael Wacha has allowed 31 hits over his last four starts, with a poor 15:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Back the defending champs to snap K.C.'s three-game win streak.

If Rudy Gobert stays out of foul trouble, he should clear this number. He did it in eight of his last nine games and in both meetings with Denver this season. Gobert anchors Minnesota's NBA-best defense; expect him to play 35-plus minutes and make a big impact against a Nuggets team that gave up a ton of points in the paint to the Lakers.

This Baltimore lineup has been crushing opposing left handed pitchers and as I mentioned this morning on Early Edge, I like the Orioles right handed hitters to get to Andrew Abbott here. He's struggled with home runs to righties, with five given up in 25 innings, and the band box that is Great American Ballpark is not likely to help his cause. Abbott has allowed 30 baserunners in those 25 innings vs righties and should see at least seven of them today. With rain in the forecast, a delay would likely help us out by cutting the starting pitchers' days short, but if not, I still think fading Abbott and his 7% swinging strike rate is the move here.

In yesterday’s 6-0 victory, the LA Angels saw several pitches that Tanner Bibee could not locate. Today, should be a different story as the Angels lineup has holes due to multiple key injuries. Additionally, Cleveland after having a strong month of April, is struggling in a new month. They have scored just two runs over their last eighteen innings, and lost four of five. Take the under.

A noticeable trait in the regular season were the difficulties the Denver Nuggets had with the size of the Minnesota Timberwolves. That may be on display in game one, and give an opportunity for Kentavious Caldwell Pope to benefit off the Timberwolves aggressive defense. Additionally, each of Caldwell Pope’s last four Western Conference postseason series he has started game one off with double digit points. Take his over combination prop.

I don't like Lance Lynn. As think my fellow White Sox fans can attest, he'd be good for a few innings and then the next time through the lineup allow a pair of three-run bombs. No one bothered to awaken Tony La Russa to pull him. Yeah I'm not bitter. My point here is that while Lynn is rarely trustworthy, when he's facing a Pale Hose lineup in which the bottom four is Rex Grossman (I know it's Robbie but may as well be Rex), Korey Lee, Paul DeJong and Braden Shewmake. I mean, come on. I could slip and fall at Publix later and be owed millions and would not even call the free law firm of Grossman, Lee, DeJong and Shewmake.

John Means takes the mound for his season debut, and while he's struggled during his rehab work, I'm more interested in attacking the pitcher on the other side. Andrew Abbott's strikeout rate is down this season after his quality rookie campaign, and he's managed more than four Ks only twice in six starts. He's up against an outstanding Orioles lineup that has posted a 134 OPS+ against southpaws while striking out in less than 23% of plate appearances. At that rate, a pitcher needs to face at least 26 batters to rack up six Ks, something Abbott did three times in 21 starts last year and none this year. In a tough matchup, I don't think it's very likely he'll get the chance today.