60 Expert Picks

Cole Ragans shut down the Orioles earlier in April in Baltimore, giving up just one hit in 6.1 innings, and it's pretty typical for him to complete six innings. After throwing just 81 pitches in his first start for the Royals post-trade, he's made it through six innings in 11 of his last 14 starts, even twice at the end of last season where he allowed at least four earned runs in a start. That tells me that he should be a pretty good bet to get through the sixth in most starts, even against good offenses like Baltimore's.

Patrick Sandoval is not a pitcher that has been able to eat up innings over the last half-season plus, recording an out in the sixth inning just three times in his last 15 starts. His issue with walks last year has persisted in 2024, and the five free passes he handed out to the Rays in his last two starts meant he didn't get past 15 outs in either despite throwing 90+ pitches in both. The Angels also got just three outs from their bullpen yesterday and should be comfortable pulling Sandoval after five innings unless he's pitching much better than he has for most of the season.

We beg to differ here with Charles Barkley, who pronounced Tuesday on TNT that the Sixers would be the winner of this series even before Philly survived the 7-8 play-in matchup vs. the Heat. Though Joel Embiid was good enough (23 & 15) to allow a Sixers escape vs. Miami, and only played in one of the four regular season meetings vs. the Knicks, he still seems a bit less than 100% after his late-season knee injury absence. Meanwhile, we would not sleep on New York, with Jalen Brunson scoring at a 35.9 ppg clip in April, and the Knicks a sparkling 20-3 in games with OG Anunoby on the floor after his addition from the Raptors during the holidays. Play Knicks

The D-Backs pounded the Giants for 17 runs yesterday, taking it to both starter Blake Snell and the bullpen. They could pick up where they left off today against another lefty in Kyle Harrison, who has a 4.80 ERA thanks to giving up five homers in his four starts. Ace Zac Gallen is on the mound for Arizona and he's allowed one run in 17 innings over three non-Colorado starts. He should win this pitching matchup, making Arizona F5 a strong play here.

Ronel Blanco has probably been pitching over his head, but I don't understand why giving up at least three earned runs is the favored side here. He threw up blanks for two straight games then gave up just two earned runs against a Rangers team that's much more potent offensively than the Nats and was seeing him for the second time in a week. The Nats are averaging 3.63 runs per game but have scored three or fewer in six of the last eight. The Astros bullpen is well-rested and can bail Blanco out at the first sign of trouble in the middle innings as well.

There is always a wonder about going with a team that just scored 17 runs in its previous outing...maybe should have saved a few of those for the next game? But in the case of the D-backs, it signified nothing structurally wrong with the offense after being blanked by the Giants on Thursday. Blake Snell's ineffectiveness of the mound opened the door for the Arizona bats last night, but this matinee pitching matchup looks like an edge for the Snakes, too, as Kyle Harrison has been haunted by the long ball (5 homers in 23 IP) for Bob Melvin's rotation, while Zac Gallen is steaming along with a 1.64 ERA for the D-backs. Play Diamondbacks on Money Line

Now that Toronto has actually won a playoff series (never mind being hustled out of the postseason in the subsequent round last spring), matchups like this one vs. the Bruins no longer have to spook the Maple Leafs. Taking out Tampa Bay in the first round last year cleared a psychological barrier for Toronto, and we wonder about the Bruins, who have had to live with themselves for a year after their shock exit in the first round vs. the Panthers a year ago. Toronto certainly has the firepower required, with Auston Matthews off a record-breaking season, and the Leafs are 23-7-8 with Ilya Samsonov in goal this season. Play Maple Leafs on Money Line

The D-Backs pounded the Giants for 17 runs yesterday, taking it to both starter Blake Snell and the bullpen. They could pick up where they left off today against another lefty in Kyle Harrison, who has a 4.80 ERA thanks to giving up five homers in his four starts. Ace Zac Gallen is on the mound for Arizona and he's allowed one run in 17 innings over three non-Colorado starts. He should win this pitching matchup, making Arizona F5 a strong play here along with the money line.

Winnipeg securing home ice over Colorado could prove to be the difference, as the Avs are 31-10 at home and just 19-22 on the road. The Jets just beat Colorado 7-0 last week and are heading into the postseason on an eight-game winning streak. They've beaten the Avs in all three games this season, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck has the potential to carry this Winnipeg team far. I like them to nab the first game on Sunday.

The Nuggets know what it takes to win it all and they are led by the best player in basketball, who averaged 30/g in 3 regular season wins over the Lakers (while playing less minutes given that grind). He's had about a week off and will be plenty ball-dominant here I figure showing LA what they have to contend with, again. Averaged 28 PPG and 14.5 reb (highest of career in any playoff series) in sweep of LA in WCF. Only fear is a total blowout puts him on bench in 4th quarter. I project 30+15.

When I look at this Caps-Rangers series, I'm drawn to the goalies as the most likely storyline to dominate each game. Washington's Charlie Lindgren has been awesome down the stretch, and in three games against New York this year, he allowed just four goals. On the other end is Igor Shesterkin, one of the best goalies in hockey. To me, that is all the makings of a low-scoring series, so give me the under here to get us started. Their four games this year averaged 4.5 total goals per game.

We're looking too closely at Evan Mobley's lower home average here. He's hit three unders in his last five, but before that was 6-1 to the over. Other PFs who average around the same amount of points as Mobley are averaging 17 points at home verse Orlando, 4-1 to this over with a 20 point average. The Sportsline Model makes the number 17. I'd even play it at 14.5 for a better price.

I'm expecting a back-and-forth series between Tampa and Florida, and I think that will get started with a high-scoring showdown on Sunday. The past two meetings between them have seen eight and 11 goals, and both sides are having issues staying out of the penalty box lately. Last time they played, both teams handed out seven power play opportunities. Bring on the goals.

Only concern is long layoff for Denver might make them rusty. Then again, you are never rustier than Opening Night, and DEN beat LA by 12 then. DEN swept the season series winning all 3 by 8+. Nuggets had 4 players avg 20+ PPG vs LA, played at a high pace vs them and scored plenty. LAL are the NBA's 23rd ranked team in Def Rating since the ASG (in a virtual tie with POR) - worst of any team still alive. That's a problem. Too many match-up issues here. Jokic will get his 30 and a triple double. After a tough series last year, Denver will be driven to dispatch LA quickly and send a message. I think that starts with double digit W.

This isn't asking much of Kelly Oubre. He is averaging nearly 18 points the last month. He's had two unders his last two games which is giving us a good buy low spot. He had a slow start and early foul trouble against Miami, and I don't see that happening two games in a row. He averages 16 points on the road and nearly 19 against the Knicks.