Sports Handicapper Big Al McMordie's Picks & Predictions

At 9:35 pm, our selection is on the Oklahoma City Thunder minus the points over Portland.  The Thunder were blown out by 20 points in Game 2, and now return home for a "must win" game 3.  We'll lay the points with the Thunder, as favorites of -3+ points, off a Playoff loss (as an underdog) by 20+ points, have cashed 68.4% since 1991.  Take Oklahoma City.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:35 pm, our selection is on the Indiana Pacers minus the points over Boston.  The Pacers were up seven points at halftime in Game 1, and were up 11 points after 3 quarters in Game 2, but blew both leads.  Thus, Indiana finds itself in an 0-2 hole in the series.  The good news for Indy, however, is that it's an awesome 139-73-9 ATS off a loss, if it was rested, and playing with revenge vs. an opponent off a straight-up win.  Take the Pacers to win (and cover) Game 3.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Toronto/Orlando game to go 'under' the total.  The first two games of this series went 'under' the total.  And that's been "par for the course" in this series, as these two teams also went 'under' in three of their four meetings in the regular season this year (and 13 of the last 18, dating back to 2014).  The 'under' also falls into a super NBA Playoffs Totals system of mine which is 136-89 (60.4%) since 1991.  Take the 'under.'

At 10:05 pm, our selection is on the Calgary Flames over the Colorado Avalanche.  Add the Avalanche and Flames to the growing list of first round surprises in this year's NHL Playoffs.  After winning the first game of this series convincingly, the Flames have now fallen in three straight and stand just one game away from elimination heading into Game 5 tonight back at home.  The #1 seed in the West cannot afford to allow 52 shots like it did in Game 4 in Denver on Wednesday.  But on the bright side, if you're a Calgary fan, is the fact that, despite the lopsided shot totals, the game still went into overtime.  Unfortunately, a Mikko Rantanen goal with 10 minutes left in the extra stanza extinguished the Flames by a 3-2 final score.  The Flames knew that winning two in Colorado would be tough so now they will rely on their own home ice advantage which worked well for them in the regular season (26-10-5).  Moreover, the Avs are just 16-35 in their last 51 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.  Take the Flames.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 10:10 pm, our selection is on the San Diego Padres over the Cincinnati Reds.  With perhaps the best lineup they've had in over a decade, along with a deep young pitching staff with a bunch of other youngsters waiting in the wings, there is more optimism in San Diego regarding the Padres than there has been in quite some time.  And when you consider that the NL West is as competitive as any division in the Majors, then it's not unrealistic to assume that the Pads can beat the Dodgers and finish on top in October.  They will go with 27-year-old LHP Matt Strahm tonight in Game 2 of this series with the Reds.  Strahm posted a sharp 2.05 ERA and 0.97 WHIP last season in 41 appearances (five starts).  Those numbers seem to have earned Strahm a full-time starting role this season.  And although he's struggled so far (0-2 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts), it's important to note that this will be his first start of 2019 against a losing team.  The Reds will go with RHP Anthony DeSclafani tonight and they are 0-7 in his last seven trips to the mound.  Take San Diego.  As always, good luck.  Al McMordie.

At 8:40 pm, our selection is on the Philadelphia Phillies over the Colorado Rockies.  There's no doubt now who the best starter on the Rockies is.  RHP German Marquez won 14 games last season and he's off to one of the best starts of any pitcher in the league in 2019, going 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA and league-leading 0.70 WHIP in four starts.  And all he did in his last start was throw a one-hit, complete game in a 4-0 win over the Giants.  But before we make Marquez the next Bob Gibson, notice that his three best starts -- by far -- came on the road (including the last one).  But in his only start at Coors Field, he allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings with just two strikeouts.  In fact, for his career, Marquez has a 4.63 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 33 games (32 starts) here, compared to  3.41 and 1.18 in 39 games (37 starts) elsewhere.  The Phils will go with RH Vince Velasquez, who has had issues with walks in the past,  This season, however, he has reduced his walk rate from 3.6 per 9 IP to just 2.3 in his three outings.  Key Stat:  the Rockies are an awful 1-6 with Marquez on the mound after he allowed 0 earned runs in his last outing.  Take the Phillies.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.