Sports Handicapper Bryan Power's Picks & Predictions

10* LA Clippers (10:05 ET): The Clippers are off a rare loss (106-103 at Philadelphia) while Minnesota is off an even rarer win (119-111 over Miami). Typically, this is a tremendous spot to bet against the T’wolves. Not only have they failed to win B2B games since a 2-0 start to the season, they are 2-10-1 ATS off their previous 13 SU victories. When off a win this season, the T’wolves are being outscored by 12.6 points per game. The last time, they lost by 30 at Brooklyn. They are a league-worst 5-23 SU on the road and the last two away games have seen them surrender 141 and 145 points. 

The Clippers had won seven in a row before losing in Philly Friday night. Playing without Kawhi Leonard for the fourth straight time, they fell behind early (trailed by 11 after one quarter) and had no answer for Joel Embiid, who had 36 points and 14 rebounds. But they still made a game of it. Leonard is questionable for tonight, but Paul George has been the best player in the Western Conference over the last week and the opponent is as weak as it gets here. The last time the Clips hosted Minnesota, they won by 23. They are 22-8 SU at home this season and also beat the T’wolves by seven on the road in February. 

Minnesota was a seven-point dog in Friday’s upset win over Miami. When off a SU win as a dog, they are 0-11 SU/2-9 ATS the next time out. Not only did they recently lose to the Nets by 30, they also lost by 25 to the Bucks. I bring those results up because those are top tier teams like the Clippers. The T’wolves are allowing 122.1 PPG when off a SU win and here they are facing the league’s most efficient offense. After a SU loss, LA is 14-4 SU/12-6 ATS with a point differential of +9.9 PPG. 10* LA Clippers

8* Cleveland (1:10 ET): The Indians really let one get away yesterday. They led 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth and could have been up by even more, were it not for Josh Naylor lining into a triple play (had runners at the corners) in the eighth inning. Naylor’s infamy would then continue when he let a routine grounder go through his legs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, leading to the tying run. The Reds went on to win 3-2 in 10 innings, their second straight victory over the Tribe as they also won 10-3 on Friday. Looking to avoid the sweep, Cleveland sends its ace to the mound Sunday (Shane Bieber). 

The Indians’ lack of offensive firepower is not promising when playing in a National League park. Of course, the pitcher has to come up to bat. But with Bieber also on the mound, they should be in good shape here. Bieber went the distance his last time out, allowing only three hits and turning in a 15th straight start with at least eight strikeouts. Last year’s AL Cy Young winner now has a 2.11 ERA and 0.891 WHIP through three starts and he’s 2-0 w/ a 3.15 ERA in three career starts vs. the Reds.

Wade Miley has never started a season with three consecutive wins in his big league career, but that’s what the Reds starter for Sunday is aiming for here. Miley has previously held the Giants & Pirates, two light-hitting NL teams, to just four total hits in 11 scoreless innings of work. But I’m skeptical of that continuing, even though the Indians are hardly the 1927 Yankees. The Reds are just 25-74 their L99 Interleague games as an underdog. It’s notable that they are underdogs here after winning as favorites each of the previous two days. 8* Cleveland

10* Under Pirates/Brewers (2:10 ET): Each team has won a game handily in this series. Pittsburgh opened with a 6-1 win on Friday before Milwaukee fired back with a 7-1 win one Saturday. The Brew Crew are heavily favored to take Sunday’s rubber match and while I see a strong likelihood of that occurring, the Under offers more value here and is even more likely to cash. Each of the Brewers’ last four games have gone Under with none of them seeing more than eight total runs scored. 

Whether you like the Brewers or the Under, starter Freddy Peralta has got to be the key to victory. In three appearances this year (two starts), Peralta has dazzled by allowing just one run and five hits in 13 IP. He has 24 strikeouts, second most on the team, as well. The lone run surrendered was on a home run. His ERA is down to 0.69 and opponents are batting just .119 off him. While Peralta has 10 career appearances against the Pirates, his only start saw him toss six shutout innings. 

The Pirates, who are widely expected to be a bad team in 2021, had been hitting well going into yesterday. But they went 0 for 9 with RISP. It should be noted that five of Milwaukee’s seven runs yesterday came with two outs in the first inning. Bucs starter Chad Kuhl has been shaky so far with all three starts going Over. But he’s 4-0 with a 1.73 ERA in eight career appearances vs. Milwaukee. The Brew Crew winning here would be beneficial as they’d come up to bat eight times, rather than nine. 10* Under Pirates/Brewers

10* Real Madrid (3:00 ET): Compared to the other three “big” European leagues (EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A), first place in La Liga is very much up for grabs. Atletico Madrid has led most of the way, thanks to a dominant start to the campaign. But they’ve been far less dominant over the last couple months and that has opened the door for both Real Madrid and Barcelona to inch closer to the top. Real Madrid will be looking to make it five straight victories here in the Spanish top flight as they pay a visit to Getafe on Sunday. This should be an easy three points and by the end of the day, Los Blancos could find itself first in the table.

Now Real Madrid is not at full strength here (injuries and suspensions) and must avoid a hangover from their advancement to the Champions League semi finals. Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool was enough to get by on aggregate as Los Blancos took the first leg, 3-1. In between the two legs, they picked up another significant win, 2-1 over rival Barca in El Clasico. Prior to the goalless draw at Anfield on Wednesday, Real Madrid had won six straight across all competitions. 

While Getafe has been a much tougher “out” at home as opposed to their travels this season, they have not beaten Real Madrid in La Liga action since 2008! Furthermore, they haven’t even scored a single goal in any of the last three fixtures. This season’s reverse ended up 2-0. Entering Sunday, Getafe sits 15th in the table and is only four points clear of the relegation zone. While a win (or even a draw) would do them wonders, I just don’t see it as they are simply not in the same class as the second place side (and now Champions League semi finalists). 10* Real Madrid