Sports Handicapper Matt Fargo's Picks & Predictions

This is a play on the TAMPA BAY RAYS for our Thursday Free Play. After winning the series opener on Tuesday, Tampa Bay lost 2-1 last night in extra innings on Wednesday but lost no ground in the Wild Card as it remains a game and a half behind Toronto for first place but the third place Mariners closed the gap to a half-game. this is not the easiest stretch to end the season as the Rays final nine games take place on the road where they are now 34-40 compared to their 51-30 final record at home. The chances of falling out of the playoffs completely are slim as they are five games ahead of the Orioles but with Houston and Boston on deck, nothing will come easy. Jeffrey Springs gets the ball for Tampa Bay and he has had a very solid season with a 2.79 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 23 starts which includes a 1.78 ERA over his last five starts which have all resulted in wins for the Rays. Cleveland is playing on the string of the regular season as it has clinched the No. 3 spot in the American League with this being the possibility of a first round Wild Card matchup. The Guardians are 41-33 at home following the victory last night and while winning 10 of their last 12 games overall, the bats have come to life but one look at the starting pitching opposition is a big reason for that. Cal Quantril has been the lost man forgotten in this rotation as he quietly has put together a 3.49 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 30 starts and he has allowed three runs or less in seven straight starts. This is a late season situation in our favor as playing against a locked in playoff team that is going with a top line starter is the way to go as he will not be overly pressed. Tampa Bay is 14-1 this season when the listed total is 7.0 or less. Play (965) Tampa Bay Rays

After a Wednesday Winner with the Brewers, Matt is riding a PERFECT 15-0 Run in All Sports since Friday and he is looking to continue the week with a big day on the bases! He has a Top Play with his MLB Sweet Spot that he loves so do not miss out on this monster as this one wins with ease! Fargo went a PERFECT 5-0 in the NFL Sun/Mon and he is on a PERFECT 11-0 Football run! He is now 14-5 in the NFL this season! PERFECT 5-0 CFB Saturday!

This is a play on the SEATTLE MARINERS for our MLB Thursday Sweet Spot. Seattle picked up a big win and a lot of help last night as it defeated the Rangers 3-1 while all of the other three Wild Card contenders lost. The Mariners are two games behind Toronto for first place and a half-game behind Tampa Bay for second place while sitting 4.5 games ahead of Baltimore whose hopes are fading. Seattle is 40-33 at home and it has won 25 of its last 39 games at home after a slow 15-19 start. The Mariners continue to pound right-handed pitching and on the season they are 65-50 against righty starters compared to being a game under .500 against southpaws at 19-20. Marco Gonzales takes the hill for Seattle and he has been a consistent rotation presence throughout the season and he has been great at home with a 3.36 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 15 starts and is catching an excellent number. Texas is really struggling here at the end of the season as it has lost 21 of its last 29 games including losses in 10 of 14 road game. The latter comes after a good start where the Rangers pitching was carrying part of the load but they have allowed 4.6 rpg over that 14-game road stretch. Jon Gray is getting his fourth start since coming back into the rotation and he has been eased back as he has tossed only 13 innings and the Rangers are not going to stretch him this late in the season and that can be an issue with the Rangers bullpen that has a 4.55 ERA over the last seven days. He has a 6.35 ERA in two starts against Seattle this season. Here, we play on home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 batting .225 or worse over their last 15 games going up against an opponent batting .230 or worse over their last 20 games. this situation is 70-48 (59.3 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (970) Seattle Mariners

This is a play on the CINCINNATI BENGALS for our NFL Thursday Star Attraction. The Dolphins are coming off a big home win over Buffalo in a game they probably should not have won and have taken over first place in the AFC East after their perfect 3-0 start. The upset victory already put Miami in a bad situation but adding to that is hitting the road on a short week after playing a game where the heat index of over 100 degrees was a huge factor and that is something that can affect the players going into this game. The Dolphins were outgained by 285 total yards as the offense managed only 212 yards and while that was against what is considered one of the best defenses in the league, Buffalo was banged up on that side of the ball with the heat taking its toll on others that made it through. This comes after the wild win in Baltimore the previous week where Miami came back from a 21-point fourth quarter deficit and a divisional home win over New England to open the season. We have already seen this number move in the Dolphins favor with early money hitting the Bengals side and will likely continue to do so. Cincinnati finally got into the win column as it defeated the Jets by 15 points following an overtime loss against Pittsburgh and a loss against Dallas and its backup quarterback. The Bengals were crushed by turnovers and sacks in those first two games and they kept those in check against New York as they gave it away only once while surrendering just two sacks. They get a break again here as the Dolphins have an average pass rush where they have accumulated only six sacks through the first three games and the wear and tear from the Sunday heat is not going to help. Joe Burrow is coming off his best game thanks to the offensive line that kept him mostly upright and the Dolphins defense comes in ranked No. 31 in total yards and No. 31 in passing yards so he should continue his ascent back. On the other side, Cincinnati has played well defensively, albeit against some poor offensive units, but are ranked No. 9 in total defense despite being put into some tough field position situations from the offense. Here, we play against teams coming off an upset win over a division rival as a home underdog, with a winning record on the season. This situation is 86-36 ATS (70.5 percent) since 1983. 10* (102) Cincinnati Bengals