Sports Handicapper Scott Rickenbach's Picks & Predictions

Daytime Dominator - Rickenbach MLB Rotation #965 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels @ 4:10 ET - The Red Sox Martin Perez has not recorded a victory in any of his 10 starts at Fenway Park since arriving in Boston. Perez has a 5.21 ERA from 2017 to 2019. Then he came to Boston and went 0-4 with a 5.46 ERA in 6 starts at Fenway Park last season and he is winless with a 5.50 ERA in 4 starts here this season! As for the Angels Dylan Bundy, he was great in limited action last season. But are we now seeing a return to his previously poor form? Bundy went 15-30 with a 5.11 ERA in his final two seasons combined at Baltimore. Then he enjoyed some success with the Angels last year's shortened season but now this season he is 0-4 with a 5.03 ERA in his 7 starts! Both these teams have trended under recently but long-time followers know I am a contrarian and I feel strongly that lack of confidence for both these starting pitchers coupled with a pair of solid lineups will lead to plenty of runs in this one. Also, the Red Sox bullpen has ranked only in the middle of the pack this season while the Angels (5.32 ERA) have ranked as one of the worst in the majors thus far. More of the same here. 10* OVER the total in Boston

National TV Blowout - Rickenbach NHL Rotation #48 Saturday 10* Top Play Washington Capitals Money Line +118 vs Boston Bruins @ 7:15 ET - I have tremendous respect for both of these teams and feel both are built very well for playoff hockey. However, that said, I do feel we are getting tremendous line value here with the Caps as a home dog. One interesting item of note is that, since we are expecting tight defensive-minded playoff hockey, I did notice something about recent match-ups between these teams. There have been no shutouts in any of the last 9 meetings between these teams but 5 times a team has been held to just a single goal. 4 of the 5 times that team was Boston and they were on the wrong end of a loss to Washington. The Capitals beat the Bruins by a combined score of 14-4 in those 4 games. Now, certainly I am not expecting a blowout win here but I am just saying that the Capitals do know how to stifle the Bruins and actually have outshot them in 5 of the last 6 meetings. Look for the Caps to find a way on home ice in this one and I am grabbing the underdog in this one! 10* WASHINGTON +118

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Rotation #527 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls @ 1:10 ET - This game could be all about the "show" as the Nets can no longer win the top seed in the East as Philly locked that up yesterday but Brooklyn will have their Big 3 on the floor all at the same time in a rarity this season. With Harden, Durant, and Irving all available there should be plenty of points in this one. The Bulls are simply playing out the string on a disappointing season and will not put up much resistance here. At the same time, the Nets are unlikely to play intense defense as they save that for the playoffs. All that said though, Brooklyn is a double digit favorite here with good reason and I expect this one to turn into a high-scoring shootout. There is a reason this total is set so high even though recent match-ups between these teams have trended under and even though both these teams enter this game having been trending under in recent weeks. As long-time followers know, I am a contrarian and that continues here as this game should get nuts with the points and surprise a lot of people. 10* OVER the total in Brooklyn

Afternoon Annihilation - Rickenbach EPL Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 goals in Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United @ 3 ET - With no further threat of relegation, Brighton can play loose and relaxed here. That makes for a dangerous dog but I still not see the hosts as being able to stifle a West Ham club that is desperately trying to get all 3 points from this match as they still have hopes of a top four finish in the table. That said, each club should get to a goal here and I certainly do not see either club being willing to settle for a 1-1 draw. Both clubs will be going hard for all 3 points here. Interestingly, Brighton has never lost to West Ham in 7 matches in the premier league. What have they got to lose here? Nothing of course so they will go strong here but I also expect West Ham to be relentless here in terms of pressure. Yes West Ham has been delivered a clean sheet in 2 of last 3 matches but one of those matches was against defensive-minded Chelsea. Prior to the 1-0 defeat versus Everton, West Ham matches had totaled at least 3 goals in 5 of last 6. In fact, those 5 matches averaged nearly 5 goals per match. With that said, I am looking for a surprisingly high-scoring match here. The hosts, now with no threat of relegation, do enter this one having scored 3 goals in last two matches and I expect more of the same here. 10* OVER 2.5 goals in Brighton

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach EPL Saturday Free Pick OVER 2.5 goals in Southampton vs Fulham @ 10 AM ET - Southampton saw Danny Ings return to the pitch in their most recent match and he netted 2 goals on the way to a big 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. As for Fulham, they are off a 2-0 loss that sealed their fate in terms of being relegated for next season. Do not be surprised if this match plays out quite loosely as a result with some quality scoring chances for both clubs. Fulham certainly wants to score some goals and has had more success this campaign on the road rather than on their home pitch. Now playing without pressure, do not be surprised when Fulham gets some scoring in this one. At the same time, the hosts in this one certainly are a different club when bolstered by the return of Ings to the pitch and I expect another strong effort here as they are also playing without pressure. No concern about relegation and no concern about having to move higher in the table as their positioning rather irrelevant at this point. As a result, look for a surprisingly entertaining affair here if you like goals! Free Pick OVER 2.5 goals in Southampton