Sports Handicapper Scott Rickenbach's Picks & Predictions

MLB Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER 9.5 in Washington Nationals vs Arizona Diamondbacks @ 7:05 ET - The Nationals are expected to start Jake Irvin here. Once he got about the single-A level in the minors he has struggled. He went 0-4 with a 4.79 ERA at the AA level last year. Then this season at AAA he was 2-2 with a 5.64 ERA. Unsurprisingly given those numbers, Irvin has also struggled at the MLB level since being called up. He is now 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA in his rookie year at the MLB level and Irvin has allowed 16 earned runs in 16 and 1/3 innings spanning his last 4 starts. The Diamondbacks starter is also a concern here for Arizona. Tommy Henry is expected to get the call and he has a 5.74 ERA in his 3 road starts this season. Last season, his rookie year, Henry had an overall 5.36 ERA and I am looking for the Nationals to hit him well here at home. Washington is decent at home where they have split their last 8 games and scored an average of 5 runs in their last 9 games. The Diamondbacks have been one of the better teams in the league this season in terms of hitting on the road as their .424 slugging percentage away from home ranks them 8th in the league. Also, Arizona is averaging 5 runs per game on the road this season. I would not be surprised to see each team get to at least 5 runs in this one and that would of course mean double digits in runs here. 10* OVER 9.5 in Washington

MLB Tuesday 10* Top Play Philadelphia Phillies Run Line -1.5 +105 vs Detroit Tigers @ 6:40 ET - Philadelphia is off 3 straight wins and plus their bats exploded Sunday plus yesterday and they can carry momentum from those blowout wins right into this game Tuesday. Tigers have lost 6 of 7 games and scored an average of only 2 runs in those 7 games. The Phillies outhit Detroit 11-3 yesterday and have scored 7.5 runs per game last 4 games and the first 3 of those were on the road. In last 6 home games, Phillies have averaged 5.7 runs per game. Tigers will not be able to keep up with the hosts in this one and Detroit ends up getting blown out yet again. The Tigers Alexander is 10-22 in his career and is making his first start of this season after working out of the bullpen exclusively thusfar. Alexander has a 6.38 ERA and has been hit at a .303 clip in his 16 outings this season. Walker does not have great overall numbers for the Phillies but, in his home starts, he has a 3.60 ERA and has held opponents to a .191 batting average. More of the same here in another Phillies home rout. 10* PHILADELPHIA -1.5 +105

Dutch Eredivisie Promotion/Relegation Playoffs, Finals Tuesday OVER 2.5 +110 in Almere City vs Emmen @ 2 ET - This is a battle for top league in Netherlands and Emmen was in this season and is trying to avoid relegation while Almere City was not in the top league this season and is trying to earn promotion. In these playoffs, Almere City has allowed at least 1 goal in 4 straight match-ups. Dating back to regular season action too, Almere City is on a scoring run which has seen them score at least 1 goal in 15 of last 17 matches. They have scored an average of 1.7 goals in last 3 home matches. Their last meeting with Emmen was a scoreless draw but this followed a 3-goal match and 3 straight 4-goal matches between these clubs. We'll see scoring here. Emmen has scored 2 goals in 3 straight matches and that includes both of their playoff matches. Their last 8 matches overall have averaged 4 goals apiece. More of the same expected here as neither club has been good defensively. OVER 2.5 +110 in Almere City

Rotation #202605: German 2 Bundesliga Promotion/Relegation Playoffs Tuesday OVER 3 -115 in Arminia Bielefeld vs Wehen Wiesbaden @ 2:45 ET - Wiesbaden took the first match 4-0 so Arminia is certainly in a tough spot here. I fully expect that to lead to plenty of goals here. Bielefeld is at home and they have no choice but to go for it and be aggressive. Both clubs have had a knack for allowing too many goals and plus Wiesbaden can play rather relaxed with already having that 4-0 lead and just needing to win this 2-leg battle on the aggregate. That being said, high-scoring match here. Wiesbaden appears on their way to getting back to Bundesliga 2 while Arminia headed for the drop. But, before that happens, look for the hosts to put up quite a fight here on their home pitch. Bielefeld has lost B2B matches by exact 4-0 counts. Prior to this they had gone 11 straight matches with both scoring and conceding. That said, a lot of value in this one as their last 13 matches have averaged 4 goals apiece and you know they are looking for payback here against the lower-tiered Wehen club from Wiesbaden. OVER 3 -115 in Arminia Bielefeld