Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on Chicago plus the points over Golden State at 10 pm et on Wednesday. 

While the perception is that the Sky are playing incredibly poorly right now, the fact is they've dropped the cash in consecutive games just once dating back to June 9th. That's notable as they enter this contest in a foul mood off Monday's 97-88 loss in Seattle. While Chicago needs to get its defense back in order, it has managed to connect on 30+ field goals in 12 straight games. Golden State returns home feeling good about itself off a perfect 2-0 road trip. While the Valkyries have won four straight games they actually check in just 2-5 ATS over their last seven contests. They've strung together consecutive ATS victories just once dating back to July 8th. Take Chicago (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Chicago and Golden State at 10 pm et on Wednesday.

We won with the 'under' in the Valkyries most recent game in Los Angeles on Sunday and that ended their five-game 'over' streak. I think they're in for a run of 'under' results and we're being given a generous number to work with as they host Chicago on Wednesday. The Sky have been trending in the wrong direction offensively and that has a lot to do with the absence of Sydney Taylor. Chicago won't have Taylor back on Wednesday and will have to contend with arguably the league's best defense. The Valkyries have held 13 of their last 15 opponents to fewer than 30 made field goals. On the flip side, Golden State does seemingly have a firm ceiling on its own offense, topping out at 33 made field goals in all but one of its 32 games this season. I do think Chicago is a better defensive team than it has showed recently and it figures to be in a foul mood after giving up 97 points against a bad Seattle team in Monday's most recent setback. The first meeting between these two teams this season produced just 132 points but that game has been long forgotten by most bettors as it took place back in the second week of May. We'll take advantage of recency bias and back the 'under' on Wednesday. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on San Francisco over Houston at 3:45 pm et on Wednesday.

I'm not buying the Astros as this significant of a favorite in Wednesday's series finale in San Francisco. The Giants dropped the opener on Monday but answered back with a victory last night and I look for them to build on that positive momentum here. This sets up as a bullpen game for Houston at the end of a six-game road trip with reliever Bryan King getting the start. We'll likely see plenty of Ronel Blanco as well and that's worth noting as he has really struggled since returning from injury, logging a 7.22 FIP and 1.35 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings of work. The Giants are still undecided on their starter at the time of writing but what we do know is that whoever pitches will be facing a slumping Astros lineup that has produced two runs or less in three of its last four games and is certainly feeling the pressure in the crowded A.L. playoff race. I'll take my chances with San Francisco in a spoiler role in this matinee affair. Take San Francisco (8*).

A.L. East Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Boston and Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

This game features two offenses that have had to scratch and claw for every run through the first two games of the series, two excellent starting pitchers and two bullpens that are set up particularly well. Credit the Blue Jays for rallying for a 5-3 win last night as they manufactured four runs after trailing 3-1 in a game that didn't look like it was going to go their way. That's the way Toronto needs to win right now as it isn't getting consistent power or production offensively. The Red Sox bats have cooled considerably after their incredible run. They'll face a tough opponent in Jose Soriano who will be making his second start since joining the Blue Jays at the trade deadline. He showed some jitters in his team debut on Friday in Philadelphia but did manage to keep his team in the game in an eventual 5-4 win. I'm confident we'll see a sharp performance from Soriano here. Perhaps the best news to come out of last night's game was that Toronto prevailed despite needing a number of its higher-leverage bullpen arms, including Taylor Rogers and closer Louis Varland. In a similar vein, the Red Sox have used just three relievers for minimal work through the first two games of this series. Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez will look to bounce back from a couple of shaky outings against the Dodgers and White Sox. His command wasn't there in those two contests as he uncharacteristically issued multiple walks in both games. He owns terrific numbers in limited work against the current Blue Jays lineup. Earlier this season he tossed eight innings of one-hit, shutout ball here at Rogers Centre. He faced the Jays again on July 26th in Boston and didn't allow a run over four innings, striking out six along the way. Take the under (10*).