Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on Tampa Bay plus the points over Tennessee at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

I understand the knee-jerk reaction may be to lay the points with the Titans and first overall draft pick Cam Ward as he is expected to suit up and see a couple of series' of action guiding the offense on Saturday. That's especially true after fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders had a big coming out party for the Browns in preseason action last night. I don't think this game will play out similarly in favor of the Titans, however. Tennessee is in the midst of a rebuild and doesn't have a ton of depth, certainly not behind Ward at quarterback (Will Levis is out for the season due to injury). Yes, the Titans did go 3-0 in preseason action last year but those three victories came by a combined eight points. Tampa Bay will give the keys to the offense to Kyle Trask on Saturday as Baker Mayfield sits and Teddy Bridgewater likely dresses but isn't certainly to play after just joining the team on a one-year deal. Trask does have a lot to prove as while Bridgewater is expected to be the backup, he's no 'sure thing' as he returns to the league. The Bucs went 2-1 in last year's preseason, their second straight year finishing with that record in August. I'm comfortable grabbing the points with the home side in a game where I don't expect a lopsided margin of victory either way. Take Tampa Bay (8*).

My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Los Angeles at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We'll lay the short number with the Cowboys on Saturday as they look to get their preseason slate off on the right foot in Los Angeles. Dallas has had a bit of a shaky July and August with not a lot of good news stories surrounding its training camp. I think getting on the field will be a good distraction if nothing else for the Cowboys and they draw a favorable opponent here in the Rams - a team that historically hasn't put a lot of stock in preseason results under head coach Sean McVay. The number one concern for the Rams right now is the health of QB Matthew Stafford. Without Stafford, they're going to be in tough once the season kicks off for real but all indications are that he will be good to go in due time. While Los Angeles is a talented team, it isn't one of the league's deeper teams in my opinion. Due to injuries in recent years the Cowboys have had their depth tested and perhaps they're a little better for it here in the dog days of August. I believe the right team is favored here. Take Dallas (8*).

My selection is on the Athletics over Baltimore at 7:05 pm et on Saturday.

The Athletics dropped the opener of this series last night but I like their chances of bouncing back on Saturday. Jack Perkins gets his second straight start for the A's. He wasn't great last time out but that was at home, at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park, against the Diamondbacks. He'll take a step down in class against the Orioles on Saturday. Meanwhile, Baltimore will hand the ball to Brandon Young, who remains in its starting rotation out of necessity only. The O's are a miserable 2-7 in his nine starts this season. He did give up just two unearned runs over 4 2/3 innings against the Cubs last time out but allowed 7-of-21 batters he faced to reach base. Finally, we'll note that the A's bullpen has the edge with the O's relief corps having logged an ugly 7.02 ERA and 1.68 WHIP over the last week and a 5.93 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over the last month. Take the Athletics (8*).

Interleague Game of the Week. My selection is on Toronto over Los Angeles at 9:10 pm et on Saturday.

I like the way this matchup sets up for the Blue Jays as they send Chris Bassitt to the mound against Blake Snell of the Dodgers. Snell continues to work his way back from injury. As expected, it's been a bit of a grind for the veteran left-hander so far as he has posted a 4.97 FIP and 1.64 WHIP in three outings. The Blue Jays figure to make him work on Saturday and I like Toronto's chances of bouncing back after last night's offensive no-show in a 5-1 loss. Bassitt comes off a terrific start against the Royals as he allowed just one earned run on one hit over six innings. Note that Bassitt has worked at least six innings in four of his last five starts. The Blue Jays bullpen figures to have the advantage as well as the Dodgers just haven't been able to live up to expectations in that department this season. Note that Los Angeles' 'pen has recorded a 4.85 ERA and 1.37 WHIP at home this season and a 4.43 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over the last week. The price is right to back the Jays in this rebound situation on Saturday. Take Toronto (10*).

My selection is on Los Angeles over Detroit at 6:10 pm et on Saturday.

The Tigers took the opener of this series last night, handing the Angels their third straight loss. I look for Los Angeles to bounce back on Saturday as this matchup sets up as more of a toss-up than the line indicates in my opinion. Yusei Kikuchi will start for the Angels. He comes off a terrific outing against the Rays in which he allowed just one earned run on four hits over six innings in a 5-1 victory. Los Angeles has won each of his last two starts. Kikuchi generally gives his team a chance to win every time he takes the ball, holding five straight and 17 of his last 18 opponents to three earned runs or less. Charlie Morton makes his second start since joining the Tigers. His first was a good one against the Phillies on Sunday but the Tigers couldn't give him any run support in a 2-0 loss. While he did pitch well in that outing, Morton still owns a 4.70 FIP and 1.52 WHIP on the season. I like the Angels chances of getting to him here, noting that he has been a little more homer-happy than we're accustomed to seeing this season, yielding five home runs in his last four outings, and the Angels rank 10th in the majors in isolated power over the last week. Take Los Angeles (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Washington and San Francisco at 4:05 pm et on Saturday.

This starting pitching matchup isn't going to jump off the page at anyone but I think we're in for a relatively low-scoring affair at Oracle Park on Saturday. Brad Lord starts for the Nationals. He's spent a lot of his time pitching out of the bullpen this season but has had to navigate some difficult matchups starting on the road as well. Note that he's just one outing removed from allowing only one earned run on one hit over 5 1/3 innings in a 2-1 victory in Houston. Earlier in the campaign he made a start in Philadelphia where he held the Phillies bats to just two earned runs over five frames in a 4-2 victory. Rookie Carson Whisenhunt gets his second start for the Giants. This is a favorable matchup as he faces a Nats lineup that ranks 24th in the majors in weighted on base average and 25th in isolated power over the last week and has really struggled against left-handed pitching. After laboring through his first career start, Whisenhunt settled down and gave up just one earned run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings against the Mets, on the road no less, last time out. Take the under (8*).

Saturday MLB Free play. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and New York at 2:05 pm et on Saturday.

While the Yankees continue to struggle to find victories, it hasn't been for lack of trying at the plate. New York ranks fourth in the majors in weighted on base average and second in isolated power over the last week. I'm confident the Yankees can achieve continued success against Astros starter Framber Valdez who was tagged for five earned runs in six innings against the Red Sox last time out. Houston's offense hasn't been quite as hot lately but draws a favorable matchup against Yankees starter Luis Gil on Saturday. Gil is still working his way back from injury. In his first start since last season, Gil allowed five earned runs, striking out only three while walking four, in just 3 1/3 innings. As is the case with a lot of bullpens at this stage of the season, both teams have shown some signs of wear in that department. On an August afternoon in the Bronx, I think we'll see enough runs to topple this reasonably low total. Take the over.

My selection is on Golden State plus the points over Los Angeles at 8:30 pm et on Saturday.

The Sparks have reeled off three straight wins both SU and ATS but they're not playing with a great margin for error as they've displayed matador-like defense, allowing five straight opponents to connect on 33 or more field goals. The Valkyries on the other hand have lost consecutive games but have limited an incredible seven of their last nine opponents to 27 made field goals or less. Yes, Golden State's offense has sputtered but I do think it will be afforded a terrific bounce-back opportunity against the sieve-like Sparks on Saturday. Note that since losing its inaugural game in blowout fashion against Los Angeles, Golden State has taken the last two meetings in this series. Take Golden State (8*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I can't help but feel this is a 'wrong team favored' situation as the Blue Bombers head to Calgary to face the reeling Stampeders on Saturday. The Stamps sit half a game ahead of the Bombers in the West Division standings but check in off back-to-back losses both SU and ATS. Meanwhile, Winnipeg finally brought its three-game SU and ATS slide to an end with a convincing 40-31 win in Toronto last week. I think the Bombers are a better team than their modest 4-3 record indicates and we'll back them in this double-revenge spot after they dropped a pair of blowout decisions against the Stamps back in July. Calgary was thought to be one of the more talent-depleted teams in the league entering this season and I think its regression to the mean continues this week. Take Winnipeg (10*).