Sports Handicapper Tim Michael's Picks & Predictions

T.M. Selection: Orioles (10* TRADE-MARK)

Baltimore comes in off a 5-1 victory last night and I think it offers great value to steal this one as well. The home side hands the ball to Adam Plutko on Saturday and he’ll be making his season debut here. Last year he was an unimpressive 4-5 with a 5.28 ERA and 60 K’s for the Tribe. Baltimore will look to take advantage and to build off yesterday’s production, posting a season-high seven extra-base hits in the win. The visitors counter with the red hot John Means, who is 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA and who has won four of his past five outings and given up one earned run or fewer in each of the four victories. All things considered, i think this is the very definition of “great line value.”

T.M. Prediction: 5-4 Orioles.

T.M. Selection: Reds (8*)

I like the Reds to bounce back here after yesterday’s series opening defeat. The home side hands the ball to Tyler Mahle, who is 0-5 despite a respectable 3.97 ERA. Mahle faced the Dodgers in LA in mid April and gave up four runs off 11 hits over six innings. Clearly it won’t be easy facing the improving Walker Buehler, who is 4-0 with a 4.15 ERA. He most recently went seven scoreless innings vs. Washington, but note that LA is already just 5-8 (-4.6 units) this year after having won six or seven of its last eight. Cincinnati on the other hand is still 10-5 in its last 15 at home. I’m banking on a bounce back. 

T.M. Prediction: 5-4 Reds.

T.M. Selection: Rockies/Phillies under (8*)

Two “studs” going head to head here. I’m expecting each to work into the latter frames, which I believe will ultimately help in pushing this total under the number once it’s all said and done. The home side hands the ball to Aaron Nola, who is 3-0 with a 4.86 ERA. Over his last 21 1/3’s innings of work Nola has given up just six runs. Also note that in three career starts vs. the Rockies he’s 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA. The visitors counter with Antonio Senzatela, who is 3-2 with a 5.35 ERA. Coors Field is difficult on all starting pitchers, but note that Senzatela is 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA on the road this season. Note that Colorado has seen the total go under in 31 of 50 as a road dog in the +125 to +175 range, while Philadelphia has seen the total go under in nine of 13 home games already this year. This number is a tad high in my opinion.

T.M. Prediction: 4-3 Phillies.

T.M. Selection: Warriors/Blazers under (10* TOTAL BANKROLL BUILDER)

Game 2 went “over” in the Warriors 114-111 victory. Portland controlled the game over the first half, but Golden State’s prowess from behind the arc once again proved to be too much for Portland to handle down the stretch. Remember, they’re doing all of this without Kevin Durant, possibly the best player on the planet. The Warriors were wildly inconsistent over the second half of the regular season this year (for their lofty standards anyways) and they looked very susceptible vs. the Clippers in their six game opening round series victory. Golden State’s achilles heel has been its play on the road though and clearly the Blazers will be doubling down on the defensive end as they try desperate to back into this series. The shift in venue points to more of a defensive affair finally in my opinion, as I expect the home side to press from the opening tip, until the final horn. This number is a tad high.

T.M. Prediction: 108-106 Blazers.