Newsletter

<p>Planning on watching today's Stars and Lightning game? Catch the action at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL, as the Lightning hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Stars are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference showdown. The game's over/under is currently at 6.5 goals.</p><h3>DALLAS STARS VS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Amalie Arena at 7:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:</h3><ul><li>Even though they are 1.5 goal underdogs, we see the Lightning winning this game by a score of 4-3.</li><li>We like the Lightning on the moneyline (-103)</li><li>The Lightning are also our pick on the spread at +1.5</li></ul><h3>Will the Stars Defense Show Up in Tampa?</h3><p>Dallas dropped to 12-6-0 after a 4-2 road loss to the Panthers. The Stars were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 6 fell short of that number.</p> 

<p>After falling behind 2-0, Dallas tied it up with two goals in the second period. However, the Panthers pulled ahead with a goal early in the third and added an empty-netter to seal the win.</p><p>In their recent 4-2 loss to the Panthers, the Stars were held scoreless in the first period before Evgenii Dadonov netted his second goal of the season, followed by Matt Duchene’s seventh. Duchene also picked up his eighth assist on Dadonov’s goal.</p> <p>The Stars took 25 shots on goal and recorded 32 giveaways. Dallas scored their first goal on a power play, with Wyatt Johnston earning his fifth assist, while Miro Heiskanen added his fourth assist on Duchene’s goal.</p><p>Dallas' defense gave up the first two goals of the game, one at 5:15 in the first period and another at 8:47 in the second. After the Stars tied it at 2-2, they allowed two more, including the game-winner at 2:32 in the third and an empty-netter with 1:00 left. Goalie Casey DeSmith made 21 saves with a save percentage of 87.5%.</p><h3>Can the Lightning Pull Off a Home Win?</h3><p>After a 7-4 loss to the Jets, Tampa Bay’s record now stands at 10-7-2. The Lightning, who were underdogs on the puck line, couldn’t hold onto an early lead, as the game’s total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.</p> 

<p>Tampa Bay jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Jets responded with seven of the next nine goals. Four different Lightning players found the net in the loss.</p><p>Brandon Hagel got things started for the Lightning, netting his 7th goal of the season at 13:11 in the first period. Brayden Point followed with his 8th goal, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal in the second period, and Nikita Kucherov scored his 10th, tying the game 4-4 in the third period.</p> <p>The Lightning took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They finished with 4 assists, including the 10th of the season for both Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman on Brayden Point’s power play goal.</p><p>Tampa Bay's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 7 goals on 32 shots from the Jets. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage. The Lightning had tied the game at 4-4 in the 3rd period, but their defense gave up three late goals, including two empty-netters.</p>

Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

BetDSI

Bookmaker

Bet US

BetOnline

Bovada

One thing is for certain this season when it comes to the Houston Astros—everyone is going to be watching them closely.

Opposing players and fans will watching them carefully to see if they can catch Houston player cheating again. There will be the ever-present risk of getting hit by an angry pitcher—and the Commissioner coming down on anyone he thinks does it on purpose.

Then there will be the loyal Houston fans that will be dying to talk up their team every time they win a game.

Of course, with so many eyes watching the Astros this season, there will be plenty of things fans can bet on related to the team other than World Series odds (+900 via <strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/mybookie/">MyBookie.ag</a></strong>). Odds favor the Yankees to win the AL this year.  But the Astros still have the second-best odds (+425).

They also have the third-highest win total in baseball (94.5) and are expected to take the AL West division again:
<ul>
 	<li>
<h3>Finish Order Of Houston Astros Al West Standings</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>First -275</li>
 	<li>Second +250</li>
 	<li>Third +350</li>
 	<li>Fourth +1400</li>
 	<li>Fifth +10000</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
No one has really come close to challenging the Astros in the AL West for years. Texas and Oakland are promising but are probably not ready to challenge Houston just yet. The Angels have Mike Trout—but that is about it. Unless Houston implodes this year, they will win the West again.

As interesting as the outcome of the season is, MyBookie.ag has several other Astros-related wagers fans can put money on:
<ul>
 	<li>
<h3>Will The Houston Astros Get Caught Sign Stealing?</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Yes +3000</li>
 	<li>No -5000</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
With the scrutiny, degradation, and trouble that the ’17 scandal has brought the franchise, it would be shocking if the team was dumb enough to try to cheat this season. Then again, the team is still employing the person that devised the ‘codebreaker’ program that started it all.

So, maybe they are that dumb (but probably not).
<ul>
 	<li>
<h3>Astros Players To Charge Mound 2020 Regular Season</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Over 1.5 charges +275</li>
 	<li>Under 1.5 charges -450</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Several factors could come into play here. Does Manfred come down hard on pitchers targeting Houston batters? Does the player’s union let him get away with it?

If players can get away with targeting Houston batters, then it is not hard to imagine guys getting tired of it by midseason and charging the mound—which will likely encourage pitchers to do it again. But guys could also be taking big right now because they can.

When the season starts, they could choose to act like professionals instead. This one could go either way, but the smart money is probably on the under.
<ul>
 	<li>
<h3>Astros Most Hit By Pitch 2020 Regular Season</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Alex Bregman +100</li>
 	<li>George Springer +225</li>
 	<li>Jose Altuve +300</li>
 	<li>Carlos Correa   +400</li>
 	<li>The Field (All Others) +350</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Bregman led the team last year after getting hit nine times, followed by Springer, Altuve, and Correa with six. If opposing pitchers are going to target guys, some are bound to get hit more than others. Bregman is a good candidate since he was one of two guys to offer a lame apology when the team finally spoke.

Altuve was the other but could also be more of a target depending on whether pitchers think he did have a buzzer under his jersey and because he won AL MVP in ‘17. Correa could get targeted for speaking out against Cody Bellinger and everyone hating on Altuve for winning the AL MVP.

Whether the Commissioner comes down hard on pitchers for targeting Houston batters will impact this one. But if you really want to put money down now, take Altuve or Correa.

What Does The Future Hold For The Houston Astros This Season?

<p>Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Kraken versus the Kings? The puck drops at 4:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. The over/under for this Pacific division contest is set at 5.5 goals, with the Kings being favored by -1.5 at home against the Kraken.</p><h3>SEATTLE KRAKEN VS LOS ANGELES KINGS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Los Angeles Kings -1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena at 4:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES KINGS:</h3><ul><li>Coming in as 1.5 goal favorites, our projections have the Kings picking up a  4-3 win.</li><li>Take the Kings on the moneyline</li><li>On the spread, we like Kraken (+1.5)</li></ul><h3>Can Seattle Grab a Win on the Road?</h3><p>Seattle fell to 10-9-1 after a 2-0 loss to the Bruins. The Kraken were underdogs on the puck line, with the total set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 2 fell well short of that mark.</p> 

<p>Defensively, Seattle struggled early, giving up their first goal just 3:23 into the game. The Bruins added another goal later in the first period, and the Kraken were unable to respond, finishing with 23 shots on goal.</p><p>Seattle's offense was held in check in their last game, as the Kraken were shut out in a 2-0 loss to the Bruins. They managed 23 shots on goal but came up empty, with 19 giveaways contributing to their struggles.</p> <p>After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Kraken couldn't find the net in the second or third. No players scored, and they failed to convert on the power play.</p><p>Seattle's defense allowed two early goals in the first period, including a power-play goal at 10:03. However, they tightened up afterward, not conceding in the second or third periods. Goalie Joey Daccord made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage, and the Kraken's defense added 4 takeaways and 18 hits.</p><h3>Will Los Angeles Make it Happen at Home?</h3><p>Los Angeles dropped to 10-7-3 after a 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks. The Kings were favored on the puck line, and the game’s total of 7 goals went over the pre-game line of 6.</p> 

<p>Things looked good early for the Kings, as they held a 3-0 lead in the third period. However, the Blackhawks scored three unanswered goals, tying the game with just 31 seconds left in regulation.</p><p>Alex Laferriere found the net twice for the Kings in their 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks, bringing his season total to 7 and 8 goals. Phillip Danault added his first goal of the season, scoring at 8:12 in the third period.</p> <p>The Kings fired 40 shots on goal, with Laferriere converting on 3 attempts. Kevin Fiala picked up two assists, giving him 4 and 5 for the season. The Kings also recorded 13 giveaways.</p><p>Defensively, the Kings struggled in their last game, particularly in the third period, where they allowed three goals, including the game-tying goal with just 31 seconds remaining. Goalie Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves, posting a save percentage of 85.7%. The Kings' defense also recorded 6 takeaways and 24 hits.</p>

Seattle Kraken vs Los Angeles Kings Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>Don't miss out on the NHL showdown between the Bruins and Red Wings. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. Get ready to place your bets! The Bruins are the -1.5 goal favorites in this Atlantic division matchup against the Red Wings. The over/under for the game is set at 6 goals.</p><h3>BOSTON BRUINS VS DETROIT RED WINGS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Detroit Red Wings +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena at 7:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE DETROIT RED WINGS:</h3><ul><li>Coming in as 1.5 goal favorites, our projections have the Bruins picking up a  4-3 win.</li><li>Take the Bruins on the moneyline</li><li>On the puck line, we like Red Wings (+1.5)</li></ul><h3>Will Boston Shock Everyone at Little Caesars Arena?</h3><p>With a 2-0 win over the Kraken, the Bruins moved to 9-9-3 on the season. Boston covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 2 goals fell well short of the pre-game line of 6.</p> 

<p>Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period. Justin Brazeau opened the scoring at 3:23, and Charlie Coyle added another at 9:57. The Bruins’ defense held strong, keeping Seattle off the board.</p><p>In their 2-0 win over the Kraken, the Bruins netted both goals in the first period. Justin Brazeau opened the scoring with his 5th goal of the season, followed by Charlie Coyle, who added his 2nd goal on a power play.</p> <p>The Bruins fired 33 shots on goal but also had 16 giveaways. They registered 4 assists, with Brad Marchand picking up his 7th of the season and Elias Lindholm adding his 6th.</p><p>Boston's defense was rock solid, allowing 0 goals and 23 shots on goal from Seattle. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves, finishing with a 100% save percentage. The Bruins' defense also had 5 takeaways, 15 hits, and 27 blocks.</p><h3>Is A Home Victory Likely for Underdog Detroit?</h3><p>Detroit improved to 8-9-2 with a 2-1 win over the Sabres. The Red Wings were favored on the puck line, but didn’t cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.</p> <p>After giving up a goal in the first period, Detroit responded with two goals in the second. Both goals came from Dylan Larkin, and both were on the power play.</p><p>Detroit's offense was held scoreless in the first period but found the net twice in the second, both on power plays. Dylan Larkin scored his 6th and 7th goals of the season, with his second coming 5:22 into the second period.</p> <p>The Red Wings took 23 shots on goal and recorded 15 giveaways. Patrick Kane picked up his 6th assist on Larkin's first goal, while Alex DeBrincat added his 4th assist. Lucas Raymond also contributed with his 10th assist of the season.</p><p>Detroit's defense gave up the first goal at 11:39 in the 1st period, but they shut down Buffalo the rest of the way, leading to a 2-1 win. Cam Talbot made 31 saves with a 96.9% save percentage, and the defense added 4 takeaways and 11 hits.</p>

Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Stars versus the Flyers? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NBCS. The game will be played at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. In this non-conference matchup, the Stars are the betting favorite against Flyers. The over/under for the game is 6 goals.</p><h3>DALLAS STARS VS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Philadelphia Flyers +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Wells Fargo Center at 7:00 ET on Thursday, January 18th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS:</h3><ul><li>With the Stars being favored by 1.5, our NHL analytics models has this one playing out 4-3 in favor of the Stars.</li><li>Take the Stars on the moneyline</li><li>On the puck line, we like Flyers (+1.5)</li></ul><h3>Will the Stars Pull Through as the Favored Road Team?</h3><p><p>On the season, the Stars have gone 26-12-5 and currently sit in 4th place in the Western Conference. In their last ten games, Dallas has gone 6-4 and they have won their last two games.</p>

<p>When playing on the road, the Stars have gone 12-4-3, and they have won their last two road games. As the favorite, Dallas has gone 24-11-5, and they have won their last two games when favored.</p></p><p>On the road this season, Dallas has a puck line record of 9-10 and an average scoring margin of +.7 goals per game. So far, the Stars have 13 wins by multiple goals and 13 wins by just one goal.</p>

<p>Overall, Dallas has a puck line record of 16-27, including going 5-5 in their last ten games. In their last ten road games, the Stars have a puck line record of 4-6.</p> <p>The average goal total for Dallas' games is sitting at 6.7. The average over/under line for the season is 6.2. The Stars come in with an over/under record of 27-16-0.</p><p>The Stars are 2-1 puck line in their three last road games and 2-1 straight-up.</p><p>On offense, the Stars are averaging 3.7 goals per game which is 3rd in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are 21st in the league. This season, the Stars have a 14-8 record in games where they outshoot their opponent. In games with fewer shots on goal, they hold a 12-4 record.</p><p>The leading scorer for Dallas' offense is Joe Pavelski. Coming into the game he has 18 goals, ranking 32nd in the NHL. Pavelski also comes into the game with 21 assists.</p><p>Defensively, the Flyers are currently 22nd in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 28.8 shots per game against Philadelphia. They also are 4th in shutouts, coming in with 4 shutouts.</p><p>Heading into this matchup vs. Philadelphia, goalie Jake Oettinger has started 23 games in this season. His current record is 13-8, and his save percentage stands at 0.786%.</p><h3>Does Philadelphia Have a Shot at a Home Win?</h3><p><p>At home this season, the Flyers have gone 10-8-2, and over their last ten games, they have gone 5-5. In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia is in 4th place and 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division. On the year, the Flyers are 24-14-6, and they have won four straight games.</p>

<p>As the underdog, Philadelphia has gone 16-10-5, and they have won two games in a row when they have been the underdog. Over their last five games, the Flyers have gone 4-1, and in the Eastern Conference, they have gone 11-10.</p></p><p>At home, Philadelphia's puck line record is just 8-12 this season, and they have gone just 2-8 against the puck line in their last ten games at home. Overall, the Flyers are 28-16 against the puck line, and they have gone 25-6 against the puck line as the underdog.</p>

<p>Philadelphia has gone 14-11 against the puck line in games decided by multiple goals, and their average scoring margin this year is +.2 goals per game. In their last three games, the Flyers have gone 2-1 against the puck line.</p> <p>This season, Philadelphia's games are averaging 5.7 goals per game. Their average over/under line is 6.2. The Flyers currently have an over/under record of 16-26-2.</p><p>When looking at their past three road matchups, Dallas has an puck line record of 2-1 while averaging 2 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.</p><p>On offense, the Flyers are averaging 2.9 goals per game which is 23rd in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are 2nd in the league. Philadelphia's offense is currently ranked 30th in power play goals. When it comes to shorthanded goals, they are 2nd in the league.</p><p>Philadelphia will be looking for a good game from Travis Konecny who leads the team in scoring with 21 goals, ranking 16th in the NHL. In addition to his goal scoring, Konecny has 19 assists this season.</p><p>In terms of defense, the Flyers head into the game ranked 22nd in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 28.8 shots per game against Philadelphia. So far, they are 4th in shutouts, achieving 4 shutouts.</p><p>Goalie Carter Hart comes into the game having made 24 starts this season. So far, his record is 12-8 and he has a save percentage of 0.806%.</p>

Dallas Stars vs Philadelphia Flyers Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/24

<p>At 4:10 PM from Chase Field in Phoenix, we have an NL West matchup between the Padres and Diamondbacks. San Diego comes into the game with a record of 18-18, while the Diamondbacks are 14-20. The over/under line is at 9.5 runs, and the Padres are the slight favorite on the money line (-101).</p>

<p>Looking at Sunday's starting pitching matchup, we have Matt Waldron going for the Padres and Ryne Nelson for the Diamondbacks. You can catch this one on TV on MLB Network.</p><h3>ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS VS SAN DIEGO PADRES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks Moneyline -119</p><p>This game will be played at Chase Field at 4:10 ET on Sunday, May 5th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE PADRES VS DIAMONDBACKS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Diamondbacks winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>If you're looking for a run line pick, we also like the Diamondbacks to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>San Diego cruised to an easy 13-1 win over the Diamondbacks in the most recent game of this series. The Padres had a huge 7th inning, scoring eight of their thirteen runs. As for the Diamondbacks, their only run came in the 9th inning.</p>

<p>Michael King started for the Padres and went six innings while giving up just one run and striking out three. He picked up a win in the game, while Brandon Pfaadt got the loss for Arizona, going six innings and giving up three earned runs.</p>

<p>Jurickson Profar and Ha-Seong Kim each homered for the Padres. Profar, Luis Arraez, Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and Jake Cronenworth each had two RBIs.</p><h3>Padres Records & Stats</h3><p>San Diego is currently 2nd in the NL West, trailing the Dodgers by 4.5 games. The Padres are at an even 18-18 overall, and they have won four straight games. These four wins have come after dropping four straight, so they are looking to keep things rolling today on the road vs. the Diamondbacks.</p>

<p>At home, the Padres are just 8-12 this year, but they have been better on the road at 10-6. As the road favorite, the Padres are 4-2 this year, and they have won two straight as the road favorite. San Diego's overall series record is 5-5-2, and they are 5-5 over their last ten games.</p><p>The Padres have been a solid bet on the run line this season, going 19-17 overall. They have been especially strong on the run line on the road, going 13-3. Their average run margin in winning games is +4.0, while it's -3.0 in losses. They have covered the run line in their last two road games and are 10-12 on the run line as the favorite this season.</p><p>San Diego's over/under record for the season is 19-16, and the average combined run total in their games is 9.7. The over/under line for today's game against the Diamondbacks is set at 9.5 runs, and when the line has been set at 9.5 runs this season, the over has hit in one out of one game. Overall, the Padres have played in just three games this season with an over/under line set at 9.5 runs, accounting for just 8.3% of their games.</p><p>San Diego is sending right-hander Matt Waldron to the mound today as he faces the Diamondbacks on the road. Waldron has made six starts this year and has a record of 1-3 with an ERA of 4.36. Looking at his overall numbers, he has a WHIP of 1.35 and opponents are batting .250 this year. In his last outing, Waldron took the loss, giving up four earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had picked up the win and didn't allow a homer in three straight outings. So far, he has given up four homers.</p><p>So far this season, the Padres have been one of the league's best offensive teams, as they are 5th in scoring at 5.1 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.8 runs per contest. Overall, they are 3rd in team batting average (.258) and 5th in home runs. San Diego also has a good team on-base percentage and slugging percentage.</p>

<p>Jake Cronenworth and Jurickson Profar have been two of the Padres' top hitters of late, with Cronenworth batting .385 with three homers in his last six games, and Profar has gone 13/23 in his last six games. Cronenworth's eight-game hitting streak is the longest on the team. Fernando Tatis Jr. is the team's home run leader, but he is batting just .245 for the season.</p><h3>Diamondbacks Records & Stats</h3><p>Arizona is at home today, looking to pick up a win vs. the Padres and move to 15-20 overall. The Diamondbacks are currently 4th in the NL West, trailing the Dodgers by 7.5 games. So far, they have gone 8-8 in divisional matchups. Arizona has dropped three straight games, and they are 3-7 over their last 10 games.</p>

<p>At home, the Diamondbacks are 2-5 as the underdog this season and 8-10 overall. On the road, they are 6-10 and 6-12 as the underdog. Arizona's overall series record is 3-6-1, and they have dropped three straight series.</p><p>The Diamondbacks are 15-19 against the run line this season, including an 8-10 mark at home. They have lost three straight at home against the run line and are 6-10 vs. the run line as the favorite. Their average run differential in wins is +5.3, while it is -3.7 in losses.</p><p>Arizona's over/under record for the season is 14-19, and the average over/under line for their games is 9.0 runs. When the over/under line is set at 9.5 runs, their record is 2-3. Overall, 67.6% of their games have had lower over/under lines than 9.5 runs. In their most recent games, the over/under results have been as follows: 14 runs (over 8.5), 8 runs (under 9.0), 8 runs (under 8.5), 7 runs (under 9.5), and 12 runs (over 10.5).</p><p>Ryne Nelson has had a bit of an up-and-down start to the season, but he is coming off a win in his last start. He went 6 innings and struck out 4 in that outing, and he has 11 strikeouts on the year. Nelson has given up 2 home runs in his 3 starts.</p><p>Christian Walker has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Diamondbacks, going 7/23 in his last seven games with three homers and five RBIs. Overall, he is batting .270 with a team-high seven homers and 22 RBIs, which is 8th in the MLB. Ketel Marte is also among the league's top home run hitters, as his five homers are 6th in the league and 2nd on the team. Marte has also been swinging a hot bat, as he is batting .308 and is currently on a six-game hitting streak.</p>

<p>As a team, the Diamondbacks are 8th in scoring at 4.8 runs per game, and they have been even better at home, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. Overall, they are one of the league's best teams at avoiding strikeouts and are 5th in walks. Their team batting average is .245 (8th) and they are 8th in on-base percentage.</p>

San Diego Padres vs Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Pick & Prediction 5/5/24

<p>The MLB betting action goes on with a seven-game Monday card, including the opening clash of a three-game NL West series at Chase Park in Phoenix, Arizona, so here’s the best Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks betting pick along with the latest odds update on <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bovada/">Bovada Sportsbook</a>.</p>



<p>The Boys in Blue and D-backs lock horns for the first time in 2022. The Dodgers opened as -169 road favorites with a total of 8.0 runs, while the Diamondbacks sat at +156 moneyline odds. Last year, the Dodgers dominated the D-backs, winning 16 of their 19 encounters.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>The Dodgers need more from Walker Buehler                          </h2>



<p>Sunday’s games have been excluded from the analysis, and the 10-4 Los Angeles Dodgers were looking to clinch a tough three-game road series against San Diego. The Dodgers beat the Padres 6-1 in the opener, while San Diego responded with a 3-2 victory in ten innings this past Saturday.</p>



<p>The Dodgers entered Sunday’s closer with the lowest ERA in baseball (2.24). Their pitching staff has been ridiculous thus far, but Walker Buehler, who’ll take the mound Monday at Chase Field, hasn’t been at his best through his first three starts (15.2 innings).</p>



<p>Buehler (1-1) carries a 4.02 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, and 11/6 K/BB ratio. Last Tuesday, the 27-year-old righty took a loss in a 3-1 home defeat to the Atlanta Braves, yielding three earned runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out only two across five frames of work.</p>



<h2>The Diamondbacks are improving at the plate   </h2>



<p>The 6-9 Arizona Diamondbacks were searching for their second straight victory on Sunday, trying to grab their first series of the season. After a tough 6-5 defeat in ten innings in the opening contest of a three-game home set against the Mets, the D-backs outlasted New York 5-2 in Saturday’s middle game.</p>



<p>Arizona has been horrible at the plate in its first 11 games of the season. Since then, the Diamondbacks have defeated Washington 11-2 and 4-3 to go with the forementioned encounters with the red-hot Metsies. Arizona entered Sunday’s game with a .190/.291/.617 triple-slash and a 3.32 ERA.</p>



<p>Merrill Kelly will toe the slab Monday against the Dodgers, and the 33-year-old right-hander is 1-0 with a microscopic 0.59 ERA in three starts in the season. Kelly yielded one earned run through 15.1 innings of work while posting an 18/5 K/BB ratio, 1.17 WHIP, and 1.72 FIP. Last Wednesday, Merrill tossed six frames of a one-run ball in that 11-2 dismantling of the Nationals, allowing six hits and a walk in the process.</p>



<h2>Trends:</h2>



<p><strong>LA Dodgers:</strong></p>



<ul><li>13-4 in the last 17 road contests against Arizona</li></ul>



<p><strong>Arizona:</strong></p>



<ul><li>3-16 in the last 19 games against the Dodgers&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-los-angeles-dodgers-vs-arizona-diamondbacks-pick">Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Pick</h2>



<p>Merrill Kelly is off to a flying start, and Monday’s clash against the Dodgers might be a painful landing for the veteran righty. He was 0-3 with a 4.24 ERA in four starts against Los Angeles in 2021, and some of the current Dodgers are hitting very well against Kelly. Both Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger went yard twice; Max Muncy is 8-for-18 with a home run, and Will Smith is 6-for-11 with a homer. The Dodgers own a .784 OPS against the righties in 2022.</p>



<p>On the other side, Walker Buehler is 4-0 with a 2.24 ERA in 11 career starts against Arizona. The current Diamondbacks are only 21-for-110 with three homers and a .593 OPS against Buehler.</p>



<p><strong>Pick: Take Los Angeles Dodgers at -169&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>The Total:</strong></p>



<p>I would stick with the Dodgers to win because of a tricky 8-run line on the totals. Walker Buehler and the Dodgers’ mighty bullpen could easily shut down the Diamondbacks, but you never know with Arizona’s pitching.</p>



<p>The D-backs’ bullpen has a 4.11 ERA and 4.35 FIP. They are striking out only 6.03 per nine innings, but Arizona’s relievers are also yielding just 0.82 home runs per nine frames. The Dodgers could score a few runs down the stretch, while the hosts should have a mountain to climb.</p>



<p><strong>Pick: Go under 8.0 runs at +105&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Odds, Pick, Prediction 4/25/22

The Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox seem to be teams slated to go in different directions. The Twins are a major positive regression candidate and the White Sox, who have one of the best records in baseball over the last month, have been hitting just about everything in sight.

That includes a high degree of productivity against left-handed pitching. The White Sox will get another left-handed pitcher on Wednesday in JA Happ. The Twins will face a lefty as well in Dallas Keuchel. The White Sox are pretty sizable home favorites in the -135 range for this one with a total of 8 in an AL Central showdown you can wager on at <strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline/">BetOnline Sportsbook</a></strong>

Let’s break this one down and see how it sets up.
<h2><strong><u>Minnesota Twins</u></strong></h2>
Bettors have lost a lot of money lately betting on the Twins. Their run differential and alternate standings metrics suggest a team that is much closer to being a .500 team than a team that sits several games under .500. The Twins have had no luck in extra innings or in close games this season. Their wins have come in lopsided fashion, but a lot of their losses have been close.

There have been some injuries, especially on the offensive side, but the biggest issue for the Twins has been the bullpen. Minnesota entered play on Tuesday 28th in reliever fWAR on the season. The relievers were collectively just 1-11 on the season with five saves. Minnesota had one of the lowest LOB% marks in the league at below 66%. Add it all up and you have a team with a bullpen ERA close to 5 and one of the highest FIPs around.

Offensively, and defensively, the Twins have been quite good. Unfortunately, they just haven’t been able to get enough hits at clutch times, especially in those late-game situations. We’ll see what happens going forward with the offense, but it does appear to be one of the better units in the league with this current depressed run environment.

JA Happ heads into this game with a strong 1.91 ERA, but he is undoubtedly a regression candidate with a 3.84 FIP and a 5.39 xFIP. He’s only allowed six runs on 16 hits in his 28.1 innings of work on the season. He’s also only allowed two home runs. That is a really impressive set of stats for Happ, who has actually been really useful throughout his career.

Happ should also benefit from the current offensive environment. There isn’t nearly as much carry to the baseball this season and home runs and extra-base hits are down.
<h2><strong><u>Chicago White Sox</u></strong></h2>
The White Sox have destroyed left-handed pitching this season and it has really been an area of strength for the team for quite some time. Chicago is first or second in several key offensive categories against southpaws and did a number on Kansas City’s left-handers in last week’s series, including an eight-run first inning against Daniel Lynch.

Happ is a much more experienced and reliable left-hander than the prospect that was making his second career MLB start, but we know that the White Sox do well in matchups like this. They’ve done well offensively overall. Their ground ball-heavy approach at the plate seems to be elevated even more this season by the fact that fly ball hitters have had a lot of tough sledding this season.

Speaking of tough sledding, we may see some from Dallas Keuchel on the horizon. Keuchel has a 3.79 ERA with a 4.50 FIP on the season. It is important to remember that guys with extreme batted ball splits that pitch-to-contact, like Keuchel does, Calling Keuchel a pitch-to-contact guy is an understatement. He’s faced 156 batters and only struck out 17 of them. That means his success is wholly dependent on if those ground balls get hit at people.

He’s running a .242 BABIP on the season, which does suggest a good amount of negative regression in the profile. He had a .255 in the shortened season last year and that was easily a career-best for him. Even in his Cy Young season, Keuchel had a .269 BABIP.

The White Sox bullpen has an ERA around 4.00, but the peripherals look a lot stronger than that and it does look like an advantage over where the Twins are to this point.
<h2><strong><u>Twins vs. White Sox Free Pick</u></strong></h2>
It is extremely hard to fade the White Sox against a left-handed starter at this point in time. It can also be tough to back Dallas Keuchel because he is so dependent on his defense for success. He doesn’t have much margin for error. The Twins have a solid lineup that has hit for a lot of power this season. Keuchel keeps the ball down, but has still allowed 10 barreled balls this season. With a big price on the White Sox, the over seems like the better play.

<strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/mlb/">MLB Pick</a>: Over 8</strong>

Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox Free Pick - 05/12/21

So the question is - can the Toronto Raptors actually do it again? Such a thing would be so unlikely, when considering that teams that lose a superstar often have to go through a transition period. And in this case the superstar (Kawhi Leonard) is such a two-way stalwart that he is a fixture on the All-Defensive team, and such a clutch performer that he has won the NBA Finals MVP twice.

So are <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betanysports"><strong>BetAnySports</strong> </a>patrons surprised right now? Well, they obviously would not be all that surprised if the Raptors moved on to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, because the team in front of them has had their rotation stripped by injuries and opt-outs. Because rest is going to be important in the bubble, the Raptors may want to make quick work of the Brooklyn Nets.

And they just might.

Nick Nurse did not win the NBA's Coach of the Year award. But there were plenty of people pushing his case. The results speak for themselves. Even without Leonard, Toronto has arguably the best defensive team in the NBA. They have allowed the fewest points and had the best Defensive Rating in the eight seeding games - by a margin of almost five points per 100 possessions.

So you know there's something about the scheme that is right on the mark.

Yet the Raptors would not be able to reach second place in the East with their 53-19 record (41-30-1 ATS) if not for the continued development of Pascal Siakam, who played second fiddle to Leonard last season and is now the All-Star offensive standout.

In the NBA odds for the series that have been posted by the folks at BetAnySports, the Raptors are huge favorites:

<strong>Toronto Raptors -2150</strong>
<strong>Brooklyn Nets +1300</strong>

The biggest thing the Raptors have going for them is obviously that they had what it took to go all the way to the championship last season. That experience is hard to duplicate. And there were no roster shakeups either - if there is anything team president Masai Ujiri advocates, it's continuity. That plays to their advantage here, because it's not a team that had to re-introduce themselves to each other after the long hiatus in the season.

And they do a great job of spreading minutes in the middle, between veterans Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka. If they aren't called upon to shoulder too much of the offensive burden, they'll be okay.

But that will necessitate consistency out of the backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet, who don't always deliver on the offensive end. In fact, Lowry can downright disappear when he isn't hitting his three-pointers. And they lead a team that turns the ball over almost 19 times per contest while in Orlando. Of course, when they get hot, they will carry this team.

The defensive responsibility for Toronto will revolve around the ability to neutralize Caris LeVert at the high post. That he is the first option is a vast understatement, so it would follow that if the Raptors, who as we inferred are about the most well-drilled team in the league on the stop end, can come up with a strategy to force Jacque Vaughn and the Nets to a "Plan B."

Nurse's own plan is to make each playoff opponent do that all the way to the end.

<a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/bas"><strong>BetAnySports</strong> </a>is where you need to be for all the action during the NBA playoffs.... You'll get reduced juice, which will provide an awful lot of value, and Sports Betting Prime enables you to place wagers during the game.......... Don't forget about the live dealers, who can be found in three different casinos - right on the site......... Open your account with a debit card or credit card, person-to-person transfer or the virtual currency of <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/top-5-bitcoin-sports-books/"><strong>Bitcoin</strong></a>, which is fast and easy with their automated system, and NEVER incurs a transaction fee!

<strong>Sign up for an account through BangTheBook and use the bonus code of BTB50 and it will be good for a <a href="http://betanysports.eu/btb50/">50% Welcome Bonus up to a $1,000 Deposit</a>!</strong>

NBA Odds & Predictions -- Raptors Could End It in a Hurry vs. Nets

BetDSI

Bookmaker

Bet US

BetOnline

Bovada