Al McMordie – Sports Handicapper

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Washington Capitals over the New York Rangers. For the first time ever, the Capitals are going to find out what it's like -- at least early on this season -- to have a big Stanley Cup target on your back. The defending Champs are going to get plenty of pressure this fall and winter from young, improved teams in the East. Two such teams, the Maple Leafs and Devils, took it to the Caps last week, beating them soundly in a pair of games by a combined 10-2. But one team that clearly hasn't improved itself is the Rangers. Finishing in the division cellar last season, the Rangers have immediately gone into rebuilding mode -- a mode that will insure some high draft picks in the years ahead. Gone are longtime Rangers Ryan McDonagh, Rick Nash, and J.T. Miller, leaving behind a 37-year-old goalie (Henrik Lundqvist) and not much of anything else. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the Caps, who return almost everyone from their Cup-winning campaign, with some young talent that is poised to break out and make the veterans even more dangerous. Take the Caps. As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 5:05 pm, our selection is on the Milwaukee Brewers over the Los Angeles Dodgers. If someone had told you a year ago that the best one-two starting pitching combination in the 2018 post-season would be Jhoulys Chacin and Wade Miley, you would have said they were punking you. For one thing, you wouldn't even know the team that person was talking about. Chacin joined the Brewers last December while Miley signed as a free agent two months later. Through four combined starts -- one NLDS and NLCS each -- Chacin and Miley have not allowed a run in 20 2/3 innings, surrendering just 11 hits. Today, it will be Miley's turn as he faces the Dodgers for the second time in this series. The veteran southpaw was spectacular in game two last Saturday, firing 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing only two base runners. Anything close to that should get the job done today against the Dodgers and LH Clayton Kershaw who took the loss in game one. The fact that Miley's second NLCS start is on the road shouldn't matter as he is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in seven career starts at Dodger Stadium (48 innings). Even better: the Brewers have gone 52-34, +25 games on the money line, after scoring less than two runs. Take the Brewers in this underdog role this afternoon. MLB Elite Info Winner.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 8:35 pm, our selection is on the Houston Astros over the Boston Red Sox.  Game three of the ALCS was a case of which bullpen would break first and this time it turned out to be the Astros.  Normally the closer, Osuna was brought into the game in the eighth inning and it couldn't have gone worse.  Now the home team will turn to RH Charlie Morton, who was arguably its best pitcher in last season's World Series.  In two appearances in that series --  one start -- Morton posted a 1.74 ERA and 0.58 WHIP in 10 1/3 innings.  This will be Morton's first time on the mound in the 2018 playoffs and it's a critical start as the 'Stros can ill-afford to go down 3-1.  Tonight we will also find out if the bullpen appearance that RH Rick Porcello made in game two on Sunday will affect him as he gets the start for Boston.  In three career starts at Minute Maid Park, Porcello is 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in just over 19 innings.  Despite the loss on Tuesday, the 'Stros are 13-4 in their last 17 home games.  Take Houston.  MLB High Roller.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.