Al McMordie – Sports Handicapper

At 6:30 pm, our selection is on the San Antonio Spurs minus the points over Utah.  Although the Spurs can still reach the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season, their chances to do so are small, as they need at least two of three other teams (Memphis, Phoenix, Portland) to lose today, while they win their own game vs. the Jazz.  By the time this game tips off, the Spurs will know whether they've been knocked out, or if they're still alive.  But even if they're knocked out, I still expect them to put forth a solid effort to end the season on a high note, because that's what a Gregg Popovich team would do.  The Spurs fall into 115-55 and 98-45 ATS 'momentum' systems of mine.  Lay the points.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 3:00 pm, our selection is on the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Columbus Blue Jackets.  In an historic Game 1 on Tuesday, the Lightning out-lasted the Blue Jackets when Brayden Point scored at 10:27 of the fifth OT period.  That Game 1 result certainly satisfied us, as we had a big play on Tampa in Game 1 (and also have it as our Preseason Futures wager this season at 7-1 odds).   Several NHL records were set in that one, including most shots on goal (151) and most saves by a goalie in a game (85 by the Jackets' Korpisalo).  And although the fourth-longest game in NHL history doesn't necessarily spell doom for the Jackets, it certainly lets some air out of their balloon heading into this afternoon's Game 1.  It's a great boost for Tampa today knowing that the only thing that kept Columbus in the game that long was the play of its goalie as the Bolts out-shot the Jackets by a whopping 25 when all was said and done.  While Korpisalo's superhuman efforts will be remembered, it's also important to point out that Tampa's Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy bought time for Point and Co. with 61 saves of his own.  Tampa is 23-12 in its last 35 after winning its previous game in overtime.  Take the Lightning.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 9:40 pm, our selection is on the San Diego Padres over Los Angeles.  We played on Tony Gonsolin and the Dodgers last night, but will switch gears and take the Padres tonight.  Chris Paddack will get the ball for the Padres, and he's been terrific this season, with a 3.18 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in just 22 2-3 innings (and just three walks).  One of Paddack's victories was against this Dodgers team (and Walker Buehler) 10 days ago.  Tonight, Paddack will face a very good southpaw in Julio Urias, who has also pitched well this season (2.40 ERA; 1.26 WHIP).  But the biggest difference between these two pitchers is how deep they go into games.  Whereas Paddack will generally pitch either 5 or 6 innings each game, Urias has averaged less than 4 1-3 innings over the last two years.  We'll take the underdog Padres tonight.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.