Jim Feist – Sports Handicapper

 The Atlanta Braves have won two-straight games and improved to 11-10 on the season. The Braves have scored well, averaging 5.4 runs per game. It's their pitching that has been suspect, allowing 4.9 runs per game. Kevin Gausman will start today for the Braves with a 1-1 record. Gausman has a nice 2.75 ERA and very good 0.763 WHIP in his previous three starts. Gausman also has 22 KO's in just 19 2/3 innings with just six walks. The Reds had yesterday off after losing on Sunday to the Padres 3-4. The loss snapped a 3-game win streak for Cincinnati. Sonny Gray will toe the rubber today for the Reds. Gray is 0-3 in his four starts with a 2.79 ERA and 0.931 WHIP. Gray has received just seven total runs of support in his four starts and twice he received no runs of support. Gray isn't the problem here, it's the Reds lack of offense. Don't expect that to improve either against a very good Gausman today. Take Atlanta.

Tampa Bay snapped it's short 4-game losing streak with a win on Monday over Kansas City, 6-3. Ryan Stanek starts today in their unique relief/starter package. Stanek will only go one or two innings, but he's been brilliant in this mode. Stanek has started five games, gone eight innings and allowed just two hits and no runs. He's also walked just one batter and struck out 11. The Royals have lost four straight and dropped to 7-16 on the season. Homer Bailey will get the start today for the Royals. Bailey has pitched well with a 2-1 record, 4.30 ERA and 1.087 WHIP. After a pair of shaky starts, Bailey has put together two nice starts where he's allowed just one run over 13 innings. Still, the Rays are playing great, especially in this role where they start a relief pitcher like Stanek. I'm going to lay the 1.5-runs here today with the Rays. Take Tampa Bay -1.5 Runs.

Denver won a very rare game at San Antonio and it was much needed as the Nuggets evened this series at 2-2 as they return home for tonight's game five. Of course it didn't help the Spurs that DeMar DeRozan was ejected for tossing the ball at the referee. The Nuggets changed their lineup and put their best defenders into the starting role and it worked. But will it work again tonight? I expect the Spurs to make their own adjustments here tonight and also get DeRozan off his frustration pity party he had in game four. The Spurs have already proven they can play well in Denver. I expect a bounce back game here tonight out of the Spurs. Play San Antonio.

Portland can win this series tonight over the Thunder with a win on their home court. The Blazers split their two games in Oklahoma City, taking game four 111-98 and with it a commanding 3-1 series lead. Surprisingly, the Blazers defense has been the standout in this series, holding Oklahoma City to under 100 points in all three of their wins. Portland is now 25-9 ATS in their last 34 games when holding their opponent to less than 100 points in the previous game. They are also 43-21-1 ATS in their last 65 home games. Portland has now covered six of the last eight in this series and I expect them to close out this series tonight. Play Portland.

Game 7 of this first round playoff series between the LV Knights and SJ Sharks moves back to San Jose. The Sharks were down 1-3 in this series and won game five in San Jose and then game six in Las Vegas. Game six went into two overtimes before the Sharks scored to win 2-1. I like the over in this game tonight. We saw our low scoring, defensive game in last time out but in San Jose these games usually open up quite a bit. These teams have gone over in six of the last eight meetings. However, in San Jose, they have gone over in five straight. Play the over tonight.