Scott Rickenbach – Sports Handicapper

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach MLB Free Pick UNDER 7.5 in Pittsburgh Pirates vs Colorado Rockies @ 12:35 ET - Not too concerned with the starting pitchers here. Play this one with action on the pitchers. This play is more about the fact that the Rockies are scoring an average of only 2.5 runs per game this season on the road. The Pirates have scored only 2 runs per game their last dozen games. Look for another low-scoring battle in this one as a result. Only 8 of the Pirates 24 home games have resulted in an over this season so just 1/3 of them. Free Pick UNDER 7.5 in Pittsburgh

*action on pitchers* MLB Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 8.5 in New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles @ 7:05 ET - The Yankees and Orioles continue their high-scoring ways in this one. Baltimore has had just 2 unders last 9 games. The Orioles have scored at least 6 runs in 5 of last 6 games. The Yankees have won 11 of last 16 games and have scored an average of 5.5 runs per game last 7 games. JP Sears expected to make first ever MLB start for Yankees here and a struggling Tyler Wells likely to start for the Orioles here. Wells has a 7.62 ERA on the road this season and Baltimore is 0-4 in those starts. Considering that plus the fact that the Sears making first ever start and will feel pressure to perform well for the home fans in first ever start in the Bronx, this one sets up well for an over. Regardless of the starting pitchers, the over is the play here as both teams keep piling up the runs and only 1 of last 7 meetings between these teams has resulted in an under. 10* OVER 8.5 in New York Yankees

NHL Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 6.5 in Colorado Avalanche vs St Louis Blues @ 8 ET - The Blues are down to their last chance here. As a result, I expect them to bring a huge effort on the road. The problem for St Louis is that ever since they lost Binnington to injury, the goaltending has really taken a hit. The Blues can not seem to stop the Avalanche and Colorado has outscored St Louis 11 to 5 since Binnington got hurt early in Game 3. Keep in mind, those two high-scoring Avs wins were at St Louis and now, at home with a chance to close the series out, the Avalanche are ever more likely to pile up goals in this one. The Blues have scored an average of 3 goals per game the last 3 games but the Avalanche are a big favorite for a reason here. In other words, a 4-3 or 5-3 type game would not be surprising in the least. 10* OVER 6.5 in Colorado

NBA Wednesday 10* Top Play Miami Heat +1.5 @ Boston Celtics @ 8:30 ET - The Heat are off a loss and have been so strong off a defeat. The Celtics got the key Game 4 win to even this series up but now are over-valued on the road. Boston has been alternating wins and losses frequently in this post-season in the last two series and I look for that trend to continue here. The Celtics will have their hands full here with a Heat team that had won 10 straight home games prior to losing to 25 points as a host versus Boston in Game 2 of this series. Not only payback for that but Miami enters this game off a 20 point road loss in Game 4 at Boston. The Heat take back series lead with a key revenging win over the Celtics in this one. 10* MIAMI +1.5