Will Rogers – Sports Handicapper

My SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL WINNER is on the Houston Astros at 7:10 EST. San Diego might be 15-6 overall this season, but it's only 3-5 on the road after dropping the first two games here. Houston is just 10-10 this season, but it's 6-5 at home. After a slow start, the Astros have looked a lot better of late and I say they carry that momentum over as they look to post the series sweep over the suddenly floundering Friars. Dylan Cease (1-1, 6.64 ERA) has uncharacteristically struggled so far for San Diego this season. The Astros counter with Framber Valdez (1-2, 4.91 ERA), who comes in off a dud against the Cardinals on Monday, allowing seven runs over four innings. Valdez, though, is the staff ace and over four starts he's looked very much like Jekyll and Hyde, as he's tossed two scoreless starts, while in his two losses he's conceded 11 runs over nine innings. I think Valdez settles down here again though and gets the better of his clearly struggling counterpart. Lay the short price, Astros roll!

My PLAYOFF PAYOFF is on the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:00 EST. I think Toronto is worth the price of admission in this matchup. Ottawa exceeded expectations with its young core, but now I think it'll stumble here in this difficult road venue. At least in Game 1. To say the "revenge angle" is a real one in this game would be an understatement I think, as Ottawa went 3-0 in the regular season series. Tim Stutzle was a standout for Ottawa this year with 79 points. But Mitch Marner had over 100 points for the Leafs this year. Ottawa appears to have great future potential, but it's in uncharted territory right now. It's an almost "do or die" Playoffs for the Leafs, with many key players up for contract re-negotiation. Look for Toronto to find a way to get the job done in Game 1. Lay the price, Leafs roll!

My ULTIMATE ATS BLOWOUT play is on the Houston Rockets at 9:30 EST. The Rockets have had a few extra days off to prepare for this series, and I believe they'll find a way to win and cover here in Game 1. They played five times in the regular season,n and Golden State did go 3-2, so there's a minor revenge angle working in favor of Houston as well. Jimmy Butler looked pretty good in the Play-In Tournament win over the Grizzlies, putting up 38 points. But the Rockets come in under the radar. They finished with 52 wins, and they're top player is Alperen Sengun, who averaged 19.1 points and 10.3 boards per game this season. Throw in the likes of Dillon Brooks and Fred Van Vleet, who won the championship with Toronto, and the Rockets become the correct call in this Game 1 matchup. I think Draymond, Steph, and Jimmy come up short here in Game 1. Lay the point/s, the play is on Houston.

My PLAYOFF SLAM-DUNK is on Oklahoma City Thunder at 1:00 EST. Can Ja Morant and the Grizzlies upset the Thunder in Game 1 outright? I don't think so! In fact, I can't see Morant, or Memphis being very competitive whatsoever in this one. The Grizzlies lost to Golden State, before then beating Dallas on Friday to secure the final playoff spot in the West. But Morant needed an injection in his ankle to even play, and he'll likely need another one before Game 1. OKC has won nine straight in this series and I'm expecting SGA and company to extend that streak. Memphis struggled big time after the All-Star break, ranked No. 18 in defensive efficiency, while posting a 12-16 record. Lay the points and look for SGA and OKC to keep the foot on the gas from start to finish. Thunder roll!

My EPL TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the under between Liverpool and Leicester City. Leicester City will be relegated with an outright loss, while Liverpool has a chance with outside help to be crowned champion this weekend. Liverpool only has to win two of its final four games to clinch a second Premier League honor. If somehow Ipswich is able to upset Arsenal this weekend, AND Liverpool wins, then the Reds will in fact, become league Champions this weekend. Either way, I don't see Liverpool giving Leicester much of a chance offensively here. Liverpool will be especially wary here after the upset 3-2 loss at Fulham last weekend, but note that Liverpool hasn't lost back-to-back EPL road games since April 2023. Ruud van Nistelrooy's troops are on the ropes and I don't see them playing with much passion here. This number is high in my opinion, so the play is on the under.