Wednesday 5-2-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

2nd May 2018 by Gracenote
Two underachieving offenses looking to break out of slumps go head-to-head Wednesday, when the Chicago Cubs host the Colorado Rockies for the rubber match of their three-game series. The Cubs have scored three runs or fewer in seven straight games, while the Rockies have been held to three or fewer in five consecutive contests.

It looked as if both struggling lineups might snap out of it with the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, as Colorado's Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl hit back-to-back homers to start the game and Chicago's Anthony Rizzo went deep to lead off the bottom of the first inning. However, the teams combined for just four more hits the rest of the night. The win snapped a three-game skid for the Rockies and ended the Cubs' five-game winning streak. It also put Colorado in position to salvage a split of the season series with a victory on Wednesday.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (1-0, 4.10 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Yu Darvish (0-2, 5.26)
Anderson left his last start in the second inning due to light-headedness and shortness of breath, but he received a clean bill of health from the team medical staff. The 28-year-old beat the Cubs in his previous start on April 21, allowing two runs and six hits over six innings. Anderson is 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA in two career turns against Chicago but never has pitched at Wrigley Field.

Darvish looked more like himself last time out, striking out eight and allowing one unearned run and three hits over six innings against Milwaukee. It was the second quality start in five outings for the 31-year-old, who still is looking for his first win with the Cubs. Darvish gave up five runs and five hits over 4 2/3 frames in a loss at Colorado on April 21.
WALK-OFFS

1. Rizzo is 7-for-13 with four home runs in his career when leading off a game.

2. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado is 21-for-51 with three doubles and five homers in his last 13 contests against the Cubs.
3. Colorado recalled INF Daniel Castro on Tuesday and optioned INF Ryan McMahon to Triple-A Albuquerque.

PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Rockies 3

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San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants Preview and Predictions 05 02 2018 - ScoresAndStats.com

2nd May 2018
after a rough start, eric hosmer appears to be settling in nicely with the san diego padres, who signed the veteran to an eight-year contract in february. the 28-year-old first baseman looks to build on his recent success wednesday when the padres face the host san francisco giants in the rubber match of their three-game series.

hosmer helped san diego record a 3-2 victory tuesday with a two-out solo blast in the ninth inning off giants closer hunter strickland and is 9-for-16 with five extra-base hits during his four-game hitting streak. prior to tuesday's game, the padres placed catcher austin hedges on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow, and it's unclear how long he'll be out. the giants had their three-game winning streak snapped tuesday and received another blow when starting pitcher johnny cueto landed on the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing elbow. rookie andrew suarez will likely take cueto's spot in the rotation after the left-hander impressed again with seven strong innings on tuesday.
tv: 3:45 p.m. et, fs san diego, nbcs bay area (san francisco)
pitching matchup: padres lh clayton richard (1-3, 5.35 era) vs. giants lh derek holland (0-3, 5.76)

richard suffered his second straight loss last friday despite holding the new york mets to three runs in 6 2/3 innings. the 34-year-old native of indiana has tossed at least five innings in each of his six starts but hasn't been able to duplicate his success from opening day, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball against milwaukee. richard is 6-7 with a 4.25 era in 21 career games (18 starts) against the giants and has struggled to contain buster posey (12-for-32 with two homers).
holland remained winless in five starts with the giants when he gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings against the los angeles dodgers last friday. the 31-year-old has seen his era climb in each of his last four outings. hosmer is 7-for-16 with a home run against holland, who allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings against san diego on april 14 at petco park and has gone 0-1 with a 7.84 era in two career starts against the padres.
walk-offs

1. giants lhp will smith, who missed the entire 2017 season following tommy john surgery, is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to wednesday's game.

2. the padres recalled c rafael lopez from triple-a el paso to replace hedges.

3. giants 3b evan longoria is four hits away from reaching 1,500 for his career.

prediction: padres 6, giants 4

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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Washington Nationals Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

1st May 2018 by Gracenote
a return to the leadoff position for the first time since 2013 allowed bryce harper the opportunity to leave some of his frustration in his rear-view mirror. harper aims to let loose again as the washington nationals bid to win four straight for the first time since the first four contests of the season when they continue their four-game series versus the visiting pittsburgh pirates on wednesday.

"(on monday) night, i spoke to harp, and i just came to a conclusion -- why not, really. he's a little frustrated, and hopefully, he gets some more pitches to hit," washington manager davey martinez said of elevating harper to the leadoff position. the 2015 national league mvp entered the contest mired in a 5-for-35 slump and had gone 12 games without an extra-base hit before launching a three-run homer in the fifth inning of tuesday's 12-4 romp. matt adams went deep twice for the nationals (14-16), who improved to 3-2 on their 10-game homestand and sent pittsburgh (17-13) to its second consecutive loss to begin its nine-game road trip. corey dickerson also homered for the second straight outing with a two-run shot to give him 12 hits with six rbis and seven runs scored in his last 10 games heading into a matchup versus stephen strasburg, against whom he is 2-for-6 with a pair of doubles in his career.
tv: 7:05 p.m. et, at&t sportsnet-pittsburgh, masn (washington)
pitching matchup: pirates rh ivan nova (2-1, 3.32 era) vs. nationals rh stephen strasburg (2-3, 3.63)

nova turned in his fourth straight strong performance since sustaining his lone loss of the season, but was left to settle for his second consecutive no-decision despite scattering six hits over eight scoreless innings versus detroit on thursday. the 31-year-old dominican did not allow a walk for the fourth straight outing, a stretch in which he owns a 2-0 mark after permitting just seven runs on 24 hits in 27 2/3 innings. matt wieters (13-for-39, four homers) has taken nova to task in his career, but the right-hander has split a pair of decisions versus washington despite allowing the club to bat .339 against him.
strasburg sustained his second straight loss on friday after allowing five runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-4 setback against arizona. the 29-year-old hasn't done himself any favors with the long ball, as he has been taken deep in five of his six outings this season and has surrendered seven homers total in 39 2/3 innings. starling marte (5-for-15, homer) has found success against strasburg, although the same cannot be said of david freese (0-for-8, three strikeouts), adam frazier (0-for-6) and sean rodriguez (0-for-5, four strikeouts).
walk-offs
1. pittsburgh rf gregory polanco is mired in a 1-for-15 stretch in his last four games after collecting seven hits in his previous six contests.

2. washington ss trea turner is 12-for-24 with six rbis and five runs scored in his last six games.

3. pirates c francisco cervelli is 6-for-12 with a homer, two rbis and two runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.

prediction: nationals 3, pirates 2

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Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

1st May 2018 by Gracenote
the atlanta braves youth movement is on full display, and so far the results have been good as they could move into first place in the national league east with another victory wednesday at the new york mets. featuring the three youngest players in the major leagues on its roster, atlanta captured a 3-2 victory in tuesday's series opener as mike soroka won his big-league debut while ronald acuna and ozzie albies combined for three hits and two runs scored.

albies (21 years old), soroka (20) and acuna (20) gave the braves the youngest three players to start a major league game in the same lineup since atlanta did it in 1978, as tuesday's victory pushed the braves to six games above .500 and within one-half game of first place in the nl east. there was good news for the mets as outfielder yoenis cespedes, who was expected to miss at least part of the series with a bruised left thumb, extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 3-for-4 - including a solo homer - and threw out a runner at home plate. outfielder jay bruce extended his hitting streak to eight games and new york's bullpen fired three scoreless innings in the opener. the braves have won three of the first four games against new york this season and have won five of eight on their current 10-game road trip.
tv: 7:10 p.m. et, fs southeast (atlanta), sny (new york)
pitching matchup: braves lh sean newcomb (1-1, 4.23 era) vs. mets rh jacob degrom (3-0, 2.06)

newcomb's start was pushed back a day to allow soroka to make his debut tuesday. newcomb struck out seven but gave up four runs in a no-decision thursday at cincinnati. the 24-year-old has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his five starts this season, including against the mets on april 20 in atlanta when newcomb held new york to two earned runs (three total) with five strikeouts in six innings.
degrom completed the first month of the season healthy and pitching as well as anybody in the nl, allowing zero runs in his last two starts while striking out 18 in 14 1/3 innings. that stretch includes a no-decision against the braves in atlanta on april 21, when the 29-year-old allowed just four hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts. degrom earned the victory friday at san diego, striking out eight while giving up five hits with three walks.
walk-offs

1. atlanta rhp shane carle left tuesday's game with numbness in his right thumb and forefinger after throwing two pitches in the seventh inning.

2. new york cf michael conforto did not reach base tuesday, snapping his streak at 20 games.
3. the braves finished with 15 hits tuesday and have collected at least nine hits in their past seven games.

prediction: mets 4, braves 2

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Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

1st May 2018 by Gracenote
the miami marlins have raised the outlook in south florida on the strength of a season-high four-game winning streak while the philadelphia phillies have seen their fortunes take a tumble with losses in four straight and six of eight overall. the marlins (11-18) aim for their first series sweep of the season on wednesday when they wrap up the three-game set versus the visiting phillies (16-13).

yadiel rivera celebrated his 26th birthday one day early with a walk-off single in the 10th inning of tuesday's 2-1 victory for miami, which has answered a miserable 3-15 stretch with wins in six of its last seven. justin bour belted a pinch-hit homer in the sixth inning and is expected to return to the starting lineup for the first time in five outings on wednesday after being plagued by back spasms. while the outlook has changed for a marlins' team with little expectation, the phillies' positive start has been dampened due in large part to an offense that has mustered just seven runs during the four-game skid. odubel herrera singled in the fourth inning to reach base safely for the 31st consecutive contest and is 4-for-8 in his career versus wednesday starter jose urena.

tv: 7:10 p.m. et, nbcs philadelphia, fs florida (miami)
pitching matchup: phillies rh aaron nola (3-1, 2.58 era) vs. marlins rh jose urena (0-4, 4.91)
nola recorded his fourth consecutive quality start and second straight victory by overcoming a bumpy start in which he allowed three runs in the first inning before tossing six scoreless frames the rest of the way in friday's 7-3 triumph against atlanta. the 24-year-old was taken to task by miami last season, posting a 1-3 mark with a gaudy 7.59 era and 1.59 whip while permitting the marlins to bat .308 against him. martin prado has fared well by going 3-for-9 versus nola, but the right-hander has flustered j.t. realmuto (1-for-11) and derek dietrich (2-for-12, five strikeouts).
after posting a 14-7 mark in 2017, urena's tough season in 2018 continued on friday as he was handed the hard-luck loss versus colorado despite yielding just one run on six hits over seven innings in a 1-0 setback. the 26-year-old dominican owns an 0-5 mark in eight starts since defeating the new york mets on sept. 20. urena pitched well in a pair of outings versus philadelphia last season, permitting three runs in a 7-4 triumph on aug. 22 before settling for a no-decision two weeks later despite allowing one run in seven innings.
walk-offs

1. philadelphia lf rhys hoskins' rbi double on tuesday is his lone hit in his last four games (1-for-15) after hitting safely in 12 of his previous 13 outings.
2. miami 2b starlin castro is 14-for-37 in his last 10 games.

3. phillies c jorge alfaro is 7-for-16 with two homers, five rbis and three runs scored in his last four contests.

prediction: phillies 4, marlins 2

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Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

1st May 2018 by Gracenote
a visit to the worst pitching staff in the majors was all it took to snap the milwaukee brewers out of a wretched offensive slump. after mustering only two runs in a four-game sweep at the chicago cubs, the brewers have a chance to close their nine-game road trip with a sweep of their own in wednesday night's series finale against the cincinnati reds.

travis shaw belted a two-run homer and jesús aguilar and hernan perez added solo shots as milwaukee followed up monday's 6-5 victory by holding on for a 7-6 win 24 hours later. the brewers have five homers and eight extra-base hits in the first two games of the series, including a two-run double by ryan braun that put them ahead for good tuesday. eugenio suarez homered and drove in three runs to give him seven rbis in the series for cincinnati, which matched its worst 30-game start in history (1931, 1934) by falling to 7-23. struggling reds right-hander luis castillo, whose lone win came at milwaukee on april 16 despite allowing four runs, will face left-hander wade miley on wednesday night.
tv: 7:10 p.m. et, fs wisconsin (milwaukee), fs ohio (cincinnati)
pitching matchup: brewers lh wade miley (2017: 8-15, 5.61 era) vs. reds rh luis castillo (1-3, 7.85)

miley signed a minor-league deal with milwaukee after finishing with a career-worst 15 defeats in 2017, including losses in all five starts in september. the 31-year-old, called up to take the rotation spot of brent suter, struck out 11 batters over six scoreless innings in his final rehab start at double-a. joey votto is 4-for-9 with a homer, double and two rbis versus miley, who is 3-2 with a 3.68 era against the reds.
castillo's ugly season hit a low point when he lasted only one inning last time out and was pummeled for five runs and six hits at minnesota while failing to strike out a batter for the first time. it also marked the first time castillo has failed to go five innings, although he has permitted at least three runs in each turn -- the last five away from home. he was 1-0 with a 1.98 era in two starts versus the brewers last season.
walk-offs

1. brewers rh jeremy jeffress had his 12th consecutive scoreless outing with 1 2/3 innings tuesday to earn his first save since 2016.

2. reds 2b rosell herrera collected his first career hit in place of scooter gennett, who grounded out as a pinch hitter tuesday.

3. brewers ss orlando arcia had three hits after going 1-for-15 in his previous five games.

prediction: brewers 6, reds 4

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New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

2nd May 2018 by Gracenote
after bouncing back from their first loss in more than a week, the new york yankees attempt to begin another winning streak when they visit the houston astros on wednesday for the third contest of their four-game series. new york dropped a 2-1 decision in the opener and was locked in a scoreless battle for eight innings on tuesday before scoring four times in the ninth for the victory.

gary sanchez provided the big blow, a three-run homer that helped lift the yankees to their 10th win in 11 contests. the 25-year-old sanchez, who went 2-for-4, has collected six rbis in his last four games and 14 in his past nine. houston managed only six hits as it fell to 4-4 on its 10-game homestand. jose altuve recorded one of them to extend his hitting streak to six games and give him at least one in 13 of his last 14 contests.
tv: 8:10 p.m. et, espn, yes (new york), at&t sportsnet southwest (houston)

pitching matchup: yankees rh luis severino (4-1, 2.61 era) vs. astros lh dallas keuchel (1-4, 4.00)

severino settled for a no-decision on the road against the los angeles angels on friday after allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings. the 24-year-old dominican yielded one run and four hits over 13 frames in his previous two turns - both victories. severino, who went 0-1 against houston in two starts during the american league championship series last year, owns an identical 0-1 regular-season record and an 8.38 era versus the astros in two starts and a relief appearance.
keuchel's seven-inning outing against oakland on friday was like two games in one as he retired the first 13 batters he faced but wound up with the loss as he finished having surrendered six runs and seven hits, including three homers. the 30-year-old former cy young award winner yielded a total of six runs in his previous three turns and hadn't given up more than three in any of his previous five outings this season. keuchel split a pair of decisions against new york in the 2017 alcs and is 4-2 with two complete games, a shutout and a sparkling 1.41 era in six career regular-season starts versus the yankees.
walk-offs
1. yankees lhp jordan montgomery left tuesday's start after one inning with elbow tightness and will return to new york to be evaluated by the team physician.

2. altuve has gone hitless in only four of his 31 games this season.

3. new york 1b tyler austin returned to the lineup tuesday after serving a four-game suspension and went 0-for-4.

prediction: astros 4, yankees 2

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Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

2nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the arizona diamondbacks are off to a 21-8 start for the first time in franchise history as they enter wednesday's home game against the los angeles dodgers. arizona has won the first two contests of the four-game series and has prevailed in seven of eight meetings with los angeles this season.

a.j. pollock belted his 10th shot of the season in tuesday's 4-3 victory after recording his first career three-homer performance a night earlier. the dodgers have fallen nine games behind the diamondbacks in the national league west with four straight losses and seven in eight games. los angeles registered just four hits in its latest setback, with chris taylor notching two and cody bellinger contributing a two-run homer. arizona star paul goldschmidt, who is mired in a 14-game home run drought, is 10-for-22 with two blasts and seven rbis against tuesday's scheduled starter hyun-jin ryu.
tv: 9:40 p.m. et, sportsnet la (los angeles), fs arizona

pitching matchup: dodgers lh hyun-jin ryu (3-0, 2.22 era) vs. diamondbacks rh zack godley (4-1, 3.81)
ryu settled for a no-decision in his last turn after giving up two runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings against san francisco. the 31-year-old has struck out 32 batters and walked only four over his last four outings and is holding opposing hitters to a .152 average. ryu is 3-3 with a 3.98 era in 11 career starts against arizona and struggled in a no-decision on april 2, when he yielded three runs on five hits and five walks in just 3 2/3 frames.

godley defeated washington in his last turn but was far from sharp, allowing four runs and 10 hits in five innings. the 27-year-old worked seven solid frames in each of his first two starts of the season but hasn't lasted more than 5 1/3 in any of his last three outings. godley is 1-1 with a 4.91 era in two starts against the dodgers this year and 2-2 with a 3.79 era in 10 career appearances (six starts).
walk-offs

1. dodgers 3b justin turner (wrist) had his expected rehab assignment pushed back, with the new projected start time being at some point next week.
2. arizona rhp brad boxberger recorded his 10th save on tuesday and has yet to squander an opportunity.

3. los angeles recalled lhp edward paredes from triple-a oklahoma city and optioned rhp brock stewart to the same club.

prediction: diamondbacks 7, dodgers 3

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Baltimore Orioles vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

2nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the los angeles angels halted their four-game slide in the series opener and look to post another victory when they host the baltimore orioles on wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. los angeles squandered a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning of tuesday's opener before justin upton singled home the decisive run in the bottom of the frame for a 3-2 victory.

the angels have won just four of their last 13 games after sprinting out to a 13-3 start and have slipped to third place in the american league west. albert pujols was hitless in four at-bats on tuesday, remaining four hits shy of 3,000 for his career, and is just 2-for-16 over his last four games. baltimore had slugger mark trumbo (quadriceps) in the lineup for the first time this season, and he was hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts. orioles star manny machado recorded two hits for the fourth time in his last five games to raise his major league-leading average to .366, but his club has dropped seven of its last nine contests.
tv: 10:07 p.m. et, masn2 (baltimore), fs west (los angeles)
pitching matchup: orioles rh dylan bundy (1-3, 2.97 era) vs. angels lh andrew heaney (0-1, 6.91)

bundy was torched in a loss to tampa bay in his last turn as he allowed eight runs - seven earned - and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings. the 25-year-old had been superb over his first five outings, giving up just five earned runs during the stretch and yielding five hits or fewer on four occasions. bundy is 1-0 with a 6.48 era in two career appearances (one start) against the angels and has struggled with mike trout (3-for-4, homer).
heaney allowed two runs - one earned - and five hits in five innings of a no-decision against the new york yankees in his last turn. the 26-year-old struck out nine batters, the second-best total in his career, and has fanned 22 in just 14 1/3 frames this season. heaney owns a 7.59 era in two career starts against baltimore and has experienced issues with machado (3-for-6, homer).
walk-offs

1. orioles c chance sisco departed tuesday's game in the seventh inning after colliding with 3b pedro alvarez and receiving an elbow in the face as both players pursued a foul pop-up.

2. los angeles placed kenyan middleton (elbow) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled fellow rhp eduardo paredes from triple-a salt lake.

3. in addition to activating trumbo, baltimore also placed inf luis sardinas (back) on the disabled list, optioned of joey rickard to norfolk and recalled inf engelb vielma from the triple-a affiliate.

prediction: orioles 5, angels 3

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Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 05-02-2018

2nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the seattle mariners look to continue their winning ways at the expense of a division rival as they host the oakland athletics on wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. seattle has won three in a row and six of its last seven after posting a 6-3 victory in the series opener.

dee gordon went 5-for-5 with two stolen bases while nelson cruz belted a three-run homer for the mariners, who won two of three against oakland at home in mid-april. the athletics registered only four hits en route to their third consecutive defeat, which dropped them to 3-4 on their nine-game road trip. jed lowrie hit a solo homer in the setback, giving him at least one rbi in 11 of his last 15 games. mark canha has recorded a hit in 11 of his last 12 contests after delivering an rbi single on tuesday,
tv: 10:10 p.m. et, nbcs california (oakland), root northwest (seattle)

pitching matchup: athletics lh brett anderson (2017: 4-4, 6.34 era) vs. mariners lh james paxton (1-1, 5.12)

anderson will be brought up from triple-a nashville to make his season debut as he begins the second tour of duty with oakland. the 30-year-old texan, who spent his first five years in the majors with the athletics, split last campaign between toronto and the chicago cubs. anderson owns an 8-4 record and 1.90 era in 15 career starts and one relief appearance against seattle.
paxton has not lost since his season debut against cleveland on march 31, but he has recorded just one victory in five starts during the stretch. the 29-year-old canadian is coming off a no-decision at cleveland on thursday in which he allowed two runs and five hits while registering a career high-tying 10 strikeouts in six innings. paxton has yet to lose to the athletics, going 3-0 with a 3.96 era in six career starts.
walk-offs

1. athletics ss marcus semien has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.

2. the mariners placed rhps erasmo ramirez and dan altavilla on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder injuries on tuesday and recalled of guillermo heredia and rhp casey lawrence from triple-a tacoma.
3. oakland and seattle will begin next season with a two-game series in tokyo, with the athletics serving as the home team in both contests.

prediction: mariners 7, athletics 3

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Mike Wynn

Free Play: Free Pittsburgh/Washington Under 7½ Runs

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Free Selection from Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Wednesday, May 2, 2018

5/02 07:10 PM PT / 10:10 PM ET

MLB (927) OAKLAND ATHLETICS VS (928) SEATTLE MARINERS

Take: OVER

Reason: Your free play for Wednesday, May 2, 2018 is in the MLB scheduled contest between the Oakland A's and the Seattle Mariners. Take the OVER.

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Jeff Allen Sports

Wednesday's Free Selection is on the Vegas Golden Knights

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Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR WEDNESDAY: Take LA ANGELS (Heaney) -145 over Baltimore

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Totals4U

Wednesday's Free Selection: Baltimore Orioles/Los Angeles Angels over 8 1/2