Thursday 8-9-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**swaminator** · 08-08-2018, 12:56 PM

Marc Lawrence NFLX Free Play! - Thursday

Play - Cincinnati Bengals (Game 254).
Edges - Bengals : 6-2 SUATS Home One of the preseason; and revenge from 33-7 loss as 6-point favorites during the regular season last year … Bears: 3-7 ATS Game One preseason. With that we recommend a 1* play on Cincinnati. Thank you and good luck as always.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:03 AM

Browns vs. Giants Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 6th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/06/2018

Thursday night's pre-season NFL slate brings together the teams that had the first two picks in the draft.

One of the teams, the Cleveland Browns, aren't looking for something from their top pick, the #1 overall, until some point down the road. The other team, the New York Giants, not only expect returns immediately from their rookie, they are hoping that he will be a transformative player for them.

Both franchises could use a turnaround. But the Browns are the side that went winless last season. They posted the second 0-16 ledger in league history (4-12 against the number), then went about making some adjustments to their front office, bringing in John Dorsey, who had been the general manager with the Kansas City Chiefs. They've also made several player acquisitions that have fans looking forward with genuine optimism.

The Giants made the playoffs in 2016, then saw things go all the way downhill last year, with a 3-13 record (7-9 ATS). Ben McAdoo went from an offensive guru to someone who "lost the locker room," and an injury to Odell Beckham Jr. did not help. The unthinkable even happened, as Eli Manning took a seat for one game. Nothing was managed well, and Dave Gettleman, the former GM in Carolina, has taken control, even as he is involved in a battle with cancer.

The pre-season opener for both teams takes place on Thursday night at 7 PM ET at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.

TV: 7 PM ET, NFL Network. LINE: Giants -2.5. O/U: 34.5

ABOUT THE BROWNS: Hue Jackson was retained as head coach, and even though Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield was the #1 pick in the draft, he is adamant that Tyrod Taylor, acquired from Buffalo, is his quarterback of the here and now. The receiver corps may be a little thin, as Corey Coleman was traded to Buffalo, and Josh Gordon has been in Florida, receiving treatment for anxiety and substance abuse issues. The team made a bold off-season move in picking up Jarvis Landry, who was the NFL's leading pass-catcher with the Miami Dolphins last year, and they are impressed with what they've seen out of fourth-round draft pick Antonio Callaway. There has been a lingering question as to who is going to protect the quarterback's blind side, with All-Pro Joe Thomas having retired. Shon Coleman was slated for the left tackle role, but he has stumbled in camp, so Joel Bitonio has been moved outside from guard, with rookie Austin Corbett stepping into the void he left. Jackson is mourning the loss of his mother and brother, both of whom have passed away in the last two weeks.

ABOUT THE GIANTS: Saquon Barkley, the rookie running back from Penn State, has the potential to completely change the Giants' offense, because of the fact that he can line up in the backfield, split out wide, or go in the slot. As for Beckham, he appears to be healthy less than a year after breaking his ankle, but he is very interested in getting together with the team on a long-term contract. He is "optimistic" that will happen, and even though it is not inked just yet, he is still participating in training camp drills. There are a lot of eyes on Evan Engram in camp. The Giants' second-year tight end led the team with 64 catches last year, but also dropped eleven, more than anyone else at his position. New head coach Pat Shurmur is doing some shuffling around on the offensive line for the spots that have not been solidified. Nate Solder is now installed at left tackle, and rookie Will Hernandez is at one of the guard positions. But right tackle could be a mess, as Ereck Flowers is lacking, John Jerry may not fit in, and other options are shaky. Backup tackles Chad Wheeler and Nick Becton have reportedly not looked good in drills. Cornerback depth is also an area where there has been a great deal of uncertainty. There is a revolving door of guys in and out of camp, and everyone, including special teams ace Michael Thomas, seems to be battling for the free safety job.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Shurmur was the head coach of the Browns in 2011 and 2012, compiling a 9-23 record. He has brought Mike Shula, son of Hall of Famer Don Shula, aboard as the offensive coordinator.

2. The Browns, despite their 0-16 regular season record, were 4-0, both straight-up and against the spread, in the pre-season slate last year. In 2016, however, they were 0-4 SU and ATS in exhibition games.

3. For the Giants, Davis Webb is the backup QB, with heady rookie Kyle Lauletta (Richmond) also in the queue, and the team just signed Alex Tanney, who is with his eighth different team and, unlike Webb or Lauletta, has actually thrown some regular season NFL passes (14, to be exact).

PREDICTION: Browns 17, Giants 16

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:03 AM

Steelers vs. Eagles Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 6th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/06/2018

The Pittsburgh Steelers are transitioning a little, and they know, that to make another trip back to the Super Bowl, not only will they have to overcome a formidable bunch like the New England Patriots, but also the Jacksonville Jaguars, who beat them twice last season, including a playoff game.

For the Philadelphia Eagles, the challenge is a bit different, because they are the defending Super Bowl champions, and thus, they have a target on their backs. There are several teams in the NFC, including the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, who like to think they have improved themselves enough to mount a charge for the conference title.

Preseason NFL Previews and Predictions

And then there is that matter of whether Philadelphia's quarterback will be ready for the regular season.

This "Battle of Pennsylvania" is slated to take place at 7 PM ET on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field in the City of Brotherly Love.

TV: Local coverage, NFL Network (Replay). LINE: Eagles -3 O/U: 35

ABOUT THE STEELERS: Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has left for the same position with the Cleveland Browns, and so Randy Fichtner was elevated from quarterback coach to the coordinator job. His rapport with Ben Roethlisberger is excellent, but there are some observers who wonder whether there is enough healthy "friction" to really create a great dynamic, as there was with Haley. That won't be a big factor here, as Landry Jones is likely to make the start in this first pre-season game. Jones was 25-for-37 with one touchdown pass in last year's pre-season, and 41 of 59 (68.5%) with four INT's in the 2016 exhibition slate. He's got five NFL regular season starts. This will also be the coming-out party for Mason Rudolph, the former Oklahoma State quarterback who may find himself on the field to throw passes to former college teammate James Washington, who was a second-round draft pick and had 4,462 receiving yards in his OSU career. Joshua Dobbs is another quarterback on hand; this dual threat had 38 completions in 64 attempts with six sacks and a rushing touchdown in the 2017 pre-season. If you were hoping to see running back Le'Veon Bell in this game, forget it. The rushing-receiving star, who had 1946 yards from scrimmage last season, has been given the franchise tag and is not expected to sign his tender until right before the regular season opener.

ABOUT THE EAGLES: The official word on Carson Wentz is that the Eagles are being cautious with him. The quarterback, who suffered a season-ending knee injury not long before the Eagles made their Super Bowl run, has not been participating in 11-on-11 drills and it is a real possibility that he won't play at all in the pre-season. He's insisted that he could be ready for Week 1 even without any pre-season snaps. Nick Foles, who proved himself to be more than just an insurance policy as he rambled to the Super Bowl MVP award, may not see a lot of pre-season action either. Nate Sudfeld, who was 33-of-56 in the 2017 pre-season, as well as Joe Callahan, a South Jersey kid (Cape May Courthouse) who is with his fourth NFL team, and won a roster spot with Green Bay in 2016 with a strong pre-season (54-of-88, 3 TD's). Offensive coordinator Mike Groh, who took the place of Frank Reich (now the head coach for Indianapolis) says that left tackle Jason Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowler who had both ACL and MCL surgery, is looking as good as ever and that the knee is a "non-issue" right now. Sidney Jones, who came in the second round of the 2017 draft from the University of Washington, missed all of training camp last year, but he is turning heads and may have a chance to snag one of the starting cornerback spots. In his two years as an NFL head coach, Doug Pederson is 6-2 straight-up and 5-3 against the spread in the pre-season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Pittsburgh linebacker Bud Dupree was recently removed from practice and had to be placed in the concussion protocol. The fourth-year pro out of Kentucky was a first-round draft pick in 2015.

2. Callahan played his college ball at Wesley, a Division II school in Delaware, and was the first D-3 quarterback to top 5000 passing yards for a season. That brought him the Gagliardi Trophy, which is Division III's equivalent of the Heisman.

3. Joshua Dobbs may be fighting for a spot on the Steelers' roster, but he doesn't have any problem digesting the schematics of the team's playbook. Dobbs graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in aerospace engineering and a 4.0 grade-point average.

PREDICTION: Steelers 20, Eagles 17

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:03 AM

Redskins vs. Patriots Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 6th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/06/2018

The Washington Redskins have gone through much of the last two seasons wondering who their quarterback was going to be in 2018, because of the uncertainty surrounding Kirk Cousins and his pending free agency. Ultimately, they didn't prevent Cousins from going and signing for the big, big bucks with the Minnesota Vikings, and may have actually upgraded themselves at the QB spot.

The New England Patriots didn't need any quarterback upgrades, although they may, in time, be sorry that they traded Jimmy Garoppolo away to San Francisco. When will the defending AFC champions have to go through that "transitional" phase? Well, probably not as long as Tom Brady is the starter behind center.

These teams are set to meet up in Thursday night NFL pre-season action, kicking off at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

TV: 7:30 PM ET, Local coverage and NFL Network (Replay). LINE: Patriots -3. O/U: 37

ABOUT THE REDSKINS: Washington, which was 7-9, both straight-up and against the number, in the 2017 season, made a deal with Kansas City to bring Alex Smith aboard. He should fit just fine into Jay Gruden's offense. And he led the NFL in passing efficiency last season. Cousins got his 4000 yards last year but what he did was not altogether inspiring without guru Sean McVay running the offense. One of the things people have noticed is that Smith developed chemistry very quickly with Josh Doctson, a former first-round pick who has not realized his upside yet, and Paul Richardson, a new acquisition who has come over form the Seattle Seahawks. Colt McCoy and Kevin Hogan are the other quarterbacks on the depth chart. There is a battle at the running back spot, as Rob Kelley wants to be the featured guy. That task is going to be difficult, as the Redskins feel they drafted a first-round talent when they got Derrius Guice with the 59th overall pick. Guice had a bump interview process and was slapped with a "questionable character" tag, which caused him to slip. But a number of people believe he's even better than Leonard Fournette, his LSU teammate who went to Jacksonville in the first round last season. Let's not forget Samaje Perine, the Oklahoma product who once set the one-game NCAA record for rushing yards but was very flat as a rookie. The Redskins are priced at +425 to win the NFC East, which puts them behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. They are also +5500 to win the Super Bowl.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS: One of the things the Pats (13-3 SU, 7-9 ATS last season) wanted to address during this training camp was the left tackle position since Nate Solder departed for the New York Giants. They have two candidates for the spot in first-round pick Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown, who was acquired from San Francisco. There had been some anxiety at the wide receiver position for some Patriots fans, as Julian Edelman is suspended for the first four games, while Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks left for other teams. Jordan Matthews, who came from Buffalo in the off-season, injured his hamstring and was cut. So was Malcolm Mitchell, who missed last year with a knee injury. So newcomers will have to carry some of the load. One of them, Cordarelle Patterson, has been to the Pro Bowl before, but as a kick returner. Phillip Dorsett, who the Pats acquired on the eve of the 2017 season, is in his first camp with the team. Braxton Berrios, a sixth-round pick, could be a real sleeper, as he is a "smurf" in the Edelman/Amendola mold. Eric Decker, the veteran who can still be useful, was just signed. As usual, Brady is expected to make it work, regardless of who his set of receivers is. Sony Michel, a first-round pick out of Georgia, has been struggling with a knee problem, which happened to be a concern on the part of some teams when he was being scouted. The report is that he should be ready for the start of the season, but he will miss at least a couple of these pre-season contests. The Patriots are the Super Bowl favorites this season at +600 and they are -625 to win the AFC East.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Redskin left tackle Trent Williams, who has been named to six Pro Bowls but is coming off knee surgery, is in camp and doing just fine. However, Gruden has termed him "doubtful" for this particular game.

2. In four seasons as an NFL head coach, Gruden has posted a straight-up record of 11-5 and an ATS mark of 10-6 in the pre-season. Belichick is 49-44 straight-up and 43-43-6 ATS.

3. After finishing next to last in the NFL in third-down conversions last season, Gruden decided that he would institute more contact in practices early on, in order to make things more physical than they have usually been in his camps.

PREDICTION: Washington 20, Patriots 17

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:03 AM

Cowboys vs. 49ers Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 7th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/07/2018

Things looked pretty dismal for the San Francisco 49ers nine games into the 2017 season, as they were still looking for their first victory. They had been fortunate enough to be able to swing a deal with the New England Patriots to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo, who looked very much like the guy Tom Brady was going to pass the torch to when he hung the cleats up. But Garoppolo was entering the final year of his rookie contract and was not necessarily patient. He found a new home, studied the playbook carefully, entered the lineup, and the Niners have not lost since.

That's why there is so much optimism around camp this summer. The 49ers won the last five games of the season with Jimmy G taking snaps, and then he signed a long-term deal to stick around. Team management, which includes former All-Pro safety John Lynch, dedicated much of the off-season to giving their quarterback more weaponry to work with. And there are a number of people expecting this team to at least be in the running for a wild-card spot.

National Football League Preseason Previews and Predictions

The Dallas Cowboys may have been involved in the post-season had they not had to endure the six-game suspension of star running back Ezekiel Elliott. They have had to say goodbye to veteran tight end Jason Witten. And they are still dealing with the controversy that resulted from releasing wide receiver Dez Bryant. But they are excited about some of their additions and hope that they have enough defense to complement the ground attack and a passing game that may rely quite a bit on newcomers.

The 49ers and Cowboys will meet up on Thursday night at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, in the pre-season opener for both teams.

TV: 10 PM ET. NFL Network. LINE: Niners -3.5 O/U: 35

ABOUT THE COWBOYS: With the departure of Bryant, Dallas, which was 9-7 straight-up and 8-7-1 against the number last season, is in the process of sorting itself out at wide receiver. Allen Burns was a productive pass-catcher with Jacksonville - when healthy. Lately, he's been dealing with a strained groin. Deonte Thompson, another free agent pickup, is sidelined. The Cowboys are hoping that third-round pick Michael Gallup out of Colorado State can catch on quickly. They are encouraged at what they have seen so far out of Tavon Austin, who was employed as a hybrid running back/wide receiver by the Rams but has underachieved as a wideout in his NFL career. Somewhere in all of this, they hope to find answers. The Cowboys are still unsure as to how they will use third-year linebacker Jaylon Smith, but they will use him nonetheless. Smith, who hurt his knee in his final collegiate game for Notre Dame but got picked in the first round anyway, sat out a season, then came back rather slowly last year. But this season defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli may elect to blitz more, and Smith says that is a very natural way for him to be deployed. The Cowboys are priced at +375 to win the NFC East and +2000 to win Super Bowl 53.

ABOUT THE NINERS: San Francisco, which ended the season 6-10 straight-up and 10-6 against the number, has had to fiddle around with its offensive line and so it is not a finished product yet. But rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey, the first-round pick out of Notre Dame, looks like he may be a fixture for years to come. However, it has been noted that he has some ground to make up when it comes to pass blocking. Losing Carlos Hyde out of the backfield was not tragic, as far as head coach Kyle Shanahan was concerned. He liked Jarick McKinnon enough to make the former Minnesota Viking the third highest-paid running back in the league. And when you're paying that kind of money, it's not for a "situational" performer. And there have been raves about the athleticism of the second-round draft pick, wide receiver Dante Pettis of Washington. The most notable addition to the defense is, of course, Richard Sherman, the former All-Pro cornerback who was with the Seattle Seahawks, and saw his 2017 campaign ended with an injury to his Achilles tendon. The jury is still out on him, though; he's been burned a few times in camp and is now sidelined for at least another week with a hamstring injury. The Niners are priced at +200 to win the NFC West and +1750 to emerge victorious in the Super Bowl.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has mentioned that the tackling technique he has been teaching his players, going back to last year, will give them the edge when it comes to staying clean with regard to the NFL's new helmet rule. I’ve been exposed to it for the last eight years. "People in the rugby world have tackled without helmets for years and we’ve been teaching that style of tackling..."

2. One of the reserve quarterbacks to keep an eye on is rookie Mike White, who threw for over 8500 yards the last two seasons at Western Kentucky before being taken by Dallas in the fifth round. There were some scouts who thought he might eventually become a starter in the NFL.

3. San Francisco linebacker Reuben Foster, their first-round pick in the 2017 Draft, is suspended for the first two regular-season games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, but he is eligible to practice and take part in pre-season games.

PREDICTION: 49ers 17, Cowboys 10

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:04 AM

Edmonton Eskimos vs. BC Lions Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in CFL

CFL Previews 6th August 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 08/06/2018

The visiting Edmonton Eskimos look to extend their winning streak to four games when they face the BC Lions on Thursday. The Eskimos were able to grind out a 26-19 victory against Saskatchewan Roughriders to stay within striking distance of the first-place Calgary Stampeders and hope to continue their winning ways by knocking off the Lions for the fifth consecutive time.

Edmonton has won six straight games against West Division rivals, including a 41-22 victory against BC in Week 3, and can pull within two points of the unbeaten Stampeders with another victory. BC dropped its fourth consecutive road game following a 27-18 defeat to Calgary in Week 8 to remain in the West Division basement. The Lions have lost 10 of their last 14 games against division rivals since the start of the 2017 season and hope to avoid falling further out of the playoff picture by beating the Eskimos for the first time since a 26-23 victory on Aug.6, 2015. "We can't wallow on this loss," BC quarterback Travis Lulay told reporters. "We have to make a focused effort to be better."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (5-2): Mike Reilly threw for a season-low 257 yards and a touchdown against Saskatchewan, but moved past Bernie Foley (24,264) for 20th place on the CFL's all-time passing list with 24,383. "I missed a fair amount of throws that I normally hit and that made the game tougher than it could have been," Reilly admitted to reporters. "It was a game where our mental toughness was tested and we made the plays we had to." Derel Walker had a big night as he caught six passes for 154 yards and a touchdown against the Roughriders while Duke Williams was limited to two catches for 41 yards to see his streak of consecutive 100-yard receiving games end at five in a row.

ABOUT THE LIONS (2-4): Jeremiah Johnson rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown against the Stampeders after missing the previous game with an ankle issue while backup running backs Chris Rainey (ankle) and Brandon Rutley (knee) sat out because of injury. Bryan Burnham hauled in seven passes for 76 yards and his first touchdown of the season while Manny Arceneaux finished with three receptions for 53 yards against Calgary to surpass 8,000 receiving yards for his career (8,002). Travon Van racked up 180 return yards on his season debut after missing the first five games while taking care of his ailing mother in San Diego.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Edmonton has won seven of the last eight meetings with BC.

2. Reilly leads the league in passing yards (2,320) and total touchdowns (20).

3. The Lions have failed to score more than 20 points in three of their last four games.

PREDICTION: Lions 30, Eskimos 27

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:04 AM

Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 8th August 2018 by Gracenote
Braves vs. Nationals Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/08/2018

Ronald Acuna arrived in the majors as one of the most heralded prospects in recent memory, and the Atlanta Braves outfielder enters Thursday's series finale at the Washington Nationals off the biggest performance of his young big-league career. Acuna displayed the tools that made scouts salivate in Wednesday's 8-3 victory, outrunning a pickoff throw for a stolen base, belting a 452-foot homer and snagging Matt Adams' would-be homer at the top of the center field fence.

The Braves have captured two of the first three contests in the series, pulling within one-half game of Philadelphia for first place in the National League East as Charlie Culberson belted his third homer of the series and his fifth of the year against the Nationals. Washington entered the series as winners of eight of 11 contests, but wakes up Thursday sitting 5 ½ games behind the Braves in the division and desperate to salvage a series split. Outfielder Bryce Harper lined his 28th homer into the left-field seats in the sixth for the Nationals, and enters the series finale hitting .339 with five homers and 17 RBIs since the All-Star break. Washington third baseman Anthony Rendon collected three hits Wednesday and is batting .317 in his past nine games.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Facebook-Watch

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (6-3, 2.89 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-8, 4.04)

Sanchez is one of the reasons the Braves are contending for a playoff spot, considering the spring-training signee enters Thursday with the lowest WHIP (1.06) and third-lowest ERA of his 13-year career. The 34-year-old held the New York Mets to one run on two hits over six innings Friday with a season-high nine strikeouts - the sixth-consecutive start he has worked at least six frames. Sanchez is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Nationals in 2018.

Gonzalez, a steady piece of the Nationals rotation since 2012, has struggled mightily since beginning the season 6-2. The 32-year-old is winless in his past 11 starts, posting a 6.37 ERA with nine homers allowed in 53 2/3 innings, and opponents are hitting .303 with a .871 OPS in that span. Gonzalez is 5-11 with a 5.04 ERA lifetime against the Braves, and gave up three runs with nine strikeouts over seven innings in his lone appearance against Atlanta this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. After scoring eight runs in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, the Nationals are 1-for-21 with runners in scoring position the past two games with 18 runners left on base.

2. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman drove in a run with a seventh-inning single and is hitting .325 during his 10-game hitting streak.

3. Washington placed RHP Kelvin Herrera (right rotator cuff impingement) on the disabled list Wednesday and recalled RHP Koda Glover from Triple-A Syracuse.

PREDICTION: Braves 6, Nationals 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:04 AM

Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Indians Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 8th August 2018 by Gracenote
Twins vs. Indians Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/08/2018

Francisco Lindor has another highlight to add to an already memorable season and looks to finish off a red-hot series with a big effort when his Cleveland Indians host the Minnesota Twins on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their four-game set. Lindor launched a three-run, walk-off homer in the ninth inning Wednesday to give the American League Central-leading Indians a 5-2 victory and is 6-for-14 with two blasts in the series.

The All-Star shortstop is riding a six-game hitting streak during which he has gone 10-for-25 and is one shot shy of recording back-to-back 30-homer campaigns after improving his season average to .297 with his fourth straight two-hit performance. Corey Kluber, who is 8-3 with a 2.01 ERA in 13 home starts this year, looks to toss his second straight shutout when he takes the mound for Cleveland against Minnesota ace Jose Berrios on Thursday. The Twins have won eight of 15 meetings with the Indians this season but sit 10 games back in the AL Central after going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position on Wednesday. Miguel Sano homered and doubled for Minnesota in the setback and is 10-for-29 with six walks, four RBIs and seven runs scored over his last nine contests.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (11-8, 3.51 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (14-6, 2.63)

Berrios has posted four quality starts in his last six outings, including Saturday's turn in which he limited Kansas City to two runs over seven innings en route to victory. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican has permitted fewer than three runs in seven of his last 11 outings, going 5-3 with eight quality starts in that stretch. Edwin Encarnacion is just 1-for-9 but has homered against Berrios, who is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts versus Cleveland this year.

Kluber registered his first shutout of the season and the seventh of his career on Saturday, when he held the Los Angeles Angels to three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. The 32-year-old native of Alabama has given up one run over 16 1/3 innings in his last two starts after going winless in the previous three. Joe Mauer is 16-for-54 with two homers and five doubles versus Kluber, who is 9-6 with a 3.36 ERA in 21 career starts against the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota INF Logan Forsythe is 9-for-20 with three RBIs during his six-game hitting streak after going 0-for-1 in his team debut on Aug. 1.

2. Cleveland CF Leonys Martin, who has gone 5-for-15 with two homers since being acquired from Detroit, sat out Wednesday due to illness.

3. Twins MGR Paul Molitor needs one win to pass Frank Quilici (280) for fifth place on the club's all-time list.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Twins 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:04 AM

San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 9th August 2018 by Gracenote
Padres vs. Brewers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/09/2018

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off a stellar power display as they look to win the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon. Five different players homered - tying a franchise record - as the Brewers recorded an 8-4 victory on Wednesday.

Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames hit consecutive homers in the first inning while Orlando Arcia and Christian Yelich went deep later in the contest as Milwaukee climbed within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. Aguilar has homered in each of the first two games of the series and is tied for third in the National League with 28 blasts. San Diego is 3-3 entering the finale of its seven-game road trip and has scored 27 runs in the three triumphs. Hunter Renfroe has homered in three straight contests for the Padres and is 9-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Robbie Erlin (2-3, 3.34 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Junior Guerra (6-7, 3.42)

Erlin is making his second straight start and fourth of the campaign. The 27-year-old defeated the Cubs on August 2 as he gave up one run and two hits over five innings. Erlin allowed two runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings of relief against the Brewers on March 31 in his lone career appearance versus the club.

Guerra has gone 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA while serving up five home runs over this last four turns. The 33-year-old won three straight outings prior to the funk and is holding opponents to a .233 batting average this season. Guerra is 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three career starts versus the Padres.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 1B Eric Hosmer is mired in an 18-game home-run drought.

2. Milwaukee CF Lorenzo Cain has recorded two or more hits in all five games versus San Diego this season, going 12-for-24 with six runs scored, four stolen bases, four doubles and three RBIs.

3. San Diego is expected to recall RHP Jacob Nix to start Friday's game against Philadelphia.

PREDICTION: Brewers 7, Padres 5

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:04 AM

Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 9th August 2018 by Gracenote
Rangers vs. Yankees Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/09/2018

The New York Yankees recovered nicely from a disastrous series against their bitter rivals and hope to continue trending in the right direction when they host the Texas Rangers on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. After enduring a four-game sweep in Boston, the Yankees traveled to Chicago and reversed their fortunes, taking all three meetings with the White Sox.

Giancarlo Stanton highlighted a six-run second inning with his sixth career grand slam - and first since April 18, 2014 while with Miami - as New York rolled to a 7-3 victory on Wednesday. Stanton recorded only three hits in the series against Chicago, but two were home runs for the American League wild card-leading Yankees, who are nine games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. Texas is coming off its ninth win in 12 games, an 11-7 triumph over Seattle on Wednesday that featured a 19-hit attack - with every player in the lineup recording at least one. Joey Gallo was one of three Rangers to collect three hits as he went deep twice for his seventh career multi-homer performance and third this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (2-1, 4.02 ERA) vs. Yankees LH J.A. Happ (11-6, 4.05)

Jurado seeks his third consecutive victory as he makes his fourth major-league start after being recalled from Double-A Frisco. The 22-year-old Panamanian allowed two runs and six hits over five innings against Baltimore on Friday after limiting host Houston to one run and two hits in six frames on July 28. Jurado has made 16 starts for the RoughRiders this season, going 5-3 with one complete game - a shutout - and a 3.28 ERA.

Happ is expected to return from the disabled list, where he landed after contracting hand, foot and mouth disease, to make his second start since being acquired from Toronto. The 35-year-old native of Illinois was superb in his debut with the Yankees on July 29, allowing one run - a solo homer - and three hits over six innings in a win over Kansas City. Happ is 4-2 with a 2.97 ERA in six career starts versus Texas after giving up two runs and five hits over seven frames in a victory on April 29 while with the Blue Jays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus is riding a 19-game hitting streak during which he has gone 29-for-84 with six doubles, two triples, two homers and 12 RBIs.

2. Stanton is three homers away from reaching 30 for the fifth time in his nine major-league seasons.

3. Texas OF Nomar Mazara (thumb) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Rangers 4

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:04 AM

Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 9th August 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 08/09/2018

The Boston Red Sox have a chance to pick up their second straight sweep and 12th overall when they wrap up a three-game set at the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. After a stirring four-game sweep of the rival New York Yankees at home, the Red Sox have produced 20 runs, 21 hits and 13 walks while claiming the first two games in Toronto.

Rafael Devers homered in his return from the disabled list and J.D. Martinez added to his American League-leading hits total (138) with three more and an RBI in Wednesday's 10-5 triumph. Xander Bogaerts chipped in three RBIs for first-place Boston, which improved to 39-19 on the road, 55-7 when scoring first and 58-9 when scoring at least five runs, something it has done four times during its six-game winning streak. Justin Smoak has been one of the Blue Jays' few bright spots of late and he had three hits Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 12, the longest streak by a Toronto player this year. Rick Porcello is coming off his 10th career complete game and will try to duplicate the performance when he gets the start for the Red Sox on Thursday opposite lefty Ryan Borucki.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (14-4, 3.84 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (1-2, 2.30)

Porcello limited the Yankees to one hit - a solo home run - while striking out nine in his dominant win at home Friday night. He is 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA in three starts since he was lit up by Toronto (eight runs in two innings) at Fenway Park on July 13. That continued Porcello's career-long struggles versus the Blue Jays, against whom he has a 5.26 ERA in 24 games (23 starts).

Borucki has not allowed an earned run in two of his last three starts, including an eight-inning gem at Seattle on Friday. He has an ERA of 0.90 over the three-start stretch, during which the 24-year-old has walked just one batter in 20 innings. The surge began after Borucki gave up seven runs (four earned) in three frames opposite Porcello last month in Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox optioned INF Tony Renda to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Devers.

2. Smoak is batting .353 during his 12-game hitting streak.

3. Martinez is 13-for-28 with two homers and nine RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:04 AM

Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 9th August 2018 by Gracenote
Orioles vs. Rays Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/09/2018

Mark Trumbo has stepped up since trades took two major threats from the Baltimore Orioles' lineup, and the 32-year-old slugger looks to extend his hitting streak to 11 games Thursday in the rubber match of the three-game series against the host Tampa Bay Rays. Trumbo has gone 15-for-40 with four homers and 13 RBIs during his streak, most of it without the traded Jonathan Schoop in the lineup and all of it since star Manny Machado was dealt.

Trumbo joined Adam Jones and Tim Beckham in going deep Wednesday before the Orioles rallied for two runs in the ninth inning to post a 5-4 victory that evened the set at a win apiece and gave them an 8-7 lead in the season series. Rookie David Hess has allowed three runs over 13 2/3 innings against the Rays this year, notching his only two wins, and will take the mound Thursday opposite Tampa Bay reliever Hunter Wood. The Rays have dropped four of their last five contests - all by a single run - and left the potential tying run on third base in the ninth inning to fall back to .500. Tampa Bay's Joey Wendle recorded a pair of hits Wednesday and is 8-for-20 with four RBIs this month.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH David Hess (2-6, 6.41 ERA) vs. Rays RH Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.22)

Hess is winless in his last nine outings, including Friday's loss at Texas in which he surrendered seven runs - five earned - and six hits over 3 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old native of Tennessee won two of his first three starts this season but is 0-5 with a 7.50 ERA during his winless streak. Wendle is 4-for-5 and Matt Duffy has homered versus Hess, who has gone 1-3 with a 6.61 ERA on the road during his rookie campaign.

Wood will open the game with an inning or two for the sixth time this year after permitting one run on two hits and two walks over 1 2/3 frames in that role Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. The 24-year-old from Arkansas has posted a 2.16 ERA over 8 1/3 innings in his first five starts, giving up eight hits while registering 15 strikeouts. Austin Wynns homered on July 29 against Wood, who has yielded two runs over 3 1/3 frames versus the Orioles this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays have played the most one-run games in the majors this season, going 21-27 in those contests.

2. Jones, who is just 5-for-24 with one RBI this month, needs one double to reach 300 with the Orioles.

3. Tampa Bay OF Mallex Smith has gone 6-for-13 over his last three contests to raise his average to .298.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Orioles 4

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:05 AM

Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 8th August 2018 by Gracenote
Mariners vs. Astros Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/08/2018

The Houston Astros essentially have run roughshod over the competition in their quest to repeat as World Series champions, however the American League West front-runners have failed to solve the mystery that is Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton. "The Big Maple" carries a 3-0 mark with a slim 0.87 ERA in three starts against the host Astros this season into the opener of a four-game series on Thursday.

Seattle surely could benefit from some solid pitching after surrendering 11 runs in back-to-back losses to Texas to fall to 2-7 in its last nine outings. Mike Zunino went deep twice in Wednesday's 11-7 loss to give him three homers among his five hits with four runs scored in his last two contests, although he is 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts versus Thursday starter Justin Verlander. Houston received sterling pitching performances in all eight contests of its just-completed road trip, with wins in six of its last seven overall. The Astros are also flexing their muscles at the plate, with 13 homers in their last eight games - including Tyler White's two-run shot in the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory at San Francisco on Tuesday.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH James Paxton (9-5, 3.51 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (11-6, 2.19)

Paxton silenced the Astros at Safeco Field on July 30, surrendering three hits while striking out eight over seven solid innings in a 2-0 win to improve to 6-3 with a 2.59 ERA in his career versus Houston. The 29-year-old British Columbia native has permitted 15 hits with 21 strikeouts against four walks in 20 2/3 frames against the Astros this season. Paxton fell to 1-3 in his last four starts despite yielding three runs on eight hits in seven innings of a 5-1 setback versus Toronto on Saturday.

Verlander is bidding for his 200th career win on the heels of matching his career high with 14 strikeouts while allowing one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings of Friday's 2-1 triumph at the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner has surrendered two or fewer runs in three straight starts and five of his last six. Verlander will be making his first start this season versus Seattle, against which he owns a 12-8 mark with a 3.01 ERA in 24 career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston LF Marwin Gonzalez, who has gone deep four times in his last six outings overall, is 9-for-28 with two homers and five RBIs versus Seattle this season.

2. Mariners RHP Sam Tuivailala strained his right Achilles tendon while attempting to execute a rundown on Wednesday.

3. Astros SS Carlos Correa, who has been sidelined since late June with a lower-back injury, is expected to be activated for this series, per manager A.J. Hinch.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Mariners 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-09-2018, 09:05 AM

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies Preview and Predictions 08-09-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 9th August 2018 by Gracenote
Dodgers vs. Rockies Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/09/2018

The Colorado Rockies aim to break out of their funk when they open a pivotal four-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. The Rockies have dropped six of their past eight games and reside in third place in the National League West while Los Angeles stands a half-game behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Dodgers fell out the top spot with Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics while the Rockies lost 4-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates to drop three games behind the Diamondbacks. Los Angeles is struggling offensively with 10 runs in the past five games after setting season-highs with 21 runs and seven homers in a win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 2. Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal hit a solo shot in Wednesday's loss to reach at least 20 homers for the third consecutive campaign. Colorado also is having troubles tallying runs as it has scored three or fewer in 11 of the past 16 games, including each of the past three outings.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network; SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (8-3, 2.68 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (6-4, 4.05)

Stripling (right big toe) will be activated off the 10-day disabled list to make the start and will look to recapture his earlier form. The 28-year-old was a first-time All-Star because of his stellar 2.08 ERA but was 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA in two starts after the break before going on the DL. Stripling gave up four runs and nine hits over six innings in a no-decision against the Rockies on July 1 and stands 1-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 10 career appearances (three starts) versus Colorado.

Anderson served up three homers and allowed seven runs (matching a season worst) and seven hits over four innings while falling to the Milwaukee Brewers in his last turn. The 28-year-old was unbeaten (2-0) over his previous six starts and gave up four earned runs over the first five. Anderson is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers this season and is 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA in nine career turns against Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies All-Star CF Charlie Blackmon has recorded back-to-back two-hit outings after being 1-for-21 with seven strikeouts in his first five games of the month.

2. Los Angeles OF Joc Pederson is 1-for-9 over his last three games after hitting three homers in a two-game span.

3. Colorado LHP Chris Rusin (foot) could be activated off the 10-day disabled list as soon as Thursday.

PREDICTION: Rockies 8, Dodgers 6

Thursday 8-9-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Thursday 8-9-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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