Sportsline

Will Cory Sandhagen's striking be the difference vs. Mario Bautista?...

Will upstart Damian Pinas score another early KO win on Saturday?...

Back the more complete fighter Pimblett vs. Saint Denis...

Does Conor McGregor have the stamina to hang with Max Holloway?...

The Angels are desperate to end their five-game skid. ...

Ranger Suarez has allowed his opponents to clear this line in six of his last seven starts. …

Freddy Peralta has been a massive disappointment. ...

Falorin Balogun will play for the USA after all. ...

Cory Sandhagen dismantled Mario Bautista back in 2019...

The Iberian Derby returns. ...

Is Max Holloway underrated? ...

Damian Pinas has won all nine of his fights by stoppage...

Mexico has lost just twice at Estadio Azteca. ...

Fade Conor McGregor after a 5-year layoff?...

The Padres have now lost eight in a row and they send JP Sears to the mound on Sunday. The Dodgers lineup deep and can beat you in many ways, and Sears struggled to a near seven ERA in AAA this year before allowing 8 runs and 13 hits in 10.1 innings so far in MLB level. I'm playing the Dodgers over 4.5 runs in the F7 on DK, as well as the -1.5 here on the spread. If the Padres stave off the four game sweep then so be it, but I am looking for any way to fade JP Sears today.

Miami’s offense has been pounding the ball in Sacramento so far. But the team has a .556 OPS vs. left-handers the last two weeks, and Gage Jump has only been hit by the Dodgers in his last five starts. He’s allowed zero runs in three of five. The Athletics are going in the wrong direction but Marlins starter Eury Perez has a 5.35 ERA on the road.

After a rocky first couple of months, Brandon Sprout had a solid month of June with a 3.46 ERA. His initial start against Arizona did not go well on April 29th, when he gave up a couple of home runs and lasted just 4 1/3. Lourdes Gurriel was one of four Diamondbacks that had multiple hits that game. Take Gurriel over on his combination prop line today.

Tanner Gordon has pitched in ten games for Colorado this season (three starts) and the Rockies are 0-10 in those contests. Each of those ten losses has been decided by two or more runs. Gordon also has a 9.70 home ERA and has given up six home runs in only 21.1 innings at Coors Field. With a 1-8 record, I can't be overly confident in San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle, but I'll take my chances for San Francisco to win the series (by multiple runs) on Sunday afternoon.

Brazil creates ample scoring opportunities with the likes of Vinicius Jr. leading the charge. A Seleção enters this match with a 9.42 xG, the most in the World Cup through the Round of 32. Meanwhile, Norway has scored in all four of their World Cup games, and Erling Haaland has 5 goals on 70 touches. Over 2.5 goals has also hit in all four of Norway's fixtures in this competition, a trend I expect to continue when they take on Brazil on Sunday.

Caesar’s. It didn’t work out for us fading Robbie Ray at Coors last night, but I’m going back to the well today. Tyler Mahle, has been objectively awful on the road this season with an 8.79 ERA, staying under this line in 5/6 starts. His fly-ball rate spikes on the road (46%, compared to 33% at home) - not a recipe for success at Coors. The Rockies have the highest OPS against righties at home this season (.827), and the hitting conditions remain ideal today. Mahle has had his leash shortened (averaging 79 pitches over his last four starts) and has been brutal the third time through the order (.997 OPS) - look for the quick hook today.

I’m betting the over here and I’m not too afraid to do it. I originally liked both teams to score, but that number has moved too far, and I have a hard time believing we don’t see three goals in this match. Both teams to score has hit in 10 of the last 11 Norway matches, and that makes sense. This is a team with a dynamite attack led by Erling Haaland and a midfield that can back it up. The issue is they prioritize attacking over defending. On the other side, Brazil have Vini Jr who can change a match with one moment, but they’ve had defensive issues as well. I see 2-1 either way, with 3-0 also possible.

This should be an entertaining game between two high-scoring teams. Over 2.5 goals has paid off in all four of Norway’s games so far at this tournament, as they’re extremely dangerous in attack, but they struggle in defense. Over 2.5 goals has also landed in Brazil's last three matches, and the Seleção should be able to expose Norway's defensive weaknesses.

Casey Mize gives the visitors a leg up against the talented but inconsistent Kumar Rocker. Mize is 3-5 but owns a 0.97 WHIP. Back Detroit to finish 5-1 on its current road trip.

The Rays at the Trop have been extraordinarily good to us this season, but they aren't the same away. Completely understandable to perhaps overlook this one a bit to end the last road trip of the first half of the season and with an AL East first-place showdown back in St. Pete vs. the Yankees on Monday. The Rays might actually get a good home crowd for that one. And we don't even need a win Sunday. It is the weak link of the Tampa Bay rotation today in Griffin Jax (4-5, 3.45 ERA).

I hate laying this much juice in any pick, but Masyn Winn is 5-for-5 lifetime against Javier Assad heading into Sunday's game. The Cardinals shortstop also has a hit in 17 of his last 22 starts. I'll also be playing his Over 1.5 H+R+RBI prop as well today.

The Minnesota Twins put on their own show yesterday with eleven runs, and several players hit a home run. Ryan Weathers is a pitcher that has struggled in that department as he has given up eight home runs over his last six starts. His last outing he did not make it out of the second inning against the Detroit Tigers. Take Royce Lewis to have success today as he has a hit in twelve out of his last fourteen games.

Jose Trevino stepped up big yesterday for the Cincinnati Reds albeit in a loss to the Orioles. Tyler Stephenson gets the start today at catcher, and has been a spark himself with a hit in eight out of his last eleven games. Four of those he has had an extra base hit. Take Stephenson to get his 25th RBI of the season today against the Orioles.

What a great July 4! I didn't blow any digits off holding a bottle rocket way longer than I should have and hit every wager. When is the next semiquincentennial (say that 10 times fast) celebration because I need to circle that! Well, I guess technically there can't be a next one. You know I don't really think the Orioles should be favored here and they probably won't be by morning. So I'll take the gift even at the number. Perhaps in the future I need to start thinking cheap MLs in this scenario, but I would just get so peeved if the Reds lost by a run and I didn't play +1.5.

Bubba Chandler had a fantastic outing a season ago as a rookie at Washington. He pitched six innings and gave up just two hits in a September 13th start. This is a much different Nationals team that ranks atop MLB in runs on the season. Off just one run in yesterday’s loss look for the Nationals to get back on track, with Curtis Mead sparking the run production. Split play here on Mead’s combination line and a home run.