Dan Kaiser: Best Bets Daily & Top Free Picks from Expert Sports Handicapper

The Colorado Avalanche have a chance to close out the Winnipeg Jets on the road. The Av’s have won three in a row after dropping a wild game 1. The Avalanche have scored 22 goals in the series with 11 goals in the last two gamesOn the defensive end, they have given up 12 goals in the series with only five goals in the last three games. The Jets put up seven goals in game one nad have struggled since, scoring just five goals over the next three games. Their defense hasn’t been any better allowing 22 goals over four games.The Avalanche look to close out this series. Gurgiev still makes me nervous in the net but has played well over the last three and the defense has stepped up in front of him. I look for Colorado to try and jump out early and as long as the goalie is good, the Av’s should roll.

Play on Colorado. This is a 3% play

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to stay alive against the Boston Bruins. The Leafs lost both games at home. The Leafs are now 0-8 against Swayman this season, including 0-3 in this series. Toronto is scoring under two goals per game in the series and just 1.34 with Swayman in net. The Boston Bruins are now a game away from moving on to the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Boston has dominated special teams, allowing just one goal on the power play, and have scored on almost half of theirs. Another disappointing season for Toronto as they suffer another early exit from the playoffs.

Play on Boston. This is a  free play

The Philadelphia Phillies look to even their series with the Los Angeles Angels after dropping game one 6-5. The Phillies will go with Spencer Turnbull on the mound. He is 2-0 this season with a 1.33 ERA. The Angels will counter with Tyler Anderson on the mound. He is 2-3 with a 1.78 ERA this season. Philadelphia is putting up 4.66 runs a game. Philadelphia’s pitching is giving up 3.34 runs per game. The Angels have lost three straight series. Los Angeles is putting up 4.25 runs per game and are giving up 4.93 runs per game. The Phillies have won four of their last six road games. They are playing well offensively, scoring 22 runs in their last three games. Expect them to play well offensively in this game because they have crushed left-handed pitching and Anderson struggled on the mound in recent starts, giving up seven runs in his last three starts. He gave up 11 runs in his last two starts against the Phillies and will have a hard time slowing them down in this game. The Angels have lost five of their last six home games. Turnbull has given up four runs in his five starts. He gave up one run in two road starts. 

Play on Philadelphia. This is a 3% play.

The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox continue their series after the Twins tool game 1 3-2. The Twins will go with Simeon Woods Richardson on the mound. He is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his two outings this season. The Cubs will counter with Michael Soroka. He is 0-3 with a 6.83 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in six starts.Minnesota has won eight in a row. Woods Richardson faced the Sox last time out and went five innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Chicago had won three in a row before last night’s loss. In his last appearance against the twins he allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in five innings.  Minnesota scored 32 runs in its three-game set versus the Angels and averaged 8.1 runs during its eight-game winning streak.  TheTwins have the better starter and a more reliable bullpen. The Sox have struggled at the plate all season and I will take the better pitching staff in this one.

Play on Minnesota. This is a 3%  play. 

The Chicago Cubs stole game one of their series against the NY Mets and will look to carry that to the mound for his sixth start of the season. He is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA, with 26 strikeouts and nine walks. The Mets will counter with Sean Manae, who is making his sixth start of the season. He is 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 14 walks. .Chicago found a way to win yesterday after being held hitless for seven innings. The Cubs offense is 7th in runs scored and 13th in batting average, while the Mets are 16th in runs scored and 17th in batting average. The Cubs just keep finding ways to win despite their injuries. I will take the hotter team in this one.

Play on Chicago. This is a 3% play. 

The Kansas City Royals look to even their series with the Toronto Blue Jays after losing game 1 7-6. Kansas City will look to snap a three game losing streak by sending Cole Ragans to the mound. He is 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA in 30.0 innings. The Blue Jays will look to extend a two-game winning streak with Jose Berrios taking the mound. He is 4-1 with a 1.23 ERA in 36.2 innings pitched. Berrios is coming into this game with a 0.60 ERA in his last five games and the Blue Jays have won seven of the last ten games against the Royals. Ragans has given up 33 hits in 30 innings. I look for the Jays to score off of Ragans and Berrios should be able to shut down the Royals bats.

Play on Toronto. This is a 3% play.

The sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers look to close out their series with the injury played Milwaukee Bucks on the road. In the playoffs the Pacers are second Indiana is 2nd in scoring at 116.5 points a game on the defensive end, they are giving up 112 points per game. Even without their two best players the Bucks are still third in playoff scoring at 112 points a game. On the defensive end, they are giving up 116.5 points per game. Antetokounmpo is doubtful and Lillard is listed as questionable. The Pacers have momentum and better depth. Without their two best players Milwaukee will struggle to extend this series. Indiana wants to close this out now and give Giannis and Lilliard a chance to come back.

Play on Indiana. This is a 4% play.