Big Al McMordie Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

At 7:05 pm, in Gm 2 of the double header, our selection is on the New York Yankees over the Chicago White Sox.  We played on New York a couple nights ago, and lost a 3-2 decision, as the Yankees were held to just three hits.  We'll come right back with New York on Thursday, in this 2nd game of the DH. New York will hand the ball to 24-year-old rookie Randy Vasquez, who will be making his 2nd career start.  Vasquez allowed 2 runs in 4 2/3 innings vs. the Padres in his MLB debut last month.  He worked through four scoreless innings before a 2-run HR by Juan Soto in the 5th inning spoiled his outing.  New York is 76-48 (+ 12.9 net games) as a home favorite of -150 or less, while Chicago is 38-61 (minus 15.6 net games) as an underdog of +150 or less.  Take the Yankees.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:20 pm, our selection is on the Florida Panthers over the Vegas Golden Knights.  Those rooting for close games in the Stanley Cup Finals are disappointed so far as the Knights took Games 1 and 2 convincingly -- by scores of 5-2 and 7-2.  But now the series shifts to South Florida and the Panthers and their faithful have some good news coming into Game 3.  For one thing, despite losing those first two games, Florida out-shot Vegas in both of those.  Second, this will be the first Finals games in South Florida since 1996 -- the Panthers' third year in the League -- and it will be the first in their current home -- FLA Live Arena.  Panthers Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been solid for them all playoffs, but the veteran simply didn't have it in Game 2, so the coaches pulled him after he allowed four goals in the first 13 shots.  Expect Bobrovsky to be right back in net tonight and for the 19,000 home fans to give him a rousing ovation.  This has historically been a host-friendly series as the home team is now 11-1 in the last 12 meetings and Vegas is 1-4 in the last five here.  Take Florida.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 2:10 pm, our selection is on the Baltimore Orioles over the Milwaukee Brewers.  This is the Orioles' first visit to Milwaukee since 2017 and so far the first two games have been all Brewers (including a 10-2 blowout last night).  There's no question the O's miss their lead-off man and catalyst, CF Cedric Mullins, who hasn't played since May 29 due to a groin injury which will keep him out for an extended period of time.  Still, the new-look Orioles have shown they can compete with the league's best this year thanks to youngsters like Adley Ruschman and Gunnar Henderson.  But not all of the young talent is on the offensive side.  Baltimore's youthful pitching has stepped up too.  Today it will be 2nd-year RH Kyle Bradish getting his 11th start of the season.  Over his first 10 starts, the 26-year-old is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA and a strikeout rate of almost eight per game.  Bradish has thrived in these situations as in seven career inter-league starts he is 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 44 K's with 10 BBs in 37 2/3 innings.  The O's are also 22-8 in their last 30 games after allowing five or more runs in their previous game, and 34-13 (+18.6 net games) as a favorite of -150 (or less).  Take Baltimore.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.