The Detroit Red Wings are in a tailspin, losing their last 5 games, and it won’t get any easier for them tonight when they travel to Amalie Arena to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Red Wings have struggled miserably against the Lightning, winning just 8 of the last 31 meetings, and they are a dismal 2-14 in their last 16 trips to Tampa. The Lightning are off and running thus far, with a record of 8-1-0-1, and they are 7-0 in their last 7 home games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Wednesday World Series Pick
Justin Verlander, who is 9-0 since joining the Houston Astros from the Detroit Tigers, will be called upon tonight to try to even the World Series at a game apiece and get out of Los Angeles with a split. Verlander was 15-8 in the regular season, with an ERA of 3.36, and has been lights out this post-season, going 4-0, with an ERA of 1.46 over 24-2/3 innings, striking out 24, and walking only 6. Rich Hill will get the call for the Dodgers. Hill was 12-8 in the regular season, with an ERA of 3.32 and has pitched well this post-season. In his 2 starts, he has an ERA of 3.00 with both outings ending in a no-decision. Verlander is a workhorse and will go deep in this game. Houston should get the win.
TONIGHT’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS
Tuesday MLB Pick
Two of the best southpaws in the business will oppose each other tonight when the World Series kicks off at Dodger Stadium. Houston will send Dallas Keuchel to the hill and Los Angeles will start Clayton Kershaw. Both these guys have similar numbers. Keuchel is 16-6, with an ERA of 2.87, and a 1.12 WHIP. Kershaw’s numbers are slightly better, with a record of 20-4, an ERA of 2.43, and a 0.95 WHIP. The Dodgers are 47-9 in Kershaw’s last 56 starts and 48-10 in his last 58 home starts. That’s impressive! LA’s bullpen has been unforgiving this post-season, with an ERA of 0.94, and held Chicago hit-less in the NLCS. Houston is 1-6 in their last 7 road playoff games and 1-6 in their last 7 trips to Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers have the edge in this one with the home crowd behind them.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Monday NHL Pick
The New York Rangers got back in the win column with a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday and will look to build on that when they host the San Jose Sharks tonight at the Garden. The Sharks are playing their third game in four nights and that takes its toll on the body. San Jose is 1-4 in their last 5 trips to New York and the home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these clubs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK RANGERS
Sunday NFL Pick
The Denver Broncos travel to southern California today to take on the LA Chargers, a team they beat in their season opener, 24-21. The Broncos defense is one of the best in the business and their future Hall-of-Famer Von Miller has 5 sacks on the year and 13 in his career against the Chargers. The Broncos CJ Anderson should have a field day today because he is going up against the worst run defense in the league. The Broncos are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 against the Chargers. The line in this one opened at Chargers -1½ but has now flip-flopped to Denver -1.
TODAY’S PICK: DENVER BRONCOS
Saturday MLB Pick
The winner of tonight’s game between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros will determine who makes it to the World Series to play the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday at Chavez Ravine. The Yankees CC Sabathia and Astros Charlie Morton, who faced each other in Game 3, will be tapping the rubber tonight at Minute Maid Park. CC, who is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.30 in the post-season, got the better of Morton in Game 3. Sabathia was on his mark, yielding just 3 hits over 6 scoreless innings. Morton, who is 0-1 in the post-season with an ERA of 10.13, was drilled by the Bombers in Game 3. New York sent Morton to the showers early, scoring 7 runs on 6 hits in just 3-2/3 innings. Sabathia has been down this road before. In 22 post-season career appearances, he is 10-5, with an ERA of 4.24, and after a Yankees loss, the veteran southpaw is 10-0 with an ERA of 1.69 in his last 13 outings. What would be better than a Yankees/Dodgers World Series? TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES
Friday NHL Pick
The Vancouver Canucks lost 6-3 to the Boston Bruins last night and will be playing back-to-back games when they travel to Western New York to take on the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo is coming home after a 4-game road trip that ended in Las Vegas on Tuesday so they will be well rested. The Sabres seem to be catching on to Phil Housley’s system and that was evident in their last 2 games against the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights. Buffalo has yet to win at home but that should happen tonight. The Canucks are 16-35 in their last 51 overall, 15-37 in their last 52 road games, and 2-5 in their last 7 trips to Buffalo. Keep an eye on the Sabres – they are moving in the right direction.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABRES