The following two weeks will be like a midterm exam for the first semester of the Toronto Blue Jay’s regular season and Chris Bassitt just got straight As.
Bassitt pitched the Blue Jays’ first nine-inning shutout in nearly eight years, dating back to Mark Buehrle on June 3, 2015. It had been 1,176 games since that masterpiece from Buehrle, and 880 games since Marcus Stroman threw the last nine-inning complete game for Toronto on April 23, 2017. Both were the longest droughts in Major Baseball history.
Events like this are rare, but in Friday’s 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Rogers Centre, so was Bassit.
“That’s the best version of Chris Bassitt,” said manager John Schneider. “It’s really unique to have a guy adjust on the fly in-game. The way he manipulates the ball, it’s really cool to watch him. Competing is a really big part of the game, and we knew that when we signed him. I think it was just really evident tonight that he didn’t want to back down from any challenge.”
With Bassitt cutting through a solid Atlanta lineup over and over, the daily mental calculations went through the minds of Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker. Schneider ran out to the pitch to speak to Bassitt in the top of the eighth with two outs, but that was no more than a quick check-in.
With the numbers in a comfortable spot, there is still an inch-wide opening for the eye test to play a part in 2023.
Toronto took a huge gamble on Chris Bassitt when they signed him and when the chance comes, they wager on the person as much as the pitcher.
“He never quits and never gives in,” said George Springer. “He just has this way about him. He’s an extremely confident guy but a very, very humble man.”
That was why it did not come as a surprise when Bassitt refused the credit after the win, downplaying the importance of a complete game along the way.
As Springer and Schneider immediately pointed out, Atlanta’s lineup was scary. This is one of the reasons the Braves are off to one of the best beginnings in Major League Baseball and has brought destruction on the road, their .793 OPS as a team overall ranking second behind just the Rays. Even after achieving a feat that no current Blue Jays were present to witness the last time it occurred, Bassitt directed the praise somewhere else.
“It was more so the offense,” said Bassitt, who hit the second shutout and second complete game of his career. “Obviously, we got a run early and we added a run in the seventh. One run, you’re playing with fire with the offense. Once it got to three, I’m not saying it was easy by any means with that lineup, but I could be more aggressive.”
Bassitt extended a shout-out to his defense too, and it was well deserved. Kevin Keirmaier, Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman made standout plays infield, another part of the Blue Jay’s growth that was not there consistently a year ago. Bassitt stated that the club’s defense, was one of the things that made him join the Blue Jays. It allowed him to grip it, rip it and be confident with what was behind him.
In their most recent away match, Toronto’s game was loose and messy at times. Friday took it back to early April when their defense and baserunning were the engines behind a tight zipped-up style of play. It was extremely frustrating for their opponents and that was what the Blue Jays wanted.
“We didn’t barrel up too many balls, for sure,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “[Sean] Murphy had the lineout and Eddie [Rosario] had the double. But other than that, there wasn’t a lot of great contact. I think that’s just the second time this year we’ve been shut out.
It was just a really well-pitched game against us.”
There is no bad time for a shutout, but Friday was particularly significant for the Blue Jays. They opened a stretch of 17 games in 17 days, a run that included a series against the Braves, and Yankees. Orioles, Rays and Twins.
A mental shift happened and it goes both ways.
“Other teams are saying that it’s going to be a tough series when they come in here, too,” said Schneider. “It’s about understanding that and getting back to what we’re good at, which is having good at-bats, getting good starting pitching and making good defensive plays.”
The schedule for upcoming matches is a roster for heavyweights, but with Bassitt’s performance and the Maple Leafs concluding their yearly playoff exit a few blocks away, the Blue Jays control Toronto again.
The Los Angeles Lakers began the season eight matches under .500 and are now four wins away from the NBA Finals.
Los Angeles defeated the reigning champions Golden State Warriors 122-101 in Game 6 on Friday to move to the Western Conference finals. The No. 7-seeded Lakers will take a trip to Denver to play the Nuggets who are the West’s top seed in Game 1 on Tuesday.
They began the season 2-10 under first-year coach Darvin Ham and changed the roster halfway through the year courtesy of an array of trades by Rob Pelinka vice president of basketball operations and general manager. The Lakers just became the fourth team in league history to be that many matches below .500 and reach the conference finals since conferences were established in the 1970-71 season, per Elias Sports Bureau.
“I felt like if we ever had an opportunity to upgrade our roster and put some more balance around myself and [Anthony Davis], I felt like we could make a run,” LeBron James said, looking back at Los Angeles’ rocky start.
The team’s run resumed Friday with a legendary performance from LeBron.
James had 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting, 9 rebounds and 9 assists as he ended a personal streak of 18 straight playoff games scoring below 30 points.
As Kareem Abdul Jabbar who James passed as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February, sat in the second row at Crypto.com Arena, James joined Abdul-Jabbar as the only other 38-year-old player or older to hit up to 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a playoff game.
“I just wanted to come in and make some plays and be efficient and defend at a high level and help [Davis] rebound,” James said. “Help our team make winning plays.
The same way the Lakers have done all postseason, Friday night was delivered as a powerful performance after a disappointing defeat.
They leapt to a 27-10 lead with Ham’s starting lineup move – Dennis Schroder replaced Jarred Vanderbilt setting off an offensive jolt. Davis had to leave Game 5 early after an accidental shot to the side of the head but was locked in from the start, with nine of his 17 points and 10 of his 20 rebounds happening in the opening frame.
However, the Warriors supporting the current Finals MVP Stephen Curry, slashed it to five by the beginning of the second quarter. He scored 12 of his game-high 32 points in the opening frame, while Golden State could not find its footing against the Lakers’ defense (3-for-14 from 3).
The Lakers increased the lead to 10 by halftime 56-45, with Austin Reaves’ half-court heave falling through the net to beat the second-quarter buzzer. Reaves concluded with 23 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds; he is one of the five Lakers in double figures.
“It felt good,” Reaves said of his 54-foot make to end the half. “You don’t make many of those, but it did feel good when I shot it.”
Los Angeles amped up the pressure to begin the third and hurriedly tipped its score to 19 with 7:35 left in the quarter, their biggest lead yet.
Schroder committed his second technical foul and was removed after an altercation with Draymond Green, providing an opportunity for additional playing time for Game 4 star Lonnie Walker IV, who scored 8 of 13 points in the third.
The Lakers led with 14 points into the fourth quarter and the Warriors slashed it to 11 before they responded with an 11-0 run to double their lead. Ham cleared the bench for the final minutes as Los Angeles supporters celebrated the 42nd conference finals berth in team history.
Los Angeles is the second No.7 seed to advance to the conference finals since the beginning of seeding in 1984 joining the 1987 Seattle SuperSonics.
“A challenging year to say the least, but at the end of the day, we kept powering through, our vibes stayed positive, once we righted the ship and switched out some pieces, we came together, and I’m just happy and thankful that I get to sit in this seat and enjoy the ride,” Ham said.
The Lakers are 7-0 at home games this postseason, including the play-in tournament. They ended the Warriors’ streak of 28 straight playoff series with at least one away victory.
This will be the 12th time James is making a finals appearance. His teams are 10-1, his only defeat was in 2009 from the Cleveland Cavaliers losing to Orlando Magic in six matches.
Winning the Warriors got James his 41st postseason series win of his 20-year career, tying with Derek Fisher for the most all-time.
Leaders of the Lakers do not seem to be done yet. When asked if the Lakers were now playing with house money, making it this far after a tough beginning, James baulkedat the idea.
“We’re trying to win every hand,” James said.
Davis, who at James’ side as he had done all postseason, doubled down.
The 2023 NFL schedule has been released. And all compasses point to Week 1.
Although the season’s opening matchup will not define a club’s campaign, it sets a precedent for them to have a progressive season. Last year, 10 of the last standing 14 postseason teams won in Week 1.
Week 1 will kick off the first season where Monday Night Football games will be open for flex scheduling, starting from Week 12. To see the complete 18-week schedule, fans can click here.
Below is a quick rundown of all the Week 1 matchups, beginning with the reigning Super Bowl champs waving their latest banner.
To get more information on purchasing game tickets for the 2023 NFL schedule, click here.
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Mo.
Time: 8:20 p.m, ET
How to watch: NBC
The last clash between Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff was so loud it could be heard all around America. The NFL hopes to repeat history with Mahomes’ Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs playing Goff’s upstart Detroit Lions as slated on the 2023 NFL schedule.
Sunday, September 10th
Carolina Panthers AT Atlanta Falcons
Venue: Mercedes Benz Stadium | Atlanta
Time: 1 p.m. ET
How to watch: FOX
Bryce Young’s first career start pits the No. 1 overall pick against a division rival on the road. Atlanta used the offseason to beef up their defense to stop players the ex-Heisman Trophy winner. Fans will also get a closer look at how Arthur Smith will apply running back Bijan Robinson in his offense.
Houston Texans AT Baltimore Ravens
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore
Time: 1 p.m. ET
How to watch: CBS
After signing a huge new contract, Lamar Jackson gets to lead a new offense. With a lineup featuring Odell Beckham, first-round pick Zay Flowers, and Rashod Bateman, new Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken has all the pass catchers he needs to unleash Jackson’s arm of fury.
Can DeMeco Ryan’s developing defense, headed by first-round pick Will Anderson Jr., keep up? CJ Stroud’s possible first start as a pro will be in hostile territory.
Cincinnati Bengals AT Cleveland Browns
Venue: FirstEnergy Stadium | Cleveland
Time: 1. p.m. ET.
How to watch: CBS
A battle brews in Ohio and will be trashed out in the kick-off of the 2023 season. Joe Burrow’s Bengals won consecutive AFC North titles and have enough ammo for a three-peat.
On the other hand, after Deshaun Watson had a challenging return late last season, Cleveland hopes the rust falls off its offense and they make a lasting impression.
The Browns’ offense needs to deliver or Ja’Marr Chase and Co. could steal the opener against their defense that upgraded this offseason but is still a mystery box.
Jacksonville Jaguars AT Indianapolis Colts
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis Colts
Time: 1 p.m ET
How to watch: FOX
Trevor Lawrence and the AFC South champs travel northside to open the season against the division-rival Indianapolis, who could be launching rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson out of the gate. With Calvin Ridley joining Lawrence’s pass-catching corps, Jacksonville could build an iron-clad offense.
Will new Colts coach Shane Steichen counter this attack with Richardson in Week 1 or bring on veteran Gardner Minshew?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers AT Minnesota Vikings
Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium | Minneapolis
Time: 1. p.m ET
How to watch: CBS
The Buccaneers and Vikings battle at Minneapolis, warding off reports of regression in 2023. This matchup will have lots of wide receivers, Justin Jefferson and first-round pick Jordan Addison in purple and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in pewter.
Considering that the two clubs struggled with their defense a year ago, it may be a shootout. Most of the work rests on the quarterbacks, especially the Buccaneers, where Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask will fight for opening-day duties.
Tennesse Titans AT New Orleans Saints
Venue: Caesars Superdome | New Orleans
When: 1 p.m. ET
How to watch: CBS
Derek Carr opens for the Saints in the Superdome, where he may get the ball running. If Michael Thomas is in good shape, New Orleans could enter this game guns blazing. Thomas, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed band together to create a stellar receiver trio for Carr to win at all levels.
The Saints lost out at the bulk up front this year, so if Derrick Henry stays with the Titans to start the season, it could be a big day for the King.
San Francisco 49ers AT Pittsburgh Steelers
Venue: Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh
Time: 1. p.m. ET
How to watch: FOX
Kyle Shanahan was happy the 2023 NFL schedule did not put his team against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he will still be going to Pennsylvania for Week 1. But it could be a tough game, with both sides looking to establish the ground game early.
The big question for the 49ers is if Brock Purdy will be ready to play in the season opener. For Pittsburgh, their reformed offensive line, including Broderick Jones’ first-round pick, will be tested against Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and others.
Arizona Cardinals AT Washington Commanders
Venue: FedEx Field | Landover, Md.
Time: 1 p.m, ET
How to watch: FOX
Sam Howell wants to start the season under centre after an impressive Week 18 run last year. He was chosen to play against Arizona which has a questionable defense, which may be one of the worst defensive lines in the league.
Kyler Murray is expected to miss the beginning of the season, so, Howell-Colt McCoy could open the season in Washington.
Green Bay Packers AT Chicago Cubs
Venue: Soldier Field | Chicago
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
How to watch: FOX.
Jordan Love will face a Cubs defense that had a challenging last season, but on paper, covered up some holes during offeseason. Justin Fields had the best moment as a passer last season against Green Bay in Week 13 before two last-minute interceptions.
Can he be more explosive now that D.J. Moore plays on his side?
Las Vegas Raiders AT Denver Broncos
Venue: Empower Field at Mile High | Denver
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
How to watch: CBS
Sean Payton begins his home game with the Broncos against the Raiders. How will Russell Wilson fare in the new offense? Did he fumble briefly last season or was that the onset of decline?
Las Vegas has holes on defense, so it is great chance to begin right in Denver. For the Raiders the big question is how the offense will look differently with Jimmy G and Jakobi Meyers replacing Derek Carr and Darren Waller.
The first week could answer the question about how the offenses of both sides will perform in 2023.
Miami Dolphins AT Los Angeles Chargers
Venue: SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, California.
Time: 4.25 p.m. ET
How to watch: CBS
Miami Dolphins VS Los Angeles Chargers may be the most exciting game of Week 1. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Mike Williams, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Devon Achane. Austin Ekeler will be attending.
Both Miam and Los Angeles have speed and playmaking all over the field. The defense line too is in great shape: featuring Christian Wilkins, Bradley Chubb, Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Derwin James, Asante Samuel Jr.
New England will honor Tom Brady in the home opener against the club that defeated them in Super Bowl LII. This matchup will be a yardstick game for the hosts.
How will Mac Jones handle Bill O’Brien’s offense, especially when facing one of the best defensive lines in the League?
Can Jalen Hurts get an MVP campaign off to a good start against Bill Belichick’s defense in Foxborough?
Los Angeles Rams AT Seattle Seahawks
Venue: Lumen Field | Seattle
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
How to watch: FOX
Geno Smith has got a new contract and lots of ammo within his reach. Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njiba have the capacity to defeat the best WR trio in the NFL. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet create an iconic 1-2 punch in the backfield.
As he faces a reforming Rams defense with young men all over the field, Smith could begin the season with an electrifying start. Despite missing some key players last season, including Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald, the Rams played the Seahawks close in two games, losing two games. Will these missing stars come back to uplift the team?
Dallas Cowboys AT New York Giants
Venue: MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, N.J.
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
How to watch: NBC
The Cowboys defeated Giants last year as they both advanced to the postseason as wild cards. But things changed in the 2023 offseason. Mike McCarthy is in charge of play-calling in Dallas and Ezekiel Elliot has been unleashed.
McCarthy wants to run the ball more, but with Brandin Cooks added to the WR group, the Cowboys are ready for Dak Prescott to throw th ball. Week 1 will tell if McCarthy was just bluffing.
New York used the offseason to build an upstart group, including signing first-round corner Deonte Banks. Including Darren Waller and retaining Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley in New York could make Brian Daboll’s impressive Year 1. The feud should have an exciting beginning that will close the first Sunday of football in the 2023 NFL schedule.
Monday, September 11th
Buffalo Bills AT New York Jets
Venue: MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, N.J.
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
How to watch: ESPN, ABC
Josh Allen VS Aaron Rodgers happens on Monday Night Football. Rodgers will debut at GreenBay, where he shined in his iconic career. Fans will watch the four-time MVP settle into passing the ball to current Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson.
They will also get to watch the Buffalo Bills defense which may play without Von Miller start the season with Sean McDermott assuming the role of defensive play-caller again. Allen will want to redeem himself from a disappointing playoff run, but it will be a challenging test.
Two of the worst matches Allen played last season were against Robert Saleh’s defense. He will get an early advantage in the hotly competed AFC East.
MatchPlug brings another thrilling soccer match in Atlanta United VS Charlotte FC, this one promises to be a clash for all ages.
Atlanta and Charlotte have been preparing diligently for this matchup, and as a Hot Prediction site you can always depend on for the hottest odds, we bring provide Today Soccer Prediction for Atlanta VS Charlotte.
By reading our preview, you’ll get the best selections and picks compiled after a careful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.
Atlanta’s record shows they won five games, drew three, and lost three in the 11 matches they’ve played so far in the MLS. They’re tied with Nashville with 18 points, and their focus for today’s game would be to snap the tie in their favour.
If they can win against Charlotte FC, they’ll advance to third position in the Eastern Conference standings.
But, the past few games have been challenging for this team. Even with a good average of 1.4 goals per game in their five most recent matches, they still can’t effectively defend their goal, with a 1.8 goals-against ratio.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Quentin Westberg, Brooks Lennon, Miles Robinson, Juan Sanchez Purata, Andrew Gutman, Santiago Sosa, Amar Sejdic, Derrick Etienne Junior, Thiago Almada, Caleb Wile, Machop Chol.
Betting On Charlotte FC
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Over/Under: Under 2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 5.2
Charlotte is at the bottom half of the standings, placing 12th in the Conference. Just like Atlanta, this team intends to forge ahead of Toronto, Montréal, and Inter Miami, who all have 12 points. This year they’ve managed 13 goals, but allowed 21 against. They’ve conceded more goals than any other team in their own net.
As guests, their numbers have been disappointing. They played five matches, with just one win and one draw, so statistics point to a loss. Although they have an average of 1.2 goals scored in their favour, they forfeited more than this. This means their average is 2.4 goals against per away game.
Possible Lineup (4-3-3): Kristijan Kahlina; Nathan Byrne, Adilson Malanda, Jan Sobociński, Jaylin Lindsey; Ashley Westwood, Karol Świderski, Derrick Jones; Orrin McKenzie Gaines II., Enzo Copetti, Justin Meram.
MatchPlug Prediction
Atlanta United VS Charlotte FC won’t be a smooth ride for the visitors. Charlotte is the clear underdog in this fixture with the lowest odds of winning.
Furthermore, Atlanta has been playing well both offensively and defensively. All these factors should result in a straight victory for the guests.
Matchday 12 will feature Inter Miami VS New England Revolution. This a crucial game for Miami, which presently holds the top position in the Eastern Conference. Any small mistake could topple them.
Inter Miami is in 10th position in the Eastern Conference with 12 points, which won’t get them to the playoffs. But, they know they still have a lot of competition to play in. They enter this match fresh off a win in the US Open Cup (1-0 against Charleston Batter) and have a good streak of results.
This is due to winning their last four matches, improving their performance and hoping to recreate their good form today. But, it won’t be easy because they’ll be facing a current leader in overall standings.
Possible Lineup: (3-4-3): Nick Marsman, Christopher McVey, Ryan Sailor, Kamal Miller, Harvey Neville, David Ruiz, Victor Ulloa, Franco Negri, Nicolas Marcelo Stefanelli, Josef Martinez, Robert Taylor.
Betting On The New England Revolution
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Over/Under: Under 2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 2.64
The New England Revolution didn’t get the same fortune as Miami in this round, haven lost 0-1 to Pittsburgh in the US Open Cup. But, this poor performance shouldn’t tarnish how well they’ve been playing in the MLS. Matter of fact, they enter this competition after defeating Toronot FC 0-2 last week,
New England have lost just once in their last seven road matches, and haven’t lost in two out of three games played against Inter Miami at the Lockhart Stadium.
Possible Lineup: (4-3-3) Earl Edwards, Joshua Bolma, Omar Gonzalez, Christian Makoun, Ben Sweat, Justin Rennicks, Jack Panayotou, Latif Blessing, Jozy Altidore, Giacomo Vrioni, Damian Rivera.
MatchPlug Prediction
New England Revolution has given an excellent performance when compared to Inter Miami. They are the best too in playing on the road, winning three matches and drawing one in five games.
Despite this, Inter Miami won three out of five games played on their field and is currently in good form, which must be considered, and they can compete at a top level.
After considering the hosts’ good form and the guests’ consistent level of play, the match may end in a draw.
MLS has had a great 2023 season thus far and has constantly kept fans entertained with premium matches. And today it will continue this project with another exciting matchup Chicago Fire VS St. Louis FC.
Chicago moves at a snail’s pace this season, as it sits at number 14 in the table with just 11 points. In recent games, they mustered one win against Minnesota United – two draws and two losses.
But, they’ve fared better at home, with just one win and five draws, and haven’t lost a game yet. The average goal scored per match is 1.5, which is far better than their average when playing on the road (1.0).
Chicago Fire and St. Louis only played once before now, this was on May 9th in the US Open Cup. They emerged winners with a 2-1 final score, courtesy of goals by Fabian Herbers and Maren Haile-Selassie. These are the players to watch for today’s match.
Proposed Lineup (3-5-2): Chris Brady, Wyatt Omsberg, Rafael Czichos, Kendall Burks, Daniel Alonso Aceves Patiño, Fabian Herbers, Federico Navarro, Jonathan Dean, Xherdan Shaqiri, Kacper Przybyłko, Georgios Koutsias.
Betting On St. Louis FC
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Over/Under: Under 2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 3.72
Things are looking up for St. Louis City SC as they are in second position in the MLS Western Conference standings with a +10 goal difference, scoring 22 goals and conceding 12 in the 10 matches they’ve played.
Recently, St. Louis dipped in form with two losses, one draw, and one win in their MLS Matches, after winning four and losing one in their last five matches.
João Klauss has borne the fire for the team so far, delivering five goals this season. Jared Stroud and Nicholas Gioacchini trail closely with three goals each. Playing against Chicago Fire recently may give them an edge in being well-prepared for the upcoming match.
Proposed Lineup (3-4-3): Roman Bürki; Jakob Nerwiński, Tim Parker, Kyle Hiebert, John Nelson, Rasmus Alm, Miguel Perez, Eduard Löwen, Jared Stroud, Indiana Vassilev, Nicholas Gioacchini.
MatchPlug Prediction
Chicago Fire VS St. Louis FC face off again. Chicago is the clear favourite, especially with their last encounter, but St. Louis is one of the best teams in the MLS Western Conference; therefore they may win this game.
Florida Panthers VS Toronto Maple Leafs pits Toronto against Florida in Game Four of the Second Round, in a series that has been one-sided so far.
The Maple Leafs lost the first three games of this series and one more defeat will have them booted off the playoffs. The Panthers on the other hand have a dominating 3-0 series lead and may sweep the series with a win on their home ice.
Toronto wants to stay in the season, while Florida wants to advance to the Eastern Conference Final and Game Four should be a good one as a result of this.
The Florida Panthers have taken the lead in this series with their offense scoring 10 goals in the first three games. Matthew Tkachuk, Anthony Duclair, and Aleksander Barkov scored two goals and eight assists that lead the top two lines but the other offense members stepped up too.
Anton Lundell, Carter Verhaeghe, and Sam Bennett share four goals and three assists, while defensemen, Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour, and Gustav Forsling added two goals and three assists from the point to place the offense over the top.
While Florida’s offense has been good, it is the defense that carries them, allowing just six goals in the series. Ekblad and Forsling led the top pairing while Brandon Montour, Marc Staal, and Radko Gudas added depth to the unit, creating turnovers in three zones and curbing shots on the net. Additionally, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been great, saving 91 of the 97 shots he’s faced.
Betting On The Toronto Maple Leafs
Season Record: 82-50
1XBet Spread: -1.5
1XBet Total: Under 6.5
1XBet Moneyline: 2.368
BetMGM Spread: -1.5
BetMGM Total: Over 6.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.83
The Toronto Maple Leafs showed weakness in the Second Round with their offense disappointing them, they scored just six goals in the first three games. Auston Matthews and Ryan O’Reilly scored a goal and three assists to head the top two lines but the other offense members struggled. They hope that William Nylander and Mitch Marner will improve as they scored 70 goals and 116 assists this year but only two assists in this series.
Toronto’s defense struggled too, allowing 10 goals. Morgan Reily, Jake McCabe, and T.J. Brodie lead the top two pairings but the rest of that line struggles, allowing Flordia to find open shots on their nets.
Ilya Samsonov the goaltender was knocked out of Game Three with an injury and will be replaced by Joseph Woll with their season on the line.
MatchPlug Prediction
Toronto Maple Leafs are playing to avoid elimination, but the Florida Panthers will want to control the game on their home ice. Florida which scored 10 goals in this series, will bring on the goals, with Tkachuk, Duclair, and the other forward unit members taking the puck into the offensive zone and creating opening shots.
Florida will use Montour, Forsling, and the rest of their defensive unit to create turnovers in the defensive zone and limit shots on the net. This should allow Sergei Bobrovsky to make many saves.
The Panthers should win tonight’s game to sweep the series and offer good odds in the process.
The Warriors will host the Lakers in Golden State Warriors VS Los Angeles Lakers; a tough Game 5 showdown, tonight live at the Chase Center.
Los Angeles is a match away from entering the Western Conference finals, winning both games in their home, after splitting the first two matches of the series. The Lakers won five games out of eight this season, displaying dominance in this match.
Today’s game should be highly entertaining for fans to watch, especially with the type of series on the line.
The Golden State Warriors fought their way back to take one in seven games after being down 0-2 in their first-round series. Being down 3-1, they’ll need to win the next three games if they want to enter the Western Conference finals. Having the best home record in the NBA at 36-10 should provide some help, even if they already lost to Los Angeles at Chase Center twice this season.
The biggest issue for the Warriors seems to be a lack of consistency, especially after playing three varying starting lineups across the four matches so far. This plus indecisiveness in key moments and it will be clear why they are now at the bottom. Golden State has had their back against the wall before, so it will be interesting to see how they respond to this one.
Just like the Lakers, the Warriors are healthy in this regard too. They can play in the absence of three players, but none of these absences will affect the results tonight. Patrick Baldwin Jr. with a toe injury is questionable, and Andre Iguodala (wrist) and Ryan Rollins (foot) are out.
Steph Curry (30.6 ppg) continues to lead the team with a historic postseason run but the lack of consistent assistance, particularly with the talent surrounding him is disappointing. Klay Thompson delivered only 9 points on Monday night, while the drop-off of any sort of frontcourt attack hinders the team too. They had the second-ranked offense in the NBA and placed top 10 in almost all offensive categories, plus offensive rebounding. Until they start shelling out more success on the offensive glass or from three-point range, they will keep struggling with the Lakers and their balanced scoring attack.
Betting On The Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 43-39
1XBet Spread: +7.5
1XBet Moneyline: 4.02
1XBet Over/Under: Under 225.5
BetMGM Spread: +7.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 3.60
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 225.5
The Los Angeles Lakers dominated this series to now become a win away from the next round. Despite their losing record on the road this season, winning already at the Chase Center in this series should boost their confidence, beyond being up 3-1 in the series. The Lakers’ size caused a lot of problems on both ends for Golden State and although their depth has been hit or miss sometimes, they’ve played well enough to secure three wins. With two of their wins coming from single digits too, this next one may follow the same route.
Staying relatively healthy this postseason has helped the Lakers immensely and it’s no surprise that their play improved as they continuously had everyone available. Mo Bamba’s status is questionable with an ankle injury. It is unlikely that his absence will change the direction of Game 5.
Los Angeles has had the upper hand throughout this series and it began with their tenacity on defense. Although they were ranked 20th in the NBA in scoring defense this year, they strongly defended the three-point line all season, which is key in this series so far.
Anthony Davis (21.4 ppg, 14.0 RPG) leads the Lakers on the offensive end. Davis’ power in dominating frontcourt has caused a series of changes for the Warriors to adjust, as the Lakers remain one step ahead. Of course, there is also Lebron James (22.6 ppg) leading the way, including the supporting players that rapidly grew over the last few games.
MatchPlug Prediction
The Warriors may win this game and they’ll heavily rely on homecourt advantage to pull this one off. They lost just 10 games all season at the Chase Center and even with the Lakers bringing two of those defeats, their numbers show they are ready for a comeback.
Weak shooting has hurt the team, but Curry will get more support from the star players surrounding him. Fans should monitor how Kerr and the staff will adjust again, while Los Angeles will have an off night as they focus on winning the series.
In addition, the Warriors according to covers.com, are 4-1 ATS in their last five games succeeding an ATS loss.
Pittsburgh Pirates VS Colorado Rockies brings an end to the three-game set between Pittsburgh and Colorado.
The Rockies (14-22, 5th NL West) will play on the road at PNC Park Wednesday against the Pirates (21-15, 1st NL Central) in what is the third and final game of an ongoing series.
On Monday, Colorado won Pittsburgh 2-0 in the first game of the series, which broke the Rockies’ two-game winning streak, but they had won six of the last eight games.
Pittsburgh’s win on Monday ended their seven-game losing streak and placed them in first place in the National League Central, a half match ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Rockies will play today’s game without six pitchers and position players Sean Bouchard and Brendan Rodgers. While the Pirates play in the absence of six pitchers too, including position players Oneil Cruz and Ji-Man Choi.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ended their seven-game losing streak on Monday after defeating the Colorado Rockies. Most of their early season success, including Monday’s victory can be credited to powerful performances on the mound.
Pittsburgh has the 10th-best team ERA at 3.78 but dropped to 19th in WHIP at 1.34. The team’s starting rotation is the first place in baseball in Quality Starts with 19 in 36 games, while the pitching staff allows opposing hitters to average .245 at the plate which is 15th. Mitch Keller leads the Pirates in wins with four and in strikeouts with 56. Rich Hill will take the mound today. Hill is 3-3 with an ERA of 4.54 and 32 strikeouts.
At the plate, the Pirates are in 14th place in team batting average at .249 and advance to 10th in on-base percentage with .329 and slugging percentage at .420. They scored the 11th most runs with 165. Bryan Reynolds has been most productive at the plate for Pittsburgh with a team-best in doubles with 13 and RBI with 23, while Jack Suwinski the home runs leader has seven. Carlos Santana is second in RBI with 20. The Pirates have hit 74 doubles, 9 triples, and 37 home runs in 36 games.
Betting On The Colorado Rockies
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Moneyline: 2.36
1XBet Over/Under: Under 8.5
BetMGM Spread: +1.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 2.25
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 8.5
The Colorado Rockies are last position in the National League West and most of this is because of problems on the pitching mound. They have a team ERA of 4.89 which is 25th and is 25th too in WHIP at 1.43. Their starting rotation has had 10 Quality Starts in 36 games which is 18th and the pitching staff allows opponents to average .265 at the plate which is 26th.
Ryan Feltner leads Colorado in strikeouts with 33 and Kyle Freeland leads in wins with three. Antonio Senzatela will pitch for the team today. This season Senzatela is 0-1 with an ERA of 1.80 and 3 strikeouts.
The Rockies’ strength in this series has been at the plate, but they must step up regardless. They are 13th in team batting average at .254 but dropped to 17th place in slugging percentage with .391 and 19th in on-base percentage at .318. These numbers shelled out 152 runs which is just 16th and playing half their matches at Coors Field; they should be scoring more.
C.J. Cron leads Colorado in home runs with six and Kris Bryant is second with five. Elias Diaz leads in RBI with 18 and Cron is second with 16. The Rockies have hit 74 doubles, one triple and 30 home runs in 36 games.
MatchPlug Prediction
Colorado won six out of its last 8 games and they are 5-1 in the last 6 when playing a team with a winning record. Pittsburgh has struggled lately, losing 7 of its last 8 games and has faced challenges against right-handed starting pitching, losing every of the last five in that situation.
The Rockies’ starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela had only one start after opening the season on an injury list. Senzantela conceded only three hits and one run in five innings last Friday in a 1-0 defeat to the New York Mets. He commands all his pitches through five innings but got no support from his team.
Rich Hill of the Pirates is off a terrible outing where he allowed 8 runs and 4 runs in 5 ⅓ innings with his team losing 4-0 to the Toronto Blue Jays last Friday.
Jokic committed a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 on Sunday night when he tried to snatch the ball from Ishbia, who was courtside and hit the Suns’ owner with his elbow. Ishbia addressed the situation on Twitter on Monday morning.
“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story,” Ishbia tweeted. “Suspending or fining anyone over last night’s incident would not be right. I have a lot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!”
The scuffle started when Suns guard Josh Okogie landed into the courtside seats in an attempt to save a loose ball. He fell into a group of fans on the baseline that included Ishbia, who held the basketball.
Jokic wanted to get the ball quickly, presumably so that the Nuggets could begin their offensive possession when he tried to grab it from Ishbia. The ball flew into the crowd, and then Jokic knocked back Ishbia with his elbow.
Nikola Jokic defended his actions after a Suns VS Nuggets game in which he secured 53 points and 11 assists.
“The fan put the hand on me first,” Jokic explained. “I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I am wrong. I know who he is, but he is a fan. Isn’t he?”
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Jokic was “going to get the ball and some fan is holding on to the ball like he wants to be part of the game.”
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