Michael Alexander

MLB Free Pick - Philadelphia at Cincinnati

Phillies will send left-hander Ranger Suarez (3-0, 1.73 ERA) to the mound, making his fifth start of the season. In his most recent start, on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies, Suarez threw his second career shutout and first since 2021. He allowed seven hits, striking out eight and walking one in Philadelphia's 5-0 win. Suarez is 1-0 with a 2.86 ERA in seven career appearances (three starts) against Cincinnati. The Reds will counter with Hunter Greene (0-1, 4.35 ERA), making his fifth start of the season and second of his career against the Phillies. In his only other appearance vs. them, Greene allowed two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings in a 5-2 loss on April 7, 2023.

Michael has started off the MLB season RED HOT and after SWEEPING THE BOARD yesterday is now a MONEY MAKING 32-21 (60%) on the season!  Don't miss his THREE can't miss selections today!

Rating: 2 Units

The Rockies have not been winning many games this season, and they are not going to win games in back to back days, especially while taking on San Diego. The Padres have far more offensive firepower, they have big name stars in Tatis and Machado, as well as up and comers who have been producing in Profar and Merrill. The pitching edge goes to San Diego here, Cease has 27 strikeouts to just 11 walks while giving up only one home run, while Gomber only has 18 strikeouts and has given up four home runs in the same amount of starts. Even with their recent struggles, the Padres are still sixth in the majors in home runs. and the Rockies are dead last in team ERA at 6.06. San Diego gets back on track and opens up this series with a big win.

Rating: 2 Units

Grayson Rodriguez bullied the Angels in his season debut on March 30. He punched out nine across six frames while giving up just an earned run on four hits and a walk. Since then, Rodriguez has allowed two earned runs in each of his next three starts. On the other side, Reid Detmers met the O’s on the last day of March and fanned seven across five innings. He emerged victorious, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks. Detmers has been outstanding so far this season, and Rodriguez has been nothing short of spectacular, too. I’m backing the Orioles to come out on top because of their offense. Baltimore has been killing the southpaws over the last ten days, posting a ridiculous 259 wRC+ in 76 plate appearances (.444/.474/.750 triple-slash).

Rating: 2 Units

Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (1-1, 2.08 ERA) will take the mound to open the series. In seven career starts against the Royals, Kikuchi is 1-2 with a 6.37 ERA, earning the lone win on April 4, 2023, while allowing a run on three hits over five innings. Hunter Renfroe has a home run among three hits in five at-bats against Kikuchi. Right-hander Brady Singer (2-0, 1.54 ERA) will start for Kansas City today. Singer is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts against the Blue Jays, having won the most recent outing on April 3, 2023, while allowing a run on two hits in five innings. Varsho has a home run in five at-bats against Singer. The Royals have won all four of Singer's 2024 starts as he has allowed no more than two runs in any outing. All four runs allowed over 23 1/3 innings scored on homers. Singer's .163 opponent batting average ranks third in the American League. The development of a split-change has helped him induce more weak contact.

Rating: 2 Units

The Stars have won seven of their last eight home games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than three goals per game at home. They’ve also played well on special teams, converting over 24 percent of their power play opportunities. The Golden Knights are good at killing penalties, but they’ve struggled defensively, giving up 16 goals in their last three road games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Stars in this game. The Golden Knights have lost three straight road games and four of their last six road games. They have struggled offensively, scoring only eight goals in their last three road games. They’ve done a better job on special teams, converting over 20 percent of their power play opportunities. The Stars have killed over 80 percent of their penalties and they’re playing well defensively, giving up only five goals in their last three home games, so expect them to keep Vegas’ offense in check. Go with Dallas to cover the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

I'm going to lean on the Bruins again in game two. The goalie change should benefit a Bruins team that has stuck by the platoon goalie system in each of the last two regular seasons and has the most points in the NHL in that time. Ullmark, the defending Vezina Trophy winner, is certainly not a step down from Swayman and may benefit from actually watching the action in game one and seeing Swayman in action. The Bruins let up more shots than they are used to giving up in game one but some of that may be due to the desperation of the Leafs in the latter stages of the game after falling behind. The Bruins, as is their strength, took fewer shots overall but more quality shots. Leafs' goalie Samsonov is far from elite and did give up a couple of easy goals in this game. The Leafs will not win many if any, games if they score under three goals in this series. The Bruins should be able to once again control the pace, get ahead early, and dominate the neutral zone to pick up a 2-0 lead in this series.

Rating; 2 Units

The Los Angeles Lakers needed to beat the Pelicans in the play-in round just to get to this series. They were outmatched in game one. The Lakers struggled against the Nuggets this season, dropping all three meetings. These were not close games. All three defeats were by eight or more points and they dropped game one by 11 points. These combatants met in the conference finals last year with the Nuggets earning the dominating sweep. Denver has now beaten the Lakers in each of the last nine meetings. The Lakers rely on the scoring to win games but Denver has the better offensive rating and is the superior defensive squad by a big margin. Anthony Davis is not going to have his usual success considering he is up against Nikola Jokic. Davis only averaged nine boards against the Nuggets this season. Jokic averaged 29 points against the Lakers and scored 32 points in game one.