Bruce's Picks (5 Live)
OKC continues to have its hands full in this series...
Bruce's Past Picks
After rallying for five runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal a win from the Padres on Saturday night, the D-backs might be thinking they're invincible. That also makes it five straight wins for Arizona as the Snakes seem to be shaking off the cobwebs of a difficult May. Merrill Kelly has also been superb in his last two starts, allowing no runs and just five hits across 13 IP in wins vs. the Braves and Mariners. Meanwhile, San Diego seems to be floundering a bit, and Nick Pivetta has started to wobble, with an ERA of 9.00 and WHIP of 1.70 across his past two starts (losses to the Dodgers and Giants). Play D-backs on Run Line
This looked a potential crossroads weekend, and so far, so good...at least for the Phils, who have seemingly switched gears with these back-to-back wins at home while allowing just 2 runs in the process. Now they get another crack in their hitter-friendly park at Jose Berrios, who handcuffed the Phils on June 4 north of the border, allowing just 1 run and 4 hits across 6 IP of a 2-1 Toronto win. Philly always likes it chances with Zack Wheeler on the mound, 5-1 across his last seven starts, and if throwing out his bad May 29 effort vs. Atlanta, he's posted an 0.55 ERA in his other five starts since the start of May. Play Phils on Run Line
The Blue continues to scuffle, now losing 7 of 12 and out of sole possession of first place for the first time in over a month after the Giants pulled level with last night's 6-2 win. Clayton Kershaw, on the mound tonight for LA, isn't the Kershaw of old, with so-so numbers (4,35 ERA and 1.55 WHIP) and highly unlikely to last beyond five innings. As for the Giants, they're surging with wins in eight of nine to pull astride of the Dodgers in the West, and young starter Landen Roupp continues to impress with a 1.88 ERA ins even starts since the beginning of May. Play Giants on Money Line
In both Panthers-Oilers regular-season meetings, plus these first four in these finals, at least seven goals have been scored. As in Game 4 on Thursday, when nine goals were scored. It was also the second straight game in which Edmonton had to pull goalie Stuart Skinner, with Cal Pickard (now 7-0 in these playoffs) very effective in relief, though Kris Knoblauch has yet to decide who's in the nets for Game 5. (Surprise if not Pickard.) The Oilers seemed to get Sergei Bobrovsky rattled in the Florida nets in game 4, and for all of his highlight-reel assists, Connor McDavid is still looking for a goal in this series. One more night for this totals pattern to continue. Play Panthers-Oilers Over
The storyline to note with the Oilers was the latest pull of goalie Stuart Skinner by Kris Knoblauch in Game 4. That's back-to-back games with Skinner yanked, and unlike Game 3, when it was too late for Cal Pickard to make a difference, he shut the gate enough on Thursday for Edmonton to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win in OT and push his playoff record to 7-0. We're assuming Pickard will be in the nets for Game 5, though Knoblauch has yet to announce. Whatever, in this series of resilience, we still like Florida's depth scoring, its ability to cause disruptions with its forecheck, and Sergei Bobrovsky's likelihood to bounce back in goal from a tough Game 4. Play Panthers on Money Line
Tampa Bay continues to avoid slumps, avoiding its first three-game skid in five weeks with last night's 7-5 win at Citi Field that featured a comeback from 5-1 down. This pitching matchup offers more encouragement Saturday afternoon with Drew Rasmussen, who has been almost pristine in his last five starts, with an 0.62 ERA and 0.66 WHIP. Most importantly, Tampa Bay won all five of those starts. Not quite so good lately for the Mets' Tyler Megill, who has a 5.61 ERA since the beginning of May (seven starts), and the Mets would have lost more than four of those seven starts had their offense not been productive (such as 13 runs last Sunday vs. the Rocks). Play Rays on Money Line
Perhaps it's time for a course correction both ways this weekend if last night's 8-0 Phils win at CBP is any indication. Ranger Suarez continued his recent dominant ways on the mound for Philly, though in the past couple of weeks, Christopher Sanchez hasn't been much worse, in fact with a solid 2.83 ERA in seven starts since the beginning of May. Meanwhile, after winning 12 of 14, last night might signal that the Blue Jays could be due for some cooling off, especially with struggling Bowden Francis (18.00 ERA and 3.80 WHIP last two starts) on the mound this afternoon. Play Phillies on Run Line
Are the oddsmakers paying a bit too much respect to the venerable NBA playoff zig-zag? OKC has won all five after its postseason losses, but it has covered only three of those. Maybe more importantly, the Thunder hasn't covered at all in eight playoff games on the road this spring. Meanwhile, wagering markets have also been underrating the Pacers too much all postseason, neglecting to note Indiana's second-best NBA record since New Year's. (Those losses in October, November, and December aren't too meaningful in June.) Various scorers have stepped forward for Rick Carlisle's Indy all throughout the playoffs, and note how the Pacers slowed SGA ("only" 24 points) in Game 3. All are worrying developments for the Thunder. Play Pacers.
Knee-jerk anti-Chisox recommendations are very 2024 these days. In 2025, the Pale Hose have demonstrated enough solid pitching from their various young rotation pieces to move well beyond last year's automatic go-against status. Along with one vet, ex-Brewer Adrian Houser, who has been plugged into the rotation and is also excelling (1.48 ERA in four starts). Yet the Rangers seem about ready to explode, twice having blasted 16 runs in the previous series at Minnesota, and having won four of five. (Six homers on Thursday, too!) Bruce Bochy likely to make this a bullpen game tonight, but not a bad time to perhaps catch Texas in the early stage of an uptick. Play Rangers on the Run Line.
Yes, we must acknowledge the Blue Jays (12-1 last 14) are hot, and off of a sweep of the Cards at Busch Stadium. Still, a new adventure awaits tonight at CBP, where the Phils might be stirring a bit after their own recent problems. Ranger Suarez back into the rotation has provided a nice plus for Rob Thomson, as Ranger (2.70 ERA) has a succession of solid outings, especially his last four in which he's allowed only three earned runs and has posted a 1.05 ERA. Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman a bit less consistent on the Toronto side, and his road starts (4.35 ERA) have been nothing special this season. Play Phils on the Money Line.