Big Al McMordie Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

At 9:40 pm, our selection is on the Milwaukee Brewers over the San Diego Padres.  Adrian Houser will likely never be an ace in the Majors and that is probably just fine with him and the Brewers.  The 29-year-old righthander just needs to be a solid starter and that's exactly what he's been for his team last season, and so far in 2022.  After winning 10 games with a 3.22 ERA in 2021, Houser is at it again, with three wins in his first seven starts and the exact same 3.22 ERA he had in 28 games (26 starts) last season.  Start number eight will come tonight in the first of this three-game series in San Diego against the Padres.  It's a match-up to which Houser is likely looking forward.  In two previous starts against the Padres, Houser has allowed two earned runs on six hits in 9 2/3 innings.  Most importantly, the Brew Crew has won both of those starts.  And Houser also has 13 wins in 45 career road games versus just seven victories in 46 games when pitching at home (30 starts).  The Brewers are 6-2 in the last eight meetings with San Diego and 9-3 in the last 12 here at Petco Park.  Take Milwaukee.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 8:30 pm, on Monday, our selection is on the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat Under the total.  The Celtics were upset by Miami, 109-103, on Saturday, and now trail in the series, 2-games-to-1.  Off that upset loss, and with their back against the wall, I expect a much better defensive effort by Boston on Monday night.  Indeed, NBA teams that trailed in a Playoff series, that were off an upset loss in a game which went Over the total, have generally rebounded to play MUCH BETTER defense in their next game.  Since 1990, such teams have held their opponent to a lower point total in 86.9% of the games, and the UNDER has cashed 62.3%.  Take the UNDER in Game 4.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:30 pm, on Monday, our selection is on the Boston Celtics minus the points over the Miami Heat.  We played on Miami in Game 3, but will take the home-standing Celtics in Game 4.  With its 109-103 defeat, Boston has fallen behind in this series 2-games-to-1.  But home teams that trail 2-games-to-1 in a Playoff series have covered 64.7% since 1990, if they lost Game 3, and weren't an underdog of 4+ points in Game 4.  Moreover, the Celtics have gone 26-12-1 ATS in the Playoffs, if they trailed in a series, and failed to cover the previous game's spread by 6+ points.  And Miami has covered just 7 of 24 games as a road underdog in the Playoffs, if it led in a series.  Take Boston minus the points.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.