It is a GREAT time to be a sports fan as the MLB is in full swing while the NBA Playoffs are coming near a close of its first-round series’. Lucky for you guys, I have plays for both sports tonight as the two primary plays are baseball-related, with two bonus plays taking place on the hardwood. Let’s dive in!

 


 

 

OVER 1.5 total bases

It hasn’t been the best start for the Astros slugger, but Yordan Alvarez is in a very good spot to have a BIG day. Dane Dunning is being sent out to the mound by Texas and Alvarez loves himself some right-handed pitching.

Dunning has struggled thus far in 2022, allowing LHH to slash .333/.448/.500 with a .424 wOBA. This is much like last year too, allowing a .339 wOBA to left-handed hitters. A year ago, Alvarez had a .874 OPS, .256 ISO, and .368 wOBA against right-handed pitching. This season, Alvarez has ONLY hit against righties and has three homers and a double against them along with a .941 OPS.

This is a fantastic match-up for Alvarez and the rest of the Astros lineup to have a big game against Texas’ pitching staff.

 

 

OVER 17.5 pitching outs

Just because Walker Buehler hasn’t pitched six full innings doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen this year, especially tonight against the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have been better against right-handed pitching than lefties, but that’s not saying a lot considering they’re the worst team in baseball against southpaws.

Arizona is 17th in the league in OPS against right-handed pitchers and nobody is striking out at a higher clip. Buehler pitched at LEAST six innings in a remarkable 26 of 33 starts last year, so he’s built to pitch deep into games. In fact, he threw at least six innings in the first 16 starts last season, so the notion that he’ll continue to be limited and closely monitored until later in the season is wild.

Buehler and the Dodgers have moved to -195 favorites, which are by far the biggest favorites of the slate. He should cruise to six innings or more in this spot.
 

Bonus NBA Plays: