NL East Total of the Year - Rickenbach MLB Rotation #955 Friday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves @ 7:05 ET - Both of these teams are off tight 1-run wins yesterday that stayed under the total. The Phillies game versus the Yankees was 5-2 through 3 innings and still managed to stay under the total. That is helping to give some line value here as this total opened up at a 10 but has dropped to a 9.5 perhaps partially impacted by yesterday's results. The fact is that I trust neither one of these starting pitchers and the Phillies lineup has been stronger than expected considering the layoff (covid-19) they've endured early this season. The Braves lineup is of course a potent one and a key reason they have a solid 9-5 record on the season. Atlanta will take advantage of facing a struggling Vince Velasquez. He is one of these guys that has so much potential but just can never harness it. He shows flashes of brilliance at times and then immediately reverts to his struggles which are partially "in his head" in my opinion. Until Velasquez sorts this out he is never going to be the pitcher he could be and he'll eventually "break down" again in this start against the Braves. His first start this season against the Marlins was absolutely unacceptable. Staked to a big lead Velasquez imploded as per usual. As for the Braves Kyle Wright, his 2nd start was better than his first but that's not saying much. Wright's first start was very ugly and then in his 2nd start he was fortunate to work out of multiple jams. He is a highly regarded prospect but faces a big challenge with the hitters the Phillies have in their lineup. 10* OVER the total in Philadelphia

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Rotation #58 Friday Free Pick Columbus Blue Jackets Money Line (+) vs Toronto Maple Leafs @ 8:05 ET - After the big comeback win last night from a 3-0 deficit, the Blue Jackets can close this series out tonight and I expect them to do just that. The Maple Leafs confidence has to be shaken after inexcusably blowing a 3-goal lead in the loss to Columbus last night. After eventually losing that game in OT and then with the short turnaround without an off day in between, all the momentum belongs to the Jackets here. Keep in mind the Leafs enjoyed initial regular season success (winning 15 of 20) when coach Keefe first took over for the fired Babcock. However, since then the Maple Leafs closed out the season losing 27 of 47 games and now in the post-season have lost 2 of the first 3 games in this series. Blue Jackets coach Tortorella certainly has the experience edge over Keefe and also the Maple Leafs have been bounced from the playoffs in the first round in each of the past 3 seasons. In fact, Toronto hasn't won a playoff series since 2004! That futility continues here and brings more misery for the many Maple Leafs fans north of the border. The Blue Jackets are the more cohesive hockey club in my opinion and their bond has grown even stronger after last night's fantastic win. Free Pick COLUMBUS

Rickenbach NHL Rotation #59 Friday 10* Top Play Edmonton Oilers Money Line (-) vs Chicago Blackhawks @ 6:45 ET - The Oilers lost on a very late goal in Game 3. It was no fault of the goalie on that play but one thing for certain is that neither team has been particularly sharp between the pipes as goals continue piling up through this series. I know that the Blackhawks have played very well in this series and have Edmonton on the edge of elimination. However, I just don't see it happening. After the Oilers got off the initial shock of an ugly 1st period stretch in Game 1 of this series, they have played well for long stretches and I like the coaching edge here in a crucial game as well. Edmonton is coached by Dave Tippett and Chicago is coached by Jeremy Colliton. Note that Tippett was playing in the NHL before Colliton was even born. Yes he is 24 years his senior and I look for Tippett to rally the troops here for the Oilers. Teams off a loss in this post-season have responded well for the most part with the lone exception being a flat Rangers team that was ousted by a Hurricanes team that was firing on all cylinders. So not including the Canes series or the round robin games, we're talking about only the 5-game series here, teams off a loss are 12-3 so far. That is an 80% cash in rate and I am more than willing to lay the fair price (-130 range) here with a desperate, more talented, and better coached Oilers team. 10* EDMONTON

Rickenbach NHL Rotation #55 Friday 7* Pittsburgh Penguins Money Line (-) vs Montreal Canadiens @ 4 ET - The Canadiens are up 2-1 in this series but the most dominating win belongs to the Penguins. Give Montreal credit for sure but it took OT to win Game 1 and then it took rallying from a 2-goal deficit in Game 3. Just like we saw after Game 1, look for the Penguins to rally the troops here. Pittsburgh is loaded with experienced veterans and they can play with pressure on their backs and in their heads. They raise the level of their games in this one and noticed my slightly reduced rating for this play since the money line is in the -155 range but I just can't pass up this opportunity. I see a lot of value here with the Penguins off a loss and having already shown in this series what they're capable of when fired up off a loss. Look for the Pens to come up with another huge effort like they did in Game 2 as they stave off elimination and force a game 5 winner takes all match-up for this weekend. 7* PITTSBURGH

Rickenbach NHL Rotation #53 Friday 8* Nashville Predators Money Line (-) vs Arizona Coyotes @ 2:35 ET - The Predators are the better team in this match-up but sometimes crazy things happen. Nashville had about a dozen shots on goal before Arizona even got their first shot in Game 3 but none of the Preds shots found the back of the net while the Coyotes very first did. Then Nashville had apparently taken the lead in the third period of Game 3 only to have the goal over-turned. A deflating turn of events and, as a result, you're going to see a determined Predators team ready to take over in this game and force a winner takes all game 5. I respect the Coyotes but there is no doubt in my mind that the Preds are the better team and, of course, they're bringing their A game for this one. 8* NASHVILLE

Daytime Dominator - Rickenbach NBA Rotation #703 Friday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder @ 4:05 ET - This total has dropped from its opener and has added value to the over in this spot. The Thunder are off a fantastic effort against the Lakers and allowed 86 points in that win. Usually after a big win like that a team comes out and allows a bunch of points in their very next game. That plays right into our hands in terms of this play on Friday. Memphis is off a loss to Utah and needs to respond big as the losses keep piling up for them as they cling to the #8 seed. The problem for the Grizzlies though is they have been giving up plenty of points and seem incapable of getting key stops when they need to. Look for them to have another subpar game on the defensive end and note that the Thunder allowed 121 points to the Nuggets in their game immediately prior to the win over LeBron James and company. Look for plenty of points in this one! 10* OVER the total in Memphis