Wow, we get -115 on this with Amaya hitting .188 on the season and .143 this month? That's almost in the Martin Maldonado zone (what is it with Chicago catchers?), although Marty definitely stands alone "living in the world of suck," as former Denver Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders once memorably said. I think Amaya will be in there because Yan Gomes started last night in Atlanta.

Bucs righty Jared Jones is going to be excellent in his career, but he's still a rookie making only his ninth career start -- and the Cubs just beat him last Friday in Pittsburgh. This is too cheap on Chicago and Justin Steele at home to ignore (should be at least -150 in my opinion) as the Cubs are the superior team overall ... but it may get rained out.

I'm super-late to the Phillies party because I frankly think they are somewhat overrated but hard to argue with the results, and I've been missing out. Totally jinxed now. Still was on the fence here but Mets leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo was scratched, so why not at this price. Former Met Taijuan Walker has gotten better in each of his three starts this year for the Phillies.

Man the Guardians are so much better than I thought they would be. But this is also the end of seven-game trip so a natural letdown spot ahead of a flight home. Carlos Carrasco has a 6.20 road ERA. Closer Emmanuel Clase likely is not available. Pretty big sense of urgency in Bruce Bochy's clubhouse, at least for mid-May, considering the World Series champs have lost five straight and could fall under .500 for the first time this season. That's definitely some motivation. Since the start of April, Jon Gray has an AL-best 1.50 ERA.

All I want is overtime. The Avalanche will be obviously desperate down 3-1. I'm assuming one of their key guys will not be suspended for six months as the puck is about to drop tonight as happened in Game 4 to Valeri Nichushkin. Hadn't heard of that before. But blueliner Devon Toews is back after missing that injured. Never would have played Colorado ML in Game 4 had I known those two were out. The big reason I'm gonna try this, though, is Dallas will be without Roope Hintz (30G, 35A in RS). Hintz has two goals and six points in nine playoff contests. I deserve this after the Rangers' third-period fiasco the other night.

Was not on my radar at all but Ronald Acuna is getting his first day off this season -- granted, not close to what he was last year but it's significant -- and still no Austin Riley for the Braves. Javier Assad has been incredibly good for the Cubs. Like too good so it can't continue, but we only need a one-run loss.

The Marlins' bullpen might be in tatters after the team played a third straight one-run game Tuesday. Starter Trevor Rogers (0-6, 6.57) has allowed 12 earned runs in just 5.2 innings over his last two outings. Detroit's Casey Mize, the former No. 1 overall pick, can be a bit untrustworthy on the road but has a 2.65 ERA at home in three starts.

Getting the O's only -125 at home means I have to play something even though Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi has been very good this season. A lot of Orioles hitters have good career splits off him. This may well get rained out like last night's did when Chris Bassitt was to pitch for the Jays and we liked that much better. The O's have been very good at home vs. lefties like Kikuchi, though.

Was planning on taking today off picks-wise after every bad break possible mushroomed on me last night in a disaster. Of six picks I made, at one point thought I was gonna win five and in the span of about 45 minutes it all went bad. Who gets suspended a few hours before a freaking NHL playoff game (Avalanche) when at the morning skate? Ah well. But then I saw the DraftKings props trends for tonight -- which you can find in the daily premium newsletter I write if you have signed up -- and this popped out so will throw something down as Gordon shoots 3s much better at home as it is and has made multiple 3s in three straight games.

This replaces the Jays-Orioles pick -- although maybe the gambling gods are trying to tell me something. Blanco has allowed more than two earned just once and the A's have never seen him. Blanco might be starting an inevitable fade but against this lineup should be OK. The SL Model has 1.9 ER allowed, and I'm simply hoping for 5 IP, 2 ER.

Dallas is excellent, but it still would be moderately surprising for the Avs to lose back-to-back home playoff games. Nathan MacKinnon (9-12—21 in 18 GP), Mikko Rantanen (6-15—21 in 18 GP) and Cale Makar (2-14—16 in 12 GP) have plenty of experience in games where the Avalanche trailed in a playoff round. And Colorado might get back injured forward Jonathan Drouin tonight. He scored a career-high 56 points in 79 games this season but was hurt in the RS finale. Drouin is a game-time call.

Don't love this matchup but also don't think the Rangers should be getting the +1.5 at home so we'll play a little out of principle. Cleveland just lost three of four at the awful White Sox over the weekend and tonight's pitcher, Tanner Bibbe, had his worst outing of the season last time out. A few Rangers have good if limited splits off him. Texas was embarrassed over the weekend in a home sweep by Colorado but that only makes me like the Rangers more in this spot because they certainly won't rest any healthy key guys after that. The Texas bullpen is in very good shape at least.