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Chicago opens this Friday matchup at 6-13, last in the AL Central, and carrying a three-game losing streak after getting swept by Tampa Bay. The Athletics come in at 10-9, tied for first in the AL West, and they have still gone 7-3 over their last 10 even after a messy 9-6 loss to Texas on Thursday. First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. ET at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, with Davis Martin facing Aaron Civale in a game listed on NBC Sports California and Chicago Sports Network.
This is one of those spots where the records matter, but the shape of the matchup matters more. Chicago has gotten almost no margin for error because the offense has been weak for most of the month, while the Athletics have been more functional at the plate and better overall at turning contact into scoring chances. Martin gives the White Sox a chance, though, and that is what keeps this from feeling completely one-sided.
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Chicago White Sox vs Athletics Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago White Sox | +129 | +1.5 (-156) | O 9.5 (-102) |
| Athletics | -156 | -1.5 (+129) | U 9.5 (-118) |
Chicago White Sox Betting Form
The White Sox are difficult to back right now because too much has to go right for them to win cleanly. They are 6-13 overall, 3-7 on the road, and have scored only 60 runs with a .195 team average, .286 OBP, and .316 slugging percentage through 19 games. There is some power here, sure. Munetaka Murakami already has five home runs, and Chicago did homer twice again in Thursday’s loss. But the larger profile is still thin, and the White Sox matchup coverage angle is pretty clear at this point: if they do not get a quality start, the path gets narrow fast.
Martin is the reason this game is at least interesting from a betting perspective. He enters 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and just four walks in 18 innings, which is a solid early-season base against a contact-heavy Athletics lineup. I think that makes Chicago somewhat live in the first five innings. The issue is what happens after that. The White Sox bullpen just gave away another late lead on Thursday, and the club is also missing Jonathan Cannon, Austin Hays, Kyle Teel, Chris Murphy and other depth pieces. That matters for a team already struggling to create offense consistently.
Athletics Betting Form
The Athletics have been more volatile than their 10-9 record suggests, but the offense has still been better than Chicago’s by a decent margin. They are tied for first in the AL West, 4-3 at home, and 7-3 over their last 10 games. The team slash line is not elite, but it is clearly ahead of the White Sox at .234/.310/.363, and the lineup has done a better job stacking playable innings even when the game gets messy. There is a reason the Athletics betting trends and picks market keeps pricing them as a stronger side than their run differential might imply.
Civale has also been excellent in the role he was brought in to fill. He is 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and just 10 hits allowed in 15 2/3 innings, and he is coming off a scoreless outing in the 1-0 win that completed the sweep of the Mets on April 12. The Athletics are without Brent Rooker, which does trim some middle-of-the-order thump, but Shea Langeliers has been terrific early and the rest of the group has held together well enough to support the pitching. The bigger concern for Oakland is relief stability after the bullpen gave away Thursday’s finale against Texas, so I’m a little more comfortable backing Civale than I am backing nine full innings of Athletics pitching.
Chicago White Sox vs Athletics Matchup Breakdown
The cleanest edge here is still offense. Chicago’s lineup has just not produced enough steady pressure, and that is a bad fit against a starter like Civale, who is throwing strikes, limiting hard damage, and forcing teams to string together multiple good at-bats. The White Sox can absolutely hit a couple of balls out of the yard and make this annoying, but inning to inning, the Athletics are just in a healthier place offensively. That is the first thing I would stress in any MLB betting guide style handicap for this game.
Martin narrows the gap some. His command has been better than expected, and that gives Chicago a plausible first-five path if Civale is merely average. But Oakland has been the better night-game team so far, and the White Sox have been poor in those spots at 2-6. Add in Chicago’s recent late-inning instability, and the game starts tilting back toward the home side once the starters exit.
The total is trickier. On one hand, both starters have been good enough to justify an under look. On the other, both bullpens carry some volatility right now, and Chicago’s relievers just threw a stressful game Thursday. With 9.5 on the board, I do not think there is enough value to force a total play when the side is easier to explain.
Chicago White Sox vs Athletics Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is to the Athletics on the moneyline. The price is not cheap, but it is still the cleaner betting angle because Oakland has the better current offense, the better overall recent form, and the stronger starter entering Friday night. Civale has simply been sharper than Martin through the first few turns, and Chicago’s lineup has not earned much trust against right-handed pitching.
If you want to make the White Sox case, it starts with Martin and ends with price. He has pitched well enough to keep this respectable, and Chicago’s power gives it a puncher’s chance. But that argument runs into the same problem the White Sox keep having all month: not enough traffic on base, not enough reliable support behind the starter, and too many innings where the offense goes flat.
The total is probably a pass for me. I could talk myself into under 9.5 off the starting-pitcher matchup, but Chicago’s bullpen and Oakland’s uneven late-game relief work make that uncomfortable. I’d rather stay with the side and trust the fuller team profile.
Best Bet: Athletics Moneyline -156.
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Texas heads to Seattle for Friday night’s AL West opener at 10-9, tied for first in the division entering play, while Seattle sits 8-12 and 2.5 games back in fourth. First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Park, with Jacob deGrom lined up against Logan Gilbert in what looks, at least on paper, like one of the sharper pitching matchups on the board. The game is listed on Rangers Sports Network, Mariners.TV, and KING 5.
The market is still shading Seattle because of the home split and Gilbert’s profile, and that makes sense to a point. The Mariners are 7-4 at home even with the ugly overall record, while Texas is just 3-3 on the road. Still, the Rangers come in off a 9-6 win over the Athletics and have been the more complete club through three weeks, with a +12 run differential compared to Seattle’s +4. The Mariners also limp into this series on a three-game losing streak after getting swept in San Diego.
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Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated Rangers vs. Mariners odds before locking anything in.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Rangers | +113 | +1.5 (-220) | O 6.5 (-115) |
| Seattle Mariners | -132 | -1.5 (+180) | U 6.5 (-105) |
Texas Rangers Betting Form
Texas has been a little uneven, but the profile is still pretty solid for a road underdog. The Rangers are 10-9 with an 82-70 run differential, they are 6-4 over their last 10, and they have hit 22 homers already. The batting average is only .231, so this is not a lineup that overwhelms with constant traffic, but the power is real and it gives them a chance to do damage fast when deGrom is on the mound. Corey Seager leads the club with five homers, and the broader Rangers matchup previews angle here is simple enough: if Texas gets even average on-base work around its power, it is live in any game deGrom starts.
DeGrom is the biggest reason I lean Texas at the price. He carries a 2.87 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts against four walks through 15 2/3 innings, and his last outing against the Dodgers looked more like vintage deGrom than a veteran still building up. He punched out nine over six innings in that start, and the command has mostly been there from the jump. There is some bullpen concern behind him because Texas just lost Chris Martin and Luis Curvelo to the injured list, but if deGrom gives them six strong again, the Rangers do not need this to become a deep-bullpen game.
Seattle Mariners Betting Form
Seattle is a tougher read. The Mariners are 8-12 overall, 4-6 in their last 10, and just got swept by San Diego, but the home split still matters because they are 7-4 at T-Mobile Park and that environment usually helps their pitching more than their offense. The offense has been the issue most of the way. Seattle is hitting just .209 as a team with a .301 OBP and .344 slugging percentage, which is not the kind of baseline that makes laying a favorite price feel comfortable, even if the daily MLB picks market keeps respecting the Mariners at home.
Gilbert is why the number is where it is. He enters at 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA, but the underlying shape of his start to the season is better than that surface number suggests. He has 25 strikeouts and only four walks in 23 2/3 innings, and he is coming off a seven-inning, one-run start against Houston. Seattle has also already seen him beat Texas once this month in a 2-1 Mariners win, with Gilbert working six strong innings opposite deGrom. That matters because it shows this matchup can tilt into a low-event game quickly if Gilbert gets ahead in counts.
Seattle is not fully healthy either. Bryce Miller remains out with an oblique issue, Victor Robles is sidelined with a pectoral strain, Carlos Vargas is still on the 60-day IL, and Rob Refsnyder was just placed on the paternity list. That does not wreck the handicap by itself, but it trims some lineup and depth flexibility for a team already searching for more offense.
Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners Matchup Breakdown
The first thing that jumps out is the starting-pitcher quality, and honestly that is why the total opened so low. DeGrom has been more dominant on a per-inning basis, while Gilbert has been better at working deeper into games. Both right-handers have elite strikeout-to-walk numbers so far, and neither offense has been especially consistent in creating long strings of quality plate appearances. If you are working from an MLB betting guide, this is the kind of game where pricing matters more than raw win probability because the scoring environment is already heavily baked into the line.
Texas probably owns the cleaner offensive edge. The Rangers have hit more home runs, scored more runs, and carry the better overall slash line. Seattle has been more dependent on isolated hot stretches from Luke Raley and a few timely innings here and there. The issue, though, is that T-Mobile Park can mute some of that power, and Seattle’s bullpen plus home-field edge still keep the Mariners in a reasonable favorite range.
I also keep coming back to the prior deGrom-Gilbert meeting on April 6. Seattle won that game 2-1, and both starters basically controlled it from the start. That does not guarantee a repeat, of course, but it reinforces the idea that this matchup can stay tight well into the middle innings. With a total of 6.5, though, there is not much room for error on an under. One shaky inning, one defensive mistake, one two-run homer, and suddenly you are chasing.
Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Texas on the moneyline. Not because the Rangers are clearly the better team in every category. They are not. But deGrom is the most trustworthy arm in this matchup right now, Texas has shown more power, and the price is giving you plus money in a game that looks closer to a coin flip than the market suggests. Seattle being at home is real, but I do not think it is enough to make the Mariners this comfortable a favorite against this particular starter.
I would be careful with the total. The obvious case is under, and I get it. Two quality righties, a big park, and one recent head-to-head that landed on three total runs. But 6.5 is a number that leaves almost no breathing room, especially with Texas carrying legitimate home-run upside and Seattle’s recent games showing a little more volatility late. I think the side gives you more margin than the total here.
If you want to get a little more aggressive, Rangers first five is defensible too because that isolates the deGrom edge before Texas has to expose a thinner bullpen. Still, the cleaner value is the full-game moneyline at plus money. I think that is where the mispricing is.
Best Bet: Rangers Moneyline +113.
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St. Louis opens this series at Daikin Park on Friday night with a 10-8 record, fourth place in the NL Central, and a little momentum after taking the final two games of its set against Cleveland. Houston is 8-12 and sitting fifth in the AL West, but the Astros are still 7-3 at home and the market has them as a modest favorite for the 8:10 p.m. ET first pitch. The game is set to air on Space City Home Network and Cardinals.TV.
This matchup is interesting because the Cardinals arrive with the cleaner recent results, while Houston still owns the better overall offensive profile. St. Louis has won two straight and has Jordan Walker carrying the middle of the order, but the Astros have scored 107 runs through 20 games with a .264 team average, a .358 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. That keeps Houston live in almost any home game, even with Peter Lambert making his season debut against Kyle Leahy.
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St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals | +120 | +1.5 (-170) | O 8.5 (-110) |
| Houston Astros | -138 | -1.5 (+155) | U 8.5 (-105) |
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Form
St. Louis is not putting up Houston-level team offense yet, but the Cardinals have done enough situationally to keep winning games. They enter this one 10-8, 3-3 on the road, and 10-7 to the over. The lineup has only a .231 team average and .369 slugging percentage overall, which is not dominant, but Walker has been a real difference-maker with eight homers, a .319 average, and 15 RBIs. JJ Wetherholt has also given them a jolt, and the club just took a series from Cleveland before heading out on this trip. There is a reason St. Louis keeps showing up on the MLB previews page right now.
Leahy is still the part of the handicap that makes St. Louis a little uncomfortable for me. He came into 2026 being stretched out as a full-time starter after spending almost all of his previous Cardinals work in relief, and the early results have been shaky: a 5.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, only seven strikeouts against eight walks, and recurring efficiency problems that can push the game toward the bullpen by the middle innings. That said, the Cardinals do have a steadier late-game setup than Houston right now. Riley O’Brien has converted his first five save chances and has opened the season with a 0.39 WHIP and an 11:0 strikeout-to-walk line in 10 1/3 innings. Lars Nootbaar remains out, but the Cardinals are not dealing with the same volume of frontline absences Houston is carrying.
Houston Astros Betting Form
Houston’s record still looks ugly, but the offensive case is easy to make. The Astros are hitting .264 as a team with a .358 OBP and .431 slugging percentage, and they have already scored 107 runs. Yordan Alvarez has been elite early with seven homers, a .328 average, and 18 RBIs, while Christian Walker and Jose Altuve have also been productive. That is why Houston is still going to attract action on the MLB picks page, especially at home where the Astros are 7-3 despite the overall 8-12 mark.
Lambert is the swing factor. He posted a 1.84 ERA in three appearances, including two starts, at Triple-A Sugar Land before getting the call, but he has not pitched in the majors since 2024 and owns a 5.72 ERA from that season. I think that matters because Houston’s bullpen is already under serious strain. The Astros have dealt with injuries to Jeremy Peña, Jake Meyers, Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, Tatsuya Imai, Josh Hader and others, and the pitching staff has leaned heavily on multi-inning relief work. Even with Houston showing better mound work the last two games against Colorado, this still looks like a staff that can be exposed if Lambert only gives them four or so innings.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Matchup Breakdown
This game really comes down to whether you trust Houston’s offense enough to back a debut starter and a taxed bullpen. On pure lineup quality, the Astros have the edge. Their team rate stats are just better across the board, and Alvarez has been the most dangerous bat on the field. The Cardinals have more top-end momentum with Walker, but overall they are still carrying a thinner team slash line and have been outscored on the season despite their winning record. If you are working through the side and total, this is the kind of setup where the broader MLB betting guide matters more than simple win-loss records.
Leahy’s command is the other major pressure point. He has not missed many bats so far, and Houston is exactly the sort of offense that can punish free passes because it keeps traffic on base and strings together doubles. On the other side, Lambert’s minor league numbers were strong, but this is still a first MLB appearance of the season against a Cardinals lineup that has real right-handed thump at the top and enough recent confidence to attack early in counts. That makes both first-five and full-game overs worth a look.
The bullpen split leans St. Louis in reliability and Houston in volatility. O’Brien has stabilized the ninth for the Cardinals, while the Astros have been forced to cover too many innings with too many moving parts. That is probably the cleanest reason not to get too aggressive with Houston on the full-game moneyline even though the Astros are the rightful favorite at home.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Predictions and Best Bets
My lean on the side is Houston, but only lightly. If I were pricing this myself, I would still make the Astros the favorite because the offensive gap is real, the home split matters, and Leahy has not shown the command or swing-and-miss profile to feel comfortable against a lineup with Alvarez, Altuve, and Walker behind him. Still, this is not a spot where I want to pay a premium for Houston when the starter is making his season debut and the bullpen has already been stretched.
The total is where I think the better value lives. Houston games are 13-7 to the over already. The Astros score enough to threaten this number by themselves, Leahy has walked too many hitters, and Lambert does not project as a long, stable outing. Add in the fact that St. Louis has won two straight, Walker is red hot, and Houston’s relief group has had to absorb one of the heavier early workloads in baseball, and 8.5 still feels a touch short.
I think the cleanest way to play it is the full-game over rather than forcing a side. Houston can do most of the lifting, but St. Louis should have chances once this gets into the middle innings. That is enough for me.
Best Bet: Over 8.5 (-110).
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Detroit heads into Fenway Park at 10-9, third in the AL Central, and riding a six-game winning streak. Boston is 7-11, fourth in the AL East, and just salvaged its series in Minnesota with a 9-5 win before opening this seven-game homestand. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. ET on Friday, and the game is scheduled for Apple TV. Boston is a small home favorite with Casey Mize set to face Ranger Suárez in a matchup that feels tighter than the records alone suggest.
The tricky part is separating Detroit’s real momentum from the scheduling spot. The Tigers have won six straight, but Thursday’s 10-9 comeback over Kansas City came after nearly two hours of rain delays and another late, stressful finish. Boston, meanwhile, had Thursday off after its Wednesday win in Minnesota, so the Red Sox come in with a cleaner rest and bullpen setup than Detroit does. That matters, perhaps more than usual, in a game lined this close.
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Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Tigers | +114 | +1.5 (-182) | O 8.0 (-102) |
| Boston Red Sox | -123 | -1.5 (+166) | U 8.0 (-108) |
Detroit Tigers Betting Form
Detroit has been the steadier team for most of April, and the offense has been a real part of that. The Tigers are hitting .245 with a .329 OBP, have scored 84 runs, and they just posted a season-high 14 hits in Thursday’s win over Kansas City. Riley Greene keeps driving big moments, Dillon Dingler already has four home runs, and rookie Kevin McGonigle has been one of the better early stories in the lineup. If you have been tracking the broader MLB preview board, Detroit has looked like a better club than its road record suggests.
Mize has been solid enough, if not dominant, with a 3.94 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 16 innings. He is coming off 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball against Miami, and that is probably the version Detroit needs again because the bullpen just had to work through a messy, delayed Thursday game. The concern is that Detroit is still only 2-8 on the road, and the Tigers remain without Parker Meadows, Trey Sweeney, Reese Olson, Jackson Jobe, and Justin Verlander, while Zach McKinstry is day-to-day. That leaves them thinner than this six-game streak might make them look.
Boston Red Sox Betting Form
Boston’s overall record still looks disappointing, but the recent form is not quite as bad as the surface suggests. The Red Sox are 5-5 over their last 10, they outscored opponents over that stretch, and Wednesday’s win in Minnesota at least stopped things from getting uglier. Trevor Story drove in five in that game, Andruw Monasterio had three hits, and the lineup did what it has been trying to do for a while now, which is turn traffic into one real crooked inning. That is also why the daily MLB picks and trends market has not completely abandoned Boston despite the 7-11 start.
Suárez is the swing point for Boston. The season line is still shaky at a 5.02 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, but his last start was easily his best in a Red Sox uniform: six scoreless innings, three hits allowed, and six strikeouts at St. Louis. That does not erase the first two starts, obviously, but it does matter because the velocity and life looked better, and Boston only needs him to get through the lineup a couple of clean times before turning it over to a rested relief group. The Red Sox are still missing Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, and Justin Slaten, though Willson Contreras had been hoping to return for the homestand after dealing with lower-back tightness.
Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox Matchup Breakdown
This matchup comes down to where you want to price schedule, bullpen freshness, and starter confidence. Detroit has been better overall so far. The Tigers have the stronger run differential, the hotter current streak, and the cleaner season-long pitching profile. But the road split is hard to ignore, and Thursday’s game was the sort of emotional, high-variance win that can look great on the board and still leave a team a little taxed the next night. From an MLB betting guide perspective, this is the kind of spot where context matters more than the straight record comparison.
Mize probably owns the more trustworthy season line, but Suárez may be the starter whose arrow is pointing up. Boston’s left-hander finally looked comfortable in his last outing, and Detroit is coming off a long, messy game before traveling. Fenway is also not the worst place for Boston’s lineup to rediscover itself against a pitcher with a 1.44 WHIP. On the other side, the Tigers’ lineup has been more consistent inning to inning, which is why I would be careful about getting too aggressive with Red Sox run-line exposure.
The total is probably the toughest market here. Cool temperatures around first pitch and two starters coming off decent outings support an under look, but Boston’s relief-rest edge and Detroit’s late-game volatility make 8 feel pretty fair. I think there is a betting opinion on the side before there is one on the total.
Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Boston on the moneyline. Not because the Red Sox have clearly been the better team. They have not. But this is the better situational spot for them, and the price is still manageable. Boston is rested, at home, coming off a good final game in Minnesota, and catching Detroit after a draining comeback win that used up energy and bullpen outs on Thursday. I think that closes the gap between these teams more than the season records suggest.
Detroit absolutely has a path here. The Tigers have been the sharper offense overall, Mize has been steadier than Suárez for most of April, and Boston’s lineup still has long cold stretches. Still, at near pick-em pricing, I would rather back the home team in the cleaner scheduling spot than chase the streaking road club that has not traveled well at all so far.
Best Bet: Red Sox Moneyline -123.
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Baltimore heads into Friday’s game at 9-10, third in the AL East, and trying to stop a three-game skid after a 4-2 loss in Thursday’s opener. Cleveland is 11-9, second in the AL Central, and back above water after Parker Messick took a no-hit bid into the ninth in that series opener. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. ET at Progressive Field, with MLB.TV listed on ESPN’s game page for the matchup.
This game feels important for both clubs because neither starter has looked right yet. Chris Bassitt is making his fourth start for Baltimore after signing with the Orioles in February, and Tanner Bibee is still searching for a clean outing after getting rocked by Atlanta last weekend. So even though Cleveland is a home favorite, this is not one of those spots where the pitching matchup feels settled or comfortable.
There is also a little extra edge to the series because Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is back in Cleveland after serving on Stephen Vogt’s staff the last two seasons. That is a nice storyline, but from a betting angle the bigger issue is whether Baltimore’s injured lineup can do enough damage against a struggling Bibee before Cleveland’s home-field edge and fresher feel from Thursday start to matter.
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Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in. Current consensus pricing has Cleveland around -139, Baltimore around +117, and the total at 8.0.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Orioles | +117 | +1.5 (-132) | O 8.0 (-110) |
| Cleveland Guardians | -139 | -1.5 (+110) | U 8.0 (-110) |
Baltimore Orioles Betting Form
The Orioles are harder to trust right now because the roster still looks pretty thin around the core bats. Adley Rutschman went on the 10-day injured list with left ankle inflammation last weekend, and Baltimore is still trying to piece together enough right-handed depth after nearly getting no-hit on Thursday. That said, the offense did at least show some life in the ninth inning, and Gunnar Henderson remains the lineup’s biggest threat with six home runs entering Friday. You can see why Baltimore still shows up as a dangerous underdog in the broader Orioles matchup previews, but the margin is smaller than it should be.
Bassitt is the real swing point. He enters 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA, a 2.36 WHIP, and just five strikeouts in 11 innings, and Reuters noted he has failed to get through the fifth inning in all three starts for Baltimore. That is a rough setup against a Cleveland team that usually does a good job forcing starters to work. Bassitt’s longer track record still deserves some respect, and he has been durable for years, but so far this looks more like a veteran still searching for rhythm than one ready to anchor a road spot against a contact-heavy home lineup.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Form
Cleveland has not exactly been explosive every night, but Thursday showed the cleaner version of this team. The Guardians got the long start from Messick, a Jose Ramirez homer, and just enough support offense to control the opener. They are now 11-9 overall and 5-2 at home, and that home split matters because this lineup tends to look more settled at Progressive Field than it does on the road. That is part of why the daily MLB picks market keeps Cleveland in favorite range in this matchup even with Bibee’s early struggles.
Bibee’s numbers are ugly, but I think there is still a little more upside here than the ERA suggests. He is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA, yet he also has 18 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings, which at least tells you the bat-missing ability is still there. The problem has been hard contact and damage sequencing, especially in that Atlanta start when he gave up eight runs and 11 hits in fewer than five innings. Cleveland is also still without Gabriel Arias, which trims some depth, but the Guardians are not nearly as banged up in the middle of the lineup as Baltimore is.
Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians Matchup Breakdown
This game really comes down to which struggling starter you trust to look more like himself. Bibee has been hit hard, but the strikeout base is still intact. Bassitt, on the other hand, has been much more contact-prone and has not worked deep into any start yet. That matters because Cleveland already got eight-plus innings from Messick on Thursday and does not need Bibee to be perfect if he can just hand the game to the bullpen with a lead. From a broader MLB betting guide, that is the cleanest separation in the matchup.
Baltimore’s path is still there, though. Bibee has allowed 24 hits in 18 1/3 innings, and if Henderson or Pete Alonso gets a couple of early chances with traffic, the Orioles absolutely can punish him. But that argument depends on a short-handed lineup cashing in before the middle innings, and Thursday’s opener was another reminder that Baltimore is not creating consistent pressure right now. Cleveland’s offense is not elite, but it is in the better matchup against the shakier starter.
I do think the total deserves a look because both starters have ugly surface lines, and an 8.0 total leaves room for a 5-4 type game. Still, Cleveland’s edge on the side is easier to explain than forcing an over on a night when Baltimore just spent eight innings stuck in neutral. If Bibee gives the Guardians even an average start, the home team should be in the better game script.
Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Cleveland on the moneyline. The price is not cheap enough to call it a gift, but it is still playable because the Guardians are at home, they are facing the less reliable starter, and Baltimore is still short on lineup depth with Rutschman sidelined. Bibee has been volatile, yes, but the strikeout upside is enough that I would rather bet on his rebound than on Bassitt suddenly fixing everything on the road. If you are looking for a more aggressive angle, this is the kind of spot that can also show up in premium MLB picks because the market is balancing two bad ERAs that do not feel equally concerning.
The total lean is over 8, but that is secondary for me. Bibee’s strikeouts give Cleveland a route to keeping Baltimore quiet for stretches, and the Orioles’ offense is not fully healthy. The side is cleaner. Cleveland simply has the more comfortable path to six decent innings and a late lead, and that is usually enough in a matchup like this.
Best Bet: Guardians Moneyline -139.
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Kansas City heads into Yankee Stadium at 7-12, fourth in the AL Central, and on a four-game losing streak after Thursday’s 10-9 collapse in Detroit. New York is 10-9, second in the AL East, and trying to steady itself after dropping seven of its last nine, including an 11-4 loss to the Angels on Thursday. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET in the Bronx, with Michael Wacha lined up against Cam Schlittler in a game airing on YES and Royals.TV.
The shape of this matchup is a little tricky because the Yankees are still the more explosive offense, but Wacha has been one of the best starters in the league through three turns. New York also just allowed 13 home runs in four games against the Angels, so even with Kansas City’s limited power, this is not a spot where the Yankees can assume anything. The market still makes New York a solid favorite, though, with the Yankees around -190 and the total sitting at 8.5.
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Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | +159 | +1.5 (-143) | O 8.5 (-105) |
| New York Yankees | -193 | -1.5 (+119) | U 8.5 (-115) |
Kansas City Royals Betting Form
Kansas City’s offense has not been especially dangerous overall, and that is still the main issue here. The Royals enter hitting .222 with a .304 OBP and .346 slugging percentage, and their 15 home runs are among the lower totals in the league. They did show more life Thursday with 13 hits, a Salvador Perez homer, and a three-hit game from Bobby Witt Jr., but the broader profile is still lighter than what New York brings to the plate. If you scan the MLB previews page, this has looked like a club that needs cleaner pitching than most to win consistently.
Wacha is the reason Kansas City is live at all. He is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and just one earned run allowed across 21 innings, and he is coming off eight shutout innings against the White Sox. He also has a strong history against the Yankees, including good numbers against Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The concern is what happens after Wacha leaves, because Kansas City’s relievers own the worst bullpen ERA in the American League at 5.98, and that is a dangerous weakness against a lineup built to erase deficits quickly.
New York Yankees Betting Form
The Yankees have been frustrating, but the power is still there. They have scored 86 runs, hit 23 home runs, and own a .381 team slugging percentage even with the recent skid. Aaron Judge is heating up again with five home runs in his last five games, while Ben Rice has quietly been one of the team’s best hitters all month. That is why the MLB picks page is still going to lean Yankee in this kind of home matchup, even after the ugly Angels series.
Schlittler gives New York a real starting-pitching edge too, or at least a different kind of edge. Wacha has the better ERA, but Schlittler’s strikeout profile is louder: 30 strikeouts against one walk in 21 2/3 innings, with a 2.49 ERA and 0.74 WHIP. He did give up three runs in each of his last two starts, so this is not completely risk-free, but Kansas City’s road offense has not shown enough to make that a major deterrent. The Yankees are still down Anthony Volpe, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Rafael Montero, but the bigger issue lately has been run prevention, not lack of lineup power.
Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Matchup Breakdown
This game really comes down to which pitcher you trust more to control contact. Wacha has been elite at run prevention, but his strikeout rate is much lower than Schlittler’s, and that leaves less margin against a Yankees lineup that can score in bunches with one swing. Schlittler, on the other hand, faces a Kansas City offense that has been more about grinding than slugging, and that is a good fit for a young pitcher who misses bats and does not hand out free baserunners. From an MLB betting guide perspective, the cleaner path probably belongs to New York for the first six innings and to Kansas City only if Wacha stays brilliant deep into the game.
The bullpen split matters a lot here. Kansas City just burned through another painful late-game loss in Detroit, and the relief numbers have been bad enough that even a strong Wacha start can unravel late. New York’s staff has its own issues after the Angels slugged all over it this week, but that damage came against a lineup with far more home-run punch than Kansas City has shown so far. I think that distinction is important.
The total is interesting because both starting pitchers point under, but the game can still get weird if Kansas City’s bullpen enters with traffic or if the Yankees’ recent home-run prevention problems carry over. Eight and a half feels pretty fair. I do not think it is the strongest angle on the board, especially with Wacha’s form pulling one way and the late-inning risk pulling the other.
Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is New York on the side, but I do not love laying the full-game moneyline at this price when Wacha has been this sharp. The better betting case is that the Yankees are the deeper offense, they have the stronger strikeout arm on the mound, and they draw a Kansas City bullpen that has been a real liability. That gives New York more ways to win the game, even if Wacha keeps it quiet early.
Kansas City’s path is obvious enough. Wacha has to keep Judge and Rice from changing the game with one swing, and the Royals probably need to lead before the late innings. That can happen, sure, but it asks for a pretty specific script. New York’s offense is just more likely to create damage over nine innings, and Kansas City’s lack of power makes it harder to punish the Yankees the way the Angels just did.
Best Bet: Yankees Moneyline -193.
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Tampa Bay opens this interleague series at 11-7, first in the AL East, and riding a six-game winning streak after sweeping the White Sox on the road. Pittsburgh is 11-8, second in the NL Central, and returns home after an 8-7 extra-inning loss to Washington on Thursday. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET at PNC Park, with Apple TV carrying the game. The market has Pittsburgh as a small home favorite, but this is not a spot where the better price and the better recent form point in the same direction.
The Rays have gone 8-2 over their last 10 and keep finding different ways to score late, which matters because this is not a lineup that needs one specific script to win. Pittsburgh has been solid too, especially at home at 6-4, but the Pirates are coming off a messy, taxing game and are handing this opener to Bubba Chandler against a Tampa Bay team that has been much cleaner in close spots this week.
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Tampa Bay Rays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in. Current consensus pricing has Pittsburgh around -140, Tampa Bay around +117, and the total at 8.5.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Rays | +117 | +1.5 (-182) | O 8.5 (-105) |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | -140 | -1.5 (+151) | U 8.5 (-116) |
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Form
Tampa Bay is playing like a team that is comfortable winning in different environments. The Rays are 11-7 overall, 7-5 on the road, and their .341 OBP ranks second in the American League. They are also hitting .264 as a team, and over the last 10 games they have hit .260 while outscoring opponents by eight runs. That is not fluky production. It is steady, layered offense, and it is a big reason the Rays matchup previews angle has stayed pretty bullish lately.
Nick Martinez gives Tampa Bay a pretty real starting-pitcher edge, at least in terms of trust. He enters with a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and only four walks in 16 2/3 innings, and he has already handled Pittsburgh reasonably well in his career. He is not overpowering, but he does not beat himself much, and that matters against a Pirates lineup that can get aggressive early in counts. The Rays are still carrying a long list of pitching absences, including Ryan Pepiot, Joe Boyle, Edwin Uceta, and Garrett Cleavinger, so this is not a perfect roster by any means. Still, the current version of Martinez is easier to trust than the current version of Chandler.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Form
Pittsburgh has been good enough that this price is not surprising. The Pirates are 11-8 overall, 6-4 at home, and their team numbers are strong across the board: .252 average, .342 OBP, .393 slugging, and a 3.27 ERA. They also have 182 strikeouts already, which is a big reason the staff has covered up some defensive sloppiness. If you are scanning the daily MLB picks board, the Pirates look like the kind of home team bettors usually want to back in this range.
The issue is whether Chandler is the right favorite in this specific spot. The rookie has talent, but the line is still noisy: 3.86 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 14 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 14 innings. That is a lot of traffic, and Tampa Bay is exactly the sort of team that can turn extra baserunners into crooked innings without needing three doubles in a row. Pittsburgh’s lineup does bring real danger with Oneil Cruz’s power and RBI production, plus strong seasons from Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe, but the Pirates also just played an extra-inning game after blowing a lead Thursday. That is not ideal timing against a hot road team.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Matchup Breakdown
This game feels more like a price handicap than a pure team handicap. Pittsburgh probably owns the better season-long pitching profile, and the home split is real. But Tampa Bay has the steadier starter, the better current momentum, and enough on-base skill to punish Chandler if the command gets loose again. That is the first thing I would circle in any MLB betting guide style breakdown of this matchup.
I also think the recent game scripts matter. The Rays just swept the White Sox and have now won six straight, including multiple close games where they created offense late with different types of pressure. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has played several tight games in a row and just burned a little more energy than it wanted to on Thursday. The Pirates absolutely have enough offense to win, but this number is asking you to pay for the broader team profile while ignoring that Tampa Bay may have the cleaner starter and the cleaner current form.
The total is tougher. Pittsburgh’s overall pitching numbers support an under look, and Martinez usually keeps games from getting too loose early. But Chandler’s walk rate makes 8.5 a little uncomfortable for an under bet, especially against a patient, high-OBP offense. I think the side is just easier to explain than the total here.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Tampa Bay on the moneyline. The Rays are getting plus money with the more reliable starting pitcher, the better recent form, and a profile that matches up well against Chandler’s current command issues. Pittsburgh may still be the better long-term team by some underlying measures, but this is not a long-term bet. It is one game, one price, and one spot where the underdog looks more stable than the line suggests.
There is still a Pirates case, obviously. The home split is solid, the staff-wide numbers are better, and the offense has taken a real step forward from last season. But I think the market is making you pay for the full Pittsburgh profile while giving too little credit to what Tampa Bay has done over the last week and to how much safer Martinez looks than Chandler right now. That is enough for me to take the plus price.
Best Bet: Rays Moneyline +117.
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San Francisco opens this weekend set at 7-12, fifth in the NL West, and still trying to pull out of an ugly road stretch. The Giants did stop a four-game skid with Thursday’s 3-0 win in Cincinnati, but they are still just 2-4 on this nine-game Eastern swing. Washington is 9-10, tied for second in the NL East, and comes home feeling much better after a 5-2 trip through Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET at Nationals Park, with the game listed on Nationals.TV and NBC Sports Bay Area.
The market is still leaning toward San Francisco because Logan Webb is on the mound, and that makes sense up to a point. The Giants are around -156 on the moneyline with a total of 8, while Zack Littell goes for Washington. Still, this number feels a little heavy when you look at the way these teams are arriving here. The Nationals have been the better recent offense, and the Giants have not looked comfortable away from home.
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San Francisco Giants vs Washington Nationals Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | -156 | -1.5 (+113) | O 8 (-115) |
| Washington Nationals | +129 | +1.5 (-136) | U 8 (-105) |
San Francisco Giants Betting Form
San Francisco finally got a clean result on Thursday, but the broader form is still shaky. The Giants are 7-12 overall, 4-5 on the road, and they needed that 3-0 win over Cincinnati just to avoid being swept. Jung Hoo Lee has at least started to wake up, going 3-for-4 in his fourth multi-hit game of the road trip, and his average has climbed from .143 to .246 over his last six games. That is the sort of small positive the club badly needed, and it is a big part of why the latest Giants previews feel more competitive than the record suggests.
Webb is still the biggest reason the Giants are favored. Even with the 5.25 ERA, he has 21 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings, and his track record against Washington is solid at 4-1 with a 4.25 ERA in six starts. I still think bettors are pricing in the longer résumé here, not just the first four starts of 2026. The problem is that San Francisco has not had much margin for error on this trip, and the lineup is also thinner with Harrison Bader and Jared Oliva on the injured list.
Washington Nationals Betting Form
Washington has been a much better story lately than its overall record shows. The Nationals are 9-10, tied for second in the NL East, and they just finished a 5-2 road trip by beating the Pirates 8-7 in 10 innings. They have already scored 107 runs through 19 games, which is a pretty loud number for a club that is still supposedly finding itself. James Wood delivered the winning hit Thursday, and CJ Abrams stayed hot all trip, finishing the Pittsburgh series with six hits, two homers, and three walks while carrying a .371 average through 18 games. That is why the daily MLB picks side of this matchup is more interesting than the raw standings might suggest.
Littell is not the flashier starter, but he has been serviceable enough to keep Washington live. He enters with a 4.20 ERA, and in his last outing against Milwaukee he allowed three runs over five innings without issuing a walk. The warning sign is obvious, though. Three of the six hits he allowed in that game left the yard. Washington is also still missing Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, DJ Herz, and Cole Henry, so this is not exactly a fully stocked staff. Even so, the bullpen looked much better over the last three games in Pittsburgh, and that matters in a game where the underdog only needs enough support to cash a plus-money ticket.
San Francisco Giants vs Washington Nationals Matchup Breakdown
This game is really about how much you trust Webb to clean up San Francisco’s recent mess. If you believe the ace version shows up, the Giants make sense as the favorite. If you are betting the current version of these teams, though, Washington has a strong case. The Nationals just scored eight runs in Pittsburgh even while going 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position, which tells you there is still room for better sequencing on top of the production they already got. San Francisco, meanwhile, has been living game to game on this trip. The MLB betting guide angle here is pretty simple: reputation and current form are pulling in opposite directions.
I also think Washington’s offense is the more trustworthy unit right now. Abrams is on a tear, Wood keeps showing up in leverage spots, and the Nationals have been scrappier than their record implies. San Francisco has some signs of life with Lee swinging it better, but the Giants are still coming off a stretch where they lost four straight and went 2-4 on this Eastern swing. That is not usually the profile I want to lay -156 with on the road.
The other piece is Littell versus Webb as a pricing gap. Webb is clearly the better overall pitcher, but that does not automatically mean the fair gap between these teams should be this wide. Littell has at least thrown strikes, and Washington does not need him to dominate if the offense keeps pressuring San Francisco’s middle innings. Honestly, this feels closer to a modest Giants edge than a strong road-favorite spot.
San Francisco Giants vs Washington Nationals Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Washington on the moneyline. Not because the Nationals have the better starter. They do not. But the price is asking you to pay for Webb’s reputation and to mostly ignore San Francisco’s current road form. I think this matchup is tighter than Giants -156 suggests, especially with Washington coming off a 5-2 trip and already sitting on 107 runs through 19 games.
The total is a little harder for me. Webb’s name pulls you toward the under, but his current ERA is 5.25, and Littell just allowed three home runs in his last start. Washington has also been one of the better early-season over teams by profile because it can score but still gives plenty back. I would not blame anyone for looking over 8, but the side feels cleaner than trying to thread that number.
At plus money, Washington is the more interesting bet. The Nationals are in better recent rhythm, the offense is producing more consistently, and the Giants have not shown enough on this road swing to justify laying this kind of number away from home.
Best Bet: Washington Nationals Moneyline +129.
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Milwaukee opens this series at 10-8, third in the NL Central, after stopping a six-game skid with back-to-back 2-1 wins over Toronto. Miami is 9-10, second in the NL East, and coming home after a rough 1-5 trip, but the Marlins are still 7-3 at loanDepot park. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday in Miami, with Brewers.TV and Marlins.TV carrying the game. Milwaukee still had not announced a starting pitcher on the official probable-pitchers board, while Miami is set to hand the ball to Janson Junk.
That missing Milwaukee starter is the first thing that jumps out from a betting angle. The Brewers used six relievers over the past two days, and Aaron Ashby picked up both wins in those Toronto games, so this is not exactly a fresh pitching situation. Miami, meanwhile, had Thursday off, which gives the Marlins a cleaner bullpen setup in a game that is already lined close to a pick’em.
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Milwaukee Brewers vs Miami Marlins Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in. Current consensus pricing is shown below.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | +100 | +1.5 (-203) | O 8.5 (+105) |
| Miami Marlins | -103 | -1.5 (+187) | U 8.5 (-106) |
Milwaukee Brewers Betting Form
The Brewers are a little hard to pin down right now. The season line is still decent enough at .238/.339/.380 with 91 runs and 18 home runs, and the on-base piece matters because Milwaukee can create pressure without needing three straight hits. It also helps that this club keeps stealing bases at an elite rate, which fits the way it just scratched out those two Toronto wins. There is still enough quality in the broader Brewers matchup previews profile to respect Milwaukee in a near-even game.
The lineup, though, is thinner than it should be. Christian Yelich is sidelined after his early hot start, and Milwaukee has leaned more heavily on Gary Sánchez, Jake Bauers, and Brice Turang to carry the offense. Sánchez leads the club with five home runs, Bauers has driven in 13, and Turang has been the most reliable table-setter with a .435 OBP. That is workable, but it does leave Milwaukee with less room for error than usual.
The real issue is on the mound. Because the Brewers had not announced a starter as of Friday morning, this handicap starts with uncertainty. Maybe it becomes a short-start plan, maybe a bullpen game, maybe a spot call-up. Whatever the exact route, Milwaukee is going into this opener without the cleanest pitching runway, and that matters against a contact-oriented home offense.
Miami Marlins Betting Form
Miami has been uneven overall, but the home split is not noise. The Marlins are 7-3 at home, and even with the 9-10 record they have hit better than Milwaukee on the season at .259/.332/.398. They do not have a huge power profile, just 14 home runs so far, but they do put the ball in play, they run, and they have enough lineup quality to make a shaky pitching plan uncomfortable. That is why the Marlins betting picks angle is more appealing here than the recent 3-7 stretch might suggest.
Liam Hicks has been a real difference-maker, entering this game with a .900 OPS and tied for fifth in the majors with 18 RBIs. Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez, Connor Norby, and Javier Sanoja have all given Miami useful at-bats too, and Kyle Stowers has started a rehab assignment that could help this lineup soon even if not immediately. The Marlins are tied for second in the majors with 25 steals, so they can pressure a defense and a bullpen without needing a bunch of home-run swings.
Junk is not a dominant starter, but he is at least a defined one, and I think that matters in this matchup. He is 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA this year, and his only appearance against Milwaukee came last July when he went five innings and got the win. He is more of a strike-throwing, contact-management arm than a huge strikeout guy, but against a Brewers lineup missing some punch, that may be enough.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Miami Marlins Matchup Breakdown
This game feels less about which team is clearly better and more about which team owns the cleaner path through nine innings. Milwaukee probably still has the higher offensive ceiling because of the OBP edge and the speed element, but the Brewers are entering Friday with pitching uncertainty and a bullpen that has already been asked to cover meaningful outs the last two days. Miami does not have to be explosive to take advantage of that. It just has to keep putting runners in motion and force the Brewers into extra decisions earlier than they want. That is the kind of spot where an MLB betting guide would push you toward context over raw team quality.
The Marlins also profile pretty well for this specific setup. They are not overly dependent on the long ball, they are comfortable playing for pressure at home, and they have the better rest situation coming into the series opener. Milwaukee’s offense can absolutely manufacture a couple of runs with walks, steals, and bunts, especially after what it just showed against Toronto, but I still think the unknown starter plus the bullpen workload is the biggest matchup edge on the board.
The total is a little trickier. Milwaukee just played two straight 2-1 games, Miami is not a huge home-run team, and Junk is not the kind of arm I love fading blindly. But with Milwaukee’s front-end pitching still unclear, the side feels cleaner than trying to thread an 8.5 total.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Miami Marlins Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Miami on the moneyline. The price is reasonable, the home split is real, and the Marlins are simply in the better schedule spot. They are rested, they know who is starting, and they get a Milwaukee club that is still piecing together its pitching plan after leaning hard on the bullpen in two straight tight wins. That is enough for me at this number.
There is still a Brewers case, to be fair. Milwaukee gets on base, runs well, and can win ugly. It just did that twice. But betting is about price and game shape, not just overall competence, and the game shape here tilts toward the home team. Until Milwaukee names a starter and shows a cleaner innings plan, I would rather side with Miami.
Best Bet: Marlins Moneyline -103.
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The handicapper leaderboard also helps you compare volume, consistency, and profit over time. That matters in baseball, where the best edge is often not just picking the right team, but picking the right price and the right market.
Suns hope to avoid unfortunate history in play-in finale vs. Warriors
After letting a chance at advancing out of the NBA play-in tournament slip away Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns will look to bounce back in an elimination game Friday.
The Suns will host the Golden State Warriors in the play-in finale, with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
Phoenix led Portland by 11 with less than seven minutes remaining Tuesday before the Trail Blazers came back to advance into the playoffs and move the Suns to the brink of elimination.
The Suns are looking to avoid becoming the first No. 7 seed since the play-in tournament began to drop consecutive games and miss the playoff field since this format was introduced in 2021.
“We addressed it right away,” Phoenix coach Jordan Ott said of the disappointment following the loss to Portland. “The goal is get in, just get in any way possible. It’s been our goal for a while. So we’ve got to move on. Got to move on. It sucks. These are hard to take, but there’s stuff to learn in here that we’ve got to learn fast and do everything we can to get ready for Friday night.”
The Warriors, who finished 10th in the Western Conference, were on the other side of that type of game earlier this week. In their 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday that sent them into Friday’s matchup, they didn’t lead in the second half until Al Horford’s 3-pointer with 2:12 left, rallying from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Golden State star Stephen Curry, who missed more than two months due to a knee injury before returning April 5, is coming off his best game since returning to action.
He had 35 points, hitting a big three in the final minute to break a tie and lift the Warriors in their play-in opener.
“There’s a reason we have four championships, and it’s the competitiveness, the heart, the will (of Curry and Draymond Green),” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s been such a tough year, but to just show what they’re made of, what we’re made of (was big).”
The Warriors won three of the four regular-season meetings between the teams, including a 101-97 win Feb. 5 in Phoenix in the most recent matchup.
Curry missed that game due to injury, but figures to be front-and-center in this one.
Suns forward Dillon Brooks said he’s looking forward to the matchup.
“The first quarter is going to really show this game, how I play,” Brooks said. “And then attacking inside.”
Brooks said the matchup against Curry made the matchup even more intriguing.
“One of the best players ever to do it,” Brooks said. “Who else do you want to go against in an elimination game?”
Curry averaged 23.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists against the Suns this season.
“This is why Steph came back,” Kerr said of Curry’s performance in the play-in opener and his rising to the occasion in big moments. “Everybody out there who thought Steph should’ve taken the rest of the year off, this is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he’s going to compete.”
Ott said Grayson Allen was progressing after hurting his hamstring in the April 10 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and will be a game-time decision.
–Field Level Media
