Best Bets of the Day: Monday, Aug. 24, 2020
Previous Day’s Record: 3-0
Overall Record: 6-3
Welcome to another edition of “Best Bets of the Day," where we are riding high on a wave of success with a 5-1 stretch that included a perfect 3-0 day with a beautiful Dallas- LA Clippers parlay.
We start the week looking to take that momentum even farther, so let’s take a look at the three most intriguing games and begin the week with a smile. Shall we?
Odds provided by play.spreads.ca Visit now and place your own parlay on the action.
NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS
ROUND 1 – GAME 4
Upset Pick of the Day!
LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
[Lakers lead series 2-1]
It is do-or-die time for Damian Lillard and his Blazers. A win vaults them right back into the series, a loss basically pops their bubble for good.
The key question is whether they will fold against adversity like the Philadelphia 76ers did against the Boston Celtics, or if Lillard will reach another level like Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks did against the other team from Los Angeles.
The Blazers were 6th in the NBA averaging 115.0 points per game in the regular season, but they are dead last among all 16 playoff teams with barely 98.7 in their first three games against the Lakers.
I believe it’s Dame Time, and that Portland’s offense will come alive once again to ratchet up the drama in a first round that needs it.
My pick: Portland Trail Blazers (+275)
MLS SOCCER
Columbus Crew (5-0-1) @ New York City FC (1-0-5)
The Eastern Conference leading Crew heads to the Big Apple to face off against its polar opposite, the cellar-dwelling NYCFC.
Columbus not only is undefeated, but it has also scored 11 goals while allowing only one in its past five matches including a 3-0 drubbing of the Chicago Fire last Thursday (yes, they lost on PKs after a draw in the MLS Is Back tournament Round of 16, but the standings don’t count that against them and I won’t either).
NYCFC, meanwhile, hasn’t scored more than one goal in its past nine matches going back to last season. So…yeah, home-field advantage with no fans in the stands only goes so far.
My pick: Columbus Crew (+180)
MLB REGULAR SEASON
MIAMI MARLINS (11-11) @ WASHINGTON NATIONALS (11-14)
If there is somebody that has kept the Marlins afloat while waiting for their COVID-19 afflicted players to return, that someone is starting pitcher Pablo López.
Sandy Alcántara was Miami´s Opening Day starter, but López has emerged as the team´s ace in his absence with a 2.42 ERA and two quality starts in four games this season.
López struggled mightily against the Nats last season, unable to get past the fifth inning with a 12.85 ERA against them.
However, the Nats are 10thin the National League in runs scored this year and López will be eager to show just how much he has grown. Also keep in mind that they are starting Austin Voth, whose 5.54 ERA in August doesn´t inspire much confidence. Voth hasn´t pitched since last Tuesday when he allowed five runs in 4.0 innings against the Braves.
Go with López and the Marlins to take this crazy, weird five-game weekend series on the road.
My pick: Miami Marlins (+105)
-- El Hombre
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