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Stephen Nover |
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I have had only two losing season in pro football in my handicapping career. I have the best sources in the business thanks to more than 25 years as a sportswriter, handicapper and analyst. |
| FREE PICKS | ||
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
| MLB | Aug 17, 2022 Mets vs. Braves |
Mets -145 at CIRCA |
in 5h |
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In Max we trust. That's really what this handicap boils down to - backing Max Scherzer against Jake Odorizzi. Odorizzi is on his fourth team in six years. He's become a journeyman, innings-eater. He has a 4.15 ERA in two starts for the Braves since coming over from Houston. The Mets drew Odorizzi in his Atlanta debut on Aug. 6. New York got to him for three runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Scherzer isn't slowing down at 38. The future Hall of Famer is 8-2 with a 1.93 ERA. Scherzer faced Atlanta 11 days ago. He blanked the Braves for seven innings while striking out 11 and not allowing a walk. The Braves couldn't hit Scherzer then and I'm betting they can't do it now either. |
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| YESTERDAY'S PLAYS | ||
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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MLB | Aug 16, 2022 Cubs vs Nationals |
OVER 8½ -105 |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Premium | ||
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There have been at least nine runs scored in nine of Patrick Corbin's last 13 starts. It's not a coincidence that these games have been high-scoring. Corbin has gone from bad where he had a 5.82 ERA last season to a total disaster this year with a 4-16 record, 7.02 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. The Cubs have scored 35 runs in their last seven games, an average of five runs per game. They have a number of promising hitters who can take advantage of Corbin's total ineffectiveness. The Nationals can do their part to get this game Over the total facing lefty Justin Steele, who has a 1.41 WHIP. The Nationals have the sixth-highest batting average in the National League against lefty pitchers. Both teams are well below average defensively and each team's bullpen ranks in the bottom-10 in bullpen ERA. The Over has cashed 10 of the last 13 times when the teams have played in Washington. |
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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MLB | Aug 16, 2022 Cubs vs Nationals |
Cubs -153 at circa |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
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The gift that keeps giving is back. Stuck with a huge contract they gave to Patrick Corbin four years ago, the Nationals keep trotting him out. Never mind that Corbin has become the worst pitcher in the National League if not all of baseball. Corbin is 4-16 with a 7.02 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. He's given up four or more earned runs in each of his last six starts. Washington is 0-9 in Corbin's last nine starts. The Nationals are bad enough without Corbin, owners of the worst record in baseball at 39-78. They are 16-40 in their last 56 games. The Nationals have the highest ERA and WHIP and have committed the third-most errors. Unlike the Nationals, who dealt their two best players - Juan Soto and Josh Bell - at the trade deadline the Cubs held on to their key players, including Wilson Contreras and Ian Happ. The Cubs are in rebuild, too, but their undertaking isn't nearly as massive as the Nationals. The Cubs are a respectable 12-10 in the second half of the season. Justin Steele will oppose Corbin. Steele has been exceptionally sharp lately with a 1.26 ERA in his last three starts. He has a 25-to-2 strikeout-to-ratio during these past three starts. |
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SERVICE BIO |
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Sports gaming writer for Las Vegas Review-Journal 1984-1997. Professional handicapper since 1999. Author of three books - Las Vegas Sportsbeat, Sportsgaming Beat, Winning Fantasy Football. Taught sports betting at UNLV. Former co-host of the Sunday Night Stardust Line sports gaming radio show. Was part-time oddsmaker and analyst for Roxy Roxborough. Recognized NFL expert with 21 of 23 winning seasons. |
