Sean Murphy Handicapper Reviews & Picks

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Connecticut at 6 pm et on Sunday.

I think this is more of a mismatch than most realize based on current form. The Sun enter this game off a double-digit loss in Seattle on Friday. Their offense has been awful this season and certainly of late. Apart from an outlier performance in a stunning home upset of the Storm two games back, the Sun have been held to 24 or fewer made field goals in three of their last four and five of their last seven games overall. Meanwhile, prior to Friday's contest, in which they allowed Seattle to connect on 29 field goals, they had allowed 30+ made field goals in five straight games. The Sparks have quietly been one of the hottest offensive teams in the league lately, connecting on 29 or more field goals in five of their last six contests. While their defense leaves a lot to be desired, I'm not sure that the Sun, who are at a rest disadvantage, can take advantage here. With this being the first meeting between these non-conference foes this season, I think the oddsmakers are a little light on the Sparks. Take Los Angeles (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Edmonton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Lions have a far better defense than they showed during their three-game losing streak that ended last week in Montreal. In that win over the Alouettes, B.C. gave up just 20 points and I expect it to build off of that performance here. Edmonton scored 39 points in a wild victory over the Redblacks last week. Keep in mind, that was just its first victory of the season. Earlier, in the Elks season-opener, they managed only 14 points in a lopsided defeat in B.C. (that game stayed 'under' the total). This is an important spot for the Elks defense as they desperately need a better showing after allowing more than 30 points in all four of their games so far this season. The good news is, the Lions offense has been sputtering, producing 21 points or fewer in four straight games. As has been the theme in the CFL so far this week, I'm not anticipating a ton of offensive fireworks in this divisional matchup. Take the under (8*).

N.L. Game of the Week. My selection is on Philadelphia over San Diego at 4:10 pm et on Sunday.

The Phillies have dropped the first two games of this series so just as they did earlier in the week in San Francisco, they'll look to avoid a series sweep in a matinee affair on Sunday. Cristopher Sanchez will get the start for Philadelphia. While the Phillies did drop his most recent start against the Giants, it was no fault of Sanchez's as he allowed just one earned run over seven innings. Note that Philadelphia has yet to lose consecutive Sanchez starts this season. Of course, he was a massive All-Star snub as he enters this outing sporting a 7-2 record to go along with a 2.75 FIP and 1.13 WHIP. Over his last four outings he has allowed just four earned runs in 28 innings of work. Nick Pivetta counters for San Diego. He has also pitched well lately but this is a bit of a tough spot as he starts on short rest (four days) after throwing 104 pitches in a 1-0 win over the Diamondbacks earlier this week. While the Padres bullpen behind him has been terrific lately, it is also in 'overworked' territory having logged a whopping 32 2/3 innings over the last week. In stark contrast, the Phillies 'pen has been pressed into action for just 10 2/3 innings over that stretch so this should be a true 'all hands on deck situation' late in the ball game for Philadelphia. Despite winning the first two games of this series, the Padres still rank five spots behind the Phillies in terms of weighted on base average over the last week. Take Philadelphia (10*).

Sunday MLB Free play. My selection is on New York over Chicago at 1:35 pm et on Sunday.

The Cubs evened this series at a game apiece with a 5-2 victory yesterday but I look for the Yankees to take the series on Sunday. Shota Imanaga will start for Chicago. He's been good but not great since returning from injury and is just one start removed from getting tagged for three home runs against the light-hitting Guardians in Cleveland. The Yankees rank second in the majors in weighted on base average and fifth in isolated power over the last week so they figure to offer a significant challenge to Imanaga here. Will Warren will counter for New York. He's tossed five or more shutout innings in two of his last three starts and the Yankees have won three of his last four trips to the hill. The Cubs have sank in the offensive rankings over the last week, sitting 20th in wOBA and ISO over that stretch. With the Chicago bullpen also struggling while the Yankees relief corps has logged a 4.30 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over the last seven days, we'll back the home side here. Take New York.

My selection is on Miami over Baltimore at 1:35 pm et on Sunday.

The Marlins answered back following a loss on Friday in Baltimore, delivering a 6-0 victory yesterday. I can't help but feel the wrong team is favored on Sunday as these two interleague foes wrap up proceedings prior to the All-Star break. Miami will hand the ball to Eury Perez. He's been terrific, logging a 3.12 FIP and 1.04 WHIP in six starts with the Marlins this season. Miami has won each of his last three starts including wins in difficult settings in Arizona and Cincinnati. Here, he'll face an Orioles lineup that ranks 21st in weighted on base average and 25th in isolated power over the last week. Behind Perez is a Marlins bullpen that has been lights out lately, posting a 1.29 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over the last week. In stark contrast, the Orioles bullpen has recorded a 6.23 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over that stretch. O's starter Brandon Young has been on the hill for four straight Baltimore losses. He's yet to last longer than 5 1/3 innings in his previous five starts this season. Take Miami (8*).