Sean Murphy Handicapper Reviews & Picks

My selection is on Seattle +1.5 runs over Boston at 1:35 pm et on Sunday.

We missed with the Mariners yesterday but certainly deserved a better fate as they built an early 5-0 lead but couldn't make it stand up in a 6-5 defeat. Yesterday's starter Chris Flexen disappointed once again but I don't expect the same from Logan Gilbert on Sunday. Gilbert has been brilliant for the Mariners so far this season, recording a 2.60 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in eight starts. Better still, he's posted a 1.59 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in five road outings. It's a much different story for Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi. He has seemingly come down with a case of the 'yips', allowing a whopping 14 home runs in 41 2/3 innings of work this season, including five in his most recent start against Houston. While the Mariners have lost three straight games here in Boston they have managed to plate 14 runs and they have to be salivating at the prospect of facing the struggling Eovaldi here, especially considering they reached him for four earned runs over five innings in an 8-2 victory here at Fenway Park last season. Take Seattle +1.5 runs (6*).

N.L. West Game of the Month. My selection is on San Francisco over San Diego at 4:05 pm et on Sunday.

The Padres are already 'fat and happy' having won six of eight games on their current road trip. They've already defeated Giants starter Alex Wood right here in San Francisco once this season but I don't expect them to turn the trick for a second time here. Note that Wood is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in a pair of previous afternoon outings this season. Meanwhile, Padres starter MacKenzie Gore was used out of the bullpen earlier this week in Philadelphia, missing his turn in the starting rotation. Given how well Gore has pitched as a starter this season it was a bit of a head-scratching move, although I suppose San Diego is looking to limit his workload somewhat. I think there's a good chance we see Gore a little off having not started in nearly two weeks and the Giants are fully capable of taking advantage, noting that they're putting up 5.5 runs per game, going 5-3 against left-handed starting pitching this season. San Diego has won the first two games in this series but only owns a slight 3-2 edge here in San Francisco this season and an 11-10 advantage in games played in this park over the last three seasons. Look for the Giants to answer back here. Take San Francisco (10*).

WNBA Eastern Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Chicago and Washington at 3 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the 'under' in the Mystics gritty road win over Atlanta two nights ago. I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the 'over' as they return home to host Chicago on Sunday. The Mystics were without Elena Delle Donne for Friday's game as she had a scheduled night off as she eases her way back from injury. She should be back in the lineup on Sunday to boost a deep Mystics offense that scored 78 points on Friday despite getting off just 55 field goal attempts and shooting a miserable 3-of-18 from three-point range. Note that Washington has put up 84+ points in all three home games this season. Chicago is coming off a low-scoring contest against Seattle, falling by a 74-71 score. The Sky have had plenty of time to get over that setback on Wednesday and I fully expect a stronger offensive performance here. The extra days off should have certainly served Allie Quigley well. The Sky sharp-shooter has been easing her way back into game action, contributing in just 15 points in 43 minutes of action in her two games back in the lineup. Candace Parker has been held to exactly 11 points in three straight games after scoring 21 in Chicago's season-opener. Like Quigley, I expect Parker to make a more significant contribution against the Mystics on Sunday. The Mystics were fortunate to give up 'only' 73 points in Friday's win considering Atlanta was able to get off 66 field goal attempts. Expect Chicago to improve on that number here. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Chicago over Arizona at 2:20 pm et on Sunday.

It's a true 'getaway day' for the D'Backs on Sunday as they'll hop on a plane immediately following today's game to head back home and open a two-game set with the Royals tomorrow night. They'll be playing their eighth game in seven days and haven't had a day off since May 12th so credit them for taking the first three games in this series, including yesterday's in come-from-behind fashion in extra innings. With all of that being said, I'm confident we'll see the Cubs, who had been playing well entering this series, salvaging the series-finale on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Wade Miley will get his third start of the season for Chicago after starting the campaign on the injured list. Remember, he went 12-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 28 starts with the Reds last season and showed signs of returning to form last time out, allowing just one hit while striking out six and not walking a single batter over seven shutout innings in a 9-0 victory over the Pirates right here in Chicago. D'Backs starter Merrill Kelly had the polar opposite experience in his most recent outing, torched for eight earned runs in just two innings of work against the Dodgers. Arizona has now lost his last two starts by a ridiculous 23-6 margin. While Kelly was on the mound for a pair of D'Backs victories over the Cubs last season, it's not as if he pitched particularly well, allowing six earned runs in 14 innings. Take Chicago (8*).

My selection is on Connecticut minus the points over Indiana at 2 pm et on Sunday.

We saw the Sun turn in one of the worst quarters of defensive basketball we've seen them play in years on Friday night, allowing 34 points in the fourth quarter against the Fever. They still ended up winning the game by nine points. I don't expect to see a repeat of that performance here. The Sun not surprisingly had their way with the Fever defense as that game wore on. You'd be hard-pressed to find a weaker defensive team in the WNBA than the Fever as they continue what seems to be a never-ending rebuild. Credit them for shooting the lights out on Friday but with arguably their best offensive player, rookie NaLyssa Smith, likely to miss one more game (she's listed as doubtful for Sunday) I expect them to have a tough time keeping pace with a full-strength Sun squad on Sunday. Take Connecticut (8*).

My selection is on New York over Carolina at 3:30 pm et on Sunday.

The Hurricanes have now won three games in a row - their longest such streak of the playoffs to date. Off a shutout victory in Game 2, I look for the Canes to suffer a letdown in Game 3 as the scene shifts to Madison Square Garden. Note that Carolina is a miserable 1-6 when coming off consecutive games in which it allowed one goal or less over the last two seasons, as is the case here. They're also a miserable 41-70 when coming off 3+ consecutive victories in the long-term picture. The Rangers are an impressive 8-1 when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent in which they were shut out over the last two seasons. They've also 10-2 when coming off consecutive losses this season, which is also the situation here. Take New York (8*).

My selection is on Florida over Tampa Bay at 1:30 pm et on Sunday.

As I've mentioned on numerous occasions previously, long winning streaks just aren't commonplace in the NHL Playoffs. Here, the Lightning will be looking to deliver a fifth consecutive victory after improbably taking Games 1 and 2 in Sunrise. Note that the Bolts are 2-6 after winning 4+ games in a row this season. I look for the Panthers to answer back on Sunday afternoon. Florida has now dropped consecutive games, its longest losing streak since dropping three in a row from February 22nd to 26th. The Cats are 13-2 after being held to one goal or less in their previous game over the last two seasons and 30-15 when playing on the road off a loss over the last three seasons. Take Florida (9*).