BlackJack’s Saturday Plays: Bet on Astros to Bounce Back?

It's Saturday baby, we had a nice 4-2 night yesterday to kick off the weekend and now we keep it rolling today. I'm looking squarely at the MLB diamond today, with maybe a taste of the octagon. Either way, the playing surface doesn't matter, the arena doesn't matter, the contest or the rules don't matter. All that matters is that this team will win no matter what competition we are in, because we are winners. So let's get the winning started brothers.

WINNERS

Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox (-116)

2:10 p.m. ET

This one comes down to starting pitching for me. The Tigers, while not very good, have managed to be somewhat competitive early in this season. They are going with Michael Fulmer on the mound today and I'm more optimistic with him than Lucas Giolito for the ChiSox. Also, what the White Sox do well is score runs. The game time temperature should be around 25 degrees, which makes it very difficult to hit. I think the Tigers steal one here, take the plus value and the better starter.

THE PICK: Tigers

San Diego Padres at Houston Astros (-275)

7:10 p.m. ET

I was on this game yesterday and I am on it again today. The Padres surprised almost everyone by winning yesterday over Lance McCullers. Now today they are back at it again. Gerrit Cole is on the mound for the Astros and he looked stellar in his first start. This is simply a spot I cannot see the Astros losing. They're at home, off a loss, with their shiny new toy making his home debut. I like the Astros, and I like them big.

THE PICK: Astros Run Line

Oakland Athletics (-109) at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

9:07 p.m. ET

These teams have played several times already this season and we know one thing for sure; they can both score runs in bunches. The Angels' bats are very hot, and the A's have scored six or more runs in their last three games as well. The pitching matchup of Andrew Triggs and JC Ramirez does very little to deter my belief that runs will be the currency of the day in Anaheim.

THE PICK: Over 8.5

Khabib Nurmagomedov (-700) v. Al Iaquinta

Listen guys, I do not profess to be a MMA expert by any stretch of the imagination, however, people I do listen to all say there's virtually no chance Khabib loses this fight to Ragin' Al Iaquinta. This guy is going from his couch in Garden City, N.Y., to this fight. Laying -700 is a lot, but most I've talked to seem to agree that the play with some value is Khabib in under 2.5 rounds at -145. This gives some room in case there's a feeling out period early in the fight, but honestly it seems like Iaquinta is a lamb being led to slaughter here.

THE PICK: Khabib Nurmagomedov in under 2.5 rounds.

Let's get it brother, it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the wins are on the horizon in front of us. Let's go!

Editor’s note: The opinion on these games is from the individual writer and is based on his research, analysis and perspective. It is independent of, and may not always match with, the algorithm-driven Best Bets from Sports Insights