BlackJack’s Plays of the Day: Striking Gold

Hello from fabulous Las Vegas, brothers. We are here yet again to make money. Things have gone well, and we are grateful for that, but, as always, today is a new day, and we must succeed all over again. We are prepared, we are willing and we are unstoppable. We will succeed. We will win. We will rule this day and all others. TCB time, baby.

BlackJack’s 79% Love Story: How I Fell for the Vegas Golden Knights

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WINNERS

Washington Nationals (-210) at Baltimore Orioles

7:05 p.m. ET

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Nationals delivered us a plus-money winner yesterday with Jeremy Hellickson on the mound, and today they return to our board with Max Scherzer on the bump. Scherzer has just been so good, yet again, that when he pitches you almost always try to find a way to back him. The Nationals appear to be rounding into form a bit here, while the Orioles are going nowhere except to the seller's market at the trade deadline. I'm not laying the huge price above, but I'll lay the run and a half.

THE PICK: Nationals run line (-136)

New York Mets at Atlanta Braves (-154)

7:35 p.m. ET

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

They may be .500 on the season, but the Mets stink. They absolutely stink. This season is going downhill in a hurry for the Metropolitans. After a 12-2 start, nothing is going right, and last night's game was indicative of that. They jumped to a 6-2 lead and lost 7-6. That showed how bad the Mets are and how the Braves offense can score in bunches. Tonight the Mets are throwing Jason Vargas. His ERA is over 10. The Braves counter with Julio Teheran, who has been better but not lights-out by any means. The only play here is on the total.

THE PICK: Over 9 runs

Washington Capitals at Vegas Golden Knights (-150)

8 p.m. ET

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

I don't want to hear from Capitals fans about how Game 1 was a moral victory. First, there's no such thing. Second, Vegas showed it is the better team in Game 1. The Capitals scored on Marc-Andre Fleury four times and still lost. I think Game 1 was Washington's best punch. The Capitals threw it and still got knocked out. I think tonight the story is different. I think Vegas is settled in and will play its game more frequently and with more ease. I like our Knights, and I like 'em big.

THE PICK: Golden Knights puck line (+175)

#GOKNIGHTSGO