The Lakers obviously have to throw everything they have at the Nuggets tonight with the season on the line -- and they have been dominating in points in the paint in the past two games, so maybe they figured something out. Denver also is listing Jamal Murray as questionable. Jarred Vanderbilt has been upgraded to questionable for LA and would bring some needed additional size/fouls against Nikola Jokic. This feels like a really close game or a Denver blowout win. The Lakers have led by double digits in every game so far.

Think I'll always take Under a double-digit total in a non-weather or non-Denver game unless it's truly a brutal pitching matchup and that's not really the case here with James Paxton opposed by Tommy Henry -- although the Snakes do hit lefties like Paxton hard. Henry can be rather hit or miss but was very good last time out at the Cardinals. The Dodgers have never seen him. Arizona has had just one game with more than 10 combined runs scored in its past eight. Three of LA's past four have landed WAY Under this number. At 9.5 or even 10 maybe I don't play this.

Simply a case of the wrong team getting +1.5 in my opinion and we won't have the option much longer because only a few books have the Brewers as runline dogs. The Rays have just one win in their past seven and were embarrassingly swept over the weekend at the White Sox. At some point, having little money to spend was going to catch up to Tampa Bay and it has in 2024.

Don't look now but our dawg Marty is up to .083 on the season after having two hits on Friday. Then back to his usual hitless on Saturday before getting Sunday off -- meaning he's likely playing tonight. He is 1-for-4 with two Ks career off Twins pitcher Joe Ryan.

I'm not sure I thought the White Sox would win three straight games all season but here they are after a sweep of Tampa Bay. Think that says more about the Rays. Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet was great early on but has allowed at least five runs in three straight. Twins counterpart Joe Ryan has a 1.59 ERA in two road starts and is 2-0 with a 3.68 ERA in four career starts vs. Chicago. Minnesota shortstop Carlos Correa has been activated off the IL.

The fade of the Sunday night traveling team hasn't really worked yet but you can't spell perseverance without Severance, so we keep trying. And yes I used that saying in job interviews and first dates back in the day. Went about as well as you would think for both. The Cubbies might struggle against right-handers such as the Mets' Luis Severino until Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki are off the injured list. They also might be a bit thin in the bullpen tonight behind Jameson Taillon.

Tampa Bay looked like a different team Saturday with the return of defenseman Mikhail Sergachev in the Game 4 win. He had been out since Feb. 7 after breaking his leg. The Bolts rode that wave of emotion to a 3-0 lead after a period. They also are getting a lot more power-play attempts than the Panthers in the series. The Bolts went 2-for-5 with the man advantage in Game 4.

What took Kings coach Jim Hiller so long to make a change in net for this series? Not sure why he didn't allow David Rittich to start originally as he had much better regular-season numbers than Cam Talbot, who was pretty awful in first three games. Rittich faced the Oilers in LA on Feb. 10 and shut them out.

The Canucks are being forced to use third-string goalie Arturs Silovs in his playoff debut because of injuries to the top two guys. We knew No. 1 Thatcher Demko was hurt, but No. 2 Casey DeSmith apparently was injured in his Game 3 victory. Nashville largely dominated in that loss as it was.

Seattle tries for the sweep and certainly has the right pitcher on the hill for it in Logan Gilbert (2-0, 1.87 ERA). His ERA at home is 1.32 and during the day it's 1.17. Counterpart Brandon Pfaadt has a 5.73 road ERA.

I realize this is being played at a higher elevation in Mexico City than even Denver but 16.5 runs? Granted, there were 16 scored in Game 1. The Rox are sitting a few regulars like Charlie Blackmon against Houston's Framber Valdez, who returns from injury.

Here we thought the Avalanche were going to be at a major goaltending disadvantage in the series, but it has been Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, the likely Vezina winner, who has been lousy. His defense also will be down a key player in Brenden Dillon due to injury. He has three assists in the series and was plus-20 during the regular season.

Wow the Guardians are so much better than I thought they would be. But can't say I think much of today's pitcher Ben Lively. Good numbers this year but a journeyman for a reason. Atlanta seemed to come out of last night's extra-inning loss in better bullpen shape as well.