9, 23, 6, 22, 22.00, 3.22, 3-14. What do these numbers signify? The first six relate to the Angels' bullpen the past three games--9 IP, 23 hits allowed, 6 walks 22 earned runs, 22.00 ERA, 3.22 WHIP. The 3-14 relates to the Halos' record the past 17 games. We can also add 7, the current Angels losing streak, and 29-8, the combined score of the past three losses since Wednesday. Let's add 6.65, the ERA of Saturday starter Kyle Hendricks. The Tigers, with the AL's best record (21-12), are enjoying this weekend in Anaheim immensely, and local product Jack Flaherty on the mound couldn't pick a better foe against whom to notch his first win since April 4. Play Tigers on Run Line

This hasn't been the defensive series many expected, instead a fast-paced barnburner as the Stars especially have seemed to figure out ways thru the Avs defense. Some insiders believe that this is partly of function of trade deadline add Mikko Rantanen simply getting comfortable in his new surroundings; Rantanen, with Colorado until near midseason before a brief interlude with Carolina, leads all Dallas scorers with eight points in these playoffs, as his work beneath the goal has proven a problem for Colorado. The Avs, however, routinely put 40 shots on Jake Oettinger in this series, and don't forget close-out dynamics, as trailing teams have often become quite desperate when there's no tomorrow, and pulling goalies late has often resulted in inflated scorelines. Play Avs-Stars "Over"

It's been a big switch in totals patterns in the NBA playoffs after unders dominated the first week. Now it's the overs in charge into this weekend, on a 12-4 run after the Rockets and Warriors easily cleared their number last night. Given some of the earlier higher totals in this particular series, we're a bit surprised there hasn't been more upward movement as these two have blown past the total in the past two games. James Harden's 28 points for the Clips in Game 6 signified he's back into this series, and Russell Westbrook's return to active duty has provided a big spark for the Nuggets and points off the bench. Play Clippers-Nuggets Over

This price baffles as the Marlins don't look a team to be laying any sort of a price (however slight) these days. Six straight losses and a 10.27 ERA that span suggest the oddsmakers might be off with this one, especially as the visiting A's are rolling, winning eight of ten and now 12-6 on the road after Friday's 6-1 romp. Note the A's have won all three road starts by Osvaldo Bido, who has posted a 2.30 ERA in those outings. Meanwhile, Miami's Max Meyer was roughed up by Seattle in his last start, allowing five runs and five hits in 4 IP of another Marlins loss. Not to mention recent Miami form which, as noted, has been wretched. Play A's on Money Line

The Twins must be wishing the had the Angels in front of them like last weekend when they swept the Halos; since, Minnesota is 1-4 (the last four all losses), and on the season the Twins are 9-20 when not facing the Halos. Big Bailey Ober has wins in his last three starts, but has received uncommon run support (for the Twins, at least), in that span, with 21 runs of help--not sure he gets that sort of help today. Meanwhile the Bosox are liking what they're seeing from rookie Hunter Dobbins, whose first two starts on the mound have offered plenty of encouragement (ERA 2.45; WHIP 1.18). Play Red Sox on Money Line

Nothing but bad news for the Halos, who lost their sixth straight, eighth in nine, and 13th in their last 16 last night in the latest implosion vs. the Tigers. Detroit looks like it might really enjoy this visit to Anaheim after last night's 10-4 win, especially if Ron Washington dares again risk Reid Detmers (past two nights ERA 243.00...that's right!) out of the bullpen. Starter Jose Soriano (7.07 ERA his last three starts) is one of several losing traction in the Halo rotation. And, oh yes, Mike Trout (knee) is on the injured list again. This hardly looks promising vs. the Tigers' AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who's allowed 0 runs in three of his last four starts. Play Tigers on Run Line

Two more games on Thursday, two more overs, so the earlier first-round under trend is now in the rear-view mirror with overs on an 11-4 run. The Rockets helped on Wednesday in their Game 5 romp vs. the Warriors, who admittedly seemed to back off when the score got out of hand, but Houston was consciously pushing the tempo from the get-go to set a faster pace. Expect the Dubs to try slowing a down a bit in another close-out game tonight, and Ime Udoka is still waiting for Jalen Green (only 11 on Wednesday) to establish more consistency. In the meantime it's vet Fred VanVleet who's taken control of the Houston offense, and 203.5 still not a prohibitive total. Play Rockets-Warriors Over

No place like home as the host has won all five after the Jets held serve on Wednesday. Now Winnipeg heads to St Louis minus Mark Scheifele (after taking a big hit from Brayden Schenn on Wednesday), who will miss Game Six, though depth improved in Game Five when Gabe Vilardi returned to the ice for the first time in a month. Yet the venue has meant everything in this series, and worth noting how the Blues outscored the Jets 12-3 across Games 3 and 4 at Enterprise Center. Still, they'll need to relocate their winning recipe, forechecking and breaking the puck out of their own zone, to extend their win streak to 15 at home. Play Blues on Money Line

While the Dodgers have devoured (mostly) outmanned opposition at home, on the road it hasn't been so easy. In eleven games as a visitor (not counting the March pair of neutral games in Japan vs. the Cubs), LA has won only...four (no lie!), and dynamics look different for this series vs. the Braves after Atlanta was in a deep funk the first week of the season when swept at the Ravine. The Braves hit Truist Field tonight having won nine of twelve, and won the last three starts made by Grant Holmes. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto looked very mortal in his last Dodgers start, allowing three runs in 5 IP while picking up a loss April 25 vs. the Pirates. Play Braves on Run Line

Signs of life from the Birds, who were sinking fast in the AL East before winning 2 of 3 earlier this week at home vs. the Yanks. Still, is that enough evidence of a buy signal...or for the O's to be laying a price at home vs. the hot Royals? Friday starter Dean Kremer (7.07 ERA) has been one of the main problems of a disappointing Baltimore rotation, and tonight faces a surging KC side that's won eight of nine. Moreover, Royals pitching has been lights-out lately, allowing just 3 runs across the entirety of a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay, and Michael Wacha spun six shutout innings vs. the Astros in his last start. Play Royals on Money Line

Jim Hiller needs to answer some tough questions if the Kings go out of this series. Not just the ill-fated decision to challenge Evander Kane's tying goal in Game 3, but Hiller's decision to shorten his lines as the series has progressed appears to have resulted in a more tired LA, which was skated off the ice in Game 5 at home. Meanwhile, Cal Pickard has delivered inspired work in goal for the Oilers, undefeated in his three starts this series. All of the momentum seems to be with Edmonton, as the Kings can only seem to hope for another big game from GK Darcy Kuemper to keep them afloat. Play Oilers on Puck Line

The under trend in the first round of the playoffs seems to have abated although the Lakers and T-Wolves slowed to a crawl in the 4th Q last night. Indeed, overs are on a 9-4 run as the first round draws to a close after the unders dominated early. It took this series until Game Five to get over but it did so easily in Tuesday's 131-115 Nuggets cruise at Denver. Russell Westbrook's availability in Game Five gave Denver the scoring punch and jolt it needed from tis bench that was absent in Games 3 & 4. meanwhile, the Clips. For LA, expect more from James Harden, whose scoring has dropped the past two games, down to 11 points in Game 5. Play Nuggets-Clippers Over

The Halos look in freefall at the moment after another loss on Wednesday in Seattle, a fifth straight setback and not within a single run in any of those. Even back at the Big A tonight, not sure things improve any, especially if Mike Trout (who left Wednesday with a sore knee) can't feature. Pitching edge to the Tigers, who salvaged the finale of the three-game set in Houston, with Thursday starter Casey Mize allowing just 2 runs across 12 1/3 IP (1.45 ERA) in his last two starts, Note Halos starter Yusei Kikuchi off of his worst start yet, banged for 4 runs and 9 hits (plus 4 walks) in just 2 IP in last Saturday's loss at Minnesota. Play Tigers on Money Line

Colorado was stunned nine seconds into Game 5 and was down 3-0 before it knew what happened en route to a 6-2 setback. Perhaps a hangover from all of the feel-good surrounding Gabriel Landeskog's goal in Game 4 created the extra buzz that inadvertently turned into a distraction on Monday night. Pete DeBoer seems to be able to outmaneuver Jared Bednar but would perhaps expect this to manifest again for the Stars at home. This has always had the look of a seven-game series, and if Dallas falls behind tonight as in Game 4, there might be little way back, with the Avs capable of doing things like a 48-23 shot advantage in that 4-0 win last Saturday. Play Avs on Puck Line

VGK isn't exactly rolling thru this series, forced into OT in each of the last two games before prevailing. In must-0win mode, Minnesota is likely to get Filip Gustavsson back in goal tonight after he left due to illness following the second period on Tuesday. Meanwhile, VGK is apparently minus explosive winger Pavel Dorofeyev, who led the Knights with 35 goals this season. Vegas did a better job of controlling the neutral zone and spent more time in the O-zone on Monday, but at the X-Cel Center, John Hynes has the last line shifts and has been able to match the Kirill Kaprizov line against VGK's Jack Eichel line, and mostly keeping the puck away from the most-dangerous Vegas line. Play Wild on Money Line