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WHAT’S ON TAP IN SPORTS FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019:
It’s a quiet Tuesday night in major sports. There are eight games around the NHL and Game 4 of the ALDS between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays. Let’s take a look at the full schedule and our free betting picks of the day.
MLB:
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American League Division Series Game 4:
Astros -240 at Rays +200
NHL:
Hurricanes +110 at Panthers -130
Stars +130 at Capitals -150
Oilers +140 at Islanders -160
Jets +135 at Penguins -155
Ducks -105 at Red Wings -115
Sharks +150 at Predators -170
Kings +175 at Flames -210
Bruins +120 at Golden Knights -140
FREE MLB BETTING PICK OF THE DAY
- Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are still alive in the American League Division Series. After two losses at Minute Maid Park in Houston, the Rays thrashed off the Astros 10-3 in Game 3 at Tropicana Field on Monday.
Now, the Rays will face off against Justin Verlander who dominated them in Game 1. Verlander allowed only a hit in seven innings of work while striking out eight. Justin had a 21-6 record in the regular season, tallying a 2.58 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP.
Likewise, Verlander is 10-4 in 20 starts against the Rays in his career. His teams are 14-6 in that span, while the Astros have won six of Verlander’s previous seven starts.
Diego Castillo will toe the slab for the Rays. The right-hander is 5-8 six starts and 61 relief appearances in 2019, recording a 3.41 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Castillo will probably pitch the first two innings before the Rays start using their bullpen.
Although the Rays’ pitching staff is the second-best in baseball with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, I don’t think Tampa Bay will force Game 5 in Houston. Even if they limit the Astros’ bats, I expect Verlander to put on another strong performance and lead his team to the victory.
Also, the Astros have the best batting average (.274) and on-base percentage (.352) in the league. They should find a way to deal with the Rays’ bullpen. The odds on the Astros are not tempting, so I suggest you take them to cover. The Astros’ previous nine wins came by two or more runs.
- Houston Astros -145 over Tampa Bay Rays by two or more runs
FREE NHL BETTING PICK OF THE DAY
- Edmonton Oilers vs. New York Islanders
The Edmonton Oilers opened the season with two straight wins at home. They outlasted the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 and Los Angeles Kings 6-5. On the other side, the New York Islanders opened with a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, but they bounced back with a 4-1 win to the Winnipeg Jets.
Although the Islanders have won just two of their last seven meetings with the Oilers, they are 10-2 in the previous 12 home encounters with Edmonton. Furthermore, the Islanders are 9-1 in their last ten home matchups with the Western Conference.
The Oilers lost nine of their last 12 road meetings with the Eastern Conference and four of their previous five outings away from home.
While the Oilers allowed seven goals in their first two games of the season, the Islanders surrendered just three. Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss were Islanders’ top performers in Week 1, showing that Islanders can rely on their goalies. Therefore, I’m going with the Islanders to win.
- New York Islanders -160 over Edmonton Oilers