Wemby, Ohtani Look to Continue Their Hot Streaks Tonight

The feds charged Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter with allegedly stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star, and the entire baseball world - other than probably Giants fans - breathed a huge sigh of relief. So if there’s going to be a big post-Pete Rose baseball betting scandal (no thank you), it appears that the sport’s biggest star won’t be the culprit. That’s good news all around.

In today’s newsletter, Chris’s lucky NBA number is 13 and he’s continuing to watch Wemby’s explosive end to the season. In the baseball world, Jack is following Ohtani’s hot streak and is tracking how some wild wind could impact things in Detroit.

Be sure to find us tomorrow - even though the NBA is off before Sunday’s regular season finale, there’s a very full soccer slate and some great MLB matchups.

Abe

• A scenario still exists where the 76ers can find themselves outside the play-in tournament. They've already beat Orlando twice this season and their finale is tonight, a game where Joel Embiid intends to play. That's why Philadelphia is such a big favorite, but it's too many points. Orlando has been a fantastic road team this season; 23-17 ATS and the #8 best defense away from home. Not to mention, this is a double-revenge spot and they want to avoid the play-in, too. Magic +8.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

• For over two months, the 76ers' defense suffered without Joel Embiid, one of the association's best rim-protectors. Their rating was 24th among 30 teams without him. With Embiid back, their defense has improved to 2nd best overall over the last five games. Orlando's defense has been elite in these spots on the road and this battle should have a physical, playoff intensity. Magic/76ers under 212 (-108 at Pinnacle)

• We already know Kyrie Irving is listed OUT Friday and Luka Doncic is questionable. The Pistons don't inspire any wagers right now but this is a perfect spot for the Mavs' Slovenian star to sit - and at least Detroit's defense isn't a complete dumpster fire, rated 22nd the last two weeks. Their offense, on the other hand, is rated in the bottom-three, and it'll be clashing with a Dallas defense that's #1 over its last 7 games. Pistons/Mavericks under 219.5 (-107 at Pinnacle)

• Victor Wembanyama has exploded in the final two months of NBA action, averaging 35.8 points/rebounds in four April games and 34.9 in March. There is no better motivational spot for the superstar rookie than facing off against two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. In their last matchup, Wemby put up 23 points and 15 rebounds in just 34 minutes. After sitting out the Spurs' last contest, this is an ideal opportunity for Wemby to put on a show again, at home against the reigning champs. Wemby over 34.5 points/rebounds (-115 at DraftKings)

• The Hawks can't move up in the Eastern standings since the Bulls own the tiebreaker, meaning they'll be the 10th seed no matter what. Regardless, Trae Young has returned and when he's in, the Hawks defensive marks fall and their pace increases. The Timberwolves, who will be motivated to maintain the #2 seed, just finished a very physical battle with Denver and know they can win this with their offense. Hawks/T-Wolves over 226 (-108 at FanDuel)

• The Miami Heat are destined for the play-in tournament once again, something that must infuriate Erik Spoelstra and his team, and now they have two straight home games against the dumpster-fire that is the Toronto Raptors. Few teams have looked worse down the stretch; Toronto is 28th in net rating the last two weeks, and Miami will want to maintain momentum before their elimination games. Heat -13 (-103 at Pinnacle)

• The Lakers are one of the few teams that can still change their play-in situation, but they would need to win their last two games and receive some help along the way. LeBron James will play and enhance their energy, and they’re coming off two straight tough losses so they need to "get right." The Grizzlies have sent out over 50 different starting-five combinations this season, and at this juncture cannot be trusted against a talented, motivated roster. Lakers -13 (-103 at Pinnacle)

• The New York Mets got off to a brutal start this season, but they’ve turned things around by winning five of their last seven games and taking two out of three against the Atlanta Braves. Over the last week, the Mets rank second in MLB in runs (41) and third in OPS (.811). Current Mets hitters have a .390 xwOBA and a .547 expected slugging percentage in 72 plate appearances against Kansas City Royals starter Michael Wacha, per Baseball Savant. We’re riding the hot hand with the Metropolitans. New York Mets moneyline (-120 FanDuel)

• New York Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt has given up 13 hits and five earned runs in his first two starts of the season. The right-hander also has the 24th-highest wOBA (.394) in MLB among qualified pitchers. Now he has to go up against a Cleveland Guardians lineup that’s crushed him for a .462 batting average in 28 plate appearances. We’re looking for Cleveland to get off to a good start in this friendly matchup. Cleveland Guardians first five innings +0.5 (-110 FanDuel)

• When Shohei Ohtani gets on a roll at the plate, it’s hard to slow him down. The two-time MVP is currently on a seven-game hitting streak, and he’s recorded multiple hits in five of those games. Over the last week, Ohtani ranks first in MLB in hits (11), second in OPS (1.387) and third in batting average (.423). Eight of his 11 hits in that span have been extra-base hits. He also has two home runs in just six career at-bats against San Diego Padres starter Michael King. He can hit this over with one swing. Shohei Ohtani over 1.5 total bases (-115 DraftKings)

• What’s more exciting than a walks prop on a Friday night? Ok, probably a lot, but we found one anyway. Brandon Pfaadt has surrendered just one walk in two starts this season. The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander ranks sixth in MLB in walk rate (2.1 percent) and 12th in in-zone rate (55.7 percent). He’s also facing a St. Louis Cardinals lineup that has the third-lowest walk rate (7.7 percent) in the league. Keep pounding the zone, Brandon. Brandon Pfaadt under 1.5 walks (-120 DraftKings)

• Reid Detmers has been one of the nastiest pitchers in MLB to start the season. The Los Angeles Angels left-hander has the highest whiff rate (41.8) and the highest strikeout rate (45.2 percent) among qualified pitchers. Current Red Sox hitters are batting just .107 against Detmers with a 43.3 percent K rate in 30 plate appearances, and they struck out 12 times against him earlier this season. Reid Detmers over 6.5 Ks (+124 FanDuel)

• The last time Yoshinobu Yamamoto faced off against the Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers rookie got shelled for four hits and five earned runs in the first inning and didn’t return to the game. Since then, Yamamoto has been lights out with no runs allowed and 13 strikeouts in his last 10 innings of work. He ranks 11th in MLB in strikeout rate (31.9 percent) and 22nd in whiff rate (31.8 percent). Let’s chalk up his last performance to first day jitters. Yoshinobu Yamamoto 4.5 Ks (-118 FanDuel)

• Remember when we highlighted that Jake Cronenworth was +680 to go yard on Wednesday? Well he did, so of course we’re looking at another HR prop for Friday’s slate. The wind is going to be howling out to left field at Comerica Park with gusts of nearly 50 miles per hour, but the home run odds don’t reflect that. Byron Buxton is the day’s favorite, and he already has two home runs in only six career at-bats against Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal. Byron Buxton to hit a home run (+420 FanDuel)

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