NBA Playoffs Futures to Watch + Today's MLB Pitching Matchups and Soccer and Tennis Insights

In today’s newsletter…

• Leading Off: First look at the NBA Playoffs

• Top 10 Bets: NBA futures + MLB and tennis

• Matchups: Nationals batters are unfamiliar with Skenes

• Game of the Day: Can Fulham inch closer to a spot in Europe?

• Overtime: Where the QBs could end up in the NFL Draft

The Clippers and Warriors needed overtime to close out the NBA regular season, with LA getting the road upset to earn a spot in the playoffs and send Golden State to the play-in tournament. Here is where the playoff seeding ended up, along with each team’s odds to make it to the conference final, via FanDuel:

• Eastern Conference

  • #1 Cavaliers (-380, No: +280)

  • #2 Celtics (-550, No: +380)

  • #3 Knicks (+460)

  • #4 Pacers (+460)

  • #5 Bucks (+1200)

  • #6 Pistons (+3200)

  • Play-In

    • #7 Hawks (+10000)

    • #8 Magic (+8000)

    • #9 Bulls (N/A)

    • #10 Heat (N/A)

• Western Conference

  • #1 Thunder (-320, No: +245)

  • #2 Rockets (+540)

  • #3 Lakers (+158)

  • #4 Nuggets (+560)

  • #5 Clippers (+800)

  • #6 Timberwolves (+340)

  • Play-In

    • #7 Warriors (+250)

    • #8 Grizzlies (+1700)

    • #9 Kings (N/A)

    • #10 Mavericks (N/A)

In today’s newsletter, Chris has his 10 bets to watch. We also give you research on five MLB pitching matchups and trends for today’s Premier League tilt between Fulham and AFC Bournemouth.

— Abe Rakov

P.S. Before she likely becomes the WNBA’s first pick in this year’s draft, Paige Bueckers has signed with Unrivaled, where she reportedly will make more money in 10 weeks than she will in her first WNBA season.

NBA Futures: Could Pistons Upset Knicks? T-Wolves Stick with Lakers?

By Chris Farley

Pistons to win series vs. the Knicks (+340 at FanDuel)
Among the underdogs of the matchups we know about, the Pistons are easily the most disrespected. Of course the Knicks have some inherent advantages, including a roster with many of the same parts that fought together in the conference semifinals last season. Experience matters, and their offense (5th) has been more consistent than the Pistons (14th). Detroit owns the more consistent defense, though (10th), and their budding young stars beat the Knicks 3-1 in the regular season series. Karl-Anthony Towns is also a wildcard, often very productive but rarely consistent, and he's disrupted team chemistry before. Detroit has a real chance, better than oddsmakers believe.

Timberwolves -2.5 series spread (+700 at DraftKings)
We think the Lakers have a chance to win a title this season, but they're also on a very volatile spectrum. Luka Doncic and Lebron James could continue proving they're a duo the NBA should fear, and we've seen how magnificent they can play together. On the other hand, it's a very new marriage, having only shared the floor 23 total times this season. It's worth noting that the Lakers are 20-7 with Luka on the court, but dismissing the T-Wolves would be foolish. The Lakers' new makeup could easily crumble under pressure, while the Timberwolves bring one of the NBA's most exciting superstars and a top rated program in the NBA (4th in net rating). Minnesota, who went far last year, could outclass the Lakers if they're not ready. 

Nuggets to win NBA title (+2900 at FanDuel)
Picking a favorite to win it all in a futures bet is a silly investment. The Thunder, for example, are around +170 at most books, but your money would be more smartly used betting on them throughout the playoffs if you think they’re going to win the championship. A team like the Nuggets, however, is a completely different story. Denver has 21-1 or better odds, and they just won a title two years ago. Of course they fired Mike Malone two weeks ago and it's been a more volatile season, never on top of the West like they've become used to. Their advantages are legitimate, though. Russell Westbrook brings a new energy and has (mostly) contributed nicely (13/5/2 this season), the same championship roster is all healthy, and Jokic is the best player in the world. It could be worth a sprinkle, at least.

Clippers to win NBA title (+4300 at FanDuel)
The Clippers just keep proving people wrong, and now they're in a very interesting position entering the Western Conference playoffs. Defeating Golden State on Sunday in OT, L.A. found a way to overcome the Warriors and secured a playoff berth. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden were clinical, combining for 72 points on 26-43 from the field (60%). As a team they shot a ridiculous 46.7% from beyond the arc and made more plays on defense when it mattered. The Clippers' roster composition has proved magnificent this season, with outside sharpshooters accompanying a physical front court and two superstars that can anchor the team when needed. We like the Clippers to stun. 

MLB

Pirates -1.5 (+105 at BetMGM)
Paul Skenes (3.44 ERA in 18 innings, no home runs allowed) is coming off a humbling loss in his last start, permitting six hits and five runs against a potent St. Louis offense. Skenes' opponent on Monday does not bring the same prowess. The Washington Nationals are just 6-9 and a poor 1-5 on the road, and while their offense has been pretty good (4.67 runs per game, 9th), their defense is the reason they own a -10 run differential (24th), including allowing 5.33 runs per game (28th). Brad Lord (1.80 ERA in five innings) looked good in his first start, but this sets up for a great home redemption spot for Skenes and the Pirates, who are itching for a win after losing three straight.

Royals vs. Yankees over 9 runs (-102 at BetMGM)
It's a wonder why Carlos Carrasco is still in the majors. The 38 year old was below average in each of the past two seasons (a 5.64 ERA last season and 6.80 ERA in 2023), and this year he's already looking very shaky. In three starts he's permitted at least three runs per game, including four home runs, and his ground-ball percentage is the lowest it's been in his career (35.9%). Kansas City profiles as a bottom-10 offense in most categories, but they'll have more opportunity Monday. The Yankees' bats are due for an explosion after only earning 17 runs in their past five games, a rather low mark for an offense that was breaking records at season's start. 

Tennis

Anastasia Potapova (+125 at BetOnline)
Potapova and her opponent have much in common. Clara Tauson started out this season winning the ASB Classic, historically the first WTA title opportunity of the new season. Since then she's been just okay, making it to the finals in Dubai but overall honing her skills and offering inconsistent results. She's just 2-2 since Dubai, and in Miami she incurred a back injury. Still the favorite, we wonder if this is a tournament where she won't show the same energy, while Potapova is ripe for a bigger challenge. The 24 year old has had nearly a month of rest and enters Stuttgart showing better form, especially in her service game (already 50 aces in just 18 matches this year). We think the wrong woman is favored.

Veronika Kudermetova (+102 at Bookmaker)
Diana Shnaider is ranked 13th in the world in women's singles, but you wouldn't know it based on her recent performances. Shnaider plays a lot of tennis in general, consistently competing in doubles and even mixed doubles occasionally. That route has affected her form when on her own; she's just 6-7 straight up since the Australian Open, routinely losing in the second round once she faces a stiffer opponent. Kudermetova qualifies. When the 27-year-old Russian is taken lightly, she's dangerous. She's taken down some big names on tour this year (Haddad Maia, Boulter, Samsonova) and always fights. We'll stay away from the less-energetic Shnaider until she proves otherwise.

Emma Navarro vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia over 2.5 sets (+160 at DraftKings)
Navarro is still trying to rediscover the top form that saw her in the quarterfinals or better in three of the four major tournaments last year, but so far it hasn't materialized. She had some good moments, like her win at the Merida Open, a less-competitive event, and in Sydney she fell to Iga Swiatek in the quarters. No shame in that. But even when she wins, she doesn’t make it easy on herself. Navarro's matches have gone to three sets in five of her past nine battles. In Dubai and Sydney, aka bigger events, six out of seven went to three sets. Haddad Maia is no slouch, having beaten Navarro in two out of three career matches. Oddly, not one has gone beyond the second set. They're overdue.

Jasmine Paolini 2-0 (+100 at DraftKings)
If the NBA and Tennis were the same, Eva Lys would lose in the play-in tournament every year. The 23-year-old German is endearing, a player who's struggled through injury and continues to persist in her quest to become a top competitor. At such a young age the potential is obvious, but reality has granted Lys a different perspective: She has never beaten a top-10 opponent. Like any season, Lys had her moments in 2025: making it to the fourth round at the Australian Open and beating some formidable foes along the way. But once she faced the top tier she faltered. Paolini, who already beat her 2-0 in February, is well-rested and coming off a nice semifinals run at Miami. We hate Lys' chances.

Current Cubs Hitting .151 Against Padres’ Cease, Who has Struggled to Start Season

Seth Lugo (Royals) @ Yankees — 7:05pm

• Season: 1-1, 3.24 ERA, 16.2 innings, 14 hits, 6 earned runs, 1 HR, 7 BB, 12 K

• Matchup: Current Yankees hitters have 65 at bats against Lugo and combine for a .200 average (13 hits, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 17 K)

• Players to Watch

  • Paul Goldschmidt: 7-11, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

  • Cody Bellinger: 2-7, 1 HR, 2 RBI

  • Aaron Judge: 0-11, 3 K

  • Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 1-13, 1 BB, 5 K

Sonny Gray (Cardinals) vs. Astros — 7:45pm

• Season: 2-0, 4.50 ERA, 16.0 innings, 12 hits, 8 earned ones, 4 HR, 2 BB, 19 K

• Matchup: Current Astros hitters have 81 at bats against Gray and combine for a .247 average (20 hits, 5 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 6 BB, 23 K)

• Players to Watch

  • Jose Altuve: 13-39, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K

  • Yordan Alvarez: 3-8, 3 2B, 1 BB, 1 K

  • Mauricio Dubon: 3-9, 2 K

  • Victor Caranti: 0-6, 2 BB, 2 K

  • Jeremy Pena: 1-7, 1 BB, 3 K

Dylan Cease (Padres) vs. Cubs — 8:40pm

• Season: 1-1, 7.98 ERA, 14.2 innings, 17 hits, 13 earned runs, 1 HR, 6 BB, 18 K

• Matchup: Current Cubs hitters have 53 at bats against Cease and comibne for a .151 average (8 hits, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 9 BB, 22 K

• Players to Watch

  • Kyle Tucker: 5-11, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K

  • Michael Busch: 1-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K

  • Ian Happ: 1-18, 3 BB, 9 K

  • Nico Hoerner: 0-6, 3 BB, 2K

Dustin May (Dodgers) vs. Rockies — 10:10pm

• Season: 0-1, 0.82 ERA, 11.0 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run (4 runs), 0 HR, 6 BB, 7 K

• Matchup: Only two Rockies hitters have ever faced May, for a total of 1 hit in 6 at bats.

• Players to Watch

  • Ryan McMahon (day-to-day): 1-4, 1 2B

  • Jacob Stallings: 0-2

Paul Skenes (Pirates) vs. Nationals — 6:40pm

• Season: 1-1, 3.44 ERA, 18.1 innings, 12 hits, 7 earned runs, 0 HR, 3 BB, 20 K

• Matchup: Only two Nationals hitters have ever faced Skenes, for a total of 1 hit in 3 at bats — and 2 strikeouts

• Players to Watch

  • Josh Bell: 0-1, 2 BB, 1 K

  • Amed Rosario: 1-2, 1 K

Fulham Looks to Keep Pressure on Chelsea for a Spot in Europe Next Season

Fulham could pull within three points of Chelsea for sixth in the Premier League and the Europa League spot that comes with it with a win at Bournemouth.

AFC Bournemouth (12-9-10) vs. Fulham (13-9-9)
3pm on USA

• Odds 

  • Bournemouth (+105)

  • Fulham (+250)

  • Draw (+250)

• Total (2.5): Over -132, Under -102

Betting Trends

• Sasa Lukic has committed at least 1 fouls in 12 straight games (2.4 average)

• Antoine Semenyo went over 0.5 shots each half in 13 of his past 14 home games (1.7/half average)

• Milos Kerkez has at least 1 tackle in 7 straight home games (1.7 average)

• Francisco de Lima Barbosa committed at least 1 foul in 10 of his past 11 home games (1.5 average)

• Kenny Tete has 2+ tackles in 7 of his past 8 games (3.1 average)

In the News 

• A look at where every quarterback could end up in the NFL Draft.

• While two playoff-bound teams fired coaches to end the season, the Trail Blazers extended Chauncey Billups.

• Oscar Piastri climbed to within three points of McLaren teammate Lando Norris after his Bahrain Grand Prix win.

• The Blue Bloods are doing well in the men’s college basketball transfer portal.

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 3pm: AFC Bournemouth vs. Fulham on USA

• 7pm: Stars vs. Red Wings on NHL Network

• 7:05pm: Royals vs. Yankees on MLB Network

Photo of the Day