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Tides’ Takes: Free Expert Betting Picks For Today (4/29/22)

Timothy Buell Fri 4/29 10:51am PT
Image Credit: Imagn

ScoresAndOdds analyst Timothy Buell gives free expert advice and betting picks for Friday’s NHL, MLB, and NBA slates.

Happy Friday everyone! Welcome to this new article for ScoresAndOdds, where we will offer betting picks and advice for multiple sports that are happening on a given day.

The MLB season is here! We’ll focus on MLB odds and props, while continuing to analyze NHL odds and NBA odds and props. We will also be throwing in some traditional parlays and some same game parlays as we see fit.  

Make sure to use our tools at ScoresAndOdds to find the best lines at your favorite legal sportsbook.  

We have one NBA game, 15 MLB games and 15 NHL games to choose from this evening.  Let’s get started with the betting picks!  

Free NBA Betting Picks For Today

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

This has been my favorite series to watch and I hate to see it end but I think that is what happens tonight.  Ja Morant is the best player on the court and we finally saw the real offensive explosion we knew was coming, posting a 30/13/9 stat line. His ability to drive the lane and get to the free throw line reminds me a lot of Allen Iverson in his prime. Anyway, back to sports betting, I simply don’t think that the Timberwolves can overcome another devastating 4th quarter meltdown. 

The Timberwolves are trying to take the ball out of Morant’s hands and make other Grizzlies beat them. Well, that strategy might have been working until the 4th quarter of last game, when Morant put up 16 points in the closing quarter to steal the game from Minnesota. I think that the momentum Morant has going into this game carries over to this Game 6, where Memphis closes this series out on the road. (Find my single game parlay below, where I hope to capitalize even more on what I am hoping is a dominant performance for Memphis behind Morant.

NBA Single Game Parlay

Free MLB Betting Picks For Today

Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles

With the Red Sox going with Rich Hill as the opener, and then using Tanner Houck as the long reliever, I really like for the Red Sox to beat the Orioles, who are sending Kyle Bradish out to face Boston in his major league debut. Bradish is a 25-year old prospect who has pitched 15 innings in AAA ball this year. In this small sample, has looked quite good. 

However, let’s look a little deeper. In 2021, in 87 innings in AAA, he had a walk rate of over 10% and strikeout rate of 27%. The strikeouts look fine, but the walks are going to be an issue in the majors if that rate continues. The Red Sox are not the type of team I want my rookie to be going up against in his debut. Boston is simply a better team in every way. The Sox should be able to get their bats going in this game, which is all they should need with Hill and Houck shutting down the well-below average Orioles lineup. 

MLB Player Prop – Rich Hill

Rich Hill is supposed to be the opener tonight for the Red Sox, now I am not completely sure what they want from him in terms of pitch count but lets say he throws 50 pitches tonight, I don’t think he gets to four strikeouts today unless he really has things working. 

The efficiency that he will need to reach this mark is something that I am willing to bet against, especially at a plus money (DK Sportsbook). Tanner Houck came in as a reliever in his last game and only pitched 1.2 innings. I don’t expect that to be the case tonight. I think the Red Sox want to him to rejoin the rotation and that he will get the bulk of the innings. 

Free NHL Betting Picks For Today

Before I break down this shot prop bet I just wanted to note that I realize there are 15 on the slate tonight, but I will only be focusing only on shot prop bets until the playoffs start. As we saw last night there will be plenty of teams sitting out players and ice time will be unpredictable.  

NHL Player Prop – Roman Josi

This time of year, it’s all about minutes and opportunity. However, personal motivations are also a factor – such as the Norris Trophy.  That award is given to the defenseman who shows the most overall ability. I would consider Josi to be one of, if not the favorite to win that award, but a big game against the Coyotes would certainly help his point totals. I think that the shots will be there also. He scored once and put up four shots on goal last night against the Avs, and I expect a similar performance tonight against one of the worst teams in hockey. 

NHL Player Prop – Alex Tuch

Tuch has been moved down to the second line with Casey Mittlesadt and Peyton Krebs, this won’t help his scoring numbers but getting away from Skinner and Thompson at even strength should help his shot volume. He still gets time on the first power play, which is an added benefit. I am always for attacking Chicago’s defense, especially in a meaningless game on the road. I think that the Sabres will have plenty of time in their own offensive zone with Tuch getting individual opportunities to hit this over on his shot prop.

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