Picks for 4/30/25
NBA
7:30 PM EST
Rotation # 509
Warriors +4 over Rockets (loss)
The Warriors could shock the #2 seed Rockets and send them packing for the summer with a victory tonight. Steve Kerr is one of only a handful of coaches who can impact today’s game directly. The Rocket’s strength is their ability to play outstanding defense and to get offensive rebounds to allow their offense to get second-chance points. The problem the Rockets have is getting through Draymond Green as the last line of defense. Green is one of the best defenders in the game, as he is very good at blocking and disrupting shots. The Rockets are not offensive juggernauts, as they are one of the worst teams in basketball at sharing the ball. The Warriors are one of the best. Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield will look to crush the Rocket’s soul with one three-pointer after the other. It will be an earlier-than-normal start time for a playoff game in Houston. The Rockets are all out of sorts and won’t be able to recover. Take the Warriors.
MLB
6:35 PM EST
Rotation # 921-922
Yankees/Orioles Over 9.5 runs (loss)
Carrasco/Povich
Last night, the Yankees won the baseball game before Orioles fans could leave the parking lot after their long day at work. I don’t expect the Yankees to have another wire-to-wire blowout, but their bats are red hot, and they can hit left-handed pitching and against righties. Baltimore is the worst team in baseball at slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers and will be relieved to be facing a right-handed starter in Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco has struggled this year, as his strikeouts have been down. Orioles starter Cade Povich doesn’t scare MLB hitters and allows many hits. Look for a more competitive game than last night, with both teams doing enough to make this a higher-scoring contest. Take the Over.