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Thursday’s Best MLB, NBA & NHL Bets (5/18)

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No matter your sport of choice, there's always sports betting action to be had. We'll have you covered each and every day with our daily best bets. Here are all of our best bets across each major sport in action today.

Today's Best Bets

Here are today's best bets.

MLB Best Bets

New York Yankees (+110) at Toronto Blue Jays (-130) | O/U 9 (-105/-115)

This series did not start well for the Blue Jays, but they got a win with a walk-off last night and now have a chance to split the series. They're still trying to bring in some consistency, and while the offense has been helping, the pitching has not. Jose Berrios has epitomized this. After a tough start to the season, he has improved by allowing two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six.

At worst, the Yankees will split back-to-back series against division rivals which is good compared to their prior performance. Having Aaron Judge back in the lineup has been big, and he has five home runs in his last four games. Nestor Cortes is not having that same magical season as in 2022, and he's been rocked by allowing 15 earned runs in his 14 innings.

Overall, we've seen the offense be the catalyst in this series. Both of these pitchers do not have good track records against their opponent, with Cortes allowing a .385 wOBA to the Toronto roster and Berrios with a .334 against New York.

Pick: Over 9 (-105)

-John Supowitz

Check out our other MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions:

NBA Playoffs Best Bets

Jamal Murray Over 2.5 Three Pointers (-166 FanDuel)

Another player that I like in this matchup is Jamal Murray. He has consistently taken more three-point shots against the Lakers and has been able to make them. During Game 1, Murray went 4-8 from beyond the arc. That consistency will give Murray a betting value tonight against the Lakers.

-Cameron Lynch

Check out our other NBA Playoffs Best Bets:

NHL Playoffs Best Bets

Florida Panthers (+123) @ Carolina Hurricanes (-143) | O/U 6 (+100/-120)

While all of the attention in the Eastern Conference went to the Boston Bruins and their historic season, the Carolina Hurricanes were arguably the best team in the league over the second half of the season. Since the Christmas break, at 5-on-5, the Canes ranked first in the league in both expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Backing up this elite two-way team is goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has been absolutely brilliant between the pipes this postseason. Through six appearances in the crease, he is 5-0 with a .931 save percentage (SV%) and 1.80 goals against average (GAA).

Those numbers do not even tell the whole story, given that he had a major hiccup in Game 3 against the New Jersey Devils. If you take out that performance, Andersen is 5-0 with a .955 SV%.

While the Florida Panthers are just as hot and are a terrific team, they just do not stack up with Carolina. Since the Christmas break, at 5-on-5, Florida ranks two spots lower than the Canes in xGF/60 and 20 spots lower in xGA/60.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky should be able to keep up with Andersen, but the blue line in front of him will make his job much more difficult. Through 10 appearances in the crease this postseason, Bobrovsky is 7-2 with a .918 SV% and 2.82 GAA.

I love the way Florida has been playing, and they are a group that truly believes it can win. However, Carolina is just a stronger team all over the ice.

Best Bet: Hurricanes Moneyline (-143)

-Tony Sartori

Check out our other NHL Playoffs Best Bets:


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