Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 31, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, May 31, 2023
The WNBA was back in action on Tuesday with four games.

Underdogs went 3-1, including a pair of double-digit pups.

For the season, underdogs are now 13-11. Also, totals are dead even with 12 overs and 12 unders.

The Atlanta Dream made easy work of the Chicago Sky, who were the last undefeated ATS team until last night. Rhyne Howard scored 20 points, Allisha Gray and rookie Haley Jones each added 13 and the Dream rolled past Chicago, 83-65.

The Indiana Fever was a formidable foe as a 12 1/2-point underdog at Connecticut before falling to the Sun, 81-78. Tiffany Hayes scored 22 points, Brionna Jones had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Sun held off a late charge by the Fever.

The Dallas Wings slipped past the winless Minnesota Lynx, one of two teams without a victory this season. Natasha Howard scored 25 points, Satou Sabally had 23 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead the Wings. Western Conference Player of the Week Arike Ogunbowale finished with 21 points for Dallas.

Finally, in the nightcap, it was the New York Liberty holding off the Seattle Storm, the other winless team in the league. It was Breanna Stewart's first game back in Seattle since going to the Liberty as a free agent during the offseason. Stewart had 25 points and 11 rebounds in her return and the Liberty beat Seattle 86-78. Seattle got within single digits early in the fourth before Sabrina Ionescu drained a 3-pointer, one of her six treys in the game. Ionescu finished with 20 points for New York.

The WNBA is off on Wednesday.

From the MLB card, six of the eight underdogs won Tuesday, with one game a pick'em. The most notable underdog victory was undoubtedly the Oakland Athletics (+215 DraftKings) in their 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. While it was only the second time Oakland has won consecutive games this season, perhaps the bigger story is the suddenly struggling Braves, who have lost six of their last nine despite their offense producing with a .254 batting average and 14 homers in the nine games. It's the pitching staff that's been struggling, as Atlanta's staff has a 4.76 ERA since May 22, and has been smacked around for 11 homers. Opponents are hitting .258 in the nine games.

I delivered a winner on Tuesday in baseball with my National  League West Game of the Week on the Diamondbacks Run Line over the Colorado Rockies, a 5-1 victory. Tonight I have my final MLB Division Play of May - be it Game, Dog or Total - as I am ready to roll with an MLB DIVISION DOG OF THE MONTH.

Though the NHL won't start until Saturday with Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, I will keep these notes handy for you.

NHL Playoff Notes:
  • Road teams are 46-37 in the postseason.
  • Underdogs are 40-41 in the postseason, with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1500.
  • The Over is 43-39-1, but the Under has cashed 30 of the last 53 games.
  • There have been 23 overtime games, and road teams are 15-8 in those games.
  • NHL favorites higher than -150 are 14-34 on the puck line this postseason.

Stanley Cup Notes:
FLORIDA
  • The Panthers have won 16 of their last 21 road games.
  • Florida enters the SCF on an 18-6 win streak.
  • The Panthers check in at seventh in the postseason with 3.11 goals-for per game.
  • Florida's goals-against average during the playoffs is 2.69, ranking sixth.

VEGAS
  • Vegas has won 13 of 17 against Atlantic Division teams.
  • The Golden Knights are on an 18-6 roll at home.
  • The Golden Knights rank third in the playoffs with 3.65 goals-for per game.
  • Vegas is fourth in the postseason with a goals-against average of 2.65.

SERIES
  • The home team has won the last five meetings.
  • The Golden Knights have won five straight meetings in Vegas.
  • Vegas is on a 5-2 roll in the overall series.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

© 2024 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.