Here’s an overview of some of the top games in sports being played on May 17. Today, we’re taking a closer look at five games from Major League Baseball, the NHL, and the NBA Playoffs.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – 3:10 PM ET
We’ll begin our daily sports bets with the Arizona Diamondbacks versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Each of these teams represents the NL West. However, the Diamondbacks are currently ranked fourth with a record of 18-18. The Dodgers, on the other hand, are ranked first in the NL West with a record of 22-12.
Although this might seem like an easy win for Los Angeles, they narrowly lost to the Diamondbacks yesterday. Winning the game 5-4, the Dodgers will have to do more this time to slow the offense of Arizona. The starting pitcher has yet to be announced but we know that the Dodgers have five on the IL. Because of this, we’ll take the Diamondbacks here.
San Diego Padres vs. Philadelphia Phillies – 6:45 PM ET
Another game that should be quite entertaining today is the Padres versus the Phillies. The Padres, 22-13, are coming off of a huge 7-3 win over the Braves. Carrying this momentum into tonight will be important. Mike Clevinger will get the start tonight, who has an ERA of 5.00 over just nine innings pitched. Hopefully, the Padres batters can make up for his shortcomings.
The Phillies, 17-18, have yet to decide who will take the mound for them today. After going on a four-game win streak, the Phillies finally lost to the Dodgers on May 15. They’ll look to start another run against a different NL West team this team. As a team, the Phillies are batting .256, so we’ll take them to win the game tonight.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers – 7:00 PM ET
It’s time for Game 1 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. The Lightning, fresh off of their series against the Maple Leafs, haven’t had much rest. Their last game was on Saturday, May 14 and now they’ve traveled to Florida. Keep in mind how much travel can affect the performance of a team. Even a team that averages 3.48 goals per game and allows 2.78.
Speaking of scoring goals, the Florida Panthers are easily one of the best in the NHL playoffs. With an average of 4.11 goals scored per game, the Panthers are an easy favorite here. The question is, can they stop Stamkos and secure a Game 1 victory. We think since they have the benefit of being at home, the answer is yes.
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat – 8:30 PM ET
Moving into the sole NBA game today, we’ll see the Boston Celtics face the Miami Heat. This is also another Game 1, with the Celtics recently beating the Milwaukee Bucks. Marcus Smart is on the “day-to-day” list but should be ready to go by tip-off. Each of these teams has strong defenses, with Boston having the slight edge.
Injuries are piling up for the Miami Heat which will likely be their downfall today. Kyle Lowry, their starting point guard, has already been ruled out for tonight. Boston comes into this game as two-point underdogs on the road. Although the Heat is at home, where they’ve done well this season, Game 1 will go to Boston.
St. Louis Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche – 9:30 PM ET
Our final game of the night is between the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. The Blues won three straight games over the Minnesota Wild to earn this spot. Averaging 3.77 goals per game, the Blues are equipped for a shootout with the Avalanche. The question is, which of these teams will break first?
The Avalanche swept the Nashville Predators and have been waiting since May 9th to play again. Although they’re definitely rested, the Avalanche could come in a little sluggish tonight. This team is great on defense, allowing only 2.83 goals per game while scoring 3.76 of their own. This is going to be a tough one, but we’ll take the Blues to pull off an upset tonight.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.
Last updated:May 17, 2022 Action 247, Avalanche, Blues, Celtics, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Heat, Lightning, Padres, Panthers, Phillies