Rating: 2 Units

The Heat stole a win from the Bulls' clutches in last year's Play-In Tournament and robbed the Bulls of a chance at the playoffs. This season, the Bulls look like a motivated team heading back to South Beach. The potential loss of Butler for the Heat is far more significant than the potential loss of Caruso for the Bulls. While Caruso has been a solid distributor and reliable defender, Butler is the heart and soul of the Heat. Butler nearly carried the Heat to a title last year and his ability to isolate greatly enhanced the play of the Bulls role players. The Bulls will have to lean on Bam Adebayo if Butler is unable to go. He averaged 22 points per game in three games against the Bulls this season. The Bulls have two players that can drive their offense in DeRozan and White. DeRozan averaged 22 points per game vs. the Heat this season and will certainly benefit if Butler is unable to go and defend him. White averaged over 20 points per game vs. the Heat and will either be covered by a banged-up Terry Rozier, who missed the Sixers' game with a sore neck, or possibly Herro, a defensive liability. Chicago would be more exposed without Caruso against a team that plays at a high-level offensively but the Heat are not that team, certainly not without Butler. The Bulls will avenge last year's loss and move on to face the Celtics this weekend.

MLB Free Pick - Toronto at San Diego

Coming off three straight series wins, San Diego will trot out No. 5 starter Matt Waldron (0-1, 3.14 ERA) to open this series. The knuckleballer is coming off a no-decision Saturday at the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing one run over five innings in the team's 5-2 loss. This will be the right-hander's first career appearance against Toronto. Toronto starts the trip with rookie Yariel Rodriguez (0-0, 2.45) scheduled to start. He made his big league debut Saturday in a 5-3 victory over Colorado, lasting 3 2/3 innings and 68 pitches. The right-hander gave up four hits and a run with two walks and six strikeouts. San Diego’s relievers have registered a strong 2.70 ERA and 2.78 FIP in the past ten days and 33.1 innings of work.

Rating: 2 Units

The surprising A's begin a three-game series and 10-game road trip when they face the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Oakland begins the series on a hot streak after winning seven of its past 11 games, including a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. The Athletics will send rookie right-hander Joe Boyle (1-2, 5.68 ERA) to the mound in the series opener. He allowed one run on five hits and one walk over five innings in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Nationals last Saturday. Boyle, 24, went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts with the A's last season. He is making his first appearance against the Guardians. Cleveland will counter with right-hander Triston McKenzie (1-2, 6.23), who is looking to bounce back after giving up six runs (five earned) on four hits and six walks over four innings in an 8-2 loss to the New York Yankees last Saturday. The 26-year-old McKenzie has struck out five batters and issued 12 walks in his first three outings covering 13 innings.

Rating: 2 Units

With former Brewers ace Corbin Burnes pitching for the Baltimore Orioles and Brandon Woodruff recovering from shoulder surgery, Freddy Peralta has emerged as Milwaukee's staff ace. Peralta (2-0, 2.55 ERA) has been up to the task while striking out 26 batters and walking two in 17 2/3 innings in three starts. He will face a Cardinals lineup that is failing to generate much offense. The Cardinals have scored three runs or fewer in five straight games and in 10 of their past 11. While Peralta has been on point for the Brewers, Kyle Gibson (1-2, 6.16 ERA) has struggled for the Cardinals since signing as a free agent. He has allowed five homers in 19 innings over his three starts. Gibson took the loss in his last start on Saturday. He allowed four runs on six hits -- including Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s three-run homer -- and three walks in six innings against the Diamondbacks. Gibson is 1-2 with a 5.44 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers.

Rating: 2 Units

Right-hander Jameson Taillon will finally make his season debut today when the host Chicago Cubs open a four-game set with the Miami Marlins. After a strong season with the New York Yankees in 2022, Taillon took a step back with Chicago in 2023, going 8-10 with a 4.84 ERA. He went 4-6 with a 4.62 ERA at home, and only one of those wins came before the All-Star break. Activated from the 15-day injured list on Thursday, Taillon (back) is 2-0 with a glistening 0.54 ERA in three career starts against Miami. Left-hander A.J. Puk (0-3, 5.91 ERA) will try to slow down Busch and the Cubs when he makes his fourth start of the campaign today. Puk had never started a game prior to this season, and he hasn't had a smooth transition into his new role. In each of his first three outings this year, Puk has lasted no longer than 4 2/3 innings, a mark he reached on April 9 in a loss to the New York Yankees. Puk yielded two runs (one earned) on four hits and five walks against New York. Puk is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in four career relief appearances against Chicago.