My selection is on Boston over Detroit at 11:10 am et on Monday.

The Red Sox opened this series with a 1-0 victory on Friday but have been outscored 10-3 in back-to-back losses since. I like their chances of bouncing back on Marathon Day on Monday. Jack Flaherty takes the ball for Detroit. Command has been an issue as usual for the veteran right-hander. He figures to be a welcome sight on the mound for the Red Sox as their current hitters are a collective 18-for-59 (.305) with a .824 OPS against him. It's the opposite story for Sonny Gray against the Tigers. He's been masterful against current Detroit hitters, limiting them to only 10 hits in 71 at-bats (.141) with a .359 OPS. The bullpen matchup is virtually a wash based on early returns this season. Of note, Boston's 'pen has recorded a lights out 2.96 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 24 1/3 innings of work over the last week. While the Tigers do have the edge at the plate in this matchup, I think the Red Sox pitching staff can be the great equalizer on Monday. Take Boston (8*).

My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Denver at 10:30 pm et on Monday.

We missed with the Timberwolves on Saturday as they got off to a strong start but fizzled over the final three quarters in a double-digit loss. I do think they're worth backing again on Monday, however, as they look to even this series up at a game apiece. The Nuggets are in uncharted territory right now as they ride a season-high 13-game winning streak. Not only that but they've now delivered the cash in three straight games, marking their longest ATS winning streak since a 6-0 ATS stretch back in November. Minnesota has lost consecutive games ATS just once since March 13th, going 10-6 ATS over its last 16 contests. Anthony Edwards is once again listed as questionable due to 'injury management' on Monday and that will certainly give a lot of potential T'Wolves backers pause ahead of this one. We'll do the difficult thing and back Minnesota again off Saturday's frustrating defeat. Take Minnesota (8*).

My selection is on the Athletics +1.5 runs over Seattle at 9:40 pm et on Monday.

The Athletics had a rough weekend at home against the White Sox, dropping two of three games to fall to 11-11 on the season. I do like their chances of bouncing back on Monday as they head on the road to take on the Mariners, who are also off to a slow start at 10-13. J.T. Ginn will take the ball for the A's on Monday. He has been a better pitcher on the road than at home and that's not overly surprising given the A's play their home games at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. Since breaking into the bigs in 20224, Ginn has logged a 5.67 ERA and 1.47 WHIP at home but a 3.32 ERA and 1.09 WHIP on the road. He's made five starts so far this season and the A's have won his last four. The current Mariners lineup has only had limited looks at him with no hitter seeing him more than three times. Emerson Hancock will counter for Seattle. He's off to a terrific start this season with a 2.75 FIP and 0.76 WHIP. I can't help but feel regression will be coming for him, however, noting that he still owns a career 4.92 FIP and 1.28 WHIP. He's a career .500 starter at 10-10 including a 6-6 record at T-Mobile Park since his debut in 2023. While the bullpen advantage figures to go go the Mariners, recent form says otherwise as Seattle's relief corps has logged a 6.48 ERA and 2.04 WHIP over the last week. Of note, key relievers Gabe Speier and closer Andres Munoz have worked each of the last two days and may not be available for this one. The A's long relievers have been overworked lately but they should still have plenty of arms available out of the 'pen on Monday. Take the Athletics +1.5 runs (8*).

My selection is on Washington +1.5 runs over Atlanta at 6:45 pm et on Monday.

The Nationals snapped their two-game slide with a 3-0 victory over the Giants yesterday. While certainly not on the same level as the red hot Braves, I do think the Nats' are well-positioned to hang tough in Monday's series-opener in Washington. Atlanta will travel to the nation's capital off last night's series sweep clinching 4-2 win in Philadelphia. The Braves will hand the ball to Bryce Elder on Monday as he pitches on short rest after starting in a 6-3 win over Miami last Wednesday. Elder is off to a terrific start and it's really come out of nowhere after he struggled in recent years. I don't think this is a great matchup for Elder, however, noting that current Nats' hitters have gone 17-for-44 (.386) with a .958 OPS against him. Jake Irvin will counter for Washington. He's had one bad start against the Dodgers but kept his team in the game in his other three outings, including last time out as he held the Pirates to two earned runs over five innings. The Nats' bullpen is in good shape after using just one reliever in yesterday's shutout victory. Atlanta used five of its six relievers in last night's win. Take Washington +1.5 runs (8*).

My selection is on Dallas over Minnesota at 9:30 pm et on Monday.

It won't be difficult for the Stars to toss aside Saturday's ugly 6-1 loss to open this series with the Wild. Keep in mind, Minnesota had previously dropped both regular season meetings in Dallas, allowing 10 goals across those two contests. Perhaps the Stars got caught looking past the Wild a little bit on Saturday, thinking that they could win on merit here at home where they've gone 26-16 and outscored opponents by an average margin of 0.4 goals this season. That wake-up call should rejuvenate the Stars entering Monday's pivotal Game 2. Note that Minnesota has now won consecutive games but owns just one winning streak lasting at least three games going back to February 27th. Saturday's loss only served to end the Stars five-game winning streak. This figures to be a long series and I'm confident we'll see Dallas even up the series on Monday. Take Dallas (8*).