CWS Final Four

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Developing Stories 📰

The Mens College World Series is down to just 4 teams. The MCWs haven’t matched No.1 and No.2 seeds in 24 years going back to 1999. LSU has the talent on their roster to knock off Wake Forest twice in the next two days. LSU was ranked No. 1 most of this season so they are not a team to take lightly. The Tigers shut down a very powerful Tennessee batting order twice in this College World Series. They gave up just three runs in their loss to Wake Forest. Their pitching can go head-to-head with anyone at this tournament. If the offense can modestly improve LSU has more than enough pitching to win and put Wake Forest in a difficult spot-on Thursday in a potential one-game semifinal showdown. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are owning the big moments in Omaha with two comeback wins, two go-ahead scores in the eighth inning, two lockdown performances from a bullpen which has been perfect this week. They have not yet given up a single run after the third inning. In the fourth through ninth innings in each of their first two games Wake stopped the opposing bats. LSU could not break through in the late innings versus Wake, but Wake Forest must be feeling some pressure tonight because if the Demon Deacons lose, they could well be looking down the business end of Paul Skenes’ fastball on Thursday.

TCU has never played in the championship finals. Ever. They are going to have to play two flawless games to get two wins over Florida. Using the past 15 MCWS as a guide, 30 teams stood where TCU does now, needing to beat a team twice to move on. Only seven of the 30 pulled it off, the most recent Oregon State in 2018. The Gators look like the best team in the field. Wake Forest is ranked No. 1 but Florida has been playing slightly better. Wake Forest has won a pair of games which were close throughout. Florida outplayed Oral Roberts on Sunday to take a 5-1 lead before holding on for a 5-4 win. The Gators looked like a complete team in that game. The Gators have the best pitching depth of any team left in the field, and their hitters are driving the ball for extra-base hits in Omaha, generating instant offense at crucial junctures in games. Florida had Monday and Tuesday off, the benefit of going 2-0 in its first two games and playing on Day 1 of the College World Series instead of Day 2. Getting two whole days of rest gives Florida the ability to mix and match with its pitching staff. The Gators don't have to overextend their starting pitcher. They will be able to send two or three pitchers to the mound for 30 to 45 pitches if they want to. TCU, having played on Tuesday against Oral Roberts, doesn't have that same luxury.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sport History: 1939 Lou Gehrig retires after doctors reveal he has amyotrophic later sclerosis,

1986: Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson signs 3-year contract to play baseball with the Kansas City Royals.

Wizards’ Forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his $13 million player option and will become a free agent.

Raptors’ Gary Trent Jr. picks up $18.5 mi player option for the 2023-2024 season.

The Los Angeles Angels are highly unlikely to trade Shohei Ohtani if they remain in playoff contention this summer.

RB Sony Michel returns for second stint with Rams. The RB agreed to terms with the Rams on Tuesday, returning to the team he helped win Super Bowl LVI.

Jay Johnson texted Nate Ackenhausen at 8:56 a.m. Tuesday to let him know he would make his first start for LSU less than 12 hours later in a game against Tennessee with the Tigers' season on the line. LSU won 5-0.

TCU used a four-run fifth inning to take control of the game and went on to beat Oral Roberts 6-1 in a College World Series elimination game.

Wyndham Clark climbed to 13th in the Official World Golf Ranking and stands a fraction of a point behind Brooks Koepka after winning the U.S. Open.

Venus Williams is set to make her 24th appearance in the singles draw at Wimbledon after the 43-year-old American was given a wild-card entry Wednesday.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

⚾️ Blue Jays at Marlins

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Toronto's last 7 games when playing on the road against Miami

⚾️ Orioles at Rays

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Baltimore's last 7 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay

⚾️ Rockies at Reds

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Colorado's last 7 games when playing Cincinnati

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games

• Cincinnati is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

• Cincinnati is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Colorado

⚾️ Cubs at Pirates

• Chi Cubs is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh

• Chi Cubs is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games at home

⚾️ Mets at Astros

• Houston is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against NY Mets

• Houston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing NY Mets

⚾️ Cardinals at Nationals

• St. Louis is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Washington

• St. Louis is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing St. Louis

• The total has gone OVER in 12 of Washington's last 18 games at home

⚾️ Braves at Phillies

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games

⚾️ Mariners at Yankees

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games

• Seattle is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games at home

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games

⚾️ Athletics at Guardians

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland's last 5 games

⚾️ Red Sox at Twins

• Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games

• Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing Boston

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games at home

⚾️ Rangers at White Sox

• Texas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

⚾️ Dodgers at Angles

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Angels's last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers 

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

🎓⚾️ College World Series

66% of bets and 85% of money is on UF -1.5 (-130)

⚾️ MLB

51% of bets and 68% of money is on TB -1.5 (+140)

25% of bets and 59% of money is on UNDER 8 BAL at TB

41% of bets and 71% of money is on TOR -1.5 (+125)

54% of bets and 84% of money is on UNDER 8.5 CHC at PIT

63% of bets and 82% of money is on DET -1.5 (+160)

44% of bets and 75% of money is on OVER 8.5 KC at DET

47% of bets and 90% of money is on UNDER 8.5 NYM at HOU

62% of bets and 85% of money is on STL -1.5 (+100)

40% of bets and 93% of money is on UNDER 9 STL at WSH

50% of bets and 80% of money is on UNDER 8.5 ATL at PHI

49% of bets and 72% of money is on NYY +145

38% of bets and 62% of money is on UNDER 7.5 SEA at NYY

58% of bets and 87% of money is on BOS +115

52% of bets and 81% of money is on TEX -1.5 (+145)

36% of bets and 61% of money is on SF +105

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

ATL (C) Sean Murphy | Day-to-Day - Hamstring

BOS (2B) Pablo Reyes | Day-to-Day - Abdomen

CHC (SS) Dansby Swanson | Day-to-Day - Wrist

CWS (SS) Tim Anderson | Day-to-Day - Shoulder

CWS (RP) Garrett Crochet | 15 Day IL - Activated

SEA (SS) JP Crawford | Day-to-Day - Shoulder, will undergo MRI today

Picks 🔒

Red Sox +115 | Boston had an offensive explosion on Tuesday, scoring 10 runs in the victory. The Red Sox have the hitting advantage here in Game 3. Boston has a 6^th ranked Ops against RHP with .769 and face Gray who is struggling recently only completing 9 innings in his last two starts.

 Cubs -115 | The Pittsburgh bats have been extremely quiet lately, as they have managed just 20 runs over their last 9 games. Stroman hasn’t pitched as well as his ERA would suggest, but he is certainly in a good spot here, and his team should come out on top and send the Pirates to their 8th straight loss.

LSU/Wake Forest Under 10: Fewer than 11 runs have been scored in each of the four games involving either one of these teams in Omaha. Wake Forest’s Bullpen excellence combined with LSU’s desire to keep its season alive should make for an intense, low scoring final few innings.