Rocket Mortgage Classic

Good morning,

Let’s dive in…

Developing Stories 📰

Most golf experts consider the Rocket Mortgage Classic a simple putting contest. Winning in the Motor City takes more than just a prolific putter. The tournament started four years ago, and each edition has been hosted by the Detroit Golf Club. A suburban setting of 36 holes designed by Donald Ross the championship course is collection from both courses. The field of 156 players is competing for $8.8 million and $1.584 million for first place. Seven of the top 25 and 37 of the top 100 are on property to try and stop Tony Finau from defending his title. The +1200 favorite from one year ago won the Rocket Mortgage in record scoring 26 under par. In four rounds, he had 27 birdies and one bogey Similar scoring will be needed to contend on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to be hot and humid so the ball will be flying. That matches one of the skill sets needed to succeed. Players here average 13 yards more than the Tour average off the tee. Each will give up a little accuracy for length on the Donald design.

Precipitation will only make those greens more receptive to scoring. Birdie-or-better percentage is the key to winning and that’s why most consider this just a flatstick affair. You will need plenty of power off the tee. Then scoring ability takes over and only those great with a wedge should apply at the Rocket Mortgage. The greens average 5,150 square feet so collecting as many GIRs from 175 and in is really the major priority. Converting those birdie putts counts, but realistically players need to hit it close. The scoring procedure is straightforward, and we have plenty of warm putters from last week to choose from. Around the green skill only matters if you are trying to get up and down for birdie. Bogey avoidance may keep you below par, but it won’t keep you in contention.

This shootout requires a healthy balance of a couple skills. Start with power off the tee and give me grace upon approach. Your winner will excel on both par 5s and 4s. Their proximity to hole will be elite and without a doubt they will gain four or more strokes against the field with the flatstick.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day In Sport History: Craig Biggio gets his 3000th hit with the Houston Astros.

The Spurs announced Wednesday that the No. 1 overall pick will not join the team in Sacramento for the California Classic Sumer League but will join the team in Las Vegas for the 2K24 Summer league.

Warriors Donte DiVincenzo will decline his $4.7 million player option and enter free agency.

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo has exercised his $9.4 million option for the 2023-2024 season.

The Detroit Pistons plan to pick up Alec Burks’ $10.5 million option for the 2023-2024 season.

Shohei Ohtani continues to show why he is in the lead for MVP with 2 home runs and 10 strikeouts in The Angels 4-2 victory over the White Sox Tuesday night.

Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah was hit hard in his first game after returning to the minors, allowing 11 runs over 2 2/3 innings in a rookie level Florida Complex League.

Former Arkansas NFL QB Ryan Mallet died Tuesday in an apparent drowning at a Florida beach.

The NCAA national office informed member schools that some of their methods to help their athletes make money from name, image and likeness deals are violations of the association’s rules.

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek were seeded No. 1 for Wimbledon as expected because the England Club adhered to the ATP and WTA rankings.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

⚾️ Twins at Braves

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

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games on the road

• Atlanta is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home

• Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

⚾️ Nationals at Mariners

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Seattle's last 6 games

• Seattle is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Washington

⚾️ Padres at Pirates

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Diego's last 5 games

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing at home against San Diego

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 10 games

⚾️ Giants at Blue Jays

• San Francisco is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

• San Francisco is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road

⚾️ Brewers at Mets

• Milwaukee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing NY Mets

• Milwaukee is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 games when playing on the road against NY Mets

⚾️ Astros at Cardinals

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Louis

⚾️ Phillies at Cubs

• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Philadelphia's last 9 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

⚾️ Tigers at Rangers

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas

⚾️ Royals at Guardians

⚾️ Dodgers at Rockies

• LA Dodgers is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Colorado's last 7 games when playing LA Dodgers

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 6 games at home

⚾️ White Sox at Angels

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi White Sox's last 6 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi White Sox's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of LA Angels's last 8 games

• LA Angels is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox

⚾️ Rays at Diamondbacks

• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Tampa Bay's last 8 games

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona

• Arizona is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay

⚾️ Yankees at Athletics

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

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

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

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

⚾️ MLB

62% of bets and 80% of money is on OVER 10 MIN at ATL

48% of bets and 71% of money is on BAL -1.5 (+125)

65% of bets and 87% of money is on OVER 9.5 CIN at BAL

56% of bets and 71% of money is on SD -1.5 (+105)

58% of bets and 80% of money is on OVER 8 SD at PIT

32% of bets and 77% of money is on SF -1.5 (+145)

50% of bets and 85% of money is on OVER 9.5 MIA at BOS

42% of bets and 74% of money is on PHI -1.5 (+125)

59% of bets and 79% of money is on OVER 8 PHI at CHC

27% of bets and 47% of money is on OVER 9.5 CLE at KC

63% of bets and 87% of money is on TB -1.5 (+105)

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

BOS (LF) Masataka Yoshida | Day-to-Day

CHC (SP) Marcus Stroman | Day-to-Day - Finger, expected to make a start this weekend

COL (RP) Nick Mears | Day-to-Day - Left yesterday’s game with oblique pain

HOU (2B) Jose Altuve - Day-to-Day - Heel

TB (3B) Taylor Walls - Day-to-Day - Back, will miss today’s game

TOR (C) Alejandro Kirk | 10 Day IL - Hand, aiming to return tomorrow

Picks 🔒

Guardians -140 | The Royals cannot be trusted. Kansas City has managed to win just 10 out of 38 games at home with a percentage of .263.

Athletics +1.5 (-135) | Oakland is 6-3 against the run line in their last 9 games. The Yankees continue to struggle on offense without Judge. The Yankees have posted a record of 2-6 on the run line as a favorite in their last 8.