There is no truth to the rumor that I skipped PGA picks this week because I had some success last week picking NBA and MLB. That being said, my two-pick MLB entry cashed, as Walker Buehler was pretty terrible and Justin Verlander was more than good enough to go over 43.5 fantasy points. My Andrew Benintendi pick came through as well, though I could not have been more wrong about Ketel Marte. Three of my four NBA picks were correct as well, though unfortunately, Montrezl Harrell was just over 33.5 fantasy points to spoil what would have been a nice pay day. In any event, I had the pleasure of taking over the PGA DFS Playbook at the last minute this week, which pushed this back to Thursday. He’s to hoping for another strong showing. I’m going to go with a three-pick entry for NBA and a four-pick entry for MLB. As always, my picks are listed in order of preference.

 

Steve’s NBA Picks for Thursday, May 2:

Marc Gasol at Philadelphia 76ers

Projected Fantasy Points:23.7

OVER

The Sixers had Tobias Harris guard Gasol in Game 2 so Joel Embiid could match up with Pascal Siakam , and Gasol failed to punish them for it. I have to believe Toronto has spent the last two days figuring out ways to take advantage of this mismatch. Gasol is simply too good to be defended by Tobias Harris .

 

Pascal Siakam at Philadelphia 76ers

Projected Fantasy Points: 40.5

UNDER

Siakam had a team-high 25 field goal attempts in Game 2 despite being defended by Joel Embiid for much of the game. Toronto's role players need to step up and take some of the load off of Siakam, and that's what I expect to happen in Game 3.

 

Ben Simmons vs. Toronto Raptors

Projected Fantasy Points: 36.5

UNDER

Toronto has more high-end defenders to throw at Simmons than probably any other NBA team. Simmons's numbers have been rather pedestrian in this series, and it's not like we have to worry about him making a few threes and ruining the Under.

 

Joel Embiid vs. Toronto Raptors

Projected Fantasy Points: 43.0

UNDER

Embiid has struggled to put up stats through two games, and while I'm tempted to attribute Game 2's numbers to the illness that made him a game time decision, I think his back injury, conditioning and Toronto's defense were bigger factors. Those things don't figure to change for Game 3.

 

Steve’s MLB Picks for Thursday, May 2:

Leury Garcia vs. Boston Red Sox (David Price, LHP)

Projected Fantasy Points: 6.0

OVER

Garcia is a solid producer at the top of Chicago’s order, and he is batting .333/.349/.444 against lefties this season.

 

Jose Abreu vs. Boston Red Sox (David Price, LHP)

Projected Fantasy Points: 6.0

UNDER

Abreu is only marginally better against lefties than against righties, and he has struggled in his career against David Price. Abreu is 3-for-21 with one walk and one home run in his career against Price. I’m banking on that history in going Under.

 

Albert Pujols vs Toronto Blue Jays (Aaron Sanchez, R)

Projected Fantasy Points: 6.0

UNDER

Albert isn’t good anymore. He isn’t striking out, but he has just eight extra base hits in 28 games this season. The one thing Aaron Sanchez is good at is keeping the ball in the yard, with a 0.81 career HR/9. Albert almost certainly needs his ninth extra-base hit to go over 6.0 fantasy points, and I don’t see it.

 

David Price at Chicago White Sox (Lucas Giolito, RHP)

Projected Fantasy Points: 39.5

UNDER

Price has only gone over 39 fantasy points once this season, and he hasn’t exactly faced a murderer’s row of opposing lineups. Chicago isn’t a good place to pitch, even in the rain, and the White Sox lineup isn’t terrible, especially against lefties.