OPTIMAL BET · THE SLATE
Thursday, May 14
Tonight’s board: 11 MLB · 2 NHL · 1 WNBA
The NHL second round enters a pivotal stretch tonight with Game 5 in Buffalo and Game 6 in Anaheim, while MLB rolls out an 11-game Thursday slate headlined by the Phillies at Fenway and a Giants–Dodgers nightcap. The WNBA tips off its second week with Dallas hosting Minnesota.
MLB
11-Game Thursday
A busy Thursday offers games from coast to coast, from afternoon first pitches in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati all the way through a Giants–Dodgers nightcap at Dodger Stadium.
Cardinals at Athletics · 3:05 ET
Sutter Health Park · Market: OAK -115, total 9.5
Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers are each projected for two total bases, the only hitters on either roster to reach that mark alongside Jordan Walker. Both carry ceiling nights worth nearly six combined hits, runs, and RBIs, and they’re facing the more hittable of the two starters in this matchup.
Top bats (Hits + Runs + RBIs, p50)
| Team | #1 | #2 | #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| STL | Herrera 1.9 | Burleson 1.8 | Walker 1.8 |
| OAK | Kurtz 2.0 | Langeliers 2.0 | Soderstrom 1.8 |
The full MLB slate
| Matchup | Time ET | Line | Total | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COL @ PIT | 12:35 | PIT -175 | 7.5 | PIT 58.9% |
| WSH @ CIN | 12:40 | CIN -155 | 8.5 | CIN 55.8% |
| DET @ NYM | 1:10 | NYM -174 | 7.5 | NYM 58.2% |
| SD @ MIL | 1:40 | MIL -148 | 7.5 | MIL 55.1% |
| MIA @ MIN | 1:40 | MIN -125 | 8.5 | MIN 51.0% |
| SEA @ HOU | 2:10 | SEA -130 | 9.5 | SEA 56.6% |
| STL @ OAK | 3:05 | OAK -115 | 9.5 | STL 51.5% |
| PHI @ BOS | 6:45 | PHI -115 | 7.5 | PHI 54.0% |
| CHC @ ATL | 7:15 | ATL -161 | 7.5 | ATL 56.7% |
| KC @ CWS | 7:40 | KC -139 | 8.5 | KC 58.0% |
| SF @ LAD | 10:10 | LAD -175 | 8.5 | LAD 58.5% |
NHL
Second Round, Games 5 & 6
The second round enters its critical phase tonight with two games that could reshape the conference-finals picture.
Montreal at Buffalo · 7:00 ET
KeyBank Center · Market: BUF -1.5, total 6, BUF ML -120
Suzuki and Hutson are the only players on either roster projected for an assist, giving Montreal a clear playmaking edge. Buffalo counters with raw shot volume from Thompson and Dahlin, but nobody on the Sabres’ side is expected to create for teammates the way Montreal’s top two can.
Vegas at Anaheim · 9:30 ET
Honda Center · TNT · Market: VGK -110, total 6.5
Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner are the only players on either side projected for an assist — no Anaheim skater reaches that mark — giving Vegas a clear playmaking edge heading into Game 6. Eichel’s three-point ceiling is the highest individual scoring upside on the board, while the Ducks spread their shot volume across Gauthier, Carlsson, and Terry without a true facilitator connecting them.
The full NHL slate
| Matchup | Time ET | Line | Total | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTL @ BUF | 7:00 | BUF -1.5 | 6 | BUF 51.8% |
| VGK @ ANA | 9:30 | VGK -110 | 6.5 | VGK 51.3% |
WNBA
Week 2
The WNBA’s second week of action features Dallas hosting Minnesota, with Paige Bueckers and the Wings welcoming the Lynx to College Park Center.
Lynx at Wings · 8:00 ET
College Park Center · Market: DAL -4, total 177.5, DAL -170
Bueckers’ ceiling — nearly 30 points with 14 rebounds on her best night — is a stat line nobody else in this game can touch. Dallas’ bet is that one transcendent performance can outweigh Minnesota’s deeper balance across Williams, McBride, and Miles.
The full WNBA slate
| Matchup | Time ET | Line | Total | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIN @ DAL | 8:00 | DAL -4 | 177.5 | DAL 60.8% |
