Let's chase that cash. Getty Images.
So, here we are again, a profitable week, but most importantly, one we can learn from.
Variance- the fact or quality of being different, divergent, or inconsistent.
In this game consistency is required long term to be successful, but the variance is what you must be able to withstand to find success.
Prepare yourself for ups and downs, not letting your self fall too far either way at any moment.
Let's get some more holiday cash! Thanks for the support.
Last article
France
Racing Strasburg vs PSG
Over 3 -1.2
UPDATE #1 440 CST
MLS
Atlanta/Portland first half over 1 (juiced but Im pounding it -180 5U) push
Atl TT over 2 ?$?$?$? push
Game over 3 5U -6
UPDATE 644 CST
ATL J. Martinez scores goal 3U +3
UPDATE 224 CST
Eagles TT over 20.5 5U MAX +5
UPDATE
49ers 2nd Half TT over 10 2U -2.2
Eagles 2nd half pk 3U
UPDATE CST 1153 CST
Everton vs Watford
Everton 1U -150 -1.5
Bears ML 5U +6.2
Bears+3 5U +5
Bears +3.5 5U +5
UPDATE 639 CST
A.Thielen pass receptions over 6½ 2U -4
TD 1U
UPDATE
Seattle first half TT over 13 5U MAX -5.5
Seattle Over 19.5 5U MAX +5
UPDATE 1035
Wolves/Warriors
Warriors TT over 120.5 3U -3.3
Game over 230.5 2U -2.2
UPDATE 1:12 CST
Inter Milan TT over 2 2U -2.4
Game over 3 1U -1.2
UPDATE 1:29 CST
Liverpool ML 3U +3
Salah scores 1U +1
UPDATE 259
Liverpool -1.5 game 2U -2.3
Tottenham +1 2U +2
+4
Last article read 274.1. 274.1 + 4= 278.1
New Plays
NBA
Nets vs 76ers over 221.5 1U
UPDATE 12:32 CST
Lyon/ Shak (Bovada)
Both teams soccer and over 2.5. 3U -135
Over 3 +105 1U
First half over 1 -170 1U
UPDATE 1:11 CST
Total of the day
Lyon/ Shak (Bovada)
Both teams soccer and over 2.5. 2U -135
Over 3 +105 1U
First half over 1 -170 1U
Update 139 CST
Goal score prop of the day
Ronaldo
UPDATE 1:50 CST
Play of the day
Juventus -1 -154 POD
Juventus first half ML -110 1U
Parlay
Parlay 1U Juventus -1
Man city over 3.5
Bayern Ajax over 3
For any questions or comments reach me @JerryBoKnowz Twitter.
Be sure to check out my show MoneyLine with Josh Jordan on ESPN 97.5. We're on every Sunday from 10-noon, and we'll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling. Also, be sure to follow us @Moneyline975 on Twitter.
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It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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