MLB Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (4/20)
It’s a small slate for MLB today, but there is still good value on the board. Let’s take a look at our favorite picks.
Today's Best MLB Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Colorado Rockies (+184) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (-220) | O/U 9.5 (+100/-122)
It looks like another tough year for the Rockies as they sit in last in the NL West and are currently riding an eight-game losing streak. The offense has been dreadful to start the season, and they can’t even score at home, where they strived last season.
The Phillies can hit, but the problem is that they're not converting those runs. The big reason why they're third in average and 15th in runs is that they're leaving the second-most runners on base per game.
Ryan Feltner's rookie year in Colorado was rough, and this season is not starting off well. He's averaging a run per inning, and his WHIP is nearly at two. Matt Strahm is coming off his worst start, where he allowed three earned in just 2.2 innings, but his swing-and-miss stuff has been present, and he is in the 87th percentile in strikeout percentage.
The Rockies' lineup is 21st this season in strikeout percentage, and the Phillies' offense should take advantage of the bad Colorado pitching.
Pick: Phillies -1.5 (-122)
Los Angeles Angels (+132) vs. New York Yankees (-156) | O/U 8.5 (-105/-115)
Were we too high on the Angels or is this just a small skid, as they’ve lost four of their last six? The optimism is that these games have not been blowouts, with none of the losses coming by more than two runs.
This homestand hasn't been that great for the Yankees, and they're just 3-3 with the Blue Jays coming in this weekend. The offense is out a big bat, and hopefully they can stay afloat without Giancarlo Stanton for six weeks.
This has the potential to be a great pitching matchup. Patrick Sandoval and Nestor Cortes are undefeated this season, and each has an ERA under three. The Yankees have the highest under percentage, and the Angels are fourth. Go with the under.
Pick: Under 8.5 (-115)
Los Angeles Dodgers (+102) vs. Chicago Cubs (-120) | O/U 11 (+100/-122)
I don't think many people would have guessed that the Cubs would be the team over .500 coming into this series. But every part of their game is clicking – they're third in average, fourth in runs scored, and fifth in ERA.
The Dodgers have scored the same amount of runs as the Cubs, but the difference is they have a 4.20 ERA. They're trying to piece together a starting rotation with Walker Buehler and Tony Gonsolin on the IL and Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney leaving in free agency.
Michael Grove had his best start of the season against the Cubs last week, giving up just one earned in 5.2 innings. Tallion was even better, going five scoreless, but the Cubs dropped that game 2-1.
The total is inflated at 11. We won't get the pitcher's duel like in this last matchup, but the weather calls for a rainy and cold day, which should influence the score.
Pick: Under 11 (-122)
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