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MLB Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/15)

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April 15 is a special day in Major League Baseball. It’s a day that the league dedicates to Jackie Robinson every year. It was 76 years ago today that Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball when he suited up for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time. To honor the star infielder, every player in the league will wear No. 42. 

To transition to something a little less serious, this 15-game slate offers up a ton of betting options throughout the day. I’ve narrowed in on these three best bets for Saturday’s MLB schedule. 

MLB YTD: 16-14 (+19.73 Units)

Today’s Best MLB Bets

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

New York Mets (-190) vs. Oakland Athletics (+155) | O/U 9.0 (-110/-110)

The Mets took care of business in a big way in last night’s opener, winning the game 17-6 against the Athletics. I actually caught the end of the game and watched a piece of history, that being that Oakland set the MLB record for most walks issued in a game (17). The two clubs are back at it this afternoon at 4:07 p.m. ET from Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

The pitching matchup for game two of the series sees Carlos Carrasco getting the nod for New York while Oakland counters with Shintaro Fujinami. Neither has been great, but the latter has really struggled to assimilate into the North American game since coming over from his native Japan. He’s already 0-2 with a 17.55 ERA and 2.25 WHIP over 6.2 innings of work. 

Ultimately, this is simply a fade of one of the worst teams in the league in the A’s. They’re rolling with a pitcher who has struggled mightily in the early going and is currently averaging over a walk per inning (7 BB). As we saw last night, the Mets have no issue working counts and taking their free passes. On top of that, Oakland burned through four relief arms and used a position player to close out last night’s opener. This New York side is ripe for another offensive breakout and Carrasco will have an opportunity to turn in a quality outing against a bottom-third offense in baseball. Look for the Mets to stretch this lead out by multiple runs and win their third straight game.

Bet: New York Mets -1.5 (-115)

Los Angeles Angels (-115) vs. Boston Red Sox (-105) | O/U 9.5 (+100/-120)

The Angels gifted a 5-3 ball game to the Red Sox last night, making three errors and allowing four unearned runs. Los Angeles will look to rebound this afternoon as they turn to Tyler Anderson to handle the starting pitching responsibilities. Boston opts for Nick Pivetta in this American League showdown slated for 4:10 p.m. ET from Fenway Park in Boston, MA.

Pivetta has been excellent in two starts this year, posting a 0.90 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. However, he’s just 0-1 and the team has dropped both games. Anderson, on the other hand, enters at 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 10.2 innings of work. 

Aside from Pivetta’s early success, this game has all the makings of a high-scoring barn burner. For instance, Los Angeles has dominated the right-hander throughout his career, posting a .407/.439/.907 slash line over 54 at-bats. The middle of the order featuring Shohei Ohtani, Anthony Rendon, and Hunter Renfroe are a combined 19-40 (.475) against Pivetta with seven home runs and five doubles. 

As for Anderson’s head-to-head numbers, Boston is slashing .347/.430/.667 over 75 at-bats against him with 13 extra-base hits (5 HR, 7 2B). Factor in that both bullpens aren’t anything to write home about and you can quickly see how this game may turn into a home run derby. I think we’re going to see the star power on display this afternoon in New England – let’s ride with the over. 

Bet: Over 9.5 Runs (+100)

Texas Rangers (+145) vs. Houston Astros (-175) | O/U 8.0 (-110/-110)

The Rangers notched a 6-2 victory in the year’s first installment of the Silver Boot Series between the two teams from Texas. The divisional foes are back to it this afternoon with a pitching matchup between Jon Gray and Hunter Brown. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX.

I love the under in this A.L. West matchup between the Rangers and Astros. Gray has been reliable over two starts this season, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 12.0 innings of work. Brown’s coming off of an effort against the Twins where he allowed an unearned run over 7.0 innings, limiting Minnesota to just two hits and two walks. The right-hander enters this one at 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. 

The two starters have also excelled in the head-to-head category as well. Over a slim 16-at-bat sample size, Brown has held the Rangers to a .188/.188/.250 slash line with just one double. As for the Astros, they’re slashing .200/.304/.300 over 40 at-bats against Gray with a triple and two doubles. 

Texas’ bullpen is surprisingly off to a fantastic start as well, sitting fifth in ERA (2.61) and third in WHIP (1.03). And while Houston’s arm barn has lagged a bit to begin the year, coming in at 17th (4.17) and 16th (1.33) in those respective categories, there are still some big arms available that can get the job done down the stretch. I see this one being a lower-scoring affair, so I’m locking in the under in Houston. 

Bet: Under 8.0 (-110)

Check out our other best bets for Saturday:


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