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MLB Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/22)

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It's shaping up to be a fantastic Saturday for sports, featuring four playoff games in both the NHL and NBA as well as a massive 16-game slate in the MLB. The bonus game comes courtesy of a doubleheader in Cleveland where the Marlins will take on the Guardians for a pair of games. 

There's obviously no shortage of betting options available today. However, I waded through the betting board and I came up with these three plays on the diamond. Let's dive into my favorite bets of the day. 

MLB YTD: 20-18 (+18.96 Units)

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Today's Best MLB Bets

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Toronto Blue Jays (+150) vs. New York Yankees (-175) | O/U 7.5 (+100/-120)

The Blue Jays took game one of their three-game set with the Yankees last night in a 6-1 affair. The two divisional foes are back at it this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY. 

This should be an excellent game with a pitching matchup featuring Alek Manoah versus Gerrit Cole. While I wish the number was a touch higher due to the loaded rosters that each team boasts, I'm still going to side with the pitchers and lock in the under. 

Manoah hasn't been overpowering this year as he enters at 1-1 with a 6.98 ERA and 1.97 WHIP over 19.1 innings of work. However, he's dominated New York throughout his career, holding the current lineup to a .186/.239/.267 slash line over  86 at-bats. He's allowed just one home run, which came off the bat of Aaron Judge, who is 1-16 (.0.63) against him. 

Cole, on the other hand, appears to be in Cy Young form to start the new campaign. He's a perfect 4-0 over four starts and owns a 0.95 ERA and 0.74 WHIP with 32 strikeouts. The right-hander tossed a complete game shutout last time out against the Twins, allowing just two hits while punching out 10 batters. All things considered, I think pitching wins the day and I'll take the under. 

Bet: Under 7.5 Runs (-120)

Washington Nationals (+235) vs. Minnesota Twins (-280) | O/U 7.0 (-125/+105)

Minnesota dropped their series opener 3-2 to the visiting Washington Nationals last night. The Twins will attempt to get back in the win column this afternoon as they turn to Pablo Lopez while the Nationals counter with Chad Kuhl. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET from Target Field in Minneapolis, MN. 

It's been a rough beginning of the season for Kuhl, who enters today's game at 0-1 with an 8.59 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. The right-hander has seen his team drop all three of his starts and he hasn't allowed less than four runs in any outing. Most recently, Kuhl was touched up for five earned runs on seven hits and three walks over 4.2 innings against the Guardians. The 30-year-old was saddled with the loss in the 6-4 defeat. 

Lopez is off to an excellent start with his new club. The Twins are enjoying him so much that they recently inked him to a four-year, $73.5 million extension. Lopez comes into this one at 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 0.81 WHIP. 

This game offers Minnesota a great chance to pick up a win against an inferior team. I say they take care of business and dominate this game. Give me the Twins on the run line. This is a pretty large disparity in terms of starting pitching and I don't even think we'll need many runs to help us cover the run line here. Lopez has owned this Washington lineup, limiting them to a .143/.200/.214 slash line over 42 at-bats. This game should be a rout. 

Bet: Minnesota Twins -1.5 (-130)

Chicago White Sox (+160) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (-190) | O/U 7.0 (-115/-105)

The Rays held onto their 10-game home winning streak last night thanks to a walk-off home run in the 9th inning from Brandon Lowe. The rotations roll over for each team today as Chicago turns to Dylan Cease while Tampa Bay opts for Shane McClanahan. This one gets underway at 4:05 p.m. ET from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. 

Even though the Rays boast the fiercest offense in all of baseball, I have to ride with the under in this American League clash. Cease, who finished second in Cy Young voting last year, has great numbers against Tampa Bay. The Rays are just 6-33 (.182) against him with zero extra-base hits. The right-hander has also been in great form this year, sitting at 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. 

As for McClanahan, he's also been sharp out of the gate with a 4-0 record to go along with a 1.57 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. In terms of the head-to-head numbers, the current Sox roster is just 4-22 (.182) against him with zero extra-base hits as well. At the surface level, Chicago's lineup feels threatening, but once you factor in injuries and overall underperformances, they're really nothing to worry about. The under is the play in this one. 

Bet: Under 7.0 Runs (-105)

Check out our other best bets from Saturday:


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