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MLB Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (4/6)

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Opening weekend was eventful as the season got underway.  It's the first full week of the 2023 season, and the slate is full. Let's look at some of the best plays of the day.

Today's Best MLB Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

San Diego Padres (+142) vs. Atlanta Braves (-168) | O/U 8 (-105/-115)

It has been a fantastic start to the season for the Braves, winning five of their first six. Like last season, they present a top-tier lineup and pitching staff and are top six in ERA and runs scored.

Spencer Strider is proving to be a star in the making by finishing last season second in Rookie of the Year voting and started this season pitching six scoreless and striking out nine.

After another busy offseason for the Padres, but it hasn’t begun the way they hoped, as they are currently 3-3. The Xander Bogaerts signing is paying off as he hits .409 with three home runs, but most of their other bats aren't, including Juan Soto and James Cronenworth, who are hitting .190.

Blake Snell had a rough first start. He got into trouble almost every inning against Colorado, and finally in the fifth, he gave up the big hits and took the loss.

The Braves are playing better overall, and they've got the better guy on the mound that can get the swings and misses against a lineup that is struggling.

Pick: Braves -1.5 (+122)

Toronto Blue Jays (-215) vs. Kansas City Royals (+180) | O/U 8 (-120/-102)

The Blue Jays are not off to the start they want, as they come in 3-3. The bats have been doing their part to get runners on, and they’re third in BABIP, but the pitching that hurt them last season is still taking them out of games. Kevin Gausman was the only Toronto starter to have a quality start the first time around and it looks like he'll continue to be a reliable option in the rotation.

It looks like it will be another long season for the Royals, and although the pitching has done well to start the year, up until yesterday, the offense was last hitting .170 and had scored the second-fewest runs. Journeyman Jordan Lyles had a great outing in his previous start, allowing one earned run, but he got zero run support in the loss.

That lack of scoring will happen a lot for Kansas City throughout the year, including tonight. 

Pick: Blue Jays -1.5 (-128)

Washington Nationals (+126) vs. Colorado Rockies (-148) | O/U 10.5 (-115/-105)

After an excellent start to the season with back-to-back wins, the Rockies have dropped four straight. The pitching is once again proving to be its weak point, ranking 24th in ERA, but the bats are also not hot, but it could be because they haven't played in the Mile High City yet. Kyle Freeland gets the start coming off a shutout win, but the Denver native does not like his home cooking because he had a 6.00 ERA last season at Coors Field.

The Nationals are likely to finish with 100 losses this season. The team is young, and they will have growing pains. Josiah Gray has back-to-back 5.00+ ERA seasons and was lit up in his first start allowing five earned and three home runs.

Two struggling starters in the mile-high air screams to take the over.

Pick: Over 10.5 (-115)

Check out our other best bets for Thursday:


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