Top MLB Betting Odds & Picks for Monday, April 18th (2022)
Though most MLB teams have not even played their tenth games of the season, it is still fascinating to see how little separation there is in most divisions to this point. The American League East looks like it will be impossible to figure out this season, as the top four teams are within one game of each other. And that is not even counting the Baltimore Orioles, who surprisingly won their home series against the New York Yankees this past weekend. In addition, many pegged the Oakland Athletics to be one of the worst teams in baseball after their offseason firesale, but they sit at 5-5 and have made their moneyline backers a lot of cash to this point.
After Friday night’s results, Stats By Stats took to Twitter to discuss how historic this year’s start to the baseball season was. And if it keeps going that way, we will be in for a fun year.
Here are our best bets for Monday's MLB action. (Odds courtesy of DraftKings)
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>
San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets ML
Tylor Megill was the New York Mets’ surprising Opening Day starting pitching after Jacob deGrom went on the IL and Max Scherzer had his first start pushed back a day. And while Megill is 2-0 after throwing 10.1 combined scoreless innings, we expect him to struggle with the red-hot San Francisco Giants lineup.
Megill has struck out 11 batters and walked none to this point, but it is expected to be chilly in New York tonight, and we do not expect him to have the same brilliant command he has shown. San Francisco enters this series on a five-game winning streak and is just one of two teams to not lose on the road yet this season. The Giants have allowed a Major League-low 20 runs and will look for another strong outing from Alex Cobb (1-0, 3.60).
New York has struggled with teams from the NL West, going 3-13 in their last 16 games. Two of those wins came against the lowly Diamondbacks this weekend, but the Mets should struggle with a Giants team that is 47-17 in their last 64 road games dating back to last season.
Bet: San Francisco Giants ML (+105 at DraftKings)
Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros O/U
The top two teams in the AL West meet in an important early-season series in Houston, but the road team may play some of these games without one of the best players in baseball. Mike Trout left Sunday’s game after being hit on the hand with a pitch, and while X-rays were negative, it would be surprising to see Trout in the lineup tonight. However, despite the potential of not having Trout in the lineup, several of Los Angeles’ biggest bats have done damage off of Houston’s Luis Garcia (0-0, 0.00) in limited at-bats.
Shohei Ohtani is 4-for-12 with two solo home runs off Garcia, and Jared Walsh is 7-for-11 with two home runs and six RBIs against him. Thus, the Angels have a clear path to score runs even if Trout needs a day or two to rest his nicked-up hand. Conversely, Los Angeles’ Michael Lorenzen is making just his fourth start in the last three seasons and has a WHIP north of 1.300 in that span. We do not expect him to be up to shutting down a Houston offense that looks ready to break out at home.
Bet: Angels-Astros OVER 9 (-105 at DraftKings)
Cincinnati Reds vs. San Diego Padres RL
The Cincinnati Reds looked non-competitive in their four-game sweep against the Dodgers, losing all four by a combined 26-7. Things do not get any easier when facing a Padres team with their prized offseason acquisition on the mound.
Lefty Sean Manaea (1-1, 1.38) has been outstanding for San Diego thus far, striking out 13 batters in 13 innings. Moreso, he leads the league with a 0.538 WHIP and 2.8 hits per nine innings allowed to this point. He should again stifle a Reds offense that looks punchless through ten games after losing Eugenio Suarez, Nick Castellanos, and Jesse Winker from last year’s squad.
Bet: San Diego Padres -1.5 RL (+120 at DraftKings)
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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.