Top MLB Parlay Odds & Picks for Saturday, April 9th (2022)
Yesterday was an exciting slate of the games as six of them were decided by just one run, and two were walk-offs. More exciting games are on the table for the first Saturday of the season, including some notable pitching matchups that we’ll feature in today’s parlay.
(Odds courtesy DraftKings)
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees (-1.5) O/U 9.5 (First Pitch 4:05 p.m. ET)
It was just another exciting game to start the season between these two teams. They went back and forth until brand new Yankee Josh Donaldson didn’t take long to have his inaugural pinstripe moment when he knocked in the walk-off run in the eleventh.
Luis Severino is getting his first start since September 2019, as he’s dealt with various injuries for the last couple of years. Although he made only relief appearances last season, he looked like his old self with 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
The top four of the lineup with Donaldson, Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Giancarlo Stanton was explosive on Opening Day as they had six of nine hits and four of nine RBI. Just from watching the first game, they are looking very solid.
Nick Pivetta will try to get Boston in the win column for the first time this year. He went 1-1 last season against the Yankees and gave up five runs in seven innings. Consistency is not a strong suit of Pivetta as he was a much better pitcher on the road with a 3.40 FIP in 2021 and 10.25 strikeouts per nine innings.
With Severino making his first start in over two years, don’t expect a long outing. Yesterday the Yankees used seven relievers in seven innings, leaving them possibly short-handed in the bullpen. This will favor the Sox, especially if they can get to Sevy early in this game.
Houston Astros (-1.5) vs. Los Angeles Angels O/U 8.5 ( First Pitch 9:05 p.m. ET)
This game certainly is the marquee matchup and will be the one to watch. We have not seen Justin Verlander pitch in two years as he dealt with elbow problems that resulted in TJ surgery. At 39 years old, how much left does he have in the tank? Luckily he’s facing an Angels team he’s pitched well against, as he’s allowing a .207 batting average against in his career. Verlander will hope for the same hitting display the team put on yesterday as they put up 13 runs, including eight in the seventh inning.
On the other side is another star pitcher trying to get back on track from recent injuries. Noah Syndergaard only pitched two innings over the last two seasons after Tommy John surgery back in 2020, along with several setbacks keeping him off the mound. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the most dominant pitchers, and a fresh could revamp his career. He’s facing a lineup of hitters unfamiliar with the former National League, so that should play heavily in his favor. The Angels were also able to put up runs on the Astros, scoring six runs on 13 hits.
This game should be an interesting one to watch in the first half. These teams combined to score 13 of the 19 runs in the last three innings, but they will remain relatively quiet to start the game. Instead of the total for the whole game, I’m more confident in the one in the first half.
Leg 2: Under 4 first 5 Innings (+105)
Brewers SP Brandon Woodruff over 6.5 strikeouts (+105) against Chicago Cubs (First Pitch 2:20 p.m. ET)
Woodruff has cemented himself as one of the top pitchers in the league coming into 2022 by finishing top five in the NL Cy Young race last year. Don’t look at his 9-10 record because he finished with a 2.56 ERA and 211 strikeouts in 179 1/3 innings. Going against a Cubs team that finished last in strikeouts per game in 2021 (9.85) will put him in a prime position to have an effective game to start the season. In three starts against Chicago in 2021, he finished with eight strikeouts in two of them. He should get enough innings for the quality start and mow down enough for the over.
Leg 3: Brandon Woodruff over 6.5 strikeouts (+105)
Top MLB Parlay Odds & Pick
Total parlay odds on DraftKings: +952
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