MLB Daily Betting Guide: Odds, Schedule, Picks: April 22

Wander Franco
Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco celebrates his two-run home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele in the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

We’re still a little under .500 on our MLB bets this week, so we’ll look to get over the hump as I take you through today’s schedule, the odds for each game along with the starting pitchers, and some picks that should help you not only enjoy the game but also think about which way you want to want to bet the game if that’s something you want to do.

Also, remember, you don’t HAVE to bet on each game. We are giving you our best bets for every game, but if our analysis isn’t landing with you or you just don’t feel like a bet stands out, it’s okay to give that game a pass. There will always be more games to bet on.

Also, we recommend checking the Fangraphs Probables Grid to see the likely starting pitchers from each game with clickable links to get the most in-depth information on each pitcher.

New to betting? Read our Beginner’s Guide to Betting with a glossary of terms

MLB Odds and Schedule, April 22

 

St. Louis Cardinals (7-4) @ Cincinnati Reds (2-11), 6:40 p.m. ET

The Cardinals are 9th in baseball with 4.5 runs scored per game, while Cincinnati has been one of the worst offenses in the early going, scoring just 2.85 runs per game, good for 27th in MLB. The bullpens have been on opposite ends of the spectrum, to start the year with the Cardinals having a 2.15 bullpen ERA while the Reds have struggled to a 4.47 rate.

  • STL Starting Pitcher:  Steven Matz (1-1, 7.27 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 11.42 K/9)
  • CIN Starting Pitcher: Hunter Greene (1-1, 4.35 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 11.32 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

Cleveland Guardians (7-5) @ New York Yankees (7-6), 7:05 p.m. ET

The Guardians have been red-hot, ranking 1st in baseball with 5.67 runs scored per game, meanwhile the Yankees have been cold to start the year, scoring just 3 runs per game and ranking 25th in the league. These have been two of the stronger bullpens to start the year with the Yankees having a 2.21 bullpen ERA and the Guardians compiling a 3.19 rate.

  • CLE Starting Pitcher: Eli Morgan (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 9.00 K/9)
  • NYY Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon (0-1, 3.72 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 7.45 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

Milwaukee Brewers (8-5) @ Philadelphia Phillies (5-8), 7:05 p.m. ET

Neither one of these offenses has been as prolific as we expect to start the year. Philadelphia ranks 11th in baseball with 4.38 runs scored per game, while Milwaukee trails behind at 22nd with just 3.54 runs per game. There has been a stark difference in bullpen performance to start the year with the Brewers having a 2.90 bullpen ERA and the Phillies registering a 4.97 rate.

  • MIL Starting Pitcher: Freddy Peralta (0-1, 11.57 ERA, 2.29 WHIP, 12.86 K/9)
  • PHI Starting Pitcher: Ranger Suarez (1-0, 5.87 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, 5.87 K/9
  • The Pick: 

 

San Francisco Giants (8-5) @ Washington Nationals (6-9), 7:05 p.m. ET

Both of these are on either side of the middle of the pack in runs scored so far. The Giants rank 13th with 4.23 runs scored per game, while Washington ranks 20th with 3.73 runs per game. The Giants have had the best bullpen performance to start the year with a 1.99 bullpen ERA while the Nationals have a 4.06 rate.

  • SF Starting Pitcher: Sam Long (2-1, 5.53 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 8.41 K/9 in 2021)
  • WAS Starting Pitcher: Patrick Corbin (0-2, 7.50 ERA, 2.08 WHIP, 8.25 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

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Boston Red Sox (6-7) @ Tampa Bay Rays (7-6), 7:10 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay has been one of the best offenses in baseball in the early going, ranking 8th with 4.62 runs scored per game, while Boston trails behind at 17th with 3.85 runs per game. Surprisingly, the Boston bullpen has been stronger to start the year with a 2.98 bullpen ERA compared to a 3.60 rate for Tampa.

  • BOS Starting Pitcher: Michal Wacha (0-0, 0.96 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 8.68 K/9)
  • TB Starting Pitcher: Corey Kluber (0-0, 1.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 8.38 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

Colorado Rockies (8-4) @Detroit Tigers (5-7), 7:10 p.m. ET

Colorado has taken advantage of a heavy dose of Coors Field to start the year and currently ranks 3rd in baseball with 5.17 runs per game. Meanwhile, Detroit has been really slow to get going, ranking 25th with just 3 runs scored per game. Both bullpens have been strong to start the year with the Rockies having a 3.06 bullpen ERA and the Tigers compiling a 2.65 rate.

  • COL Starting Pitcher: Antonio Senzatela (1-0, 2.16 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, 2.16 K/9)
  • DET Starting Pitcher: Tarik Skubal (0-1, 3.72 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.31 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, April 15, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Miami Marlins (5-7) @ Atlanta Braves (6-8), 7:20 p.m. ET

The Braves have gotten off to a slow start, ranking 16th in baseball with 3.86 runs per game, but that still ranks ahead of Miami, who comes in 19th with 3.75 runs per game. Both bullpens have been average to start the year with the Marlins having a 3.16 bullpen ERA and the Braves registering a 3.78 rate.

  • MIA Starting Pitcher: Trevor Rogers (0-2, 12.15 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 8.10 K/9)
  • ATL Starting Pitcher: Kyle Wright (1-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 12.27 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

Pittsburgh Pirates (6-7) @ Chicago Cubs (6-7), 8:05 p.m. ET

The Cubs come into this game 10th in baseball with 4.46 runs scored per game, while Pittsburgh trails behind at 18th with 3.77 runs per game. Both bullpens have been strong to start the year with the Pirates having a 2.79 bullpen ERA and the Cubs compiling a 3.09 rate.

  • PIT Starting Pitcher: Jose Quintana (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 4.82 K/9)
  • CHC Starting Pitcher: Drew Smyly (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 4.66 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

Chicago White Sox (6-6) @ Minnesota Twins (5-8), 8:10 p.m. ET

The White Sox have been banged up to start the year and the offense has just not gotten going, ranking 21st with 3.58 runs scored per game, which is ahead of Minnesota, who ranks 24th with just 3.15 runs scored per game. The White Sox have been the stronger bullpen to start the year with a 3.15 bullpen ERA to the Twins’  4.67 rate.

  • CHW Starting Pitcher: Michael Kopech (0-0, 1.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 8.00 K/9)
  • MIN Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober (1-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.73 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

Toronto Blue Jays (8-5) @ Houston Astros (6-6), 8:10 p.m. ET

Despite having the reputation of being two of the league’s best offenses, both Toronto and Houston haven’t delivered in the early going. Toronto ranks 15th with 4 runs scored per game, while Houston is 23rd with just 3.42 runs scored per game. These have been two of the stronger bullpens to start the year with the Astros having a 2.49 bullpen ERA and the Blue Jays compiling a 3.10 rate.

  • TOR Starting Pitcher: Ross Stripling (0-1, 4.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4.50 K/9)
  • HOU Starting Pitcher: Justin Verlander (1-1, 3.00 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 10.38 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Baltimore Orioles (4-9) @ Los Angeles Angels (8-5), 9:38 p.m. ET

It’s a tale of two polar opposites here as the Angels rank 5th with 5 runs scored per game, while Baltimore ranks dead last with just 2.15 runs scored per game. The Baltimore bullpen has been much better to start the year with a 2.83 bullpen ERA compared to the Angels’ 4.34 rate.

  • BAL Starting Pitcher: Bruce Zimmermann (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.00 K/9)
  • LAA Starting Pitcher: Reid Detmers (0-0, 8.59 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 9.84 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

Kansas City Royals (5-6) @ Seattle Mariners (7-6), 9:40 p.m. ET

Seattle has done fairly well, even without Mitch Haniger, ranking 13th in the league with 4.23 runs scored per game, while Kansas City has swung rather flaccid bats to start the year, ranking 29th with just 2.82 runs scored per game. Seattle’s bullpen has been banged up but remains betters to start the year with a 2.55 bullpen ERA compared to the Royals’ 3.88 rate.

  • KC Starting Pitcher: Brad Keller (0-1, 1.38 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 6.92 K/9)
  • SEA Starting Pitcher: Chris Flexen (0-2, 5.23 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 5.23 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

Los Angeles Dodgers (9-3) @ San Diego Padres (9-5), 9:40 p.m. ET

It’s no surprise that the Dodgers are 2nd in baseball with 5.33 runs scored per game, but San Diego has also been respectable with 4.36 runs scored per game, good for 12th. The Dodgers have had the much better bullpen to start the year with a 2.44 bullpen ERA while the Padres have compiled a 3.40 rate.

  • LAD Starting Pitcher: Julio Urias (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 6.43 K/9)
  • SD Starting Pitcher: Nick Martinez (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 8.10 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

New York Mets (10-4) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (5-8), 9:40 p.m. ET

The Mets have been one of the best teams in baseball to start the year, ranking 6th in runs scored with 4.79 runs per game, while Arizona is on the other end of the spectrum, ranking 27th with 2.85 runs scored per game. Both bullpens have been average to below to start the year with the Mets having a 3.19 bullpen ERA and the Diamondbacks compiling a 4.13 rate.

  • NYM Starting Pitcher: David Peterson (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 7.56 K/9)
  • ARI Starting Pitcher: Zac Gallen (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 4.50 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Texas Rangers (3-9) @ Oakland Athletics (8-6), 9:40 p.m. ET

Texas spent a lot of money on offense this offseason, and it’s paying off, with them ranking 4th with 5.08 runs scored per game. Meanwhile, Oakland is surprisingly putting up 4.71 runs per game (7th) despite trading away their two best hitters. Oakland has had a much stronger bullpen to start the year with a 3.02 bullpen ERA compared to Texas’ 5.04 rate.

  • TEX Starting Pitcher: Glen Otto (0-3, 9.26 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 10.80 K/9 in 2021)
  • OAK Starting Pitcher: Adam Oller (0-1, 13.50 ERA, 3.43 WHIP, 11.57 K/9)
  • The Pick: 

 

MLB Parlay of the Day

Season Record: 3-6 (obviously, as with all parlays, these will have a bit of a lower hit rate)

BOS/TB (Over 8 Runs) + NYM ML + TEX/OAK (Over 7.5 Runs)

Odds:  +530 so $10 pays out $63 or a $10 2 pick Round Robin ($30) pays out $102.36

 

Staff Picks

Here you can keep track of all of our picks for the day’s games: