Sunday, April 16 MLB Best Bets

Last Sunday’s MLB Best Bets were tough to swallow over at PointsBet Sportsbook. They ended up 1-2 overall but had no business doing so. I mean seriously; how the heck do you blow a six-run lead through five innings at home? I’m looking at you Angels of Los Angeles! Reid Detmers was cruising right along, and then boom, he wasn’t. That’s MLB betting for you. As for the other two positions; the Minnesota Twins failed to defend their turf against the Astros, while the Brewers did so against the Cardinals. We closed the week of April 3 .500 and up just over two units. Not great, but also not bad. Let’s see if we can close this week by adding to the bottom line once again – SLAM YOUR MAN!!

YTD: 12-11 ($272)

LW: 9-9 ($211)

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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Alek Manoah’s start to the 2023 MLB betting season can only be described as nightmarish. He opened it up with 3.1 innings of 5 ER ball thrown at the Cardinals in St. Louis. That was followed up with seven innings of shut ball thrown at the Royals to log win No. 1. Then earlier this week, he failed to pitch through the fifth inning after giving up four hits and 3 ER to the Tigers. After only giving up 16 HR through 31 starts all of last season, the right-hander has already served up three long balls. Even more concerning have been the 11 walks. He’s issued just as many free passes as he’s sent down on strikes! Something is up and he’s in danger of getting embarrassed in this spot if he doesn’t figure it out STAT!

He’ll be installed the rightful underdog in this matchup running up against AL Cy Young Award contender Shane McClanahan. Though Tampa’s staff ace has failed to pitch through the sixth in any of his three made starts, two of them have been of quality and he’s logged the win each time. And to think he still hasn’t rounded into form evidenced by his 4.8 BB/9 which is nearly double his career average. Once the southpaw rediscovers his pristine control, it’ll be light’s out baby! Seriously, go snag yourself some McClanahan futures to win the Cy Young – PointsBet is currently offering it up at 11-1!

BET THE RAYS

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Miami Marlins

Fans of low scoring pitching duels are in for a treat on Sunday when the Snakes and Fish close their three-game set out from LoanDepot Park. Zac Gallen will toe the bump for Arizona while Miami will counter with reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara. This will be Gallen’s second start of the week after tossing seven innings of shutout ball at the Brewers with a season-high 11 K to earn his first dub of the season. At the complete opposite end of the spectrum was Alcantara who fell to 1-1 and saw his ERA fatten up to 5.79 after getting peppered for 10 hits (1 HR) and 9 ER by the Phillies. All signs lead to it just being one of those days with no injury reported postgame.

As such, you can bet your bottom dollar the 27-year old will take to his home bump determined to sweep the outlier performance under the rug. Alcantara has been stellar in his home digs throughout his career in pitching to a 2.73 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Last he ran up against this offense, he tossed seven innings of 1 ER ball to go along with 6 K and only allowed two hits. With Miami’s offense ranked in the bottom third of the league in many stat categories, Gallen will have an opportunity to shine as well with the D’backs staff ace playing the part early on. With the pitch clock now in play, these first five innings could be in the books in a half hour!

BET THE FIRST 5 INNINGS UNDER

Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago White Sox

Hopefully it paid off to ride the Orioles in the series opener with Tyler Wells on the bump. If so, we’ll be in a position to cash the series bet placed before that game heading into the finale that will have many a fantasy baseballer and prop bettor tuning in with Grayson Rodriguez set to square off against Dylan Cease. We backed the Palehose’ staff ace with success earlier this week when he tossed five innings of 1 ER ball with 6 K and only three hits allowed to earn his second dub and lead Chicago to the 4-3 series opening win against the Twins. With an off-day on Monday, I expect Baltimore to march all its regulars onto the playing field on Sunday.

The O’s offense ranks No. 10 in OPS against RHP and enters this series ranked in the top-5 in runs (5.7), OPS (No. 3), home runs (20), and No. 1 in stolen bases. Knowing the offense will have his back, Grayson Rodriguez should take to the bump confidently for his third MLB start looking to show-out after stinking the joint up in his last turn against Oakland of all teams. Without Tim Anderson or Eloy Jimenez in the lineup, his electric stuff will have an opportunity to shine and I expect it to do just that to propel Baltimore to the series clinching win.

BET THE O’s

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