Monday’s 1-2 result was not ideal, so let’s rebound with today’s picks. We have a packed 14-game schedule for Tuesday, April 2nd, so let’s dive right into a couple of my favorite plays for today!
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Tuesday’s Best MLB Sleeper Picks Player Predictions
Sleeper Record: 9-6
After seeing his performance on Opening Day, it’s relatively safe to say that Shane Bieber is back. He struck out 11 across six scoreless innings while allowing four hits and one walk. Sure, it came against the lowly A’s, but the Mariners are pretty strikeout-prone, too. So far we have seen Garret Whitlock (8 Ks, 5 IP), Kutter Crawford (7 Ks, 6 IP) and Nick Pivetta (10 Ks, 6 IP) all dice Seattle up for big strikeout numbers.
Monday’s 1-2 result was not ideal, so let’s rebound with today’s picks. We have a packed 14-game schedule for Tuesday, April 2nd, so let’s dive right into a couple of my favorite plays for today!
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Tuesday’s Best MLB Sleeper Picks Player Predictions
Sleeper Record: 9-6
After seeing his performance on Opening Day, it’s relatively safe to say that Shane Bieber is back. He struck out 11 across six scoreless innings while allowing four hits and one walk. Sure, it came against the lowly A’s, but the Mariners are pretty strikeout-prone, too. So far we have seen Garret Whitlock (8 Ks, 5 IP), Kutter Crawford (7 Ks, 6 IP) and Nick Pivetta (10 Ks, 6 IP) all dice Seattle up for big strikeout numbers.
Bieber’s first start came with big changes, too. His fastball, curve and change all saw an increase in velocity following an offseason at Driveline, where pitchers revamp and retool in the offseason to become the best versions of themselves. If Bieber is back to the Cy Young caliber starter he was from 2019-2021, this line is too low. He had a 33% K% across those three seasons, albeit the shortened 2020 year and the injured-plagued 2021 season he had. Lastly, the Seattle roster owns a 29.6% K% and .262 xwOBA across 108 combined plate appearances against Bieber.
The Astros ace did not have his best stuff on Opening Day against the Yankees. Framber Valdez tied a career-high in walks with six, gave up five hits, three earned runs, hit a batter and finished with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. One start isn’t going to shape the entirety of his season but it is hard to see him getting many strikeouts against the Blue Jays. Their roster has collectively done a solid job putting the ball in play against him and owns a minuscule 8.7% K% and solid .346 xwOBA in 69 plate appearances.
Their roster has had a couple of changes but is more or less the same. Last season they had the fourth-lowest strikeout rate (19.1%) and ninth-best wRC+ (111) when facing southpaws. They were just no-hit last night, so look for them to come out with a vengeance today.
Sitting two ticks down in velocity from last year’s numbers, Arizona’s ace did not have his best stuff on Opening Day and still managed to only allow a run in five innings of work. That’s likely because it came against one of the worst lineups in baseball, the Colorado Rockies. Even in a phenomenal matchup, Zac Gallen only struck out three in that contest, likely in part to finding the zone on just 30% of his pitches. Gallen faces arguably the hottest lineup in the New York Yankees today, making him a fade candidate.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday:
Tyler Gentile is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tyler, follow him @808Paperboi
