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Saturday’s Best MLB, NBA & NHL Bets (4/20)

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No matter your sport of choice, there’s always sports betting action to be had. We’ll have you covered each and every day with our daily best bets. Here are our best bets across each major sport in action today.

Today’s Best Bets

MLB Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook)

Chicago White Sox @ Philadelphia Phillies

The White Sox are shaping up to be one of, if not the worst, team in the league this season. They’re just 3-16 out of the gate, which translates to a 25-137 record if you play it out of a full season. They’ll try to get back in the win column tonight when they send Michael Soroka to the mound. The Phillies counter with Zack Wheeler in this interleague tilt, which is set for 6:05 p.m. ET from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. 

This is typically a little more vig than I’d like to lay, especially with a home-team run line, but I still feel like we’re getting a decent price against the worst team in baseball. Plus, we have Wheeler going for the Fightin’ Phils, and he has been pretty solid to start the 2024 campaign. The right-hander is 0-3 but owns a 3.00 ERA (37th) and 1.04 WHIP (30th). He’ll face a Chicago offense that’s dead last in team batting average (.190), OPS (.554) and home runs (10). 

Ultimately, I see Wheeler turning in a quality start, which means Philadelphia’s offense shouldn’t need to put up much run support to cover the run line. However, they’ll take on an ex-NL East pitcher in Michael Soroka, who they’re slashing .297/.333/.378 against over 37 at-bats. Over the last seven days, the Phillies are 10th in team batting average (.250), seventh in OPS (.757) and third in home runs (10). Their bats should find enough success to guide them to a multi-run win over the lowly White Sox. 

Bet: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (-135)

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NBA Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks

Philadelphia missed Joel Embiid for much of the season and because of that they slid into the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. New York lost the game of chicken last Sunday and ended up with the second seed. This is perhaps the most intriguing first-round matchup in the East, and it should be a battle from the tip.

I’m not looking to shy away from a player who has thrived regarding this prop. Joel Embiid’s numbers didn’t live up to what he managed the last two seasons as far as First Baskets, but he only played about half the season. He still managed to cash this prop 11 times during the regular season, over 25% of the games he started.

Embiid takes the first shot for Philadelphia in about half of the games he starts. There is a reason he has the shortest odds in this game to score first. New York really doesn’t have the players to defend Embiid defensively, but can the rest of the 76ers’ cast hold up for 48 minutes? Maybe, but it doesn’t matter for First Basket. Embiid is the pick.

Pick: Joel Embiid First-Basket Scorer (+360)

Check out our other NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions:

NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Boston Bruins

We know the history of playoff disappointment for Toronto. They did win a playoff round last year; can they go further? The offense can carry them, as they were the second-best scoring team, but their defense could be their downfall. They were just 23rd in save percentage and 30th in high-danger shots allowed.

Last year, Boston suffered one of the biggest upsets in NHL history. Not only did they win the Presidents’ Trophy, but they also had the most points ever in regular season history and lost in the first round. This team is in the top half on offense but excels on defense. They finished the season third in expected goals against per 60 and save percentage. 

It was all Bruins in the regular season. They’ve been able to contain the Maple Leafs’ offense, and they should start this series with a win.

Pick: Bruins Moneyline (-125)

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