Top 3 MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (4/16)
A Major League Baseball mid-week schedule typically has a slew of afternoon games mixed in, as Wednesdays are a popular getaway day for teams. Today is no exception, with five of the 15 games in the afternoon slate.
Spencer Strider makes his season debut for the Atlanta Braves, but one of our three MLB best bets is centered around another starting pitcher making his season debut coming off an injury.
Read on for our top MLB picks for Wednesday, April 16th.
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Wednesday's Top MLB Picks
(MLB odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Chicago Cubs (+105) at San Diego Padres (-125) | O/U 7.5 (-118/-102)
The San Diego Padres entered Tuesday with an 11-0 record at home, which was tied for the ninth-longest home winning streak to start a season, before succumbing to the Cubs 2-1 in extra innings.
While it is hard to argue with San Diego’s record at Petco Park, today’s starting pitcher makes it vulnerable, given his history against the opponent. Nick Pivetta has allowed a .311/.362/.573 slash line to current Cubs hitters. And Chicago has raked so far this season, with 19 more runs scored than the next closest team.
I trust Matthew Boyd to continue his impressive start to the season, as he began his Cubs career with 11 scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts in that span. If Chicago can take a road series from the Dodgers, it can win this series finale against the Padres.
Pick: Cubs Moneyline (+105)
San Francisco Giants (+124) at Philadelphia Phillies (-148) | O/U 7.5 (-112/-108)
The Giants were one of the most successful teams in the league last year against left-handed starting pitchers, as they were one of three National League teams that finished 10+ games over .500 in that split (34-24).
However, Philadelphia is just 2-3 against southpaws this season, and is facing Robbie Ray, who has led the Giants to a 3-0 record and a +14 run differential in his three starts.
Ray has allowed just two hits in 12 at-bats to left-handed hitters this season, which bodes well for his chances of success against Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. He also has allowed just a .173 opponent batting average, and should enjoy a significant advantage over a struggling Aaron Nola (0-3, 5.51). Nola’s fastball velocity has decreased for four consecutive seasons, and a red-hot Giants lineup should take advantage.
Pick: Giants Moneyline (+124)
Kansas City Royals (+145) at New York Yankees (-175) | O/U 8.0 (-118/-102)
Clarke Schmidt makes his season debut for the Yankees and should provide a huge boost to a rotation littered with injuries.
Schmidt led the Yankees to an 11-4 record in his 15 starts last season while pitching to a 2.85 ERA. He has been brilliant in his last two rehab starts, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings and recording 11 strikeouts. Kansas City counters with Kris Bubic (2-1, 0.96), but his low ERA is not sustainable as he ranked outside the top third of all pitchers in expected batting average (xBA), barrels and hard-hit rate allowed.
Kansas City entered Tuesday ranked 26th in wRC+ and was collectively slashing .191/.272/.296 in road games this season. Given New York’s ability to hang crooked numbers easily, I do not expect the Royals will have enough offense to keep up.
Pick: Yankees -1.5 (+114)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.