Top 3 MLB Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/25)
Entering the weekend, the American League is still a jumbled mess, as only the New York Yankees are more than three games over .500. They are part of one of my MLB picks & predictions, as are the Chicago Cubs, who look like they might not lose another game after winning their 10th in a row yesterday, while coming back from a 4-0 deficit against the defending World Series champions in the process.
Here are the best MLB picks & predictions for Saturday, April 25h.
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Saturday’s Best MLB Picks & Predictions
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | This Season: 5-7 (-1.76 units)
New York Yankees at Houston Astros
Part of me hates making a play on the Over the day after these two teams combined for 16 runs, as there is always likely to be some over-inflation from oddsmakers the next day. However, the fact remains that these two teams combined for six home runs in the series opener, and now each sends out their worst starting pitchers (Ryan Weathers and Mike Burrows) in terms of HR/9 rate and keeping the ball in the ballpark.
Daikin Park profiles as the ninth-worst venue in MLB for left-handed hitters’ batting averages, but don’t tell that to Jazz Chisholm and Ryan McMahon, who overcame slow starts to combine to go 4-for-8 with two home runs yesterday, while the consistent Ben Rice added another (and three runs total).
Largely because of their poor pitching, the Over is 19-6 in Houston’s last 25 games (+12.10 units, 43% ROI), and should again be the right side of the total tonight.
Pick: Over 9 Runs (-118)
Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds
Brady Singer is familiar with the Tigers lineup after spending the first five years of his career in the AL Central. Singer is 7-1 in 14 career starts against Detroit, while pitching to a 3.16 ERA. The veteran has lowered to a 1.64 ERA over his last two starts since 2024.
Outside of a miserable year in 2023 when the Tigers lit Singer up for an 8.44 ERA in two starts, Singer has a 1.80 ERA or better against Detroit in four of five other seasons, while making at least three starts against them twice.
Meanwhile, Jack Flaherty's control issues are growing really concerning, as he has now issued three-plus walks in all five starts. Prior to him issuing six walks in 3.1 innings of work against Boston, he had a 16% walk rate a 90 Location+.
Cincinnati's minus-1 run differential might look troubling for a team eight games over .500. Still, the Reds know how to win close games, and are the more battle-tested bunch with this being Detroit's first series against a team currently with a winning record.
Pick: Reds Moneyline (-110)
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers
Roki Sasaki hasn't faced a murderer's row of offenses (Guardians, Nationals, Rangers, and Rockies), as only one entered the weekend ranked in the top 17 in runs. Yet, they still combined for an average of 6.3 runs per game when Sasaki pitched, and Chicago averaged 7.3 runs during its nine-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, Colin Rea has pitched to a 4.60 ERA in three appearances at Dodger Stadium, and a 5.94 ERA overall against L.A.
There are also several trends that suggest the Over is the right side, like Chicago having cashed its team total Over in 15 of its last 18 games (+12.20 units, 57% ROI), while the Over is 13-5 in its last 18 games overall (+8.60 units, 43% ROI).
Thus, the two offenses that began the series ranked No. 1 and 2 in wRC+ should put on a show.
Pick: Over 9.5 Runs (+100)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.