Today’s MLB Rundown + Best Bets

Every day, we send you quick, no-fluff MLB previews — quick takeaways for every matchup, so you can stay sharp on the day’s action without doing homework.

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All times ET

Tigers -1.5 (-118) at Angels – 9:38 PM
Skubal has allowed just two runs in his last 24 innings and leads a Detroit team that exploded for eight late runs in Thursday’s opener. The Angels are without Mike Trout and have dropped six straight while batting .215 as a team.

Yankees -1.5 (-115) vs Rays – 7:05 PM
Max Fried is 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA and already shut out Tampa once this season. The Yankees are slugging .539 at home—best in MLB—while the Rays just got swept by Kansas City and continue to slump offensively.

Astros -1.5 (-142) at White Sox – 7:40 PM
Houston has won nine of its last ten games following a loss and covered the run line in seven straight road games after a home defeat. The White Sox are 8-23 and just broke a three-game skid; Cannon’s lone start vs Houston was dominant, but the Astros are heavy road favorites with Framber Valdez on the mound.

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Nationals at Reds – 6:10 PM
🔹 Mitchell Parker (WSH): 3-1, 2.65 ERA — gave up six earned in five innings vs Mets
🔹 Hunter Greene (CIN): 3-2, 2.70 ERA — five quality innings in five of six starts
🔍 Cincinnati returns home after a tough doubleheader sweep and turns to Greene, who’s been their most reliable arm. Washington avoided a sweep with a win in Philly, but Parker comes off his worst outing.

✅ Best Bet: Reds ML (-192)

Padres at Pirates – 6:40 PM
🔹 Dylan Cease (SD): 1-2, 5.76 ERA — seeking consistent results
🔹 Mitch Keller (PIT): 1-2, 3.97 ERA — solid so far, struggles historically vs SD
🔍 San Diego just swept the Giants and is riding a franchise-best April. Pittsburgh has dropped four of five and faces a tough matchup against a high-contact Padres lineup.

✅ Best Bet: Padres ML (-155)

D-backs at Phillies – 6:45 PM
🔹 Merrill Kelly (ARI): 3-1, 4.41 ERA — held opponents to .197 BAA in five of six starts
🔹 Jesús Luzardo (PHI): 3-0, 1.73 ERA — dominating in Philadelphia
🔍 Luzardo continues to shine as a top-tier starter and faces a D-backs lineup that knows him but hasn’t solved this version. Both teams are 17-14, but Philly’s home edge and ace arm are key.

✅ Best Bet: Phillies ML (-155)

Rays at Yankees – 7:05 PM
🔹 Ryan Pepiot (TB): 2-3, 4.24 ERA — uneven recent form
🔹 Max Fried (NYY): 5-0, 1.19 ERA — elite, already shut out TB this season
🔍 Tampa limps into the Bronx after a sweep, while Fried has been untouchable and leads a surging Yankees squad. New York has the best home slugging mark in baseball.

🔥 Top Pick: Yankees -1.5 (-115)

Royals at Orioles – 7:05 PM
🔹 Michael Wacha (KC): 1-3, 3.38 ERA — six shutout innings vs HOU in last start
🔹 Dean Kremer (BAL): 2-4, 7.04 ERA — five earned runs last time out
🔍 Kansas City has won nine of ten and features a 22-game hit streak from Bobby Witt Jr. Baltimore has struggled all year and Kremer has yet to turn in a quality start.

✅ Best Bet: Royals ML (+124)

Guardians at Blue Jays – 7:07 PM
🔹 Logan Allen (CLE): 1-2, 4.21 ERA — gave up 7 ER in 4.1 IP vs BOS
🔹 Chris Bassitt (TOR): 2-2, 2.62 ERA — 4 ER in last start vs NYY
🔍 Cleveland enters at 18-13 despite Allen’s struggles in Boston. Toronto's Bassitt is steady, but the Jays are just 15-16 and have been up-and-down all season.

✅ Best Bet: Guardians +1.5 (-162)

Twins at Red Sox – 7:10 PM
🔹 Joe Ryan (MIN): 2-2, 3.18 ERA — 11 Ks, 7 IP in last start vs Angels
🔹 Brayan Bello (BOS): 2-0, 3.27 ERA — allowed 3 ER in each of last two starts
🔍 Minnesota outhit Cleveland 13-6 but lost, and Ryan is coming off a dominant strikeout performance. Boston’s bullpen continues to be shaky late in games.

✅ Best Bet: Twins ML (-110)

Athletics at Marlins – 7:10 PM
🔹 Gunnar Hoglund (OAK): MLB debut
🔹 Valente Bellozo (MIA): Season debut
🔍 Oakland sends top prospect Hoglund for his debut while Miami turns to a first-time starter amidst ongoing struggles. The Marlins rank last in team ERA and allow over 6 runs per game at home.

✅ Best Bet: Athletics ML (-142)

Dodgers at Braves – 7:15 PM
🔹 Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD): 3-2, 1.06 ERA — three shutout starts
🔹 Grant Holmes (ATL): 2-1, 4.50 ERA — searching for stability
🔍 LA just wrapped up a 5-1 homestand and Yamamoto has been nearly unhittable. Atlanta has rebounded from a brutal start but faces a serious test here.

✅ Best Bet: Dodgers ML (-185)

Astros at White Sox – 7:40 PM
🔹 Framber Valdez (HOU): 1-3, 4.00 ERA — leads bounce-back effort
🔹 Jonathan Cannon (CHW): 3-1, 4.50 ERA — beat MIL, but 4 ER in previous two
🔍 Houston has won 9 of 10 following a loss and is 7-0 ATS in road games after a home defeat. Cannon beat the Astros last year, but this White Sox team is in deep trouble.

🔥 Top Pick: Astros -1.5 (-142)

Mariners at Rangers – 8:05 PM
🔹 Bryan Woo (SEA): 3-1, 3.09 ERA — 6 ER over last 3 starts
🔹 Jack Leiter (TEX): 2-0, 2.03 ERA — strong early returns
🔍 Seattle has won four straight and swept Texas earlier this season. Julio Rodríguez has a 17-game road hit streak vs AL West teams.

✅ Best Bet: Mariners ML (-115)

Cubs at Brewers – 8:10 PM
🔹 Ben Brown (CHC): 2-2, 6.04 ERA — inconsistent
🔹 Quinn Priester (MIL): 1-0, 3.79 ERA — 1 ER in 5 IP at home
🔍 Cubs have won three of their last four series and enter at 19-13. Milwaukee is just back from a 10-game road trip and hasn't found rhythm.

✅ Best Bet: Over 9 (-105)

Mets at Cardinals – 8:15 PM
🔹 Clay Holmes (NYM): 3-1, 2.64 ERA — steady all season
🔹 Sonny Gray (STL): 3-0, 3.60 ERA — gave up 3 ER to NYM last time
🔍 Mets pitching has been elite and Holmes has been consistent. Cardinals hit better at home but have struggled against New York lately.

✅ Best Bet: Mets ML (-118)

Tigers at Angels – 9:38 PM
🔹 Tarik Skubal (DET): 3-2, 2.34 ERA — 2 ER in last 24 IP
🔹 José Soriano (LAA): 2-4, 4.50 ERA — struggling
🔍 Detroit dominated Game 1 with a late 8-run outburst. Angels have dropped six straight and are without Trout.

🔥 Top Pick: Tigers -1.5 (-118)

Rockies at Giants – 10:15 PM
🔹 Antonio Senzatela (COL): 1-4, 5.22 ERA — 4+ ER in 3 of last 4 starts
🔹 Robbie Ray (SF): 3-0, 3.73 ERA — multiple ER in each outing
🔍 Rockies won Thursday’s opener and seek their first series win of the season. Both starters have been inconsistent, but Colorado ranks 30th in team batting average.

✅ Best Bet: Giants -1.5 (-130)

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