MLB · 1 year ago

MLB Betting Guide for April 5: Don’t Discount the Red Sox

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

MLB Betting Guide for April 5: Don’t Discount the Red Sox

Before heading into the weekend, we have a strong slate of 13 MLB games stretching throughout the entire weekend, so let’s dive into it all.

Kicking off the day, the New York Yankees will host their home opener alas with the Toronto Blue Jays coming to the Bronx, so what will the Yankees response be in their home ballpark after a best-case scenario first week on the road?

The Detroit Tigers will also have their home opener today after a very impressive 5-1 start on the road, now welcoming the new Sacramento A’s to town. If Detroit doesn’t expand on their 5-1 record with Tarik Skubal on the mound, then we have a big problem.

Additionally, the Los Angeles Dodgers are on the road after a dominant start as they now head into Wrigley to take on the Chicago Cubs. Sitting at 7-2, the Dodgers have been an absolute machine as they’ve averaged 6.3 runs per game thus far.

In the late-afternoon, we have our eyes on a potential slugfest in Coors as the Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Colorado Rockies in the altitude with 20+ mph winds blowing out to left-center field. Sounds like a day to back the over to me! Also look out for a strong pitching duel in Pittsburgh as Grayson Rodriguez of the Balitmore Orioles and Jared Jones of the Pittsburgh Pirates will flash their young arms in the Pirates’ home opener.

Moving on to the night-slate, the New York Mets will ideally like to build on their first win of the season as they start their series with the Cincinnati Reds tonight, but something tells me this is going to be a long, miserable season in Queens. Next, the Philadelphia Phillies will look for a spark against the Washington Nationals with Aaron Nola on the mound and Spencer Strider will lead the Atlanta Braves in their home opener against a strong Arizona Diamondbacks squad.

Later on, we have an ALCS matchup featuring the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros and a storng pitching duel between the Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers that may warrant a hefty NRFI wager.

Closing out the night, we have our eyes on the Boston Red Sox and their 5-2 record as they head to Southern California to face the Los Angeles Angels. After an underwhelming offseason people have just written off the Red Sox, but after an impressive start where the bats woke up and the pitching staff overacheived, could there actually be playoff baseball in Fenway this season? So far, it’s looking good.

It will be a great day of baseball, so stay with SportsGrid all day to have you covered on everything today and the weekend could throw at us. Let’s ride!

Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily MLB Game Picks and MLB Prop Picks.

MLB Betting Guide for April 5

Today’s Headliners: SportsGrid’s Weekly Power Rankings | Mets’ Struggles | Marlins’ Brutal 0-8 Start

1:05 p.m. ET: Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees

Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -162 | Total: 8.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
Weather Notes: Clear, chilly, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Yusei Kikuchi (ERA: 6.23; K/9: 8.31) vs. Marcus Stroman (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 6.00)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Blue Jays +1.5 (3-Stars) | UNDER 8.5 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Yankees by 1 Run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Bo Bichette OVER 0.5 Runs (4-Stars, +125) | Marcus Stroman UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

1:10 p.m. ET: Oakland Atheltics @ Detroit Tigers

Run Line: Tigers -1.5 | Moneyline: Tigers -235 | Total: 7.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Comerica Park (Detroit, MI)
Weather Notes: Colds, clear, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: JP Sears (ERA: 12.27; K/9: 2.45) vs. Tarik Skubal (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 9.00)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Athletics +1.5 (3-Stars) | UNDER 7.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Tigers by 1 Run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: JD Davis OVER 0.5 RBIs (4-Stars, +220) | Tarik Skubal UNDER 8.5 Ks (5-Stars)

2:20 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs

Run Line: Dodgers -1.5 | Moneyline: Dodgers -184 | Total: 7
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
Weather Notes: Cold, clear, winds blowing in from left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Bobby Miller (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 16.50) vs. Kyle Hendricks (ERA: 12.27; K/9: 4.91)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Cubs +1.5 (5-Stars) | Cubs ML (5-Stars, +154) | OVER 7 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Cubs by 1 run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Freddie Freeman OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +145) | Christopher Morel OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +200)

4:10 p.m. ET: Tampa Bay Rays @ Colorado Rockies

Run Line: Rays -1.5 | Moneyline: Rays -176 | Total: 12.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Coors Field (Denver, CO)
Weather Notes: Warm, winds blowing out strongly to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Zach Littell (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 9.00) vs. Austin Gomber (ERA: 7.71; K/9: 5.79)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 12.5 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rays by 2 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Zach Littell UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Austin Gomber UNDER 3.5 Ks (3-Stars)

4:12 p.m. ET: Balitmore Orioles @ Pittsburgh Pirates

Run Line: Orioles -1.5 | Moneyline: Orioles -136 | Total: 8
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, PA)
Weather Notes: Cold, chance for shower, winds blowing out to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Grayson Rodriguez (ERA: 1.50; K/9: 13.50) vs. Jared Jones (ERA: 4.77; K/9: 15.88)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Orioles -1.5 (2.5-Stars) | UNDER 8 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Orioles by 2 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Grayson Rodriguez UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Jared Jones OVER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars, +128)

4:35 p.m. ET: San Diego Padres @ San Francisco Giants

Run Line: Padres -1.5 | Moneyline: Padres -102 | Total: 7.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Oracle Park (San Francisco, CA)
Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Dylan Cease (ERA: 3.86; K/9: 11.57) vs. Jordan Hicks (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 10.80)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: OVER 7.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Giants by 2 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Manny Machado OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +125) vs. Jordan Hicks UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

6:40 p.m. ET: New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds

Run Line: Reds -1.5 | Moneyline: Reds -120 | Total: 9
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, OH)
Weather Notes: Clear, chilly, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jose Quintana (ERA: 3.86; K/9: 7.71) vs. Hunter Greene (ERA: 3.86; K/9: 13.50)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Reds -1.5 (3-Stars) | Reds ML (5-Stars) | UNDER 9 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Reds by 1 run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jose Quintana UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Hunter Greene UNDER 7.5 Ks (3-Stars)

More Reds-Mets: Mets Split Doubleheader: A Season Revival?

6:45 p.m. ET: Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals

Run Line: Phillies -1.5 | Moneyline: Phillies -180 | Total: 8.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.)
Weather Notes: Clear, chilly, winds blowing from left to right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Aaron Nola (ERA: 14.54; K/9: 6.23) vs. Patrick Corbin (ERA: 8.31; K/9: 4.15)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Phillies -1.5 (4-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Phillies by 1 run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Bryson Stott OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +185) | Luis Garcia Jr.OVER 0.5 Runs (5-Stars,+165)

7:20 p.m. ET: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Atlanta Braves

Run Line: Braves -1.5 | Moneyline: Braves -275 | Total: 9
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Truist Park (Atlanta, GA)
Weather Notes: Clear, mild winds

Starting Pitching Matchup: Tommy Henry (ERA: 11.25; K/9: 9.00) vs. Spencer Strider (ERA: 3.60; K/9: 14.40)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Braves -1.5 (2-Stars) | OVER 9 (3-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Braves by 1 run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Tommy Henry UNDER 4.5 Ks (3.5-Stars) vs. Ronald Acuna Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +125)

7:40 p.m. ET: Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Royals

Run Line: Royals -1.5 | Moneyline: Royals -180 | Total: 8.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in strongly from right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Erick Fedde (ERA: 3.86; K/9: 13.50) vs. Brady Singer (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 12.86)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Royals -1.5 (1-Star) | OVER 8.5 (3-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Royals by 1 Run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Erick Fedde OVER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Salvador Perez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +105)

8:05 p.m. ET: Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers

Run Line: Astros -1.5 | Moneyline: Astros -138 | Total: 9.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Globe Life Field (Arlington, TX)
Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Hunter Brown (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 11.25) vs. Cody Bradford (ERA: 3.60; K/9: 10.80)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rangers +1.5 (5-Stars) | Rangers ML (5-Stars, +118) | UNDER 9.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rangers by 1 run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Hunter Brown UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Cody Bradford UNDER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars, +114)

8:10 p.m. ET: Seattle Mariners @ Milwaukee Brewers

Run Line: Mariners -1.5 | Moneyline: Mariners +100 | Total: 7.5
Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: American Family Field (Milwaukee, WI)
Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Logan Gilbert (ERA: 1.29; K/9: 10.29) | Freddy Peralta (ERA: 1.50; K/9: 12.00)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Mariners -1.5 (5-Stars) | Mariners ML (1-Star) | UNDER 7.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Mariners by 1 run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Mitch Garver OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +200) | Jackson Chourio OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +220)