John Fredericks: MLB Best Bets for Monday, April 10th

Godzilla’s MLB Record 2023 

3-1 + $170 for the Season   

JOHN FREDERICKS: MLB BEST BETS FOR MONDAY, APRIL 10th – My plays are based on wagers at $100 per game at money or run line odds as specified in Draft Kings. Note: If money line is -150 we are laying $150 to win $100, etc.  

Monday April 10 

White Sox (-115) at Twins  

Chicago’s starter Dylan Cease is off to a hot start and looks like one of the premier starters in the American League.

While the Twinkies are playing decent ball, Carlos Correa is ice cold and their pitching is suspect. Chicago is better than meets the eye with a solid bullpen led by set-up man Kendall Graveman then Joe Kelly, Jake Diekman and closer Liam Hendricks (currently sidelined).

Pick: White Sox (-115) 

Astros (-180) at Bucs (+155) 

Framber Valdez struck out nine in six innings while losing to Detroit. This will not be the case today as the Houston ace looks to rebound. His ERA sits at 1.50.

The Pirates wasted their bullpen yesterday in a 1-0 win over Chicago’s south siders. I look for games with marginal starters where the team’s best bullpen arms are spent. That’s the Pirates today.

Pick: Astros – 180  

Padres (+115) at Mets (-135) 

Yu Darvish is off his usual early hot-start while the Mets Max Scherzer has looked downright rusty in his first two starts.

I’ll bet against Mad Max until he wins a game. He’s given up four Dr. Long-Balls in 11 innings. Yikes. Pods will tee-off and you get a price! San Diego always seems to hang around for Darvish.

Pick: Padres (+115)  

Boston at Tampa (Over 8.5, -120)  

I don’t do a lot of run lines in MLB but this one sticks out like a sore thumb. Boston is hitting everybody and they are averaging nine runs per game against south-paws this season while hitting over .300 as a team.

The Rays have averaged 10 runs per game against right-handed starters this season hitting .304 as a team with an on-base percentage of .393. Boom!

The ball is flying out of that cement truck masquerading as a baseball stadium in St. Pete.

Nick Pivetta struggled mightily last season against Tampa–in four starts he yielded 22 hits leaving him with an ERA of 6.86 over 19.2 innings.

Jalen Beeks was equally lousy against Boston in ‘22 giving up 10 hits in eight innings with an ERA of 4.50. If the game ends 1-0 I’ll never bet the over this season again!

Pick: Over 8.5 runs (-120) – Boston at Tampa