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Free MLB Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (4/1/23)

patrick sandoval fantasy baseball rankings mlb player news

Today's Free MLB betting picks for Friday, April 1, 2023. Use Kevin Hickey's top baseball picks and MLB bet recommendations to win money on sportsbooks.

Welcome to the 2023 baseball season! We’ve got a long summer ahead, and I intend to hit the ground running. I’m excited to work alongside the RotoBaller team, delivering free MLB betting content. I bring a background in betting on MLB in various capacities, most notably competing in the DraftKings live final last year. I'm looking to build off that momentum and capitalize again this baseball season, and I'm cluing you in on my process.

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Here I’ll update you on my favorite MLB bets throughout the season. Follow along for advice, and we’ll track how my picks are doing. Now let’s dig into my April Fool’s Day bets – these are no joke!

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Today's MLB Betting Picks - Tigers @ Rays

O/U: 7.5 | Moneyline: TBR -175

DET: Spencer Turnbull | TBR: Zach Eflin

One of Saturday’s lowest totals also includes one of the slate’s more pedestrian pitching matchups. Neither the Rays nor Tigers bring juggernaut offenses to the table, but the vulnerability and unproven nature of the pitching is undervalued here.

As the most expensive free agent signing in Rays’ franchise history, the expectations are understandably high for Zach Eflin this season. His advanced stats point to a pitcher capable of better. That said, the on-field results have been middling since he arrived in 2016. Over seven seasons, Eflin has posted an ERA below 4.00 just once in his career – 3.97 in 2020, which includes the fewest innings he’s pitched in any season. Eflin surrendered six earned runs in 8 2/3 innings during spring, further shedding doubt on his readiness to step up as an ace.

Speaking of question marks, Spencer Turnbull hasn’t pitched in a regular season game since his July-2021 Tommy John Surgery. The 30-year-old has shown encouraging signs of a bounce-back season during spring, but a 4.50 ERA over 12 innings pitched isn’t enough to put doubts to rest. Turnbull also wasn’t exceptional before the injury, owning a 4.25 ERA in 271 1/3 career innings.

Turnbull built up to 67 pitches in his final spring start, so he should be expected to pitch around five innings if things are going well. This opens the door for significant bullpen usage. Detroit had one of the stronger bullpens in the majors during 2022, but they lost several key pieces this offseason, and the outlook is significantly murkier. Between Arozarena, Franco, and more, the Rays have enough weapons to take advantage and hold up their end of the run total.

All things considered, I like the over on 7.5 combined runs scored. As a bonus, this game will be played indoors, avoiding cold April weather notorious for killing offense.

Pick: Over 7.5 Runs (-120) DraftKings Sportsbook, 1 unit

 

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Today's MLB Betting Picks - Angels @ Athletics

O/U: 7.5 | Moneyline: LAA -170

LAA: Patrick Sandoval | OAK: Shintaro Fujinami

Let’s set aside that the Angels looked like the same underwhelming Angels on Opening Day, squandering a late lead and losing 2-1. Objectively, they are capable of being one of the most explosive offenses in the league between Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Taylor Ward, Hunter Renfroe, and a refreshingly well-rounded supporting cast. Even Anthony Rendon looks ready to go, coming off the best spring training of his career -- .500/.561/.806 through 15 games. Yes, they stumbled out of the gate, but there’s no denying that their lineup towers over Oakland’s.

I know we aren’t meant to put much stock in preseason, but on April 1st, that’s some of the best evidence we have available. The Angels finished first in the Grapefruit League this spring with an 18-11 record and a +32 run differential. They were also without Trout, Ohtani, and Patrick Sandoval for most of the spring due to their respective deep runs in the World Baseball Classic. Now the whole cast is together.

Speaking of Sandoval, he has emerged as one of the more popular sleeper picks in fantasy baseball for 2023. The hype has been growing for him following a 3.62-ERA campaign in 2021, then a 2.91-ERA output in 2022, and he cemented his status with a dominant performance in the World Baseball Classic. Between his success in the WBC and at spring training, Sandoval totaled 2 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings pitched this preseason. He’s built up to 79 pitches in his most recent outing, so Sandoval should approach a normal workload on Saturday.

On the flip side, 28-year-old pitcher Shintaro Fujinami makes his MLB debut for Oakland. The Japanese signing has flashed an upside, but his outlook is shaky. Fujinami demonstrated serious pitch control issues throughout spring, walking 17 and hitting another batter across 18 2/3 innings. This issue has plagued him during his ten-year NPB career, where he owns a lifetime 4.1 walks per nine innings. Fujinami may pan out in the long run, but I’m looking at the Angels to capitalize on his unresolved strike-throwing problem today.

Both teams feature weak bullpens, so handing out an edge there is hard. However, thanks to a noted advantage at starting pitcher and a night-and-day superior batting lineup, I’m very comfortable taking the Angels to win here at -1.5 runs. A lineup headlined by Aledmys Diaz, Seth Brown, and Jesus Aguilar simply does not stack up well against Patrick Sandoval and an opposition featuring Trout, Ohtani, Ward, and more firepower.

Pick: Angels Run Line (-105) DraftKings Sportsbook, 1 unit

 

Good luck, RotoBallers!



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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nolan Arenado

Ready for Second Half
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Back in Action to Begin Second Half
Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
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to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
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Set For Main Event
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Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
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Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
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Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
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Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
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Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
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Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

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Yegor Chinakhov

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Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

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Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

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Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
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Jeremiah Fears

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Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
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Joins Hawks
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Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
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Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
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Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
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Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
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Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
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Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
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Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
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Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
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Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
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Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
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Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
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Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
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Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
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Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
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Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
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Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
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Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

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Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

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Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
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Chase Briscoe

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William Byron

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Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

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PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

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NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

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NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
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Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
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May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
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