MLB Betting Daily Preview (April 13): AL Cy Young Favorites Face Off in Chicago, A Double Dip of Double Dips, and More

Anyone who’s done MLB betting or any kind of sports betting has been there before. Some days you look at the schedule, and it looks like there’s nothing worthwhile to bet on. Today’s not one of those days, at least on the MLB betting front. There are 17–that’s right, seventeen–games on today’s MLB schedule, thanks to a pair of doubleheaders taking place in addition to the other scheduled action. Three games were postponed yesterday, and two will be part of doubleheaders today.

Road Dogs Rule in Atlanta and Houston

Yesterday’s MLB action produced a few interesting results, with two heavy favorites falling at home. The Atlanta Braves’ bullpen issues reared their head, putting the Braves’ weakest spot on full display. It ruined Huascar Ynoa’s fantastic start (10 Ks, one run, 6 IP) as the Marlins rallied to win in 10.

While the Braves lost, Ronald Acuna, Jr. made yet another highlight to add to his April reel.

What a trip around the bases for @ronaldacunajr24. pic.twitter.com/Z6OfwiND1B

— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2021

Through 10 games, Acuna is hitting .447 with four homers, eight RBI, ten runs scored, and three steals. No wonder he is the NL MVP favorite, sitting at +550.

In Houston, the Detroit Tigers had the day’s best win as Casey Mize shut down the Astros’ potent lineup. Mize pitched seven shutout innings to lead the Tigers to a 6-2 win. Mize, a top AL Rookie of the Year candidate, (1-0, 0.82 ERA) has allowed only one run in 11 innings. While it was a rough night for Zack Greinke, who allowed six runs and 10 hits in only 4.2 innings, he did leave us with another nonchalantly-delivered gem:

Zack Greinke out here throwing 51 MPH‼️ pic.twitter.com/40WX2XLgni

— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2021

Astros Cooling Down After Hot Start

After outscoring their opponents 51-20 in a 6-1 start, the Astros have been outscored 19-7 in their last three games. Will they take some frustration out on Tigers starter Matthew Boyd tonight? Boyd has been solid in his first two starts this season, so use caution on the Astros tonight. With so many other MLB betting options on the board tonight, risks should be minimal.

Elsewhere today, the standout MLB matchup of the day is in Chicago. Shane Bieber and Lucas Giolito take the hill as the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox continue their series. The White Sox walked it off in last night’s series-opening 4-3 win. With two of the game’s best pitchers in action, will the under win again?

Tuesday, April 13 MLB Betting Schedule

Doubleheaders

Seattle Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles (Game 1), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, 4:05 pm ET: Justus Sheffield (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs John Means (1-0, 0.77 ERA)

Seattle Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles (Game 2), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, 7:05 pm ET: Nick Margevicius (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs Dean Kremer (0-1, 9.00 ERA)

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets (Game 1), SNY, 4:10 pm ET: Chase Anderson (0-1, 3.60 ERA) vs Taijuan Walker (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets (Game 2), ESPN, 7:10 pm ET: Aaron Nola (0-0, 2.53 ERA) vs Marcus Stroman (1-0, 1.42 ERA)

American League

Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins, ESPN+, 2:10 pm ET: Martin Perez (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs J.A. Happ (0-0, 2.25 ERA)

New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays, SN1, 7:07 pm ET: Jameson Taillon (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 2.92 ERA)

Texas Rangers vs Tampa Bay Rays, Bally Sports Sun, 7:10 pm ET: Kyle Gibson (1-0, 7.11 ERA) vs Ryan Yarbrough (0-1, 5.06 ERA)

Los Angeles Angels vs Kansas City Royals, Bally Sports Kansas City, 8:10 pm ET: Dylan Bundy (0-0, 3.75 ERA) vs Danny Duffy (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Cleveland Indians vs Chicago White Sox, NBC Sports Chicago, 8:10 pm ET: Shane Bieber (0-1, 3.65 ERA) vs Lucas Giolito (1-0, 4.22 ERA)

Detroit Tigers vs Houston Astros, SportsNet Southwest, 8:10 pm ET: Matthew Boyd (1-1, 2.13 ERA) vs Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 6.59 ERA)

National League

San Diego Padres vs Pittsburgh Pirates, SportsNet PT, 6:35 pm ET: Blake Snell (0-0, 1.86 ERA) vs Chad Kuhl (0-1, 6.43 ERA)

Miami Marlins vs Atlanta Braves, Bally Sports South, 7:20 pm ET: Pablo Lopez (0-1, 1.54 ERA) vs Max Fried (0-0, 9.00 ERA)

Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers, Bally Sports Wisconsin, 7:40 pm ET: Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 2.45 ERA)

Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals, Bally Sports Midwest, 7:45 pm ET: Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Jack Flaherty (1-0, 5.23 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds vs San Francisco Giants, ESPN, 9:45 pm ET: Luis Castillo (1-1, 6.97 ERA) vs Kevin Gausman (0-0, 1.32 ERA)

Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers, SportsNet Los Angeles, 10:10 pm ET: Antonio Senzatela (1-1, 5.56 ERA) vs Trevor Bauer (1-0, 4.15 ERA)

Interleague

Oakland A’s vs Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB Network, 3:40 pm ET: Jesus Luzardo (0-1, 6.10 ERA) vs Zac Gallen (0-0, 0.00 ERA – 1st appearance in 2021)

Tuesday, April 13 Top MLB Betting Matchups

All MLB betting odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook. Updated MLB betting odds can be found on our MLB odds page.

You can also find our aggregated industry MLB betting picks for these matchups and all of the day’s other MLB matchups on our MLB picks page.

And to track the week in MLB betting action, check out our weekly MLB betting preview.

Boston Red Sox (6-3) vs Minnesota Twins (5-5)

Pitching Matchup: Martin Perez (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs J.A. Happ (0-0, 2.25 ERA)

Yesterday’s Red Sox vs Twins opener was postponed, so the series now gets underway this afternoon. The Red Sox have won six straight since they were swept at home by the Orioles to start the season. The Twins dropped the last two of their home series against Seattle, taking their first series loss of the season.

The Red Sox are second in batting (.283) and runs per game (6.4) and are t-1st in doubles (25). The Twins are sixth (.262), third (6.1), and tied for third (22) in those categories. As a result, this matchup is one of today’s top over candidates. In fact, 80 percent of our aggregated MLB betting picks back the over.

Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

New York Yankees (5-5) vs Toronto Blue Jays (4-6)

Pitching Matchup: Jameson Taillon (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 2.92 ERA)

Last night’s series opener was a low-scoring affair, as the Yankees won 3-1. Tonight’s matchup shapes up to be more of the same. Between them, in the three combined games that Taillon and Ryu have started so far in 2021, there have been a total of 15 runs (8 in Ryu’s two starts, 7 in Taillon’s one start).

New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Philadelphia Phillies (6-3) vs New York Mets (2-3)

Pitching Matchup: Aaron Nola (0-0, 2.53 ERA) vs Marcus Stroman (1-0, 1.42 ERA)

In the second game of the Phillies vs Mets doubleheader, Nola and Stroman take the hill. Stroman got the win against the Phillies last Tuesday in an 8-4 Mets win. It was his first start since September 27, 2019, but he was pretty sharp (6 IP, 3 H, R).

Nola wasn’t his sharpest last Wednesday against the Mets, throwing 92 pitches in only four innings. He’ll be hoping for more luck on the road than he has had in some time. In his last 13 road starts, Nola is 3-8.

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Washington Nationals (2-5) vs St. Louis Cardinals (5-5)

Pitching Matchup: Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Jack Flaherty (1-0, 5.23 ERA)

Flaherty bounced back from a rough opener against the Reds, pitching six shutout innings last Wednesday in Miami. Now he makes his first home start of the season. The odds are in favor of a solid outing, as he has a 2.78 ERA in 36 home appearances in his career (4.01 ERA in 42 road appearances).

Strasburg was excellent in his 2021 opener against the Braves, allowing only one hit in six innings, taking a no-decision in a 2-0 Nats loss. After injuries limited him to two starts in 2020, that is an encouraging start to his 2021. The Nats need more of it if they are to push the Braves, Mets, and perhaps the Phillies in the NL East.

Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Cleveland Indians (5-4) vs Chicago White Sox (5-5)

Pitching Matchup: Shane Bieber (0-1, 3.65 ERA) vs Lucas Giolito (1-0, 4.22 ERA)

The under is in questionable territory, with the total sitting at 6.5. But seven or fewer runs have been scored in seven of Cleveland’s nine games, so there is unlikely to be a great deal of scoring in this one. Bieber and Giolito are second and third in AL Cy Young odds behind Gerrit Cole of the Yankees. Cole sits at +280, while Bieber (+400) and Giolito (+500) slot in behind him.

Cleveland Indians vs Chicago White Sox Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Looking for the best places to do some MLB betting today? Check out our online sportsbooks guide, which gives you a rundown of BetOnline, BetMGM, MyBookie and other top legal online sportsbooks.