Some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball feature in today’s free tips, with the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Dodgers all in action on Thursday’s MLB schedule.
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles – 1.05PM ET
The Yankees and Orioles will wrap up their four game series in Baltimore on Thursday, with New York looking for their second consecutive 3-1 series victory.
After dropping their opening game in Baltimore on Monday 2-4, the Yankees have outscored the O’s 12-1 in the following two games, most recently winning game three 7-0 on Wednesday.
After a rocky start to the year it looks as if New York are beginning to turn their season around. The batting numbers are still poor, however Giancarlo Stanton has been one of the guys leading the resurgence of form, having scored twice on Wednesday night to go along with his six homers so far this season.
Dominic German was the star of the show, striking out six Orioles batters and allowing just three hits in his seven scoreless innings at the mound.
Giancarlo Stanton is hitting .333/.364/.810 (7-for-21) with 4R, 1 double, 3HR, 3RBI and 1BB in his last five games. pic.twitter.com/Wrjlm6U0BV
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 28, 2021
Contrastingly, Dean Kremer gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in his 4.1 innings with the ball for Baltimore. The Orioles will not receive an improvement at the round on Thursday, with Jorge Lopez taking the ball. Lopez has an ERA that exceeds 8 and has given up a homer in each of his four starts this season.
Having comfortably defeated Baltimore in their last two games, we like the Yankees improving batting lineup to make it three in a row on Thursday, capitalising on Jorge Lopez’s poor form at the mound in 2021.
MLB Pick – New York Yankees (-184)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Philadelphia Phillies @ St Louis Cardinals – 1.15PM ET
A pair of .500 teams will face off on Thursday afternoon when the 12-12 Phillies take on the 12-12 Cardinals in St Louis.
Thursday will wrap up Philadelphia’s seven game road trip, currently boasting a 3-3 record from this stint of away games. As a result of their 5-3 victory on Wednesday, the Phillies now have a 2-1 lead after three games of their series against the Cardinals.
Philadelphia came back from a 3-1 deficit on Wednesday, scoring four unanswered runs to claim the two run victory.
Johan Oviedo was serviceable for St Louis with the ball, allowing three runs on three hits in five innings. However, the remainder of the rotation leaked runs at inopportune times.
After a disappointing performance on Wednesday, the Cardinals will once again be disadvantaged at the mound, as Philadelphia’s ace Aaron Nola will be taking the ball on Thursday. With 32 strikeouts and a 2.84 ERA so far this season, Nola has allowed 27 hits, 10 earned runs, two homers and four walks in his five outings this year.
It will be a solid pitching battle with Kwang Hyun Kim taking the ball for St Louis, however we like Nola to lead the Phillies to a win on Thursday. Especially when coming up against a Cardinals lineup that is a bottom 10 team in the league when looking at batting average.
MLB Pick – Philadelphia Phillies (-118)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Chicago Cubs @ Atlanta Braves – 7.20PM ET
The Braves will host the Cubs for the fourth and final game of this series on Thursday, with Atlanta looking to cap off a four game series sweep at home.
After winning Monday’s game 8-7, Atlanta have pitched back to back shutouts, winning Tuesday’s encounter 5-0 and Wednesday’s encounter 10-0.
Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Huascar Ynoa each crossed home plate on two occasions on Wednesday to combine for eight runs. While Huascar Ynoa also got the W in his start with the ball, collecting nine strikeouts and allowing just four hits in his 5.1 scoreless innings at the mound.
Freddie Freeman had to smile after this Anthony Rizzo strikeout 🤣
(via @MLBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/LyDTdvdCnR
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 29, 2021
As for the Cubs, Kyle Hendricks opened things up with the ball, giving up 11 hits and seven and earned runs in 3.2 innings at the mound. While Alec Mills didn’t fare much better in the rotation, allowing five hits and three runs in 2.1 innings.
After just three days rest, Bryse Wilson will be given the ball for Atlanta on Thursday and will more than likely only pitch about three innings. As Atlanta’s bullpen has been mediocre at best this season, recording a 4.22 ERA, we can’t see the Braves pitching a third consecutive shutout.
However, the Braves are at home and have scored 4+ runs in 10 of their last 13 games, giving them the superior offense in this matchup, and making them our pick to complete a series sweep on Thursday.
MLB Pick – Atlanta Braves (TBD)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Los Angeles Dodgers @ Milwaukee Brewers – 7.40PM ET
Two of the Nationals League’s best will kick off their four game series this Thursday, when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After returning to Milwaukee with a 13-8 record, the Brewers recently lost the final match of their three game series at home against Miami, resulting in a series loss. The Marlins won the opener 8-0 on Monday, before Milwaukee tied things up with a 5-4 victory on Tuesday. However, Miami were victorious in the decider, winning the contest 6-2.
Between Zack Godley and Eric Yadley at the mound, the pair combined for five earned runs and six walks in just five innings with the ball. Making the Brewers previously top five ranked pitching staff look mediocre.
As for the Dodgers, they snapped a rare three game losing streak with a 8-0 victory over the Reds on Wednesday.
Justin Turner and Chris Taylor both passed home plate twice in the shutout victory, however Clayton Kershaw’s performance with the ball set up the win. Los Angeles’ left handed ace allowed just three hits and zero runs in his seven scoreless innings, to go along with eight strikeouts.
The Dodgers will be sending another stud to the mound on Wednesday night with Trevor Bauer making his sixth start for the season. As it stands, Bauer has a 2.53 ERA (23rd in the league) and a 0.66 WHIP (fourth in the league), to go along with 45 strikeouts (sixth in the league) in 32 innings with the ball.
As Los Angeles have scored 5+ runs in four of their last five outings, we believe that their offense is performing better than their recent 2-3 record suggests. With their offense firing and Bauer giving them a pitching advantage over the inexperienced Eric Lauer, we like the Dodgers to win this one on the road. Especially when considering that Lauer boasts a 13.09 ERA through 11 innings of work this season.
MLB Pick – Los Angeles Dodgers (TBD)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Boston Red Sox @ Texas Rangers – 8.05PM ET
The Rangers will host the Red Sox on Thursday in what will be the opening game of their four match series in Texas.
After getting the better of Mets ace Jacob deGrom on Wednesday, Boston remains on top the AL East standings with a 16-9 record, thanks to a 1-0 win in their most recent game. The victory gave the Red Sox a series sweep against New York from their two game mini-series.
Xander Bogaerts scored the lone run of the game, while Nick Pivetta threw seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit in five innings with the ball.
Please enjoy all 7 of @Npivetta27‘s Ks. #RedSox x @NationalPro pic.twitter.com/XDNWxdLbrj
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 29, 2021
Contrastingly, the Rangers suffered a one run loss in their most recent game, going down 3-4 against the Angels on Wednesday. The loss handed Los Angeles the 2-1 series victory in Texas.
Dane Dunning gave up six hits and four earned runs in five innings on Wednesday. However, the Rangers will be given a boost for Thursday’s series opener with right handed ace Kyle Gibson taking the mound against Boston.
Gibson is 2-0 this season with a 2.30 ERA and 23 strikeouts through five starts. In his last outing, Gibson held the Chicago White Sox to just one run in six innings of work.
The Red Sox will be giving Martin Perez the ball for his fifth start of the season on Thursday evening. Perez enters with an 0-1 record to go along with a 5.71 ERA in four starts this year. In his previous trip to the mound, he allowed just two runs in 3.2 innings against Seattle.
Although Gibson will give Texas an advantage at the mound, the Rangers batting lineup will not be capable of competing with the Red Sox No. 1 ranked offense. Especially with Perez coming up against his former team.
MLB Pick – Boston Red Sox (-126)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Runs Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our MLB hub page for all your baseball needs!
Want more picks? We have just launched our Premium Picks service, and for a limited time only, it is free! *T&Cs Apply.
*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
