Our free MLB picks are out for Thursday, April 7th, 2022! Make sure you check our MLB picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free MLB picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees – 1:05PM ET
This game has been postponed
Cleveland Guardians @ Kansas City Royals – 4:10PM ET
This American League Central matchup should be a good one as the Cleveland Guardians kick off their new era against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. Both teams missed out on the playoffs last season.
Tony Battalio
It’s a brand new name and a brand new year for the Cleveland Guardians. They will come into this one with some renewed optimism after last year was derailed by injuries and health issues. While the Guardians didn’t make any big moves in free agency over the off-season they did lock up their franchise cornerstone in Jose Ramirez earlier in the day on Wednesday afternoon. Shane Bieber gets the nod in this one as the team’s opening day starter once again. Bieber is one of the top pitchers in baseball.
The Kansas City Royals aren’t too far removed from a World Series victory. It was only eight years ago, but since then they have been towards the bottom of the Major League Baseball standings. After a terrible finish last season they will look to bounce back in 2022 and get themselves back to the postseason this year. Zack Grienke will take the mound in this one for the Kansas City Royals as he is back with the team he has spent the majority of his career with. As for the result of this game I have the Cleveland Guardians getting the win in this one.
Tony’s MLB Pick: Cleveland Guardians (-130)
Jeffery Thomas
The Cleveland Guardians era will get started in Kansas City against the Royals on opening day. The name will be different but their approach will be the same, relying on solid pitching to help them contend in 2022. 2020 Cy Young award winner Shane Beiber will get the start here after missing a chunk of time in 2021 due to a shoulder injury. The team also locked up star slugger and heartbeat of the offense Jose Ramirez on Tuesday ahead of the season starting so fans will be excited to know they have their guy locked up for the next five seasons. The Royals will also have a former Cy Young sinner on the bump for them, as Zack Greinke is back with Kansas City after a few seasons on the Houston Astros. He will serve as the team’s ace and a mentor to a very young pitching staff around him, with the other four starters between the ages of 24 and 26. It should be a fun game between division rivals and it’s just so exiting to finally have baseball back!
Greinke may get a much needed breath of fresh air back with his old team, because he looked like a shell of himself at the tail end of last year. The Astros even went as far as to avoid using him at times in the playoffs. I don’t think we will just magically see him get his old form back here and I like the storyline of the Guardians getting off to a great start with their new branding. Give me Cleveland on the road to start of the season.
Jeffery’s MLB Pick: Cleveland Guardians (-130)
Seattle Mariners @ Minnesota Twins – 4:10PM ET
This game has been postponed
Cincinnati Reds @ Atlanta Braves – 8:08PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds will take on the defending World Series champions in this one when they travel to Atlanta to face the Braves. The Braves will be looking towards life without franchise icon Freddie Freeman as well.
Tony Battalio
The Cincinnati Reds started out last season looking like a potential playoff team and maybe even a World Series contender. However, somewhere along the way the wheels fell off and they ended up missing the playoffs entirely. Now with a reduced payroll in 2022 the season outlook doesn’t look too bright for the Cincinnati Reds this season. There likely won’t be a magical run through the playoffs like their fellow Cincinnati team, the Bengals had for the Reds this season.
The Atlanta Braves will kick off their title defense with some home games against the Cincinnati Reds. They will also play their first game in a long time without Freddie Freeman as a member of the organization. The Braves had a magical run to the World Series last year and they will be hoping to replicate it this season. They’re also hoping that last year’s best player in the postseason Eddie Rosario can put up those types of numbers again throughout the regular season. As for the result of this game I have the Braves getting the win.
Tony’s MLB Pick: Atlanta Braves (-200)
Jeffery Thomas
The Atlanta Braves will begin their title defense with a home game against the Cincinnati Reds on opening day. This will be the first time the Reds play an opening day game on the road since the MLB’s last lockout which was in 1990, which was coincidentally the year the Reds last won the World Series. Atlanta is trying to become the first team to repeat as champions since the 2000s Yankees and will have to do so without their former star first baseman Freddie Freeman who is now a Dodger. The Braves will be excited for the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. though and also welcome in Matt Olsen to their lineup of power hitters. The Reds on the other hand, cut their payroll by $50 million and have no real expectations of winning this season.
I think this will be a very special night for the Atlanta Braves and their fans, to get to bring in the new season in their ballpark. The Cincinnati Reds have some good young pieces like 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India, and still have Reds legend Joey Votto, but all the key pieces lost in the offseason will be too much to overcome. This Cincinnati team isn’t equipped to ruin the champs opening night.
Jeffery’s MLB Pick: Atlanta Braves (-200)
Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Angels – 9:38PM ET
This American League West rivalry will take center stage in this one as the Houston Astros will travel to the city of Angels to face off with the Los Angeles Angels. This game will end up being the best one of the day.
Tony Battalio
The Houston Astros come into this one after losing in the World Series again last season. They are still trying to shake off the reputation they earned from the sign stealing scandal and truthfully no matter how many World Series championships they bring home they may never be able to shake off that reputation. They will look to make it back to another fall classic this season. Valdez will take the ball for them in this season opener against one of the most talented teams in the league.
This may finally be the year that the Los Angeles Angels have everything figured out. With two of the best players in baseball on their team in Mike Trout and Ohtani the Angels should be one of the most competitive teams in Major League Baseball this season. Ohtani gets the ball in this one against the Astros as he will look to get his MVP defense underway with a victory. As for the result of this game I have the Los Angeles Angels picking up the win over the Houston Astros.
Tony’s MLB Pick: LA Angels (-122)
Jeffery Thomas
The Los Angeles Angels come into 2022 with a lot of optimism that this may finally be the year they can get to the postseason and make some noise. LAA is welcoming back superstar Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon back into the lineup after missing much of the 2021 season with injuries and should make immediate impacts. The real star of the show though is Shohei Ohtani who is expected to bat lead off and will be on the mound. The reigning AL MVP will have to face the Carlos Correa-less Astros who are trying to avenge their loss in the World Series to the Braves.
Framber Valdez will be on the bump for the Astros and is one of the most underrated pitchers in the league. The Angels are the bigger story and media darling but I still love this Astros roster and team that I believe is still much better than that of the Angels. Give me the value with the Astros in this spot.
Jeffery’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros (+104)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
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