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Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals (Game 1) – 12.05PM ET
It wasn’t easy but the Nationals 2021 MLB regular season is finally underway following their victory against the Braves in Washington on Tuesday.
Washington’s dugout may have been shorthanded due to their recent COVID-19 outbreak, but it didn’t stop the Nationals from stealing an impressive victory at home in their first game of the year.
Although Max Scherzer’s and the Nationals first pitch for the 2021 season was hit for a homer (one of two Scherzer home runs in the first innings, and one of four for the day), Washington trailed 5-4 at the top of the eighth.
An eighth innings Nationals single tied the game, before the Washington claimed victory deep in the ninth.
RONALD ACUÑA JR. LAUNCH MODE
The first pitch he sees from Max Scherzer lands in the seats 😳 pic.twitter.com/iyF87Uhtn5
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) April 6, 2021
The Nationals and Braves will face off in a double header on Wednesday, with Atlanta still searching for their first win of the season and Washington looking to make it three wins in just two days.
The Braves are now 0-4 to start the season despite Acuna (two), Freeman and Swanson all flushing home runs on Tuesday.
Coming into the first match of Wednesday’s double header, we like Washington to make it 2-0 at home this season.
Seeing as Atlanta failed to capitalise on power hitting from their lineup and a successful rotation at the mound, we believe Washington will once again come out on top in this clash, as the Nationals will be even better having got a game under their belt.
MLB Pick – Washington Nationals (TBD)
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Pittsburgh Pirates @ Cincinnati Reds – 12.35PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds once again showed why they are one of the most damaging lineups in Major League Baseball on Tuesday, as they dismantled Pirates at home.
The Reds won Monday’s encounter over the Pirates 14-1, as Tyler Naquin (2) , Mike Moustaskas (2), Nick Senzel (4), Jonathan India (3) and Tucker Barnhart all scored multiple times.
In fact, Senzel has been on base seven times this year and has scored all seven times.
Since dropping their season opener against the Cardinals, Cincinnati have won their last four games for a 4-1 record, and have scored 43 runs in that time.
Contrastingly, the Pirates have now slipped to 1-4 since winning their opening game against the Cubs, scoring just 13 runs in their five games this season.
When looking at how the two sides will match up on Wednesday, it is tough to see Pittsburgh upsetting Cincinnati, as the Reds scored more runs in Tuesday’s clash than the Pirates have in all five of their games this season combined.
Cincinnati’s lineup will simply be too strong for Cleveland once again, as the Reds will extend their lead on top of the NL Central Division.
MLB Pick – Cincinnati Reds (-210)
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Kansas City Royals @ Cleveland Indians – 1.10PM ET
The 1-3 Cleveland Indians will host the 3-1 Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for the second time in three days.
Kansas City won Monday’s matchup between the two teams, allowing the Indians just three hits and zero runs in a 3-0 shutout victory.
Danny Duffy was the most damaging member of the Royals rotation at the mound, striking out five Cleveland batters in six scoreless innings.
RECAP: Whit Merrifield provided the offense, Danny Duffy and the bullpen took care of the rest in a shutout win over the Indians. #TogetherRoyal
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 5, 2021
Meanwhile, the Indians haven’t done much in their first four games of the season, having scored just four runs in their three losses so far this year.
Given that Brad Keller’s (the Royals Opening Day starting pitcher) return has been pushed back to Thursday’s game against the White Sox, Kansas City are unclear as to who will be throwing the first pitch.
This will give Cleveland the slight advantage at the mound, as 2020 AL Cy Young recipient Shane Bieber is expected to get the ball for his second start of the season. Although he has started just once this season, Bieber already has 12 strikeouts this year.
With Kansas City still unsure of who will be taking the first pitch on Wednesday, we have to give the edge to the Indians in this encounter, especially when you factor in the injury issues that the Royals lineup are currently facing.
MLB Pick – Cleveland Indians (TBD)
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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Oakland Athletics – 3.37PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers will wrap up their three game set against the A’s in Oakland on Wednesday, looking for their sixth consecutive win of the season.
Since dropping their Opening Day game against the Rockies, Los Angeles have shown the baseball world why they are the reigning World Series Champions and current favorites to go back to back, winning each of their next six games.
While both Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts have struggled to start the season, 2020’s World Series MVP, Corey Seager has picked up where he left off last postseason. Seager has batted at .529, with 12 total bases, nine hits and six RBIs in his first four games this season.
As for Oakland, things have not been running as smoothly. The A’s are now 0-6 to start the season, having dropped each of their four games against the Astros in Oakland, as well as their opening two games against the Dodger, which were also at home.
The A’s have scored just 13 runs in their opening six games this season.
Given the Dodgers 5-1 win over the A’s on Tuesday, as well as the form that Oakland are bringing into this game, we would find it tough to pick the A’s against just about any MLB team, let alone the reigning champions.
MLB Pick – Los Angeles Dodgers (-156)
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New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies – 4.05PM ET
Tuesday’s clash between the Mets and the Phillies gave Philadelphia their first loss of the season, and the Mets their first win.
A four run seventh inning proved to be the difference for New York on Tuesday, as the Mets turned a 2-1 lead into a 6-1 lead, which eventually resulted in a 8-4 New York victory.
Tuesday’s win was New York’s first of the year, having lost to the Phillies 5-3 on Monday in their season opener.
DOM BOMB FOR THE FIRST METS HOMER OF THE YEAR! 💥 pic.twitter.com/qRX1IFpFfn
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 7, 2021
Philadelphia however swept their three game set against the Braves, winning 3-2, 4-0, 2-1, before claiming their fourth win from as many starts against the Mets on Monday.
Now 4-1, the Phillies will need to address their lineup, as they have only scored 18 runs from five games this season.
Although Philadelphia were undefeated prior to Tuesday’s game against New York, we like the Mets to get the W in this one.
The Phillies lineup doesn’t look capable of putting up a defendable score against a quality opposition, failing to score more than five runs in each of their first five games.
Combined with the fact that the Mets are capable of putting up 4+ runs in a single innings while the Phillies are averaging less than four runs per game, we like New York to outscore Philadelphia’s struggling lineup on Wednesday and advance to a 2-1 record.
MLB Pick – New York Mets (+136)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
