Top MLB Betting Odds & Picks for Tuesday, April 19th (2022)

Apr 19, 2022 - 10:00 AM

An East Coast nor’easter and inclement weather in the Midwest postponed three of Major League Baseball’s eight games yesterday, which means we get the season’s first dose of doubleheaders today. For those looking to wager on either leg of the doubleheaders in the Diamondbacks-Nationals or Giants-Mets series, one should be reminded that MLB reverted back to the nine-inning doubleheader rule.

The league had experimented with seven-inning doubleheaders the last two seasons, which resulted in altered lines, especially in terms of lower totals, on most occasions. Thus, bettors will want to re-familiarize themselves with these and all other rule changes, so they are prepared for what they are wagering on.

Here are our best bets for Tuesday’s MLB action. (Odds courtesy of DraftKings)

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>

San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets ML (G1 of Doubleheader)

This wager is a repeat of a play we liked yesterday before the series opener between these teams was rained out. And since the starting pitching matchup remains the same for the afternoon leg of this doubleheader, we are confident in this wager again.

Tylor Megill was the New York Mets’ surprising Opening Day starting pitching after Jacob deGrom went on the IL and Max Scherzer had his first start pushed back a day. And while Megill is 2-0 after throwing 10.1 combined scoreless innings, we expect him to struggle with the red-hot San Francisco Giants lineup.

Megill has struck out 11 batters and walked none to this point, but it is expected to be chilly in New York this afternoon, and we do not expect him to have the same brilliant command he has shown. San Francisco enters this series on a five-game winning streak and is just one of two teams to not lose on the road yet this season. The Giants have allowed a Major League-low 20 runs and will look for another strong outing from Alex Cobb (1-0, 3.60).

New York has struggled with teams from the NL West, going 3-13 in their last 16 games. Two of those wins came against the lowly Diamondbacks this weekend, but the Mets should struggle with a Giants team that is 47-17 in their last 64 road games dating back to last season.

Bet: San Francisco Giants ML (+100 at DraftKings)  

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers (Will There Be A Run Scored in the First Inning?)

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has struggled in the first inning of both starts this season. Cole has an ERA of 18.00 in the first inning this season, as opponents have combined to bat .400 with an OPS of 1.555 in 11 plate appearances against him. However, Cole’s first-inning issues have not just surfaced this season, as he has a 5.11 ERA in the first inning since joining the Yankees.

Even if Cole buckles down in the first inning against Detroit, we still like New York’s chances of breaking through early against Detroit lefty Tyler Alexander (0-0, 5.06). The Yankees will send several right-handed hitters up in the first inning, and one of those is Josh Donaldson, who has three hits in eight career at-bats off Alexander, one of which was a home run.

Temperatures will be in the mid-30s in Detroit at first pitch, and it could be difficult for both Cole and Alexander to find a good grip on the baseball early. Thus, we like the value in backing a run to be scored in the first inning.

Bet: New York Yankees-Detroit Tigers YRFI (+105 at DraftKings)  

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Total vs. Milwaukee Brewers

It has been a tale of two starts for Milwaukee’s two best pitchers, Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. Burnes and Woodruff combined for 8.2 IP, ten hits allowed, ten runs, six walks, and six strikeouts in their debuts. In their last two starts, the Brewers duo combined for 12 IP, six hits allowed, no runs, two walks, and ten strikeouts. Pittsburgh faces Burnes tonight and given his track record, we expect more of what we saw from him in a dominant second start than how he struggled on Opening Day.

Burnes is 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA in 16 career appearances (four starts) against the Pirates. He has averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings against them and has allowed just one earned run in 38.1 innings against the division rivals. Pittsburgh’s offense got right with 22 runs scored in their four-game series against the Nationals but have been held to two or fewer runs in all five of its losses. With Milwaukee as steep -250 moneyline favorites, we expect the Pirates offense to struggle again in what should amount to another loss.

Bet: Pittsburgh Pirates Team Total UNDER 2.5 Runs (-110 at DraftKings)  

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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.

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