Top MLB Betting Odds & Picks for Wednesday, May 4th (2022)

May 4, 2022 - 10:00 AM

Yesterday was a big day for the New York baseball teams, as the Mets swept a doubleheader from the Braves, and the Yankees clinched another series win against the Blue Jays. The Yankees have now won a Major League-best 11 consecutive games, and this is the seventh time in franchise history they have started 18-6 or better through 24 games.

The Yankees are involved in one of our best bets today, but what do we have in store for our other two?

Here are our best bets for Wednesday’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 Diego Padres vs. Cleveland Guardians ML

Simply put, the Guardians have not proved they can beat good teams yet this season. Cleveland is 0-10 against teams over .500 this season and now faces a San Diego team tied for a National League-best 9-4 on the road.

This is not just any road game for the Padres, as it will be filled with a lot of emotion. San Diego starting pitcher Mike Clevinger makes his first start since September 2020 after missing all last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and he does so against his former team. Opposing him will be Cleveland’s Zach Plesac (1-2, 3.80).

Cleveland looks for a fourth straight win but is just 15-36 in its last 51 as home underdogs. Conversely, San Diego is 7-1 in its previous eight games as road favorites. Look for the Padres to stay hot offensively, led by the top two batters in the league entering this matchup in first baseman Eric Hosmer (.382) and third baseman Manny Machado (.375).

Bet: San Diego Padres ML (-160 at DraftKings)  

Texas Rangers vs. Philadelphia Phillies RL

What a difference a year has made for Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Wheeler made his first All-Star team and finished second in the Cy Young voting last year, and this year is off to a 1-3 start and has pitched to a 5.79 ERA. In addition, Wheeler has walked almost four batters per nine innings, a year after finishing with less than two walks per nine. We are chalking up Wheeler’s struggles to a shortened spring training and expect him to quickly get back on track, starting with tonight’s game against the Rangers. 

The under is 7-0 in Wheeler’s last seven home starts against teams with a losing record. And the Rangers are 16-47 in their last 63 road games against right-handed starting pitchers. We hope both trends mean a big win for Philadelphia in a game where Wheeler stifles the Texas offense.

Bet: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 Runs (+115 at DraftKings)  

Toronto Blue Jays Team Total vs. New York Yankees

The Yankees’ and Blue Jays’ intense three-game series concludes tonight, and New York’s pitching staff has done a great job handling Toronto’s powerful lineup. Through the first six meetings, New York has held Toronto to four or fewer runs five times. However, it has not just been all the Yankees’ starting pitching, as their bullpen has been just as instrumental to their success. New York’s bullpen leads the majors with a 1.6 WAR, and with an off-day tomorrow, Aaron Boone will not hesitate to use all of his big arms tonight.

“Nasty” Nestor Cortes takes the mound for the Yankees tonight. The under is 5-0 in Cortes’ last five starts against divisional opponents and has cashed in each of his last five road starts against teams with a winning record.

In an April 17th road start against Baltimore, Cortes made history as he became the fourth Yankees starting pitcher since 1974 to record at least ten strikeouts through four innings pitched. He continues to be a solid back-end of the rotation starter for the Yankees. Cortes is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in eight career appearances (two starts) against Toronto. Still, he has had a career resurgence dating back to last season, and we expect him and a bevy of Yankee relievers to once again keep the Blue Jays offense at bay.

Bet: Toronto Blue Jays Team Total UNDER 3.5 Runs (-120 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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