Micah's Picks (1 Live)
Micah's Past Picks
The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost to the Tampa Bay Rays five straight times, but that was last two years, and this year's Rays have lost five of their last six games and have a 9-13 record. They also have a starter in Zack Littell, who the Rays have lost all four starts behind this season, with two of them being his fault, allowing 12 runs combined. Brandon Pfaadt has been incredible in his last two starts, and Arizona has won his last three starts. He's only allowed one run combined between his last two starts. Diamondbacks to win.
Last night's opener in the Blue Jays-Astros series was 7-0 Astros, which stayed under the total, making that 12 unders for the Astros and 14 unders for the Blue Jays. We got a great spot tonight where the under looks like the play with the Blue Jays averaging 3.7 runs per game and the Astros averaging 3.8. We also got a pitcher in Chris Bassitt that has allowed only two runs in his four starts, and all four stayed under. Under is the play.
The Astros have beaten the Blue Jays five out of the last six games, including last night in the first of three in the series. I bet the Blue Jays in this game because I think I have an edge in the pitching matchup with Chris Bassitt pitching against Ronel Blanco. Bassitt has been fantastic in all four starts, allowing only two runs, and in his last game, he struck out 10 in five innings. Blanco has allowed an average of three runs in each of his four starts. Blanco has gone over three of his four starts, while Bassitt has stayed under all four starts. Toronto gets the win.
The Houston Astros almost got the sweep over the San Diego Padres over the weekend, losing 3-2 on Sunday, and now they get the Toronto Blue Jays, who are 12-10 on the season. Today, I get Hunter Brown on the mound, who is pitching like one of the best in baseball, with no runs allowed in his last two games, and this will be the first time at home since March 28th when he faced the Mets. The Astros have won four of the past five meetings with the Blue Jays. Astros to win.
It will be 52° with 11 mph winds blowing out to left field at Citi Field today for the Phillies-Mets game. The Mets are 9-1 at home this season and come off a four-game sweep of the Cardinals. They’ve also won five of the last six meetings with the Phillies. The Mets have lost Taylor McGill's last two starts, but the real reason I bet this game was because of the ineffectiveness of Aaron Nola, who the Phillies have lost all four of his 2025 starts, including his last one against the Giants when he gave up seven runs. I'm on the Mets today.
The Astros go for the sweep today against the Padres with Framber Valdez on the mound. They're 6-5 at home and 10-10 all together, but the sweep likely doesn't occur because of Dylan Cease. Valdez gave up seven runs in his last start against St. Louis and allowed 10 hits in four innings of work. The Padres are 15-6 this season but only 3-5 on the road. They need to fix that road record tonight, and the number one bats (.275) in MLB take care of business. Padres to win.
Coors Field is 43° today with winds blowing out at 6 mph and an 8% chance of precipitation. The Rockies are in bad shape at 3-15 this season at a minus-1,137 profit margin while averaging only 2.8 runs a game. They even fired their hitting coach this early in the season. Mackenzie Gore was outstanding in his first start of the year, but his last three have been subpar as the Nationals are 1-3 behind him. The good news for the Rockies is that they're 2-4 at home. Chase Dollander was pitching in the Rockies 12-5 win against the A’s, allowing four runs on April 6th. The number is set appropriately for the Rockies situation, but I still have to go over.
It's going to be 50° at Wrigley Field with winds blowing out to the left field at 23 mph and precipitation at 6%. This is going to be a high-scoring game, and the total reflects it at 11. Arizona has gone 8-8 on the over despite scoring 9.79 runs per game, but the Cubs are over 13-7, scoring 10.1 runs a game. Both teams have won 12 games, and Corbin Burnes hasn't been himself in the first three starts, allowing 11 runs with all three getting over. Just the over.
The Cincinnati Reds have won four in a row and six of their last seven to up their run total to 4.12 per game. They play the Seattle Mariners, who have lost all four games on the road that they played. The Mariners have lost two of three behind Bryce Miller this season, with him allowing eight runs in 16 innings. Nick Martinez has given up 11 runs in his three starts without a win, but he'll likely get caught up in the Reds' winning streak. Reds win.
The Tigers have won five in a row and go for a sweep against the Yankees with Jack Flaherty pitching against his high school teammate from Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles, Max Fried. This should be fun with old high school buddies facing off against each other. Flaherty also started two games in the World Series that were two Dodgers wins against the Yankees. Fried has given up seven runs in 10.1 innings, but the Yankees scored 29 runs in those games. The Yankees are 6-5 now and were shut out Tuesday, 5-0. The Tigers keep the winning streak going in chilly weather and down the Yankees. Tigers to win.
The first place Giants have beaten the Reds six out of the last eight meetings, and the Giants have won their last seven games in a row this season. The Reds are 3-7 and only average 3.9 runs a game, which includes a game in which they scored 14 runs. Back that number out, and you get a better idea of how the Reds season is going. That's why I'm betting the Giants, who are doing everything right and having the ball bounce their way, and the Reds, who are the opposite. The Giants have won both games Logan Webb started this season, including a 6-4 win against the Reds in the season opener. Giants to win.
Four of the last five meetings between the Diamondbacks and the Orioles have gone over the total, with the Orioles winning four. Both of these teams have been hitting and getting over the total, with the Orioles 7-3 to the over and the Diamondbacks 6-3 to the over. The Orioles average 9.4 runs a game and the Diamondbacks 10.9. Arizona comes off a so-so road trip at 3-3, beating the Yankees but losing to the Nationals. Zac Gallen comes off a gem, not allowing any runs in 6.2 innings while striking out 13 Yankees in a game that stayed under. He had it working, just the opposite from his first start where he had fours across the board. Just the over.
We've got a battle of two first-place teams when the Texas Rangers meet the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, where it's going to be 33° with winds blowing in at 25 miles an hour and partly cloudy with a 41% chance of precipitation. The Rangers have started the season 8-2 and kept eight of their 10 games under the total, which sounds a lot like today's theme behind Nathan Eovaldi, who pitched a complete-game shutout in his last outing. The Cubs have a contrasting style where they go over the total eight out of their 11 games. The total here in this game is set at 6, which tells you the expected story. Rangers have won their last five. Rangers to win.
We're looking at Fenway Park being 54° and 18° warmer than it was yesterday when the game got rained out. Wind's blowing left to right at 8 mph, and there's a 24% chance of precipitation. The Cardinals have an edge in this game for their hitting and for the pitching of Boston. First of all, Boston games average 12.7 runs per game, and they've gone over the total six out of seven games this season. But the main reason to bet this game over the total is that Sean Newcomb started for the Red Sox when he gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings to Baltimore. The Cardinals are the only team hitting above .300 in baseball at .302. Just the over.