Let's kick off a new week with some winning MLB expert picks.
I'm leaning to the run totals to start this week, so here are my two MLB expert picks for today's games:
MLB Expert Picks: April 22nd, 2024
You can jump directly to today's picks here:
Pick 1: Cardinals/DBacks under 8.5 Runs (-110)
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 7:45 pm ET
I think the pitchers are going to have a lot of fun in this matchup.
For starters, Lance Lynn is on quite the hot streak to start the 2024 campaign. The veteran righty has allowed over 1 earned run just once so far this year, rocking a 2.18 ERA on the season for the Cardinals. He also owns this current DBacks lineup, allowing a .580 OPS to current Arizona hitters in 80 career at-bats.
On the flip side, I think Brandon Pfaadt should be able to hold down the Cards' offense, too. St. Louis is on a collective cold streak, scoring just 2.1 runs per game in their last eight contests. They've scored over five runs just once in the last 10 days.
Pick 2: Rays/Tigers Under 7 Runs (+100)
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 6:50 pm ET
This is another pitching matchup I’m all over. I get that a seven run total is really low, but I think these guys can do it.
For Detroit, Tarik Skubal has been one of the best pitchers in baseball to start the year (and really since the middle of last season). He’s rocking a 2.28 ERA so far, allowing over 2 ER in just one outing. It won’t hurt his chances that the Rays kinda stink against lefties, too, hitting just .242 as a squad against southpaws with a .668 OPS.
On the other side, Zack Littell has been one of the Raysiest stories to start the year. Tampa Bay is just a factory for guys like this, and they've somehow turned Littell into a SP2. He's allowed over one earned run in just one of his four starts, rocking a 2.14 ERA so far.
