MLB Best Bets for April 20: Pitchers Duel in Houston
Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Citizen Bank Park
Philadelphia's Massive Pitching Advantage
Miami starts Connor Gillespie, whose FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding) was over 6.00 in three of his four starts. He did pitch well against the 21st-ranked Mets' scoring offense.
Gillespie won't pitch well against a stronger Philly lineup that ranks ninth with a .451 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.
He also won't pitch as well as Philadelphia's starter, Jesus Luzardo, who has allowed a total of six earned runs in his four starts.
Luzardo's ERA in his last start looks unattractive, but he yielded a BABIP (batting average of balls in play) that was unfortunately high. His 2.65 FIP shows how well he truly performed.
Parlay Leg 1: Phillies ML (-300) at BetOnline
New York's Revenge
The Yankees will use their pitching edge to get revenge after blowing a big lead last night.
They start Max Fried, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in every start.
Ryan Pepiot starts for the Rays. Having allowed five home runs in his last two starts, he does not share Fried's strong form.
Moreover, the Yankees rank seventh with a .470 slugging rate against Pepiot's pitches from righties.
Parlay Leg 2: Yankees ML (-145) at BetOnline
Parlay: Phillies ML (-300) & Yankees ML (-145) at +125 with BetOnline
Cleveland Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:35 p.m. ET at PNC Park
Cleveland's Pitching Edge
Mitch Keller starts for the Pirates today.
His three favorite pitches are his fastball, sweeper, and slider.
Cleveland ranks fifth with a .444 slugging rate against these pitches from righties.
Logan Allen, Cleveland's starter today, has a clear edge on Keller.
A lefty, he throws a fastball, sweeper, changeup, sinker, and cutter.
Pittsburgh ranks 25th with a .307 slugging rate against those pitches from lefties.
Best Bet: First-Half Guardians ML at +105 with BetOnline
Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Truist Park
Pitcher's Duel
Joe Ryan, who starts for the Twins today, has allowed one run or zero runs in three of his four starts thus far, with his one bad start coming against a Houston team that he regularly struggles against.
He leans heavily on his excellent fastball that yields a .298 slugging rate.
Fortunately for Ryan, Atlanta ranks far below-average against the fastball from righties despite mostly facing inferior versions of this pitch.
Grant Holmes, today's starter for Atlanta, will keep this game low-scoring against a Minnesota lineup that ranks 24th with a .350 slugging rate against his three pitches from righties.
Best Bet: First-Half Under 4 at +105 with BetOnline
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:40 p.m. ET at Comerica Park
Kansas City's Form
The Royals enter today's game on a six-game losing streak.
Their lineup has struggled massively, failing to exceed three runs in any one game.
During this six-game span, they've scored a total of eleven runs.
Tarik Skubal
Detroit starts its best pitcher today, Tarik Skubal.
Skubal is a lefty who, primarily, throws a fastball, changeup, sinker, and slider.
Kansas City ranks 28th with a .291 slugging rate against his pitches from lefties.
Detroit's Strong Outlook
The Tigers enter today's game on a three-game win streak because their lineup does not share Kansas City's struggles and their pitching remains solid.
They will win today by continuing to thrive against Kansas City's starter, Michael Wacha. Their slugging rate is .477 with Wacha on the mound.
Parlay Leg 1: Tigers ML (-196) at BetOnline
Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 3:10 p.m. ET at Coors Field
Colorado's Rare Pitching Advantage
Colorado starts Kyle Freeland today.
Freeland allowed a lot of runs in his last start, but he suffered from a very high BABIP (batting average of balls in play) that masks how well he truly performed. His 3.42 FIP in that game and his 2.52 season-long FIP show how well he has performed this season and how strongly he continues to perform.
Freeland will prolong his strong form against a Nationals team that he owns a 2.05 ERA in nine career starts against.
He'll get run support from a Colorado lineup that is finally hitting the ball well, having scored a combined total of 18 runs in its last two games.
During this two-game span, the Rockies are slugging .708 against Washington starter Jake Irvin's favorite pitches from righties.
Parlay Leg 2: Rockies RL (-155) at BetOnline
Parlay: Tigers ML (-196) & Rockies RL (-155) at +148 with BetOnline
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field
Arizona's Lineup Can't Wait
Merrill Kelly starts for the Diamondbacks today after enjoying his best start this season in his most recent outing where he held Miami to one run in six innings while accumulating nine strikeouts to one walk.
He'll continue his strong form against a Chicago lineup that slugs .330 against him with all of one home run in 97 at-bats.
Arizona's lineup will help him against Jameson Taillon, the Cubs' starter today. The Diamondbacks slug .505 against him.
Best Bet: First-Half Diamondbacks ML at +110 with BetOnline
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Angels
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 4:07 p.m. ET at Angel Park
The Wrong Team Is Favored
Justin Verlander starts for the Giants today.
He is a big name, but that is because of his past. Currently, he is 42 years old.
It is very obvious that he is not the same pitcher that he used to be. In his last two starts alone, he's allowed a combined total of nine earned runs.
The Angels start Yusei Kikuchi, a lefty who primarily throws a slider and fastball.
San Francisco ranks 23rd with a .316 slugging rate against these pitches from lefties.
Best Bet: First-Half Angels ML (-110) with BetOnline
San Diego Padres vs. Houston Astros
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Daikin Park
Pitcher's Duel
San Diego starter Dylan Cease owns a great track record against Houston's batters, who slug .208 against him with two extra-base hits in 96 at-bats.
Left-handed Houston starter Framber Valdez will keep the scoring low. San Diego ranks 27th with a .192 slugging rate against his favorite pitches from lefties.
Both bullpens rank top-six, making this a strong full-game play.
Best Bet: Under 7.5 at -104 with BetOnline
Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Citizen Bank Park
Philadelphia's Massive Pitching Advantage
Miami starts Connor Gillespie, whose FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding) was over 6.00 in three of his four starts. He did pitch well against the 21st-ranked Mets' scoring offense.
Gillespie won't pitch well against a stronger Philly lineup that ranks ninth with a .451 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.
He also won't pitch as well as Philadelphia's starter, Jesus Luzardo, who has allowed a total of six earned runs in his four starts.
Luzardo's ERA in his last start looks unattractive, but he yielded a BABIP (batting average of balls in play) that was unfortunately high. His 2.65 FIP shows how well he truly performed.
Parlay Leg 1: Phillies ML (-300) at BetOnline
New York's Revenge
The Yankees will use their pitching edge to get revenge after blowing a big lead last night.
They start Max Fried, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in every start.
Ryan Pepiot starts for the Rays. Having allowed five home runs in his last two starts, he does not share Fried's strong form.
Moreover, the Yankees rank seventh with a .470 slugging rate against Pepiot's pitches from righties.
Parlay Leg 2: Yankees ML (-145) at BetOnline
Parlay: Phillies ML (-300) & Yankees ML (-145) at +125 with BetOnline
Cleveland Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:35 p.m. ET at PNC Park
Cleveland's Pitching Edge
Mitch Keller starts for the Pirates today.
His three favorite pitches are his fastball, sweeper, and slider.
Cleveland ranks fifth with a .444 slugging rate against these pitches from righties.
Logan Allen, Cleveland's starter today, has a clear edge on Keller.
A lefty, he throws a fastball, sweeper, changeup, sinker, and cutter.
Pittsburgh ranks 25th with a .307 slugging rate against those pitches from lefties.
Best Bet: First-Half Guardians ML at +105 with BetOnline
Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Truist Park
Pitcher's Duel
Joe Ryan, who starts for the Twins today, has allowed one run or zero runs in three of his four starts thus far, with his one bad start coming against a Houston team that he regularly struggles against.
He leans heavily on his excellent fastball that yields a .298 slugging rate.
Fortunately for Ryan, Atlanta ranks far below-average against the fastball from righties despite mostly facing inferior versions of this pitch.
Grant Holmes, today's starter for Atlanta, will keep this game low-scoring against a Minnesota lineup that ranks 24th with a .350 slugging rate against his three pitches from righties.
Best Bet: First-Half Under 4 at +105 with BetOnline
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:40 p.m. ET at Comerica Park
Kansas City's Form
The Royals enter today's game on a six-game losing streak.
Their lineup has struggled massively, failing to exceed three runs in any one game.
During this six-game span, they've scored a total of eleven runs.
Tarik Skubal
Detroit starts its best pitcher today, Tarik Skubal.
Skubal is a lefty who, primarily, throws a fastball, changeup, sinker, and slider.
Kansas City ranks 28th with a .291 slugging rate against his pitches from lefties.
Detroit's Strong Outlook
The Tigers enter today's game on a three-game win streak because their lineup does not share Kansas City's struggles and their pitching remains solid.
They will win today by continuing to thrive against Kansas City's starter, Michael Wacha. Their slugging rate is .477 with Wacha on the mound.
Parlay Leg 1: Tigers ML (-196) at BetOnline
Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 3:10 p.m. ET at Coors Field
Colorado's Rare Pitching Advantage
Colorado starts Kyle Freeland today.
Freeland allowed a lot of runs in his last start, but he suffered from a very high BABIP (batting average of balls in play) that masks how well he truly performed. His 3.42 FIP in that game and his 2.52 season-long FIP show how well he has performed this season and how strongly he continues to perform.
Freeland will prolong his strong form against a Nationals team that he owns a 2.05 ERA in nine career starts against.
He'll get run support from a Colorado lineup that is finally hitting the ball well, having scored a combined total of 18 runs in its last two games.
During this two-game span, the Rockies are slugging .708 against Washington starter Jake Irvin's favorite pitches from righties.
Parlay Leg 2: Rockies RL (-155) at BetOnline
Parlay: Tigers ML (-196) & Rockies RL (-155) at +148 with BetOnline
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field
Arizona's Lineup Can't Wait
Merrill Kelly starts for the Diamondbacks today after enjoying his best start this season in his most recent outing where he held Miami to one run in six innings while accumulating nine strikeouts to one walk.
He'll continue his strong form against a Chicago lineup that slugs .330 against him with all of one home run in 97 at-bats.
Arizona's lineup will help him against Jameson Taillon, the Cubs' starter today. The Diamondbacks slug .505 against him.
Best Bet: First-Half Diamondbacks ML at +110 with BetOnline
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Angels
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 4:07 p.m. ET at Angel Park
The Wrong Team Is Favored
Justin Verlander starts for the Giants today.
He is a big name, but that is because of his past. Currently, he is 42 years old.
It is very obvious that he is not the same pitcher that he used to be. In his last two starts alone, he's allowed a combined total of nine earned runs.
The Angels start Yusei Kikuchi, a lefty who primarily throws a slider and fastball.
San Francisco ranks 23rd with a .316 slugging rate against these pitches from lefties.
Best Bet: First-Half Angels ML (-110) with BetOnline
San Diego Padres vs. Houston Astros
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Daikin Park
Pitcher's Duel
San Diego starter Dylan Cease owns a great track record against Houston's batters, who slug .208 against him with two extra-base hits in 96 at-bats.
Left-handed Houston starter Framber Valdez will keep the scoring low. San Diego ranks 27th with a .192 slugging rate against his favorite pitches from lefties.
Both bullpens rank top-six, making this a strong full-game play.
Best Bet: Under 7.5 at -104 with BetOnline
