MLB Ben's Best Bets - Thursday 4/14/22

MLB Ben's Best Bets - Thursday 4/14/22

It's Thursday and there are eight MLB games across various time slots. This is my first betting article of the season, and I couldn't be more excited that baseball is back. With that being said, I don't have anything to recap from a previous article so let's dive in!

Seattle Mariners @ Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are going for a sweep of the Mariners and have won four games in a row after losing their Opening Day game. Seattle has started out slow, and didn't get the performance from their newly signed Ace, Robbie Ray, that they were hoping for last night. The Mariners definitely hold the pitching edge in this one, however, with promising young righty Logan Gilbert squaring off with Jimmy Lambert. Lambert was recalled to take the spot of Lucas Giolito in the rotation, and will likely only throw four innings or so on Thursday. Overall, this games total is set at 9 runs which the second-highest on the board today outside of Coors Field. 

Ben's Pick

I do think Seattle will likely win this game, but I'm going to stay away from the sides in this one. These offenses have been scoring early and often in 2022, with their being a run scored in the first inning in three of the last four days for either of these teams. Gilbert is going to see three power hitters at the top of the White Sox lineup, and he's allowed above-average hard-hits to both sides of the plate in his young career. Lambert just hasn't been good at all in the big leagues, and that's why the total is so big in this game.

Bet: YRFI -115 via DraftKings Sportsbook

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Washington Nationals @ Pittsburgh Pirates

These teams have both underwhelmed to begin the season, and they open up a four game series tonight. We have two mediocre pitchers toeing the rubber in Joan Adon and JT Brubaker, hence why this game is tied with the CSW/SEA match-up with a nine implied run total. I think there's a great opportunity for runs to be put on the board here, and that's what I'm going to focus on. 

Ben's Pick

I love to bet on HR props like everyone else, and with two guys vulnerable to power this is a spot to do so. I'm going to focus on the Nationals -- with JT Brubaker allowing a .240 ISO and 39% hard-contact rate to left-handed batters over the last two seasons. Most people would assume I'm going to write in Juan Soto here...but I'll side with Josh Bell. Bell has big power against right-handed pitching and crushed his former team in 2021. After leaving Pittsburgh for Washington, Bell hit .400 against them a season ago with two long balls. Brubaker throws a lot of slider / sinker to lefties -- two pitches Bell owns over a .200 ISO against dating back three seasons. 

Bet: Josh Bell HR +500 via FanDuel Sportsbook

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