Today's Taste: Best MLB Play (4/12/23)

My write-up yesterday featured a nice double-dip winner with Gerrit Cole and Sugar Shane Daddy McClanahan getting the wins as my best plays. Right now, I only have one for Wednesday that should be a PLUS MONEY BANGER! Who doesn’t love those?

 

Washington Nationals (+144) @ Los Angeles Angels (-172) | Over/Under 9

 

Washington is one of the worst teams in the MLB as they enter an aggressive rebuild. Although they were projected in the 100-loss range, that still means they should win about 60 games. Even a team this bad will win games throughout the season. One of my favorite betting secrets to start the year will be taking the Nats when Mackenzie Gore is on the mound.

 

Gore is a talented lefty who came over to Washington in the Juan Soto deal. He was shut down in the second half of 2022 with elbow inflammation, but before that there was a lot of promise. In his first eight outings, he managed a 1.72 ERA to go along with 47 punchies in 42 innings of work. To begin 2023, he has impressed with a 2-0 mark and three runs in 11.1 innings. He out-maneuvered the Braves in the opening series with 5.1 IP,and one earned. Facing an Angels team that hit only .226 with a .658 OPS against lefties in 2022, it sets up well for him to shove once again.

 

This Angels team saw Shohei Ohtani go seven shutout last night, and only won 2-0. LAA will throw Griffin Canning out there today, making his first appearance since 2021. In 43 career showings, Canning is sporting a terrible 4.73 ERA. In my opinion, this is the spot where you take a shot on a Washington team that plated 29 runs in their last four contests (before Tuesday night). The Angels have a lot of issues, so it’s not crazy to think we can catch them on a bad night. 

 

 

Pick: Nationals ML +144