Best MLB Bets Today: Cashing in on Cross-Country Matchups

While there are only a handful of games today, we see many great opportunities to make money. One comes from a matchup between the Ohtani-less Angels and the Fracno-less Rays. The other comes from a game between the AL West-leading Rangers and a surprising Tigers team.

Below, we’ll share our favorite bet for both of these games. All odds we use will be provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. If you haven’t used BetMGM before, sign up using promo code WSNMGM to receive a $1,500 First Bet Offer*.

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Best MLB Bets Today: Angels vs. Rays (1:10 PM EST)

Rays -1.5 (+125 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

This game features two teams that have lost their top stars: Shohei Ohtani and Wander Franco. The difference is that the Rays have far more talent to overcome the loss. After starting 3-5, the team has settled in and has now won seven of their previous ten games. The offense has been improving during that stretch, largely thanks to third baseman Isaac Paredes. The 25-year-old broke out last season and has kept that momentum going in 2024. In April alone, he owns a .298 batting average with four home runs and 11 RBIs.

Paredes and the Rays lineup will be able to do some serious damage against Angels starter Griffin Canning (0-2, 9.88 ERA, 1.83 WHIP). The righty is in his fifth season but has yet to find much success. He finished with a 7-8 record and a 4.32 ERA in 2023 and has been even worse in 2024. In his last two starts alone, he’s allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 14 hits and three walks across just 8 2/3 innings.

The Rays will have the advantage on the mound with Ryan Pepiot (1-2, 5.40 ERA). The former Dodger had only appeared in 17 games before this season but is now a full-time part of the Tampa rotation. He has had mixed results to start the season, but he’s near impossible to hit when he’s on. While the Angels have Mike Trout, the rest of the lineup is very weak. That will set Pepiot up for another dominating start this afternoon.

Bet on Rays -1.5 at BetMGM 

Best MLB Bets Today: Rangers vs. Tigers (1:10 PM EST)

Rangers ML (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

The Rangers have a far better roster, but the Tigers have given them all they can handle in the first three games. The Tigers have done a good job keeping the dangerous Rangers lineup in check, but that will change today, thanks to the pitching matchup.

The Tigers will have 36-year-old Kenta Maeda (0-1, 6.00 ERA) making the start. The veteran righty hasn’t been sharp the last two seasons, which hasn’t changed early this year. He has made three starts, going 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA. While he was sharp in his previous start, that came against a Minnesota team that decided to move on from him in the offseason. That won’t be the case today, as he faced a Rangers team with a .297 batting average and a .568 slugging percentage against him.

The Rangers have struggled to find reliable pitching, but they hope tonight’s starter will help fix that. Top prospect Jack Leiter will make his MLB debut today against the Twins. The young pitcher is one of the most exciting prospects to come out of the Rangers minor league system in some time, and we see him living up to the hype tonight. While rookies can struggle under the bright lights of the MLB, this will be a day game against a Detroit team, meaning the crowd will be light. Add that to the fact that the Tigers have never seen Leiter, and we see him with the edge today.

Bet on Rangers ML at BetMGM 

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