MLB Best Bets for Tuesday, April 4th

The 2023 MLB season has kicked off with a weekend full of stolen bases and solid betting action. We then went 3-0 with our best on Monday, so we’ll look to keep the streak alive on Tuesday.

In our daily MLB best bets column, we’re going to look at a few plays that we think are most advantageous for the day. We’ll pick one moneyline or run line bet, one run total or over/under bet, and one pitching strikeout prop bet that we believe you should target.

Obviously, you should only bet what you’re comfortable losing and it you’re new to betting on baseball, you should read our Beginner’s Guide to Betting with a glossary of terms and check out our sign-up deals at the bottom of the article.

MLB Best Bets, April 4th

All odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, click here to see up-to-date odds

Best Moneyline/Run Line Bet

Astros -1.5 against Tigers (-130)

We could go back to the well with the Dodgers -1.5 (-120) against the Rockies, and I don’t think that’s a bad bet, but German Marquez on the road is always a bit of a wild card, and I don’t want to take the chance he actually spins a good start. Instead, I’d rather attack Tigers’ starter Matt Manning, who I don’t think is very good.

I also do think that Framber Valdez is good. Like, really good. Like, could win the AL Cy Young award good. All of that has me feeling pretty confident in the Astros here, and our model has them winning by 2.5 runs.

ML/Run Line Season Record: 1-0

Best Run Total Bet

Red Sox/Pirates OVER 9 runs (+110)

Every Red Sox game has gone over so far this season. Their offense looks great, and their pitching looks shaky. While I do think their bullpen will settle in and be solid, it got taxed yesterday after yet another short start by a Red Sox starter. Both Nick Pivetta and Roansy Contreras can get strikeouts but also get hit around, so I think the OVER remains very much in play here.

Run Total Season Record: 1-0

Masataka Yoshida and the Red Sox are an MLB best bet — Boston Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida celebrates after his two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Fenway Park, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Best Pitcher Strikeout Prop Bet

Hayden Wesneski OVER 4.5 strikeouts (-120)

Yeah, this is just too low.

Wesneski, the former Yankees prospect, looked great in Spring Training and has legit swing-and-miss stuff. His slider produced GIF-worthy moments each and every start. Now he gets to face a Reds team that is currently 20th in MLB in strikeout rate to start the year, and we love to see that.

Great American Ballpark is very offense-friendly, so there is some risk that Wesneski gets hit around and taken out of the game early, but I just think he looked too good in the spring for that to happen. I believe we can get at least five innings from him today, and that should be enough for him to notch five strikeouts and cash this MLB bet.

Strikeout Prop Season Record: 1-0