The biggest factor in MLB betting is starting pitching, which is where our focus is on Sunday as we scour the odds board for the best MLB prop and side bets.
We break down the baseball matchups for the 2018 and 2020 AL Cy Young winners, along with the 2019 runner-up, as we bring you our best free MLB prop bet picks and predictions for Sunday, April 18.
Today’s MLB props and picks
Cleveland vs Cincinnati - First Five Innings Under 3.5 (-113)
MLB bettors might not have cared when Justin Bieber performed last night at the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren spectacle but they should definitely care about Cleveland pitcher Shane Bieber's performance today.
For those who have followed this column for the last few years knows, betting the Under on the first five innings when Bieber gets the start has been one of the most profitable betting trends around.
The first five innings Under has cashed in each of Bieber's three starts this season as the reigning AL Cy Young winner is off to another spectacular start, pitching to a 2.11 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP and 35 strikeouts through 21 1-3 innings.
Meanwhile, the Tribe continue to be abysmal at the plate, ranking 27th in the majors with 3.74 runs per game while ranking 29th with a batting average of .207. They will have a difficult time generating runs against Cincinnati southpaw Wade Miley, who has been lights out this year, allowing just four hits across 11 scoreless innings in his first two starts. We're backing Bieber Fever again.
4.5 Innings Line - NY Yankees -0.5 (-105)
The New York Yankees have stumbled out of the gate with a 5-9 start but ace Gerrit Cole has been as terrific as ever, going 2-0 with 29 strikeouts across 18 1-3 innings of work.
Cole was the AL Cy Young trophy runner-up in 2019 before finishing fourth in voting for that award a year ago after going 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA in his first season in the Bronx.
This afternoon Cole and the Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the final contest of a three-game set, and the Rays will be looking to sweep the series after taking the first two games. Tampa Bay scored a total of 14 runs in those two games but is still just 19th in the majors in scoring with 4.21 runs per game while ranking 22nd with a batting average of .222.
Look for the Yankees to come out strong at home and ride another dominant performance from Cole to take a lead by the midway point of the game.
L.A. Dodgers Team Total Over 4.5 (+118)
San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell may have won the Cy Young award with Tampa Bay in 2018 but he hasn't looked great since then, posting a 3.96 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP in 34 starts over the last two years.
While Snell had a very strong debut with his new club, he was blasted in his most recent start, surrendering three runs on three hits and a pair of walks in less than an inning of action.
That poor performance happened to come against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the lefty gets a much tougher task today as he faces off against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers are once again mashing with one of the scariest lineups around, leading the majors with an OPS of .836 and ranking third with 5.77 runs per game. Take the Over 4.5 on Los Angeles' team total.
Yesterday's MLB record: 0-2, -2 units
Season MLB betting record: 24-26, -4.4 units
MLB betting card for April 18
- Cleveland vs Cincinnati - First Five Innings Under 3.5 (-113)
- 4.5 Innings Line - NY Yankees -0.5 (-105)
- Dodgers Team Total Over 4.5 (+118)
Picks made on 4/18/2021 at 9:30 a.m. ET
MLB parlays
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