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MLB Best Bets for April 20: Pitchers Duel in Houston

Framber Valdez Houston Astros
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Top MLB Pick: Padres/Astros Under 7.5 (-104) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)

Padres/Astros Under 7.5 (-104)
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Top-rated sportsbooks have released their MLB odds for today’s action.

For your best bets, I will recommend the following parlays: Yankees moneyline and Phillies moneyline, as well as a Tigers moneyline and Rockies runline; the following first-half plays include: Guardians moneyline, a Twins-Braves Under, a Diamondbacks moneyline and an Angels moneyline; and the following full-game play has to do with a Padres-Astros Under.

Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 01:35 PM EDT at Citizen Bank Park

Philadelphia’s Massive Pitching Advantage

Miami starts Connor Gillespie, whose FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding) was over 6.00 in three of his four starts. He did pitch well against the 21st-ranked Mets’ scoring offense.

Gillespie won’t pitch well against a stronger Philly lineup that ranks ninth with a .451 slugging rate against his pitches from righties. He also won’t pitch as well as Philadelphia’s starter, Jesus Luzardo, who has allowed a total of six earned runs in his four starts.

Luzardo’s ERA in his last start looks unattractive, but he yielded a BABIP (batting average of balls in play) that was unfortunately high. His 2.65 FIP shows how well he truly performed.

Parlay Leg 1: Phillies ML (-300) at BetOnline

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 01:40 PM EDT at George M. Steinbrenner Field

New York’s Revenge

The Yankees will use their pitching edge to get revenge after blowing a big lead last night. They start Max Fried, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in every start.

Ryan Pepiot starts for the Rays. Having allowed five home runs in his last two starts, he does not share Fried’s strong form. Moreover, the Yankees rank seventh with a .470 slugging rate against Pepiot’s pitches from righties.

Parlay Leg 2: Yankees ML (-145) at BetOnline

Parlay #1

  • Phillies ML (-300)
  • Yankees ML (-145)

MLB Pick: Two-Legged Parlay (+125) at BetOnline

Two-Legged Parlay (+125)
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Cleveland Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 01:35 PM EDT at PNC Park

Cleveland’s Pitching Edge

Mitch Keller starts for the Pirates today. His three favorite pitches are his fastball, sweeper and slider.

Cleveland ranks fifth with a .444 slugging rate against these pitches from righties. Logan Allen, Cleveland’s starter today, has a clear edge on Keller. A lefty, he throws a fastball, sweeper, changeup, sinker and cutter.

Pittsburgh ranks 25th with a .307 slugging rate against those pitches from lefties.

MLB Pick: First-Half Guardians ML (+105) at BetOnline

First-Half Guardians ML (+105)
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Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 01:35 PM EDT at Truist Park

Pitcher’s Duel

Joe Ryan, who starts for the Twins today, has allowed one run or zero runs in three of his four starts thus far, with his one bad start coming against a Houston team that he regularly struggles against.

He leans heavily on his excellent fastball that yields a .298 slugging rate. Fortunately for Ryan, Atlanta ranks far below-average against the fastball from righties despite mostly facing inferior versions of this pitch.

Grant Holmes, today’s starter for Atlanta, will keep this game low-scoring against a Minnesota lineup that ranks 24th with a .350 slugging rate against his three pitches from righties.

MLB Pick: Twins/Braves First-Half Under 4 (+105) at BetOnline

Twins/Braves First-Half Under 4 (+105)
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Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 01:40 PM EDT at Comerica Park

Kansas City’s Form

The Royals enter today’s game on a six-game losing streak. Their lineup has struggled massively, failing to exceed three runs in any one game.

During this six-game span, they’ve scored a total of eleven runs.

Tarik Skubal

Detroit starts its best pitcher today, Tarik Skubal. He is a lefty who, primarily, throws a fastball, changeup, sinker and slider.

Kansas City ranks 28th with a .291 slugging rate against his pitches from lefties.

Detroit’s Strong Outlook

The Tigers enter today’s game on a three-game win streak because their lineup does not share Kansas City’s struggles and their pitching remains solid.

They will win today by continuing to thrive against Kansas City’s starter, Michael Wacha. Their slugging rate is .477 with Wacha on the mound.

Parlay Leg 1: Tigers ML (-196) at BetOnline

Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 03:10 PM EDT at Coors Field

Colorado’s Rare Pitching Advantage

Colorado starts Kyle Freeland today.

He allowed a lot of runs in his last start, but also suffered from a very high BABIP (batting average of balls in play) that masks how well he truly performed. His 3.42 FIP in that game and his 2.52 season-long FIP show how well he has performed this season and how strongly he continues to perform.

Freeland will prolong his strong form against a Nationals team against which he owns a 2.05 ERA in nine career starts.

He’ll get run support from a Colorado lineup that is finally hitting the ball well, having scored a combined total of 18 runs in its last two games. During this two-game span, the Rockies are slugging .708 against Washington starter Jake Irvin’s favorite pitches from righties.

Parlay Leg 2: Rockies RL (-155) at BetOnline

Parlay #2

  • Tigers ML (-196)
  • Rockies RL (-155)

MLB Pick: Two-Legged Parlay (+148) at BetOnline

Two-Legged Parlay (+148)
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Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 02:20 PM EDT at Wrigley Field

Arizona’s Lineup Can’t Wait

Merrill Kelly starts for the Diamondbacks today after enjoying his best start this season in his most recent outing, where he held Miami to one run in six innings while accumulating nine strikeouts to one walk.

He’ll continue his strong form against a Chicago lineup that slugs .330 against him with all of one home run in 97 at-bats. Arizona’s lineup will help him against Jameson Taillon, the Cubs’ starter today.

The Diamondbacks slug .505 against him.

MLB Pick: First-Half Diamondbacks ML (+110) at BetOnline

First-Half Diamondbacks ML (+110)
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San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Angels

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 04:07 PM EDT at Angel Park

The Wrong Team Is Favored

Justin Verlander starts for the Giants today. He is a big name, but that is because of his past. Currently, he is 42 years old.

It is very obvious that he is not the same pitcher that he used to be. In his last two starts alone, he’s allowed a combined total of nine earned runs.

The Angels start Yusei Kikuchi, a lefty who primarily throws a slider and fastball. San Francisco ranks 23rd with a .316 slugging rate against these pitches from lefties.

MLB Pick: First-Half Angels ML (-110) at BetOnline

First-Half Angels ML (-110)
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San Diego Padres vs. Houston Astros

Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 07:10 PM EDT at Daikin Park

Pitcher’s Duel

San Diego starter Dylan Cease owns a great track record against Houston’s batters, who slug .208 against him with two extra-base hits in 96 at-bats.

Left-handed Houston starter Framber Valdez will keep the scoring low. San Diego ranks 27th with a .192 slugging rate against his favorite pitches from lefties.

Both bullpens rank top-six, making this a strong full-game play.

MLB Pick: Padres/Astros Under 7.5 (-104) at BetOnline

Padres/Astros Under 7.5 (-104)
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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.

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