The 2021 MLB season has just started, but there are already many noteworthy MLB betting storylines from the first week of action.
A number of individual and team MLB futures odds have taken a hit out of the gate. NL MVP favorite Fernando Tatis, Jr. went down with a non-contact shoulder injury on Monday night and is sidelined indefinitely. It looks like Tatis will not require surgery, but the uncertain timeline has dropped his MVP odds to +2500.
On the team front, the most stunning storyline so far is the start that the Oakland A’s have had. The A’s got a much-needed win over the Houston Astros last night, scoring five runs in the 8th and 9th to win 6-2. Still, the A’s are 2-7 and have been outscored 61-25. Entering the season, the A’s (+155) were just a shade behind the Houston Astros (+135) in the AL West. Now, the 6-2 Astros are -130 to win the AL West, while the A’s have dropped to +250.
The A’s and Astros have one of the top MLB betting matchups of the weekend, as they play their rubber match this afternoon. Another AL West team will be hoping for a little more success than they had last night, as the Texas Rangers will be aiming to rebound from being no-hit by the Padres’ Joe Musgrove last night. It was a historic no-hitter, as the Padres finally joined the other 29 MLB teams in having a no-hitter to their name.
Also, it was the earliest MLB no-hitter (by calendar date) since Hideo Nomo’s no-hitter for the Boston Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles on April 4, 2001.
Now that the Padres finally have a no-hitter, how about a second one in a row? The pressure is on you, Chris Paddack.
Elsewhere, there is a lot to look out for in the NL East. What do we have there?
- The Atlanta Braves had their best offensive performance of the season last night. Can they keep it up tonight against another pitcher that shut them down last weekend?
- NL Cy Young favorite/perennially unlucky man Jacob deGrom takes the hill against the Marlins. His team can’t possibly let him down for the 238th time, right?
- Max Scherzer looks to silence the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday and outduel Clayton Kershaw in a matchup of three-time Cy Young winners.
All MLB betting odds shown here are via FanDuel Sportsbook. For updated MLB betting odds from FanDuel and other top online sportsbooks, check out our MLB betting odds.
MLB Schedule April 10 & 11
Click on each matchup link to see betting stats, picks, and odds for each daily MLB matchup. We also have NBA and NHL matchup pages for every NBA and NHL game every day.
Saturday, April 10
Marlins vs Mets: Trevor Rogers vs Jacob deGrom
Yankees vs Rays: Domingo German vs Chris Archer
Mariners vs Twins: Yusei Kikuchi vs Michael Pineda
Brewers vs Cardinals: Adrian Houser vs Carlos Martinez
Rockies vs Giants: Chi Chi Gonzalez vs Logan Webb
Athletics vs Astros: Frankie Montas vs Jose Urquidy
Tigers vs Indians: Tarik Skubal vs Aaron Civale
Cubs vs Pirates: Zach Davies vs Mitch Keller
Red Sox vs Orioles: Garrett Richards vs Bruce Zimmermann
Padres vs Rangers: Chris Paddack vs Jordan Lyles
Angels vs Blue Jays: Jose Quintana vs Steven Matz
Phillies vs Braves: Zach Eflin vs. Ian Anderson
Reds vs Diamondbacks: Jeff Hoffman vs Riley Smith
Nationals vs Dodgers: TBD vs Julio Urias
Royals vs White Sox: POSTPONED
Sunday, April 11
Red Sox vs Orioles: Nick Pivetta vs Jorge Lopez
Cubs vs Pirates: Trevor Williams vs JT Brubaker
Angels vs Blue Jays: Alex Cobb vs TBD
Marlins vs Mets: TBD vs Marcus Stroman
Tigers vs Indians: Jose Urena vs Logan Allen
Yankees vs Rays: Jordan Montgomery vs Brent Honeywell, Jr.
Mariners vs Twins: Chris Flexen vs Matt Shoemaker
Royals vs White Sox: Mike Minor vs Dylan Cease
Brewers vs Cardinals: Brett Anderson vs Daniel Ponce de Leon
Padres vs Rangers: Adrian Morejon vs Mike Foltynewicz
Rockies vs Giants: German Marquez vs Anthony DeSclafani
Reds vs Diamondbacks: Jose De Leon vs Luke Weaver
Nationals vs Dodgers: Max Scherzer vs Clayton Kershaw
Phillies vs Braves: Matt Moore vs Drew Smyly
Saturday, April 10 MLB Betting Spotlight Matchups
Miami Marlins vs New York Mets, 1:10 pm ET
Expected Pitching Matchup: Trevor Rogers vs Jacob deGrom
Moneyline: Marlins +245, Mets -295
Total: OVER 6.5 (-118), UNDER 6.5 (-104)
Run Line: Marlins +1.5 (+104), Mets -1.5 (-125)
Is Jacob deGrom the most patient person in baseball? Possibly, given how frequently has teammates have let him down over the last several seasons.
In his start against the Phillies on Monday, deGrom was brilliant: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. He left with a 2-0 lead and was in line for the win. Then the bullpen gave up five runs in the 8th, and the Mets lost 5-3. Will he have better fortune today?
Miami Marlins vs New York Mets Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats, and More
Oakland A’s vs Houston Astros, 4:05 pm ET
Expected Pitching Matchup: Frankie Montas vs Jose Urquidy
Moneyline: A’s +138, Astros -164
Total: OVER 9 (-102), UNDER 9 (-120)
Run Line: A’s +1.5 (-156), Astros -1.5 (+130)
Montas could not have gotten off to a worse start this season, as he allowed seven runs on seven hits in 2.1 IP in Monday’s 10-3 loss to the Dodgers. This is not exactly an ideal matchup to have up next.
The Astros had a quiet night last night, but they have still outscored the A’s 43-17 in six games so far this season. They will be eager to tee off on Montas after outhitting the A’s last night but failing to make the most of it.
Oakland A’s vs Houston Astros Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves, 7:20 pm ET
Expected Pitching Matchup: Zach Eflin vs Ian Anderson
Moneyline: Phillies +128, Braves -152
Total: OVER 8 (-114), UNDER 8 (-106)
Run Line: Phillies +1.5 (-176), Braves -1.5 (+146)
Anderson, one of the favorites for NL Rookie of the Year, had a solid outing against the Phillies last Sunday. It didn’t count for much, as the Braves went down 2-1. But Atlanta torched Philadelphia for eight runs and 11 hits last night in an 8-1 win, chasing Zack Wheeler in the fifth inning. Things are now trending up for Braves bats after a slow start.
Eflin was the opposing pitcher as well in last Sunday’s matchup and shut the Braves down in a standout seven-inning showing (four hits, one run, one walk, eight strikeouts). Can he do it again today to help the Phillies even the series?
Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
Sunday, April 11 MLB Betting Spotlight Matchup
Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers, 4:10 pm ET
Expected Pitching Matchup: Max Scherzer vs Clayton Kershaw
Moneyline: Nationals +142, Dodgers -168
Total: OVER 7.5 (-110), UNDER 7.5 (-110)
Run Line: Nationals +1.5 (-156), Dodgers -1.5 (+130)
Scherzer did not have the best start against the Braves on Tuesday, giving up four solo home runs in his first three innings. But he shut the Braves down from there and struck out nine in six innings, and the Nats rallied for a walk-off win.
The Dodgers are, well, the Dodgers. They have won their first two series and are on their way to a third after winning the series opener against the Nats last night. This was initially Dustin May’s spot, but Kershaw was bumped ahead so he could have a normal five days of rest. So now we’ll be treated to a matchup of three-time Cy Young winners and future Hall of Famers.
Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
Looking for the best places to do some MLB betting today? Check out our online sportsbooks guide, which gives you a rundown of FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet and other top legal online sportsbooks.
