There are quite a few clubs on off days Thursday, but that doesn't mean I don't have a couple of MLB expert picks for everyone.
Here are my two MLB expert picks for today's games:
MLB Expert Picks: April 18th, 2024
You can jump directly to today's picks here:
Pick 1: Rays -1.5 (+130) vs Angels
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 1:10 pm ET
Angels starter Griffin Canning stinks this year. He owns a 9.88 ERA, has allowed an AL-leading five homers, and Los Angeles has lost every game he's pitched in. Shall I go on?
Tampa Bay hasn't mashed the ball against right-handed starters (102 wRC+). Active Rays hitters have just 28 at-bats against Canning, too, so there's not much to work with.
Regardless, we're banking on the Rays waking up and banging Canning around. The Angels have lost each of his starts by two runs or more, so we can squeeze more value out of this bet.
Pick 2: Cubs (-165) vs Marlins
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 7:40 pm ET
Let's start with AJ Puk's problems on the hill. The left-hander has taken the loss in all three starts and walked 14 batters in 10.2 innings. This, kids, is not a recipe for a winning bet.
Beyond this, the Marlins also sport one of the worst bullpens in baseball. Miami's relief crew owns a 5.87 ERA and opposing hitters are batting .279. Even if Puk doesn't goof up this game, I'll bet the Fish bullpen does.
All told, we're looking at a safe bet on Cubs ML, even with right-hander Jameson Taillon making his season debut.
