April 23rd MLB Odds and Picks – deGrom Looks for Back-to-Back Wins, End Mets’ Skid

• There are 15 games on the MLB schedule for Friday, April 23nd
• Season record: 26-34: -$1,111 (based on $100 wagered per unit)
• Wagering advice for Friday’s games can be found below

Friday’s MLB schedule is filled with 15 games, including the New York Mets’ Jacob deGrom taking the mound after nearly tying a major league record in his last start.

The Mets and deGrom (1-1, 0.45) host the Washington Nationals and Erick Fedde (1-1, 5.56) at 7:10 p.m. ET in the opener of a three-game series at Citi Field in New York.

deGrom struck out nine Colorado Rockies in a row in his previous start, one short of the major league record set by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. deGrom also got his first win of the season despite having such a stellar ERA though three starts.

The Mets are the day’s biggest favorites at -315.

April 23 MLB Picks

Odds as of April 23rd at DraftKings

Pick 1: Nationals (+255)

deGrom’s ERA in more than five runs better than that of Fedde. However, picking the Mets in this one is not so cut and dried.

Jacob deGrom, 7th, 8th & 9th Ks in a Row.

They need a new league just for him. This isn't fair. pic.twitter.com/7u0y9Sb19u

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 17, 2021

For starters, the Mets have a long history of not giving deGrom help, being it a lack of run support or poor bullpen work. deGrom has a 2.03 ERA since the start of the 2018 season, yet the Mets have gone 37-42 in his 79 starts.

deGrom was originally supposed to pitch Thursday night against the Cubs in Chicago, a game the Mets lost as they were swept in the three-game series. However, deGrom asked for an extra day of rest after pitching in the high altitude in Denver.

Fedde was outstanding in his last outing, allowing one run in five innings to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also tied a career high with nine strikeouts.

Erick Fedde, Painted 94mph Back Door Two Seamer. 🎨

9th K thru 5 pic.twitter.com/B4UVUKDNqF

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 17, 2021

That deGrom wanted an extra day of rest leads to at least some question of how sharp he might be in this one. Fedde, meanwhile, has pitched to a 1.86 ERA in his last two outs, making him an intriguing play at a good price against the perennially unlucky deGrom.

Pick 2: Yankees -148

The New York Yankees did not exactly overwhelm Cleveland on Thursday night when they won 6-3 in the opener of a four-game road series at Progressive Field.

However, the Yankees ended a streak of eight games in row in which it did not score more than four runs. Perhaps that will take some pressure off an underachieving offense averaging just 3.61 runs a game so far this season and taking its share of heat in New York.

Rougned Odor’s two-run single with two outs in the seventh inning snapped a 3-3 tie. He was batting just .107 when he stepped to the plate.

Rougie delivers 👏 pic.twitter.com/QcBqYDgdt7

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 23, 2021

Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 4.24) will pitch for the Yankees against Logan Allen (1-2, 4.50) in a matchup of left-handers at 7:10 p.m.

Montgomery lost to the Tampa Bay Rays his last time out, giving up four runs in six innings. However, he allowed just two hits – both home runs – and has limited opponents to a 30.2% hard hit rate through his first three starts.

Allen did not retire a batter in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds in his previous start, getting tagged for five runs. He did wear cool cleats, though.

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” -Jackie Robinson… Thank you for your legacy #Jackie42! Proud to wear these in your honor tonight for my start💪🏼 #OurCLE pic.twitter.com/o7oXZxYHrQ

— Logan Allen (@Logan__Allen) April 16, 2021

Allen has yet to make it past five innings and three starts in 2021 and might not make it that far if the Yankees’ bats really bust loose. The Indians were also shut out over the final eight innings Thursday after scoring three runs in the first off Domingo German.

Pick 3: Pirates (+128)

JT Brubaker starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates, facing Minnesota Twins left-hander J.A. Happ at 8:10 p.m. in the opener of a three-game series at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The Pirates have quietly been one of the surprise teams in MLB during the first month of the season. Despite being generally expected to finish with the majors’ worst record, the Pirates are off to a 9-10 start. They have won eight of their last 12 games.

Brubaker has taken a big step forward in his second season, allowing just two earned runs in 15.1 innings through three starts. He is also limiting opponents to a .196 batting average while aggressively attacking the strike zone.

His mother is also becoming a social media sensation.

JT Brubaker’s mom was NOT about it pic.twitter.com/gHQQhzGvQL

— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) April 5, 2021

As a rookie, Brubaker was 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA in 11 games and opponents hit .262 off him.

The Twins are on a four-game losing streak and have also dropped nine of their last 10, including getting swept in a three-game series by the Athletics earlier this week in Oakland.

First baseman Miguel Sano went on the injured list Thursday. Also out for the Twins because of COVID-19 protocols are shortstop Andrelton Simmons, left fielder Kyle Garlick, right fielder Max Kepler and infielder JT Riddle.

Infielder JT Riddle became the latest member of the Minnesota Twins to be placed on the COVID-19 injured list on Wednesday.​ https://t.co/Yvwe1NsM6P

— Reuters Sports (@ReutersSports) April 21, 2021

Happ has pitched well enough in his first two starts. However, fading the Twins, especially with Brubaker on the mound, is the way to go.