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April 15 MLB Odds and Picks – deGrom Tries Once Again for First Win

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated Apr 15, 2021 · 6:45 AM PDT

Jacob deGrom
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom gets set to throw in the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
  • There are 12 games on the MLB schedule for Thursday, April 15th
  • Season record: 15-23: -$957 loss (based on $100 wagered per unit)
  • Wagering advice for Thursday’s games can be found below

There are 12 games on the MLB schedule for Thursday, April 15th, which is designated as Jackie Robinson Day by the league.

All players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear No. 42 in honor of Robinson. April 15th marks the 64th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color line.

The Boston Red Sox will go for their 10th straight win when they visit the Minnesota Twins at 1:10 p.m. ET. Boston is also trying to sweep the four-game series.

Garrett Richards (0-1, 10.29 ERA) will pitch for the Red Sox, who haven’t lost since being swept in a three-game series by the Baltimore Orioles to begin the season. Michael Pineda (1-0, 1.64) goes for the Twins, who are on a five-game losing streak. Boston is the first team in MLB history to lose its first three games of a season then win its next nine.

In what is seemingly a daily occurrence, the Dodgers are the slate’s biggest favorites as -345 choices over the Colorado Rockies at 10:10 p.m. in Los Angeles. Julio Urias (2-0, 2.84) starts for the Dodgers against fellow left-hander Austin Gomber (0-2, 2.89).

April 15 MLB Picks

Matchup Pick and Odds at DraftKings Units Risked
Phillies vs Mets Mets (+210) 1 unit
Padres vs Pirates Pirates (+165) 1 unit
Red Sox vs Twins Under 8.5 (-104) 1 unit

Odds as of April 15th

Pick 1: Phillies (+210)

Hard luck Jacob deGrom (0-1, 0.64) pitches for the New York Mets at 12:10 pm EST against Zach Eflin (0-0, 3.46) and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.

deGrom should consider legally changing his first name to Hard Luck Jacob. He has allowed only one run in 14 innings, with 21 strikeouts and two walks over his first two starts of the season and has no wins to show for it – as per usual.

 

deGrom’s ERA is 2.08 since the start of the 2018 season. Yet the Mets have gone 36-42 in his starts. It has been truly an amazing – not in the good sense for the Amazin’s – run for deGrom to continually get little run support or bullpen help.

Eflin has had his struggles with the Mets, going 3-4 with a 5.21 ERA in 11 career starts. However, he did not face them last season and posted a 2.25 ERA in two outings in 2019, the year he began throwing his sinker more often.

So, perhaps he has a better chance of this kind of shower Thursday than an early shower.

The Mets are looking to sweep the four-game series. The Phillies have scored four runs in three games in New York. All logic dictates to bet the Mets in this game.

However, logic rarely factors into a deGrom start.

Pick 2: Pirates (+155)

Two talented young right-handers who have yet to put everything together square off in Pittsburgh as the San Diego Padres’ Chris Paddack (0-1, 5.63) faces the Pirates’ Mitch Keller (1-1, 4.50).

Paddack looked like a potential ace as a rookie in 2019 when he went 9-7 with a 3.33 ERA in 26 starts. However, he slipped to 4-5 and a 4.73 ERA in 12 starts last season.

Keller came to the major leagues in 2019 hyped as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects. However, he has a 3-7 record and 5.68 ERA through 17 career starts.

Paddack hasn’t pitched well this season but hasn’t been terrible. Yet the fact that he has last just four innings in both outings is a bit concerning.

Keller is coming off one of his best starts, allowing one run and four hits in five innings to beat the Chicago Cubs while striking out seven and walking only one. Some in the Pirates’ organization believe that outing could give Keller the boost of confidence he needs.

So, let’s give Keller a shot here at a good price.

Pick 3: Red Sox-Twins Under 8.5 (-103)

Just 19 runs have been scored in the first three games of the series between the Red Sox and Twins, which has been played in near-freezing temperatures in Minneapolis.

The weather has not cooled off the Red Sox’s Alex Verdugo, who had five hits Wednesday in a doubleheader sweep. He also shined on defense.

Yet while the temperature is supposed to reach 50 today at Target Field, the starting pitchers can keep the runs down.

Richards pitched much better his last time out, allowing two runs in five innings to the Orioles, after an awful Red Sox’ debut. He is 2-1 with a 3.02 ERA against the Twins in seven career games.

Pineda has allowed three earned runs or less in 10 straight starts.

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