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April 25th MLB Odds and Picks – Cardinals’ Flaherty Puts Perfect Record on Line vs Reds

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated Apr 25, 2021 · 9:48 PM PDT

Coach with hands on shoulder of Jack Flaherty, with teammates surrounding them
St Louis Cardinals pitching coach Mike Maddux, right, talks with starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, center, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Monday, April 19, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
  • There are 16 games on the MLB schedule for Sunday, April 25th
  • Season record: 27-39: -$1,661 (based on $100 wagered per unit)
  • Wagering advice for Sunday’s games can be found below

As is always the case on Sundays, the MLB schedule offers a full slate with 16 games. One will include a team trying to keep a long winning streak alive.

The Oakland Athletics will be going for their 14th straight victory when they visit the Baltimore Orioles at 1:05pm ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In a matchup of left-handers, Jesus Luzardo (1-1, 5.89 ERA) will pitch for the Athletics against John Means (1-0, 1.52).

The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers will continue their burgeoning rivalry at 7:08pm at Dodger Stadium with Joe Musgrove (2-2, 1.04) facing Dustin May (1-1, 2.93). The teams have split six games this season.

The Boston Red Sox are the day’s largest favorites at -225 as they host the Seattle Mariners at 1:10pm at Fenway Park. Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 3.38) gets the ball for the Red Sox and faces fellow lefty Nick Margevicius (0-1, 5.40).

After analyzing the Sunday schedule, here are the three best plays.

April 25 MLB Picks

Matchup Pick and Odds at DraftKings Units Risked
Reds vs Cardinals Cardinals (-137) 1 unit
Royals vs Tigers Royals (-134) 1 unit
Phillies vs Rockies Rockies (-122) 1 unit

Odds as of April 25th 

Pick 1: Cardinals (-137)

The St. Louis Cardinals look to sweep a three-game series from the Cincinnati Reds at 2:15pm at Busch Stadium with Jack Flaherty (3-0, 3.80) facing Luis Castillo (1-1, 6.05).

The Cardinals have won all four of Flaherty’s starts this season, averaging 11 runs a game. That includes a 12-5 win over the Nationals in Washington on Monday, as Paul DeJong hit two home runs and drove in five while Flaherty allowed five runs – just two earned – in six innings.

The Reds are reeling as they have lost six games in a row and eight of their last 10. They were blanked 2-0 on three hits on Saturday by John Gant and two relievers.

The first inning has been Castillo’s downfall this season. In four starts, he has given up 10 runs and 12 hits in the opening frame while opponents have compiled a .480 batting average.

YouTube video

Flaherty and Castillo faced each on opening day April 1 in Cincinnati, a game the Cardinals won 11-6. Flaherty got tagged for six runs in 4.1 innings and Castillo was hammered for 10 runs (eight earned) in 3.1 innings.

This game likely won’t be as high scoring, but the unbeaten Flaherty should get enough run support again to keep his record perfect.

Pick 2: Royals (-134)

The Kansas City Royals, will looking to make it three wins in a row against the Tigers at 1:10pm at Comerica Park in Detroit. Left-hander Danny Duffy (2-1, 0.50) will start for the Royals and oppose Michael Fulmer (1-1, 3.94).

Duffy pitched well in his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays despite taking the loss. He allowed two unearned runs on four hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.

Duffy has worked six innings in all three of his starts this season and allowed a total of one earned run. He will be facing the slumping Tigers, who have lost eight of their last nine games.

Detroit will get first baseman Miguel Cabrera (strained left biceps) off the injured list Sunday. While Cabrera has 2,869 hits and 488 home runs in his career, he is hitting just .125 in seven games this season.

At 38, he still leads MLB in fun, though, in a career that seems destined for Cooperstown.

Fulmer will be pitching on three days’ rest after losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, giving up three runs in four innings. He is 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA against the Royals in 11 career games, including being raked for eight runs in five innings in two starts last season.

History is working against Fulmer here while Duffy has quietly one of MLB’s best pitchers in April.

Pick 3: Rockies (-122)

In the deciding game of a three-game series, the Philadelphia Phillies will visit the Colorado Rockies at 3:10pm at Coors Field in Denver. Chase Anderson (0-2, 4.15) goes for the Phillies against Jon Gray (2-1, 2.42).

The Phillies notched a 7-5 victory Saturday night behind Rhys Hoskins’ two-home run, five-RBI performance. That snapped the Rockies’ three-game winning streak.

Runs are likely going to be tougher to come by for the Phillies against Gray. He is 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA in three starts at Coors Field this year with three earned runs given up in 18.1 innings.

He has pitched at least five innings in each of those three starts and allowed no more than one run or four hits.

Gray has spent his entire seven-year career with the Rockies and learned how to win at altitude. He has a 28-13 career record with a 4.49 ERA at home in 63 starts and a 19-25 mark with a 4.55 ERA in 63 starts on the road.

Conversely, Anderson is 2-2 with a 6.66 ERA in five career starts at Coors Field. He has also yet to make it through five innings in any of his three outings this season.

Normally, I’d hold my breath betting anything but the over in Denver. However, Gray’s home record is hard to ignore.


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