April 3rd MLB Odds and Picks – Harvey Makes First Start for Orioles

• There are 14 games on the MLB schedule on Saturday, April 3rd
• Season record: 1-2 with -$100 loss (based on $100 wagered per unit)
• See predictions and best bets for Saturday’s game, below

Saturday’s slate of 14 games in Major League Baseball includes yet another comeback attempt by Matt Harvey.

The one-time New York Mets ace will make his debut with the Baltimore Orioles when they play the Red Sox in Boston. Since being traded by the Mets in 2018, Harvey has compiled a 10-15 record and 5.69 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, and Kansas City Royals.

Two of the major leagues’ oldest pitchers take the mound for the first time this season. Adam Wainwright, 39, and the St. Louis Cardinals face the Reds in Cincinnati and 41-year-old left-hander Rich Hill makes his Tampa Bay Rays’ debut against the Marlins in Miami.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the biggest favorites at -240 over the Colorado Rockies in Denver. The 11.5 total is the highest on the board.

April 3 MLB Picks

Odds as of April 3rd.

Pick 1: Athletics +112 (1 unit)

When the Oakland Athletics purchased the contract of left-hander Cole Irvin from the Philadelphia Phillies on Jan. 30, it didn’t merit more than a line in the transactions column.

The 27-year-old pitched in 19 games, including three starts, for the Phillies over the past two seasons and had a 2-2 record with a 6.75 ERA. However, Irvin impressed MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac and was the story of spring training for the Athletics as he won a spot in the rotation.

Never have to many LHP …. lots to like about Cole Irvin …. PITCHER not a THROWER… strike thrower,good feel for pitching and another you may see sometime in 2019 at the @Phillies home Citizens Bank. pic.twitter.com/f85nktlo3H

— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) February 17, 2019

Irvin allowed just two earned runs in 18 innings in the Cactus League for a 1.00 ERA. He struck out 18 while surrendering just 10 hits and three walks.

It is usually not wise to get excited about spring training statistics. However, Irvin wowed scouts and he seemingly has a favorable matchup at home against the Houston Astros and Lance McCullers Jr. in his Athletics’ debut.

McCullers has a 4.96 career ERA in three starts at the RingCentral Coliseum.

Pick 2: Dodgers -1.5, -165 (1 unit)

The Dodgers have three Cy Young Award winners on their staff with Trevor Bauer and left-handers Clayton Kershaw and David Price. Yet Walker Buehler might be Los Angeles’ most talented pitcher.

The sound of a Walker Buehler Fastball. 🔊🥰 pic.twitter.com/DTLQjvMdEt

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 17, 2021

Buehler is 23-9 with a 3.15 ERA in 70 games over four seasons. He was outstanding the postseason last year, compiling a 2-0 record and 1.80 ERA in five starts while helping Dodgers win their first World Series title since 1988.

While the -240 moneyline is high, Buehler and the Dodgers look like a good value laying 1.5 runs at -165. The Dodgers pounded the Rockies for 11 runs Friday night – without the benefit of a home run — and should beat up on Jon Gray at Coors Field in this one.

Gray had a miserable 2020 season, going 2-4 with a 6.69 ERA in eight starts. He also had just 22 strikeouts in 39 innings.

Pick 3: Braves-Phillies under 8, -112 (1 unit)

The Phillies beat the Braves 3-2 in a low-scoring opener Friday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Jean Segura’s two-out RBI single in the 10^th inning was the game-winner.

We're soaaaaarin, flyinnnnn. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/AMANneIRK1

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 1, 2021

Runs should be hard to come by again when Charlie Morton takes the mound for the Braves for the first time since signing a one-year, $15-million contract as a free agent. Zack Wheeler goes for the Phillies.

Morton had a 3.24 ERA in a combined 88 starts from 2017-19 with the Astros and Rays. While that figure climbed to a 4.76 in nine regular-season outings last year, he posted a 2.70 ERA in four postseason starts.

Wheeler had a fine first season in Philadelphia last year, notching a 2.92 ERA in 11 starts while allowing just three home runs in 71 innings.

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