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April 16 MLB Odds and Picks – Eflin Gets Easier Draw Following Rainout

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated Apr 16, 2021 · 8:48 AM PDT

Zach Eflin throwing pitch
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin delivers during a spring training exhibition baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, in Lakeland, Fla., Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
  • There are 15 games on the MLB schedule for Friday, April 16th
  • Season record: 16-24: -$957 loss (based on $100 wagered per unit)
  • Wagering advice for Friday’s games can be found below

A total of 15 games are the MLB schedule for Friday, April 16th, including an interesting matchup in the National League West.

The Los Angeles Dodgers visit the San Diego Padres at 10:10 p.m. ET in the opener of a three-game series and the first of 19 games between the two Southern California clubs this season. Walker Buehler (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will pitch for the Dodgers while Padres rookie left-hander Ryan Weathers (1-0, 1.50) makes his first career start.

The teams met last year in an NL Division Series, which the Dodgers swept in three games. The Padres spent the winter making major roster moves to try to end the Dodgers’ eight-year reign as division champions.

The day’s biggest favorites today are the Washington Nationals at -215 at home over the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:05 p.m. Max Scherzer (0-1, 3.75) starts for the Nationals against rookie Taylor Widener (1-0, 2.45).

April 16 MLB Picks

Matchup Pick and Odds at DraftKings Units Risked
Cardinals vs Phillies Phillies (-152) 1 unit
Cleveland vs Reds Reds (-107) 1 unit
Tigers vs Athletics Over 8.5 (-109) 1 unit

Odds as of April 16th.

Pick 1: Phillies (-152)

The St. Louis Cardinals and Carlos Martinez (0-2, 6.30) visit the Philadelphia Phillies and Zach Eflin (0-0, 3.46) at 7:05 p.m.

Eflin gets a much better draw here than if the Phillies’ scheduled game against the Mets on Thursday in New York had not been rained out. The Mets had two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom lined up to pitch.

Eflin would have needed an effort like this.

Eflin has pitched decently in his two starts this season despite not having any decisions. He has allowed five runs on 11 hits in 13 innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

However, Eflin still has the feel of a pitcher ready for a breakout season. While the Phillies were doing their usual late-season fade last September, Eflin finished the year with a 1.53 ERA over his last three outings.

Martinez is the only Cardinals’ starter to pitch at least five innings in each of the first two turns through the rotation. However, that is more an indictment of St. Louis’ staff than an endorsement of The Tsunami.

It remains difficult to get past the fact Martinez is 0-5 with an 8.70 ERA in seven starts since the beginning of last season. The Phillies should fatten up after scoring just four runs while being swept by the Mets in their three-game series.

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Pick 2: Reds (-107)

It will be the Battle of Ohio when Cleveland visits the Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 p.m. Left-hander Logan Allen (1-1, 2.70) goes for the visitors against Jeff Hoffman (1-1, 3.86).

Hoffman, as was mentioned in this space before his first start, seems like a pitcher who could be benefit from a change of scenery. He had a 6.40 ERA in 68 career games with the Colorado Rockies before being traded over the winter.

He did show flashes while in Denver.

So far, the Reds have looked like a good fit as Hoffman has allowed four runs and nine hits in 9.1 innings over two starts while striking eight and walking three. Not great numbers, to be sure, but an improvement over his previous ones.

Allen is getting a chance to establish himself as a starter after working in relief in his first two seasons with Cleveland following his acquisition from the Padres in a trade in 2019. Allen has given up three runs in 10 innings, though five walks are a bit concerning.

Allen has taken a while to settle during both two starts this season. That could be problematic in a pitchers’ park like Great American Ball Park.

Pick 3: Tigers-Athletics Over 8.5 (-109)

The Athletics have quickly turned their season around by winning six of seven games following an 0-6 start. Oakland has also won five games in a row, scoring at least six runs in each and averaging 7.4.

The Tigers scored 20 runs in a three-game sweep of the Astros in Houston to start the week before losing in Oakland 8-4 on Thursday night. Stephen Piscotty and Matt Olson both homered to lead the Athletics to victory in the opener of a four-game series.

The pitching matchup of the Tigers’ Jose Urena (0-2, 8.22) and Athletics’ Frankie Montas (1-1, 8.31) figures to yield plenty of runs.

Here is something interesting about Montas: His ERA is 5.59 in 14 starts since receiving an 80-game suspension from Major League Baseball during the 2019 season. He had a 2.70 ERA in 15 starts in ’19 before being busted.

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