Paying juice isn’t something that anyone likes doing, but sometimes it’s necessary in order to create a winning bet. Such was the case on Wednesday, where two of three bets won because the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros both took care of business against the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers, respectively. Having to play them at -185 and -125 respectively wasn’t ideal, but the important thing was that both games ended up in the win column. A win after paying some juice is always better than taking a loss, because even at great value, losing hurts your overall bankroll.
I’m certainly not going to look for those kinds of plays, as I don’t like taking juice either, but when that’s the best play on the board, I’m also not going to shy away. Remember, the No. 1 goal is to win money. Even if that’s a little bit at a time, any money won is helpful. With that in mind, here are the lines and odds for April 28.
MLB Odds, Schedule, and Probable Pitchers
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Run Line: MIL: -1.5 (+100) | PIT: +1.5 (-120)
Moneyline: MIL: -165 | PIT: +140
Over/Under: 7 (-110)
Brewers vs. Pirates Starting Pitchers: Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs. Jose Quintana (PIT)
Brewers vs. Pirates Game Time: 12:35 p.m. EST
Brewers vs. Pirates Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
San Diego Padres vs. Cincinnati Reds
Run Line: SD: -1.5 (+150) | CIN: +1.5 (-185)
Moneyline: SD: -110 | CIN: -110
Over/Under: 8 (-110)
Padres vs. Reds Starting Pitchers: Nick Martinez (SD) vs. Tyler Mahle (CIN)
Padres vs. Reds Game Time: 12:35 p.m. EST
Padres vs. Reds Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees
Run Line: BAL: +1.5 (-105) | NYY: -1.5 (-115)
Moneyline: BAL: +190| NYY: -250
Over/Under: 8 (-110)
Orioles vs. Yankees Starting Pitchers: Bruce Zimmermann (BAL) vs. Jameson Taillon (NYY)
Orioles vs. Yankees Game Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
Orioles vs. Yankees Location: Yankee Stadium, New York
Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Run Line: COL: +1.5 (-125) | PHI: -1.5 (+105)
Moneyline: COL: +165 | PHI: -200
Over/Under: 7 (-110)
Rockies vs. Phillies Starting Pitchers: Austin Gomber (COL) vs. Zach Wheeler (PHI)
Rockies vs. Phillies Game Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
Rockies vs. Phillies Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals
Run Line: MIA: -1.5 (+115) | WSH: +1.5 (-140)
Moneyline: MIA: -150 | WSH: +125
Over/Under: 7.5 (-110)
Marlins vs. Nationals Starting Pitchers: Trevor Rogers (MIA) vs. Patrick Corbin (WSH)
Marlins vs. Nationals Game Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
Marlins vs. Nationals Location: Nationals Park, Washington
Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins
Run Line: DET: +1.5 (-175) | MIN: -1.5 (+145)
Moneyline: DET: +120 | MIN: -145
Over/Under: 7 (-110)
Tigers vs. Twins Starting Pitchers: Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. Bailey Ober (MIN)
Tigers vs. Twins Game Time: 1:10 p.m. EST
Tigers vs. Twins Location: Target Field, Minneapolis
Seattle Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Run Line: SEA: +1.5 (-160) | TB: -1.5 (+135)
Moneyline: SEA: +125 | TB: -150
Over/Under: 7.5 (-110)
Mariners vs. Rays Starting Pitchers: Chris Flexen (SEA) vs. Jeffrey Springs (TB)
Mariners vs. Rays Game Time: 1:10 p.m. EST
Mariners vs. Rays Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers
Run Line: HOU: -1.5 (+100) | TEX: +1.5 (-120)
Moneyline: HOU: -165 | TEX: +140
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110)
Astros vs. Rangers Starting Pitchers: Justin Verlander (HOU) vs. Martin Perez (TEX)
Astros vs. Rangers Game Time: 2:05 p.m. EST
Astros vs. Rangers Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox
Run Line: KC: +1.5 (-140) | CHW: -1.5 (+115)
Moneyline: KC: +155 | CHW: -190
Over/Under: 6.5 (-110)
Royals vs. White Sox Starting Pitchers: Brad Keller (KC) vs. Michael Kopech (CHW)
Royals vs. White Sox Game Time: 2:10 p.m. EST
Royals vs. White Sox Location: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Run Line: BOS: +1.5 (-185) | TOR: -1.5 (+150)
Moneyline: BOS: +115 | TOR: -135
Over/Under: 7 (-110)
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays Starting Pitchers: Garrett Whitlock (BOS) vs. Alek Manoah (TOR)
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays Game Time: 3:07 p.m. EST
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto
Cleveland Guardians vs. Los Angeles Angels
Run Line: CLE: +1.5 (-140) | LAA: -1.5 (+115)
Moneyline: CLE: +145 | LAA: -175
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110)
Guardians vs. Angels Starting Pitchers: Cal Quantrill (CLE) vs. Reid Detmers (LAA)
Guardians vs. Angels Game Time: 4:07 p.m. EST
Guardians vs. Angels Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, Calif.
Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves
Run Line: CHC: +1.5 (-110) | ATL: -1.5 (-110)
Moneyline: CHC: +180 | ATL: -225
Over/Under: 8 (-110)
Cubs vs. Braves Starting Pitchers: Drew Smyly (CHC) vs. Kyle Wright (ATL)
Cubs vs. Braves Game Time: 7:20 p.m. EST
Cubs vs. Braves Location: Truist Park, Atlanta
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Run Line: ARI: +1.5 (-140) | STL: -1.5 (+115)
Moneyline: ARI: +150 | STL: -185
Over/Under: 8 (-110)
Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals Starting Pitchers: Humberto Castellanos (ARI) vs. Dakota Hudson (STL)
Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals Game Time: 7:45 p.m. EST
Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis
Today’s a day of early games, which means there’s action throughout the day for you to place a wager on if you’re looking for something to follow during the day. Here are my best bets for April 28.
MLB Best Bet April 28: Miami Marlins -1.5 (+115) vs. Washington Nationals, 1:05 p.m. EST, available at BetMGM
Patrick Corbin continues to struggle in a big way in 2022, as he’s taken three losses personally and has seen his team lose all four of his starts this season. In his four appearances, the Nationals have been outscored 33-9 and have lost all four by at least two runs.
And that’s why I’m willing to back the Marlins to win this game on the run line and not the moneyline, as the Nationals have been a mess with Corbin on the mound. Trevor Rogers hasn’t pitched great either, but he’s only really had one bad showing in a 10-3 loss to Philadelphia. Otherwise, he pitched five innings against San Francisco and Atlanta and held the opposition to a combined two earned runs while getting little run support. Against Washington, runs should be much easier to come by for Miami.
MLB Best Bet April 28: Cleveland Guardians ML (+145) vs. Los Angeles Angels, 4:07 p.m. EST, available at BetMGM
Reid Detmers has pitched poorly this season, as he’s got an ERA of 6.57 and hasn’t made it to the sixth inning in any game this year. Even in his best outing, five innings against Baltimore where he allowed two runs, the fact that he was facing the punchless Orioles underscores just how many problems he’s had this season.
Cleveland really hasn’t played well in Southern California on this trip, but the Guardians’ offense did come up with five runs on Wednesday and should be able to string a few hits together against Detmers. I like Cleveland’s chances to snag a win here and salvage one game out of what has been a three-game disaster so far.
MLB Best Bet April 28: St. Louis Cardinals ML (-185) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7:45 p.m. EST, available at BetMGM
Dakota Hudson is coming off a strong start in holding the Reds scoreless over 6.2 innings, and I think he can build on that to keep Arizona off balance as well. The Diamondbacks have scored three runs or fewer in four of their seven road games this season, and even though they just took two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers, I don’t think they bring that momentum with them to Missouri. I think the Cardinals take control in the series opener.
