MLB Predictions Today With Odds, Schedule, Starting Pitchers for April 18

In Clayton Kershaw’s last start last Wednesday, he threw seven perfect innings against the Minnesota Twins. Normally, when a pitcher gives up no hits in a start, the next one is a bit of an adventure because he spends four days hearing about what he accomplished while also recovering from the adrenaline rush of his historic performance.

However, today will likely be just another start for Kershaw since he neither completed the game nor did his bullpen complete a combined no-hitter. As such, we will see if he can pick up where he left off facing the Atlanta Braves tonight.

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Here are the MLB odds, schedule, starting pitchers and predictions for Kershaw and the Dodgers as well as the rest of the MLB for Monday, April 18.

MLB Odds, Schedule and Starting Pitchers

Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox
Run Line: MIN: +1.5 (-160) | BOS: -1.5 (+135)
Moneyline: MIN: +120 | BOS: -145
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110)
Twins vs. Red Sox Starting Pitchers: Dylan Bundy (MIN) vs. Rich Hill (BOS)
Twins vs. Red Sox Game Time: 11:10 a.m. EST
Twins vs. Red Sox Location: Fenway Park, Boston

San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets
Run Line: SF: -1.5 (+170) | NYM: +1.5 (-200)
Moneyline: SF: -105 | NYM: -115
Over/Under: 6.5 (-110)
Giants vs. Mets Starting Pitchers: Alex Cobb (SF) vs. Tylor Megill (NYM)
Giants vs. Mets Game Time: 7:10 p.m. EST
Giants vs. Mets Location: Citi Field, New York

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Run Line: PIT: +1.5 (-135) | MIL: -1.5 (+110)
Moneyline: PIT: +145 | MIL: -175
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110)
Pirates vs. Brewers Starting Pitchers: Zach Thompson (PIT) vs. Eric Lauer (MIL)
Pirates vs. Brewers Game Time: 7:40 p.m. EST
Pirates vs. Brewers Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago Cubs
Run Line: TB: -1.5 (+115) | CHC: +1.5 (-140)
Moneyline: TB: -150 | CHC: +125
Over/Under: 8.5 (-110)
Rays vs. Cubs Starting Pitchers: Shane McClanahan (TB) vs. Kyle Hendricks (CHC)
Rays vs. Cubs Game Time: 7:40 p.m. EST
Rays vs. Cubs Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros
Run Line: LAA: +1.5 (-145) | HOU: -1.5 (+120)
Moneyline: LAA: +135 | HOU: -160
Over/Under: 9 (-110)
Angels vs. Astros Starting Pitchers: Michael Lorenzen (LAA) vs. Luis Garcia (HOU)
Angels vs. Astros Game Time: 8:10 p.m. EST
Angels vs. Astros Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies
Run Line: PHI: -1.5 (-110) | COL: +1.5 (-110)
Moneyline: PHI: -160 | COL: +135
Over/Under: 11 (-110)
Phillies vs. Rockies Starting Pitchers: Aaron Nola (PHI) vs. Chad Kuhl (COL)
Phillies vs. Rockies Game Time: 8:40 p.m. EST
Phillies vs. Rockies Location: Coors Field, Denver

Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics
Run Line: BAL: +1.5 (-135) | OAK: -1.5 (+110)
Moneyline: BAL: +155 | OAK: -190
Over/Under: 7.5 (-110)
Orioles vs. Athletics Starting Pitchers: Spenser Watkins (BAL) vs. Frankie Montas (OAK)
Orioles vs. Athletics Game Time: 9:40 p.m. EST
Orioles vs. Athletics Location: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, Calif.

Cincinnati Reds vs. San Diego Padres
Run Line: CIN: +1.5 (-145) | SD: -1.5 (+120)
Moneyline: CIN: +140 | SD: -165
Over/Under: 7.5 (-110)
Reds vs. Padres Starting Pitchers: Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs. Sean Manaea (SD)
Reds vs. Padres Game Time: 9:40 p.m. EST
Reds vs. Padres Location: Petco Park, San Diego

Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Run Line: ATL: +1.5 (-115) | LAD: -1.5 (-105)
Moneyline: ATL: +180 | LAD: -225
Over/Under: 8 (-110)
Braves vs. Dodgers Starting Pitchers: Huascar Ynoa (ATL) vs. Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Braves vs. Dodgers Game Time: 10:10 p.m. EST
Braves vs. Dodgers Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

MLB Predictions Today and Best Bets

It’s a bit ironic that a move that led to widespread criticism of the Dodgers — pulling Kershaw with a perfect game in tact and having throw just 80 pitches — could pay off for bettors a few days later. But that’s sometimes how sports betting works — what happens on one day can affect what happens in another, especially in a sport played every day like baseball.

With that in mind, here are my MLB predictions and best bets for April 18.

MLB Best Bet April 18: Atlanta Braves Team Total Under 3.5 Runs (-150) vs Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. EST, available at BetMGM

Atlanta Braves’ hitters have either been feast or famine so far in 2022. And more often than not, it’s been famine. In 11 games this season, Atlanta has scored three or fewer runs on seven occasions. Yet the Braves’ offense is treated like that’s not the case. One game in which they scored 16 runs has inflated their average runs per contest to 4.18.

Going up against the aforementioned Kershaw tonight should lead to more of the same for the Braves’ offense. The Dodgers’ hurler isn’t his team’s ace anymore, but he’s got a 2.21 career ERA at home and a slightly better 2.20 ERA in 12 starts versus the Braves during his illustrious career. Kershaw doesn’t need to be perfect again to get this one to cash, which is why this is my best bet of the day for April 18.

MLB Best Bet April 18: Colorado Rockies (+135) vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 8:40 p.m. EST, available at BetMGM

Beware of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. In 2021, Colorado posted a 48-33 record in Denver, which would have made the Rockies a playoff team if they could have extrapolated that over an entire season. They missed the playoffs because they won just 26 games on the road, as they basically turned into a Double-A team when they left Colorado. It’s still early, but it seems the Rockies might be up to their old tricks, as they split with the Chicago Cubs and won a series with the LA Dodgers to get them off to a 4-3 start at home.

Phillies starter Aaron Nola has given up seven earned runs in his first two trips to the mound this season, both home starts at Citizens Bank Park. In those outings, he also gave up three home runs over his 9.1 innings pitched. Nola clearly hasn’t looked his best and the righty has to go into a tough park for pitchers this evening. Facing a team in the Rockies that has shown a bit of fire during the first two weeks of the season, the value lies with Colorado here and is why I’m taking them moneyline today.

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