A trio of games on Tuesday’s baseball betting card from the National League intrigue our handicapper and chalk wins out in each contest.
MLB Pick: Three-Legged Parlay (+420) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Parlay Picks
- Cubs ML (-130)
- Cardinals ML (-133)
- Dodgers ML (-251)
Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds
Tuesday, April 04, 2023 – 06:40 PM EDT at Great American Ball Park
It was a tale of two games in the series opener between Cincinnati and Chicago as the Reds, who were small underdogs on the MLB odds, nipped the Cubs 7-6 with all 13 runs scoring by the end of the fifth inning.
Chicago is chalked once again and will take aim at leveling the set behind one of its top young pitching prospects on a breezy evening in Cincinnati.
- Hayden Wesneski (2022 stats): 3-2, 2.18
- Luis Cessa (2022 stats): 4-4, 4.57
Wesneski a Potential NL Rookie of the Year
There hasn’t been much line movement in this one since the Cubs first went out as small road chalk. They are holding around -130 on the moneyline following overnight trading, and the scoreboard target is 9 with a little extra juice on the ‘over.’
Wesneski made his debut last August and beat these Reds with five shutout innings. He worked six more allowing 1 run in a tough September loss, and enjoyed a very good spring with five consistent outings and only one homer across 17 innings down in the Cactus League.
Cessa spent most of spring training with Team Mexico in the WBC, but was stretched out to five innings in an intersquad game last week. The former Yankee prospect started in Cincinnati’s bullpen last year before ending with some nice efforts as a starter.
Chicago Evens Set in Porkopolis
Cloudy skies and temps in the mid-70s with a 10-15 mph southerly blow (out to right) greet the start of the game, and Rob Drake (9-13-1 O/U/P in 2022) is your plate umpire. The Cubs have a full bullpen behind Wesneski and make for a fairly easy play to lead off the parlay.
Parlay Pick: Cubs ML (-130)
Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Tuesday, April 04, 2023 – 07:45 PM EDT at Busch Stadium
This could easily be a preview of October baseball since the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals were among the favorites on the baseball futures to win their respective NL divisions, though tonight’s starters are longshots to be part of their respective rotations come the playoffs.
- Dylan Dodd: MLB Debut
- Steven Matz (2022 stats): 5-3, 5.25
All-Southpaw Mound Matchup
No offense to Dylan Dodd, a 3rd-round pick in 2021 from Southeast Missouri State, but if he’s starting a game in October, there’s a very good chance it means one of the Braves’ veterans is injured. In fact, it’s an injury to Max Fried that is allowing Dodd to make his MLB debut.
Matz looked very good during exhibition games, but then, he’s done that before only to succumb to one injury or another himself and rarely make it to the finish line. He’s got a decent track record against several of these Braves hitters from his time with the Mets.
Redbirds Even Set on Gusty St. Louis Night
One big inning Monday gave the Braves an 8-4 win, and big innings could be in store Tuesday with the forecast including 20+ mph winds from the south (out to left). Of my three MLB picks in this parlay, this one is the least certain due to the uncertain nature of pitchers making their debuts, but I’ll ride with Matz and the Cardinals anyway.
Parlay Pick: Cardinals ML (-133)
Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Tuesday, April 04, 2023 – 10:10 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
Dodgers Rout Rocks in Monday Opener
- German Marquez: 1-0, 3.00
- Julio Urias: 1-0, 3.00
Fresh off a 13-4 laugher in the first game of the series, the Dodgers will send their Opening Day hurler Julio Urias out on Tuesday against Colorado’s German Marquez, who also pitched last Thursday.
It might be a matchup of staff aces, but the odds don’t necessarily reflect that. Los Angeles is on a think chalk line around -250, that moneyline up over -260 at some shops.
Urias a Winning Machine in L.A.
Marquez had a super spring and followed that up with a solid performance in San Diego last week in a no-decision against a pretty deep Padres lineup (6 IP, 2 ER). He faced LA five times last season, fashioning a 4.76 ERA while the Rockies went 2-3 on underdog lines.
Urias picked up the win at home last Thursday over Arizona, working 6 innings and allowing 2 runs with 6 strikeouts. Winning at home is just what Urias does, with the Dodgers going 23-8 in his last 31 starts at Chavez Ravine (including playoffs).
You won’t catch me playing -250 chalk at top sportsbooks on an individual game, but it’s the best way to go in this case so we can close out another winning 3-team parlay at the top California sports betting sites.
Parlay Pick: Dodgers ML (-251)
Parlay Picks
- Cubs ML (-130)
- Cardinals ML (-133)
- Dodgers ML (-251)
MLB Pick: Three-Legged Parlay (+420) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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