MLB Picks April 22, 2025: Best Bets & Player Props Today

New York Yankees at Cleveland Guardians (6:10 PM) – The Yankees hand the ball to rookie Will Warren, while the Guardians counter with second-year right-hander Tanner Bibee. Warren will be making one of his first big-league starts, backed by a Yankees lineup that can put up runs in a hurry. Bibee has shown promise with a mid-3s ERA and solid strikeout ability early on, and he’ll look to tame New York’s power bats. Cleveland’s offense has been sluggish (José Ramírez aside), so this matchup may come down to whether Bibee can keep the Yankees in the yard and give his team a chance against an inexperienced pitcher. The Yankees’ deeper bullpen and power advantage make them an appealing play on the road here.

Best Bet: Yankees Moneyline. New York’s offense should provide enough run support against Bibee, and Warren can rely on the Yankees’ bullpen to secure a win. The Guardians often struggle to score, so a few runs by New York might be decisive.
Player Prop: Aaron Judge – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Judge is seeing the ball well and remains the Yankees’ top threat. A couple of solid swings (a double or home run) should cash this prop as he looks to punish Bibee’s fastball early.

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Cincinnati Reds at Miami Marlins (6:40 PM) – Brady Singer (3–0) has been a bright spot for the Reds after coming over from Kansas City, carrying a tidy ERA and showing good command. He’ll face a light-hitting Marlins lineup that often leans on small ball to scrape runs. Miami counters with Edward Cabrera (0–0), a hard-throwing righty making his season debut. Cabrera has electric stuff (upper-90s sinker) but can be wild at times. The Reds offense is young and streaky – keep an eye on Elly De La Cruz to spark them – but they may find it tough to square up Cabrera the first time through. Meanwhile, Singer’s slider could stifle a Marlins lineup that doesn’t boast much power. This has the feel of a lower-scoring duel unless the bullpens falter late.

Best Bet: Under 7.5 Total Runs. Singer is in strong form and should contain Miami, while Cabrera’s raw talent can keep Cincinnati’s bats relatively quiet. Neither team is known for big crooked numbers, so a 3–2 type game could be on tap.
Player Prop: Brady Singer – Over 5.5 Strikeouts. The Marlins have a tendency to strike out, and Singer’s slider/changeup combination is earning him plenty of swings and misses. He’s gone 6+ Ks in each of his recent outings, and he should reach 6 or more again against Miami.

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San Diego Padres at Detroit Tigers (6:40 PM) – The Padres send Nick Pivetta (2–1) to the mound after acquiring him this offseason. Pivetta can be inconsistent, but he’s capable of dominant stretches and will be facing a Tigers lineup still finding its identity. Detroit counters with young Reese Olson (1–1), who has shown flashes of potential but could be in for a trial by fire against San Diego’s star-studded lineup. The Padres offense is stacked – Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, and Manny Machado can erupt at any time – and they’ll be licking their chops against a rookie pitcher. On the other side, the Tigers’ offense (Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, etc.) has been modest and may struggle to keep pace unless Pivetta issues free passes. This matchup heavily favors San Diego on paper, and they’ll look to assert themselves early.

Best Bet: Padres -1.5 Run Line. San Diego’s firepower and the pitching mismatch make a multi-run win likely. If Pivetta keeps his walks down, the Padres should build a lead and let their bullpen lock it down, covering the run line.
Player Prop: Juan Soto – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Soto’s patience and power make him a nightmare for inexperienced arms. He’s been drawing walks and hitting ropes lately – look for him to tally at least a couple of bases (a double or a pair of hits) in this matchup.

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Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals (6:45 PM) – The Orioles are rolling out NPB import Tomoyuki Sugano(1–1), who brings veteran savvy and a deep arsenal to this Beltway Series game. He’ll face Trevor Williams (1–1), a journeyman righty for the Nationals known for his control but also his hittability. Baltimore’s youthful lineup (Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Santander) has been producing well and should have an edge against Williams, who doesn’t miss many bats. The Nationals, meanwhile, rely on small ball and a few young talents – CJ Abrams and Keibert Ruiz – but overall have one of the weaker offenses in the NL. Unless Sugano struggles with the unfamiliar environment, the O’s have clear advantages in both the batting order and bullpen. This feels like a game Baltimore should take care of if they aspire to contend in the AL.

Best Bet: Orioles -1.5 Run Line. Baltimore’s offense is considerably more potent, and Sugano’s strike-throwing can keep Washington at bay. The Nats have lost a lot of games by multiple runs this year; expect the O’s to pull away and win by a comfortable margin.
Player Prop: Adley Rutschman – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Rutschman’s discipline and gap-to-gap power make him a constant multi-base hit threat. Whether it’s a double in the alley or two singles, the Orioles’ star catcher should find his way past this line against a soft-contact pitcher like Williams.

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Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox (6:45 PM) – An intriguing pitching matchup here: Seattle’s promising right-hander Bryan Woo (2–0) opposes Boston rookie Richard Fitts (0–2). Woo has impressed with a mid-90s fastball and fearless approach, helping the Mariners rotation without much run support needed. Fitts, on the other hand, has taken some lumps – his command has wavered and he’s been vulnerable to the long ball in early outings. Offensively, Seattle leans on Julio Rodríguez, who’s been heating up, and a mix of power and speed that could thrive in Fenway’s confines. The Red Sox still feature Rafael Devers in the heart of their lineup, and Masataka Yoshida’s contact skills, but consistency has been an issue – especially against quality pitching. Unless Fitts figures things out quickly, Boston’s bullpen could be in early action. This is a spot where Seattle will fancy their chances to grab a road win.

Best Bet: Mariners Moneyline. Seattle has the edge in starting pitching with Woo’s form. If he can navigate Devers and the first couple innings, the Mariners’ superior arms and the presence of Julio and company at the plate should carry them to victory.
Player Prop: Julio Rodríguez – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Julio’s combination of power and speed means he can cover this in a hurry – a double off the Green Monster or a few hard-hit singles will do. He’s been seeing the ball well lately, and Fitts’ tendency to leave pitches up plays right into Julio’s wheelhouse.

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Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets (7:10 PM) – A pair of southpaws square off as Philly’s Cristopher Sánchez(1–0) battles New York’s David Peterson (1–1). The Phillies’ lineup is stacked with right-handed thump to counter lefties – Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Nick Castellanos can do damage, even if Bryce Harper (lefty) will have the platoon disadvantage. Peterson is a capable back-end starter but tends to nibble; the Phillies are patient enough to make him pay via walks and big hits with men on. On the flip side, the Mets will look to Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindorto provide the pop against Sánchez. The Mets offense has been inconsistent, and Sánchez has the kind of sinking changeup that could induce grounders from their power bats. The division rivalry always produces competitive games, but Philadelphia appears to have a slight upper hand here in both firepower and recent momentum.

Best Bet: Phillies Moneyline. Philadelphia’s offense should capitalize on Peterson’s mistakes, and Sánchez just needs a solid five-inning outing to hand it off to a reliable bullpen. The Mets have struggled to put together rallies lately, so a few early Phillies runs could decide it.
Player Prop: Trea Turner – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Turner’s been a spark at the top of the order, and his track record against lefties is strong. He can leg out a double or combine a single and a steal (or an extra-base hit) to eclipse this number. Look for him to set the tone with his bat and speed.

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St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves (7:15 PM) – The Braves likely turn to ace Spencer Strider (scheduled, 0–0 record so far due to some no-decisions) on an extra day’s rest, while the Cardinals start swingman Andre Pallante (2–1, 3.22 ERA). Atlanta is smarting after a slow start to the season, and Strider on the mound is exactly what they need to get on track – his high-90s fastball and wipeout slider make him one of MLB’s premier strikeout artists. The Cardinals lineup (Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and rising star Jordan Walker) has been underperforming, and facing Strider won’t make life easier. On the flip side, Atlanta’s offense (Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson leading the way) should feast on Pallante, who pitches to contact and could be overwhelmed by the Braves’ power. St. Louis’s best hope is to scrape a few runs early and hope their bullpen can outduel Atlanta’s, but at Truist Park, the Braves are heavy favorites in this matchup of preseason NL contenders.

Best Bet: Braves -1.5 Run Line. Back Spencer Strider to dominate and the Braves to win by multiple runs. If Strider goes 6–7 innings with his usual double-digit Ks, Atlanta’s bats should give him ample support to cover the run line comfortably.
Player Prop: Spencer Strider – Over 8.5 Strikeouts. Strider’s strikeout prowess is well-known – he’s a good bet to punch out 9+ hitters against a Cardinals lineup that has been swinging through a lot of high heat. Don’t be surprised if he racks up a dozen Ks in a vintage performance.

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Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins (7:40 PM) – The Twins send out Chris Paddack (0–2, looking to rebound) against the White Sox and Davis Martin (1–1) in a matchup of back-end starters. Paddack is still working to regain his pre-surgery form; he’s been hittable so far, carrying an ERA north of 5.00. Martin, a young righty for Chicago, doesn’t overpower but throws strikes – Minnesota’s lineup could take advantage if he’s around the zone too much. The Twins offense, led by Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa, has shown flashes of power and could erupt here, especially if Buxton is healthy and in the lineup (his right-handed power against Martin is a big threat). The White Sox, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency. Luis Robert Jr. has star ability and Jake Burger provides pop, but overall Chicago hasn’t been stringing hits together. Given the question marks on the mound and some free-swingers in both lineups, this game has potential for plenty of scoring.

Best Bet: Over 9.0 Total Runs. Neither Paddack nor Martin has been particularly sharp, and both bullpens have had their meltdowns. Minnesota could slug its way to 6+ runs at home, while the White Sox might tack on a few of their own – enough to push this into double-digit runs.
Player Prop: Byron Buxton – To Hit a Home Run. It’s a bit of a bold prop, but Buxton’s raw power against a pitch-to-contact arm like Martin is a matchup to exploit. When Buxton connects, it’s usually a no-doubter. In a game that profiles as high-scoring, take a shot on the Twins’ superstar to go deep at least once.

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Colorado Rockies at Kansas City Royals (7:40 PM) – Chase Dollander (1–1), one of the Rockies’ top pitching prospects, gets the call here, opposed by Royals veteran Michael Lorenzen (1–2). Dollander features a live fastball and sharp slider, but as a rookie he’s still learning and could be vulnerable, especially on the road. The Royals offense is led by Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez, who will relish facing an inexperienced arm – Kansas City’s young core plays aggressive, and they could ambush Dollander early in counts. On the flip side, Colorado’s lineup away from Coors Field is notoriously tamer. They’ll rely on Kris Bryant, C.J. Cron, and Ryan McMahon for pop, but Kauffman Stadium isn’t kind to home run hitters. Lorenzen is a steady presence; he won’t dominate, but he usually keeps his team in the game through five or six innings. Considering the Rockies’ poor road track record, the Royals have a slight edge in what could be a scrappy, low-profile game.

Best Bet: Royals Moneyline. Kansas City at home behind Lorenzen is a smart play – he’s the more reliable pitcher in this matchup, and the Royals’ lineup has a bit more spark right now than Colorado’s. The Rockies have struggled mightily on the road, so backing the home team straight up is the way to go.
Player Prop: Bobby Witt Jr. – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Witt’s combination of power and speed means he can beat this prop in multiple ways. A gap double or a couple of singles (he’s a threat to leg out infield hits) would do the trick. Against a rookie pitcher, Witt should find his way on base and into scoring position a time or two.

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Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs (7:40 PM) – The Dodgers turn to fireballing youngster Bobby Miller (0–0) against the Cubs’ own rookie right-hander Ben Brown (2–1). Miller has electric stuff – high-90s heat and a biting slider – and has looked composed beyond his years in early outings. Brown, a top prospect for Chicago, has impressed with a couple of wins and shows a solid mix of pitches, but the task gets tougher facing L.A.’s deep lineup. The Dodgers lead the NL in homers and can pounce on any mistakes; Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are both off to strong starts and set the tone at the top. The Cubs have gotten good production from Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson, and they’ll need it to crack Miller. Unless Brown can outduel Miller (and avoid the big inning), the talent gap in the lineups could decide this. Watch for the wind at Wrigley – if it’s blowing out, an already dangerous Dodgers offense becomes even scarier.

Best Bet: Dodgers -1.5 Run Line. Los Angeles is the superior team and typically takes care of business against inexperienced pitching. Miller’s power arm should handle Chicago’s lineup, and the Dodgers have a great chance to win by 2+ runs if they get to Brown early.
Player Prop: Mookie Betts – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Betts is thriving in the leadoff role, spraying extra-base hits all over. He can reach this number with one swing (he’s been doubling a lot lately) or a pair of singles. Against a rookie pitcher who might challenge him with fastballs, Mookie should collect at least two bases worth of hits.

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Toronto Blue Jays at Houston Astros (8:10 PM) – Veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt (1–0) goes for Toronto, bringing his mix-and-match repertoire against a formidable Astros lineup. Houston, however, will start Ryan Gusto (1–1), a rookie thrust into action due to injuries in their rotation. Gusto has been serviceable but is certainly a step down from the usual Astros arms, and the Blue Jays’ powerful bats could take advantage. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette anchor a Toronto offense that can put up crooked numbers in a hurry – they’ll be especially dangerous if Gusto shows any nerves or issues free passes. The Astros, of course, have plenty of firepower of their own: Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, and José Altuve (if healthy) all present tough matchups for Bassitt. Bassitt is crafty and can adjust on the fly, but he’s had occasional trouble with the long ball, which is a concern in Minute Maid Park’s hitter-friendly confines. This game promises action on the scoreboard, and neither team will feel out of it even if they fall behind early.

Best Bet: Over 9.0 Total Runs. The combination of a rookie starter for Houston and two stacked lineups makes the over appealing. Bassitt might hold Houston to a few runs, but Toronto could put up plenty themselves, and the Astros at home are always a threat for a big inning. Something like a 6–5 or 7–4 game feels very plausible here.
Player Prop: Yordan Alvarez – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Alvarez is a matchup nightmare for almost any pitcher, and the veteran Bassitt will have to tread carefully. Yordan can clear 1.5 bases with one well-struck ball to the gap or into the seats. He’s been slugging over .600 in recent weeks – ride his power surge in this one.

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Pittsburgh Pirates at Los Angeles Angels (9:38 PM) – The Pirates give the nod to lefty Andrew Heaney (0–1), while the Angels start prospect Jack Kochanowicz (1–1) in this interleague tilt. Heaney, now in Pittsburgh’s rotation, is familiar with Angel Stadium from earlier in his career and brings swing-and-miss stuff but also the propensity to allow the long ball. The Angels’ offense isn’t as fearsome as in years past without Shohei Ohtani pitching or hitting in this matchup, but Mike Trout is still very much around to terrorize left-handed pitching. Look for Trout and perhaps young slugger Jo Adell or Brandon Drury to take aggressive swings early in counts against Heaney. Pittsburgh’s lineup doesn’t have many household names, but keep an eye on Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz (if healthy) to generate offense against the rookie Kochanowicz. Kochanowicz has a decent fastball but can struggle if he falls behind in counts. The Pirates have been pesky this year and won’t be intimidated on the road. This game could see some scoring bursts, especially if Heaney has one of those innings where his command slips.

Best Bet: Over 8.5 Total Runs. There’s potential for a handful of runs from each side: Heaney can give up a big fly or two (Trout & Co. loom large), and the inexperienced Kochanowicz might let the Pirates put some men on base via walks or hits. A 5–4, 6–5 type of contest could easily develop here.
Player Prop: Mike Trout – To Hit a Home Run. It’s always a thrill backing Trout, and against a lefty like Heaney who lives in the strike zone when he’s behind, Trout should get a pitch to drive. He’s historically mashed left-handers, so we like his chances to launch one into the Anaheim night in this matchup.

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Tampa Bay Rays at Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 PM) – Tampa Bay will likely start Taj Bradley (2–0), their talented young right-hander who has been excellent early on with a mid-2’s ERA and a knack for big strikeouts. Arizona counters with veteran southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (0–2), who is better than his record indicates but has been victimized by low run support and a few big mistakes in key spots. The Rays offense is dynamic and balanced – Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena are consistently on base, and the lineup can hurt you 1 through 9. They’ll try to pressure E-Rod, who can neutralize lefty hitters but may have trouble with the Rays’ right-handed bats like Yandy Díaz or Isaac Paredes. For the D-Backs, Corbin Carroll is the igniter at the top, and Ketel Marte has been swinging a hot bat from the right side, which they’ll need against Bradley’s high-octane fastball. Still, Tampa’s pitching staff has been among the league’s best, and if Bradley continues his strong form, Arizona might be playing catch-up all night.

Best Bet: Rays Moneyline. Even on the road, the Rays have the edge with Bradley dealing and a bullpen that can shorten games. Eduardo Rodriguez is capable of a quality start, but Tampa Bay’s offense finds ways to manufacture runs. Back the Rays to pull out a win in a close one, thanks to a timely homer or two and their pitching depth.
Player Prop: Randy Arozarena – Over 1.5 Total Bases. Arozarena’s all-around hitting ability makes this a solid play. He could line a double into the gap or collect a pair of singles and a stolen base. Under the Arizona lights, expect Randy to rise to the occasio

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