MLB Expert Picks & Baseball Predictions April 14

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A double-dose of Los Angeles vs. New York plays highlight our MLB best bets for Tuesday's slate, dipping into both the AL and NL versions of those matchups.

In addition to those MLB picks, we also have more best bets from the Covers staff — with all prices courtesy of Polymarket, which allows baseball fans all across the country to participate in the MLB action.

  • UPDATE: Added best bet for TEX/A's and CHC/PHI.

MLB expert picks for today

PickOdds
Josh Inglis Josh Inglis: LAA ML+163
Jon Metler Jon Metler: NYM ML+186
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: TEX/A's u8.5+100

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Angels moneyline

Price: 38¢ (+163) at Polymarket

When I’m backing a big dog, I’ll happily take an offense like the Los Angeles Angels, which has been a Top-10 unit over the last week and is coming off a 10-run outing yesterday. They got to the Yankees bullpen early, tagging it for six runs and two home runs, which is key to their chances again today. Ryan Weathers is coming off a career-high 101 pitches in his last start, after relatively light workloads throughout his six MLB seasons, which adds some uncertainty to his leash. THE BAT projects a fair price closer to +125 for the Halos, making +163 a strong value spot.

Jon Metler's expert pick: Mets moneyline

Price: 35¢ (+186) at Polymarket

Nolan McLean vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto at Dodger Stadium — this is the game of the night, and I’m backing the Mets in a matchup that could easily be an NLCS preview. The Mets are trading at 35% on Polymarket, but I make them closer to 44%, which is why I’m hitting the button on this price. The Dodgers lineup — featuring LHBs Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, and Max Muncy — typically benefits from facing right-handed pitching... unless it’s a high-end arm. McLean fits that description, with elite stuff and a high spin rate. He can bury back-foot sliders to left-handed power bats and mix in his curveball to keep them off balance, forcing weaker contact and limiting their power.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Rangers/A's Under 8.5

Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket

Two left-handed starters are set to take the mound, matching up perfectly against two of the worst offenses against lefties this season, with the teams ranking 26th and 27th in OPS vs southpaws. MacKenzie Gore has been sharp with a 2.45 ERA, and is backed by a bullpen that ranks second in ERA, while Jeffrey Springs has posted a 0.69 ERA and 0.46 WHIP, including a one-hit gem at Yankee Stadium in his last outing. The Athletics are always a candidate for rock-bottom run production, already logging six games this season with one run or fewer.


More MLB best bets for today

PickOdds
Cubs ML+120
Read analysis in our Cubs vs. Phillies predictions
Cardinals ML+104
Read analysis in our Guardians vs. Cardinals predictions

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Good Morning San Diego: Padres bullpen has room to improve as season progresses

San Diego, California - April 09: Jeremiah Estrada #56 of the San Diego Padres looks on as he walks back to the dugout during the eleventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

The San Diego Padres bullpen was expected to be the strength of the team coming into the 2026 season, the first season under new manager and former Padres reliever Craig Stammen. The San Diego bullpen has been good, but it has not been the shutdown game-determining juggernaut the Friar Faithful expected. In fact, one of those power arms at the back of the ‘pen, Jeremiah Estrada, landed on the IL following a slow start to the year. Estrada had some difficult outings where he did not look like the same dominant arm that struck out 13 batters in a row, but the greater concern was the drop in his velocity. Another electric arm in the San Diego bullpen, Adrian Morejon, has also struggled to start the season. Stammen said it himself in a recent postgame press conference, Morejon is not getting hit hard, but broken bat singles and flares to the outfield somehow keep finding grass.

The performances of Estrada and Morejon have really been the only negatives from the bullpen so far. Yuki Matsui has yet to return to the big-league roster, but Jason Adam was reinstated last week and looks like he never suffered a season-ending injury in 2025. David Morgan, Kyle Hart, Wandy Peralta, Ron Marinaccio and Bradgley Rodriguez have all had moments this season where fans could see what the potential the prognosticators saw before the season began when they were praising the Padres’ bullpen.

Of course, the crown jewel of the San Diego bullpen to this point in the season is closer Mason Miller. He has been talked about as the single most dominant player at any position in the MLB. That is high praise for one of the biggest points of contention from the 2025 season. Was it a mistake by general manager A.J. Preller to trade top-prospect Leodalis DeVries for Miller and JP Sears? Even without Sears, those in favor of the trade could claim a victory.

One thing is for sure, as the season progresses and players like Estrada, Morejon and eventually Matsui return to the bullpen, decisions for Stammen and Preller will become increasingly difficult. The benefit of those decisions should be the elite group that was so highly touted in the offseason.

Padres News:

  • Fernando Tatis Jr. played back-to-back games at second base to allow Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth to get days off. The result was an improved performance at the plate and a double play throw that intended to put a hole in the glove of first baseman Gavin Sheets. No matter the reason for the (temporary) move the Platinum Glove winning right fielder looked happy to be back on the dirt.
  • Tatis Jr. may not get many more chances to play second base if Sung-Mun Song continues his success in his rehab appearances with Triple-A El Paso. The infielder was 2-for-5 in the most recent action for the Chihuahuas.

Baseball News:

  • Josh Naylor, who signed a free-agent deal with the Seattle Mariners in the offseason, had a breakout game at the plate with two home runs.

Warriors star Steph Curry shares ‘surreal' reaction to Darius Garland's praise

Warriors star Steph Curry shares ‘surreal' reaction to Darius Garland's praise originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Wednesday’s NBA play-in tournament game between the Warriors and Clippers already has plenty of storylines, so why not add one more?

Clippers guard Darius Garland had high praise for Steph Curry after the 115-110 win over Golden State on Sunday.

“It’s pretty cool going against a top-75 guy like that, first ballot Hall of Famer,” Garland said. “It will be cool just to compete with a guy like that. The skill and the ability that he has, that affected me and the way that I play.”

Garland is averaging 18.8 points and 6.7 assists per game, filling some of the void left after James Harden was dealt to Cleveland.

“It’s super cool to see that on the other end, Garland continued. It’s gonna be fun. Any time you play against a top-75 guy like that or a first ballot Hall-of-Famer or someone that you’re inspired by or looked up to and watched when you’re growing up, it’s always super cool to go against him and go at him a little bit. I’m super excited about that, but my main goal is trying to win the game, so that’s all that matters to me.”

Garland was a former first-round pick for the Cavaliers and helped get Cleveland back on the map as a true contender before being traded to Los Angeles. Curry responded to Garland’s comments with nothing but gratitude.

“It’s surreal that you’re this deep into your career and you have that influence,” Curry responded. “He was a guy when he first showed up in Cleveland that you knew was gonna be a problem in the league just because of his skillset, his composure, obviously his speed.

The 38-year-old will do his best to keep up with Garland’s speed on Wednesday night in a win-or-go-home scenario.

“He’s just a gamer. I know he’s been dealing with some injuries early in the year and over the course of his career,” Curry added. “But when he’s out there, he’s always a threat. It’s great to see him continue to grow, and even in a new setting, continuing to figure it out.”

No matter the outcome of Wednesday’s play-in game, there is no love lost between these two elite point guards.

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Don’t forget to appreciate the Detroit Pistons’ resurgence

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 19: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons smiles and laughs against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When I was home sick from school as a kid, a common tradition in our house was watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In one of the movie’s most notable moments, Matthew Broderick speaks directly to the audience and says, “Life moves pretty fast, and if you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.” I can’t help but think, as the Detroit Pistons wrap up a historic 60-win season, that it’s easy to get caught up in what’s next and forget to savor the beauty of the present. As this amazing team gears up for a postseason run, and the eyes of fans turn to the play-in tournament to scout for the best matchups, I sense fans overlooking the moment itself. Certainly, there’s time and reason to worry about these things, but let’s not soon forget where we were as a franchise and fanbase just two seasons ago.

Like many, I grew up watching the “Goin’ to Work” iteration of the Pistons. As they won 50-plus games year after year, it almost became easier to focus on their shortcomings rather than their triumphs. So instead of appreciating their run of six consecutive conference finals appearances, I often found myself disappointed that they only won one finals, or lamenting their lack of offense and star power in the playoffs. Of course, for about the next 20 years, we became painfully aware of how much we had taken Ben Wallace and co.’s success for granted. As the 2010s dragged into the 2020s, there was little to no hope for a once-proud franchise. And in the bargaining stage of grief, I vowed to never take for granted the Pistons playing meaningful basketball again, if and when that ever happened. Heck, I was desperate enough to just settle for seeing the team represented in the All-Star Game.

Fast forward to this season, where the team came out of the gates fast and never let up. But even as the wins mounted despite injuries and suspensions to key players, there seemed to be a large section of the NBA media, and Pistons fans alike, who remained skeptical. Much of the year, the narrative around this team was focused on the holes in the roster rather than what was going right. Questions such as “does this group have enough shooting?” or “Who is going to score come playoffs other than Cade?” constantly swirled around the team, no matter how much success they had. And that’s peculiar, because just two years ago, the organization was huddling up to make decisions on the futures of Monty Williams and Troy Weaver. Now, instead of focusing on Cade Cunningham officially stamping his name amongst the best in the game, admiring Jalen Duren’s rise to All-NBA caliber player, or marveling at this team’s embrace of the rugged, defense-first mentality of Pistons championship teams of the past, we instead wondered if the team had enough shooting or shot creation. How are fans making the same mistake again? Listen, I get it, these are real questions that will soon have answers. But I see fans again overlooking the team’s success, as they did when it was contending for titles in the Palace of Auburn Hills.


This is supposed to be the fun part.

The team is still on the rise. They are still a year away from becoming accountable to real playoff expectations. Young teams rarely go unscathed in the postseason, and the Pistons may be no exception. Or maybe they will be. They have a fantastic young core that they don’t yet have to consolidate. The East is relatively weak at the top. The roster is fully healthy for the first time in months. Maybe Daniss Jenkins will prove to be the secondary creator that we hoped Jaden Ivey would be. Maybe Duncan Robinson will hold up defensively in crunch time. Maybe Duren and Ausar Thompson will build on their playoff synergy from last year. Maybe not. If they flame out in April or May, so be it. Collecting battle scars is part of the climb for most championship teams. But don’t forget to first, even if for just a moment, enjoy where we are. There is not a single Pistons fan who wouldn’t have signed up to take their chances in the playoffs with a gritty, overachieving, yet potentially flawed roster just two short years ago.

The expectations, they’re coming. The scrutiny of the roster is coming too, like a freight train. The calls to mortgage the future for the present, they’re on the horizon. Depending on what happens beginning Sunday, much will be written one way or another. But that’s for a later day. In the meantime, don’t forget to stop and look around. Your Detroit Pistons are the one seed in the Eastern Conference, inconceivable just 18 months ago. Don’t miss the chance to savor this moment before things get hard.

Why OG Anunoby is Knicks' X-factor against Hawks in first round of 2026 NBA playoffs

Though OG Anunobyis an integral piece of the Knicks' lineup on both ends of the floor, defensive versatility remains his calling card. 

The defensive demon can check opponents one-on-one, but he’s also a quality help defender. Anunoby’s two-way ability will be crucial to New York’s first round matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, making him an X-factor for the series.

Anunoby is coming off another strong regular season. In 67 games, the 6-7 forward averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals. 

Though he’s not one of New York’s two All-Stars on the roster, Anunoby might be the club’s most impactful player. When he’s on the floor, the Knicks are an elite team. When he sits, they're good, but not great. That’s been the case for the past few years since the Knicks acquired the forward in a 2023 trade from the Raptors. 

This season, New York had a plus-9.2 net rating in the 2,224 minutes that Anunoby played. That number plummeted to plus-3.5 with him on the bench.

A candidate for the NBA’s all-defensive team this season, expect Anunoby to be all over the floor on that end. In New York’s 108-105 win against the Hawks last week, Anunoby started the game defending Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu as New York hid Karl-Anthony Towns on guard Dyson Daniels

It allowed him to impact the game as a help defender. When Anunoby played with the bench early in the second quarter, he guarded the Hawks' leading scorer, Jalen Johnson. The Hawks don’t have a traditional point guard and play four-to-five players who are listed from 6-5 to 6-8, so Anunoby has multiple players he can be assigned to check throughout the series.

Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and CJ McCollum
Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and CJ McCollum / Imagn Images/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image

Keeping Johnson in check will be a priority for the entire Knicks lineup. A 6-8 All-Star forward, he led Atlanta in scoring, rebounds, and assists this season. He has the handle to manipulate the defense and take slower defenders on the drive. If opponents switch smaller players on him, he can bully them in the paint.

Even if Anunoby isn’t guarding Johnson for the entirety of each game, his help defense and secondary rim protection will be important to slowing down the Hawks offense.

Offensive simplicity

The Hawks have been one of the best teams in the league lately, going 20-6 after the All-Star break. Defense has been where they have excelled the most, allowing just 108.6 points per 100 possessions, the second-best figure in the NBA during that time.

On offense, Anunoby should keep the game simple like he has for most of this season. Of his 804 field goal attempts this season, 443 of them (55 percent) came without a dribble, according to NBA Stats. It’s where he’s effective as a cutter and three-point shooter from the corners.

Though he’s capable on straight line drives, Anunoby is better when he doesn’t have to put the ball on the floor. In New York’s win last week, the Hawks switched on many of the off-ball screen actions the Knicks set. They often run split actions with Towns as the playmaker at the top of the key. It has created confusion for the defense at times and easier scoring opportunities for players like Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.

Anunoby should be able to find opportunities on dives to the rim, and if the Hawks switch a smaller player on to him like CJ McCollum, there’s opportunities to attack.

Anunoby is a star in his role with the Knicks and that star should shine bright as he impacts both ends of the floor in the opening round.

Game 17 Preview: Tigers open up second half of homestand vs Royals

The Detroit Tigers enjoyed some home cooking this weekend, sweeping the Miami Marlins in three games to snap a five-game winning streak. Now, they open up the second half of the homestand with their American League Central rivals, the Kansas City Royals, coming into town.

The Royals are currently tied with the Tigers in the middle of the ALC pack, while the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians sit atop the division with 10-7 records. The Chicago White Sox take up the rear with a 6-10 mark heading into the series.

To kick things off, Detroit has lefty-hander Framber Valdez taking the mound on Tuesday night, while fellow southpaw Cole Ragans toes the rubber for the visitors. Here’s a quick look at how they match up.

Detroit Tigers (7-9) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-9)

Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. ET
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:Royals Review
Media: Detroit SportsNetMLB.TVTigers Radio Network

Game 17: LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Ragans (0-3, 5.91 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Valdez317.015.46.453.32.790.5
Ragans310.232.613.032.05.67-0.1

VALDEZ

RAGANS

Avalanche vs Flames Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

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The Calgary Flames contest their penultimate game of the season when they host the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.

Olli Maatta has been a defensive stalwart since joining Calgary in March, and my Avalanche vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks for Tuesday, April 14 expect him to slow down a lethal Avs attack.

Avalanche vs Flames prediction

Avalanche vs Flames best bet: Olli Maatta Over 1.5 blocked shots (-125)

The Calgary Flames acquired Olli Maatta from the Utah Mammoth last month, and the blueliner has already become an integral part of the club’s backend.

Maatta is logging 22:24 of ice time per game, second-most on the team behind only Zach Whitecloud (23:01).

Maatta has also excelled at blocking shots — he’s averaging 1.78 blocks per game since joining the Flames and has recorded Over 1.5 blocked shots in eight of his last 11 outings.

The Colorado Avalanche average 33.7 shots per game — tops in the NHL — so Maatta will have tons of rubber to get in front of.

Avalanche vs Flames same-game parlay

Both clubs have played low-scoring hockey down the stretch, with the Flames cashing the Under in three straight and the Avalanche doing so in six consecutive contests.

Four of the last five head-to-head meetings have also featured Under 6.5 goals, and the Avs don’t have much to fight for with their position as the top seed in the West already locked up.

Avalanche vs Flames SGP

  • Olli Maatta Over 1.5 blocked shots
  • Under 6.5

Avalanche vs Flames odds

  • Moneyline: Avalanche -155 | Flames +130
  • Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 | Flames +1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Avalanche vs Flames trend

The Flames have covered the puck line in their last eight games at home (+9.50 Units / 72% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Flames.

How to watch Avalanche vs Flames

LocationScotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
DateTuesday, April 14, 2026
Puck drop9:00 p.m. ET
TVALT, SNW

Avalanche vs Flames latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Blues Assign Stenberg, Lindstein To AHL To Help Fuel Springfield Playoff Push

ST. LOUIS -- Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein are going back to the minors.

But it's not punishment for the 2023 first-round picks by the St. Louis Blues.

Stenberg, a forward, and Lindstein, a defenseman, each scored in the Blues' 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday to cap off really strong showings for each player playing in NHL games this season for the first time.

The Thunderbirds, who are 30-31-6-2 (68 points) with three games remaining in their regular season, hold down the sixth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of Lehigh Valley and they're a point behind fifth-place Hershey and four behind fourth-place Bridgeport.

It could all come down to a massive game on Wednesday at home against the Phantoms before concluding the season, Friday in Hartford, then finishing at home Saturday against the Wolfpack. But a win against Lehigh Valley Wednesday in regulation puts Springfield into the Calder Cup playoffs.

Stenberg (the 25th pick) played in 32 games this season and had 10 points (three goals, seven assists), including scoring the goal that cut the Blues' deficit to 3-2 in the second period Monday, a goal Blues coach Jim Montgomery said, "seemed to pick it up and our fans got in, they gave us life and we seemed to create a lot after that. Technically we could have had five goals that period."

Stenberg, who is a plus-3, also had a couple more high-end defensive plays that created scoring opportunities with transition plays.

"His defensive reads are high end," Montgomery said. "His defensive hockey sense, his stick positioning are really high end."

Lindstein (the 29th pick) played 17 games and had four points (two goals, two assists), including this beauty of a backhand goal that put the Blues ahead for good at 4-3 in the second period:

He played alongside Colton Parayko during his entire stint here and was a plus-6.

 "They're good, young kids," Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich said. "Wants to learn, always listen, always asking questions. Always asking about PK. I've been in their shoes. I (was) asking some questions like 10 years ago. it's normal, and I'm glad they score, Silky move (by Lindstein). Everybody was like, 'Where does that come from?'" 

St. Louis Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein (right) scored a backhand goal on Monday past Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson in a 6-3 victory. (Joe Puetz-Imagn Images)
St. Louis Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein (right) scored a backhand goal on Monday past Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson in a 6-3 victory. (Joe Puetz-Imagn Images)
Image

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Will the Braves flip Munoz and/or another reliever off the roster?

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Rolddy Munoz (67) pitches during the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves on April 13th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Last night was blah. We haven’t seen a “total failure of run prevention” from this team yet, but that’s what it was nearly was last night: two homers, some poor defensive positioning that helped lead to a .452 Marlins BABIP, counterbalanced “only” by a 9/3 K/BB ratio where the strikeouts were mostly accrued when the game was getting progressively out of reach. The Braves’ wOBA-against was .425, their highest mark of the season so far, and the only time it’s gotten above .345. The xwOBA-against was .343 (third-highest of the season). Basically, the Braves have both pitched well this season and been fortunate to not have teams unload a massive wOBA-xwOBA gap on them, but the .081 gap for the Marlins last night was the biggest in a game against the Braves this season, more than double the prior high to date of .034. The Marlins came into this game with the league’s biggest positive wOBA-xwOBA gap, and it only got (notably) larger after last night.

While the Braves haven’t had to lean on their “main” relievers very much — Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias haven’t pitched in about a week — their backend is direly in need of reshuffle due to usage, once again. Dylan Dodd threw three innings in lieu of Martin Perez’ roster spot, but was promptly shuffled back down. Rolddy Munoz was a sacrificial lamb-ish guy last night, and Jose Suarez also pitched. My question is twofold: whether the Braves make another shuffle ahead of tonight’s game, and if so, whether it’s just Munoz, or perhaps whether Suarez goes too.

Yankees Rivalry Roundup: Crochet rocked as Twins best Sox

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 13: Victor Caratini #37 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning of the game at Target Field on April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees nearly lost a prime candidate for dumbest game of the year on Monday, but they managed to flip the script and end up on the winning end thanks to a game-tying Trent Grisham two-run shot in the ninth (his second bomb of the night) and a wild pitch that brought José Caballero home to walk it off. Aaron Judge played his part, launching two home runs of his own, and Caballero completed their offensive surge with a homer to go with his timely baserunning. Their win snaps a five-game losing streak, and gives them their first chance in nearly a week to gain some ground on their rivals. Only a handful of other teams were playing on Monday, but they got some solid results nonetheless.

Minnesota Twins (10-7) 13, Boston Red Sox (6-10) 6

Garrett Crochet was on many people’s short lists for Cy Young winner entering this season, but he’s going to have an uphill battle to make it into those conversations after the slow start he’s gotten off to, and in particular after the night he had on Monday. He put up a uniquely-terrible line, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) in just 1.2 innings, getting battered around for nine hits and three walks without picking up a single strikeout.

Things got off to an immediately bad start for the Sox ace, as he recorded the first out on a flyout and then proceeded to give up back-to-back doubles and a single to go down 2-0. Crochet got the second out on another fly ball, but a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Brooks Lee, who singled home two more runs and made it 4-0 after one.

If the first inning was bad, the second was an outright disaster. The first six batters all reached, culminating in Victor Caratini’s three-run blast to make it 10-0. Crochet miraculously recorded back-to-back outs to nearly escape the inning, but Ryan Kreidler ambushed him with another homer to push the score to 11-0 and chased him from the game at long last.

With a tremendous lead in hand, all the Twins needed was competent pitching to get them through the game, and they got that. Bailey Ober coasted through the first two innings, got into trouble in the third and allowed three runs on an RBI double and two-run homer, and then went back to coasting for a couple more innings. The sixth started off rocky, as the first three batters all singled to bring home a run, but a double-play ball and a strikeout got him to the end of his outing without further incident. Even with Eric Orze entering and coughing up two more runs in the seventh, the Twins were never in danger of blowing their massive advantage.

Seattle Mariners (8-9) 6, Houston Astros (6-11) 2

The Mariners may not have gotten off to the strongest start entering this series, but they did themselves a huge favor and got a leg up on their rivals by sweeping a four-game set. This time around they jumped on Mike Burrows from the get-go, as Josh Naylor launched his first home run of the year and made it a three-run shot for good measure. Naylor got to him again in the third inning, this time hitting a two-run homer to put the M’s up 5-0, and in the fifth Luke Raley poked an RBI single through to plate their sixth and final run against Burrows.

The Astros responded in the top half of the fifth, hitting three straight singles to get on the scoreboard. Nick Allen put a ball in play to score the second run of the inning, but it came via a double-play ball that halted the rally — sure enough, Jose Altuve grounded out to end it in the next at-bat. Houston wouldn’t get another batter past second base the rest of the way, stranding two in the eighth and one in the ninth as Seattle capped off the sweep. They’ve now won four in a row after having lost their previous five, something that New York would surely like to emulate. Meanwhile, Houston’s lost eight in a row as injuries have wrecked their pitching staff.

Other Games

Cleveland Guardians (10-7) 9, St. Louis Cardinals (8-8) 3: Both teams got on the board with a run in the first inning, but Cleveland broke out with a three-run fourth inning fueled by a pair of walks to lead off the frame. A pair of singles brought them both home, and a sacrifice fly wrapped up the inning and gave the Guardians their eventual winning run. They still tacked on plenty of insurance, getting a two-run blast from Brayan Rocchio in the sixth and a trio of runs in the eighth via singles from Rocchio and Steven Kwan. St. Louis scratched across a couple runs to shorten the gap, but they never got close to getting back in it.

Tuesday Morning Texas Rangers Update

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Athletics in the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning.

Shawn McFarland writes that Brandon Nimmo’s hot April and Danny Jansen being unleashed to utilize ABS challenges are among the things we’ve recently learned about the Texas Rangers.

Evan Grant writes that this year’s anticipated updated hitting approach was on display for the Rangers in their win over the Athletics on Monday night.

Kennedi Landry writes that Nathan Eovaldi was back at his best in the victory that snapped a winning streak for the Not-Oaklands.

Grant ponders if Roki Sasaki was tipping his pitches in his start against the Rangers on Sunday and if an enhanced ability to read pitchers will be in Texas’ bag of tricks this season.

Grant has yet another update on Wyatt Langford, who could return to the lineup as early as tonight as the Rangers avoided putting him on the IL.

And, Nimmo’s successful beginnings with Texas has been noticed by Matt Snyder in the latest CBS Sports power rankings.

Have a nice day!

Phillies 13, Cubs 7: Losing ugly

What more can be said about a game where your starting pitcher has the worst start of his career and the bullpen made things worse?

The reasonable answer to that question is, “Not much,” but you come here for a game recap and so, you will get one for the Cubs’ terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 13-7 loss to the Phillies Monday night in Philadelphia.

You kind of knew things weren’t going the Cubs’ way when Kyle Schwarber homered in the first inning. Another Phillies run crossed the plate in the second, and then Schwarber homered again in the third, this time with Trea Turner on base.

The Cubs actually made the game sort of close in the fourth. Carson Kelly led off with a single and Dansby Swanson followed that with a home run [VIDEO].

That was Swanson’s second homer in as many days and it does appear he’s coming out of his season-starting slump. Now it’s 4-2 and, well, teams have come back from two-run deficits in the fourth inning.

Not this time. The Phillies scored five times in the fifth off Assad, this time without a home run involved, before Craig Counsell had mercy and replaced him with Jacob Webb. Webb actually got out of the fifth with no further runs scoring.

Just in case you didn’t have enough bad news about Assad, here’s more from BCB’s JohnW53:

Javier Assad is the first Cubs pitcher to allow at least nine runs in a game since reliever Ryan Pressly’s nine-run, no-out meltdown at home against the Giants on May 6 of last year. The previous starter who did that was Hayden Wesneski, who gave up 11 runs in 4.0 innings at St. Louis on July 13, 2024. Shōta Imanaga had given up 10 in 3.0 at home against the Mets on June 21, 2024. Those were the only three before Monday’s game since June 3, 2022, when Marcus Stroman gave up 10 in 4.0 at home against the Cardinals.

Just-recalled Charlie Barnes entered the game in the sixth. I’ll spare you the details of the carnage, but when the inning was over the Phillies had three more runs and a 12-2 lead, and they plated another one off Barnes in the seventh.

The game was entering “position player pitcher” territory at that point, but the Cubs decided to get the bats out in the eighth. Ian Happ led off with a double and scored on this single by Moisés Ballesteros [VIDEO].

Swanson then walked and Miguel Amaya was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with nobody out. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled, with two runs scoring, one on an error [VIDEO].

Matt Shaw then reached on an error, with Amaya scoring [VIDEO].

Two outs later, Seiya Suzuki singled in PCA [VIDEO].

Well. Now it’s 13-7 and that forced the Phillies to call on one of their leverage relievers, Orion Kerkering. Ian Happ was the next batter. If, somehow, Happ could have gone deep, the game would actually have become close but… Happ looked at three pitches from Kerkering and struck out.

And that was basically it. Besides the pitching issues in this game, the Cubs once again had tons of baserunners who were stranded. They left 10 runners on base and went 4-for-16 with RISP. Not that this excuses the pitching, but now the Cubs have gone 7-for-51 (.137) with RISP over their last four games and left 47 runners on base, an average of 12 LOB per game. And that includes Kelly’s game-winning single on Sunday. Yikes.

So there are multiple issues that need to be addressed, and soon. Barnes wound up throwing the final three innings, so all the Cubs’ leverage relievers got the night off (save Webb, who threw only eight pitches). That’s about the only positive I can take out of this one.

The Cubs will look to even up the series Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. The original schedule had Colin Rea listed as Tuesday’s starter, but after Monday’s game the Cubs announced that Riley Martin would start, presumably as an opener, with Rea following. Aaron Nola will start for the Phillies. Game time is again 5:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.

Do the Phillies have a José Alvarado problem?

Apr 11, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado (46) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

For the most part, the Phillies bullpen has been a strength so far this season. There’s been some bad luck involved, but overall, the unit looks strong. One major exception however is José Alvarado. 

Following Sunday’s ineffective performance, Alvarado has now allowed 8 runs, 7 earned, in 5 innings pitched on 9 hits with 7 strikeouts to 3 walks. He too has run into some bad luck, as he’s sporting a whopping .563 BABIP, an impressive level of early batted ball misfortune. But, that doesn’t entirely erase the fact that Alvarado just hasn’t looked good so far. 

Alvarado’s velocity has been good, clocking in right around his career average at an average of 98 MPH. But he’s struggled to throw strikes, as only 40% of his pitches have been inside the zone. That is a far drop off from his abbreviated 2025 (50.3%) or even his 2024 (47.6%). In fact, that 40% zone rate is well below Alvarado’s already low 47.5% rate for his career. Of course, he’s only made eight appearances on the young 2026 season, but it is something to monitor. 

Curiously, despite the lack of pitches in the zone, Alvarado is actually getting a healthy dose of swings and misses. His 30.2% whiff rate is in line with his career average of 31.3% and is way up from 2025 where his swing and miss rate was a career low 24.3%. 

It is only eight appearances, so the book is far from written on Alvarado’s 2026, but the poor performance is a trend that dates back to his return from suspension last season. In 16 total appearances since being reinstated on August 19th, Alvarado has a 9.82 ERA in 11 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts to 6 walks. Opponents are hitting .340 with a .968 OPS against him over that span. The numbers are even worse in the eight appearances after Alvarado returned from the injured list on September 29th, with a 12.60 ERA and an opposing hitters batting line of .391/.481/.391

It’s still early in 2026, so there’s plenty of time for Alvarado to turn it around. But this is a trend of subpar performance that dates back to last season. The Phillies have two other effective lefties in the bullpen with Tanner Banks and the surprising Tim Mayza, but neither of them posses the raw stuff and strikeout ability that Alvarado has. The team needs him to be able to be an effective setup man and to be the top lefty reliever behind righties Jhoan Duran and Brad Keller. So, do the Phillies have a José Alvarado problem? 

Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras are this year’s O’Hearn and Laureano

Mar 29, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Taylor Ward (3) celebrates during the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

In many ways, the main goal of the Orioles’ 2026 season was not to repeat the 2025 season. Through the first 16 games of the season, the O’s have certainly been more competitive than they were to begin last season. However, one unfortunate aspect of 2025 that has followed the Orioles into 2026 is the mountain of injuries.

The Orioles currently have a major-league-leading 13 players on the IL. After a weekend that saw Adley Rutschman land on the 10-day IL with an ankle injury and Ryan Mountcastle head to the 60-day IL with a broken foot, the offense is now especially reeling.

With the injuries piled on top of the early-season struggles of Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo, the offense has been in desperate need of unexpected heroes. That’s where Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras come in.

The fact that Ward is a big-time contributor is not exactly a surprise. Behind Alonso, Ward was seen as the second biggest offseason addition for the Orioles’ offense. However, when the O’s acquired the 32-year-old outfielder from the Angels, he was expected to be a power-first bat in the mold of Alonso. Instead, he’s turned into an on-base machine who’s wearing out the power alleys.

After last night’s matchup with the Diamondbacks, Ward is 11th in MLB with a .339 average, tied for 7th with 21 total hits and leads MLB with 10 doubles. After hitting a career-high 32 home runs last year, he’s yet to launch his first homer in black and orange. However, he’s more than made up for his lack of over the fence with a more disciplined approach at the plate and a willingness to spray the ball to all fields.

Unlike Alonso, Basallo and Gunnar Henderson, Ward is not blessed with elite bat speed and the ability to consistently generate high exit velocity. Even in hitting 32 long balls last year, his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate were right around league average, while his bat speed only ranked in the 15th percentile. What’s been elite throughout 2025 and 2026 is Ward’s ability to square up pitches and his unwillingness to chase pitches outside of the zone.

What’s helped transform Ward into a different offensive force is a focus on swinging for line drives instead of deep fly balls. The outfielder’s career line-drive percentage is around 26%; this year, that number has jumped up to 39.1%, the 5th-best mark in all of baseball. We’ve also seen his opposite-field hit percentage jump from 27.1% last year to a career-best 32.6% so far this year. Ward’s willingness to hit the ball to where he’s being pitched has led to a 47.8% Launch-Angle Sweet Spot rate, putting him in the 96th percentile this season.

Ward’s early-season breakout is reminiscent of the hot start we saw from former Oriole Ryan O’Hearn to begin last year. Through 16 games, Ward is currently slashing .333/.427/.492. Through 16 games last year, Turn and Burn was .296/.377/.519—which turned into a first-half OPS of .834 and an All-Star berth.

Coming into last season, most would’ve ranked O’Hearn behind the likes of Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg in terms of expected offensive impact. Similarly, Ward was probably seen as the fourth most important Baltimore bat heading into this season, behind Henderson, Alonso and a healthy Rutschman. Instead, the newly acquired outfielder has catapulted himself to the top of the pecking order as the O’s most productive hitter so far.

However, the mountain of injuries has meant that Baltimore once again needed someone previously seen as a depth piece to rise to the occasion. Last year, that came in the form of Ramón Laureano; this year, we’re seeing that same level of contribution from Leody Taveras.

Taveras came to the Orioles this past offseason out of necessity. With Colton Cowser set to be the Opening Day CF, and no other natural CF on the roster, the front office brought in Taveras to provide a defensive insurance policy in the outfield. However, Cowser’s continued struggles against off-speed pitches and the recent injury to Tyler O’Neill have thrust the 27-year-old Dominican into more of an everyday role.

To say the former Texas Ranger has taken that opportunity and run with it would be an understatement. In 12 games this season, Taveras is 9-for-25 with three doubles, four runs scored and five walks. If he had enough at-bats to qualify, his .467 OBP would lead the Orioles and place fourth in all of baseball. In the last three games, we’ve seen manager Craig Albernaz stick Taveras in the sixth spot in the order, allowing him to serve as a secondary table setter for the bottom of the lineup.

Should Taveras continue to hit well, the uncertain nature of the Orioles outfield means he’ll have plenty of opportunities to lock down the CF role. Cowser’s inability to hit changeups may ultimately force him down the pecking order as the season goes on, and players get healthy (he was hitting .167 on off-speed pitches with a 46.4% whiff rate heading into Monday).

If Cowser can’t iron out the holes in his game (or if O’Neill continues to struggle to stay healthy), it would allow Taveras to make a Laureano-like jump from fourth outfielder to invaluable starter. And while Taveras and Laureano do not offer the same offensive profiles—with the former a switch-hitting line-drive machine and the latter a right-hander power bat—they both provide(d) a similar ability to outshine expectations and strengthen a shaky Orioles outfield.

Even with the injuries and slow starts, there’s still plenty of hope that this collection of Baltimore bats can produce an upper-echelon offense. And while Gunnar has been awesome so far, and the Polar Bear is getting back to his normal ways, the plus contributions from Ward and Taveras are a big part of why the O’s sit atop the AL East after the first 10% of the season.

Guardians vs Cardinals Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The St. Louis Cardinals look to even their series when they host the Cleveland Guardians tonight at Busch Stadium.

Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo has command issues, and my Guardians vs. Cardinals predictions expect St. Louis to come out on top. 

Read on for my MLB picks for Tuesday, April 14. 

Who will win Guardians vs Cardinals today: Cardinals moneyline (+105)

Michael McGreevy's underlying metrics aren't pretty, but he doesn't need to be dominant tonight. 

He just needs to survive long enough for the St. Louis Cardinals to make Cleveland Guardians starter Joey Cantillo pay.

Cantillo walks over four batters per nine with a 45% fly ball rate, and that’s a dangerous combination for a lefty on a warm night with gusty winds blowing out to left. 

Cleveland's bullpen is surrendering 1.61 home runs per nine, and while their bats boomed last night, the Guardians average a shade under four runs per night.

Back the home dog tonight. 

Covers COVERS INTEL:Joey Cantillo is surrendering a .361 slugging percentage and .342 wOBA against right-handed hitters this season. 

Guardians vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+100)

Neither bullpen can consistently get anyone out, and that's a problem against two lineups that rank seventh and eighth in expected offensive production despite sitting outside the Top 15 in actual results.

McGreevy's underlying metrics suggest Cleveland will score, while Cantillo's command issues against a right-handed heavy Cardinals lineup and gusty winds blowing out mean a few free passes could turn into a run explosion in a hurry.

Cleveland's bullpen is surrendering 1.61 home runs per nine. The Cardinals' pen can't miss bats. Play the Over. 

Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 1-3, -1.90 units
  • Over/Under bets: 2-1, +0.94 units

Guardians vs Cardinals odds

  • Moneyline: Guardians -104 | Cardinals -104
  • Run line: Guardians -1.5 (+133) | Cardinals +1.5 (-186)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-117) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Guardians vs Cardinals trend

The Over is 4-1 in Cleveland’s previous five games. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Guardians vs Cardinals and game info

LocationBusch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
DateTuesday, April 14, 2026
First pitch7:45 p.m. ET
TVCleGuardians.TV, Cardinals.TV
Guardians starting pitcherJoey Cantillo
(1-0, 2.46 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcherMichael McGreevy
(1-1, 2.16 ERA)

Guardians vs Cardinals latest injuries

Guardians vs Cardinals weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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