MLB Odds & Picks: 2 Best Bets, Including Brewers vs. Cardinals & Phillies vs. Braves (Sunday, April 11)

MLB Odds & Picks: 2 Best Bets, Including Brewers vs. Cardinals & Phillies vs. Braves (Sunday, April 11) article feature image
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The final day of the first full week of the MLB season offers a full slate, with a host of afternoon games and the nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN.

Our staff has found angles on two games, including an afternoon tilt between the Brewers and Cardinals and that aforementioned ESPN game, which features an NL East battle between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves.

Below, you'll find our two best bets for Sunday's MLB action.

MLB Odds & Picks

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Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
2:15 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves
7:08 p.m. ET

Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Pick
Cardinals -121
Book
PointsBet
Pitchers
Brett Anderson vs. Daniel Ponce de Leon
First Pitch
2:15 p.m. ET

Tanner McGrath: I really like the Cardinals in this spot.

The Brewers today are starting left-hander Brett Anderson, who’s coming off a tough start against the hapless Cubs' offense. Anderson gave up three home runs in five innings as the Brewers suffered another early-season loss.

Unfortunately for Anderson, the Cardinals mashed southpaws at home in 2020. Against left-handed pitching at home last season, the Cardinals led the majors in OPS, wOBA and wRC+. The Cardinals have faced just one lefty this season — Miami’s Trevor Rogers — and snagged two early runs off him on two hits and four walks. The Cardinals went on to win that game.

The Cardinals pitcher that day was today’s starter: Daniel Ponce de Leon. He pitched very well in that start, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk over five innings, picking up the win in his 2021 debut.

Today, Ponce de Leon will attempt to extend his winning streak against a Brewers team that finished in the bottom-10 in wRC+ against right-handed pitching in 2020. Plus, Milwaukee has just a .538 OPS against righties in early-season 2021 play so far.

The combination of the Cardinals against the left-handed Anderson and the Brewers against the right-handed Ponce de Leon makes St. Louis a smart play.

Although they lost badly Saturday, I like the Cardinals to bounce back and win the series. I bet them on PointsBet at -121 and would play them at anything better than -130.


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Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves

Pick
Over 9 (-109)
Book
DraftKings
Pitchers
Matt Moore vs. Drew Smyly
First Pitch
7:08 p.m. ET

Brad Cunningham: Boy, oh boy, is this a terrible pitching matchup on Sunday Night Baseball between two has-beens. Matt Moore pretty much got away with murder in his first start of the season against the Mets, while Drew Smyly is looking to establish himself in the Braves rotation.

This series has been a high scoring one with both games going over the total, as two of the best offenses in the NL have shined. Both the Braves and Phillies were average against left-handed pitching last season, so I think we will see the same story tonight.

The last time Smyly and Moore pitched full seasons, it did not go well. In 2019, they both posted an xFIP over 5.00 and an ERA over six. So, how do you think it's going to go against two lineups that finished in the top half in wOBA against left-handed pitching in 2020.

I have well over 10 runs projected for this game, so I think there is plenty of value on Over 9 runs at -109 odds.

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