MLB Picks Today: Astros vs Orioles and Dodgers vs Marlins Best Bets | Deadspin.com Apr 1, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images How about a little East Coast-West Coast combo for our MLB picks today?Season Record 14-12-1, -0.42 UnitsAstros at OriolesAstros F5 (+102 BetRivers)It’s been quite the mess for Houston so far in 2025.Expected to compete for the AL West as always, they have instead fallen on hard times amid a raft of pitcher injuries. But this is an organization with an excellent record of developing arms, and they may have found one in today’s starter, Peter Lambert. You might recognize the name as he pitched parts of four seasons in Colorado from 2019 to 2024, never logging more than 89.1 IP in the majors and never finishing a season with an ERA under 5.36.Well, he took his talents (or at that point, lack thereof) to Japan last year and well, was just okay there too with a 4.26 ERA and 20.1% K%. The Astros brought him back and appeared to have unlocked something in the minors as he had a 1.84 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in three minor league starts, and now a 3.27 ERA in 11 IP with a whopping 33.3% K% and 17.7% SwSwr% over two starts in MLB. His fastball has gone up about 2 MPH over where he typically sat in his Rockies days, and he’s now added a cutter to his arsenal. Are his improvements for real? Well, the results look promising very early on.His Stuff+ is 94 if you’re into that sort of thing, which indicates he’s a shade below average.He does appear to have the upper hand tonight as he faces off against the Orioles Chris Bassitt. The well-traveled vet has gotten off to a brutal start in Baltimore, with a super ugly 6.75 ERA and 2.08 WHIP. His -2.70% K-BB% is the worst in MLB among starters who have logged at least 10 IP.The best I can say is he keeps the ball on the ground and his EV allowed is low so there’s always a chance all the contact he induces will go to his fielders. The Astros have one of the best offenses in the league though and they have a 120 wRC+ on the road this year and an identical 120 wRC+ vs. righties. The Orioles for their part have a 119 wRC+ at home, so it’s a pretty even battle at the plate. Give me the Astros as I’d rather take the unknown SP who looks great right now vs. the aging vet who looks absolutely cooked right now. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: betting Marlins at DodgersSandy Alcantara Over 17.5 Outs Recorded (-107 DraftKings)The Marlins ace looked back to his Cy Young form through his first three starts as he logged 24.1 IP and the only two runs he allowed were in the 9th inning of the third start.He was just two outs away from a second straight complete game shutout, which makes him a regular Old Hoss Radbourne in today’s game. The last three outings have not gone so great, 17 IP, 6.35 ERA and 1.88 WHIP and he’s at the Dodgers tonight. But innings are what Sandy does. He induces a lot of grounders (48%) and has low whiff and walk and barrel rates.So in games where he’s not getting BABIP-ed around he’s extremely efficient. Let’s back on another Sandy Special today. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: betting #MLB #Picks #Today #Astros #Orioles #Dodgers #Marlins #Bets #Deadspin.com

Deadspin | Tarik Skubal, Tigers take aim at hot Braves Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field for pitching change during the seventh inning against Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will take the mound on Wednesday night when his Detroit Tigers face the host Atlanta Braves and their top rookie pitching prospect. The Braves recorded a 5-2 victory Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. It was Atlanta’s ninth straight win over the Tigers, who fell to 5-13 on the road this season. Atlanta has won 11 of its past 13 games overall. The left-handed Skubal (3-2, 2.72 ERA) will oppose Braves right-hander JR Ritchie (1-0, 2.57), who will make his second career start. Skubal had good stuff but received a no-decision against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday when he allowed four runs — three in the seventh inning without recording an out. When he returned to the dugout after being lifted in the seventh, he flipped over a small cooler and threw his glove. “A mentally challenging day for him,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He got dinged up a little bit at the end, but he pitched us pretty deep into the game.” Skubal has made only one career start against the Braves, in 2024 when he allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings and took the loss. Ritchie, 22, made his major league debut on Thursday against the Washington Nationals and yielded two runs on five hits — one of them a leadoff homer on Ritchie’s first pitch — with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a 7-2 victory. “Going into it, I wasn’t going to worry too much about the hitters,” Ritchie said. “I kind of wanted to let (catcher Drake Baldwin) take care of that, and he did a great job all day. Very communicative, him and (Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner), just, ‘Hey, go out there and throw your stuff.’ Talking between innings about adjustments, what we’re gonna do. They definitely made my life a lot easier.” Wednesday may be Ritchie’s last opportunity to start early this season. The Braves said Spencer Strider would not need another rehab start and would be returned to the rotation. That could come as soon as this weekend in Colorado. Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle had an infield hit on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He is batting .347 during the streak. The Tigers had two players leave Tuesday’s game because of injuries. Starting pitcher Casey Mize exited in the third inning with a right groin strain, and center fielder Javy Baez had to be carted off the field after catching his right ankle under his body while trying to slide into first base to beat a high throw. Both will be evaluated on Wednesday. Atlanta activated right-hander Didier Fuentes when Dylan Lee went on the paternity list on Tuesday. Lee, who has made a team-high 14 appearances, likely will miss the entire series against Detroit. Fuentes pitched two scoreless innings on Tuesday night. Atlanta said shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus this week. Kim signed a million, one-year contract as a free agent. He fell on some ice in Korea in January and injured the finger on his throwing hand. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #Tigers #aim #hot #Braves

#Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #Tigers #aim #hot #Braves">

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field for pitching change during the seventh inning against Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will take the mound on Wednesday night when his Detroit Tigers face the host Atlanta Braves and their top rookie pitching prospect.

The Braves recorded a 5-2 victory Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. It was Atlanta’s ninth straight win over the Tigers, who fell to 5-13 on the road this season.

Atlanta has won 11 of its past 13 games overall.

The left-handed Skubal (3-2, 2.72 ERA) will oppose Braves right-hander JR Ritchie (1-0, 2.57), who will make his second career start.

Skubal had good stuff but received a no-decision against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday when he allowed four runs — three in the seventh inning without recording an out. When he returned to the dugout after being lifted in the seventh, he flipped over a small cooler and threw his glove.

“A mentally challenging day for him,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He got dinged up a little bit at the end, but he pitched us pretty deep into the game.”

Skubal has made only one career start against the Braves, in 2024 when he allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings and took the loss.

Ritchie, 22, made his major league debut on Thursday against the Washington Nationals and yielded two runs on five hits — one of them a leadoff homer on Ritchie’s first pitch — with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a 7-2 victory.

“Going into it, I wasn’t going to worry too much about the hitters,” Ritchie said. “I kind of wanted to let (catcher Drake Baldwin) take care of that, and he did a great job all day. Very communicative, him and (Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner), just, ‘Hey, go out there and throw your stuff.’ Talking between innings about adjustments, what we’re gonna do. They definitely made my life a lot easier.”

Wednesday may be Ritchie’s last opportunity to start early this season. The Braves said Spencer Strider would not need another rehab start and would be returned to the rotation. That could come as soon as this weekend in Colorado.

Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle had an infield hit on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He is batting .347 during the streak.

The Tigers had two players leave Tuesday’s game because of injuries.

Starting pitcher Casey Mize exited in the third inning with a right groin strain, and center fielder Javy Baez had to be carted off the field after catching his right ankle under his body while trying to slide into first base to beat a high throw. Both will be evaluated on Wednesday.

Atlanta activated right-hander Didier Fuentes when Dylan Lee went on the paternity list on Tuesday. Lee, who has made a team-high 14 appearances, likely will miss the entire series against Detroit. Fuentes pitched two scoreless innings on Tuesday night.

Atlanta said shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus this week. Kim signed a $20 million, one-year contract as a free agent. He fell on some ice in Korea in January and injured the finger on his throwing hand.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #Tigers #aim #hot #Braves">Deadspin | Tarik Skubal, Tigers take aim at hot Braves

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field for pitching change during the seventh inning against Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will take the mound on Wednesday night when his Detroit Tigers face the host Atlanta Braves and their top rookie pitching prospect.

The Braves recorded a 5-2 victory Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. It was Atlanta’s ninth straight win over the Tigers, who fell to 5-13 on the road this season.

Atlanta has won 11 of its past 13 games overall.

The left-handed Skubal (3-2, 2.72 ERA) will oppose Braves right-hander JR Ritchie (1-0, 2.57), who will make his second career start.

Skubal had good stuff but received a no-decision against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday when he allowed four runs — three in the seventh inning without recording an out. When he returned to the dugout after being lifted in the seventh, he flipped over a small cooler and threw his glove.

“A mentally challenging day for him,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He got dinged up a little bit at the end, but he pitched us pretty deep into the game.”

Skubal has made only one career start against the Braves, in 2024 when he allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings and took the loss.

Ritchie, 22, made his major league debut on Thursday against the Washington Nationals and yielded two runs on five hits — one of them a leadoff homer on Ritchie’s first pitch — with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a 7-2 victory.

“Going into it, I wasn’t going to worry too much about the hitters,” Ritchie said. “I kind of wanted to let (catcher Drake Baldwin) take care of that, and he did a great job all day. Very communicative, him and (Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner), just, ‘Hey, go out there and throw your stuff.’ Talking between innings about adjustments, what we’re gonna do. They definitely made my life a lot easier.”

Wednesday may be Ritchie’s last opportunity to start early this season. The Braves said Spencer Strider would not need another rehab start and would be returned to the rotation. That could come as soon as this weekend in Colorado.

Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle had an infield hit on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He is batting .347 during the streak.

The Tigers had two players leave Tuesday’s game because of injuries.

Starting pitcher Casey Mize exited in the third inning with a right groin strain, and center fielder Javy Baez had to be carted off the field after catching his right ankle under his body while trying to slide into first base to beat a high throw. Both will be evaluated on Wednesday.

Atlanta activated right-hander Didier Fuentes when Dylan Lee went on the paternity list on Tuesday. Lee, who has made a team-high 14 appearances, likely will miss the entire series against Detroit. Fuentes pitched two scoreless innings on Tuesday night.

Atlanta said shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus this week. Kim signed a $20 million, one-year contract as a free agent. He fell on some ice in Korea in January and injured the finger on his throwing hand.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #Tigers #aim #hot #Braves

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