Our best bets for MLB today, as well as the New York Knicks looking to even their NBA series against the Atlanta Hawks
Max Scherzer obviously didn’t give the Toronto Blue Jays what they needed last night against the Cleveland Guardians, coughing up a home run to the first batter he faced, creating an early deficit the Jays couldn’t dig out of.
Scherzer is now 1-3, with a 9.64 ERA on the season. Five runs in the first inning last night, on a fastball that averaged 92.8 mph, six hits, seven runs allowed in just 2.1 innings pitched. The Jays made a game of it, but still lost 8-6, and are now 10-15 in this topsy turvy 2026 MLB season. That’s two losses in a row now, after the team had gone on a three-win run, with four losses in a row before that.
Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.54 ERA) starts today, against Joey Cantillo (1-0, 3.20 ERA) for the Guardians, followed by Dylan Cease (1-0, 2.10 ERA) tomorrow. So as has been the case for the Blue Jays so far this season, it’s going to be up to Gausman and Cease to auto correct the most recent slide, because the other starting pitchers sure are not getting it done.
What happens when Jose Berrios and Trey Yesavage make it back from injury? Who among Scherzer, Eric Lauer, Patrick Corbin get moved to a bullpen that’s in a state of flux now as well, with the news yesterday that Jeff Hoffman is no longer the closer?
Berrios seems closest to returning from that right elbow stress fracture, which he is managing, after electing not to have surgery on it. He has another rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo scheduled for Tuesday, after throwing four scoreless innings in the previous rehab outing.
Yesavage, with a right shoulder impingement, is finalizing his rehab assignment as well, and is trending towards an early May return to the Blue Jays rotation.
BEST BETS
MLB
Cleveland Guardians at Toronto Blue Jays, 3:07 p.m. EST, Rogers Centre, Toronto
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Total Bases (Hits Only) Over 1.5 (+110)
At Betway this morning, the Blue Jays are betting favorites, at -150 on the Moneyline, with the Guardians +125. Against the spread: Blue Jays -1.5 (+135), Guardians +1.5 (-180), and the Over/Under 7.5 (O +110, U -130).
Gausman is coming off a win in Arizona April 19, going six innings, two earnings runs and four strikeouts, while Castillo had a no decision April 19 against the Orioles (4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 K).
Blue Jays bullpen arms got a workout last night – 6.9 innings pitched – so it’s on Gausman today to give the team some length.
Big advantage for the Jays is on the starting pitching side (six days of rest for both pitchers), with Gausman’s 35 strikeouts, and just six walks, over 28.1 innings this season. Plus, he has historically dominated against the Guardians. His team really needs a quality start out of him, and the fact Gausman is one of the better arms in baseball gives the Jays a betting advantage.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. is hitting .323 with a 1.457 OPS versus LHP against a lefty who walks a lot of guys, so that +110 is good value.
BEST BETS
MLB
Seattle Mariners at St. Louis Cardinals, 2:15 p.m. EST, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Mariners ATS
At Betway this morning, the Mariners are betting favorites, at -150 on the Moneyline, with the Cardinals +125. Against the spread: Mariners -1.5 (+115), Cardinals +1.5 (-150), and the Over/Under 7.5 (O -105, U -115).
Mariners’ starting pitcher Bryan Woo has been dominant this season so far, with a 2.25 ERA, and 0.88 WHIP, and is +650 at Betway currently in AL Cy Young Award odds, second in futures to Tarik Skubal (+250).
Cardinals’ starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore has given up five home runs in just 27 innings pitched.
BEST BETS
NBA
New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, 6 p.m. EST, State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Knicks Moneyline
At Betway, the Knicks are slight betting favorites, at -125 on the Moneyline, with the Hawks on home court at +105. Against the spread: Knicks -1.5 (-110), Hawks +1.5 (-110), and the Over/Under 215.5 (O -105, U -115).
Lots of eyes on this game, with the Knicks down 2-1 in the series. Again, a clean injury report for the Knicks, with Jock Landale still out for the Hawks. Jalen Brunson has been carrying the load for the Knicks offensively, and in a desperate game he will step up tonight. I’d be leaning over his points prop.
It’s been a tight, physical series, and the Hawks are scrappy, but I am going Knicks.
