MLB Best Bets Today, 4/13 - Expert Picks, Predictions, Props, & Odds
We have a huge 16-game MLB slate on Saturday as we look at best bets and predictions for the afternoon and evening matchups. Our MLB picks today feature Shota Imanaga and the Chicago Cubs against the Seattle Mariners along with Garrett Crochet and the Chicago White Sox taking on the Cincinnati Reds. We also have a few MLB player props to lock in for Saturday’s games.
MLB Best Bets For Today: Saturday, April 13
As always, be sure to shop around for the best odds and lines at different sportsbooks. The odds in this article below are accurate as of this writing. Without further ado, let’s check out the MLB best bets and baseball predictions for Saturday, April 13th.
Cubs vs Mariners Prediction Today, 4/13
Shota Imanaga is off to a strong start in his debut MLB season with the Chicago Cubs. The lefthander has yet to allow a run over his first two outings with a 12:0 K:BB ratio and just four hits allowed over 10 innings. Imanaga is proving to be a tough scouting report for opposing hitters and it may take a few more outings for teams to get a better read on his stuff. Let’s jump on the Shota train today as he takes on the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners are below-average against left-handed pitching this season with a .302 wOBA, .654 OPS, and .225 BA in the split. Seattle is also averaging just 3.2 runs per game. Imanaga’s perfect ERA is obviously due for some negative regression moving forward, but his 0.81 FIP is encouraging. The Cubs starter appears to be carrying over his success from Japan, where he posted a 2.80 ERA and 2.26 ERA over the previous two seasons.
On the other side, the Cubs offense should provide enough run support against Mariners starter Emerson Hancock. The young righty just got rocked by the Brewers last start, allowing eight runs on 11 hits. Hancock had a 4.50 ERA over three starts last year in the majors and it looks like he’s still going through early growing pains adjusting to big-league hitters.
Meanwhile, the Chicago lineup is among the league’s toughest against right-handed pitching so far this year with a .340 wOBA (6th-best), 13.2% walk rate (1st), and 20.8% K rate (10th). The Cubs are also averaging 6.1 runs per game. Let’s take the Cubs to win in both the first five innings and the full game behind a favorable offensive matchup and another strong Imanaga outing.
Expert Cubs vs Mariners Predictions:
- Cubs Moneyline (-130 FanDuel)
- Cubs 1st 5 Innings ML (-130 FanDuel)
Reds vs White Sox Prediction Today, 4/13
Garrett Crochet continues to be one of the only bright spots for the Chicago White Sox this season. The lefty reliever-turned-starter now has a 2.00 ERA and 2.50 FIP through his first three starts. It’s early, but Crochet is holding hitters to a .167 batting average against with an impressive 21:1 K:BB ratio across 18 innings thus far.
While the Reds do have decent overall numbers against lefties this season (.338 wOBA), their success has been inflated by two bad outings by Patrick Corbin and Aaron Ashby. On the flip side, multiple other southpaws have limited the Cincy lineup (Jose Quintana, Wade Miley, and Cristopher Sanchez). Better left-handed pitchers should keep the Reds in check, so let’s bank on Crochet doing that with how well he’s looked this year.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s offense is one of the worst in the MLB. The White Sox are averaging just 2.4 runs per game and have been held to three runs or fewer in nine of 12 games so far. It won’t get much better moving forward with Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada, and Eloy Jimenez all on the IL right now. The White Sox have particularly struggled against left-handed pitching with a .260 wOBA, 31% K rate, and .198 BA in the split.
Reds lefty Nick Lodolo will make his season debut here after beginning the year on the IL. Lodolo’s 6.29 ERA last season and shaky rehab appearances don’t offer much confidence here. Still, he can limit a weak White Sox offense just enough to keep this one lower-scoring. Let’s take the under for both the full game under and first five innings.
Expert Reds vs White Sox Predictions
- Under 8.5 (-115 BetMGM)
- 1st 5 Innings Under 4.5 (-140 FanDuel)
Best MLB Player Props Today, 4/13
- Ronel Blanco Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-122 FanDuel)
- Jose Altuve Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI (-155 BetMGM)
- Kyle Gibson Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-130 BetMGM)
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.