Welcome back to another round of MLB Best Bets Today as the 2025 baseball season rolls on. 

Friday’s slate is filled with 15 games on the baseball schedule with every team in action. Before the games get going, let’s find some winning MLB predictions and picks. We’ll focus on two games for our MLB best bets today before dishing out a few baseball player props to consider. 

Keep in mind, some of these odds or lines could move before first pitch. Also all bets below are for one unit. Without further ado, let’s dive into our MLB Best Bets Today.

 

 

 

MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 4/18

Our MLB Best Bets Today start with a divisional showdown between the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers. A fascinating starting pitching matchup headlines those MLB picks. 

We’ll also dive into an NL East battle between the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins for our second round of MLB predictions. Check out the MLB best bets and props to make as you enjoy Friday’s baseball action. 

 

 

 

Royals vs. Tigers Predictions: Friday, April 18th

Two exciting young pitchers headline today’s AL Central matchup between the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers. We should get a lower-scoring game with Cole Ragans and Jackson Jobe on the mound for this divisional tilt. Let’s target the under for the first five innings and the full game. 

After a shaky season debut, Jobe has settled down over his past two starts for Detroit. The rookie righty tossed six shutout innings last time out, and he’s allowed just two earned runs over his past 11 innings. The MLB top prospect posted a 2.36 ERA in the minors last year and offers plenty of upside. He’s even added a 95 mph sinker and a curveball to his arsenal this season. 

Jobe has the stuff to limit an underperforming Kansas City offense at home. The Royals have been terrible against right-handed pitching with a .254 wOBA (30th in MLB), .200 batting average (29th), 60 wRC+ (30th), and .565 OPS (30th) in the split this season. KC is also averaging just 1.9 runs over its past eight road games. 

Meanwhile, Ragans has been excellent so far with a 2.28 ERA through his first four starts. His 1.34 FIP and 1.77 xERA are even better. The Royals’ left-hander has 10+ strikeouts in three straight outings and an outstanding 31:2 K:BB ratio in this stretch. 

Last year, Ragans posted a 2.87 ERA and 1.08 WHIP on the road compared to a 3.40 ERA and 1.21 WHIP at home. He also had just a 1.45 ERA in three straight against Detroit last season. The Tigers are below-average vs. left-handed pitching over the past two weeks with. a .286 wOBA (19th), .216 BA (20th), and 26.2% K rate (20th). 

We also have two upper-tier bullpens in the later innings as well here. Detroit’s relief corps has a 2.21 ERA over the past two weeks (3rd) while Kansas City’s relievers have a 3.23 ERA in this span. That should take care of the full-game under after Ragans and Jobe exit. 

 

 

 

Marlins vs. Phillies Predictions: Friday, April 18th

Friday’s NL East matchup between the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies features a pair of aces. Yet, Sandy Alcantara and Zack Wheeler are both off to slower starts than expected heading into tonight’s game. Let’s back one of those star pitchers to anchor our first MLB best bets today for this matchup. 

Alcantara hasn’t been particularly sharp this year with a 4.70 ERA and 3.96 xERA through three starts. The Marlins’ right-hander also has a shaky 12:8 K:BB ratio across 15 innings. As good as the 2022 Cy Young winner can be, Alcantara isn’t there right now. It may take him a bit to get back to that ace-level form after missing all of last season with an injury. 

The Phillies present a tough matchup for Alcantara on the road. First off, he has a 3.95 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in nine career starts in Philadelphia. Plus, multiple Phillies have favorable head-to-head numbers against the Miami starter. Trea Turner (.361 BA vs. Acantara), Bryce Harper (.308), Kyle Schwarber (.294), J.T. Realmuto (.286), Nick Castellanos (.292), and Alec Bohm (.346) will all challenge him. 

Philadelphia’s offense slumped recently but has woken up a bit at home this week. The Phillies averaged 5.0 runs per game during their previous home series vs. San Francisco. They can set a tone offensively today that will be tough for Miami to match.

Meanwhile, Wheeler is due to bounce back after giving up nine runs over his past two starts combined. Those are uncharacteristic for last year’s NL Cy Young runner-up who was mostly dominant in his first two outings of the season. Wheeler will benefit from pitching at home, where he posted a 2.31 ERA in 2024. He also has a career 2.67 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. 

Wheeler has owned the Marlins throughout his career as well. The righty has a 2.73 ERA in 25 career starts against Miami. That’s a huge sample size to trust. Wheeler also boasts a 2.11 ERA over his last six home starts vs. the Marlins. Today, he’ll face an offense with a .296 wOBA (22nd), 87 wRC+ (24th), and 26.5% K rate (28th) vs. right-handers this season.

Back Wheeler and the Phils to lead after five innings and get the win by covering the runlines. The full-game runline offers some value at plus-money as well. 

 

 

 

Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 4/18

 

 

 

Want more ways to win on the diamond? Check out our daily MLB picks, DFS tools, and betting insights.

We’re breaking down every matchup all season long – join the FA Discord and subscribe on YouTube for more.