MLB Best Bets Today, 4/23: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Wednesday
Welcome into our MLB best bets today for this slate of action here at Fantasy Alarm on this Wednesday, April 23, 2025! Monday was a good start to the week’s MLB predictions going 5-3 on the bets and now we look to a full 15-game slate on this hump day!
Many of the games are starting in the early afternoon so make sure to place those bets on your lunch break. Check out the best bets below that I have put together and let’s go win some more!
MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 4/23
In addition to the starting month of the season, like seasons past I am advocating that you start the season with half unit wagers on my MLB best bets today as well. Every season is unique and until we get our footing into who these teams and players are this season let’s gamble smart and learn as we go!
In this MLB Best Bets Today article you will find a wide array of choices from some Money Lines and to game totals and on occasion some player props! Check out the rationale and if you agree with me make sure to tail and good luck!
Now, let's dive into my expert MLB Best Bets today!
- Season Record: 45-33-0
- Bankroll: +4.8 units
*Follow me on X/Twitter @jwaggs10
Cardinals vs. Braves Predictions: Wednesday, April 23rd
It's an early start to the series finale between the Cardinals and Braves but even with the sun shining I am expecting some fireworks in this one to start out our MLB best bets today. I say this due to the pitching matchup between Miles Mikolas and Bryce Elder as both have severely struggled this season so far.
Starting with Mikolas he has allowed 16 runs over 17.2 innings pitched and during that span he also has a WHIP of 1.58! That’s not good against a Braves team that is starting to heat up with 27 runs over their last 5 games and bumping up their team BABIP to .278 which is up a bunch in the last week or so. Mikolas is going to struggle heavily, and the runs should flow.
On the Elder side of things, it probably won’t be much better as he’s struggling to get strikeouts with just 10 over 15 innings pitched, and he’s also given up 18 hits during that span. The Cardinals are destroying pitchers that play like this as their BABIP is .320 which is the 2nd best in baseball.
The total is 9 runs today which feels like a lot to me but given the matchup and the offenses I can’t see this game being low scoring so I will be taking the over. In addition to that I am liking this spot against Elder for Lars Nootbaar who is hitting .262 with a .843 OPS against righties this season. He’s also been going yard quite often lately so give me the over on his hits/runs/RBIs for today.
- Expert Cardinals vs. Braves Picks:
- St. Louis vs. Atlanta Over 9 Runs (-110 on DraftKings)
- Lars Nootbaar Over 1.5 Hits/Runs/RBIs (-145 on DraftKings)
Orioles vs. Nationals Predictions: Wednesday, April 23rd
Time to give a little love to the Beltway Series here in the article as the Orioles look to bounce back after last night’s underwhelming results against the Nationals. The Os are in a good spot given the fact that the Nationals pitching is overall subpar and will be again today with Trevor Williams on the mound and starting.
Williams has given up 26 hits and 6 walks over 19.2 innings pitched so far this season and in addition to that has only managed 16 strikeouts and 13 runs against. If it wasn’t for one good start against the Pirates putrid offense the overall numbers would be worse than they look.
Williams is also getting pounded by left-handed hitting this season as they are hitting for a .455 average and 1.217 OPS overall against him. Good thing the Orioles have 6 lefties in the lineup so give me the over on the Orioles team total runs for this game.
In addition to the runs, I want to add a prop onto my MLB best bets today. Gunnar Henderson started the season injured but is starting to heat up. Overall, he’s hit .308 against righties this season with an OPS of .971, his big nights are often hard to predict looking at the game log but I think tonight is a boom and not a bust for the young O’s star. He should go over 2.5 hits/runs/RBIs tonight at plus money!
- Expert Orioles vs. Nationals Picks:
- Baltimore Team Total Over 4.5 Runs (-140 on DraftKings)
- Gunnar Henderson Over 2.5 Hits/Runs/RBIs (+120 on DraftKings)
Best MLB Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 4/23
- Arizona Diamondbacks Money Line (-130 on ESPN Bet)
- Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets Under 7.5 Runs (-125 on BetMGM)
- Bobby Witt (KC) Over 2.5 Hits/Runs/RBIs (+105 on DraftKings)
- Freddie Peralta (MIL) Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-150 on BetMGM)
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Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.