MLB Best Bets Today, 4/29: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Tuesday
Welcome back to another round of MLB Best Bets Today as the 2025 baseball season rolls on.
Tuesday’s slate features 15 games on the baseball schedule with every team in action. We have multiple divisional matchups on tap as we dive into top MLB picks and predictions. Let’s 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. All bets below are for one unit unless otherwise noted. Without further ado, let’s dive into our MLB Best Bets Today.
MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 4/29
Our MLB Best Bets Today start with an NL East matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. Can Zack Wheeler anchor a convincing win for the home Phils in this divisional battle?
We’ll also dive into the Yankees vs. Orioles matchup as the AL East rivals continue their series. Check out the MLB predictions to make as you enjoy Tuesday’s baseball action.
Nationals vs. Phillies Predictions: Tuesday, April 29th
The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies start up their three-game series on Monday night. When these teams met to begin the season, the Phillies won two of three matchups on the road. Now the NL East foes face off in Philadelphia.
Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore is having a solid season with a 3.34 ERA and 1.99 FIP through six starts. The left-hander tossed six shutout innings with 13 strikeouts against the Phils back on Opening Day. Despite that result and Gore’s encouraging stats this year, we should fade him in this rematch on the road.
Gore’s home/road splits are glaring this season. He has a 2.00 ERA in three home starts with a .161 batting average and .198 wOBA allowed. Conversely, Gore has a 4.76 ERA with a .313 batting average and .368 wOBA allowed across his three road outings. Plus, he has a career 4.38 ERA against the Phillies (51.1 innings) and a 7.94 ERA at Citizens Bank Park (22.2 innings).
The Washington southpaw may have shut down Philadelphia a month ago, but he could run into trouble this time around. The Phillies boast an upper-tier offense against left-handed pitching this season with a .327 wOBA (10th in MLB), .268 batting average (6th), and .730 OPS (10th). They’re also better at home (.350 wOBA, 122 wRC+) than on the road (.295 wOBA, 85 wRC+).
Furthermore, the Nationals’ bullpen has a league-worst 6.20 ERA this year. The relievers have also been busy amid high-scoring affairs with the Mets over the past two days. Nats' pitching coughed up 19 runs yesterday and seven runs the game prior. That doesn’t bode well if they have to cover multiple innings if/when Gore struggles.
Meanwhile, Phillies starter Zack Wheeler should be plenty effective at home here. The right-hander posted a 2.31 ERA at home last year and boasts a career 2.66 ERA in Citizens Bank Park. He also has a 2.10 ERA over his last four starts against the Nationals.
Wheeler had a couple of shaky starts in mid-April but has returned to ace form lately. He’s totaled 22 strikeouts over his past two outings with back-to-back quality starts. Though the Nats are above-average against righties this year, Wheeler’s strong track record is impossible to ignore.
Back Philadelphia to lead after the first five innings and cover the full-game runline en route to a victory. The Phillies return home after being on the road for the past week. They also carry some momentum after winning their past two games at Wrigley Field over a hot Cubs team.
- Expert Nationals vs. Phillies Picks:
- Phillies -1.5 Runline (+114 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Phillies 1st 5 Innings -0.5 RL (-130 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Yankees vs. Orioles Predictions: Tuesday, April 29th
The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees continue their three-game series with an intriguing matchup tonight. In Monday’s opener, the Orioles squeaked out a 4-3 victory. This second installment should sing a different tune based on the starting pitchers involved and some key offensive splits.
Yankees starter Carlos Rodon had a few shaky outings in early April, but he’s settled down lately. The southpaw has just one unearned run allowed over his past two starts combined entering tonight. Rodon’s home/road splits are also in his favor. He has a 2.37 ERA and 2.52 FIP in three road starts compared to a 4.76 ERA and 5.34 FIP across three home outings.
In tonight’s matchup specifically, Rodon should limit an Orioles offense that’s been terrible against left-handed pitching this season. The O’s rank dead last in the majors in wOBA (.233), wRC+ (49), and batting average (.178) vs. lefties. Over the past two weeks against southpaws, they have a .214 wOBA (29th in MLB), 37 wRC+ (29th), .154 batting average (30th), and 29.1% K rate (28th).
It’s been very profitable to fade the Orioles whenever they face a left-hander. We’ll gladly do it tonight with Rodon pitching well right now. He has 17 strikeouts over his last two starts while shutting down the Guardians and Rays on the road.
On the other side, Kyle Gibson makes his season debut for Baltimore after missing the first month recovering from a back injury. The veteran wasn’t overly impressive in his three minor-league rehab starts, allowing five runs across 12 innings. It’s hard to know what we’ll get from Gibson tonight, but it’s worth noting he had a 4.24 ERA and 4.42 FIP last season for St. Louis.
Gibson will face a potent New York offense that’s elite against right-handed pitching this season. The Yankes have a .347 wOBA (2nd in MLB), 128 wRC+ (2nd), .194 ISO (3rd), and 10.6% walk rate (5th) vs. righties. Over the past week vs. righties, the lineup has a .352 wOBA (4th) and 131 wRC+ (3rd). This is simply a tough matchup for a pitcher to make his first start of the year.
To make matters worse, Gibson has a career 5.48 ERA against the Yankees. He also has a 4.73 ERA in 20 career starts at Camden Yards. It’s hard to have much confidence in the righty limiting New York here.
Other key stats point to the road favorites as well. Among the Yankees’ 17 wins this season, 14 have come by 2+ runs. If we think they’ll win, the runline presents more value than the moneyline. The Yanks are also 7-4 after a loss this season, with six of those victories coming by 2+ runs.
- Expert Yankees vs. Orioles Picks:
- Yankees -1.5 Runline (+100 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Yankees 1st 5 Innings Moneyline (-142 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 4/29
- Bryce Miller, Seattle Mariners – Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-112 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers – To Record A Win (-105 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox – Under 6.5 Strikeouts (-150 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds – Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-125 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Player News
Carlos Correa was ejected from Saturday’s game against the Mariners.
Correa was ejected from the on-deck circle and looked incensed on a borderline pitch to Trevor Larnach. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was also ejected from the contest. Correa was 1for-2 with a walk and a run scored before departing.
Ari Alexander of KPRC in Houston reports that the Blue Jays will recall Davis Schneider from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.
Schneider will get his first chance to play in the majors since April 17, as he was sent down after picking up just one hit in his first 10 games. The 26-year-old will be a versatile depth option, and while he has shown signs of offensive aptitude at times, he doesn’t profile as a reliable fantasy piece even if he were to be a regular for the Blue Jays.
Junior Caminero homered twice, doubled twice and drove in five runs as the Rays crushed the Astros 16-3 on Saturday.
Caminero had a 355-foot homer to left and a 351-foot homer to right. They were homers in only 10 and 12 ballparks, respectively, according to Statcast. On the other hand, his second double was a 113-mph laser hit 396 feet to center. This outburst comes two days after he went 3-for-6 with a homer, a double and six RBI. Despite finishing 0-for-3 last night, he has six extra-base hits, six runs scored and 11 RBI three games into the series against the Astros. Five of his 13 homers and 17 of his 37 RBI have come in his last eight games, a stretch that’s seem his OPS jump from .682 to .803.
Zack Littell pitched his first career complete game Saturday, allowing three runs and 10 hits in a win over the Astros.
Littell surrendered two early homers to Jeremy Peña, and it hardly seemed likely that that he’d be a candidate to throw nine innings. Still, the Rays kept leaving him in after turning the game into a rout in the seventh, and he wound up getting his 27th out with his 117th pitch. Littell had completed eight innings just once previously, that in a 1-0 loss to the Mariners in 2023. He struck out six and walked one. The two homers brought his season total to 16 surrendered in 74 2/3 innings. He fared much better in allowing 22 in 156 1/3 innings last season. Littell will face the Marlins next. He’s not usually recommended in mixed leagues, but that’s a solid streaming option.
Colton Gordon gave up four runs and two homers in five innings Saturday in a loss to the Rays.
In another ballpark, Gordon would have fared well today. He struck out six and walked one. The two homers he gave up were hit 368 and 355 feet and would have been homers in 12 and 10 ballparks, respectively. Of the 14 balls in play he allowed, only one had better than a .500 xBA. The loss is Gordon’s first decision in four starts. He has a 5.95 ERA, but his 20/3 K/BB in 19 2/3 innings is pretty good. He’ll likely face the Guardians next weekend.
Josh Lowe went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a walk and three runs scored Saturday versus the Astros.
Lowe seemed like a tremendous breakout candidate before an oblique strain suffered on Opening Day cost him 41 games. Fortunately, he’s come along nicely since returning; he’s hit .321 with three homers and just 11 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances.