MLB Picks April 15: Astros host Braves in featured game

A couple weeks of the MLB season is in the books and teams are looking to get a feel as to how they stack up against the rest of the league. There is a full schedule of games for April 15. We will look at five of them with the Astros taking on the Braves in the headlined matchup.

Minnesota Twins versus Baltimore Orioles

Minnesota enters with a 4-6 record and 3-2 on the road, while Baltimore is 8-4 overall and 4-2 at home. The Orioles are “burning hot” versus “ice cold up” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +28 to +15 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams have been trending in games on opposite sides of the “over/under” line with a score prediction of 7-2 in favor of Baltimore. Note that the Twins have been inconsistent this season regarding their favorite/underdog status. This is the first meeting between the teams this season. I like Baltimore to win by two or three runs but pass on the “over/under” bet.

Atlanta Braves versus Houston Astros

Houston has struggled in the early part of the season with a 4-10 record and just 2-5 at home. Atlanta is on top of the NL East with a 7-4 mark. The Braves are “average up” versus “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +12 to +3 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Reynaldo Lopez is scheduled to pitch for the Braves. He comes in with a 1-0 record and an 0.75 ERA.  The teams have been trending in games “over” the line and the score prediction has the Braves in an easy 10-2 win with 49 percent confidence. Houston won all three games in Atlanta last season. I like the Braves to turn the tide and get even, winning this one in a game “over” the line.

New York Yankees versus Toronto Blue Jays

In this AL East battle, the Yankees come in with the best record in the league at 10-3 and the Blue Jays are a game under .500 at 6-7. The Yankees are “average” versus “average down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +17 to +6 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Betting “under” is a good choice with both teams trending in games “under” the line and the score prediction is Yankees 5-4 with 67 percent confidence. The Yankees are an impressive 6-1 on the road this season. New York has won two of the three games between the teams this season and I like them to increase their lead in the division in this one.

Cincinnati Reds versus Seattle Mariners

Neither team comes into this weekend playing well.  The Reds are “ice cold down” and the Mariners are “ice cold up” and Seattle has a +18 to +4 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. Cincinnati is 2-1 on the road and Seattle is a game under .500 at 3-4 at home. The teams have been involved in games “over” the line in eight of the last 12 with a score prediction of 7-4 in favor of Seattle with 70 percent confidence. Neither teams has been particularly stable according to the Team Volatility Oscillator. Cincinnati won two of the three games between the teams last season. I like Seattle to turn the table in a game “over” the line.

Pittsburgh Pirates versus New York Mets

The Pirates have been a surprise team early, tied for first in the NL Central with a 9-4 record. The Mets are 5-7 and just 1-5 at home. New York is “average up” versus “average down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +24 to +10 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams have been trending in games “over” the line but the score prediction of 5-3 in favor of the Pirates would put this game “under” the line. The conflicting information leads me to avoid the “over/under” bet on this one. This is the first series between the teams this season. I like the Pirates to continue their hot play to put the Mets further under .500.

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