Let’s start the weekend early with some Friday best bets and prop picks. The Friday, April 18 slate features 15 and plenty of betting opportunities.
Our MLB betting experts have looked over the odds and identified the best value on the board. They’ve found multiple intriguing angles, so let’s look over Friday’s MLB best bets.
[quickslipbasic bookname=”BetMGM” booklogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” image=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-18-at-8.24.28%E2%80%AFAM.png” buttontext=”Parlay These Picks Instantly!” buttonlink=”https://switchboard.actionnetwork.com/v2/deeplink?deeplinkId[0]=ML1489018742&deeplinkId[1]=ML1488963183&deeplinkId[2]=ML1487144672&context=qs-articles”][/quickslipbasic]
MLB Best Bets Friday Picks & Predictions
Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
---|---|---|
[teammatchup link=”#1″ firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png”][/teammatchup] | 7:05 p.m. | |
[teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] | 8:05 p.m. | |
[teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] | 8:05 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.
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[relatedarticle articleimageurl=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/04/YoshinobuYamamoto-Dodgers-MLB.jpg” linktext=”Los Angeles Dodgers vs Texas Rangers Predictions, Parlay, Picks, Odds Today” link=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers-vs-texas-rangers-predictions-parlay-picks-odds-friday-april-18-qs”][/relatedarticle]
[anchor name=”1″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Derek Carty’s Reds vs Orioles Pick: Fade Mateo”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Jorge Mateo Under 0.5 Hits (+145)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” awayname=”Cincinnati Reds” awayslug=”cincinnati-reds” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” homename=”Baltimore Orioles” homeslug=”baltimore-orioles” date=”Friday, April 18″ time=”7:05 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]
By Derek Carty
There may be some value on Jorge Mateo’s hits prop.
THE BAT X is projecting him to record 0.61 hits, and oddsmakers are implying 0.85. The model believes there is a 54% chance he records fewer than one hit. So, if you can get the under at +145 or better, there is great value.
Pick: Jorge Mateo Under 0.5 Hits (+145)
[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”2″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Prop Model’s Dodgers vs Rangers Best Bet: Expect Strikeouts Tonight”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Yoshinobu Yamamoto Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-140)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” awayslug=”los-angeles-dodgers” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png” homename=”Texas Rangers” homeslug=”texas-rangers” date=”Friday, April 18″ time=”8:05 p.m. ET” network=”MLB Network” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]
By Prop Model
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s strikeouts prop looks like a strong wager based on the current data.
The line of 5.5 compares favorably based on our MLB simulations. The prop projects to hit 69.64% of the time based on the assumptions, and that represents a 11.31% edge. You can find all prop bet evaluations in ParlayIQ.
Pick: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-140)
[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”3″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Charlie Wright’s Dodgers vs Rangers Best Bet: Back Los Angeles Early”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Dodgers 1st 5 Innings Moneyline (-122)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” awayslug=”los-angeles-dodgers” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png” homename=”Texas Rangers” homeslug=”texas-rangers” date=”Friday, April 18″ time=”8:05 p.m. ET” network=”MLB Network” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]
I’m worried about Jacob deGrom. He said he’s dialing back the velocity for health reasons, but there’s a chance he can’t sit at 98 mph anymore because of those past injuries. The results on the 4-seamer have been brutal and it’s actually been among the worst pitches in the league.
deGrom’s fastball is sitting at 96.6 mph through three starts. The pitch has allowed a .300 batting average and a silly .950 SLG. When deGrom’s fastball was averaging 98+ mph from 2021-23, it allowed 11 home runs over 186 2/3 innings. Conversely, he’s given up five homers over 25 1/3 innings on the pitch since coming back from his second Tommy John surgery late in 2024.
deGrom’s heater has a -6 run value, which is the second-worst mark among all pitches in 2025. Only Jameson Taillon’s sweeper (-7 run value) has produced worse results.
The Dodgers had three of the top-30 fastball hitters in terms of run value last season (Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts) and Max Muncy wasn’t far off. The Dodgers also rank second in OPS, wOBA and wRC+ vs. RHP in 2025.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has gotten off to a tremendous start, allowing three earned runs over four starts. He’s bumped his strikeout rate up to an elite 33.7%, while pushing his ground-ball rate to a ridiculous 66.7%. It’s only four starts, but Yamamoto is doing the things that make up an elite pitcher.
He’s also performed well in some tough matchups (Cubs twice, Phillies). The Rangers will be his weakest opponent yet. They rank 25th or worse in OPS, wOBA and wRC+ against right-handed pitching in 2025. Texas has also scored the fifth-fewest runs this season.
Pick: Dodgers 1st 5 Innings Moneyline (-122)
[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] |
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