With only three games on the baseball slate today, there are only so many places to look for MLB predictions.
That said, our experts have locked in a few wagers that they feel good about given the trajectory of the starting pitchers set to take the bump.
Top MLB Predictions and Picks for Thursday, April 2
Mets vs. Giants: Betting the New York Mets (-0.5) First 5 Innings
We get a pair of southpaws squaring off in San Francisco tonight, but I’m much more intrigued by one than the other.
Robbie Ray has allowed plenty of hard contact recently. That’s a huge concern, and it’s more concerning when you realize that he’s struggled with his command.
That’s a dangerous trend to take into a game against a patient Mets team, and it’s a flaw that could be glaring against a pitcher in David Peterson, who has done a better job limiting hard contact.
New York’s offense has largely been stuck in the mud after hanging 11 runs on the Pirates in the opener (12 runs in five games since, two of which have gone to extra innings), and while the raw production is underwhelming, I’m not sold on it being anything more than a small sample.
Juan Soto has at least one knock in every game; he’s just not getting much help. Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette, and Marcus Semien are all hitting at least 130 points below their career norms: that’s not going to last.
Bichette specifically is an important cog with nothing but three-hole at-bats this season. He posted strong numbers against lefties a season ago.
If he can capitalize on the shaky advanced profile of Ray, we are in business. Even if that’s not the case, opponents struggled against Peterson in their early trips through the order in 2025.
I don’t see the Giants doing much damage, and that puts us within a single swing of cashing this ticket against a starter who has been giving up plenty of loud contact.
Atlanta Braves First 5 Innings Moneyline vs. Diamondbacks
Reynaldo López allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks over six innings to get a no-decision in a 6-2 home win against the Royals on Saturday.
It was particularly encouraging to see López get his fastball velocity as high as 97 mph, considering he was rarely breaking 90 mph this spring after missing most of 2025 due to right shoulder surgery.
López tossed 77 pitches Saturday, and he’ll be trying to further build himself up. His sample size against the Diamondbacks is small, though, as he’s pitched sparingly in relief against them.
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Ryne Nelson struggled on Opening Day, giving up four earned runs on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 4 2/3 innings to get a no-decision in a 5-4 road loss against the Dodgers on Friday.
Nelson threw 50 of 83 pitches for strikes in his season debut after working to a 3.18 ERA and 23:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) across 17 innings over five starts in spring training. He has faced the Braves a few times in his career with mixed results.
López’s velocity returning and his ability to work through innings give him the edge in this matchup, especially against a pitcher coming off a concerning debut. Backing López and the Braves to get ahead early makes sense here, as they hold the advantage on the mound.
Taj Bradley Over 6.5 Strikeouts vs. Kansas City Royals
Even though Bradley didn’t get involved in the decision in his debut against the Orioles on March 28, he delivered a strong performance at Camden Yards with nine strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Expect Bradley to rack up strikeouts left and right once again in this matchup against the Royals, as the majority of the Kansas City hitters have had problems against Bradley’s offerings throughout their careers.
Several Royals hitters, including Jac Caglianone, Maikel Garcia, Jonathan India, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez, have struggled against Bradley in the past. The biggest issue with Bradley is always his command and the location of his pitches, but the history is on his side here. If he’s able to pitch like he did in Baltimore in his 2026 debut, he should have another productive outing.
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