MLB parlay picks April 26: Bet on Sandy Alcantara to start strong

Though the Blue Jays play a matinee on Wednesday, there are plenty of night games that help us put together a three-leg MLB parlay.

The pregame narrative: We’re looking for two of the best offences in baseball — the Rays and the Cubs — to put up some decent scoring numbers tonight. Elsewhere, Sandy Alcantara has proven he can thrive on the first time through an opponent’s batting order.

Find all our MLB parlay picks for April 26 below.

MLB odds as of 11:45 a.m. ET on 04/26/23.

MLB parlay picks

Parlay: CHC over 3.5 runs + MIA +1.5 - first three innings + HOU/TB over 7 runs (+240)

Cubs over 3.5 runs (-125): Is the Cubs’ offence a fluke? With each passing game, the answer is increasingly shifting toward “no.”

Chicago has eclipsed this run total in six of its past eight games and is averaging 5.8 runs per game this year. Only the Rays and Rangers are scoring more on a per-game basis.

Also, the Cubs are second in the majors in team OPS (.797). Their lineup looks exceptionally deep, with seven regulars posting an OPS+ above the league-average mark of 100.

Tonight, the Cubs will face Michael Wacha, who has allowed 12 runs on 21 hits in his past 8.1 innings of work. It’s been ugly, and the Cubs shouldn’t have much issue exceeding this total.

Other parlay picks

Marlins +1.5 - first three innings (-400): Aside from tossing a shutout at the start of April, Alcantara hasn’t looked like his usually dominant self so far this year. But despite his concerning 5.47 ERA through four outings, his side is 3-1 on this F3 run line.

Also, dating back to 2021, Alcantara has covered this line in five consecutive outings against the Braves.

The reigning NL Cy Young winner knows this Atlanta club well, and he’s consistently found a way to start strong against it.

Atlanta is just 1-6 on this F3 run line in its past seven games.

Astros/Rays over 7 runs (-200): Let’s get the easiest argument out of the way first. The Rays have had by far the best offence in baseball this year, posting a collective .282/.355/.523 slash line with 6.5 runs scored per game.

Houston’s offence has been mediocre, but together these teams should clear a teased-down line.

Both Tampa and Houston have pushed or cleared this seven-run total in eight of their past 10 games. On the standard over/under, they’ve combined for a 28-16-4 record.

Also, tonight is a bullpen game for the Rays with Calvin Faucher as the opener. Both of his starts have resulted in at least seven runs scored.