Baseball Betting - Thursday MLB Picks

Like horses powering through the Kentucky Derby odds, MLB betting rages onwards with few teams backing down early in the season. The NL Central is suddenly looking like one of the top divisions in baseball betting, and some of its combatants are showcased at the sportsbook today.

Reds vs Cubs odds: Aaron Harang (1-2, 2.70) vs Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 5.21), today at 2:20 p.m. ET
MLB lines: Reds +145, Cubs -165

The Reds vs Cubs line presents a nice sportsbook value opportunity today. On paper, the matchup seems to favor the Cubs, as Harang has been lit up at Wrigley Field many a time while Carlos Zambrano typically dominates the Reds. Looking closer, though, online betting fans should realize that this isn't a typical matchup between these hulking aces. After a nightmarish 2008, Harang looks reborn in 2009 thanks to losing a bunch of weight in the offseason. He's walked just four batters in 20 innings and has a complete-game shutout on his resume already. Zambrano, meanwhile, has walked nine guys in 19 innings and, while that's not a surprise given his poor control, his usually unhittable stuff is getting knocked around. Big Z hasn't found his groove yet, so baseball betting players should take advantage and make the Reds their sportsbook pick today.

Online betting pick: Reds +145

Dodgers vs Astros odds: Chad Billingsley (3-0, 2.84) vs Wandy Rodriguez (1-1, 1.89), today at 8:05 p.m. ET
MLB lines: Dodgers -131, Astros +111

Chad and Wandy should miss a boatload of bats in this MLB betting matchup. It looks frightening at first for the Astros, as the Dodgers' offense has been rolling. While it wouldn't be surprising to see Manny Ramirez launch another ball over the train set in left field, don't expect much else for the Dodgers odds tonight. Rodriguez is sensational at Minute Maid; he had a sub-3.00 ERA and struck out over a batter per inning there last year and looks just as dominant at home so far this season.

Chad Billingsley is a true MLB betting ace and has pitched very well at Minute Maid in his career, but his control has been a bit spotty to start the year. He's not in midseason form yet, whereas Rodriguez seems to be, so the Astros, who have won the first two games of this series, are a solid upset sportsbook pick.

Online betting pick: Astros +111