Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, MLB Picks, MLB Free Picks, MLB Predictions 4/5/26

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, MLB Picks, MLB Free Picks, MLB Predictions 4/5/26

ST. LOUIS @ DETROIT (DET -143, 8)

MLB ODDS, MLB PREDICTIONS, MLB PREVIEWS

COACH RICK MLB PREVIEWS

CARDINALS @ TIGERS 4/2/26

The Detroit Tigers are looking to complete a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Comerica Park. Detroit has taken the first two games of this series, outscoring St. Louis 15-6 in the process. Both teams enter this matchup with 4-4 records, but the momentum is firmly with the home side as the Cardinals struggle to find consistency on the road.

The Tigers have a significant advantage in the pitching department tonight. Detroit's team ERA of 3.20 and WHIP of 1.25 far outclass the Cardinals' marks of 4.29 and 1.49, respectively. St. Louis is sending Kyle Leahy to the mound, who has struggled mightily in his limited action, posting a 7.20 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP over 5.0 innings. He allowed eight hits in his first start this season, suggesting that the Tigers' lineup, which has been heating up at home, should have plenty of opportunities.

Detroit has limited opponents to a .222 batting average this season, while the Cardinals' staff is allowing a .270 average. With the Tigers already winning the first two games of this series and showing superior run prevention, they have a great shot at completing the sweep tonight.

While the game yesterday was high-scoring (Detroit won 11-6), the overall statistical profile of these two teams points to two teams that are pretty average in run production. Detroit’s primary strength is its pitching and run prevention. They have recorded 52 strikeouts compared to just 24 walks, showing excellent control and the ability to get out of jams.

Offensively, both teams have been mediocre. St. Louis is batting just .220 as a team, and Detroit is only slightly better at .228. The Tigers have only hit two home runs all season, indicating they rely on stringing hits together rather than explosive innings. Both teams have identical 4-4 O/U records, but the Cardinals have cashed on the Under in 4 of their last 5 games.

Riley Greene has been a standout for the Tigers recently and has a fantastic track record against tonight's starter, Kyle Leahy. In his career against Leahy, Greene is 1-for-2 with a double. More importantly, his recent form is elite. He has recorded at least one hit in 80% of his last 5 games and 71.43% of his games so far this season.

Greene is currently averaging 1.2 hits per game over his last five outings. When playing at home in 2026, he has hit this over in 100% of his appearances. Given Leahy's tendency to allow hits (1.6 hits per inning this season), Greene is in a prime position to continue his hot streak. In 2025, Greene had at least one hit in 61% of the 160 games he played.

Iván Herrera has been one of the few bright spots for the Cardinals' offense. He has a hit in 80% of his last 5 games and 80% of his last 20 games. He also has experience against tonight's expected Detroit starter, Keider Montero, going 1-for-3 (.333 BA) in their previous matchups.

Herrera has been particularly effective on the road, hitting this over in 100% of his away games during the 2026 season. With a season mean of 0.71 hits and a very high recent hit rate, Herrera to record a single hit represents significant value though it is pricey at -210.

Javier Báez has historically performed well when the lights are brightest, and he enters tonight with strong recent trends. He has recorded a hit in 80% of his last 15 games and 75% of his last 20 games. In the series against the Cardinals in 2026, he went 3-for-11, going 2-for-3 in the series finale.

Báez is averaging 1.05 hits over his last 20 games, and has at least one hit in 14 of his last 17 games.. Facing Kyle Leahy, who has a WHIP of 2.00, provides Báez with a high-probability matchup to extend his recent success.

Get free MLB Picks and MLB Predictions for the top games on the weekly 2026 MLB schedule from the YLose.com  crew, one of the industry's largest networks of premier expert MLB handicappers. YLose.com has been bringing the MLB betting community the best MLB free picks and predictions for nearly three decades. Visit daily for the best MLB moneyline and point spread odds and game totals.

FREE PICK: JAVIER BAEZ OVER 0.5 HITS

Baez is only hitting .235 this season, but he has at least one hit in 3 of the 5 games he’s played in 2026. If you go back to last year, Baez has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games. In 2025, he had at least one hit in 65 percent of the 124 games he played. Cards’ starter Kyle Leahy is coming off an 8-hit, 4 ER performance in his first start this season. 

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