Best Bets Today - Betting Picks for April 23, 2026
Use Code SSWC If you're searching for the best bets today, you've come to the right place. The Stat Salt team has broken down several top matchups across MLB and NHL to identify where the value sits on today’s board. Below, we highlight three strong plays backed by pitching edges, offensive trends, and recent team performance.
Whether you're a seasoned bettor or just getting started, these selections provide a clear edge before placing your next wager. Let’s dive into best bets for April 23, 2026!
Best Bet #1: Detroit Tigers -1.5 vs Milwaukee Brewers
Detroit on the run line is still my favorite MLB position of the day because this is the cleanest starting-pitching gap among the baseball games we covered. Tarik Skubal has been outstanding, entering this start at 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, and just one home run allowed over 30.1 innings, and that profile is exactly what bettors want when laying a price. On the other side, Brandon Sproat has been hittable and wild, bringing a 6.88 ERA and 1.71 WHIP into the matchup while giving up four home runs in only 17.0 innings. That is a dangerous combination against a Detroit lineup that does not need to be elite to do damage if it is constantly hitting with traffic on the bases. The Tigers also carry the better overall team profile, with edges in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, ERA, and WHIP, so this is not just a one-pitcher handicap. Kerry Carpenter’s power, Kevin McGonigle’s on-base ability, and Dillon Dingler’s RBI production give Detroit enough lineup balance to turn this into a multi-run game if Skubal controls the early innings. Milwaukee has capable bats, especially William Contreras, but this looks like a spot where the Brewers may struggle to generate sustained offense. My projected score remains Tigers 5, Brewers 2, making Detroit -1.5 the best blend of matchup strength and price value.
Best Bet #2: New York Yankees -1.5 vs Boston Red Sox
The Yankees on the run line stand out because nearly every major angle points in the same direction. New York came into this game leading the AL East at 15-9, riding a five-game winning streak, and already holding a 2-0 series lead in Boston after 4-0 and 4-1 wins. The Yankees have also been far better than the Red Sox in the most important team categories for bettors, with a 3.16 ERA versus Boston’s 4.39, a 1.13 WHIP versus 1.32, and a massive power gap of 34 home runs to 13. Cam Schlittler is another major reason this is one of the strongest plays of the day. He entered with a 1.95 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 36 strikeouts, just three walks, and no home runs allowed in 27.2 innings, which is elite production regardless of opponent. Boston’s listed starter was still undecided, and that uncertainty matters even more for a club already missing several rotation arms. Offensively, New York has the two most dangerous bats in this matchup with Aaron Judge’s 9 home runs and Ben Rice’s huge .314/.456/.743 slash line, plus 8 homers and 18 RBI. Boston has some useful pieces, but it has not shown the lineup depth or power consistency to keep pace with the Yankees right now. When the better team, hotter team, deeper lineup, and more stable pitching plan are all on the same side, I am comfortable laying the run line. My projected score remains Yankees 6, Red Sox 3.
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Best Bet #3: Carolina Hurricanes moneyline at Ottawa Senators
Among the NHL games, Carolina is my favorite straight side because the Hurricanes have already shown they can win this series in more than one style, and their full-season numbers say that is not a fluke. Carolina took the first two games by identical 3-2 scores, including a double-overtime win in Game 2, and overall the Hurricanes were the superior regular-season team at 53-22-7. They averaged 3.55 goals per game, allowed just 2.88, generated 32.2 shots per game, and held edges over Ottawa in both power-play efficiency and penalty killing. The Senators are live because they are back home and have enough top-end skill with Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and Dylan Cozens to make this competitive, but Carolina’s structure has been the difference. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis headline the attack, yet what really makes the Hurricanes trustworthy is their layered offense and defensive pressure. In Game 2 they got goals from Logan Stankoven, Aho, and Jordan Martinook, which is a reminder that they do not need one line to carry the entire load. Frederik Andersen was excellent as well, stopping 37 shots with a .949 save percentage, and Ottawa’s injury situation on defense adds another concern with Artem Zub and Tyler Kleven listed day-to-day and Nick Jensen on IR. That blue-line uncertainty is a bad fit against Carolina’s forecheck. I still see this as Hurricanes 3, Senators 2, and while the under is attractive too, Carolina on the moneyline is the cleaner target.
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