Handicapper Joe Jensen posted a solid 8-4 record on April 12, 2026, navigating a busy Sunday slate of MLB action with a mix of moneyline favorites, underdogs, and a winning total. The day featured several comeback victories and series sweeps that shaped the results.
Rockies at Padres
Jensen’s 1-unit play on the Colorado Rockies (+139) to close out their series in San Diego resulted in a loss as the Padres completed a four-game sweep with a commanding 7-2 victory. Ty France led the charge going 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored, while Ramón Laureano and Jackson Merrill also went deep. The Padres built their lead methodically, scoring in five different innings, while the Rockies managed just two hits until Brett Sullivan’s two-run double in the fifth provided their only offense. Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta exited with elbow stiffness in the fourth, but San Diego’s bullpen held firm to extend their winning streak to five games.
Rangers at Dodgers
A 2-unit wager on the Texas Rangers (+163) delivered a win as they avoided a three-game sweep in Los Angeles with a 5-2 victory. Despite Shohei Ohtani connecting for his second consecutive leadoff home run off Jacob deGrom, the Rangers rallied against Roki Sasaki. Evan Carter tied the game with a home run, and Brandon Nimmo drove in two runs to support the comeback. Sasaki struggled with control, allowing five walks over four innings despite striking out six, and his ERA sits at 6.23. The Rangers scored in three different innings to pull away, with Josh Jung going 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.
Astros at Mariners
Jensen’s 2-unit play on Under 7.5 (-105) cashed comfortably as Seattle defeated Houston 6-1 for a final total of seven runs. Logan Gilbert dominated with seven innings of one-run ball, while the Astros extended their losing streak to seven games. Luke Raley collected three hits and two RBI for the Mariners, who won the first three games of the four-game series. Houston pitchers walked nine batters, including two that forced in runs, continuing their control issues that saw them issue 26 walks in the series. Yainer Diaz’s solo homer in the fifth provided Houston’s only run against Gilbert’s masterful performance.
Diamondbacks at Phillies
After losing an Over 8.5 bet on this matchup the previous day, Jensen bounced back with a 1-unit play on Arizona (+119) that resulted in a win. The Diamondbacks rallied with two runs in the eighth inning, as Jose Fernandez and Adrian Del Castillo delivered RBI singles to overcome a 3-2 deficit and secure a 4-3 victory. Taylor Clarke earned the win with a scoreless seventh inning. Trea Turner homered for Philadelphia, but the Phillies fell to 7-8 overall, losing their fourth game in five tries. Arizona took two of three in the series.
Giants at Orioles
Following a loss on the Giants the day before, Jensen switched sides with a 2-unit play on Baltimore (-131) that proved successful in a 6-2 win. Samuel Basallo hit a two-run homer and Pete Alonso drove in two runs to support starter Cade Povich, who retired the first 12 batters and allowed just one run over 6+ innings to earn his first victory. The Orioles scored early with two runs in the first inning and added insurance runs throughout. Casey Schmitt homered off the foul pole in the ninth for San Francisco’s only real highlight in a three-hit performance. Baltimore moved above .500 for the first time since opening day.
Twins at Jays
After correctly backing Minnesota the previous day, Jensen returned with a 2-unit play on the Twins (-102) that delivered another win in an 8-2 rout of Toronto. Tristan Gray hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Kody Clemens added a solo shot as Minnesota took two of three in the series. Taj Bradley improved to 3-0, allowing one run over five innings while striking out seven, though his ERA rose slightly from 1.08 to 1.25. The Twins scored five runs in the third inning to break the game open and have now won six of seven games.
Angels at Reds
Following a loss on Los Angeles the day before, Jensen went back to the Angels (-108) with a 2-unit wager that resulted in a win despite a late scare. José Soriano became the majors’ first four-game winner, striking out 10 over seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits. The Angels built a 9-0 lead through seven innings before Cincinnati mounted a furious rally with three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings. Elly De La Cruz homered and drove in three runs in the late comeback attempt, but it fell short at 9-6. Soriano’s ERA dropped to a league-best 0.33.
Athletics at Mets
After losing on the Mets the previous day, Jensen flipped to the Athletics (+144) for a 2-unit play that cashed in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel. Nick Kurtz hit his first home run of the season in the third inning, which proved to be the game’s only run as Oakland completed a three-game sweep. Aaron Civale allowed four hits over 5.2 innings to earn the win as the Athletics won their fifth straight game. The Mets were shut out for the second time in the series and managed just four hits total. Francisco Lindor went 2-for-4 but New York couldn’t generate any offense with Juan Soto on the injured list.
Marlins at Tigers
After backing Miami unsuccessfully the day before, Jensen stayed with the Marlins (+163) for a 2-unit play that resulted in a loss as Detroit completed a three-game sweep with an 8-2 victory. Two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal dominated, retiring the first nine batters and carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Austin Slater’s bloop single. Dillon Dingler, Kevin McGonigle, and Kerry Carpenter all homered for the Tigers, who scored three runs in the first inning and cruised from there. Otto Lopez hit a two-run homer for Miami’s only offensive highlight in the finale.
Nationals at Brewers
Following a loss on Milwaukee the previous day, Jensen switched to Washington (+179) for a 2-unit play that proved profitable in an 8-6 win. Keibert Ruiz singled home two runs in the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie after the Brewers had tied the game on Gary Sánchez’s three-run homer in the seventh. The Nationals completed their first series sweep of Milwaukee in 15 years and their first in Milwaukee since 2006. Brice Turang hit two solo homers for the Brewers, but it wasn’t enough. James Wood homered and reached base three times for Washington in the victory.
Sox at Cardinals
A 2-unit play on St. Louis (+104) resulted in a loss as Boston rolled to a 9-3 victory. Willson Contreras haunted his former team with four hits, including a two-run homer in the second inning, and finished with three RBI. Trevor Story also collected four hits for the Red Sox, who scored four runs in the fourth inning to break the game open. Boston built a 7-1 lead before Alec Burleson’s solo homer provided one of the Cardinals’ few highlights. The Red Sox dominated the series after their previous bet on this matchup pushed on an Over 8.
Pirates at Cubs
After correctly backing Pittsburgh the day before, Jensen returned with a 2-unit play on the Pirates (+113) that resulted in a heartbreaking loss as Chicago rallied from a 6-1 deficit to win 7-6. Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam and a solo homer for Pittsburgh, and Oneil Cruz led off the game with a home run to stake the Pirates to a 5-0 lead. However, Michael Busch ended an 0-for-30 slump with a tying two-run single in the eighth, and Carson Kelly delivered a walk-off single in the ninth. Dansby Swanson homered and scored three runs for the Cubs in the dramatic comeback victory.
Jensen’s 8-4 performance on April 12 showcased strong handicapping across multiple bet types, with particularly successful results on underdogs like the Athletics (+144) and Nationals (+179). The day featured several dramatic finishes, including Washington’s comeback win and Pittsburgh’s heartbreaking collapse, but Jensen’s selections navigated the variance effectively to post a profitable Sunday.
