MLB Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (5/30)
The weather is getting warmer, and we're fully into the MLB season. Let's look at interesting matchups for tonight.
Today's MLB Best Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Atlanta Braves (-245) at Oakland Athletics (+200) | O/U 8.5 (-105/-115)
The Braves are once again showing they are a favorite in the National League. They have put up some of the best power numbers in the league, including leaders in both hard-hit and barrel percentages.
They also know how to develop pitchers, and Bryce Elder is no different, thanks to a 2.07 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
The Athletics finally broke their 11-game losing streak on Monday with a 7-2 win. These wins will come few and far between as they were the first team in the modern era (Post 1901) to lose 45 games before June and are projected to lose 133.
JP Sears has vastly improved from April, where he had a 6.23 ERA, to May, where it's 3.25. He has great stuff and does well at forcing swings and misses with a chase rate in the 82nd percentile
The Braves are prone to the swing-and-miss, which will benefit Spears, and ultimately that's why I believe the under is a better bet for this game.
Pick: Under 8.5 (-115)
Washington Nationals (+270) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-335) | O/U 9 (-102/-120)
The Dodgers started off slowly, but it has been a good month, as they are currently 17-9 with a +33 run differential. This division is seeing some of last year's struggling teams, like the Diamondbacks and Giants, playing much better, and they could compete in this division.
Tony Gonsolin spent the early part of this season on the IL and has built off last year's tremendous season and has not allowed a run in four of six starts.
It should be another losing season for the Nationals as they sit with the second-worst winning percentage in the National League. Rookie Jake Irvin had two excellent starts to begin the season with a 0.84 ERA but has really struggled since, posting a 9.53 ERA in his last three starts
This is not an optimal time to face a Dodgers offense that has scored 22 runs in the last three games.
Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-146)
Tampa Bay Rays (-196) at Chicago Cubs (+164) | O/U 7/5 (-110/-110)
The Rays aren't playing as well as they were in April when they had a +99 run differential, but they still have the best record in the league and lead the American League East. Shane McClanahan has had a similar start this year as he did in 2022 when he was an early Cy Young candidate. In his 11 starts, he's allowed more than two earned just once.
After an excellent start to the season, we thought the Cubs might become a contender, but after going 9-17 in May, probably not. The big reason is that the offense went from scoring 5.4 per game in April to just 3.8 in May. Kyle Hendricks had a rough first start coming back from injury and allowed five runs in 4.1 innings to the Mets.
The Rays' bats were quiet yesterday against Marcus Stroman, but I am expecting them to rebound in a better matchup.
Pick: Rays -1.5 (-110)
Make sure to check out the rest of our best bets for Tuesday:
- MLB Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions
- MLB PrizePicks Player Predictions
- MLB Best Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions
- WNBA Best Bets, Picks & Predictions
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