Top MLB Betting Odds & Picks for Tuesday, May 17th (2022)

Weather will not be the only reason for doubleheaders in Major League Baseball this season. The lockout forced the postponement of all teams’ first six games, and since Commissioner Rob Manfred vowed each team would play all 162 games, schedule makers had to get creative with doubleheaders to make sure teams make up those games before the postseason. That is the reason for two doubleheaders on today’s slate (White Sox-Royals, Diamondbacks-Dodgers), while the third between the Cardinals and Mets is a result of yesterday’s rainout.

That means bettors have a loaded 18-game slate with which to get involved, including three games whose first pitch is at 3:10 ET or earlier.

Here are our best bets for Tuesday's MLB action. (Odds courtesy of DraftKings)

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>

Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays RL

With the way the Tigers have been hitting, and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (2-2, 2.52) has been pitching, it will not take much offense from the Rays to cover this runline. Detroit is an offensively challenged bunch, as their 106 runs scored is the worst in the majors. They have scored four or fewer runs in 30 of the first 36 games, in large part because they cannot hit the ball out of the yard. The Tigers have hit an MLB-worst 18 home runs, and you know things are bad when the ancient Miguel Cabrera is tied for the team lead with three long balls.

Scoring runs will be especially difficult against McClanahan, as will simply putting the ball in play, as the Rays flamethrower has 11 strikeouts in two of his last three starts. McClanahan’s 58 strikeouts lead the league, and his 0.915 WHIP and 2.65 FIP means he is elite at limiting traffic on the basepaths.

His counterpart, Beau Brieske (0-2, 3.86), is making just his fifth Major League start. Brieske’s 6.58 FIP leaves something to be desired, and he does not put away hitters at nearly the same rate as McClanahan does, as he has not topped three strikeouts in any of his four starts. Considering the Rays rank in the top ten with a .289 BABIP, we should see them muster enough offense to cover the -1.5 runs.

Bet: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 Runs (-120 at DraftKings)  

Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins O/U

Poor pitching is one of the primary reasons the Nationals are off to a 12-25 start, and only the dreadful Cincinnati Reds have allowed more than their 194 runs.

Washington’s pitching struggles continued yesterday, as they entered the series opener against Miami ranked 28th out of 30 teams in ERA, and proceeded to allow eight more runs.

Marlins starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo landed on the IL with a forearm strain, which put a wrench into Miami’s pitching plans for the next several days. While Sandy Alcantara had a dominant outing of three hits and one run allowed over eight innings yesterday pitching on four days’ rest, today’s starter, Cody Poteet (0-0, 0.55), has dealt with an unusual workload all season. Poteet has not pitched since May 10th, and the fact that he has bounced between starting pitching and relief duties will eventually take its toll on him. Miami’s team ERA ranks ninth, primarily because of Alcantara’s and Pablo Lopez’s fantastic seasons. Unfortunately, Poteet is not the same caliber pitcher that those two are.

The over has cashed in the last five meetings in Miami between these teams, and we look for another high-scoring affair between these division rivals tonight.

Bet: Nationals-Marlins OVER 8.5 (-105 at DraftKings)  

San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies ML

Anytime one franchise has been as dominant against an opponent as San Francisco has been over Colorado, we feel compelled to back them until the streak ends.

With yesterday’s 7-6 victory over the Rockies, the Giants have won 11 consecutive games in this rivalry, including a home sweep of their division rivals earlier this season. Before last night’s win, the ten successive head-to-head wins matched San Francisco’s longest winning streak against one opponent since beating Cincinnati in ten straight games in 1933-34. The Giants have outscored Colorado 85-34 during the streak and recorded at least ten hits in ten of the 11 wins. 

San Francisco is now 21-6 in the last 27 meetings with Colorado, including winning seven straight at Coors Field. So why mess with a good thing?

Bet: San Francisco Giants ML (-160 at DraftKings)  

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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.