BASEBALL
BEGINNING THURSDAY, MAY 22
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Brewers have fallen below .500 as they get set to visit the last place Pirates. Milwaukee has been dismal in road games (9-16, -$1055), and they have averaged just 3.2 runs per game on offense in the past 10 days. Pittsburgh has a dreadful offense (.617 OPS), but they have two capable pitchers set to take turns this weekend at PNC Park. Paul Skenes (2.44 ERA in 10 starts) and Bailey Falter (+$260, 3.50 ERA) will be available at reasonable prices. They should keep the Brewers’ bats in check. BEST BET: Skenes/Falter.
Cleveland at Detroit (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Guardians have fallen six games back in the AL Central (3-7, -$430 last 10 days) as they prepare to visit Comerica, where the 1st place Tigers own a 17-5 record (+$1095). Detroit continues to dominate at the plate (.752 OPS, 2nd best in the AL), averaging 5.3 runs per game. Cleveland has had success vs. right-handers, so caution is advised. However, they are only 2-7 vs. southpaws (-$460), averaging 2.7 runs per game. Cy Young ace Tarik Skubal (.$245, 2.87 ERA) looks like an obvious choice. BEST BET: Skubal.
Baltimore at Boston (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
Things are so bad in Baltimore that the Orioles could soon have a worse record than the White Sox, who dropped a record 121 games in 2024. They are only 16-32 overall (-$2245), they have the league’s worst pitching (5.45 team ERA), and they’ve dropped 8 of their last 10. But we’re not too excited about the Red Sox, who are below .500 (-$820), and who own a 7.16 ERA among starters in the last 10 days. Pass on this series for now. BEST BET: None.
Seattle at Houston (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Mariners will look to hold onto the top slot in the AL West as they head into Minute Maid Park. They have been very successful playing outside of T-Mobile Park (15-9, +$800) and they have a 10-6 record against the Astros in head to head play over the past two seasons (+$405). George Kirby makes his 2025 debut after starting 33 games for Seattle last year. Bryan Woo continue to excel, with the Mariners winning 7 of his 9 starts so far (+$650, 2.65 ERA). We’ll happily take them both. BEST BET: Kirby/Woo.
BEGINNING FRIDAY, MAY 23
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Cubs have out-scored the rest of the NL (5.8 runs per game so far) but they will face a formidable trio of arms at Great American Ballpark. Hunter Greene (+$220, 2.37 ERA) and Andrew Abbott (+$245, 1.80) have looked especially sharp. Nevertheless, we have Matthew Boyd (2.98 ERA) set to take the mound in Friday’s opener. He can keep the Reds offense in check (Cincy -$440 vs. southpaws, averaging just 3.4 runs per game). BEST BET: Boyd.
San Francisco at Washington (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Nationals come into this series riding a five game winning streak (+$615 last 10 days). They are 7-4 in night games at home (+$655) and they have a capable left-hander in MacKenzie Gore (3.68 ERA) set to take the mound in the opener. The Giants have had a huge problem dealing with southpaws (only 4-12, -$1200), averaging just 3.6 runs per game in those contests. We should see decent prices on the home team throughout. BEST BET: Gore.
L.A. Dodgers at N.Y. Mets (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
Showdown at CitiField, as the World Champs square off against a New York team that is 17-5 at home (+$805). The Mets have the best pitching in MLB (2.82 team ERA) and they have three of their best set to throw in this series. Griffin Canning (+$755, 2.47 ERA), David Peterson (+$275, 3.22) and Kodai Senga (1.61 ERA in nine outings) should dominate the LA mound corps, which ranks 11th in team ERA in the NL (4.16 ERA). LA has lost money in the road in 2025 (-$355). BEST BET: Canning/Peterson/Senga.
San Diego at Atlanta (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Padres swept a four game set with the Braves at Petco Park (+$450) but they have hit the skids in recent days (2-8, -$965 last 10 days). The Braves are much tougher in home games, but they are a losing proposition vs. right-handers (-$1090), and they are struggling to get over the .500 mark. Tough call right now, but we’ll keep an eye on it throughout the weekend. BEST BET: None.
Arizona at St. Louis (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Cardinals just dropped the last two games of their series with Detroit, but they have been on fire in recent weeks. They are now 13-3 vs. right-handers here at Busch Stadium (+$1110) and their team ERA (3.73) is now 5th best in the NL. Miles Mikolas has turned his season around (0.79 ERA last two appearances) after a rough start. He should make short work of struggling Zac Gallen (-$440, 5.14 ERA ) in Friday’s opener. BEST BET: Mikolas.
Toronto at Tampa Bay (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Blue Jays have climbed over .500 and into 2nd place in the AL East. They have a 16-8 record in night games vs. right-handers (+$905) with a pair of evening contests on tap this weekend. The Rays have been a disaster in home games (only 13-18, -$945) and they have a 4.65 ERA among starters in the past 10 days. Shane Baz has seen his ERA explode to 5.33 over his nine starts. He’ll make an inviting target then he takes the mound on Saturday night. We’ll grab the visitor when he does. BEST BET: Blue Jays vs. Baz.
Texas at Chicago W. Sox (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The White Sox are already 20 games below .500 (-$870), but that’s actually an improvement since last year’s 121 loss debacle. The Rangers are fresh off a three game drubbing by the Yankees in the Bronx, dropping their record outside of Arlington to a dismal 8-16 (-$760). Chicago has turned a modest profit when taking on left-handers (+$290), so we’ll take a shot with Davis Martin (1.93 ERA last two appearances) when he squares off against Patrick Corbin in Sunday’s finale. BEST BET: D. Martin vs. Corbin.
Kansas City at Minnesota (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Royals went 3-1 vs. the Twins at Target Field (+$200), but they’ve been inconsistent at times (4-6, -$155 last 10 days), and their offense is weak (.666 OPS, 3.3 runs per game). Minnesota has been the hottest team in MLB in May. They’ve prevailed in 8 of their last 10 (+$630) and they bring a 3.28 team ERA into this series. Pablo Lopez (2.40 ERA) and Bailey Ober (+$620, 3.68) will be high priced, but still a good value. BEST BET: P. Lopez/Ober.
N.Y. Yankees at Colorado (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The 1st place Yankees are 8-2 in their last 10 (+$510), the same number of wins that the hapless Rockies have compiled all year. Colorado is currently on pace to shatter all records for futility (8-42, -$2335). Colorado has a 5.83 team ERA (worst in MLB) and they have averaged just 3.2 runs per game at the plate. It’s hard to see the home team salvaging any victories, but prices are going to be prohibitive throughout, so caution is advised. BEST BET: None.
Miami at L.A. Angels (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Angels are playing surprisingly well these days (8-2, +$1285 last 10) and now they draw a soft opponent at Anaheim. After some promising stretches the 19-29 Marlins have reverted to familiar form. They have a 5.46 team ERA (2nd worst in the NL) and the trio of righties they have slated to appear are likely to struggle vs. LA (Angels +$860 vs. righties). Jose Soriano (3.57 ERA) and Yusei Kikuchi (3.50) are coming off strong outings and should make short work of the floundering fish. BEST BET: J. Soriano/Kikuchi.
Philadelphia at Oakland (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Athletics have fallen on hard times, losing their last nine in a row (-$1025) and dropping their record in home games to 8-17 (-$1195). The Phillies are heading in the opposite direction, winning seven straight and climbing into 1st place in the NL East. They are 5-1 in inter-league play (+$385) and they should take at least 2 out of 3 from the A’s. BEST BET: Phillies in all games.
