Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Bet Reds, Rays to Win, Two Totals to Play on Tuesday)
We've got another full slate in Major League Baseball on Tuesday, and a few of our staff members are getting bold with their picks for May 24.
BetSided's Reed Wallach, Joe Summers, Matt De Saro and Peter Dewey have you covered with their top picks and predictions in MLB today, with all odds via WynnBET:
Who is the BetSided team wagering on tonight?
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Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction and Pick
I'm concerned about Noah Syndergaard's ability to hold up this season considering he is not the power pitcher he once was. After several injury riddled seasons leading up to his signing with the Halo's, the pitcher whose nicknamed after the God of Thunder has lost his punch out pitch. He is striking out fewer than seven batters per nine innings this season, down from his near 10 K/9 career output.
However, I'm not sure the Rangers can take advantage with Dane Dunning toeing the slab on Tuesday night. While he is one of the better young pitchers on the roster, he struggles a ton away from home. In his three big league seasons, Dunning is 1-8 in 18 starts away from Arlington, pitching to a 5.60 ERA. Against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, this game can have fireworks all over.
I'll look to the over with question marks on the mound.
LEAN: OVER 8 (-120) -- Reed Wallach
You can find all of Reed's bets HERE!
Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Rays Prediction and Pick
Pablo Lopez, it should be noted, did suffer his first “bad” start of the year on Wednesday against the lowly Washington Nationals. He gave up three earned runs off four hits and lasted just three innings. He struck out two while walking three in what would end up in a loss for Miami. A loss against a terrible team to boot.
And while I want nothing more than to trust Lopez to bounce back against the Rays tonight, I’m ignoring one very important thing. Shane McClanahan can ball. The young southpaw is 3-2 with a 2.33 ERA and microscopic 0.86 WHIP in 46 ⅓ innings. The Rays have won three in a row with McClanahan on the hill.
Considering how much better the rest of their team is, the Rays have to feel pretty good about their chances to beat Lopez and the Marlins today. I tend to agree and believe McClanahan finishes the year with better stats than Lopez when all is said and done.
He walks less, strikes out more, and is left-handed. McClanahan is second in the league in strikeouts, fourth in WHIP, and 14th in ERA. He and the Rays are worth a bet today as home favorites.
Pick: Rays ML -153 -- Matt De Saro
Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE
Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction and Pick
What I didn't mention about the Reds being favorites for just the seventh time this season is that they're 1-5 in those six previous matchups. But there's ample reason to believe they'll notch a second victory behind Mahle today.
Let's start with the offense. I promise I'm not lying to you (seriously, look it up), but the Reds lead the league in OPS at home this month. No, really. Their lineup has turned a corner and they were averaging over eight runs per game at the Great American Ball Park this month entering the series.
The same can't be said for the Cubs, who rank 26th in OPS against right-handed pitchers this month and are 5-10 in their last 15 as an underdog. And while Mahle's recent performance is supported by the advanced metrics he's produced all season, Marcus Stroman still ranks in the fifth percentile in hard hit percentage and ninth in average exit velocity.
Chicago's offense has improved in recent weeks, but I don't think they'll be able to keep pace with Cincinnati's transformation. The Reds are just 12-28 on the season, but they're the better team and have an advantage both on the mound and in the batter's box.
Go ahead, pop the champagne! Cincinnati will win its second game as a favorite behind Mahle's continued strong play and a lineup that can't be stopped at home.
Pick: Reds (-107) -- Joe Summers
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves Prediction and Pick
This is a battle between two of the best OVER teams in MLB, and it makes sense since the Phillies are 18th in team ERA and the Braves are 21st this season.
Philadelphia’s bullpen doesn’t help, as it ranks in the bottom 10 in the league in bullpen ERA (4.06) which could erase a potentially solid start from Gibson.
Since the Phillies can be trusted to close out games, I’m going to trust the starters, who are both pitching even better than their ERAs suggest.
Fried, who has a Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 2.74 this season, and Gibson, who has a FIP of 3.50, both are due for some positive regression in this matchup.
I’ll trust the starters to keep this game close through the first five innings.
Lean: Braves-Phillies First Five Innings UNDER 4.5 (-120) -- Peter Dewey
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.