Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Braves, Astros and Two Totals to Trust on Sunday)
By Peter Dewey
Looking to bet on the MLB action on Sunday?
Look no further. The BetSided team has you covered with the top picks and predictions for Sunday, May 29, with all odds via WynnBET:
New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction and Pick
Shane McClanahan is a superstar and I'm targeting him in the Cy Young race. He's allowed precisely one run in his last three starts and has racked up 74 strikeouts in 52.1 innings this year. By all measurements, McClanahan is one of the very best pitchers in the sport and I expect him to shut the Yankees down today.
But Luis Severino is pretty darned good, himself. He's allowed more than three runs in an outing just once and has a 2.78 ERA this month.
With such an elite pitching matchup, I'm inclined to take the under. It's always a dangerous proposition to fade New York's lineup, but the Yankees are merely average against left-handed pitchers instead of world-beaters. Considering they're facing perhaps the best lefty in baseball right now, I'm comfortable expecting a low-scoring matchup.
Dating back to last season, the under is 11-3-1 in McClanahan's last 15 starts. It hit in each of the first two matchups of the series and today will make it three straight.
Pick: Under 6.5 (+100) -- Joe Summers
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.
Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves Prediction and Odds
For the Marlins to stay in this game, they’ll need Elieser Hernandez to give them much more than what they’ve gotten out of him lately. Hernandez has lost three straight starts. Miami hasn’t been able to put everything together when he’s on the mound.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is putting its fatih into Max Fried. He’s been the definition of consistency. He’s pitched exactly six innings in four of his last five starts and has struck out six batters in three of the last five. Fried sets the Braves up to get decent wins, but the Braves’ offense hasn’t come through to pick those up.
This game will come down to Atlanta’s offense, which I think will have decent success against Hernandez. The Braves have begun to figure out the Marlins, as this is their third series this season. I’ll take the Braves in what should be a close one.
Lean: Braves ML (-215) -- Donnavan Smoot
You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.
Houston Astros vs Seattle Mariners Prediction and Pick
Houston's lineup is slumping in a big way, having scored only one run total in the first two games of this series, but there's ample reason to believe the Astros will do some damage today against Marco Gonzales.
Despite a 3.74 ERA, Gonzales' underlying metrics are terrible. He's in the eighth percentile in strikeout rate, 11th in expected batting average and 15th in expected ERA. The Astros rank 11th in OPS against left-handed pitchers in May and should take advantage of Gonzales' lackluster arsenal.
The same can't be said for Seattle taking on Luis Garcia. He's been spectacular on the road, amassing a 2.74 ERA in four starts. I feel comfortable predicting an Astros win, but I also can't ignore the best under bet in the sport.
On the season, the under is 35-12 in Astros' games. It's 9-1 over their last 10 and with one of MLB's best bullpens backing Garcia up, I expect those trends to continue.
Give me Houston to salvage a win in this series as Garcia keeps the Mariners' bats at bay.
Pick: Astros (-145) and Under 8.0 (-115) -- Joe Summers