Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Pirates Upset Dodgers, Two Plays for Mariners-Phillies and More on Monday)

Not every MLB teams is in action on Monday, but we've got a pair of afternoon games followed by an action-packed evening slate, especially in the National League.

The BetSided team of Reed Wallach, Ben Heisler and Joe Summers have made their picks for the games on Monday, May 9, and we're here to share some of their favorites, with all odds via WynnBET Sportsbook:

Philadelphia Phillies vs Seattle Mariners Prediction and Pick

Chris Flexen has long been one of my favorite pitchers to back. He's stayed under the radar but his results have remained consistent. In his last three starts, he's given up only four runs across 18.2 innings. Flexen doesn't rack up many strikeouts, but the weak contact he generates allows the Mariners' top-10 defense to keep bats at bay.

On the other end, Ranger Suarez is in the 86th percentile among pitchers in average exit velocity, but his underlying metrics are unkind otherwise. He has a 5.30 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) while ranking in the 13th percentile in expected ERA and 1st percentile in fastball spin rate.

Seattle's offense presents an easy matchup for Suarez, though. They've scored three or fewer runs in five of their last six contests and have been shut out three times in that span. I expect a tight game as a result, but one the Mariners should win.

Flexen gives the Mariners a starting pitching advantage and they have the superior bullpen to Philly's 26th-ranked unit. Their defense is ninth in MLB in defensive runs saved compared to 25th for Philadelphia, so offense is the only area that the Phillies have the edge.

Offense is obviously a crucial edge to have, but Flexen should provide enough on the mound to mitigate that advantage. I'm backing Seattle and the under in a close-contest.

Pick: Mariners (-122) and Under 7.5 (-110) -- Joe Summers

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Pick

If the Pirates have a chance to pull off the upset, it's tonight. And with massive moneyline odds, I think it's worth a sprinkle.

The Dodgers played on Sunday night and had a late flight into Pittsburgh. The game time is also slightly earlier than a normal east coast game at 6:35 p.m. ET

To keep it close, they'll need a great start out of left-hander Jose Quintana. He's been solid for the Buckos this season, with a 3.45 ERA through five starts and 24 innings. Part of his resurgence has been his ability to keep the ball in the ballpark this year; lowering his HR/9 from 1.71 last year, to just 0.75 in 2022.

Fellow lefty Julio Urias makes the start for L.A, and while it's a limited sample, Pirates' batters on the current roster own a combined .150 batting average against him. He also owns a fielder independent pitching (FIP) of 1.08. His strikeout rate, however, is at its lowest level since 2017, and Pittsburgh's batting average of balls in play (BABIP) ranks seventh in all of baseball. If Urias isn't missing bats, they've got a swinging chance.

LEAN: Pirates -1.5 (-145) + sprinkle on +215 moneyline -- Ben Heisler

Follow all of Ben Heisler's betting plays in real-time HERE

Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres Prediction and Pick

Kyle Hendricks' decline continues with his ERA sitting at 5.64 with a career-high walk rate sitting above 3 per 9 innings. Considering the Cubs starter is not retiring batters at a high clip with strikeouts (7.4 K/9 for his career, just 6.8 K/9 this season), he has struggled to keep runs off the board.

Now he gets a surging Padres offense that is top 10 in on-base percentage. The team has been paced by Manny Machado, hitting an MLB best .385 with seven home runs and 21 RBI's.

While San Diego should produce against Hendricks, the team should also hold it down on the other side with Gore on the bump. The rookie has been fantastic across a limited sample (four starts), allowing 4 runs in 21 innings. He should be able to take care of a Cubs lineup that is falling off after a hot start, now sitting 20th in wRC+ which is a normalized rate of run scoring chances created.

I like the Padres to win this game fairly easily, so the moneyline is worth a look, but I do believe there is value in playing the San Diego team total over 4 at a cheap price of -105.

LEAN: Padres ML -160, TT Over 4 (-105) -- Reed Wallach

You can find all of Reed's bets HERE!