MLB Same Game Parlays & Picks: Saturday (5/24)
We have a few interesting MLB matchups on Saturday. Let’s examine them and build a few same-game parlay (SGP) betting cards with our top MLB picks and predictions.
Saturday's Best MLB Same Game Parlay Bets
(Odds courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook)
Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros
- Leg 1: Astros Moneyline (-120)
- Leg 2: Mariners Team Total Under 3.5 Runs (-115)
- Leg 2: Under 7.5 Runs (-112)
On Friday, the Astros and Mariners played close most of the game, and the deficit was only one until the Mariners broke through in the seventh for three runs and grabbed the 5-3 win.
Framber Valdez will try to even up the series for Houston. He's had some rough starts, but he always seems to rebound. In all three instances this year where he's had a start allowing four or more runs, he's followed it up by allowing two or fewer.
Keeping the ball down is the key to his efficiency, but the control of throwing in the bottom part of the strike zone plays a large part. If he's pitching well, he'll have a steady stream of ground balls, but if he isn't hitting his mark, batters will lay off. This is why walks have been a problem in his career. In his 10 starts, he has multiple walks in six, and his walk rate is in the 63rd percentile.
The Mariners have been one of the strangest lineups to figure out. They are one of the most disciplined teams, ranking second in walk rate (10.2%) and 10th in chase rate (27.5%), but they still strike out frequently, as they are 23rd in strikeout rate (23.1%). We could see Seattle put Valdez in tough situations, but he could find his way out of them.
Parlay Odds: +549
New York Yankees at Colorado Rockies
- Leg 1: Under 10.5 Runs (-114)
- Leg 2: Aaron Judge 2+ Hits (-110)
- Leg 2: Yankees First 5 -1.5 (-132)
The Yankees came into Friday with the second-best record in the American League thanks to the offense scoring the third-most runs per game (5.68). You would believe that going to Colorado and playing the Rockies, whose 8-42 start is the worst since 1895, would lead to an easy sweep. Reality came quickly as the Yankees lost 3-2 despite being -265 favorites.
Luckily, Max Fried will take the mound today for the Yankees. He is in the early conversation for the American League Cy Young, as he leads the league with a 1.29 ERA. Location is key for someone like Fried, who isn't overpowering and has always been known to have great control and can keep the ball away from the hitter’s power zone.
Fried has had success against this Rockies roster. They have only a weighted batting average of .215, and Fried has a 2.91 ERA in 21 innings at Coors Field.
Parlay Odds: +530
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds
- Leg 1: Over 9.0 Runs (-122)
- Leg 2: Reds Team Total Over 4.5 Runs (+102)
- Leg 2: Cubs Team Total Over 4.5 Runs (-125)
The Reds and Cubs are each in the top 10 in runs per game. On Friday, they did not disappoint, with Chicago's offense going off for a 13-6 win.
Cincinnati's Andrew Abbott is establishing himself as an anchor in the rotation, as he has a 1.80 ERA for the season and has allowed one earned run in his last 20 innings. Abbott's fastball is overpowering, but it has great movement, and it tends to rise in the zone. He’s also increased the use of the change-up, which is keeping hitters off balance.
Chicago's Colin Rea is also having a stellar year with a 2.38 ERA. He has not been as good in May with a 3.52 ERA, which is far worse than the 1.17 ERA he had in April, but the Cubs are still 3-1 in his starts this month.
Rea has completely changed his pitching style and gone from a heavy sinker ball pitcher, who threw that pitch 30% of the time last season to 5% this year, to a fastball pitcher, throwing it from a 19.5% rate in 2024 to 52% in 2025. The higher rate of movement helps the pitcher move away from the hitter’s power zone and tries to get them to hit weak fly balls.
As great as these pitchers are coming in, they are due for a regression. Both pitchers want hitters to induce contact, and both teams possess some power, especially the Cubs. This could be another high-scoring game.
Parlay Odds: +562
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday: