Top 3 MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (5/23)

It has been two straight weeks of profitable MLB picks, and last week’s 2-1 best bets column was punctuated by two separate underdog moneyline cashes of +113 odds (Mets and Giants). Which underdogs are we getting behind from Saturday’s loaded 16-game slate?

Here are the best MLB picks & predictions for Saturday, May 23rd.

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Saturday’s Best MLB Picks & Predictions

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | This Season: 12-12 (+0.44 units)

Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees

Entering Friday’s series opener, Tampa Bay was 13-2 against AL East opponents, the best record of any team against its own division. In that 15-game span, it averaged 5.5 runs per game, batted .288, had a plus-34 run diff, and its starting rotation pitched to a 2.47 ERA while completing an MLB-high six sweeps.

The Rays ranked first in win percentage, third in batting average, third in on-base percentage, first in starter ERA, and fourth in WHIP.

Meanwhile, Katie Sharp highlighted New York’s offensive struggles over the last two weeks. It doesn’t help that Aaron Judge had one RBI and a .619 OPS over that 13-game span, marking the first time in his career he’s had a 13-game span with one or fewer RBI and an OPS below .625.

Yankees Offense Last 13 Games:
41 Runs, 137 K

This is the 2nd time in franchise history the Yankees have had a 13-game span where they scored 41 or fewer runs and struck out at least 137 times.

They also did it in May/June 2021.

— Katie Sharp (@SharpStats17) May 22, 2026

Pick: Rays Moneyline (+119)

St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds (Game 1 of Doubleheader)

Since April 13, entering this series opener, St. Louis averaged 4.5 runs per game while ranking in the top half of the league in BABIP, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. In that span, the Reds were also fourth in home runs, and both teams were in the top 12 in wRC+.

St. Louis has long been due for regression from a pitching perspective, as it ranks 13th in starting-pitcher ERA but 27th in xERA. Its bullpen also hasn't been the most reliable all season, ranked 23rd in ERA, FIP, and xFIP.

Five of the final 10 head-to-head meetings between the Cardinals and Reds last year featured 10 or more runs, including three of the last four at Great American Ball Park.

Pick: Over 9.5 (-110)

Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are a dominant 18-6 against teams with a winning record, while no other team is better than seven games over .500 in that split.

Los Angeles also doesn't have the look of invincibility of a team that is a two-time defending champion, as it has endured two separate losing streaks of four games. Still, the Brewers have had their share of success against Los Angeles in the regular season, going a combined 9-4 against the championship teams over the last two years. I'll happily back the team that has won 92-plus games four of the last five seasons, the one that is 7-2 as a home underdog this season, and is a profitable 44-39 (53%) as a home 'dog since 2023.

Pick: Brewers Moneyline (+102)

Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.