Top 3 MLB Picks & Predictions: Friday (5/8)
Baseball season has officially reached May, the weather is getting warmer, and life is good. I'll continue to be here once a week to provide you with the best MLB picks across the day. Baseball is the best sport to get specific with your bets, and there are plenty of angles to attack any given game, with almost every day offering a loaded slate of opportunities. It's the best time of year.
We went a perfect 3-0 last time out, and I plan on keeping it going tonight. Here are the best MLB picks & predictions for Friday, May 1st.
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Friday's Best MLB Picks & Predictions
Last Time: 3-0 | This Season: 10-8
Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers
The Cubs have been on an absolute tear of late, going 19-3 over their last 22 games, and they are on a nine-game win streak. After a great homestand, Chicago travels south to take on the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
With the injuries the Cubs are facing in their rotation, Ben Brown is taking the bump. While he's been solid with a 2.10 ERA, he's making his first start of the season and will go three innings max. The Cubs’ bullpen ranks right in the middle of the pack, and despite their hot run, they're due for some major regression.
The Rangers have the best bullpen in baseball, and Kumar Rocker owns a 2.65 ERA in his three home starts this year. It's hard to see the Cubs as a favorite here, so to get the Rangers at plus-odds to win feels like a steal.
Pick: Rangers Moneyline (+118 at betMGM)
Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles
Next up, we have whatever the opposite of ‘unstoppable force meets immovable object’ is. Jacob Lopez gets the start for the A's, and his 6.60 ERA is nothing to be afraid of. Especially considering he takes a step back on the road at a park with the fourth-largest park factor at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Even if he does pitch well, the Athletics have the 26th-ranked bullpen ERA, and the Orioles aren't much better, ranking dead last in the last month when it comes to bullpen ERA. Kyle Bradish hasn't exactly been unstoppable either, with a 5.03 ERA and .304 batting average allowed. Since April 15thth, both offenses have ranked in the top 10 in runs scored, so I might take some alts here with the over.
Pick: Over 9.5 Runs (+108 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Finally, we have two powerhouse National League teams going at it, with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Atlanta Braves. Chris Sale goes for Atlanta, and he has been dealing now that he's healthy.
In 2026, the southpaw owns a 2.14 ERA with a .176 batting average against him. He's only had one outing allowing more than one run in his seven starts. To go with it, Atlanta's bullpen has been electric with a 3.22 ERA, fourth-best in baseball.
Emmet Sheehan counters for Los Angeles, and he hasn't exactly been locked in. The Dodgers starter owns a 5.23 ERA, and going up against a Braves team scoring the most runs per game in baseball is a tall task. This is another game where I feel like the Moneyline odds should be flipped, and I'm taking the underdog.
Pick: Braves Moneyline (+105 at bet365)