Top MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (5/5)
Last week was one of our most successful weeks of the season from an MLB betting perspective, as we went 6-2 with several plus-money cashes.
We are back to continue the momentum this week, starting with a two-pack of plays for Monday’s small 10-game slate.
Read on for our top MLB picks for Monday, May 5th.
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Monday's Top MLB Picks
(MLB odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
San Diego Padres (+128) at New York Yankees (-152) | O/U 8.0 (-105/-115)
The New York Yankees finished Sunday’s series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays with five runs in a 7-5 loss, but were held scoreless through the first five innings and only did their damage against the Rays’ bullpen.
While five runs is good enough to win most games, it also is not sustainable to get that kind of offensive production consistently with two of their starting infielders, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe, out of the lineup.
San Diego’s bullpen entered Sunday with a microscopic 1.79 ERA, which was more than a half run better than the next closest team. The Padres’ bullpen also ranked second in the National League in FIP and should again provide solid relief for Nick Pivetta, who ranks in the top five in the league in ERA (1.78).
I also expect Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodon to match zeros with Pivetta, as he has held current Padres hitters to a combined .210/.297/.296 slash line in 81 at-bats dating back to his days with the Giants.
While the under has cashed in just two of New York’s 12 games against National League opponents, I expect it to be the right side of the total tonight.
Pick: Under 8.0 Runs (-115)
Chicago White Sox (+215) at Kansas City Royals (-260) | O/U 8.0 (-115/-105)
The Kansas City Royals are just 3-11 against the run line in divisional games and have covered the run line in 14 of their 21 non-division games. I expect better fortune and for them to kick off this series with a big win over a Chicago White Sox team that they went 12-1 against last year.
Royals southpaw Cole Ragans has not been the dark horse Cy Young Award contender many expected him to be, as he has pitched to a 4.40 ERA. But the team is 3-1 in his last four starts, and I expect him to pitch well despite being questionable to make this start on time with a mild groin strain.
Kansas City’s pitching staff posted MLB’s sixth-best ERA in April, which was much needed since the offense batted just .224 as a team. Ragans has not allowed an earned run in 11 career innings against the White Sox, and his 0.727 WHIP against them is his lowest versus any opponent he has faced in multiple starts.
Backing the Kansas City run line at -120 odds when it is a much steeper -260 Moneyline favorite is a steal.
Pick: Royals -1.5 (-120)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01