Best MLB Bets for Mother’s Day: Top Picks and Predictions for May 11th

Nothing says “Happy Mother’s Day!” quite like betting on baseball, right? Of course not. But when you cash out a winning bet and buy Mom some flowers, that says Happy Mother’s Day. Only the best MLB bets for Mom, you know.

So, what are the best MLB bets of the day? The answer is simple — the ones you win. The following made my list of “Best MLB Bets” for Mother’s Day:

Chicago Cubs (+1.5) vs. New York Mets (-135), o/u 8.5

Both teams are starting the day with solid pitching: Cubs’ Matthew Boyd (3-2, 2.75 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) and the Mets’ Griffin Canning (5-1, 2.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP). The Cubs are batting .201 over the last week; the Mets are hitting .260.

So, don’t expect a ton of offense.

Canning has fared well against the Cubs in the past (.220 opponent batting average). With how the Cubs are swinging the bat lately, he could do even better this time. If the Cubs do manage to get to him, New York has one of the better bullpens in the league (3.16 ERA).

The Mets have played well at home this season. The Cubs are a solid road team at 13-8, but Boyd has struggled in away starts, going 0-2. New York should win a relatively low-scoring game.

Pick: Mets ML at -135 / Under 8.5 at -120
SGP Odds: +210 (BetMGM)

Cincinnati Reds (+1.5) vs. Houston Astros (-148), o/u 8.5

One stat tells you all you need to know about this game: Reds starter Chase Petty has a 34.71 ERA and a 3.86 WHIP. His MLB debut was a disaster (April 30 vs. Cardinals: 2 1/3 innings, seven hits, nine earned runs).

Astros starter Ronel Blanco isn’t exactly an ace (2-3, 4.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), but Houston’s bullpen should cover for his shortcomings. The Reds exploded for 12 hits and 13 runs yesterday, but they’re still hitting under .200 over the last week.

Houston, meanwhile, is healthy and hitting well — .282 over the last week. They’ll make quick work of Petty and get out to an early lead they won’t give up.

Pick: Houston -1.5 at +142

San Diego Padres (-1.5) vs. Colorado Rockies (+210), o/u 11.5

Colorado is starting Germán Márquez, who is 0-6 in seven starts with a 9.90 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. Those numbers are real — I double-checked. The Padres had 24 hits in 50 at-bats yesterday and jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first.

It could happen again today. Nick Pivetta is on the mound for the Padres (5-1, 2.01 ERA, 0.94 WHIP). If there were ever a game to take a shot on an alternate run line, it’s this one.

Pick: Padres alternate run line, -3.5 at +130 (bet365)