Friday May 23rd MLB Picks: Best Bets and Predictions

The weekend is here, meaning it’s time to bet on some Friday baseball.

No matter when each game gets started, we can get you prepared in advance of the three-day weekend.

Every team is scheduled to take the field, which means 30 teams and thousands of potential plays league wide.

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds

The Cubs have been hitting an MLB-best .336 over the last week, but they’ll be facing a pitcher who has given up just 10 hits and four runs at home all season (four starts). Chicago starter Mathew Boyd has done some solid work on the road (2.96 ERA, .255 OBA).

As well as the Cubs are hitting, Greene will keep them in check. Cincinnati is doing a decent job of hitting the ball (.258), but not scoring runs (20 over the last six games).

UNDER 8.5 at -106 (FanDuel)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets

The Dodgers have not been hitting the ball well over the last week, batting just .227 and scoring 27 runs in six games. So, it’s great that they have Clayton Kershaw on the mound, right? Not really — he got shelled his last time out, giving up five earned runs in four innings.

But the Mets are hitting .194 over the last week and have scored just 13 runs across their last six games. However, Griffin Canning has not given up more than two runs in his last six starts. It would not be shocking to see him limit a Dodgers lineup that isn’t hitting well.

UNDER 8.5 at +102 (DraftKings)

Miami Marlins vs. Los Angeles Angels

If you are looking for lots of hits and runs scored, you’ll probably get it with this game. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara has a 7.99 ERA to go with a 2-6 record and a 1.61 WHIP. He has given up 20 runs over his last four starts and 35 over his last eight.

Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi has not done too badly, but he is 0-4 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He hasn’t gotten a ton of support from his pen and lineup. But the lineup is smacking the ball like crazy these days, hitting .300 with 17 home runs over the last week.

Miami is not hitting poorly (.265), but with how the Angels are hitting and with Alcantara on the mound, I’d lean toward taking the Angels to win outright. But I like the OVER as a better bet.

OVER 8.5 at -102 (DraftKings)

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Oakland Athletics

This one almost feels like cheating. In the Phillies, you have a team that is on fire at the plate, hitting .294 over the last week and scoring 41 runs across seven games. The Athletics, on the other hand, have hit .214 over the last week and scored 14 runs across seven games.

So, the A’s are struggling to get hits and score runs, and they have to face a pitcher who has given up two runs and 10 hits this month (three starts). A’s starter Jeffrey Springs has been pitching well, but he’s unlikely to get much (if any) support from his team.

Philly may not score a lot, but they’ll score at least two more than the A’s.

Phillies -1.5 at -110 (FanDuel)