This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
MLB Bets Today: Free MLB Expert Picks for Tuesday, May 31
RotoWire.com's Michael Rathburn has dug into the best online sportsbooks across the country to identify his MLB bets and MLB player props to target today.
Previous article 1-6 -6.13
Season 69-75-1 +15.63
Game stacking in baseball can be feast or famine and I got the brunt of it on Friday with the Mariners beating the Astros 6-1. It has worked out for me mostly this year, but I am considering backing off the strategy as the variance in baseball is too great. Especially when you go 2-13 over your last two articles, it can make you question a lot.
Oddsmakers have clearly adjusted totals as we see mostly 8.5 and higher on today's slate.
Reds vs. Red Sox 7:10 pm EDT
Luis Castillo vs. Michael Wacha
The Reds have started to play good baseball as they are 12-8 in their last 20 games vs. 4-23 in their first 27. While the Red Sox have been the hottest offense in baseball over the last month. I'm very surprised in the game total being 8.5. When I was doing my projected lines, I had 9.5 – 10 written down for this game. The Red Sox have average 7 runs per game over their last 20 and the Reds have averaged 5 runs per game over their last 17. Boston has scored 5 runs or more in 14 out of their last 20 games.
MLB Expert Picks for Reds-Red Sox
- Red Sox over 4.5 runs for 1.02 RW buck (FanDuel -102)
- Red Sox -1.5 for 1 RW buck (FanDuel +136)
Brewers vs. Cubs 8:05 pm EDT
Lauer won this matchup 9-1 on April 30th and is coming off his worst outing of the year on the road against the Cardinals. The Brewers are 13-7 in their last 20 while the Cubs are 11-19 in their last 30. The Brewers are 18-12 on the road and the Cubs are just 7-17 at home. Lauer's ability to go deep into games, plus the Brewers' strong bullpen, has me on the road team in this matchup. The price is attractive at -130, as I have it projected more in the -150 to -160 range.
MLB Expert Picks for Brewers-Cubs
- Brewers -130 for 1 RW buck (DraftKings)
Astros vs. Athletics 9:40 pm EDT
Cristian Javier vs. Frankie Montas
The Astros have been the No. 1 "under" team in baseball, going 12-35-2 for +22.10 units. Getting them in this spot with two solid pitchers on the mounds has me leaning towards the under here. Oakland is 21-27-3 on totals this year. The Astros are 1-9 on totals over their last 10. The average score in the Astros last 10 games is 5.5 runs. The Astros are 21-9 in their last 30, while the A's are just 10-20. Javier has had 4 strong outings in games that he has pitching at least 5 innings. Both teams have been heavy towards the under on their team totals in this scenario also (Astros on the road, A's at home).
MLB Expert Picks for Astros-Athletics
- Astros-Athletics Under 7 for 1.15 RW buck (DraftKings -115)
- Astros -133 for 1.33 RW buck (FanDuel)
MLB Expert Picks Recap for Tuesday, May 31
- Under 7 for 1.15 RW buck (DraftKings -115)
- Astros -133 for 1.33 RW buck (FanDuel)
- Red Sox over 4.5 runs for 1.02 RW buck (FanDuel -102)
- Red Sox -1.5 for 1 RW buck (FanDuel +136)
- Brewers -130 for 1 RW buck (DraftKings)
- Astros-Athletics Under 7 for 1.15 RW buck (DraftKings -115)
- Astros -133 for 1.33 RW buck (FanDuel)
