MLB Weekend Picks

The first full weekend in May is here, which means the first month of the Major League Baseball season is in the books and it’s time to shift our attention to the MLB Weekend picks.  BetRivers.com is proud to provide a wide variety of MLB game odds, teasers, props, player markets, team markets, and futures odds. Longtime Poker broadcaster and sports bettor David Tuchman is here to preview the notable games and make his MLB Weekend picks for May 7 to May 9.

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Mother’s Day weekend!  Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there. Last weekend we went 2-2, which was annoying because I started 2-2. This week, I’m throwing eight games out there. I know you’re thinking, “Woah…what is going on?!?” But stick with me, there’s a reason for it.  Read on, and enjoy!

*As always, pay attention to who is starting these games. If our basis for picking a game is because Joe is scheduled to pitch and something happens and Joe isn’t pitching, adjust your bets accordingly. We will.

With that, lets get to the MLB weekend picks.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST OF WEEKEND MLB ODDS

MLB WEEKEND PICKS: FRIDAY, MAY 7

BOSTON RED SOX (19-13) at BALTIMORE ORIOLES (15-16)
PITCHERS: Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS), Matt Harvey (BAL)
MONEYLINE: Red Sox -157 ML, Orioles +133 ML
SPREAD: Red Sox -1.5 (+106), Orioles +1.5 (-125)
OVER/UNDER: 8.5 runs (-115/-104)
Click here for the full list of Orioles-Red Sox odds.

The Red Sox are in first place, 2.5 games up on the Yankees, who’ve played better as of late. Boston is 18-12 and are taking on the Baltimore Orioles this weekend, for a three-game set in Camden Yards. The Orioles are in last place, but have won 15 of their first 31 games, which is a bit of a surprise. On Friday, the O’s have the equally surprising Matt Harvey on the mound, while the Sox turn to nominal ace, Eduardo Rodriguez.

Boston designated hitter JD Martinez is resurgent this year, dominating AL pitching, hitting .349 with 9 HR and 27 RBI in just 28 games. Xander Bogaerts (.351-6-17; .988 OPS) and Rafael Devers (.283-7-21; 934 OPS) are also crushing. Alex Verdugo is hitting a sparkling .314. E-Rod is 4-0 on the year, and Matt Barnes has 7 saves. There’s not much to see here. Low-hanging fruit. I expect the Red Sox to cruise Friday night.

Midnight strikes for Cinderella Matt Harvey.

The Pick: Boston Red Sox -157 ML

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (15-16) at NEW YORK METS (13-13), 7:10 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: David Peterson (NYM) vs. Zac Gallen (ARI)
MONEYLINE: Mets -136 ML, Diamondbacks +115 ML
SPREAD:  Mets -1 (+114), Diamondbacks +1 (-136)
OVER/UNDER: 7 runs (-109/-109)
Click here for the full list of Mets-Diamondbacks odds.

Arizona comes in at 15-14, which is a nice early season record for them. Meanwhile, the Mets have been very disappointing 11-12, struggling with their hitting (Lindor!) and nagging minor injuries (JD Davis, DeGrom, Stroman, Diaz). The Mets will roll out the highly suspect David Peterson in this Friday nighter. Peterson is struggling at 1-3, 4.81, 4.51 FIP. And the Mets offense, overall, is on life support, with only 18 team home runs (Ronald Acuna has 10 by himself). Francisco Lindor is hitting a disgusting 163 – that’s less than I weighed my freshman year of college and other than Pete Alonso (.282) and Brandon Nimmo (.315), no one is hitting over .235.

Arizona isn’t hitting the cover off the ball either, but Eduard Escobar and Carson Kelly have combined for 13 HR and 35 RBI; David Peralta has driven in 22 (.291 BA). On the mound in this one is Zac Gallen. I liked Gallen last weekend, and he didn’t produce like I expected, going just 4 IP, giving up 4 ER. But he struck out 7 and I expect him to fair better this weekend against the Mets. On a Friday night at Citi Field…

The Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks +115 ML

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (17-15) at MIAMI MARLINS (14-16), 7:10 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Trevor Rogers (MIA) vs. Brent Suter (MIL)
MONEYLINE: Marlins -139 ML, Brewers +120 ML
SPREAD: Marlins -1 (+110), Brewers +1 (-136)
OVER/UNDER: 6.5 runs (-115/-104)
Click here for the full list of Marlins-Brewers odds.

Milwaukee is 17-13, keeping pace with the Cardinals (17-12) for first in the NL Central. They’ve been doing it primarily with their starting pitching and bullpen. The Brewers open up this Friday in Miami and they are severely banged up. Corbin Burnes (2-2, 1.53 ERA), Brett Anderson (2-2, 4.15), Omar Narvaez (.368-3-11), and All-star OF Christian Yelich (.353 BA) are all hurt. The Brewers also had to send disappointing young 1B Keston Hiura to their alternate site due to his less than stellar play in 2021 (.152-01-05, .513 OPS, .247 OBP, -0.7 WAR). They enter this game reeling and will open Friday with rookie SP Alec Bettinger. His first start could have gone a little better, as he went just 4 innings and gave up 11 ER on 11 hits. He didn’t pitch so much as just get murdered by the Dodgers. I do think he’ll pitch better Friday, but not well enough to win. The Marlins will roll with young Trevor Rogers (3-2, 1.91, 44 K in 33 IP) and 1B Jesus Aguilar (.292-6-24) and that should be all the Marlins need to win this one.

The Pick: Miami Marlins -139 ML

SEATTLE MARINERS (17-15) at TEXAS RANGERS (16-17), 8:05 p.m. ET
PITCHERS:  Mike Foltynewicz (TEX) vs. Chris Flexen (SEA)
MONEYLINE: Rangers -122 ML, Mariners +105 ML
SPREAD: Rangers -1 (+130), Mariners +1 (-157)
OVER/UNDER: 8.5 runs (-107/-112)
Click here for the full list of Rangers-Mariners odds.

The 17-14 Mariners roll into Texas with Kyle Seager (.248-5-22), Mitch Haniger (.261-8-23) leading the way. Chris Flexen (2-1, 3.33) is on the mound for the M’s. Texas, last place in the west at 14-17, have Mike Foltynewicz going, and he’s 1-3, 4.32, but his FIP is a putrid 5.57 which suggests he’s pitching even worse than it appears.

The Pick: Seattle Mariners +105 ML

CHICAGO WHITE SOX (16-13) at KANSAS CITY ROYALS (16-14), 8:10 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Carlos Rodon (CWS) vs. Brad Keller (KC)
MONEYLINE: White Sox -155 ML, Royals +132 ML
SPREAD: White Sox -1 (-118), Royals +1 (+100)
OVER/UNDER: 8 runs (-117/-103)
Click here for the full list of Royals-White Sox odds.

The first place (16-12) White Sox are rolling, and Carlos Rondon, their ace (4-0, 0.72, 0.64 WHIP) goes Friday against the Royals (who are tied for first with the White Sox also at 16-12), in Kansas City. The Royals will roll with Brad Kelley, who’s been positively atrocious (8.06 ERA, 2.15 WHIP, 6.02 FIP). The White Sox win this one.

The Pick: Chicago White Sox -155 ML

COLORADO ROCKIES (12-19) at ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (18-14), 8:15 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Jack Flaherty (STL) vs. Austin Gomber (COL)
MONEYLINE: Cardinals -205 ML, Rockies +180 ML
SPREAD: Cardinals -1.5 (+108), Rockies +1.5 (-129)
OVER/UNDER: 7 runs (-124/+104)
Click here for the full list of Cardinals-Rockies odds.

The Cardinals are 17-12 and in first place in the NL Central. Jack Flaherty is on the mound. He’s their ace, at 5-0, 3.41 ERA, 36 K in 34 IP, 1.02 WHIP. Colorado will go with Austin Gomber 2-3, 5.90, 4.66 FIP. They’re 11-19, and have 27 HR, 97 RBI, and have a .800 OPS as a team in Colorado. On the road, the Rockies have 9 HR, 42 RBI, .232 BA, .631 OPS. This game is in St. Louis. Do the math.

The Pick: St. Louis Cardinals -205 ML

* We will be betting against Austin Gomber as often as humanly possible.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (17-15) at LOS ANGELES ANGELS (13-17), 9:38 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Julio Urias (LAD) vs. Griffin Canning (LAA)
MONEYLINE: Dodgers -159 ML, Angels +139 ML
SPREAD: Dodgers -1 (-124), Angels +1 (+105)
OVER/UNDER: 8.5 runs (-117/-103)
Click here for the full list of Angels-Dodgers odds.

Dodgers have been slumping and have had their share of injuries. They’re 17-14 and are in 2nd place in the West. They right the ship v. the Angels. Julio Urias is quietly their best pitcher at 4-0, 2.87 ERA, 42 K in 37 IP, 0.90 WHIP, 2.82 FIP. Angels will roll with Griffin Canning (6.20 ERA, 5.42 FIP, 70 ERA+) Angels have also slumped lately, losing 6 of last 10. Something has to give.

The Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -159 ML

MLB WEEKEND PICKS: SATURDAY, MAY 8

TAMPA BAY RAYS at OAKLAND ATHLETICS, 4:07 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Tyler Glasnow (TB) vs. Frankie Montas (OAK)

Tampa Bay is on the road this weekend v. Oakland in what should be a really good series between two of the AL’s better teams. The Rays are 16-15 and in second place, tied with the Yankees, while the A’s are in first place in the west at 19-12. The Rays will win on Saturday because their SP, Tyler Glasnow is making his early case for Cy Young. Glasnow has been absolutely unhittable, going 4-1, 2.06 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 2.40 FIP, 183 ERA+, and a stunning 64 K in just 43 IP. He’s striking out 13.2 per 9 IP and only allowing 4.7 H per 9. For the record, that’s good.

He’s going to dominate the A’s on Saturday for the easy win.

The Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

So…what’s with all the games?

Ok here’s our 4 TOP picks:

On Friday,  take Boston over Baltimore, St. Louis over Colorado, and Miami over Milwaukee. On Saturday, take Tampa Bay over Oakland

But, if you’re feeling adventurous…and I am. We’re wagering our hard-earned buckets on a parlay – taking, to win: Boston, Arizona, Miami, Seattle, White Sox, Cardinals, and Dodgers. A good old-fashioned seven-team parlay. You should know this is a fairly crazy bet, and not likely to win, but we like to have fun every once in a while. We feel real good about each game on its own and if somehow lightning strikes, we’ll get around 100-1 on our wager.

Good luck and have fun this weekend!