Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – May 21st Edition

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox remain in a virtual tie atop the American League East, both 17 games above .500, which would put either of them nine games ahead of the Cleveland Indians, who currently lead the AL Central despite a record of 22-23. In the National League East, Philadelphia and Atlanta are still at the top of the standings; in the NL Central, the Cubs are starting to make a run but still trail the Milwaukee Brewers. In the NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks still lead Colorado by a half-game despite having dropped nine of ten. Let’s take a look at your MLB betting picks for this week from the national pastime.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – May 21st Edition

MLB Power Rankings:

1) @Yankees 2) @astros 3) @RedSoxhttps://t.co/1SByJch0Se pic.twitter.com/NcXlojfQ0F — theScore (@theScore) May 21, 2018

Tuesday, May 22

Boston at Tampa Bay (7:10pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Chris Sale (4-1, 2.29 ERA) (BOS) vs Jacob Faria (3-2, 5.20 ERA) (TB) Chris Sale has continued to do more than hold up his end of the bargain for the Red Sox rotation. He only lasted five innings against Oakland his last time out, needing 102 pitches but limiting the A’s to a pair of hits and two earned runs. His start before that was considerably more impressive, as he went nine innings in Toronto, permitting three earned runs on six hits in a game the bullpen would blow in extra innings, but striking out 15 nonetheless. He has permitted six home runs over his last six starts, but the Rays don’t have a lot of power bats in their lineup. Sale’s counterpart will be Jacob Faria, who got knocked around for thee earned runs in just 4 ⅓ innings against Kansas City back on May 16, a start in which he entered the bottom of the fifth with a four-run lead. His start before that was even rougher; while he lasted six innings against Baltimore, he gave up a pair of home runs among eight hits, permitting seven earned runs. Given that he is getting torched by some lineups with fewer big bats than the Red Sox, I see Boston rolling here. MLB Betting Prediction: Boston 6, Tampa Bay 2

Wednesday, May 23

N.Y. Yankees at Texas (7:05pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: C.C. Sabathia (2-1, 2.40 ERA) (NY) vs Doug Fister (1-4, 3.43 ERA) (TEX) The Yankees come in having won six of ten, but they haven’t won either of the last two games that C.C. Sabathia has started for them. He’s only lasted a combined nine innings in those starts, permitting eight combined runs (six earned) and permitted a pair of home runs, walking four. He has been able to use his veteran savvy to limit big innings, though, which will help in a game when the Yankees should be able to score at will. The reason why the Yankees should get so much offense has to do with Doug Fister, the Rangers’ starter — as well as their leaky bullpen. Fister got a win in his first start, way back on March 30 against Houston, but the Rangers haven’t won any of his starts since then. In his last start on Thursday, he threw seven shutout innings against the White Sox, but Texas could not take advantage with their bats. The Rangers are already looking toward next year, so expect the Yankees to win big. MLB Betting Prediction: New York 5, Texas 1

Thursday, May 24

Seattle at Oakland (3:35pm ET, ESPN+)

Projected PItching Matchup: Felix Hernandez (5-3, 5.53 ERA) (SEA) vs Sean Manaea (5-4, 2.71 ERA) (OAK) King Felix may have picked up five wins so far, but it’s thanks to the Mariners’ offense, as he has permitted at least two earned runs in each of his starts after the 5 ⅓ innings of shutout ball he threw in the season opener against Cleveland. He has allowed 10 home runs in his 10 starts so far this season, and his strikeout numbers are down this season as well. Sean Manaea has been giving up runs at a similar clip to Hernandez — at least over his last four starts. In each of those outings, he has given up a home run and at least three earned runs, never making out past the sixth inning. The Mariners did just lose Robinson Cano to an 80-game suspension, but the M’s are still eight games above .500 and have the offense to win this game. MLB Betting Prediction: Seattle 5, Oakland 4