MLB Best Bets For Today, 5/21 - Expert Picks, Predictions, & Props
Let’s get ready to build that bankroll and Fantasy Alarm is ready with our MLB Best Bets and Props for today. The Tuesday MLB slate is flush with quality matchups and opportunities to make some money. And best of all, every game starts after 6pm ET so in addition to scoring some early value here, we are also afforded the opportunity to jump on some potential late value as the MLB lineups populate!
If we can set up some early MLB predictions to target now, the afternoon should provide us with a few last-minute props to enhance the value of our overall betting card for the day.
MLB Picks, Predictions, & Best Bets Today, 5/21
While the Monday slate didn’t start off on the right foot, we did manage to rebound in a couple of spots. Once again, I learned my lesson about betting day games. I always tell myself not to and then I unearth a few value bets and try them out.
That White Sox vs. Blue Jays game just didn’t pan out the way I thought it would. Neither did the Brewers vs. Marlins game, but we managed to bail ourselves out in a few spots, so the day wasn’t a huge loss. Today’s slate and MLB best bets are where we get it back.
- Monday’s Record: 4-5
- Season Record: 144-113-4
- Bankroll: +18.42 units
*Each of my MLB picks will have accompanying odds listed next to them.
Twins vs. Nationals Prediction: Tuesday, May 21
And once again, happy Patrick Corbin Day for those who celebrate, as I often do in my MLB predictions whenever he’s on the bump. This is a nice time to celebrate because this Twins lineup is very interesting. It’s loaded with lefty bats, but all of them are hitting lefties extremely well this season. In fact, the Twins are posting a .323 wOBA against southpaws this season and they’re putting the ball in-play a ton with a .328 BABIP.
That’s going to make things tough on Corbin as we are seeing some reverse-splits with him having issues with lefty hitters more so than righties. Granted, the sample size is a little small, but lefthanded hitters are posting a .416 wOBA against Corbin this season, so I expect the whole lineup to give him some fits nice and early.
- Expert Twins vs. Nationals Picks:
- Minnesota First 5 Innings -0.5 Run Line (-120 on BetMGM)
- Minnesota First 5 Innings Total Over 2.5 Runs (-110 on DraftKings)
Orioles vs. Cardinals Prediction: Tuesday, May 21
Well, if we’re picking on Corbin in the above MLB picks, we certainly want to do the same to Lance Lynn against the Baltimore lineup. Lynn has allowed at least four runs in each of his last three starts and he’s looked incredibly shaky overall.
The walk rate is up which means the Orioles are going to get a few free runners on base, and that’s just going to open things up for some of these hitters. That’s why the batter props are so juiced up today. The Orioles have shown solid plate discipline against righties this year and they’re hitting for plenty of power, as evidenced by the .185 ISO.
On the other side, Baltimore is throwing Kyle Bradish who is still being brought along slowly. He hasn’t pitched past the fifth inning in any of his three starts and while he’s minimizing the damage, the Cardinals have been hot at the plate recently (.366 wOBA over the past week) and should be able to score a couple of runs early.
- Expert Orioles vs. Cardinals Picks:
- Baltimore vs. St. Louis First 5 Innings Total Over 4.5 Runs (-125 on Bet365)
- Baltimore First 5 Innings Total Over 2.5 Runs (-105 on DraftKings)
Tigers vs. Royals Prediction: Tuesday, May 21
Both Alec Marsh and Casey Mize have faced the opposition back in late April and both proved to be pretty solid. Perhaps that has more to do with the inefficiencies of the respective offenses, but both are actually solid starters. Mize has been getting hitters to swing through his high fastball and Marsh has allowed just two runs over his last four starts (20.1 innings).
I give a slight lean towards Marsh as we’ve watched this Royals lineup hit well before while the Tigers are sporting a woeful .274 wOBA against southpaws. I expect Marsh to have the stronger day, but I think both pitchers help keep the score down, as the last of today’s MLB predictions sees these offenses being quiet.
- Expert Tigers vs. Royals Picks:
- Detroit vs. Kansas City Total Under 9 Runs (-105 on FanDuel)
- Alec Marsh Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-120 on BetMGM)
- Alec Marsh Under 1.5 Walks (+125 on BetMGM)
Best MLB Prop Bets For Today, 5/21
- Clarke Schmidt Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-120 on Bet365 Sportsbook)
- Yusei Kikuchi Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-125 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
- Adrian Houser Over 1.5 Walks Allowed (+100 on Bet365 Sportsbook)
- Cody Bellinger Over 1.5 Total Bases (+115 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
- Brandon Nimmo Over 1.5 Total Bases (+110 on BetMGM Sportsbook)