MLB Best Bets For Today, 5/31 - Expert Picks, Predictions, & Props

Welcome back to the MLB Best Bets and Props for today right here on Fantasy Alarm. The Friday slate features a full 15 games with one game – Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs – getting the early afternoon start.
The rest of the games, which is where we will likely stay the most focused, start up in the early evening around 6:30pm ET. We have some very interesting matchups including a couple of revenge-game narratives with Jose Urena heading back into Miami and Michael Wacha facing his old mates in San Diego. The pitching props should be abundant.
MLB Picks, Predictions, & Best Bets Today, 5/31
Yesterday’s MLB predictions were absolutely horrendous, though, not our fault. We were very bullish on Zac Gallen’s start against the New York Mets, invested fairly heavily in him and the Arizona Diamondbacks and lost out on everything when he left with a hamstring injury just six pitches in. While many took to social media demanding the books cancel the bets, that is simply not the way it works.
Some books have set a terrible precedent, as they look to add more sign-ups and first-time deposits, by voiding some bets after an early injury. They want to look like the “nice guy” and show you that it’s not so bad to be betting. But now, people expect it anytime a player gets injured early. Sorry folks, but that’s betting. Injuries happen. Nothing you can do.
There would have been no difference had Gallen gone three innings, struck out only five, one short of the over on his K-prop, and left with an injury than what happened last night. Yes, it sucks what happened, but that’s the way it goes. Crying to the books to void a bet due to injury is not what we do and they’re not going to do it. They shouldn’t do it. Suck it up.
Again, that’s betting and those are the risks. Besides, those of us who took that Royals F5 money line bet lucked out and got much better odds. We dust ourselves off and get back at it with today’s MLB best bets.
- Yesterday’s Record: 2-5
- Season Rcord: 175-152-4
- Bankroll: +5.67 units
*Each of my below MLB picks for today will have their respective odds alongside.
Nationals vs. Guardians Prediction: Friday, May 31
Not only is it a Patrick Corbin day as usual for my MLB predictions, but it’s Corbin against a Cleveland lineup that has the fourth-highest wOBA against lefthanded pitching (.335), but also a team that has been white-hot lately. They’re posting a .349 wOBA over the past week and hitting for power, as evidenced by the .192 ISO.
Their plate discipline has been spectacular over these last seven days, posting a sub-20-percent K-rate and a walk rate north of 10-percent. Given Corbin’s history, it makes sense to jump all over these Guardians bats in the first half of this game.
- Expert Guardians vs. Nationals Picks:
- Cleveland First 5 Innings Total Over 2.5 Runs (-125 on DraftKings)
- David Fry Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI (-125 on BetMGM)
Rangers vs. Marlins Prediction: Friday, May 31
Banking on the fact that the Rangers get the morning to sleep off their travel from Arlington to Miami and any potential club shenanigans last night, our MLB picks today will be backing their offense against a shaky Sixto Sanchez who is still trying to work himself back into five-inning territory. He hit that mark his last time out, but he faced a struggling Arizona offense, and he hasn’t shown the ability to pitch efficiently just yet.
He’s allowed seven earned runs over his last nine innings (two starts) and that 1.64 WHIP is extremely dangerous to his longevity in this game. Meanwhile, the Rangers remain one of the more dominant lineups against righthanded pitching and their lefty bats are really starting to shine as of late.
They’re striking out less than 20-percent of the time over the past week and for the season against righties, they do just as well, but also with a walk rate that comes close to 10-percent. They should work Sanchez early if they’re awake and not hungover.
- Expert Rangers vs. Marlins Picks:
- Texas vs. Miami First 5 Innings Total Over 4.5 Runs (-125 on Bet365)
- Texas First 5 Innings Money Line (-118 on FanDuel)
- Nathaniel Lowe Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI (+100 on BetMGM)
Rockies vs. Dodgers Prediction: Friday, May 31
Most of the Dodgers props, both team and players, are juiced up pretty well with righty Dakota Hudson on the mound for Colorado. Hudson’s 5.54 ERA and 1.59 WHIP are obviously the reason why, but we can still find some value here.
I expect the Dodgers to come out swinging right from the onset and we’ll back Ohtani to lead the charge with all the damage. Hudson has pitched past the fifth inning just once over his last seven starts and this Los Angeles offense is just too strong, so I’ll roll with them to finalize my MLB predictions today.
- Expert Rockies vs. Dodgers Picks:
- Los Angeles First 5 Innings Total Over 2.5 Runs (-130 on DraftKings)
- Shohei Ohtani Over 2.5 Hits+Runs+RBI (-115 on DraftKings)
Best MLB Props For Today, 5/31
- Reynaldo Lopez Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-110 on Bet365 Sportsbook)
- Tobias Myers Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+106 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Albert Suarez Over 4.5 Hits Allowed (+110 on Bet365 Sportsbook)
Check back both here and in our Discord for more MLB bets throughout the day. The juice is pretty high all over the place right now, but we’ll keep looking for value.
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.