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