MLB Best Bets Today, 5/19: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Monday

Welcome to tonight’s MLB best bets for this slate of MLB action here at Fantasy Alarm on this Monday, May 19th, 2025! Back at it here on the MLB best bets for a brand-new week, and excited to do so after yet another successful series of bets last week. Big slate of games underway and a new series will be underway tonight, so check out my wagers below and let’s win!
In this MLB Best Bets Today article, you will find a wide array of choices from some Money Lines to game totals and, on occasion, some player props! Check out the rationale and if you agree with me, make sure to tail and good luck!
Now, let's dive into my expert MLB Best Bets today!
- Season Record: 84-63-4
- Bankroll: +10.1 units
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MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 5/19
Phillies vs. Rockies Predictions
Death, taxes, and fade the Rockies, these are the words by which MLB bettors have lived since the start of the season, and we’re going back to the well again!
In this edition of the Rockies are bad at baseball, we have the Phillies as the beneficiaries tonight as they go up against Kyle Freeland on the mound and his 6.15 ERA and 1.59 WHIP! Going a bit deeper, Freeland has a 9.77 ERA at home this season and has allowed 32 over 15 innings pitched, and is allowing teams a massive .410 batting average. That sets us up well to stack up the Phillies' offense, but who do we pick?
First of all, we back them all by taking the Phillies team total tonight, even at the inflated number of 5.5 runs. The Phillies score 4.7 runs per game, and that number is always boosted for offenses coming to Coors Field, so 6 runs should be simple for this lineup.
As for the batter to back it must be a right-handed hitter as Freeland is allowing a .355 batting average and .874 OPS against them this season. The man who fits the criteria is Nick Castellanos, who is hitting .304 over the past 7 days and has hit just over .250 on the season against right-handed pitching. He is going to bat 4th tonight behind a bunch of great hitters, so the bags should be full often for him to hit some runs in as well, so give me over 2.5 hits/runs/RBIs for the Phillies outfielder.
Pick: Phillies Team Total Over 5.5 Runs (-145 on DraftKings)
Pick: Nick Castellanos (PHI) Over 2.5 Hits/Runs/RBIs (-135 on DraftKings)
Best MLB Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 5/19
Pick: Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC) Over 1.5 Hits/Runs/RBIs (-160 on DraftKings)
Pick: Kodai Senga (NYM) Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-130 on DraftKings)
Pick: Tigers & Cardinals Over 8 Runs (-105 on DraftKings)
Pick: Royals & Giants Under 7.5 Runs (-120 on DraftKings)
Player News
Cal Raleigh won the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night, defeating Junior Caminero 18-15 in the finals.
The storybook season continues for the Big Dumper, who became the first catcher ever to win the event. Raleigh bashed 21 big flies in the opening round, edging Athletics masher Brent Rooker by literally one inch to advance to the semifinals. He walloped 19 more in the ensuing round to eliminate Pirates ascendant slugger Oneil Cruz, who belted a surreal 513-foot moonshot in the opening round and finished with 10 blasts that traveled over 470 feet on the night. The switch-hitting backstop went exclusively from the left side in the finals to narrowly best Caminero, who eliminated Georgia native Byron Buxton to advance to the finals and would’ve become the youngest player in history to win the Home Run Derby at just 22 years old.
Twins acquired RHP Noah Davis from the Dodgers for cash considerations.
Davis will head to Triple-A St. Paul as extra organizational relief depth for Minnesota heading into the second half. The 28-year-old righty was jettisoned from Los Angeles’ relief corps last week after getting torched for a surreal 10 runs over 1 1/3 innings against the Astros back on July 4. He’ll operate in middle relief for the Twins, if he makes it back to the big leagues again this season.
Marlins designated C Rob Brantly for assignment.
Brantly has been on the shelf since late April recovering from a lat strain in his right shoulder. The 36-year-old journeyman backstop figures to pass through waivers and elect free agency unless he decides to stick around as emergency organizational depth/
Diamondbacks optioned RHP Juan Morillo to Triple-A Reno.
Morillo was torched for four runs on five hits over his lone inning of work on Saturday against the Angels. The 26-year-old righty has posted a pedestrian 4.94 ERA and 28/16 K/BB ratio across 27 1/3 innings (31 appearances) this season. The Diamondbacks will make a corresponding roster move following the All-Star break.
Jeremy Peña (rib) told reporters he’s progressed to light hitting, fielding and running.
Peña added that he doesn’t have an exact return timeline yet, but believes he’s moving in the right direction. The 27-year-old is at the Midsummer Classic for the first time in his career, but won’t play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Truist Park as he recovers from a fractured rib that he suffered in late June. There should be a clearer return timetable once he begin ramping up baseball activities after the break.
Grant Hartwig has signed a contract with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseaball.
Hartwig heads overseas after making 32 relief appearances for the Mets since 2023. The 27-year-old righty posted a strong 29 percent strikeout rate this season for Triple-A Syracuse, but never wound up getting the call back to New York. He was cut loose earlier this month to pursue a more lucrative opportunity over in Japan.