Best MLB Bets This Weekend | MLB Picks, May 13-14

The middle of May has created several big storylines in just a short season. This weekend, fans and bettors will be treated to incredible series like the Tampa Bay Rays vs the New York Yankees, the San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Atlanta Braves vs the Toronto Blue Jays. With great series to watch this weekend, there will be plenty of opportunities to place that could earn some significant earnings.

Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees

• Time: 1:05 PM E.T.
• Starting Pitchers: Shane McClanahan (Rays) vs Nestor Cortes (Yankees)
• Moneyline: Rays (-130)     | Yankees (+110)
• Run Line: Rays     -1.5 (+130) | Yankees +1.5 (-150)
• Total: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Tampa Bay Rays (TB)

Not many expected to see the Tampa Bay Rays (30-10) currently possessing the best overall record in the MLB and the New York Yankees (22-18) sitting at the bottom of the AL East before the start of the 2023 MLB Season. The Rays have become the biggest surprise since the start of the season, while the Yankees are struggling in-between health and consistency.

The Rays are the most efficient team in the MLB as they rank among the best in the league in the batting and pitching games. Tampa Bay ranks first in the league through 39 games in runs accounted for (239), hits accounted for (361), home runs accounted for (76), batting average (.273), and on-base percentage (.346).

Their pitching has just been as efficient as they rank first in the AL in ERA (2.93), first in hits allowed (265), first in runs allowed (118) and first in home runs allowed (24). They have highly efficient starting pitchers this season as closing and replacement pitchers. One of those pitchers is Shane McClanahan (1.76 ERA in 46 innings pitched), who is set on Saturday. McClanahan has allowed only nine runs while delivering 58 strikeouts.

The Yankees have not been as productive at the plate outside of their ability to hit home runs. While the Yankees are second in the AL in home runs accounted for (51), they are seven in hits accounted for (170), ninth in walks accounted for (123), sixth in strikeouts encountered (312), 11th in batting average (.232) and ninth in on-base percentage (.304).

Even with Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge back from injury, it might not be the boost needed to get New York over the stellar pitching of McClanahan.

Atlanta Braves @ Toronto Blue Jays

• Time: 3:07 PM E.T.
• Starting Pitchers: Bryce Elder (Braves) vs Jose Berrios (Blue Jays)     
• Moneyline: Braves (+105) | Blue Jays (-125)
• Run Line: Braves +1.5 (-195) |     Blue Jays -1.5 (+165)
• Total: Over 9.5 (+100) | Under 9.5 (-120)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Atlanta Braves (ATL)

Two preseason favorites for the World Series take the field on Saturday as the Atlanta Braves (25-13) go on the road to take on the Toronto Blue Jays (22-16). What the Braves have done midway through May is due to the contributions of the talented deep roster. Toronto, on the other side of the spectrum, has seen good moments through the start of the season but is currently locked in a heated battle in the AL East where the Yankees (22-18) are technically the worst team.

The Braves are currently ranked in the top five in every major pitching category as their bullpen is deep. Atlanta ranks second in the NL in ERA (3.52), second in hits allowed (295), second in runs allowed (140), first in home runs allowed (31), and first in strikeouts (355).

Atlanta faces some challenges with ace pitcher Max Fried and Kyle Wright on IL, but they are not looking to make excuses. Bryce Elder (1.74 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched) is set to start for the Braves as he will look to suppress the talented batting of the Blue Jays.

Toronto is fifth in the AL in hits accounted for (328), sixth in runs (178), third in walks (130), fifth in batting average (.256), and fifth in on-base percentage (.331). Shortstop Bo Bichette, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Matt Chapman have combined for 69 runs, 120 hits, 20 home runs, 67 RBIs, 42 walks, and 86 strikeouts this season. All of them have a batting average above .310.

Braves rightfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., first baseman Matt Olson and second baseman Ozzie Albies are three other players performing at an all-star level. Jose Berrios (4.91 ERA in 40.1 innings pitched) might have a more tough time holding down the batting of the Braves than Elder against the Blue Jays.

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Baltimore Orioles

• Time: 7:05 PM E.T.
• Starting Pitchers: Roansy Contreras (Pirates) vs Tyler Wells (Orioles)
• Moneyline: Pirates (+145) | Orioles (-170)
• Run Line: Pirates +1.5 (-145) | Orioles -1.5 (+125)
• Total: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates (PIT)

In one of the most underrated series of the weekend, the Pittsburgh Pirates (21-17) go on the road to take on the Baltimore Orioles (24-13). The Pirates have regained their status as a playoff contender thanks to several key moves in the offseason, including getting designated hitter Andrew McCutchen to return. The Orioles are among the biggest in the AL and the AL East only behind the leading Rays.

Saturday’s game should bring an exciting matchup of the Pirates’ talented batting team and the Orioles’ fielding starting pitcher Tyler Wells (3.15 ERA in 40 innings pitched). In seven games played, Wells has allowed only 24 hits, 14 runs, and seven walks while delivering 31 strikeouts.

Wells and the Orioles will have a big game ahead of them as the Pirates rank fifth in the AL in runs accounted (169), first in double-base hits (77), first in stolen bases (48), third in walks (147) and fourth in on-base percentage (.328). McCutchen’s return has certainly been a major indicator of the Pirates’ success at the plate, but there many players that contribute to the offense’s proficiency. Whether it is the hitting of leftfielder Bryan Reynolds, the reliability of first baseman Carlos Santana or the excellent base running of Ji-Hwan Bae, the Pirates at the plate.

The Orioles are a team that knows how to get on base often, as they rank fourth in the AL in on-base percentage (.334) and fifth in runs accounted for (192). They will take on Pirates pitcher Roansy Contreras (4.74 ERA in 38 innings pitched), who has seen good and tough moments this season. If Contreras can develop a rhythm to strike out batters, that might be the edge for the final edge for Pittsburgh.