Best MLB Bets Today | MLB Picks, May 24

San Francisco Giants vs Minnesota Twins

• Time: 1:10 EST
• Starting Pitchers: Anthony DeSclafani (SFG) vs Joe Ryan (MIN)
• Moneyline: Giants +135 - Twins -160  
• Run Line: Giants +1.5 (-160) - Twins -1.5 (+135)
• Total: Over 7.5 (+105) - Under 7.5 (-125)

Odds courtesy of Caesars

My Pick: Twins ML

The Twins are undoubtedly feeling the pressure on Wednesday, as they try to avoid a home sweep at the hands of the Giants. In fact, they have just two wins in their last eight games.  But they are still in first place and are still a reliable home favorite, going 13-8 in that situation this season. They also have ace Joe Ryan on the mound to lead them to a much-needed win.

In fairness, the Giants also have a quality starter on the mound Wednesday in Anthony DeSclafani. He holds a 3.09 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP this season. DeSclafani has been steady this year, although the Giants have lost two of his last three starts and four of his last seven starts. San Francisco’s lineup isn’t the most reliable, especially with some key figures injured, which is why DeSclafani pitches without much margin for error. The Twins also have a couple of heavy hitters in Joey Gallo and Byron Buxton who can change what figures to be a low-scoring game.

Meanwhile, Ryan always seems to give Minnesota an excellent chance to win. The Twins are 6-3 in his starts this year with Ryan allowing two runs or less in five straight outings. Despite being 6-1 in their last seven games, the Giants have scored four runs or less in five of those seven games. They aren’t clicking offensively despite a promising stretch, which means Ryan should be able to shut down the San Francisco lineup and allow the Twins to eke out a win.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays

• Time: 6:40 EST
• Starting Pitchers: Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) vs Shane McClanahan (TB)
• Moneyline: Blue Jays +175  - Rays -210
• Run Line: Blue Jays +1.5 (-115) - Rays -1.5 (-105)
• Total: Over 8 (-125) - Under 8 (+105)

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook

My Pick: Rays -1.5

Wednesday’s game between this division rivals comes on the heels of the Blue Jays beating Tampa 20-1 on Tuesday. However, that game is clearly an anomaly. With the Rays being 22-5 at home this season, they are poised to bounce back in a big way. Look for Tampa to give the Blue Jays a taste of their own medicine and win by a comfortable margin on Wednesday.

It will surely help the Rays that Shane McClanahan will take the mound following such an embarrassing loss. 

The lefty is 7-0 with a 2.05 ERA this season with the Rays going 9-1 in games that he starts. He allowed one run on four hits over six innings in his first start against Toronto this season. 

Plus, McClanahan has allowed more than two runs just once in his 10 starts. Finally, keep in mind that the Blue Jays had lost eight straight games, averaging 3.3 runs per game during that stretch, prior to Tuesday’s blowout win. Toronto’s lineup was struggling previously, so a pitcher like McClanahan may be able to quiet them after Tuesday’s outburst.

At the same time, the Blue Jays have to hope for the best from Yusei Kikuchi. While the lefty is 5-1 this year, he has a modest 4.08 ERA and a 5.59 ERA in May with Toronto losing two of his last four starts. 

Kikuchi has failed to get out of the fifth inning in three of his four starts in May, which is a concern against one of the top lineups in baseball. 

The Rays have scored at least seven runs in six of their last 12 games and at least five runs in eight of those 12 games. Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena, and Wander Franco all look like potential all-stars this year, so Tampa’s lineup is capable of doing some damage, especially if they get Kikuchi out of the game early. That should lead to a lopsided win in a bounce-back game.

Oakland Athletics vs Seattle Mariners

• Time: 9:40 EST
• Starting Pitchers: Ken Waldichuk (OAK) vs Bryce Miller (SEA)
• Moneyline: Athletics +228 - Mariners -285
• Run Line: Athletics +1.5 (+110) - Mariners -1.5 (-130)
• Total: Over 8 (-120) - Under 8 (+100)

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook

My Pick: Mariners -1.5

There’s nothing safer than betting against the Athletics, who are just 10-40 on the season and riding a six-game losing streak. Oakland is also 19-31 against the spread this season, so they are losing a lot of games by multiple runs. Despite a close loss to the Mariners on Tuesday, 14 of Oakland’s 17 losses in May have come by at least two runs. That should make it safe to bet on the Mariners to cover the spread on Wednesday.

Young righty Bryce Miller will have the honors for the Mariners on Wednesday. In four starts since coming up, the 24-year-old has allowed just four runs on 11 hits over 25.1 innings. 

One of those starts came against the A’s with Miller striking out 10 over six innings while conceding just one run on two hits. Clearly, he has the stuff to dominate Oakland’s lineup. With the A’s scoring just 10 total runs during their current six-game losing streak, Miller should have no problem limiting Oakland’s offensive production again on Wednesday.  

Meanwhile, Oakland lefty Ken Waldichuk has proven to be unreliable this year, going 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA. He’s allowed at least three runs in all but one of his nine starts in 2023. 

Even against a Seattle lineup that’s been a little erratic lately, it’s hard to like Waldichuk’s chances of keeping the A’s in the game. A red-hot Jarred Kelenick continues to anchor the Seattle offense while the Mariners have plenty of help around him. 

While some key bats are struggling at the moment, that can change quickly against Waldichuk, helping the Mariners to give Miller plenty of run support and beat the A’s by a comfortable margin.

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