Today’s MLB betting picks, odds & parlay bets | Friday, May 13

We’re starting to see the weather get warmer and the offense finally beginning to pick up here in the MLB. As offense picks up throughout the league, it wouldn’t be surprising to start seeing higher expected run totals on sportsbooks. With a full slate of games on Friday’s plate, there is no better time to make a couple of dollars betting on America’s pastime.

Philadelphia Phillies (+1.5, +185 ML) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (-1.5, -225 ML)

Probable pitchers: Kyle Gibson vs Clayton Kershaw

As if there was any question that the Dodgers were the best team in not only the National League, but the MLB they have proven why thus far this season. The Dodgers are off to a phenomenal 21-9 record in their first 30 games of the season and have only lost twice in Dodgers stadium. While the Dodger’s newest addition Freddie Freeman has been good, the highlight of their offseason might be bringing Clayton Kershaw back on a one year deal.

Kershaw at times this season has been literally unhittable. The 34 year old is off to an insane start to the 2022 season pitching to a 1.80 ERA across 30 innings in five games. In Kershaw’s best outing he was pulled after seven perfect innings and only 80 pitches. We can argue whether or not Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was justified, but this outing has been a microcosm of Kershaw’s resurgence on the mound.

It helps that the former MVP Kershaw will take on a streaky Phillies lineup. The Phillies spent a combined $204 million on free agents this offseason in another attempt to make a run at the playoffs. Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber were brought to Philadelphia to solve the team’s inconsistent offense but haven’t managed to do so just yet. The Phillies have been hot and cold through the first month and a half of the season making them a very tough team to bet on.

Gibson will be tasked with facing a Dodgers offense that has been just as lethal as they look on paper, even though he has been good so far this season that might not be the case against these Dodgers. The Dodgers record at home and Kershaw being on the mound tells us that despite odds, the Dodgers are the best bet here and it might make sense to take them -1.5.

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New York Yankees (-1.5, -155 ML) @ Chicago White Sox (+1.5, +135 ML)

Probable pitchers : Gerrit Cole vs Vince Velasquez

The Yankees have been the American League’s best team so far this year. With a 22-8 record through their first 30 games, the Yankees’ big spending has put them in a very good position to make a run at the World Series this year. The offense has been great and the pitching has been better thus far for the Yanks and they’ll go to face a Chicago team that has under performed thus far this year.

The White Sox came into the season as the team to beat in the American League. They finished last season with 93 wins but haven’t managed to find that magic so far, they are 14-14. While they haven’t been terrible, they surely haven’t looked like the world beaters that the Yankees have had.

Cole vs Velasquez looks like a massive mismatch in this one, so even though the White Sox have as good of a chance to burst out of this slump as anyone it’s not worth betting the money on. Last year’s Field of Dreams game was great, but don’t expect the same kind of offense in the windy city. The Yankees money line is the safest bet in this one and the under 7.5 runs if you want to parlay.

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San Diego Padres (+1.5, +130 ML) @ Atlanta Braves (-1.5, -150 ML)

Probable pitchers : Yu Darvish vs Max Fried

Friday’s matchup should be a good one in Atlanta between two of the better pitchers in the National League. Fried has been awesome for the Braves despite their slow start to the 2022 season. The defending World Series champions are off to the same slow start as last year’s team with a 15-17 record but look to be turning the corner since the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. The schedule has certainly been a bit tougher so far, but the loss of Freddie Freeman and the late run into the postseason from last year seems to be rearing it’s ugly head now.

The Padres on the other hand, look like a new team under new manager Bob Melvin. Melvin has solidified what looked like a shaky clubhouse in San Diego and the best part is that they’ve fought their way to a 20-12 record without their superstar shortstop, Fernando Tatis Jr. When Tatis returns, the Padres have as good of a shot as anyone to give the Dodgers a run for their money in the NL West.

In this one specifically, we’d expect a pretty low scoring affair with Darvish and Fried on the hill. Both have been stingy this season as Fried has only allowed 11 runs and Darvish has allowed 15. The Padres are playing better baseball right now than the Braves, so take the plus odds on the Padres money line in Atlanta.

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