Major League Players Club MLB 1-5 Units (5/13/24)

MLB

5 Picks.

FOLLOW THE UNIT INSTRUCTIONS. ASK IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

7:10PM EST: Rays ML +100 (4 Units).

Zach Eflin had a 3.03 ERA in April and has a 2.84 ERA through 2 starts in May. He's allowed 1ER or less in 4 of his last 6 starts. The Red Sox offense continues to struggle and were incredibly fortunate to score 3 runs yesterday. A missed catch error by the Center Fielder led way to the Red Sox 3-Run inning. They scored 2 runs on a 200-foot Pop Fly Ground Rule-Double down the right field line that left the bat at 72.6 MPH on a 50° launch angle, and another run on a wild pitch. They were shut down the rest of the way. Boston's averaging 2.9 runs per game in May and rank 26th in OPS over that span.

The Rays bullpen struggled early this season, but they've settled in. Their two most reliable arms in Adam (1.56 ERA), Cleavinger (1.84 ERA) both had the day off yesterday. As did Phil Maton (1 ER last 10G) and Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks just came back from the IL and looked sharp against NYY. He's been an elite reliever for years.

Kutter Crawford starts for Boston and he's one of the best. Tampa Bay did take him for 5 runs the last time they saw him at the end of last season. He's a better pitcher now but this Rays offense is hot, and they've done it against good pitching. Boston used Closer Kenley Jansen for the third day in a row and it nearly cost them as Rosario just missed a 2-run shot. Jansen's certainly unavailable today and Red Sox reliever's not named Jansen are just 3 for 9 in Save opportunities.

7:20PM EST: Cubs ML +125 (4 Units).

Imanaga will give up some costly long balls eventually as a heavy fly ball pitcher, but the weather favors him again today. It'll be sub 65° from the scheduled start of this game and it may even get pushed back with an overcast. Regardless there's strong 11+MPH Winds blowing in from left field. Which will help knock down fly balls from RH pull hitters. This will be the first time the Braves see Imanaga and nobody has been able to consistently square him up yet. As talented as this Braves offense is they have yet to score more than 5 runs in the Month of May and rank 27th in OPS over that span. The available Cubs relievers have been terrible outside of Mark Leiter and Closer Hector Nerris. Colton Brewer has also been respectable with a 3.09 ERA. Those 3 all had scoreless outings in their Win over Pittsburgh yesterday, but they had the 4 days off prior so they're available. Imanaga's also gone 7 innings in back-to-back starts and at least 6 in 4 straight. He's working on an extra days rest too.

Reynaldo Lopez starts for Atlanta's and he's also among the league leaders in ERA. He's starting to show some kinks in the armor and arm fatigue could be an issue. He was a longtime reliever before returning to a starting role for Atlanta this season. In his last 2 starts he's pitched a combined 10.1 Innings, allowing 5 runs on 12 hits and 6 walks. The Cubs scored 21 runs in their most recent 3 game series against Pittsburgh and are 6th in OPS this Month.

7:40PM EST: WSH/CWS Under 8.5 (2 Units). POSTPONED

WSH SP Trevor Williams has dazzled with a 1.96 ERA this season and hasn't allowed more than 1 run in 4 straight starts. The most he's allowed all season was 3. Washington's bullpen's pitching well and in great shape after back-to-back strong starting pitching outings. The White Sox offense is the worst in baseball and rank 29th in OPS in May.

CWS starter Chris Flexen looks like his Seattle self. He struggled battling injuries in 2023 but he had a 3.73 ERA in 2022 and a 3.61 ERA in 2021. He got off to a slow start, but he has a 1.61 ERA over his last 5 appearances. Washington's bats weren't able to produce for the majority of the Boston series. Running into 5 outs on the base paths yesterday didn't help but they mustered just 9 total runs throughout the series.

9:40PM EST: CIN/AZ Under 8.5 (4 Units).

Reds starter Graham Ashcraft pitches very well outside the hitter friendly Reds stadium. He has a 1.5 ERA in 4 road starts this year and had a 3.68 ERA in 11 road starts last year. If you exclude his trip to Coors Field, he had a 2.91 ERA. Chase Field can play hitter friendly when the Roof's open, but it will be closed tonight and that makes it hard to leave the park, the 1 reason Ashcraft struggles. The Arizona offense is also hitting just .216 with a .643 OPS (28th) vs right-handed pitching this season.

Jordan Montgomery starts for Arizona. The Southpaw's been lights out except for his start against the Dodgers. A couple costly long balls ensured his early exit. Excluding the Dodgers start he has a 2.7 ERA and has gone 6+ in all 3 and 7IP in 2 of them. The length's important with a shaky D-Backs bullpen but their top arms got some rest as they were swept by Baltimore. Coincidentally it was their top arms that blew the 1 game they were leading. Offensively the Reds have scored just 23 runs through 10 May Games. They're dead last in OPS during that span and to add on they're 24th in OPS vs Lefties.

9:40PM EST: Rockies/Padres Under 8 (2 Units).

Dakota Hudson starts for Colorado. He's been victimized by some tough luck outings, but he's been strong outside Coors, pitching to a 3.71 Road ERA. The Padres offense has scored just 11 runs over their last 5 games. The Colorado bullpen has been absolutely lights out recently and came up huge in their series sweep over Texas. That was also at Coors Field where it's tougher to pitch.

Randy Vasquez starts for San Diego. The Rockies got to him at Coors field but even the best pitchers struggle there. He's made 3 starts this year and allowed just 1 Run in each of the 2 others. The Padres bullpen just came up big against a high-powered Dodgers offense two and helped them get a series win over their division rivals for the first time in 3 years. Offensively the Rockies swung it well for a bit during their Home Series, but they always struggle on the road. Everyone likes to talk about the negative effects for pitchers going into Coors but fails to realize the implications of Hitters leaving those conditions. Pitches are flatter and don't move as much in Colorado and when they leave that park batter’s eyes deceive them. Their eyes register one thing but get something different. It takes adjusting to. Even the best hitting Colorado squads over the years struggle outside Coors because of it.