Top MLB Betting Picks for the Weekend – May 30th Edition

How about those Minnesota Twins? They sit at the top of the standings in the American League Central — and have the best record in the entire junior circuit. They are now 9 ½ games ahead of the Cleveland Indians, so this division could be a cake walk if things don’t get closer by the All-Star break. The Houston Astros lead the AL West by 7 ½ games over Oakland, so the only close race in the AL is the East, where Tampa Bay is just a game back of the Yankees. In the National League East, Philadelphia is 3 ½ games ahead of Atlanta — who is just 14-14 at home. The Cubs are just a game ahead of Milwaukee in the NL Central, while the Dodgers are pulling away in the NL West, eight games ahead of San Diego. As far as MLB betting goes, here are our top picks for the weekend.

Top MLB Betting Picks for the Weekend – May 30th Edition

MLB Power Rankings: It was a week to forget for both teams: https://t.co/JTTRdpKN49

— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) May 29, 2019

Friday, May 31

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox (8:10pm ET)

• Projected Pitching Matchup: Trevor Bauer (4-4, 3.99 ERA) (CLE) vs Dylan Covey (0-4, 5.47 ERA) (CHI)

Trevor Bauer was looking like a second ace for the Indians in the early going, but he has permitted at least four earned runs and at least one home run six of his last eight starts. The exception was a seven-inning gem of two-hit, two-run (none earned) ball on May 11 in Oakland. In his last three starts, though, he has permitted 15 earned runs in 17 combined innings, walking nine and allowing four home runs. The White Sox torched him for ten hits and eight runs (including a pair of home runs) on May 6. If Bauer can’t keep the ball down, expect a long night. Bauer’s counterpart, Dylan Covey, has been getting lit up lately as well. He has permitted at least four earned runs in three of his last four starts, and he has only finished the sixth inning once all year — and that was in his last start, when he permitted four earned runs on three hits, including a home run, and a pair of walks, in a loss to the Twins. If you combine that poor pitching with a moribund Sox offense, then you have a game that the Tribe should win. MLB Betting Prediction: Cleveland 7, Chicago 5

Saturday, June 1

Philadelphia at L.A. Dodgers (10:10pm ET)

• Projected Pitching Matchup: Zach Eflin (5-5, 3.02 ERA) (PHI) vs Clayton Kershaw (5-0, 3.46 ERA) (LA)

Zach Eflin had a string of three starts going in which he permitted one or fewer earned runs, including a pair of complete games. But in his last three starts, two against Milwaukee and one against the Cubs, he has pitched 14 ⅔ combined innings, permitting eight earned runs on 21 hits, including three home runs, walking seven and fanning 13. His last start lasted just 3 ⅔ innings as he was shelled for two homers and three runs in a game the Phillies would lose 9-1. How will he fare against a dangerous Dodgers offense? Los Angeles counters with the venerable Clayton Kershaw. He has won decisions in four straight starts, although the offense has helped him out, as he has permitted three or more earned runs in three of those four starts. In his last start, against the Mets, he permitted ten hits, including a home run, on the way to giving up three earned runs. So we could see both teams putting up some big run totals. I like the Dodgers to pick up the win since they get to bat last. MLB Betting Prediction: Los Angeles 6, Philadelphia 5