Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – May 7th Edition

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox look to be headed to an epic race in the American League East, with the Red Sox clinging to a one-game lead as the two teams enter a midweek series at Yankee Stadium. The Cleveland Indians sit at just 17-17 but still lead the woeful American League Central by two games. The Philadelphia Phillies had roared out to tremendous start but have dropped seven of ten and appear to be about to slide down the National League East standings. The Cubs are still stuck in neutral, and the Dodgers are already eight games out of first. Where will the next week in MLB take us? Take a look at our MLB betting previews of three terrific betting opportunities for you.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – May 7th Edition

MLB Power Rankings: Astros, D-Backs, Red Sox looking up at new No. 1. 👀 @Yankees. https://t.co/iWekVobipX pic.twitter.com/INKp3U1fbK

— theScore (@theScore) May 7, 2018

Tuesday, May 8

San Francisco at Philadelphia (7:05pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Derek Holland (1-3, 5.70 ERA) (SF) vs Aaron Nola (4-1, 2.17 ERA) (PHI) The latest incarnation of Derek Holland is not looking any more dominant than his last one, as his stint in Chicago with the White Sox resulted in bloated numbers. He has only finished six innings in two of his six starts so far, and he has permitted at least three earned runs in each of his last four starts. In his last start, he went five innings, permitting four hits (including a home run) in a 9-4 win over the San Diego Padres. The Giants head east to take on a Phillies team that got off to a terrific start but has cooled down over the last two weeks. However, the starter for this game, Aaron Nola, has been a bright spot the whole season. His last start, at Miami, lasted 7 ⅓ innings of shutout ball. In that game, he retired 17 consecutive batters and found the strike zone with 67 of his 101 pitches. He has put together five quality starts in a row and looks to continue that on Monday. MLB Betting Prediction: Philadelphia 5, San Francisco 2

Wednesday, May 9

Boston at N.Y. Yankees (7:00pm ET, ESPN)

Projected Pitching Matchup: David Price (2-4, 5.11 ERA) (BOS) vs Masahiro Tanaka (4-2, 4.39 ERA) (NY) Boston’s David Price has taken losses in each of his last three starts — and the results have been ugly. He has pitched a combined 17 innings in those games, permitting 19 runs (16 earned) on a combined 23 hits. In his last start, an 11-5 shellacking at the hands of the woeful Texas Rangers, Price left in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and had the bad fortune of his reliever, Hector Velazquez, permit all three of those runners to score. He faced the Yankees back on April 11, but he lasted just an inning, permitting four earned runs and leaving with numbness in his hand. Masahiro Tanaka has pitched particularly well in his last three starts, throwing 18 ⅔ combined innings while permitting just five earned runs over that stretch. His last start was a win over the big-swinging Houston Astros, in which he permitted just five hits and three earned runs, striking out five and walking none. However, all of those runs came in the seventh inning, after he had thrown six scoreless innings. The Red Sox have a potent lineup as well, but better management should lead to an even easier win. MLB Betting Prediction: New York 9, Boston 4

Washington at San Diego (9:10pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Gio Gonzalez (4-2, 2.33 ERA) (WAS) vs Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 3.13 ERA) (SD) Gio Gonzalez was dominant in his last outing, holding the Phillies scoreless over five innings and scattering a pair of hits. He struck out five and walked two, but his pitch count got high enough (89) that he came out before the sixth. The 39-minute rain delay before the fifth inning also played a role in his short start. His last start before that one was an impressive seven innings against Arizona in which he scattered six hits and fanned eight. So while the Nationals are just a game over .500, Gonzalez has been one of the best performers in the rotation. The Nats visit San Diego, who will start Joey Lucchesi on the mound. Lucchesi hasn’t made it more than six innings all year long and hasn’t finished the sixth inning in any of his last three starts. He took a loss his last time out against the Dodgers, permitting three earned runs on five hits (two of them home runs). Against a powerful lineup like the Nationals’, Lucchesi could get in trouble early — and having Gonzalez pitching for Washington gives him very little room for error. MLB Betting Prediction: Washington 5, San Diego 3