MLB Betting Guide for May 17: Astros on the Rise, Finally

All 30 MLB teams are in action today, so let’s dive into action for everything you need to know heading into the weekend.

Kicking off the day, we just have a single afternoon game, but it should be fun. Paul Skenes will take the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they face the Chicago Cubs.

Later on, two of the league’s best teams will kick off the night of action as the New York Yankees will host the Chicago White Sox while the Philadelphia Phillies begin their weekend series with the Washington Nationals. The Baltimore Orioles will also begin an intriguing series against the Seattle Mariners, who are looking to measure themselves against some elite competition. 

Additionally, the Milwaukee Brewers will go on the road to face the Houston Astros, with the Astros finally, for the first time this season, showing some real life as they are on a five-game winning streak. Over that stretch, they’ve combined for a +24 run differential, putting together the all-around effort that resulted in them being AL favorites heading into the season. Milwaukee has been among the most impressive NL squads, so it will be great to see if the Astros are officially back.

It will be a great night of baseball, so stay with SportsGrid to have you covered on everything that could be thrown at us today. Let’s ride! 

Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily MLB Game Picks and MLB Prop Picks.

MLB Betting Guide for May 17

Tonight’s Headliners: SportsGrid’s MLB Power Rankings | Scherzer’s Future in Doubt, Placed on 60-Day IL 

Catch Up on Yesterday’s Action: Astros Sweep A’s

2:20 p.m. ET: Pittsburgh Pirates @ Chicago Cubs

• Run Line: Pirates -1.5 | Moneyline: Pirates -110 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Paul Skenes (ERA: 6.75; K/9: 15.75) vs. Kyle Hendricks (ERA: 10.04; K/9: 7.27)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 7.5 (2.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Pirates by 0.5 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Andrew McCutchen OVER 0.5 RBIs (4-Stars, +190) | Kyle Hendricks UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

6:40 p.m. ET: Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies

• Run Line: Phillies -1.5 | Moneyline: Phillies -270 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, PA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jake Irvin (ERA: 3.55; K/9: 7.09) vs. Zack Wheeler (ERA: 2.53; K/9: 10.97)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 7.5 (2-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Phillies by 1.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Joey Meneses OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +220) | Bryce Harper OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +115)

7:05 p.m. ET: Seattle Mariners @ Baltimore Orioles

• Run Line: Orioles -1.5 | Moneyline: Orioles -132 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Camden Yards (Baltimore, MD)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Bryce Miller (ERA: 2.66; K/9: 9.70) vs. Undecided

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 8 (2.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Orioles by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Awaiting Orioles’ Starter

7:05 p.m. ET: Chicago White Sox @ New York Yankees

• Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -270 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Mike Clevinger (ERA: 5.40; K/9: 6.75) vs. Nestor Cortes (ERA: 4.03; K/9: 8.55)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 8 (3-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Yankees by 1.4 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Nestor Cortes UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars)

7:07 p.m. ET: Tampa Bay Rays @ Toronto Blue Jays

• Run Line: Blue Jays -1.5 | Moneyline: Blue Jays -178 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Tyler Alexander (ERA: 5.45; K/9: 7.49) vs. Chris Bassitt (ERA: 5.06; K/9: 8.44)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rays +1.5 (5-Stars) | Rays ML (5-Stars, +140) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rays by 1.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Justin Turner OVER 0.5 RBis (4-Stars, +135)

7:10 p.m. ET: New York Mets @ Miami Marlins 

• Run Line: Mets -1.5 | Moneyline: Mets -120 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: loanDepot Park (Miami, FL)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Christian Scott (ERA: 2.84; K/9: 9.95) vs. Jesus Luzardo (ERA: 5.97; K/9: 9.95)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Mets ML (2-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Mets by 0.7 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Christian Scott OVER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Jake Burger OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +195)

7:10 p.m ET: Minnesota Twins @ Cleveland Guardians

• Run Line: Guardians +1.5 | Moneyline: Guardians -120 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+ | Location: Progressive Field (Cleveland, OH)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Simeon Woods Richardson (ERA: 3.24; K/9: 8.28) vs. Triston McKenzie (ERA: 3.54; K/9: 7.75)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 8 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Even

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jose Ramirez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +130) | Carlos Santana OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +190)

7:20 p.m. ET: San Diego Padres @ Atlanta Braves

• Run Line: Braves -1.5 | Moneyline: Braves -210 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Truist Park (Atlanta, GA)
• Weather Notes: Storms likely throughout now, postponement possible

Starting Pitching Matchup: Matt Waldron (ERA: 5.49; K/9: 8.01) vs. Max Fried (ERA: 3.57; K/9: 7.35)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Braves -1.5 (4-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Braves by 2.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Manny Machado OVER 0.5 HRs (5-Stars, +800) | Orlando Arcia OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +210)

7:40 p.m. ET: Oakland Athletics @ Kansas City Royals 

• Run Line: | Moneyline: | Total:
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Kaufman Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Undecided vs. Cole Ragans (ERA: 4.22; K/9: 10.47)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Royals by 1.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: 

8:05 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Angels @ Texas Rangers

• Run Line: Rangers -1.5 | Moneyline: Rangers -178 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Globe Life Field (Arlington, TX)
• Weather Notes: Dome 

Starting Pitching Matchup: Tyler Anderson (ERA: 2.92; K/9: 6.57) vs. Andrew Heaney (ERA: 4.39; K/9: 8.56)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Angels +1.5 (2-Stars) | Angels ML (3-Stars, +150) | OVER 9 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rangers by 0.2 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Logan O’Hoppe OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165) | Andrew Heaney UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars)

8:10 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Brewers @ Houston Astros

• Run Line: Brewers -1.5 | Moneyline: Brewers -108 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Freddy Peralta (ERA: 3.63; K/9: 11.69) vs. Hunter Brown (ERA: 7.79; K/9: 10.02)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Brewers by 0.4 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Freddy Peralta OVER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars, +122) | Kyle Tucker OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +185)

8:15 p.m. ET: Boston Red Sox @ St. Louis Cardinals

• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 | Moneyline: Red Sox -116 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Busch Stadium (St. Louis, MO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Brayan Bello (ERA: 3.13; K/9: 7.67) vs. Kyle Gibson (ERA: 3.67; K/9: 7.35)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 8 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Red Sox by 0.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Ceddanne Rafaela OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +210) | Nolan Arenado OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165)

9:40 p.m. ET: Detroit Tigers @ Arizona Diamondbacks

• Run Line: Tigers -1.5 | Moneyline: Tigers -142 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Chase Field (Phoenix, AZ)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Tarik Skubal (ERA: 2.02; K/9: 11.02) vs. Ryne Nelson (ERA: 5.33; K/9: 6.75)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Diamondbacks +1.5 (3.5-Stars) | Diamondbacks ML (3.5-Stars, +120) | OVER 8 (2.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Diamondbacks by 0.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Tarik Skubal OVER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars, +114) | Ryne Nelson UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

10:10 p.m. ET: Cincinnati Reds @ Los Angeles Dodgers

• Run Line: Dodgers -1.5 | Moneyline: Dodgers -205 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Frankie Montas (ERA: 4.20; K/9: 7.20) vs. James Paxton (ERA: 2.58; K/9: 5.17)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Dodgers -1.5 (1.5-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Dodgers by 2 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Spencer Steer OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +170) | James Paxton UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars)

10:15 p.m. ET: Colorado Rockies @ San Francisco Giants

• Run Line: Giants -1.5 | Moneyline: Giants -162 | Total: 7
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Oracle Park (San Francisco, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Ryan Feltner (ERA: 5.20; K/9: 8.00) vs. Kyle Harrison (ERA: 3.42; K/9: 8.10) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rockies +1.5 (2.5-Stars) | Rockies ML (4.5-Stars, +136) | OVER 7 (2.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rockies by 0.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Hunter Goodman OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +190) | Kyle Harrison UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars, +100)