MLB Betting Guide for May 21: Ranger Suarez for NL Cy Young?

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

The Seattle Mariners snapped their seven-game win streak tonight. The Yankees continue to hold the best record in the AL, but lower in the standings, the Mariners are quietly improving. They showed last night that they are an under-the-radar AL pennant contender.

Next, in the NL, we’ll check out the Atlanta Braves, who have lost four of their last five games as they head into Wrigley to battle with the impressive Chicago Cubs. The Braves now sit five games back in the NL East from the Philadelphia Phillies, who will put Ranger Suarez and his MLB-leading eight wins on the mound against the Texas Rangers. At +850, Suarez looks to be the best on the board in the NL Cy Young race.

Later, the Houston Astros will aim to add to their win column against the Los Angeles Angels, while the Los Angeles Dodgers will look to extend their win streak to five games as they host the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

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 21

Catch Up on the Weekend’s Action: Royals Thump Tigers | Angels Defeat Surging Astros | Yankees Win-Streak Snapped by Mariners | Dodgers Handle D-Backs

6:10 p.m ET: New York Mets @ Cleveland Guardians

• Run Line: Guardians +1.5 | Moneyline: Guardians -116 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Progressive Field (Cleveland, OH)
• Weather Notes: Warm, clear, winds blowing out to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Adrian Houser (ERA: 7.44; K/9: 4.68) vs. Carlos Carrasco (ERA: 5.16; K/9: 6.75)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 9.5 (3.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Guardians by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Adrian Houser OVER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars, +144) | Carlos Carrasco UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

6:40 p.m ET: San Francisco Giants @ Pittsburgh Pirates

• Run Line: Giants -1.5 | Moneyline: Giants -136 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Weather Notes: Warm, clear, winds blowing across from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Logan Webb (ERA: 3.03; K/9: 7.13) vs. Martin Perez (ERA: 4.86; K/9: 7.20)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Pirates +1.5 (2-Stars) | OVER 8 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Giants by 0.1 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Wilmer Flores OVER 0.5 RBIs (-Stars, +150)

6:40 p.m ET: Texas Rangers @ Philadelphia Phillies

• Run Line: Phillies -1.5 | Moneyline: Phillies -166 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, PA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jon Gray (ERA: 2.08; K/9: 9.00) vs. Ranger Suarez (ERA: 1.37; K/9: 8.85)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rangers ML (1.5-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (3-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Phillies by 0.6 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Adolis Garcia OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +145) | Bryce Harper OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +125)

6:40 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Brewers @ Miami Marlins 

• Run Line: Brewers -1.5 | Moneyline: Brewers -136 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: loanDepot Park (Miami, FL)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Robert Gasser (ERA: 0.82; K/9: 4.91) vs. Trevor Rogers (ERA: 5.79; K/9: 7.93)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Brewers -1.5 (3-Stars) | Brewers ML (3-Stars) | OVER 8 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Brewers by 1.6 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Robert Gasser UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Jazz Chisholm Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +230)

6:40 p.m. ET: San Diego Padres @ Cincinnati Reds

• Run Line: Padres -1.5 | Moneyline: Padres -120 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, OH)
• Weather Notes: Warm, clear, winds blowing in from right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Joe Musgrove (ERA: 6.37; K/9: 7.90) vs. Andrew Abbott (ERA: 3.06; K/9: 7.38)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Padres ML (2-Stars) | UNDER 9.5 (2-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Padres by 0.9 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Joe Musgrove OVER 4.5 Ks (3-Stars) | Andrew Abbott OVER 4.5 Ks (3-Stars, +114)

6:45 p.m. ET: Minnesota Twins @ Washington Nationals

• Run Line: Twins -1.5 | Moneyline: Twins -196 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing to the left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Joe Ryan (ERA: 3.57; K/9: 9.85) vs. Patrick Corbin (ERA: 5.59; K/9: 5.40)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Nationals +1.5 (5-Stars) | Nationals ML (5-Stars, +164) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Even

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Carlos Correa OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +130) | Luis Garcia Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +210)

6:50 p.m. ET: Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays

• Run Line: Rays -1.5 | Moneyline: Rays -134 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Cooper Criswell (ERA: 2.76; K/9: 8.59) vs. Zack Littell (ERA: 3.44; K/9: 8.70)

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

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rays by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Rafael Devers OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +130) | Zack Littell UNDER 5.5 Ks (4-Stars)

7:05 p.m. ET: Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees

• Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -164 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Bryan Woo (ERA: 0.93; K/9: 7.45) vs. Clarke Schmidt (ERA: 2.49; K/9: 9.77) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Mariners +1.5 (1.5-Stars) | Mariners ML (2-Stars, +138) | UNDER 8 (3-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Yankees by 0.5 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: JP Crawford OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +210) | Clarke Schmidt UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars, +104)

7:07 p.m. ET: Chicago White Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays

• Run Line: Blue Jays -1.5 | Moneyline: Blue Jays -188 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: ESPN+ | Location: Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Garrett Crochet (ERA: 4.18; K/9: 12.19) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (ERA: 2.60; K/9: 9.52)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Blue Jays -1.5 (3.5-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Blue Jays by 1.8 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Garrett Crochet OVER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Justin Turner OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +145)

7:40 p.m. ET: Detroit Tigers @ Kansas City Royals 

• Run Line: Tigers -1.5 | Moneyline: Tigers -108 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Kaufman Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to the right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Casey Mize (ERA: 3.50; K/9: 6.60) vs. Alec Marsh (ERA: 2.43; K/9: 7.54)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Royals +1.5 (1.5-Stars) | Royals ML (1.5-Stars) | UNDER 9.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Royals by 0.5 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Wenceel Perez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +155) | Maikel Garcia OVER o.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +195)

7:40 p.m. ET: Atlanta Braves @ Chicago Cubs 

• Run Line: Braves -1.5 | Moneyline: Braves -130 | Total: 10.5
• Where to Watch: FS1 | Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
• Weather Notes: Possibility of storms late, winds blowing strongly out to left (25 MPH!)

Starting Pitching Matchup: Charlie Morton (ERA: 3.52; K/9: 8.61) vs. Javier Assad (ERA: 1.49; K/9: 7.82)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Braves -1.5 (3.5-Stars) | Braves ML (5-Stars) | UNDER 10.5 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Braves by 2 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Christopher Morel OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +110)

7:45 p.m. ET: Baltimore Orioles @ St. Louis Cardinals

• Run Line: Orioles -1.5 | Moneyline: Orioles -152 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Busch Stadium (St. Louis, MO)
• Weather Notes: Warm, clear, winds blowing out to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Kyle Bradish (ERA: 2.63; K/9: 11.20) vs. Lance Lynn (ERA: 4.17; K/9: 8.54)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Cardinals +1.5 (2-Stars) | UNDER 9 (2.5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Orioles by 0.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Kyle Bradish OVER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Lance Lynn UNDER 4.5 Ks (4-Stars)

8:10 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Angels @ Houston Astros

• Run Line: Astros -1.5 | Moneyline: Astros -205 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Griffin Canning (ERA: 5.21; K/9: 6.56) vs. Cristian Javier (ERA: 3.23; K/9: 7.63)

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

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Astros by 1.5 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Griffin Canning OVER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars, +120) | Kyle Tucker OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +140)

9:40 p.m. ET: Colorado Rockies @ Oakland Athletics 

• Run Line: Athletics -1.5 | Moneyline: Athletics -132 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Cal Quantrill (ERA: 3.66; K/9: 6.27) vs. Aaron Brooks (ERA: 3.86; K/9: 6.43)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rockies ML (2.5-Stars, +112) | OVER 7.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rockies by 0.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Cal Quantrill UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

10:10 p.m. ET: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Los Angeles Dodgers

• Run Line: Dodgers -1.5 | Moneyline: Dodgers -168 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Brandon Pfaadt (ERA: 4.17; K/9: 8.50) vs. Gavin Stone (ERA: 3.27; K/9: 5.93)

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

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Dodgers by 1.8 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Brandon Pfaadt OVER 4.5 Ks (4-Stars) | Shohei Ohtani OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +110)

All Odds Courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook