MLB Betting Guide for May 24: AL Central Sleeping Giants

All 30 MLB teams are in action today, so let’s review everything you need to know to pump out some winners heading into the weekend.

Looking atop the American League standings, the New York Yankees begin a road trip against the San Diego Padres. Two unexpected AL Central beasts, the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals, ride six-game winning streaks into their upcoming series. The Guardians and Royals each own top-five records, and while their national popularity is gaining traction, are they still being overlooked as major AL pennant contenders? 

In the National League, the red-hot Philadelphia Phillies will take their 37-14 record into their road trip, which begins tonight against the Colorado Rockies. Behind the Phillies, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves will be on the road against NL Central clubs, but for now, the Phillies look nothing short of unstoppable!

Stay with SportsGrid to be covered on everything. Let’s ride! 

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MLB Betting Guide for May 24

Tonight’s Headliners: Red-Hot Run for Phillies | Yankees Still Waiting on Cole’s Return | How do Padres Replace Xander Bogaerts? | Elly De La Cruz on Historic Stolen Base Pace

Catch Up on Yesterday’s Action: Yankees Split with Mariners | Braves Blank Cubs

6:40 p.m ET: Atlanta Braves @ Pittsburgh Pirates

• Run Line: Braves -1.5 | Moneyline: Braves -162 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to the right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Undecided vs. Bailey Falter (ERA: 3.53; K/9: 5.12)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Braves -1.5 (5-Stars) | Braves ML (5-Stars) | UNDER 9.5 (2-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Braves by 2.9 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Awaiting Braves’ Starter

6:40 p.m. ET: Toronto Blue Jays @ Detroit Tigers

• Run Line: Blue Jays -1.5 | Moneyline: Blue Jays -116 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Comerica Park (Detroit, MI)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Alek Manoah (ERA: 3.00; K/9: 9.50) vs. Matt Manning (ERA: 4.88; K/9: 7.48)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Tigers +1.5 (1-Star) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Tigers by 0.1 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Danny Jansen OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +140) | Matt Manning UNDER 4.5 Ks (4.5-Stars)

6:45 p.m. ET: Seattle Mariners @ Washington Nationals

• Run Line: Mariners -1.5 | Moneyline: Mariners -148 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to the left

Starting Pitching Matchup: George Kirby (ERA: 3.99; K/9: 8.63) vs. MacKenzie Gore (ERA: 3.30; K/9: 10.49)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 7.5 (3-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Mariners by 0.8 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Awaiting Props

6:50 p.m. ET: Kansas City Royals @ Tampa Bay Rays

• Run Line: Royals -1.5 | Moneyline: Royals -118 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Tropicana Park (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Seth Lugo (ERA: 1.79; K/9: 7.99) vs. Shawn Armstrong (ERA: 4.03; K/9: 10.48)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rays+1.5 (1.5-Stars) | Rays ML (1-Star, +100) | OVER 8.5 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rays by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Bobby Witt Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +135) | Isaac Paredes OVER 0.5 RBIs (3-Stars, +175)

7:10 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Cincinnati Reds

• Run Line: Dodgers -1.5 | Moneyline: Dodgers -158 | Total: 10
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, OH)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds are blowing in from the right

Starting Pitching Matchup: James Paxton (ERA: 2.84; K/9: 4.87) vs. Graham Ashcraft (ERA: 4.25; K/9: 7.40)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Reds +1.5 (2.5-Stars) | UNDER 10 (2.5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Dodgers by 0.7 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: James Paxton UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Spencer Steer OVER 0.5 RBIs (4.5-Stars, +130)

7:10 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Brewers @ Boston Red Sox

• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 | Moneyline: Red Sox -138 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+ | Location: Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to the left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Bryse Wilson (ERA: 2.79; K/9: 7.22) vs. Kutter Crawford (ERA: 2.17; K/9: 8.84)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Brewers (2-Stars, +118) | UNDER 9.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Even

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Bryse Wilson UNDER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars, +128) | Connor Wong OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +160)

7:10 p.m. ET: San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets

• Run Line: Mets -1.5 | Moneyline: Mets -138 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB TV+ | Location: Citi Field (Queens, NY)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Kyle Harrison (ERA: 3.60; K/9: 8.02) vs. Christian Scott (ERA: 4.32; K/9: 9.18)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 7.5 (1.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Mets by 0.3 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Thairo Estrada OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +200) | JD Martinez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +135)

7:10 p.m. ET: Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins

• Run Line: Twins -1.5 | Moneyline: Twins -152 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB TV+ | Location: Target Field (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jose Urena (ERA: 3.29; K/9: 5.63) vs. Bailey Ober (ERA: 4.40; K/9: 9.38)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rangers +1.5 (4-Stars) | Rangers ML (5-Stars, +128) | UNDER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rangers by 0.5 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Marcus Semien OVER 0.5 RBIs (4.5-Stars, +175) | Ryan Jeffers OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +170)

7:40 p.m. ET: Baltimore Orioles @ Chicago White Sox

• Run Line: Orioles -1.5 | Moneyline: Orioles -270 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+ | Location: Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago, IL)
• Weather Notes: Bad rain expected, postponement likely

Starting Pitching Matchup: Corbin Burnes (ERA: 2.56; K/9: 9.05) vs. Chris Flexen (ERA: 5.48; K/9: 6.90) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 8.5 (1.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Orioles by 2.6 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Andrew Benintendi OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +280)

8:15 p.m. ET: Chicago Cubs @ St. Louis Cardinals

• Run Line: Mets -1.5 | Moneyline: Mets -142 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB TV+ | Location: Busch Stadium (St. Louis, MO)
• Weather Notes: Rain is moving in around game time. Unclear if this one will be played

Starting Pitching Matchup: Shota Imanaga (ERA: 0.84; K/9: 9.73) vs. Miles Mikolas (ERA: 5.77; K/9: 6.62)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Cubs -1.5 (5-Stars) | Cubs ML (5-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (3-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Cubs by 2.5 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Shota Imanaga OVER 5.5 Stars (4.5-Stars) | Dylan Carlson OVER 0.5 Runs (4-Stars, +190)

8:40 p.m ET: Philadelphia Phillies @ Colorado Rockies

• Run Line: Phillies -1.5 | Moneyline: Phillies -210 | Total: 10.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Coors Field (Denver, CO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Cristopher Sanchez (ERA: 3.31; K/9: 8.63) vs. Ty Blach (ERA: 5.14; K/9: 4.29)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 10.5 (4-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Phillies by 2.1 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Bryson Stott OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +120) | Ty Blach OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +180)

9:38 p.m ET: Cleveland Guardians @ Los Angeles Angels 

• Run Line: Guardians -1.5 | Moneyline: Guardians -110 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Angel Stadium (Anaheim, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Logan Allen (ERA: 4.91; K/9: 7.54) vs. Patrick Sandoval (ERA: 4.59; K/9: 9.35)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Angels +1.5 (3-Stars) | Angels ML (2-Stars) | UNDER 8.5 (2.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Angels by 0.5 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jose Ramirez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +125) | Patrick Sandoval UNDER 5.5 Ks (4.5-Stars)

9:40 p.m. ET: New York Yankees @ San Diego Padres

• Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -116 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Petco Park (San Diego, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from left to right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Carlos Rodon (ERA: 3.27; K/9: 9.00) vs. Yu Darvish (ERA: 2.08; K/9: 8.69) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Padres +1.5 (5-Stars) | Padres ML (5-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Padres by 1.3 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Alex Verdugo OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165) | Jurickson Profar OVER 0.5 RBIs (4.5-Stars, +200)

9:40 p.m. ET: Houston Astros @ Oakland Athletics 

• Run Line: Astros -1.5 | Moneyline: Astros -176 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Justin Verlander (ERA: 3.97; K/9: 6.88) vs. Ross Stripling (ERA: 5.19; K/9: 5.54)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Astros -1.5 (2.5-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Astros by 1.9 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Justin Verlander UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Brent Rooker OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165)

9:40 p.m. ET: Miami Marlins @ Arizona Diamondbacks

• Run Line: Diamondbacks -1.5 | Moneyline: Diamondbacks -190 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Chase Field (Phoenix, AZ)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Braxton Garrett (ERA: 10.24; K/9: 12.10) vs. Zac Gallen (ERA: 3.02; K/9: 9.77)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Diamondbacks -1.5 (1.5-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Diamondbacks by 1.6 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Braxton Garrett OVER 3.5 Ks (4.5-Stars) | Lourdes Gurriel Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +125)