MLB Betting Guide for May 3: Braves-Dodgers Series Awaits

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

We have a strong NL Central showdown in the lone afternoon game as the Chicago Cubs will host the Milwaukee Brewers as both teams have drastically exceeded expectations thus far this season.

Later on, the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants will meet for a pitching duel in South Philly while the New York Yankees will look to bounce back after a disappointing series against the Baltimore Orioles back at home against the Detroit Tigers.

Additionally, we’ll have our eyes on an intriguing matchup in the AL as the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals will meet, giving us another opportunity to compare the Royals strong start to a proven team. Plus, the Minnesota Twins wil put their 10-game win streak to the test against the improving Boston Red Sox.

Closing out the night, an epic series awaits as the Atlanta Braves will be in Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers, a preview of the NLCS in most people’s eyes.

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

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

MLB Betting Guide for May 3

Tonight’s Headliners: 7 MLB Prospects Who Need to be Called Up

Catch Up on Last Night’s Action: Astros Triumph Over Cleveland | Orioles Clinch Series Win vs. Yankees

2:20 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Brewers @ Chicago Cubs

• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 | Moneyline: Cubs -124 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Joe Ross (ERA: 5.40; K/9: 8.28) vs. Hayden Wesneski (ERA: 0.87; K/9: 5.23)

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

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Brewers by 0.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Joe Ross OVER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Michael Busch OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +150) 

6:10 p.m. ET: Baltimore Orioles @ Cincinnati Reds

• Run Line: Orioles -1.5 | Moneyline: Orioles -110 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, OH)
• Weather Notes: Rain throughout the day in Cincinnati, late-start likely

Starting Pitching Matchup: Cole Irvin (ERA: 3.49; K/9: 5.79) vs. Hunter Greene (ERA: 3.64; K/9: 10..90)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Reds +1.5 (2.5-Stars) | Reds ML (2-Stars) | OVER 9 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Reds by 0.6 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Cole Irvin UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Nick Martini OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +180)

6:40 p.m. ET: San Francisco Giants @ Philadelphia Phillies 

• Run Line: Phillies -1.5 | Moneyline: Phillies -148 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+ | Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, PA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jordan Hicks (ERA: 1.59; K/9: 7.15) vs. Aaron Nola (ERA: 3.20; K/9: 8.24) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Phillies -1.5 (5-Stars) | Phillies ML (3.5-Stars) | OVER 8 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Phillies by 1.7 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jordan Hicks UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars, +122) | Brandon Marsh OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +190) 

6:40 p.m. ET: Colorado Rockies @ Pittsburgh Pirates

• Run Line: Pirates -1.5 | Moneyline: Pirates -180 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Weather Notes: Scattered rain and showers throughout night, postponement possiblee

Starting Pitching Matchup: Cal Quantrill (ERA: 5.34; K/9: 4.78) vs. Martin Perez (ERA: 2.86; K/9: 7.01)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rockies +1.5 (3.5-Stars) | Rockies ML (5-Stars) | UNDER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Pirates by 0.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Cal Quantrill UNDER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Martin Perez UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) 

6:45 p.m. ET: Toronto Blue Jays @ Washington Nationals 

• Run Line: Blue Jays -1.5 | Moneyline: Blue Jays -178 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+ | Location: Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Yusei Kikuchi (ERA: 2.94; K/9: 9.62) vs. Patrick Corbin (ERA: 6.82; K/9: 6.25)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Nationals +1.5 (5-Stars) | Nationals ML (3-Stars, +150) | UNDER 9 (2-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Blue Jays by 0.4 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Yusei Kikuchi OVER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars, +128) | Patrick Corbin (5-Stars, +122)

6:50 p.m. ET: New York Mets @ Tampa Bay Rays

• Run Line: Rays -1.5 | Moneyline: Rays -138 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jose Quintana (ERA: 3.48; K/9: 6.15) vs. Aaron Civale (ERA: 5.06; K/9: 9.56)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rays -1.5 (3-Stars) | OVER 8 (2-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rays by 1 run

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Francisco Lindor OVER 0.5 RBIs (4.5-Stars, +140) | Amed Rosario OVER 0.5 RBIs (4-Stars, +160)

7:05 p.m. ET: Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees

• Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -168 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Reese Olson (ERA: 3.18; K/9: 8.26) vs Marcus Stroman (ERA: 3.70; K/9: 9.09)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Tigers +1.5 (4-Stars) | Tigers ML (5-Stars, +142) | UNDER 7.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Tigers by 0.5 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Matt Vierling OVER 0.5 Runs (5-Stars, +160) | Marcus Stroman UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars) 

7:10 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Angels @ Cleveland Guardians

• Run Line: Guardians -1.5 | Moneyline: Guardians -180 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Progressive Field (Cleveland, OH)
• Weather Notes: Spotty showers throughout day, shouldn’t cause anything more than a potential minor delay

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jose Soriano (ERA: 4.77; K/9: 9.13) vs. Tanner Bibee (ERA: 3.45; K/9: 10.05)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Angels +1.5 (3-Stars) | Angels ML (4.5-Stars, +152) | OVER 7.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Guadians by 0.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Cole Tucker OVER 0.5 Runs (5-Stars, +195) | Tanner Bibee UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars)

7:40 p.m. ET: Texas Rangers @ Kansas City Royals

• Run Line: Rangers -1.5 | Moneyline: Rangers -108 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Michael Lorenzen (ERA: 4.24; K/9: 7.41) vs. Brady Singer (ERA: 2.62; K/9: 8.91)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rangers -1.5 (4-Stars) | Rangers ML (5-Stars) | OVER 9 (2-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rangers by 1.5 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Marcus Semien OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +135) | Brady Singer OVER 4.5 Ks (4.5-Stars, +112)

8:10 p.m. ET: Boston Red Sox @ Minnesota Twins

• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 | Moneyline: Red Sox -106 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Target Field (Minneapolis, MN)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left 

Starting Pitching Matchup: Tanner Houck (ERA: 1.60; K/9: 9.38) vs. Chris Paddack (ERA: 5.89; K/9: 7.27)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Twins +1.5 (3-Stars) | Twins ML (2.5-Stars) | OVER 8 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Twins by 0.7 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Connor Wong OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +220) | Chris Paddack UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars, +126)

8:10 p.m. ET: Seattle Mariners @ Houston Astros

• Run Line: Astros +1.5 | Moneyline: Astros -116 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: George Kirby (ERA: 4.18; K/9: 10.58) vs Ronel Blanco (ERA: 1.65; K/9: 8.27)

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

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Astros by 1.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: George Kirby OVER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Ronel Blanco UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars)

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

• Run Line: Cardinals -1.5 | Moneyline: Cardinals -295 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB. TV | Location: Busch Stadium (St. Louis, MO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Brad Keller (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 5.40) vs. Sonny Gray (ERA: 1.16; K/9: 12.34)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: OVER 7.5 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Cardinals by 1.7 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Andrew Benintendi OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +270)

9:40 p.m. ET: Miami Marlins @ Oakland Athletics

• Run Line: Athletics -1.5 | Moneyline: Athletics -134 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Oakland Colesium (Oakland, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Ryan Weathers (ERA: 4.55; K/9: 7.89) vs. JP Sears (ERA: 4.64; K/9: 6.55)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Marlins ML (5-Stars, +114) | OVER 7.5 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Marlins by 0.6 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Ryan Weathers UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

9:40 p.m. ET: San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks

• Run Line: Padres -1.5 | Moneyline: Padres -108 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Chase Field (Phoenix, AZ)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Dylan Cease (ERA: 2.78; K/9: 10.09) vs. Slade Cecconi (ERA: 2.25; K/9: 8.25)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 9 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Diamonbacks by 0.1 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jurickson Profar OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165) | Slade Cecconi OVER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars)

10:10 p.m. ET: Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers

• Run Line: Dodgers +1.5 | Moneyline: Dodgers -118 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Charlie Morton (ERA: 3.60; K/9: 8.40) vs. Gavin Stone (ERA: 4.68; K/9: 6.48)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Braves -1.5 (2-Stars) | Braves ML (3-Stars, +100) | UNDER 9.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Braves by 0.7 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Ozzie Albies OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +140) | Gavin Stone UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)