Four divisional matchups headline Tuesday’s Free MLB Picks, as eight teams look to extend or bridge the gap between themselves and their rivals!
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Miami Marlins @ Philadelphia Phillies – 7.05PM ET
The Miami Marlins are headed to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies on Tuesday night, for what will be the first of three games between these two NL East rivals.
After winning three of their first four matches last week, the Phillies dropped both of their weekend games against the Blue Jays. In what were two very contrasting encounters, Philadelphia were held scoreless on Saturday before losing an 18 run shootout, 8-10 on Sunday.
As a result of Friday’s 6-9 loss and Saturday’s 0-7 loss, Miami had already lost their weekend series against Los Angeles heading into game three on Sunday. However, the Marlins they avoided being swept by the Dodgers, winning Sunday’s game 3-2.
Zack Wheeler, Pretty 81mph Curveball. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/0m4yCirUM7
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 12, 2021
Zach Wheeler will be taking the ball for Philadelphia in this matchup, currently boasting a 2.85 ERA and 1.02 WHIP from 53.2 innings of work. Wheeler allowed just two runs on eight hits in six innings against the Nationals in his last start.
Miami are yet to announce their starting pitcher, however it will likely be either Nick Neidert (6.20 ERA) or Daniel Castano (5.19 ERA).
After a lengthy road trip, the Phillies are returning to Citizens Bank Park where they have an impressive 13-6 record this season. As the Marlins are 10-13 on the road this year, we can’t see them upsetting the Phillies at home in this matchup with either Nick Neidert or Daniel Castano taking the mound. Especially when considering that Zach Wheeler will give Philadelphia a big advantage with the ball, having allowed his opponents to score just two runs or fewer in three of his last four starts.
MLB Pick – Philadelphia Phillies (TBD)
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Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays – 7.37PM ET
The top two teams in the AL East will face off on Tuesday when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox for the first meeting of their three game series.
Although they lost their last game, the Red Sox recently walked away from their set against the Angels at Fenway Park with a 2-1 series victory. Boston outscored Los Angeles 18-9 over the weekend, highlighted by Saturday’s 9-0 victory.
Xander Bogaerts scored two runs on two hits with three RBIs in the shutout victory. While Rafael Devers added three RBIs of his own in Sunday’s loss.
Toronto will also enter Tuesday’s clash fresh off a series victory, having defeated the Phillies 4-0 on Saturday and 10-8 on Sunday to win the three game series 2-1. The Blue Jays have now won seven of their past 10 outings.
Hyun Jin Ryu is expected to take the mound for the Blue Jays in this contest. Ryu is 3-2 this season with a 2.95 ERA, 1.059 WHIP and 38 strikeouts over 39.2 innings of work on the year. In his last start, Ryu allowed just one run on five hits with six strikeouts in seven innings.
Eduardo Rodriguez will take the ball for the Red Sox on Tuesday. Rodriguez comes in with a 5-1 record, 4.15 ERA, 1.205 WHIP and 42 strikeouts over 39 innings of work this year. Rodriguez allowed four runs on seven hits with one walk and nine strikeouts in six innings during his last start, as the Red Sox lost 4-1.
Although we think the Red Sox are the better team on paper, Boston are just 9-8 in their past 17 games. Contrastingly, Toronto have won five of their past six and will have Hyun Jin Ryu giving them an advantage at the mound. As well as that, the Blue Jays have been hitting very well at home this season (45 runs in last seven home games) and should be able to take advantage of Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez is 5-1 this year, however he does have a 5.06 ERA from his last three starts.
MLB Pick – Toronto Blue Jays (-142)
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Pittsburgh Pirates @ St Louis Cardinals – 7.45PM ET
The division leading St Louis Cardinals will host the bottom of division Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday for the first of three matches between these NL Central rivals.
After six games on the road against Milwaukee and San Diego, St Louis will be returning to Busch Stadium desperate for a win, having recently been swept by the Padres. The Cardinals were outscored 10-23 over the weekend.
However even after a 2-4 road trip, St Louis have maintained a two game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central.
STL✈️MIL✈️SD✈️STL🏠 pic.twitter.com/LReG9vAVGu
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 17, 2021
As for the Pirates, they recently managed to split their four game series against San Francisco in Pittsburgh. A drawn series against the NL leading Giants is certainly not a bad result, however the Pirates are now 0-4-2 from their last six head to head series.
J.T. Brubaker will look to continue his stellar form with the ball when he makes his eighth start of the season for the Pirates on Tuesday. Brubaker allowed just one run in six innings in his last start, giving the right hander a 2.58 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 38.1 innings of work for the year.
Similarly, John Gant will make his eighth start of the year on Tuesday. Gant has a 1.83 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 34.1 innings pitched this season. The veteran right hander held the Brewers to just one run (zero earned) in five innings of work during his last start.
With both pitchers looking to resume their very tidy work this season, we think this match will be a close one. Seeing as the Cardinals are at home, the better batting team and will be looking to avenge their recent sweep in San Diego, we like St Louis to win this matchup and extend their lead in the NL Central. Especially when considering that the Pirates offense has scored just three runs or fewer in four out of their last five outings.
MLB Pick – St Louis Cardinals (-138)
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Milwaukee Brewers @ Kansas City Royals – 8.10PM ET
The Kansas City Royals will host the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday afternoon, with both sides needing a victory to reignite their seasons after their respective form slumps.
Kansas City brought an end to their 11 game losing streak in their most recent series against Chicago, splitting the four games for a 2-2 record. The Royals actually outscored the division leading White Sox 15-10 across the four games.
Although they have won just two of their past 15 games, Kansas City are still in third place in the AL Central division, three and a half games ahead of the fourth placed Tigers and three and a half games behind the second placed Indians.
Milwaukee have also been a below .500 team recently, having won just four of their past 10 games. The Brewers did win their last outing 10-9 against the Braves on Sunday, however Atlanta won the series 2-1.
Avisail Garcia hit a two run homer at the bottom of the fifth on Sunday which proved to be vital as Milwaukee blew an 8-0 lead in the seventh inning after allowing seven Atlanta runs. The Brewers scraped though with the win, as Sunday was Milwaukee’s first 10+ run performance of the 2021 season.
Brandon Woodruff will look to continue his strong form on Tuesday when he makes his ninth start for the Brewers this season. Woodruff has a 1.64 ERA and 61 strikeouts through 49.1 innings of work this year.
Kansas City’s Kris Bubic (1.42 ERA) also enters this matchup with a sub two ERA. However Tuesday will Bubic’s first start of the 2021 season as the 23 year old has pitched just 12.2 innings so far this year.
Although not much separates the two pitchers when looking at their ERA’s, Brandon Woodruff has maintained his elite start to the season across a larger body of work. Seeing as Woodruff is putting together a Cy Young caliber season, we can’t pick against him in this matchup. Especially when considering that Milwaukee’s lineup is coming off their best performance of the season and Kansas City have won just two of their last 15 games.
MLB Pick – Milwaukee Brewers (TBD)
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Houston Astros @ Oakland Athletics – 9.40PM ET
The two best teams in the AL West will face off in the final game of our Tuesday night schedule when the Oakland A’s host the Houston Astros for the first matchup of their three game series.
As it stands, the A’s have a half game lead over the Astros in the AL West thanks to their recent 2-1 series victories over the Red Sox in Boston and Twins in Minnesota.
Houston are quickly closing the gap, having now won six consecutive games against the Angels and Rangers. In their recent stretch of 10 consecutive games in Houston, the Astros have lost two, won eight and outscored their opponents 65-37 in that time.
However, with this game being played in Oakland the A’s will have home field advantage.
Jose Altuve, leadoff home run. I like it. pic.twitter.com/e5jLr9cWWx
— Astros Stats (@astro_numbers) May 13, 2021
Christian Javier will be the starting pitcher for the Astros on Tuesday. Javier has a 3.08 ERA, 44 strikeouts and 0.97 WHIP from his 38 innings of work this season.
Sean Manaea will get the start for Oakland in this matchup, currently boasting a 4.40 ERA through 43 innings of work this year. Manaea received the full brunt of Boston’s No. 1 ranked offense in his last start, having been clubbed for seven earned runs on 10 hits.
We feel as if the Astros lineup is more than capable of doing the same damage on Tuesday night, with Jose Altuve (batting at .400 with two doubles, three homers and eight RBIs in his last 11 games) and Yordan Alvarez (hitting at .408 with five home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 17 games) hitting form with the bat.
As Houston have shown recently that they can take not only a game but an entire series away from their opponents with pure hitting power, we can’t go past the Astros on the road in this matchup. Especially when considering that the A’s are allowing near a five-run average at home this season and Javier will give Houston an advantage with the ball
MLB Pick – Houston Astros (-102)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
