MLB picks: Padres vs. Brewers, Mariners vs. A's
San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
May 24th, 2021
We scoured Monday’s MLB markets and came up with two solid wagers!
Leading off is Monday’s series opener between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers. Then we’ll discuss an AL West showdown between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics.
San Diego Padres (30-17) at Milwaukee Brewers (23-23), 7:40 p.m. ET
Fresh off his best outing of 2021, Blake Snell should lead the Padres to a Monday night victory over the Brewers.
Snell fired six innings of one-run ball against the Colorado Rockies last Tuesday, fanning 11 batters. Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff has been starved for run support all season (1.58 runs per nine innings, lowest mark in the majors), and he’s unlikely to get much relief as the Brewers are 24th in batting average against lefties this season (.224).
Backing Snell is a solid San Diego bullpen that’s second in the majors by ERA over the last two weeks (1.77).
Fernando Tatis Jr.'s last four games:
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 24, 2021
> 11 for 14
> 4 home runs
> 12 RBI
> 27 total bases
> A couple bat flips
> AHHHHHHHHHHHHH pic.twitter.com/iEZuR5Xqfa
Woodruff will square off with a Padres offense that’s averaged 7.08 runs over their last 13 games (12-1 record in that span). Fernando Tatis Jr. has led the assault, as he’s batting .415 in May with six homers and 15 RBI.
Once Woodruff departs, the Friars can get to work on a languishing Brewers bullpen that’s dead-last in the majors by ERA over the last two weeks (6.81).
MLB pick: Padres +102
Seattle Mariners (21-26) at Oakland Athletics (28-20), 9:40 p.m. ET
Oddsmakers have hung a low total on Monday’s series opener between the Mariners and the A’s, and Over bettors should take advantage.
Yusei Kikuchi was able to record his fourth straight quality start for Seattle last Monday, but he’s fortunate that the Detroit Tigers weren’t able to plate more than three runs with three hits – including two home runs – and four walks over six innings.
Ramón Laureano blasted one into the teeth of the wind, but still hit it 410 feet on 109 MPH EV. Laureano already with 9 HRs this season, tied with Matt Olson for the team lead. #Athletics pic.twitter.com/zHOZrKxjTm
— Joe Hughes (@VegasJoeHughes) May 19, 2021
Kikuchi has been bit by the longball nine times in 2021, and he faces an Oakland lineup that’s second in home runs hit in May (35). Ramon Laureano has eight on his own this month, with fellow outfielder Mark Canha and first baseman Matt Olson close behind at six apiece. The latter two have previously homered against Kikuchi.
The Mariners' bullpen owns a lackluster 6.29 ERA over the last two weeks, 28th in baseball in that span.
Frankie Montas counters for the A’s, and the Oakland Coliseum has been a house of horrors for him this season. He sports a 6.21 ERA through six starts there, with a garish .298 opponent batting average.
Oakland’s bullpen has not provided much relief of late, producing a 5.31 ERA over the last two weeks, 23rd in the majors in that stretch.
MLB pick: Over
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