MLB Picks: Parlays, Expert Predictions, Best Bets and Player Props.

Giants at Diamondbacks Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/7/2013

Here we are 60 games or so into the Major League Baseball season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks continue to occupy first place in the National League West. Yet, I'm still not buying the Snakes. I thought they'd be around a .500 team and finish behind the Giants and Dodgers in the division. But Arizona is 34-26 and carries a 2.5-game lead in the division into Friday's series opener against the defending World Series Champion Giants (all stats will be as of Friday).

Cardinals at Reds Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/6/2013

The Cincinnati Reds aren't going to overtake the St. Louis Cardinals to win the NL Central without ace Johnny Cueto, and most certainly the Reds aren't going to the World Series for the first time since winning it in 1990. Cueto is one of the National League's best pitchers when healthy, but he hasn't been able to stay that way in 2013. The 27-year-old, who was fourth in the NL in Cy Young voting last year, missed five weeks already this season with a lat/oblique injuries.

Phillies at Brewers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 6/5/2013

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers kick off a four-game series at Miller Park this Thursday night in a matchup between two National League teams in desperate need of some wins. This series opener is scheduled to get underway at 8:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Athletics at Brewers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/4/2013

It's two teams going in very opposite directions on Wednesday in the series finale at Miller Park as the Oakland A's visit Milwaukee in an interleague matchup. I honestly don't know how the A's are being so successful. They are right on the heels of the Texas Rangers in the AL West (sound familiar?) and have lost just two games since May 15 (entering Tuesday and had not dropped a series).

Rangers at Red Sox Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 6/4/2013

The Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox will kick off a three-game series at Fenway Park this Tuesday night in a showdown between two division leaders in the American League. Game 1 is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Astros at Angels Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/3/2013

The Los Angeles Angels were the American League's biggest flop in the first month of the season. They entered May with a 9-17 record, which is ridiculous considering all the talent on the team -- at least hitting-wise (the rotation is pretty weak outside of Jered Weaver).

Royals at Rangers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/1/2013

It's pretty rare I will lead off an MLB game preview with a hitting coach, but it's not too often a team hires the greatest player in franchise history to turn its fortunes around. I am talking about the Kansas City Royals and Hall of Famer George Brett. This seems like a last-resort move by General Manager Dayton Moore to save both his job and that of Manager Ned Yost.

Red Sox at Yankees Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/31/2013

The Red Sox visit the Yankees this weekend for three games and.... wait for it.... every game is on national television. Mind-blowing, I know. I'm totally tired of the hype surrounding when the Sox and Yanks play, but here I am writing about it anyway.

Mets at Yankees Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/30/2013

The New York Mets and the New York Yankees will wrap up the back-end of a four-game home-and-home Subway Series this Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. This final New York City showdown is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network.

Diamondbacks at Rangers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/29/2013

With the Houston Astros moving to the American League this season, it assured that there would be at least one interleague series every day of the season (sans off days). It also brought some unique scheduling for a team's primary rival: i.e. Cubs-White Sox, Yankees-Mets. Those season series have been cut from six games to four, with a two-game series in each team's park this week.

Phillies at Red Sox Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/28/2013

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox continue this week’s interleague series this Tuesday night at Fenway Park with Game 2 of a four-game set. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

White Sox at Cubs Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/27/2013

It's an interleague schedule on this Memorial Day, and it was starting to look like a lost summer in Chicago with both the North and South Side teams struggling. However, the White Sox seem to be showing signs of being a contender again in the American League Central. Granted, a sweep of the Miami Marlins isn't much to get too worked up about, but it did get the Pale Hose to .500 for the first time since April 10 when they were 4-4.

Yankees at Rays Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/25/2013

The most valuable pitcher on the Tampa Bay Rays is an easy choice, right? Certainly it's 27-year-old David Price, the reigning American League Cy Young winner. That would be absolutely incorrect, and it's not even close: It's Matt Moore.

Cardinals at Dodgers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/24/2013

According to media reports out of Los Angeles, Don Mattingly will still be the Dodgers' manager when they open a three-game series against visiting St. Louis on Friday night. Whether Mattingly is still in the dugout on Monday could be up for debate.

Indians at Red Sox Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/23/2013

The Cleveland Indians will be looking for their first win against the Boston Red Sox this season when they kick off an extended four-game Memorial Day Holiday weekend series at Fenway Park this Thursday night. Game 1 of this matchup is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available for viewing on MLB Extra Innings.

Tigers at Indians Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/22/2013

Do you think the Boston Red Sox are looking at what's going on in Cleveland right now and regretting letting Manager Terry Francona go after the 2011 season? Not that John Farrell isn't doing a fine job in Beantown (Bobby Valentine certainly didn't last year), but Francona is working miracles with the Tribe as they are the hottest team in baseball and lead the American League Central over the presumed World Series-favorite Detroit Tigers.

Cubs at Pirates Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/21/2013

This Tuesday night at PNC Park marks the start of a three-game Central Division clash in the National League between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Diamondbacks at Rockies Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/20/2013

I am pretty shocked that the Arizona Diamondbacks are still in first place in the National League West. But that's the beauty of baseball as you never know what rather no-name team will surprise. The two Los Angeles teams are loaded with superstars and bloated contracts, and both have fallen flat on their faces.

Dodgers at Braves Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/18/2013

Can Zack Greinke save the Los Angeles Dodgers' season? It's tough for any pitcher to save a season when he only takes the mound every five days. However, when you already have Clayton Kershaw atop your rotation and can slide a very good Greinke into No. 2, you feel good about winning their starts every time out. Thus, if the Dodgers can just win one of the other three starters' outings each time around, that's .600 baseball. Playing .600 baseball would lead three of the MLB divisions right now, including the Dodgers' NL West.

Blue Jays at Yankees Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/17/2013

Are the Toronto Blue Jays starting to live up to the preseason hype that saw them as the World Series favorite back in the spring? Frankly, I thought it was all a bit much that Toronto was a favorite after adding Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and a few others in the big trade with the Marlins as well as dealing for reigning NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey of the Mets and signing free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera of the Giants.