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

Tigers at Twins Picks and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 6/15/2013

It's starting to happen. The Detroit Tigers are indeed taking control of the American League Central as everyone expected back in the spring. The Chicago White Sox? They led the division much of last year but have been a massive disappointment and sit in last. The Kansas City Royals? They were finally supposed to contend but are below .500, although the hiring of George Brett as hitting coach seems to have helped things.

Phillies at Rockies Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/14/2013

The Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies ... what to make of them? Is either really a true playoff contender? Certainly Colorado thinks so at 35-31 entering Thursday's finale against Washington and just two games behind Arizona in the very winnable NL West. I'm not so sure. The Rockies are one of the best offensive teams in the league, thanks largely to NL MVP candidates Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez (and hitter-friendly Coors Field).

Red Sox at Orioles Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 6/13/2013

The Boston Red Sox continue a 10-game stint within the AL East with Game 1 of an extended four-game weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles this Thursday night at Camden Yards. This division clash is scheduled to get underway at 7:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Indians at Rangers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/12/2013

Exactly three weeks ago, I previewed a Cleveland Indians-Detroit Tigers Wednesday night game. The Tribe entered that matchup as one of the surprise teams in baseball with a 26-18 record and 1.5-game lead over heavy spring AL Central favorite Detroit. I thought Terry Francona was the leading AL Manager of the Year candidate.

Yankees at Athletics Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 6/11/2013

The New York Yankees will continue their current 10-game West Coast swing this Tuesday night with Game 1 of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Diamondbacks at Dodgers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/10/2013

I have written a lot about the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, pretty much all negative. Written so much to the point that I had essentially barred myself from writing Dodgers copy until after the all-star break. But then along came Cuban rookie sensation Yasiel Puig.

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.