Today’s MLB schedule features a good batch of day games to choose from that are available to bet on at the sportsbooks.
My favorite ones are: Braves vs. Red Sox, Tigers vs. Blue Jays, and White Sox vs. Cubs. Check out today’s picks featuring these games. My recommendations are supported by OddsTrader’s computer AI and by my own human handicapping.
The Picks
- Red Sox ML (+110)
- Tigers ML (-105)
- Cubs -1.5 (-115)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox
Sunday, May 18, 2025 – 1:35 PM EDT at Fenway Park
Our computers project Boston to win this game. In agreement with this projection, I will recommend a wager on the Red Sox moneyline.
Atlanta’s Starter Today
Spencer Schwellenbach starts for the Braves today.
Schwellenbach’s ERA looks attractive, but a deeper look into his metrics shows that he is not actually performing that well and indicates that one should, accordingly, expect him to allow more runs than he’s been allowing.
On April 10, for example, he allowed one run in six innings. In that start, however, he yielded a 4.61 FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding), which shows how poorly he truly performed.
In his following start, on April 15, he allowed six earned runs in 4.2 innings. Today, he is likewise coming off a start in which his FIP was much worse than his ERA. One should expect regression from him today.
Boston’s Lineup
The Red Sox are primed to thrive against Schwellenbach, who would be slated to allow plenty of runs even if he were facing a worse lineup.
Boston could hardly match up better against Schwellenbach. Its lineup ranks fourth with a .447 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.
Boston’s Starter
Brayan Bello starts for Boston today. Bello continues to prove how reliable he is: he has allowed one earned run or zero runs in three of his five starts so far. Most recently, he held Detroit to two earned runs.
He has been particularly solid at home, where he has yet to allow more than a run.
Atlanta’s lineup matches up much worse against him than Boston’s does against Schwellenbach, justifying a strong investment in the Red Sox. They are a great home dog.
MLB Pick: Red Sox ML (+110) at Bet365
Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Sunday, May 18, 2025 – 1:37 PM EDT at Rogers Centre
Our computers indicate that Detroit will win this game. I agree with this prediction and recommend that you bet on the Tigers.
Jackson Jobe
Detroit starts Jackson Jobe today. When people think of Jobe, they think of very promising young pitcher who struggles to put away batters.
He requires constant attention as someone who is always developing. In his last start, he accumulated seven strikeouts. His strikeout rate was a hugely impressive 11.12 strikeouts per nine innings.
Jobe is thought of as one of the best pitching prospects in the MLB for good reason. He has tremendous stuff. He is now figuring out how to strike out batters.
Jobe vs. Blue Jays Batters
Jobe’s arsenal consists of a strong mixture of pitches: he throws a slider, fastball, changeup, sinker, and curveball. His outlook today is particularly strong because the Blue Jays rank 20th against his favorite pitches from righties.
Detroit’s Solid Lineup
The Tigers have really changed the narrative on them when it comes to their hitting. They now rank fourth in runs per game.
While their hitting is consistent, it is often also explosive. They’ve scored at least ten runs in four games in the past ten days.
They can score a lot against a Toronto pitcher in Jose Berrios, who’s been, by far, at his worst during the day. His daytime ERA thus far is 7.31 in three starts. With the pitcher matchup in their favor, the Tigers are worth investing in.
MLB Pick: Tigers ML (-105) at Bet365
Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs
Sunday, May 18, 2025 – 2:20 PM EDT at Wrigley Field
Our computers indicate a blowout will take place here in favor of the Cubs.
A dive into the matchup does suggest that the Cubs will dominate the White Sox today. You should therefore wager on the Cubs run-line.
The White Sox Are Really Bad
The White Sox are 14-32, and this isn’t by chance. In their last three games alone, they are 0-3, with all three losses coming by at least four runs. In total, they were outscored in those three games 27-7.
They have a poor bullpen. With their bad pitching, they give their lineup much too much to accomplish. The Cubs have already scored 20 runs in two games against the White Sox pitching.
Their strong form will enable them to maximize their statistically evident comfort with the pitches that White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon likes to throw.
They start Colin Rea today, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his six starts thus far, faces a White Sox lineup that ranks a pitiful 28th in runs per game, and will be followed by a bullpen that does a better job than that of the White Sox at limiting runs.
MLB Pick: Cubs -1.5 (-115) at Bet365
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
