MLB Picks May 20: Yankees host Mariners in Featured Game

The MLB season is in full swing with six weeks of play already in the books. The Phillies have vaulted to the best record in the league, but are not on the schedule for Monday, May 20. We will look at five games for the day with the Mariners at the Yankees the featured game.

New York Mets versus Cleveland Guardians

The Mets head to Cleveland just 2-4 over the last six games and “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Guardians are first in the AL Central, “average down” status, and 12-6 at home. The teams have been trending on opposite sides of the “over/under” line and the Score Prediction is 6-5 in favor of Cleveland with 57 percent confidence. Tylor Megil is scheduled to pitch for New York. He comes in with a record of 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA.  Neither team has been particularly consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status.  Cleveland has a +48 to -9 run differential edge and I like them at home in this one. Go with Cleveland but pass on the “over/under” bet.

San Diego Padres versus Atlanta Braves

San Diego enters play “ice cold down” after three straight losses. Although only 22-24 on the season, the Padres are 12-8 on the road. Atlanta is second in the NL East, 15-5 at home, and “average” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Braves have a +21 to +8 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending in games “over” the line over the last three and the score prediction is 8-4 in favor of Atlanta with 64 percent confidence. Atlanta won two of three earlier this season in San Diego and is extremely stable at +13 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. I like Atlanta in a game “over” the line.

Baltimore Orioles versus St. Louis Cardinals

The Orioles enter play just a game behind the Yankees for first in the AL East. They are 12-5 on the road and “average up” after a 4-2 stretch. The Cardinals are last in the NL Central and 6-11 at home and 3-3 over their last six games. The teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the line with a score prediction of 9-1 in favor of the Cardinals. However, this prediction comes with only 34 percent confidence. Both teams are relatively consistently playing regarding their favorite/underdog status.  Baltimore has a +49 to -50 scoring differential edge. I like the Orioles by at least three runs in a game “over” the line.

Seattle Mariners versus New York Yankees

The two teams meet on top of their respective divisions in the American League. New York is 13-6 at home and Seattle is 9-10 on the road. The Yankees are “burning hot” versus “average up” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +29 to +23 on the Power Ranks Indicator. New York has the best run differential in the American League, and both teams have been trending in games “under” the line. The score prediction is a 9-1 blowout for the Yankees but with only 31 percent confidence. This is the first meeting between the teams this season. Seattle is +5 to +3 on the Team Volatility Oscillator indicating that both teams are moderately consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status. I like the Yankees at home in a game “under” the line.

Los Angeles Angels versus Houston Astros

In this AL West battle, the teams are heading in opposite directions. Los Angeles is “ice cold up”, last in the division, and 2-4 over the last six. After a poor start, the Astros are third in the division and “burning hot” after winning five consecutive games. Houston has a +27 to +15 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending in games “over” the line with the score prediction of 8-2 in favor of the Astros with 51 percent confidence. Neither team has named its starting pitcher. This series is the first of many games between the teams this season. I like the Astros to continue their winning ways in a game “over” the line.