mlb-best-bets-odds-picks Pictured: Taylor Ward

MLB Predictions Friday, Best Bets, Prop Picks Today — May 16

Today’s MLB slate is loaded with 15 games and our MLB betting experts and systems have already parsed the board for the best betting value.

There’s value to be had on all types of picks — a run line, a moneyline, an over/under and a prop — so, let’s get right into today’s picks.

Continue reading as our MLB best bets are below.

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MLB Best Bets Today

The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today’s slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.

Game Time (ET) Pick
[teammatchup link=”#1″ firstfullname=”Pittsburgh Pirates” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/pit.png” secondfullname=”Philadelphia Phillies” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png”][/teammatchup] 6:45 p.m.
[teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”New York Mets” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-new-york-mets.png” secondfullname=”New York Yankees” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/nyyd.png”][/teammatchup] 7:05 p.m.
[teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”Minnesota Twins” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png” secondfullname=”Milwaukee Brewers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mil.png”][/teammatchup] 8:10 p.m.
[teammatchup link=”#4″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png”][/teammatchup] 10:10 p.m.
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.

[anchor name=”1″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Brit Devine’s Pirates vs Phillies Best Bet: Trust the Phillies”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (-106)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/pit.png” awayname=”Pittsburgh Pirates” awayslug=”pittsburgh-pirates” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png” homename=”Philadelphia Phillies” homeslug=”philadelphia-phillies” date=”Friday, May 16″ time=”6:45 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]

By Brit Devine

The Phillies look poised to run away with this game tonight. They have a big starting pitching advantage with Ranger Suarez going against Andrew Heaney.

Heaney had a good start to the year, but that was against the easiest schedule in baseball and he’s since been hit around by a few better offenses. The Pirates could also be without their best hitter as Oneil Cruz has been out for a few games with a back issue.

Philadelphia also has big advantages on offense and in the bullpen. I like the Phillies to win this one rather easily to open the series tonight.

Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (-106)



[anchor name=”2″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bet Labs’ Mets vs Yankees Best Bet: History Says “Back the Under””][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 9 (-115)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-new-york-mets.png” awayname=”New York Mets” awayslug=”new-york-mets” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/nyyd.png” homename=”New York Yankees” homeslug=”new-york-yankees” date=”Friday, May 16″ time=”7:05 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]

By Bet Labs

This system targets the under in games with high strikeout starting pitchers, defined as starters with strikeout rates at or above 23% (home team) and 27% (road team). With fewer balls in play and more missed bats, these games trend under, especially in regular season games with moderately priced totals (games at eight or above).

This model capitalizes on pitching dominance to limit run production and has a 10% ROI all-time and a 13% ROI thus far in 2025. Back Tylor Megill and Carlos Rodon and play the under tonight.

Pick: Under 9 (-115)



[anchor name=”3″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Derek Carty’s Twins vs Brewers Pick: Back Patrick vs. Twins”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Chad Patrick Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+135)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png” awayname=”Minnesota Twins” awayslug=”minnesota-twins” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mil.png” homename=”Milwaukee Brewers” homeslug=”milwaukee-brewers” date=”Friday, May 16″ time=”8:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]

By Derek Carty

There may be some value on Chad Patrick’s strikeouts prop. THE BAT X is projecting him to record 5.04 strikeouts, but oddsmakers are implying just 4.21. The model believes there is a 57% chance that he records at least five strikeouts, so there is value on the over at +135.

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Pick: Chad Patrick Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+135)



[anchor name=”4″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bet Labs’ Angels vs Dodgers Best Bet: Value on the Angels”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Angels Moneyline (+245)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Angels” awayslug=”los-angeles-angels” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” homename=”Los Angeles Dodgers” homeslug=”los-angeles-dodgers” date=”Friday, May 16″ time=”10:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]

By Bet Labs

This “Contrarian Betting Against Good Team, with Bad Team” system has an 8% ROI all time (since 2006), so let’s trust its theory tonight.

This system exploits public bias by backing poor-performing road teams (teams with a win percentage under 50%) that are also generating low betting support (less than 35% of moneyline bets), especially when they’re facing strong opponents (teams with win percentages over 60%) during losing streaks.

The market often over adjusts in favor of the better team, which creates value on the contrarian side. Despite a low win rate, the positive ROI stems from inflated moneyline payouts on these underdogs.

Pick: Angels Moneyline (+245)



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