I nailed my MLB expert picks for yesterday's Jays vs Phillies game, so let's try a bit of a heat check today.
I've got one pick today on the worst team in baseball, trying to call my shot on a White Sox upset. Find out why I'm backing Chicago and my other MLB pick for today's May 8th games:
MLB Expert Picks: May 8th, 2024
You can jump directly to today's picks here:
Pick 1: White Sox (+190) vs Rays
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 6:51 pm ET
The White Sox are bad, don't get me wrong, but they've also won two of their last four games and swept the Rays in a series just 10 days ago. So I'm willing to risk it on an underdog spot here.
As well, this pitching matchup gives me concern for the Rays. Aaron Civale has been rocked by active White Sox batters. In 77 career at-bats, Civale has allowed a .325 average to active Chicago batters, with a .941 OPS against. He's also just been bad in general lately, allowing at least five runs in each of his last three outings.
Civale has just nine total strikeouts across his last three outings against the White Sox, too, never reaching over 4. So, with the righty's strikeout line set at O/U 5.5, I love the under in this contest.
Pick 2: Diamondbacks (-124) vs Reds
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 6:41 pm ET
The Diamondbacks haven't been playing great baseball lately, but I think this is the perfect rebound spot. They're 3-1 in their last four meetings against the Reds (covering the runline in two of those wins) and have the platoon advantage tonight.
Jordon Montgomery has one bad start this year, but that came against a dominant Dodgers team. If you take that start out, he's rocking a 2.77 ERA on the year. The Reds are brutal against lefties like Monty, too, posting the sixth-worst team OPS vs LHP this season (.636).
In particular, Jeimer Candelario, a key middle-of-the-order Reds bat, struggles against Montgomery, going 0-for-10 in his career against the DBacks starter. You can get the U0.5 hits for Candy at +150, a juicy line for a guy with a bad track record.
