There are eight games on the MLB slate for Thursday, May 30, which means there are numerous opportunities for MLB best bets.
Our MLB betting experts have looked over the latest MLB odds and put together their MLB picks and predictions for today.
Continue reading for MLB best bets Thursday, including Tigers vs. Red Sox picks and predictions.
MLB Best Bets
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:10 p.m. | |
| 7:10 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. | ||
Tigers vs. Red Sox
By Tony Sartori
In a Jack Flaherty vs. Nick Pivetta matchup, I will happily back Flaherty at plus-money. This season, he outranks Pivetta in ERA, xERA, xBA, average exit velocity and barrel rate.
We are catching Detroit at plus-money in this spot is because Boston possesses the stronger bullpen and lineup. However, while it is a small sample size, this current Tigers' lineup boasts a .353 BA, a .765 SLG and a .478 wOBA through 18 combined career plate appearances against Pivetta.
It's also not like there is a massive gap between the offensive production of these teams. Boston scores 4.4 runs per game compared to Detroit's 4.2 and records 8.3 hits per game compared to the Tigers' 7.9.
The gap between Flaherty and Pivetta is larger than the gap between the two lineups. Therefore, I like Detroit in this spot at plus-money. We are catching a particularly good price on the Tigers (+102) at DraftKings as that line is two-to-seven cents longer than the rest of the market as of the time of writing.
Pick: Tigers Moneyline (+102)
| |
Tigers vs. Red Sox
By D.J. James
Jack Flaherty looks like he did in 2019, and no one is happier than the Detroit Tigers, who have reaped the benefits. The 28-year-old righty holds a 3.84 ERA against a 2.77 xERA. His ground-ball rate is well above average and his Hard-Hit Rate and Average Exit Velocity are above average. However, the major takeaway has been the improvements in his strikeout and walk rates. His walk rate is only 3.7% after being over 10% last season. His strikeout rate is over 33%.
His opponent will be Nick Pivetta and the Boston Red Sox. Pivetta is decent. He allows some hard contact, but does not do so very often. However, his ground-ball rate is in the ninth percentile, though the Tigers usually keep the ball in the air. Pivetta may not walk many and can miss some bats, but the fly balls could be an issue against the Tigers.
The Tigers have a 116 wRC+ off of righties in May. Boston holds a 91 wRC+ off of righties in May, so that's a wide discrepancy.
Boston owns a 3.65 xFIP in relief in May, which is better than the Tigers. However, the Tigers have a few solid options in relief. Seeing that Flaherty hasn't hurt himself with extra pitches, he can throw deep into a game.
Take the Tigers to win this game with the better lineup and better starter. They should be able to pull this out on the road. Bet them to -130.
Pick: Tigers Moneyline (+102)
| |
