X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top MLB Betting Picks for Today's Slate (5/18/19)

Ben Rolfe's MLB betting picks for 5/18/19. He analyzes Vegas lines and recommends the top expert bets for today's MLB slate including moneylines, over/unders.

Welcome back RotoBallers! Saturday May 18th sees a full 15 game slate spread across an afternoon and evening session. There are some interesting games on both slates with the Rockies @ Phillies the headliner this afternoon, and games between the Red Sox and Astros, Brewers and Braves, and Cubs and Nationals likely drawing most national attention.

In this article, we will slice through the numbers and pick out our top recommended betting picks for today's slate. Feel free to hit me up on Twitter @benrolfe15 if you have any questions.

So without any further delay, below are my picks for Saturday March 18th. Good luck!

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 30% off using code WIN. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Oakland Athletics @ Detroit Tigers (+1.5)

O/U: 9

This is a fascinating game, which recent history would suggest should go over. However, Matt Boyd is the best Detroit pitcher to have taken the mound against the Athletics so far. Daniel Mengden on the other side does give me reason for pause, but the Tigers lineup has really struggled this season, so betting against them scoring too many runs feels a safe angle. Additionally, in games where the total is set at nine, the Athletics have seen the under hit 10-of-17 times and the Tigers 14-of-22 times.

Recommended Picks: Total Under 9

 

Baltimore Orioles @ Cleveland Indians (-1.5)

O/U: 9.5

There is nothing hugely special about this game. The Indians are the better team but they are as cold as ice at the plate this season. Additionally, John Means has been solid for the Orioles, and there should be no reason this is the game he suddenly implodes. This season the Orioles have averaged 3.4 runs per game on the road, with the Indians scoring just 4.05 at home on average. As a kicker, Orioles games at this line go under 61% of the time, and Indians games go under 67% of the time.

Recommended Picks: Total Under 9.5

 

Chicago Cubs @ Washington Nationals (-1.5)

O/U: 8.5

This is going to be a fascinating game, with two good pitchers on the mound. Friday's game got out of control with the Cubs chasing Max Scherzer from the game and then taking the Nationals for 14 runs. In Saturday's game, Jon Lester and his sub-two ERA should give the Cubs every chance of having success. The numbers are also on their side as the Nationals cover the spread just 23% of the time as favorites. Additionally, the success that Lester has had makes the Cubs a good pick as underdogs for the five-innings money line pick.

The way these two offenses went after the bullpens yesterday also puts the over in play. Cubs games go over 62.5% of the time when the total is set at 8-or-8.5, and in Nationals home games the over has hit 75% of the time on those totals.

Recommended Picks: Cubs 5-inning ML, Cubs + 1.5 & Total Over 8.5

 

Kansas City Royals @ Los Angeles Angels (-1.5)

O/U: 9

This is more of a hunch than a reliance on the numbers. If you trusted the numbers then all of the evidence suggests this game should go under. However, looking beyond the numbers and who the pitchers are on the mound in this matchup makes me desperate to take the over, both for the game and over the first five innings (5-innings O/U: 5). For the Angels, Griffin Canning has struggled so far allowing a total of nine earned runs in 14 1/3 innings this season. As for Jakob Junis, he has allowed nine earned runs in the last 9 2/3 innings, and currently owns a 5.77 ERA. If you want to take the bullpens out of this then just take the 5-innings line, but there is a chance the two starters account for the best part of those nine runs needed for the total.

Recommended Picks: 5-Innings Total Over 5 & Total Over 9

 

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Scratched on Monday
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Edward Cabrera

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Sprain
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Harry Ford

Called Up for Major-League Debut
Victor Scott II

Activated From Injured List
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Dealing With Hamstring Tightness, Expects to Play Monday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs, Trent McDuffie Not Expected to Finalize Extension
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Dameon Pierce

Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season
Jordan Love

May Wear Thumb Brace During Season
Chicago Bears

Bears Head Coach Admits Offense Could Face Learning Curve
Matt Chapman

Leaves Early on Sunday, Expects to Play Monday
A.J. Brown

Says He'll Be Active For Season Opener
Luis Garcia

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Max Scherzer

Exits Due to Back Tightness
Taylor Ward

Exits Early After Collison
Braelon Allen

Says He Has a Lot Left to Prove
Sal Stewart

Reds Promoting Sal Stewart to Majors
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Juan Soto

Homers Twice in Loss
Nick Kurtz

Avoids Serious Injury
MacKenzie Gore

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Reaches 25-Homer, 25-Steal Milestone
Chris Sale

Activated on Saturday
Dansby Swanson

Homers Twice, Drives in Six in Win
Joe Burrow

Bengals Feel Joe Burrow Just had "the Best Training Camp of his Career"
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Looking to Trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Tyrese Haliburton

Expects to Return in 15 Months

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP