MLB daily betting guide: Odds picks, schedule for May 8

Sunday’s MLB schedule is punctuated by three doubleheaders after a weekend of rain threw things out of whack.

With it comes uncertain pitching matchups, tweaked lineups, and shaky ground for sports bettors.

Below, I take you through today’s schedule, the odds for each game along with the starting pitchers, and some picks that should help you not only enjoy the game but also think about which way you want to want to bet the game if that’s something you want to do.

Also, remember, you don’t HAVE to bet on each game. We are giving you our best bets for every game, but if our analysis isn’t landing with you or you just don’t feel like a bet stands out, it’s okay to give that game a pass. There will always be more games to bet on.

Also, we recommend checking the Fangraphs Probables Grid to see the likely starting pitchers from each game with clickable links to get the most in-depth information on each pitcher.

Chicago White Sox (13-13) at Boston Red Sox (10-18), 11:35 a.m. ET

The Red Sox have lost five of their last six games with a sputtering offense that ranks fourth-worst in MLB (3.32 runs per game). The White Sox haven’t done much better with the third-worst offense in baseball.

Chicago has managed to flirt with .500 though thanks to a pitching staff with a team ERA of 3.39 (ninth in MLB). Over the first two games of their series with Boston, the Palehosers have held the Red Sox to just three runs.

CWS starting pitcher: Dallas Keuchel (1-3, 8.40 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 4.8 K/9)
BOS starting pitcher: Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.38 ERA, 0.923, 6.6 K/9)
The Pick:

New York Mets (19-9) at Philadelphia Phillies (11-15), 12:35 p.m. (Game 1)

This is the first time these two teams are playing since the Mets pulled off a miraculous ninth-inning comeback on Friday night, scoring seven times in the ninth inning to beat the Phillies 8-7.

Starting pitchers TBD
The Pick: Pass

New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies, 4:10 (Game 2)

Starting pitchers TBD
The Pick: Pass

Kansas City Royals (8-15) at Baltimore Orioles (10-16), 1:35 p.m. (Game 1)

This is a matchup of ineptitude in the American League. The Orioles’ offense is fifth-worst and their pitching ranks 20th in baseball. Meanwhile, the Royals’ offense is second-worst in baseball (3.04 runs per game) with the fourth-worst pitching (4.57 ERA).

KC starting pitcher: Zack Greinke (0-2, 2.57 ERA, 0.964 WHIP, 2.3 K/9)
BAL starting pitcher: Jordan Lyles (2-2, 4.50 ERA, 1.615 WHIP, 7.3 K/9)
The Pick:

Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles, TBD (Game 2)

KC starting pitcher: Daniel Lynch (2-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 8.6 K/9)
BAL starting pitcher: Bruce Zimmermann (1-1, 2.59 ERA, 1.274 WHIP, 9.2 K/9)
The Pick:

Texas Rangers (10-14) at New York Yankees (18-7), 1:35 p.m. (Game 1)

The Yankees haven’t played since Wednesday sitting on a sour 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays —quite unlike what we expect from the third-best offense in baseball. New York also has the second-best team ERA in the league (2.60)

They face a Rangers team that has the 13th best offense (4.33 runs/game) and the seventh-worst pitching staff (4.23 ERA).

TEX starting pitcher: Dane Dunning (1-1, 3.81 ERA, 1.308 WHIP, 9.0 K/9)
NYY starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole (2-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 10.1 K/9)
The Pick:

Texas Rangers at New York Yankees, 5:05 p.m. (Game 2)

TEX starting pitcher: Glenn Otto (1-0, 2.89 ERA, 0.964 WHIP, 9.6 K/9)
NYY starting pitcher: Jordan Montgomery (0-1, 2.88 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 7.2 K/9)
The Pick:

Milwaukee Brewers (19-9) at Atlanta Braves (13-16), 1:35 p.m.

The Brewers are tied for the best record in the National League thanks to an offense that ranks second in MLB with 4.86 runs per game. Their pitching has been just as good, ranking third with a 3.02 ERA.

Meanwhile, the defending champs continue to sputter to start the season. Their offense (3.90 runs/game) and team ERA (4.04) are below league average.

MIL starting pitcher: Aaron Ashby (0-2, 2.33 ERA, 1.448 WHIP, 10.2 K/9)
ATL starting pitcher: Charlie Morton (1-3, 6.85 ERA, 1.732 WHIP, 6.8 K/9)
The pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates (11-15) at Cincinnati Reds (4-23), 1:40 p.m.

A below-average Pirates offense (3.81 runs/game) hasn’t been able to outscore its pitching problems with the third-worst team ERA in baseball. They even lost to the worst team in baseball, the Reds, 9-2 in the first leg of a doubleheader before rebounding for an 8-5 victory.

The Reds’ main issue has been a woeful pitching staff that has a 6.71 team ERA — nearly two runs worse than the second-worst Nationals.

PIT starting pitcher: Zach Thompson (1-3, 9.39 ERA, 2.271 WHIP, 7.6 K/9)
CIN starting pitcher: Tyler Mahle (1-4, 7.01 ERA, 1.714 WHIP, 9.1 K/9)
The Pick:

Toronto Blue Jays (17-12) at Cleveland Guardians (13-14), 1:40 p.m.

The Blue Jays’ offense still hasn’t hit its full potential yet, averaging 3.86 runs per game.

It makes Sunday’s matchup all the more surprising against a Guardians team whose offense ranks fourth in MLB with 4.74 runs per game.

TOR starting pitcher: Alek Manoah (4-0, 1.45 ERA, 0.839 WHIP, 9.3 K/9)
CLE starting pitcher: Konnor Pilkington (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.800 WHIP, 9.0 K/9)
The Pick:

Detroit Tigers (8-18) at Houston Astros (17-11), 2:10 p.m.

The Tigers have the worst offense in baseball with an average of three runs per game as they face an Astros team with the fourth-best team ERA in baseball (3.06).

DET starting pitcher: TBD
HOU starting pitcher: Jake Odorizzi (2-2, 4.15 ERA, 1.385 WHIP, 5.0 K/9)
The Pick:

Oakland Athletics (10-17) at Minnesota Twins (17-11), 2:10 p.m.

The Athletics are losing steam after a surprising start having lost seven straight games. They face a Twins team that has the fifth-best team ERA in the majors at 3.11.

OAK starting pitcher: Daulton Jefferies (1-4, 4.81 ERA, 1.315 WHIP, 5.9 K/9)
MIN starting pitcher: Chris Paddack (1-2, 3.14 ERA, 1.100 WHIP, 7.2 K/9)
The Pick:

St. Louis Cardinals (16-11) at San Francisco Giants (15-12), 4:05 p.m.

The Cardinals’ offense ranks 12th in the majors while their pitching ranks 10th — good enough to make a promising early statement in the NL Central. San Francisco has the fifth-best offense in the majors, scoring 4.70 runs per game.

STL starting pitcher: Dakota Hudson (2-2, 3.16 ERA, 1.208 WHIP, 6.3 K/9)
SFG starting pitcher: Jakob Junis (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.800 WHIP, 9.0 K/9)
The Pick:

Washington Nationals (10-19) at Los Angeles Angels (18-11), 4:07 p.m.

The Nationals have a decent enough offense to keep up in the NL East (4.17 runs per game), but their pitching is second-worst in the majors with a 4.91 team ERA. They face an Angels team with the No. 7 offense in baseball.

WSH starting pitcher: Erick Fedde (2-2, 4.68 ERA, 1.440 WHIP, 7.9 K/9)
LAA starting pitcher: Patrick Sandoval (1-1, 1.29 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 9.4 K/9)
The Pick:

Colorado Rockies (16-11) at Arizona Diamondbacks (14-14), 4:10 p.m.

The Rockies continue to exceed expectations despite having the fifth-worst team ERA in MLB thanks to having the sixth-best offense in baseball.

Their NL West rivals in the Diamondbacks have the No. 11 pitching staff in baseball but the sixth-worst offense.

COL starting pitcher: German Marquez (0-2, 6.92 ERA, 1.692 WHIP, 6.6 K/9)
ARI starting pitcher: Zac Gallen (1-0, 1.27 ERA, 0.703 WHIP, 8.0 K/9)
The Pick:

Tampa Bay Rays (18-10) at Seattle Mariners (12-16), 4:10 p.m.

The Rays have been performing at a top-10 clip at the dish (4.61 runs/game) and on the mound (3.34 team ERA) while both the Mariners’ offense and defense sit just above the league average.

TB starting pitcher: Ryan Yarbrough (0-0, 19.29 ERA, 3.857 WHIP, 7.7 K/9))
SEA starting pitcher: George Kirby (MLB debut)
The Pick:

Miami Marlins (13-14) at San Diego Padres (18-10), 4:10 p.m.

The Marlins have been paced by a pitching staff that ranks No. 7 in baseball (3.33 ERA). They face a Padres team whose offense ranks 11th in MLB.

MIA starting pitcher: Trevor Rogers (1-4, 6.14 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 7.4 K/9)
SD starting pitcher: Joe Musgrove (4-0, 1.97 ERA, 0.906 WHIP, 9.3 K/9)
The Pick:

Los Angeles Dodgers (18-7) at Chicago Cubs (9-17), 7:08 p.m.

The best offense and team ERA in baseball has the Dodgers once again sitting near the very top of the National League as they play a Cubs team whose pitching staff is sixth-worst in baseball.