Expert MLB Picks and Previews

Cubs host Astros with both sides searching for a spark The Chicago Cubs hope a day off at home will allow them to reset mentally before they host the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. The Cubs have lost five in a row and nine of 11 following a 27-12 start that had them atop

Angels’ Jose Soriano on mission to regain form vs. Athletics The Los Angeles Angels are hoping for a bounce-back effort from staff ace Jose Soriano as they try to earn a split of their four-game series with the Athletics on Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. Soriano (6-3, 2.41 ERA) was the American League Pitcher of the Month for March/April after allowing

Marlins turn to Sandy Alcantara in quest for series split vs. Braves The Miami Marlins will try to halt their slide on Thursday when they send ace Sandy Alcantara to the mound in the finale of their four-game home series against the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta bounced back from dropping the series opener to win the next two games and claim

The Atlanta Braves visit the Miami Marlins on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET. Atlanta comes in at 34-16 and leads the NL East, while Miami sits fourth in the division at 22-28. The records tell most of the story, but the pricing is still interesting because Sandy Alcantara

The Toronto Blue Jays visit the New York Yankees on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Yankee Stadium, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM ET. This is the final game of a four-game AL East series, and it already has a little extra edge after Toronto pulled out a 2-1 win on Wednesday night. Toronto enters at 22-27 and still

The Athletics visit the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, with first pitch set for 9:38 PM ET. This is the final game of a four-game AL West series, and it has a strange betting feel because the better team is priced almost even against the better starting pitcher. The Athletics enter at

The Colorado Rockies visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Chase Field in Phoenix, with first pitch set for 9:40 PM ET. It is another NL West spot where the gap between these two teams feels pretty clear on paper, but the number still matters. Colorado comes in 19-31, last in the division, while Arizona is 25-23

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Busch Stadium, with first pitch set for 1:15 PM ET. This is the rubber match of the series, and it comes after Pittsburgh answered Tuesday’s extra-inning loss with a clean 7-0 shutout on Wednesday. Pittsburgh enters at 25-24 and fifth in the NL Central, which looks

The New York Mets visit the Washington Nationals on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Nationals Park, with first pitch set for 4:05 PM ET. This is the finale of a four-game NL East series, and Washington has a chance to win another home set after taking the last two games from New York. The Mets enter at 21-28 and fifth