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New York City FC heads to Stade Saputo on Saturday, April 25, for an MLS regular-season match with kickoff set for 6:30 PM ET. This is an Eastern Conference game that matters for both sides, though in very different ways. NYCFC enters the weekend in seventh place at 3-3-3, while Montréal sits 13th at 2-0-6 and is still trying to climb out of an early hole. The home side finally got a jolt last week with a 4-1 win over the Red Bulls, while NYCFC comes in off a wild 4-4 draw with Cincinnati just three days earlier.
That gives this match a slightly tricky feel. Montréal has the fresher legs and a badly needed confidence boost, but the broader profile still points toward a team that has leaked too many goals and struggled to control matches for long stretches. NYCFC has been the steadier side in the table and carries more attacking consistency, though the short-rest travel spot after a chaotic midweek match is not ideal.
New York City FC vs CF Montréal Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before placing anything. The current market has New York City FC around +126 on the moneyline, CF Montréal around +185, NYCFC -0.5 at +115, Montréal +0.5 at -165, and the total at 2.5 goals with the Over priced at -134.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City FC | +126 | -0.5 (+115) | O 2.5 (-134) |
| CF Montréal | +185 | +0.5 (-165) | U 2.5 (+105) |
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New York City FC Betting Form
NYCFC has been a little uneven in the table, but the attacking numbers are still fairly strong. Through nine league matches, New York City has scored 19 goals, averages 1.60 xG per match, 57% possession, and 13.78 shots per game. That tells you the basic story: this team usually has enough of the ball and enough territory to create chances, even when the end product swings around from one match to the next. Nicolás Fernández has been the obvious headline threat, and the attack still has enough movement and secondary creation to bother teams that defend space poorly.
The problem, at least from a betting perspective, is that NYCFC has not been especially clean away from home. The away sample is only three matches, but it shows some tension: just 1.00 goal scored per away game, no clean sheets, and a hefty 1.90 xGA away. Then you add the schedule spot. NYCFC played that 4-4 draw with Cincinnati on Wednesday, so this is a short-rest road trip into Montréal. That does not kill the side angle, but it does push me away from blind trust on the away favorite.
Availability matters too. Drew Baiera, Alonso Martinez, Max Murray, and Hannes Wolf all appeared on the official Matchday 10 player status report, which trims some depth and takes away a bit of flexibility in the front line and the back line. If you already liked NYCFC, I think that mostly nudges you toward goals markets or a more cautious side position rather than an aggressive away handicap.
CF Montréal Betting Form
Montréal’s overall record still looks ugly, and honestly it should. Through eight league games, Montréal is 2-0-6 with 12 goals scored and 20 conceded, and the underlying numbers are not much softer than the raw results. They are sitting at 1.27 xG and 1.49 xGA per match, with 11.38 shots per game and 48% possession overall. The main issue has been defensive control. Montréal is allowing 2.5 goals per match, and even in matches where the attack does something useful, the back end has usually made life too hard.
Still, there is a case for this team in home matches, especially after that 4-1 win over the Red Bulls. In the two-match home sample, Montréal is scoring 2.5 goals per game, and both home matches have seen both teams score. That is a tiny sample, yes, but it lines up with what the eye test has shown lately: this side can make games messy, transitional, and uncomfortable. Prince Owusu has been productive, and Montréal has created just enough direct threat to punish teams that are not fully organized defensively.
The injury list is not ideal here either. The official MLS report lists Bode Hidalgo, Sunusi Ibrahim, and Josh-Duc Nteziryayo as out, while other match previews have also flagged extra absences around the squad. That probably matters more for depth and rotation than for the top line of the handicap, but Montréal is not a team with much margin anyway. If the match opens up, they can score. If they are forced into long defensive stretches, they still look vulnerable.
New York City FC vs CF Montréal Matchup Breakdown
This game starts with a style clash that should produce chances. NYCFC generally wants more possession and more control, and the season numbers back that up. They are at 57% possession overall, while Montréal is at 48%. NYCFC also takes more shots and carries the better xG profile, but Montréal has been part of high-event matches almost every week. All eight Montréal league matches have gone over 2.5 goals, which is pretty extreme even for a small sample.
The tactical question is whether NYCFC can control enough of the ball without getting stretched in transition. Montréal does not always build patiently, but it can attack quickly when the first pass breaks pressure, and NYCFC’s away defensive numbers are not especially convincing. No away clean sheets, 1.90 xGA on the road, and now the short-rest travel angle after Wednesday’s 4-4 match. That combination makes it harder to buy a tidy away win script.
At the same time, Montréal is still the looser defensive side overall. The home team is allowing 2.5 goals per match and has conceded in seven of eight league games. So even if the freshness edge belongs to Montréal, the structural edge still feels more favorable to NYCFC’s attack. That is one reason I think the soccer betting guide and broader expert betting guide matter in matches like this, where form, schedule, and style all point more clearly to game state than to one clean side.
There is also the conference context. NYCFC is sitting in a playoff place and can use this spot to strengthen its position before the World Cup pause later in the season, while Montréal is already chasing ground. That usually pushes the home side to play for more than a cautious point, which is another small reason I lean toward a match with chances at both ends rather than a slow, controlled under.
New York City FC vs CF Montréal Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean on the side is still toward NYCFC, but not strongly enough to make the away moneyline my favorite play. The table is better, the attacking process is better, and the overall talent level probably is too. But short rest after a 4-4 match is real, and Montréal at least comes in with fresher legs and a bit of momentum after smashing the Red Bulls. So I think the away side is the better team, just not in a spotless betting spot.
The total is where the match makes more sense to me. Montréal has turned nearly every league game into a high-event contest. All eight of its MLS matches have cleared 2.5, and the club is averaging four total goals per game. NYCFC, meanwhile, is sitting on 19 scored and 15 conceded through nine league matches, with BTTS cashing in 78% of its matches. Even the away sample, which is smaller and more conservative, still shows enough defensive leakage to keep the door open.
I also think the likely script points that way. Montréal should be willing to chase this game at home because it needs points, and NYCFC is not built to sit back for 90 minutes and absorb. The away side wants the ball, Montréal can counter, and both defenses come in with some injury concerns. Maybe it finishes 2-1 either way. Maybe 2-2. I just have a harder time seeing this settle into a patient 1-0 or 1-1 if the first goal comes early.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 (-134).
MLS Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting MLS regularly, one preview is useful, but the bigger edge comes from comparing a full board and seeing where specialists are finding value. ScoresAndStats makes that easier with MLS picks and premium soccer picks, especially on busy weekends when market timing matters as much as the handicap itself.
The other piece is transparency. You can compare top sports handicappers, track the handicapper leaderboard, and see which bettors are actually producing over time instead of guessing based on one hot week. That matters in soccer because not every capper sees MLS the same way, and the ability to compare styles across leagues and markets is a real advantage.
Atlanta United head north to BMO Field for Saturday’s MLS meeting with Toronto FC, with kickoff set for 5:00 PM ET. Toronto come into the match at 3-4-2 with 13 points and sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, while Atlanta are down in 14th at 1-1-7 with 4 points. It is not quite a desperation game for Toronto, but it does feel important. They have built an unbeaten run and can keep climbing with a home win. Atlanta, meanwhile, badly need a reset before this slide gets any worse.
Toronto’s recent form has been chaotic but productive. They have gone unbeaten in seven straight and just pulled off that wild 3-3 draw with Philadelphia after Luka Gavran scored deep in stoppage time. Atlanta are moving the other way. Their last four MLS matches have ended in defeat, and the attack has not consistently covered for the defensive slippage. That contrast matters here, especially because both clubs are on short rest, but Toronto get to stay home while Atlanta have to travel again.
Atlanta United vs Toronto FC Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before kickoff. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with the draw sitting at +270 in the latest widely posted odds I found.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United | +290 | +0.5 (-109) | O 2.5 (-147) |
| Toronto FC | -116 | -0.5 (-118) | U 2.5 (+112) |
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Atlanta United Betting Form
Atlanta still look like a team with decent possession numbers and not enough end product or control in the right moments. They are averaging 54.5% possession, which is comfortably higher than Toronto, but the broader profile is a problem: just 0.8 goals per match, 1.8 conceded per match, 10.9 expected goals, a -5.0 xG difference, 4.3 shots on target per match, and only 17 big chances created. That is a lot of ball without enough damage. Their recent results back that up too, with losses to Columbus, Chicago, Nashville, and New England in their last four league games.
The usual Atlanta shape has leaned into buildup and midfield control, but the availability list makes this harder to trust right now. Tomás Jacob, Steven Alzate, Miguel Almirón, and Saba? No, the clearer current absence list points to Tomás Jacob, Steven Alzate, Miguel Almirón, and Sérgio Santos as unavailable, which is a real hit to both ball progression and transition threat. Aleksey Miranchuk has carried more of the scoring burden with four goals, but if Atlanta are missing that much support around him, it becomes tough to back them on the 3-way line, especially away from home where they are still chasing their first road win.
Toronto FC Betting Form
Toronto are not exactly controlling matches from start to finish, but they are creating enough and showing real resilience. They are at 13 points through nine matches, unbeaten in seven, and their last five league results read 3-3, 3-3, 1-1, 3-2, and 2-1. The underlying numbers are more solid than flashy: 11.0 xG, a nearly neutral -0.6 xG difference, 5.3 shots on target per match, 25 big chances created, and a much lower possession share than Atlanta at 47.6%. In other words, Toronto do not need long stretches of the ball to create danger. They get forward faster and their best pieces have been more efficient lately.
That has shown up in the player outputs too. Dániel Sallói leads the club with three league goals, Joshua Sargent has added two, and Richie Laryea has been one of the most important two-way pieces in the side. Alonso Coello and José Cifuentes have helped connect the midfield, and Toronto’s last starting group still had a recognizable attacking spine even with injuries around it. There are absences to manage, with Djordje Mihailovic, Henry Wingo, Nicksoen Gomis, and Theo Corbeanu listed out, but Toronto’s home form has still been strong enough to keep this team in a good betting spot.
Atlanta United vs Toronto FC Matchup Breakdown
This is a useful style clash for bettors because the teams arrive here with very different statistical identities. Atlanta want more of the ball. Their average possession is 54.5%, and they complete far more passes per match than Toronto. Toronto are more comfortable without it. They are sitting at 47.6% possession and only 323.3 accurate passes per match, yet they still generate more shots on target per game than Atlanta, 5.3 to 4.3, and more big chances, 25 to 17. That usually points to a home side that is more direct and a road side that can look tidy until it reaches the box.
The defensive numbers tilt toward Toronto too, or maybe more accurately, they tilt against Atlanta. Toronto’s xG conceded sits at 11.6, which is not elite but still far better than Atlanta’s 16.0. Atlanta have only one clean sheet and are allowing 1.8 goals per match, while Toronto have also been far from airtight but have at least matched their chance creation with something close to neutral process overall. If you want a broader framework for how to weigh possession against shot quality in a match like this, the general expert betting guide is a useful reference point.
The schedule angle matters a bit as well. Both clubs played midweek, so neither side is fully fresh, but Toronto stay at home after that emotional draw with Philadelphia while Atlanta have to turn around from another loss and make the trip north. That is not brutal travel by MLS standards, though it still nudges the spot toward the hosts. Toronto’s current run also suggests they are more comfortable playing these messy, momentum-heavy games. Atlanta have looked more fragile when the match script turns against them.
Atlanta United vs Toronto FC Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Toronto on the 3-way moneyline, and I like the safer Toronto -0.5 handicap even more. The price is not giveaway value, but it is still fair. Toronto are unbeaten in seven, they are getting more from their attack in the final third, and their process has been clearly healthier than Atlanta’s. Atlanta’s possession numbers can make them look livelier than they really are, but the negative xG difference, the defensive leaks, and the injury cloud around several important names make this a tough sell on the road.
The total is a little trickier. Toronto’s recent home matches have been wide open, and the over 2.5 being juiced makes perfect sense. At the same time, Atlanta’s chance creation has not been strong enough for me to love chasing a bad number on the over. I think Toronto are the more likely team to push this game past the total on their own, which is why a Toronto team-total angle is tempting, but the cleaner market is still the side.
There is also the game-state point. If Toronto score first, this should open up for them. Atlanta will have to chase, and that is when the space for Sargent, Sallói, and Laryea becomes more dangerous. If it stays level deep into the first half, perhaps the draw grows live, but over 90 minutes I still trust Toronto’s current rhythm more than Atlanta’s possession-heavy but underpowered setup.
Best Bet: Toronto FC -0.5 (-118).
MLS Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you want more than one angle on this match, the free MLS picks page is the cleanest place to start. It fits this card better than browsing generic boards because you can stay inside one competition and compare how different cappers are reading the same MLS spots. The best soccer bets this week page is useful too when you want a quicker shortlist rather than a full slate.
For bettor transparency, the top sports handicappers section and the handicapper leaderboard are the pages I would check next. That helps if you want to compare styles instead of blindly following one name. Some cappers are stronger on sides, some are better on totals, and some are just more comfortable in MLS than they are in the bigger European leagues.
If you want a paid opinion instead of a free lean, premium soccer picks is the natural next step. For a match like Atlanta United vs Toronto FC, where form, injuries, and rest all matter but the market is not wildly off, getting access to a stronger conviction play can make more sense than forcing action on every available angle.
LAFC head to Allianz Field on Saturday afternoon for one of the better Western Conference matchups on the board. This is MLS Matchday 10, kickoff is set for 3:45 p.m. local time in Saint Paul, and the table pressure is real even this early. Both clubs sit on 17 points through nine matches, with LAFC third in the West and Minnesota United fourth, so this is not just a good-style matchup. It matters in the standings too.
Minnesota come in hotter. The Loons carry a four-game league winning streak into this one, they are unbeaten in six matches across all competitions, and they just stole a composed 1-0 road win over FC Dallas on Wednesday. LAFC, meanwhile, have flattened out a bit. They are now winless in their last three MLS matches after a 0-0 draw with Colorado, and this trip lands right before a Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal against Toluca. That is a real workload angle, not background noise.
LAFC vs Minnesota United Odds
These are the current betting lines for this match, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before placing anything.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAFC | +175 | +0.5 (-200) | O 2.5 (-135) |
| Draw | +260 | N/A | N/A |
| Minnesota United | +155 | -0.5 (+135) | U 2.5 (+120) |
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LAFC Betting Form
LAFC still have the higher-end attacking talent, and that always gives them a live road profile in MLS. Hugo Lloris has already posted seven clean sheets, Son Heung-Min has seven assists, and Denis Bouanga has opened the league season with four goals and four assists. On their best days, LAFC can still control matches with wide isolation, quick transition entries, and quality in the final pass rather than pure possession volume.
The problem is that the attack has cooled off at the same time the schedule has tightened. LAFC did not beat Portland, got blown out by San Jose, then followed that with a scoreless draw against Colorado. Bouanga has gone three straight MLS matches without scoring, Son is still waiting for his first league goal of 2026, and the coaching staff has openly acknowledged some fatigue in the squad after a heavy early-season run across MLS and continental play. That makes LAFC a little harder to trust at short prices, even if the upside is obvious.
Availability is not disastrous, but it is not perfect either. The official player status report lists Amin Boudri, Thomas Hasal, and Igor Jesus as out, and even if Stephen Eustáquio is back in the mix, LAFC still look like a side managing energy as much as tactics right now. That is a meaningful detail with Toluca coming next.
Minnesota United Betting Form
Minnesota are playing the cleaner soccer right now. They have won four straight league matches, pushed their unbeaten run to six in all competitions, and the shape looks settled in a way that matters for bettors. They have used the same starting eleven in each of their last four league matches, which tells you Cameron Knowles trusts the rhythm, the spacing, and the current balance of the group. Continuity like that matters when you are backing a home side in a tight number.
The defensive trend is probably the biggest reason Minnesota deserve respect here. They kept a third straight home clean sheet against Portland, then followed it by shutting out Dallas on the road. Drake Callender has stabilized things since the ugly Vancouver loss earlier in the year, and LAFC’s own preview noted he had conceded only two goals across Minnesota’s five MLS matches since that blowout. This does not look like a side winning through chaos. It looks more measured than that.
There are still absences to account for. Michael Boxall, Julian Gressel, Carlos Harvey, and Peter Stroud are all listed out, so Minnesota are not exactly at full strength. But the team has adjusted well, and Anthony Markanich’s goal at Dallas was another reminder that the Loons are finding production from different spots, not just waiting for one star to bail them out.
LAFC vs Minnesota United Matchup Breakdown
This is a really interesting style clash because Minnesota are not playing the old version of Minnesota right now. The preseason expectation around Knowles was that the Loons would try to keep more of the ball while still leaning on their set-piece aggression, and that shift has shown up in the overall feel of their matches. They are still physical, still direct when it makes sense, but there is a little more control in the buildup and a little less desperation in the defending.
LAFC are the more dangerous transition team on paper, especially with Bouanga and Son, but this matchup lands at a tricky moment for them. Minnesota are also on short rest after Dallas, so this is not a pure fatigue edge, but LAFC have the bigger medium-term burden because the Toluca semifinal is right around the corner. That could show up in game management even if it does not show up in wholesale rotation. A draw deep into the second half would probably feel more acceptable to LAFC than to a fresh favorite in a standalone league spot.
The betting shape tells the story too. The 3-way market is basically pricing this as close to even, while draw-no-bet leans slightly toward Minnesota at home. I think that makes sense. Minnesota’s recent defensive floor is stronger, LAFC’s attack has lost some sharpness, and the total sitting at 2.5 with the over juiced suggests the market still respects the names in LAFC’s front line more than the current trend of their games. That is where a sports betting guide can help, because the better angle here may be game script rather than pure talent.
LAFC vs Minnesota United Predictions and Best Bets
My side lean is Minnesota draw no bet. I do not love chasing the straight 3-way moneyline in a match this balanced, but the home profile is difficult to ignore. Minnesota have the better recent run, the more settled lineup, and the more reliable defensive pattern over the last few weeks. LAFC are still capable of a high-end road performance, sure, but they look more vulnerable now than they did earlier in the month.
The total is a little more interesting than the market implies. Over 2.5 is juiced, but I actually lean the other way. Minnesota have been winning with structure, LAFC are coming off a scoreless draw and have not been finishing at their normal level, and the bigger competition context gives both teams a reason not to turn this into a reckless track meet. I think the game starts cagey, and if Minnesota score first, it probably gets even tighter.
If you want a derivative, BTTS No is not crazy, but Minnesota draw no bet still feels like the cleanest betting angle because it protects against a stubborn 0-0 or 1-1 while still backing the side with the better current shape. At home, in this form, against an LAFC team carrying some fatigue and an immediate CCC distraction, that price is playable.
Best Bet: Minnesota United Draw No Bet (-120).
MLS Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting MLS regularly, the edge usually comes from comparing opinions across leagues, matchups, and bet types instead of forcing every card through one lens. The free MLS picks page is a strong starting point, and the weekly angle pieces like best soccer bets this week can help when you want a broader read on the board.
The real value is in transparency and specialization. You can sort through top sports handicappers, study the handicapper leaderboard, and then decide whether you want to stay with the free card or move into buy expert picks. For a league like MLS, where travel, rotation, and game-state swings matter so much, that extra context helps.
Inter Miami and the New England Revolution meet Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Nu Stadium in an Eastern Conference matchup with a lot more weight than the prices might suggest. Miami comes in as the clear home favorite, but New England arrives in strong form and close enough in the table to make this a real pressure spot.
Inter Miami has started to look sharper again after back-to-back wins over Colorado and Real Salt Lake. Lionel Messi remains the obvious attacking reference point, while the supporting pieces around him have been good enough to keep Miami dangerous even when the defensive shape gets stretched. The catch is that Miami is still chasing its first win at Nu Stadium after home draws with Austin FC and New York Red Bulls.
New England enters this match with momentum of its own. The Revolution have won four straight across all competitions and sit within reach of Miami in the Eastern Conference standings. That matters here. This is not just a road underdog trying to survive. New England has enough form, pace, and attacking confidence to make Miami work for everything.
New England Revolution vs Inter Miami Odds
These are the current betting lines for New England Revolution vs Inter Miami, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before locking in a position.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England Revolution | +650 | +1.5 (-125) | O 2.5 (-263) |
| Inter Miami | -270 | -1.5 (-103) | U 2.5 (+195) |
| Draw | +410 |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
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New England Revolution Betting Form
New England is playing with real confidence right now. Four straight wins will do that, but the way the Revolution have done it is more interesting from a betting angle. They have been more direct, quicker into wide areas, and more willing to attack before the opponent settles into shape. That matters against Miami because the Herons can still leave space behind the first line of pressure.
The Revolution are not a possession-heavy team, and that is fine in this matchup. Their recent profile has been built around efficiency, second balls, and creating enough transition moments to make games uncomfortable. Luca Langoni’s chance creation has been important, while Dor Turgeman gives them a real central threat if Leonardo Campana remains out.
The concern is still the road profile. New England has not been as convincing away from home over the longer sample, and this is a tough venue against a Miami side that can punish one bad defensive sequence. Still, at +1.5, the handicap is much more attractive than asking New England to win outright. I think that is where the value starts.
Inter Miami Betting Form
Inter Miami’s attack looks dangerous again. Messi has been the driver, but the bigger point is that Miami has found ways to create even when games have been messy. Rodrigo De Paul’s influence in midfield gives them more forward thrust, Luis Suárez remains a box presence, and Germán Berterame adds another finishing option when Miami gets numbers around the penalty area.
The issue is availability and balance. David Ayala, Sergio Reguilon, Mateo Silvetti, Yannick Bright, and Telasco Segovia are all listed out, with Bright and Segovia suspended. That removes depth and midfield flexibility, which is not ideal against a New England side that can run through transition pockets if Miami gets loose.
At home, Miami has been entertaining but not always clean. The draws against Austin FC and New York Red Bulls showed the same pattern bettors have seen before. Miami can create a lot, but it can also concede chances in awkward spots. That makes the moneyline hard to lay at this price, even if Miami is the better team on paper.
New England Revolution vs Inter Miami Matchup Breakdown
The main clash is Miami’s attacking quality against New England’s transition game. Miami wants Messi between the lines, De Paul pushing play forward, and Suárez or Berterame occupying center backs. When that works, Miami can turn a normal possession spell into a goal threat very quickly.
New England’s best path is not to dominate the ball. It is to make Miami defend in space. The Revolution have enough speed and movement to test Miami’s back line, especially if Carles Gil can find pockets between midfield and defense. Miami’s defensive structure has not always handled those moments well, which is why BTTS makes sense at first glance.
Set pieces could matter too. New England does not need ten clear chances to stay inside the number. A dead-ball chance, one broken transition, or one Miami mistake could be enough to cover +1.5. Bettors looking at the handicap market should understand how goal protection works, and this is a useful spot to lean on a broader soccer betting guide if comparing the Asian handicap to the 3-way moneyline.
The game state also points toward goals. Miami is unlikely to sit on the ball for 90 minutes and simply manage the match. New England has table motivation, current confidence, and no real reason to play scared. That combination usually creates a more open MLS match than the favorite’s price suggests.
New England Revolution vs Inter Miami Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Inter Miami to win the match, but I do not love the moneyline price. At -270, there is not much room for error. Miami has the higher-end attacking talent, and Messi can still decide a match by himself, but the team’s defensive profile and midfield absences make it difficult to trust them to win comfortably.
That is why New England +1.5 is the sharper betting angle. The Revolution are in good enough form to stay competitive, and Miami has not been covering this kind of spread consistently. A 2-1 Miami win feels very live, and that would still cash the New England handicap.
The total is trickier because Over 2.5 is already priced aggressively. The matchup points toward goals, but the value is not as clean at -263. BTTS is more interesting if the number is playable, mostly because Miami’s attack should create at home while New England has been scoring often enough to trust them for at least one.
From a pure value standpoint, I would rather take the goal and a half than chase Miami’s short price or lay a heavy Over. Miami can win, New England can still cash, and that feels like the most realistic betting path.
Best Bet: New England Revolution +1.5 (-125).
MLS Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
MLS betting can move quickly, especially when teams like Inter Miami are involved. Public money often shows up fast, and that can create better value on derivative markets, handicaps, or totals before kickoff. That is why checking today’s soccer picks and the dedicated MLS picks page can help bettors compare angles before settling on one play.
ScoresAndStats also gives bettors a way to compare experts instead of blindly following one opinion. You can review top sports handicappers, track performance on the handicapper leaderboard, and see which experts are producing long-term profit across different leagues and betting styles.
For bettors who want more than free analysis, premium soccer picks can help narrow the card and identify stronger positions across MLS and the rest of the soccer board. That matters on a match like this, where the favorite is obvious, but the best bet might be hiding in the handicap market.
Royals attempt to build steam vs. Angels
The Kansas City Royals entered Saturday as one of four teams that have yet to reach 10 wins this season.
The Royals, however, have shown signs of turning it around after winning of two of three games following an eight-game losing streak.
Kansas City will aim to continue its recent upturn on Saturday night when it hosts the Los Angeles Angels in the second contest of a three-game series.
After a 6-3 win on Friday night, the Royals hope to get one of their top players, Maikel Garcia, back from right elbow soreness. Garcia didn’t play in the series opener, although he was available off the bench to hit, run or play defense.
Garcia told the Kansas City Star that he hopes to be back in the lineup on Saturday.
The Royals will turn to left-hander Cole Ragans (0-4, 6.00 ERA) against the Angels. Ragans allowed three homers and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in his most recent start, a 7-0 loss to the Yankees in New York on Sunday.
First innings have been a problem for Ragans, who has allowed seven of the 14 earned runs he’s surrendered this season in the opening frame. He also has walked 18 batters in five starts.
The Royals put together a five-run fourth inning on Friday that was the turning point in the series opener.
“Just try to get on, get the guy over, get the guy in,” Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. told the Star. “Whatever we’re doing, try to take unselfish at-bats and just go up there and grind. Just go up there and look for what you are hunting and go out there and just compete.”
The Angels have lost five of their last six games and have scored nine runs total in those five defeats. They hope to turn their fortunes around on Saturday when they send right-hander Walbert Urena (0-2, 2.35) to the mound.
Urena, 22, will make his second start in what will be four appearances this season after moving from the bullpen to the rotation. He pitched well in his first career start on Sunday against the San Diego Padres, when he allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over six innings in a 2-1 defeat.
Mike Trout’s eight home runs lead the Angels this season. The veteran set a franchise record for most career games played at any one position with his 1,367th appearance in center field, which moved him past longtime shortstop Jim Fregosi (1,366 games).
Trout, 34, has long been the face of the Angels and is in his 16th season with the team.
“Mike has been in this game a long time, even though he’s still young,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki told MLB.com. “That’s a testament to how special of a talent he is. Anytime you can play this game and surpass milestones, it’s definitely a tribute to the player.”
–Field Level Media
Rays’ Shane McClanahan takes next step on comeback trail as Twins await
Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan will continue his comeback from two major arm surgeries on Saturday afternoon when the Rays face the Minnesota Twins in the second game of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
McClanahan (1-2, 5.00 ERA), a two-time All-Star, missed over two seasons with injuries. He was 11-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 21 starts in 2023 before he underwent Tommy John surgery that August.
After missing the entire 2024 season while rehabbing, McClanahan suffered a left triceps injury in a 2025 spring training game. He eventually underwent surgery to repair nerves in his triceps area, causing him to miss a second straight season.
Saturday will mark McClanahan’s fifth start of 2026. He comes in off a 6-3 loss at Pittsburgh last Sunday in a game in which he allowed four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, with no walks and five strikeouts.
Perhaps the more important stats, however, came on the radar gun. McClanahan’s velocity improved to an average of 95.5 mph on his fastball, and he had seven pitches that touched 97 mph or more. He had accomplished that feat just twice in his first three outings.
“I felt today was probably the best I’ve thrown all year — in a really long time, for that matter,” McClanahan, 28, told MLB.com. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t go your way sometimes. Obviously, it was a great step (and) felt good, but I want to win.”
“I was very encouraged by Shane’s outing,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “The velocity alone was encouraging to see. Very happy. I think he took a big step.”
Minnesota has lost seven of the past eight games. Tampa Bay enters action on Saturday in second place in the American League East, just 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees. Should McClanahan return to his old form, the Rays figure to have a big say in the division title race. Tampa Bay opened the series vs. Minnesota with a 6-2 victory on Friday as Junior Caminero hit a pair of tape-measure homers and drove in three runs, and Jonathan Aranda also homered twice. Drew Rasmussen picked up his second win, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six.
All four of the home runs came off Twins starter and ex-Rays pitcher Taj Bradley, who hadn’t allowed a homer in his five previous starts while compiling a glossy 1.63 ERA.
“I didn’t know he hadn’t given up a homer, but it makes sense because his stuff is really good right now,” Cash said. “We were fortunate that we could get some pitches that we could handle and put some really good swings on them. Two powerful guys (Caminero and Aranda) who were behind the ball and knocked them a long ways.”
Caminero’s first home run traveled 450-feet over the batter’s eye in center field. His second caromed near the top of the batter’s eye and traveled “only” 435 feet.
“Those weren’t cheap ones that Caminero hit,” Minnesota manager Derek Shelton said. “This kid (age 22) is going to be one of the best young hitters in the game for a long time. Tonight, he showed why.”
Right-hander Bailey Ober (2-0, 4.15 ERA) will be tasked with turning off the Rays’ power on Saturday. He allowed just an unearned run and three hits while striking out 10 over 6 1/3 innings in his most recent start Sunday against Cincinnati. He wasn’t part of the decision in a 7-4, 10-inning loss after departing with a 2-1 lead.
Ober is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay. He pitched against them on April 3 and allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in a no-decision in his team’s 10-4 win.
McClanahan is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA against the Twins, though he has not pitched against them since 2022.
The Rays took two of three games in the teams’ early April series in Minneapolis.
–Field Level Media
Carlos Cortes, A’s work to flex muscles in rematch vs. Rangers
There will need to be a roster move when Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is activated from the injured list, but it’s safe to say that Carlos Cortes isn’t going anywhere.
Cortes, 28, has been a pleasant surprise for the Athletics, who will continue their three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Saturday evening in Arlington, Texas.
Cortes homered twice and drove in four runs in the Athletics’ 8-1 victory on Friday. He is 10-for-21 with three homers in his last five games and is batting .339 with four homers and 11 RBIs for the season.
Nick Kurtz, Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit solo homers in the first inning to set the tone in Friday’s win. Zack Gelof added a two-run shot in the ninth to help the Athletics win for the third time in their last four games and take over first place in the American League West.
Cortes started at designated hitter on Friday, but he’ll likely move to left field when Rooker rejoins the team — perhaps as soon as this weekend. Rooker has been out since April 10 with a right oblique strain and may not need a rehab assignment.
“It’s a shorter time frame than what we expected, for sure,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “He does feel really good with everything he’s done up to this point. That being said, we’ll determine if he needs to go on a rehab or whether he just comes back. For his role as a DH, it’s not as important that he goes out and builds his legs up, as most guys that play the field would need.”
Saturday’s pitching matchup will feature a pair of left-handers in the Rangers’ MacKenzie Gore (2-2, 4.15 ERA) and the Athletics’ Jeffrey Springs (3-1, 3.34).
Gore, 27, allowed five runs over five innings in a 5-2 road loss to the Seattle Mariners last Sunday. He issued one walk after allowing a career-high six free passes over 4 2/3 innings in a 2-1 loss to the Athletics on April 14.
“I think there’s always stuff to work on,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “I think he didn’t walk many guys (Sunday). From last start to this start, we’ll take that. He’ll continue to make the adjustments. He’s one of our better pitchers. I’m sure he’s looking forward to the next one already.”
Jeff McNeil is 8-for-14 (.571) against Gore, who is 1-2 with a 7.11 ERA in three career starts vs. the Athletics.
The A’s will counter on Saturday with Springs, who allowed a total of four runs over his first four starts before yielding seven runs over five frames in a 7-4 home loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
“I just didn’t feel like the ball was coming out very good from the get-go,” Springs said. “It just kind of felt like everything was slow, body-wise. It is what it is. Those are going to happen.”
Springs, 33, will face Gore and the Athletics for the second time this month after allowing one run over 6 1/3 innings on April 14.
Texas’ Josh Jung is 4-for-11 (.364) with a home run against Springs, who is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in eight career games (five starts) vs. the Rangers.
Jung doubled in a run in Friday’s loss and is batting .379 with three homers and 12 RBIs over his last 19 games.
“I have an understanding of what I’m trying to accomplish in the at-bat,” Jung said, “and what I’m looking for.”
–Field Level Media
Noah Schultz aims to channel emotions as White Sox host Nationals
Chicago White Sox rookie left-hander Noah Schultz earned his first major league victory last weekend.
As he aims to win successive starts when he faces the visiting Washington Nationals on Saturday afternoon, Schultz is confident he gained perspective, too.
“Calm myself down with nerves and stuff like that, that hopefully are gone,” he said. “Getting ahead of guys and attacking hitters.”
A product of Oswego East High School in suburban Chicago, Schultz (1-1, 3.86 ERA) will pitch at Rate Field for the first time since losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on April 14 in his MLB debut.
Schultz, 22, regrouped Sunday in a road start against the Athletics, yielding only a solo home run in five innings while walking one and striking out six.
He’ll aim again to channel his full arsenal against the Nationals.
“Noah was really good,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “Got back to the fastball, that’s obviously among his best weapons. And really got to that and did a nice job of mixing the four-seamer, the two-seamer. Ended up landing some sweepers in the zone, the cutter was in the zone, which is a big pitch for him, too.”
Luis Garcia Jr. had two hits and James Wood worked three walks for the Nationals in Friday’s series opener, but Washington struggled to deliver in the clutch.
Seranthony Dominguez struck out Wood with a runner at third base to close a 5-4 victory as the White Sox won for the fourth time in the past five games.
The hot streak has coincided with a power surge for Chicago first baseman Munetaka Murakami, whose solo shot Friday gave him six homers in the past seven games and 11 home runs this season.
Right-hander Jake Irvin (1-3, 6.00 ERA) will start for the Nationals on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. After defeating the crosstown Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on March 29 behind five innings of two-run ball, Irvin is 0-3 with a 6.63 ERA in four April starts.
He pitched into the sixth inning during Monday’s 9-4 home loss to Atlanta, allowing four runs (three earned) and three hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
“Good things happen when you get ahead,” Irvin said. “Just give our guys every chance to win.”
Irvin took a no-decision against the White Sox in his lone career appearance against them, last Sept. 27 at Rate Field. He allowed four runs and six hits in six innings, including a two-run home run to Colson Montgomery.
Wood has walked nine times in the past four games and boasts eight games this season in which he has received multiple free passes. His streak of consecutive games with a home run stopped at three on Friday.
Wood leads the National League with 10 home runs, one fewer than Murakami and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez.
Washington’s CJ Abrams went 0-for-4 in the series opener and is 2-for-27 with eight strikeouts in the past seven games.
The Nationals have lost three games in a row and six of their past eight.
–Field Level Media
Mets’ Kodai Senga pushes to turn season around vs. Rockies
No player better symbolizes the topsy-turvy nature of the New York Mets than Kodai Senga.
On Saturday afternoon against the visiting Colorado Rockies, the Mets will need the right-hander to snap his slump to ensure New York doesn’t risk falling into another tailspin.
Senga (0-3, 8.83 ERA) is slated to face his former teammate, Rockies left-hander Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.23), in the middle contest of a three-game series.
Michael Lorenzen tossed seven strong innings and Troy Johnston had what proved to be the decisive two-run single in the seventh in the Rockies’ 4-3 win on Friday.
The loss halted a modest two-game winning streak for the Mets, who snapped a 12-game skid with Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The early-season slide is just a continuation of the struggles the Mets endured over the final three-plus months of last season. New York had the best record in the majors at 45-24 through June 12 but missed the playoffs after stumbling to a 38-55 mark the rest of the way.
The Mets’ slump began last season on the day after Senga suffered a right hamstring injury covering first base. Senga, who was 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts when he was injured, missed only a month of action but went 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA in his final nine starts before ending the season with Triple-A Syracuse.
Senga opened this season by allowing four runs over 11 2/3 innings in his first two starts, but he’s surrendered 14 runs (13 earned) over just 5 2/3 innings in his last two starts. That includes seven runs (six earned) in 3 1/3 innings in his most recent appearance, a 12-4 setback to the Chicago Cubs on April 17.
Senga’s start was pushed back from Thursday so he could throw two side sessions.
“This is a guy that’s very meticulous about his work and his mechanics and things like that,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday afternoon. “Just got to go out there and do it.”
Lorenzen’s longest outing of the season helped the Rockies move into position to earn their third series win of the season.
When the Rockies finished 43-119 last season, they didn’t win their first series until a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins from June 1-3 — a trio of wins that improved them to 11-50. Colorado didn’t record its third series win until taking two of three games against the Minnesota Twins from July 18-29.
“Any time you are winning more games than last year, there is going to be better energy,” said Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, who replaced Bud Black as skipper following Colorado’s 7-33 start. “They are playing well right now.”
Quintana, who pitched for the Mets from 2023-24, took the loss in his most recent start on Monday, when he gave up six runs (four earned) over five innings as the Rockies fell 12-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Senga is 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies, while Quintana is 2-3 with a 4.25 ERA in five starts against New York.
–Field Level Media
Sizzling second baseman face off as Marlins, Giants meet again
Two second basemen who have demonstrated early on that they’re serious about making the National League All-Star team hope to continue fast starts at the other’s expense Saturday afternoon when Xavier Edwards and the Miami Marlins once again visit Luis Arraez and the San Francisco Giants.
Both players had three hits Friday night, and Edwards’ teammates collected 13 more in a 9-4 triumph during the opener of a three-game series. Miami posted its sixth straight win in San Francisco dating back to August 2024.
With a double, two singles and a walk in five plate appearances, Edwards raised his season batting average to .347, the second-best mark in the majors.
The three-hit game was the 26-year-old’s second of the season. He has logged multiple hits in 11 of his 26 games.
Edwards is finding success despite bouncing around the batting order. He already has been slotted second, fourth and seventh for multiple games this season. He was in the cleanup spot for the Friday contest.
“With X’s skill set, it makes it easy for me. I feel like I can put him anywhere with the combination of where other guys are,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said this week. “He’s a really good hitter, (and) as he’s continuing to get time in the major leagues, he’s getting better. He’s evolving.”
Edwards has never batted against left-hander Robbie Ray (2-3, 2.86 ERA), the Giants’ scheduled Saturday starter. Ray will be making his 11th career start and 12th career appearance against the Marlins, against whom he is 4-5 with a 2.29 ERA.
The 34-year-old veteran has been a victim of poor run support in all three of his losses this season. He allowed two runs in a 3-0 defeat to the New York Yankees, both runs in a 2-1 setback at Cincinnati and all three runs in a 3-0 loss at Washington on Sunday in his latest start.
Similarly, Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (2-1, 4.15 ERA) has yet to face the Giants in his three-year career.
Miami has won four times in five starts by Perez this season, the most of recent of which was his best outing of the young campaign. The 23-year-old held the Milwaukee Brewers to one run, which was unearned, over six innings on Sunday in a 5-3 home victory.
Perez will have to deal with a hot-hitting Arraez, who had three singles in five at-bats on Friday. The only time the two faced off previous was last July, when Arraez was playing for the San Diego Padres. Perez induced two groundouts from Arraez, who managed a single.
The three hits on Friday raised Arraez’s season average to .320, quite an improvement over his .211 mark through his first five games as a Giant.
Arraez has hit .346 since then.
“He’s found who he is,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said following the Friday contest. “He had some hard-contact outs early in the year. Maybe he didn’t have as much to show for it as maybe he deserved. He’s caught his rhythm.”
–Field Level Media
