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Memorial Day MLB Odds & Picks: Kershaw Goes Against Mets On Extra Day’s Rest

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in MLB Baseball

Updated Mar 25, 2020 · 3:58 PM PDT

Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch
The Los Angeles Dodgers will send ace Clayton Kershaw against the New York Mets on Memorial Day on five day's rest, a strategy manager Dave Roberts employed with his starting rotation 115 times in 2018. Photo by Arturo Pardavila III (flickr).
  • There’s a full slate of MLB action available for wagering on Memorial Day
  • Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw faces the New York Mets on an extra day’s rest
  • He’ll meet reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom

What would Memorial Day be without barbecues, fireworks and baseball. And if you’re planning to catch a little holiday action on the diamond, might as well have a little action on the outcome.

These are Major League Baseball’s best bets for Memorial Day.

New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
New York Mets +149 +1.5 (-155) O 7 (+100)
Los Angeles Dodgers -159 -1.5 (+135) U 7 (-120)

Odds taken 05/26/19

Cy vs Cy At Chavez Ravine

Clayton Kershaw owns three NL Cy Young Awards. Jacob deGrom owns the most recent NL Cy Young Award.

The Dodgers send lefty Kershaw to the hill on five day’s rest. It’s a strategy that LA manager Dave Roberts utilized this method 115 times in 162 games last season, and the Dodgers won the NL pennant.

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Kershaw isn’t the dominating Clayton of old. He’s 4-0 with 44 strikeouts in 46 innings but also a less-than-tidy 3.33 ERA.

It’s the second season in a row he’s averaged under a strikeout per inning. But he’s riding a three-game winning streak and has worked into the seventh inning in all seven of his starts.

Kershaw is 8-0 lifetime against the Mets with a 1.98 ERA.

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While not up to the unparalleled numbers he delivered last season during his magical run to the Cy Young Award, deGrom is getting his game back on track. He’s posted a 2.81 ERA during the month of May.

He was 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts vs the Dodgers last season. That included a six-inning, one-run, no-decision at Dodger Stadium.

Play: Dodgers (-159), Under 7 (-120)

Cleveland Indians vs Boston Red Sox Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Cleveland Indians +168 -1.5 (-120) O 9.5 (-110)
Boston Red Sox -178 +1.5 (+100) U 9.5 (-110)

Porcello Relocates His Reliability

In 2016, Rick Porcello won the AL Cy Young Award for the Boston Red Sox. In 2017, Porcello surrendered a big-league worst 38 homers.

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He’s dabbled in both ends of that spectrum already this season. Porcello lost his first three starts and didn’t get past the fifth inning in any of them. Since then, Porcello is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his last seven starts.

He’s 10-5 lifetime against the Indians.

Cleveland’s Jefry Rodriguez is 1-4 with a 4.08 ERA. He endured his worst outing of the season on Wednesday against the Athletics, allowing five runs on seven hits with four walks in four innings.

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Rodriguez has never faced the Red Sox or pitched at Fenway Park before.

Play: Red Sox (-178), Over 9.5 (-110)

Miami Marlins vs Washington Nationals Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Miami Marlins +227 -1.5 (-104) O 7.5 (-102)
Washington Nationals -248 +1.5 (-116) U 7.5 (-118)

Time For Nats To Max Out

The Washington Nationals are 2-9 in Max Scherzer’s starts.

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The three-time Cy Young winner has held opponents to two runs or less in six of 11 starts.

They can’t keep wasting his fine work.

If Washington is incapable of beating the Marlins, then maybe all hope is lost.

Play: Nationals (-248), over 7.5 (+100)

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