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May 2nd MLB Odds and Picks – Cubs and Reds Meet Again After Benches Clear

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated May 2, 2021 · 8:59 AM PDT

Tyler Mahle throwing pitch
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Tyler Mahle throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday, April 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
  • There are 15 games on the MLB schedule for Sunday, May 2nd
  • Season record 37-48: -$1,855 (based on $100 wagered per unit)
  • Wagering advice for Sunday’s games can be found below

There are 15 games on tap in MLB on Sunday, May 2nd and highlighting the schedule is Corey Kluber looking to reach a significant milestone.

Kluber (1-2, 4.15 ERA) will try to his 100th career win when the New York Yankees host the Detroit Tigers at 1:05pm ET at Yankee Stadium. Jose Urena (1-3, 3.77) will pitch for the Tigers. Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, has a 99-60 record. The Yankees are the day’s biggest favorites at -278.

The New York Mets and Phillies play at 7:05pm ET at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball with left-hander David Peterson (1-3, 5.59) facing Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.58). The Phillies hope to get Bryce Harper (facial contusions) and JT Realmuto (hand) back in the lineup.

It will be an intriguing young-vs-old pitching matchup at 1:05pm at Nationals Park in Washington when the Marlins and rookie left-hander Trevor Rogers (3-1, 1.29) square off with the Nationals and three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer (1-2, 3.00).

We’ve run down the slate and included our three favorite picks below.

May 2 MLB Picks

Matchup Pick and Odds at DraftKings Units Risked
Cubs vs Reds Cubs (+123) 1 unit
Rockies vs Diamondbacks Diamondbacks (-148) 1 unit
Red Sox vs Rangers Rangers (+123) 1 unit

Odds as of May 2nd

Pick 1: Cubs (+123)

A day after tempers flared at the Great American Ballpark, the Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs at 1:10pm ET. Tyler Mahle (1-1, 1.75) will pitch for the Reds against Trevor Williams (2-2, 4.44).

In the Cubs’ 3-2 win Saturday, Reds relief pitcher Amir Garrett struck out Anthony Rizzo with one out in the eighth inning. Garrett celebrated by punching himself in the chest several times and appeared to yell at Rizzo.

Javier Baez yelled at Garrett from the Cubs dugout. Garrett took a few steps in that direction and both benches and bullpens emptied.

No punches were thrown, and no one was ejected.

The Reds might have been wise to have the Cubs alone. Chicago went on to win its second straight game following a five-game losing streak and it seems only a matter of time before the talented Cubs get on track.

Nico Hoerner’s RBI single in the sixth inning on Saturday snapped a 2-2 tie and was one of his three hits.

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Williams is coming off a solid outing against the Atlanta Braves in which he lost but gave up just two runs in five innings with eight strikeouts. He also has a significant track record against the Reds, going 6-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 14 games.

Garrett and Williams have some history, too.

Mahle is having a fine season and was good his last time out against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing one run in five innings but not factoring in the decision.

Emotion and momentum do not usually factor into a team’s success in baseball as much as other sports. However, the gut feeling here is the Cubs will be fired up for this one.

Pick 2: Diamondbacks (-148)

Merrill Kelly (2-2, 6.33) will pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Colorado Rockies and Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-0, 3.60) at 4:10pm at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.

I was on the Kelly bandwagon early this season and he let me down twice. As evidenced by his ERA, he has not had a good 2021.

YouTube video

Yet Kelly is showing signs on turning it around. He beat the San Diego Padres in his last outing, allowing one run and four hits in six innings.

Kelly seemed poised for a breakout year after going posting a 2.59 ERA in five starts during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. However, he had three rough outings to start 2021, including giving up seven runs in six innings in a loss at Colorado on April 8.

Gonzalez has a 3.00 ERA in three starts this season – he has also made two relief appearances – but not been overpowering. Gonzalez had just eight strikeouts in 15 innings as a starter and that pitch-to-contact style might not work against the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has scored five or more runs in 11 of its last 12 games. While the Diamondbacks got smoked by the Rockies on Saturday night, offense wasn’t the problem in a 14-6 loss.

Let’s give Kelly another chance, especially since he should get run support.

Pick 3: Rangers (+123)

The Texas Rangers will try to win a four-game series at home against the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox in Arlington. Mike Foltynewicz (1-3, 4.61) takes the mound for the Rangers against Garrett Richards (1-2, 4.94) at 2:35pm ET at Globe Life Field.

Foltynewicz has had an up-and-down first season with the Rangers. He has given up as many runs as innings pitched in two of his five starts.

However, the 2018 All-Star looked very sharp his last time out as he allowed only one run in 5.1 innings while beating the Los Angeles Angels.

It has been a roller coaster ride the last few years for Foltynewicz.

The big right-hander was selected to the All-Star Game in 2018 while with the Atlanta Braves. However, he wound up back in the minor leagues for a while in 2019, got hammered by the St. Louis Cardinals in the decisive Game 5 of the NLCS then was designated for assignment by the Braves after only one start last season.

However, Foltynewicz is still just 29 and his 2.85 ERA in 31 starts in ’18 still stands out. And people were once talking about him as a Cy Young candidate.

Richards was outstanding in his last start, striking out 10 in seven innings to beat the New York Mets. He credited a mechanic adjustment he made while working with Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush.

Yet the gut feeling here is Folty is ready to get on a bit of a roll and is a live home underdog.

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