May 31 MLB Series Prices: Division Leaders Clash as Dodgers Host Phillies

• The Phillies visit the Dodgers in a battle of the top two teams in the National League
• The A’s host the Astros, who have suffered just one series loss in the month of May
• The Cubs look to maintain a narrow lead over Milwaukee atop the NL Central as they visit the Cardinals

The month of May closes out with a trio of series featuring division leaders. The Los Angeles Dodgers aim to build on the best record in the majors as they host the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. The Oakland A’s try to rediscover the touch that recently powered them to 10 straight wins as they host the AL West-leading Houston Astros, while the Chicago Cubs try to bust out of a funk that threatens their lead atop the NL Central as they visit the free-falling St. Louis Cardinals.

We have odds for each of these new series as well as every other series kicking off on Friday.

Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers Series Price

Dodgers Aim to Extend Home Dominance

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be aiming to pad their MLB-best 38-19 record, when they open a three-game weekend set with the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies as strong -225 favorites on the MLB series prices.

The Dodgers have climbed to the top of the MLB standings during an impressive 23-8 run, avoiding consecutive losses along the way. The club has been particularly dominant on home turf at Dodger Stadium, winning 17 of 20, and opened their current seven-game home stand by taking three of four from the visiting New York Mets.

NL West projected* wins based on games through 2019-05-30

LA – 106.25
ARI – 88.39@Rockies – 81.68
SD – 77.64
SF – 57.28

*Pythagorean expectation pic.twitter.com/1LVroKuXni

— Dr. Jeremy Stone (@Very_Stable_G) May 31, 2019

LA’s offence has consistently produced during a surge that has lifted the Dodgers to +600 second favorites in the World Series odds, scoring at least seven runs in seven of their past 10 outings, fueling a 9-1 run for the OVER in totals betting.

Phillies vs Dodgers Probable Starting Pitchers

The Phillies travel to the West Coast after taking two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals to maintain a three-game lead over Atlanta atop the NL East standings. The club has settled down since dropping three of four at home to the Milwaukee Brewers tow weeks ago, winning nine of 14.

Bryce Harper doesn’t think the 3-game series vs #Dodgers that starts Friday in L.A. is a measuring stick for the #Phillies: pic.twitter.com/Du2O3KAyAQ

— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) May 30, 2019

The club has also started producing steady results on the road after opening the campaign on a 5-8 run, avoiding defeat in each of their past four road series while going 8-5 over that stretch. However, the Phillies have enjoyed little success in recent trips to Dodger Stadium. Philadelphia took two of three from the Dodgers on the road last season, but have posted back-to-back wins just once while going 8-15 in 23 meetings since July 2012.

Pick: Dodgers (-225)

Houston Astros vs Oakland A’s Series Price

A’s Look to Rediscover Winning Ways

The Oakland A’s look to kickstart a season-long 10-game win streak that has lifted them back into AL Wild Card contention as they host the AL West-leading Houston Astros this weekend.

The A’s limited opponents to just 2.8 runs per game during a road swing through the AL Central two weeks ago.

The A’s limited opponents to just 2.8 runs per game during a road swing through the AL Central two weeks ago. However, the club has cooled off over their past two outings, dropping consecutive decisions to the visiting Los Angeles Angels, capped by Wednesday’s 12-7 loss as -140 chalk that also marks the eighth time this season they have surrendered eight or more runs.

These A's are something special right now.

They're looking to extend their 10-game win streak, and this certainly helps.pic.twitter.com/sU6byW60NR

— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) May 29, 2019

Despite the A’s tendency towards streaky play this season, they have been steady at home, compiling a respectable 18-12 record while suffering three straight defeats on just once occasion during a three-game sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Astros vs A’s Probable Starting Pitchers

Houston has suffered just one series loss in May, opening the month by dropping two of three to the resurgent Minnesota Twins, and has gone 19-6 since, including a 7-1 run on the road featuring sweeps of the Angels and Detroit Tigers.

Four players are currently tied for the AL lead in home runs with 17.

Two of those players are on the @astros. pic.twitter.com/gcMgkTjZWq

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 29, 2019

The club also swept the A’s when they visited Houston in the first week of April, and limited Oakland to just three total runs while splitting a pair of games at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 10 days later. Overall, the Astros have taken seven of nine from the A’s, and have lost just two road series during a 17-7 run in Oakland dating back to July 2016, including a meaningless four-game sweep at the hands of the A’s in September 2017.

Pick: Astros (-115)

Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Series Price

Cubs Look to Maintain Slim NL Central Lead

A pair of struggling NL Central rivals clash this weekend as the first-place Chicago Cubs host the slumping St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cubs preserved their slender half-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers with their 2-1 win in Houston as +110 underdogs on Wednesday, but consistent success has eluded the club, which has gone 6-9 in 15 outings since vaulting to the top of the standings during a 13-2 run earlier this month.

The Cubs are heading to St. Louis this weekend.

The last time these two teams met on May 3rd, the Cardinals (20-11) were leading the NL Central by 2.5 games, while the Cubs (16-12) were still 3.0 games back.

Since then …
Cubs: 15-11 (1st place)
Cardinals: 6-17 (4th pace)

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) May 30, 2019

Shutting down opposing hitters has been a major issue for the Cubs, who have allowed 6.71 runs per game over their past seven. The club showed signs of turning the corner with Kyle Hendricks on the mound in Wednesday’s win, holding the Astros to just four hits. In addition, Cubs hitters have feasted on St. Louis pitching during a 6-1 run, lighting up the Cardinals for seven runs per game during that stretch.

Cubs vs Cardinals Probable Starting Pitchers

That’s bad news for the Cardinals, who enter the weekend on a dismal 7-18 run, and have failed to record consecutive wins at home since taking two of three from Cincinnati in late April. However, the Cardinals have enjoyed some success in recent visits from the Cubs, going 6-3 while taking two of three series from their archrivals last season.

Pick: Cubs (+130)

Additional MLB Series Odds