Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (May 16th, 2022)

By Hank Blaine • May 16, 2022

We saw something very unusual in Major League Baseball on Sunday: The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 despite being no-hit. The Bucs’ lone run came via three straight walks and a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning. Pittsburgh was the sixth team in the modern era and first since the Dodgers since 2008 to win without a hit. Here’s a look at two intriguing early-week matchups. Check back for MLB odds.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (May 16th, 2022)

MLB Power Rankings: #Yankees remain at No. 1 as #Astros surge amid 11-game winning streak. https://t.co/hkx24xNt4S
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Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers

When: Monday, May 16, 2022. 7:40pm ET
Where: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
TV: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Wisconsin
Radio: 93.7 FM The Fan (Braves) / WTMJ 620 (Brewers)
MLB Betting Odds: Braves (+120) / Brewers (-139)

The last time the Braves visited Milwaukee it was Game 2 of the 2021 National League Division Series. The Brewers had taken Game 1 2-1 but the Braves won Game 2 3-0 behind six strong innings from Max Fried. He struck out nine, gave up three hits and didn’t walk anybody. The Brewers didn’t get a runner in scoring position until Willy Adames hit a two-out double in the sixth, and Fried responded by striking out Eduardo Escobar. Atlanta would win the series in four on the way to winning the World Series.

The teams did play a three-game series from May 6-8 in Atlanta and the Braves won two of three. Both clubs could be without a key player on Monday. Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna, who missed the 2021 postseason injured, has also missed the past four games this year with a groin injury. An MRI showed no serious damage so perhaps he can go Monday.

The Braves are working with a short bench. But there doesn’t seem to be any current talk about putting Acuna on the injured list. Acuna has played just 10 games since returning from a torn right ACL.

Adames, meanwhile, left Sunday’s game for the Brewers with a right ankle sprain. Adames’ right foot was caught while he was sliding home to score on a Luis Urias sacrifice fly. X-rays were negative. Adames is only hitting .208 but has nine homers and 24 RBIs. The pitching matchup features Freddy Peralta of the Brewers and Ian Anderson of the Braves.

If Milwaukee is leading entering the ninth inning, it’s pretty much over. Josh Hader has set an MLB record with saves in each of his first 13 games in a season. The previous mark of 12 was held by Lee Smith (BAL-1994) and José Mesa (PIT-2005). Hader has made 34 consecutive scoreless appearances, covering 32.2 innings, dating back to 2021. Batters are hitting just .084 off him in that stretch. His last regular-season run allowed was July 21 last year against Pittsburgh.

MLB Betting Pick: Brewers

Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers

When: Tuesday, May 17, 2022. 8:05pm ET.
Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
TV: Bally Sports West, Bally Sports Southwest
Radio: KLAA 830 (Angels) / KFLC 1270 (Rangers)
MLB Betting Odds: TBA

The only pitcher in MLB history to have back-to-back no-hitters was the Reds’ Johnny Vander Meer in 1918. Could the Angels’ Reid Detmers join him? Obviously very unlikely, but Detmers no-hit the Rays last Tuesday. He only struck out two. Only a Taylor Walls walk to lead off the sixth inning prevented the 22-year-old southpaw from having a go at a possible perfect game.

The no-no came in just the 11th career start for the 22-year-old, which made him the youngest pitcher to throw a no-hitter in club history and the first Angels rookie to throw one since Bo Belinsky in 1962. He also is just the third pitcher to be less than two years removed from being drafted and throw a no-hitter, joining Burt Hooton in 1972 and Steve Busby in 1973. Detmers had not lasted more than five innings in any of his previous five starts before going the distance against the Rays. Detmers had a career 6.33 ERA before throwing the no-hitter.

“For a young man like that, throwing 100 pitches should not be a big deal, and the ability to throw nine innings … they should all want to do that every time,” Manager Joe Maddon said. “I like it. I think this can be transformative. I would think he’s going to get a nice bump.”

Detmers said the no-hitter helped his confidence: “Obviously my next outing, I don’t really expect the same thing. But I just want to keep the same mentality and trust my stuff. That’s really all I’m going to focus on.”

Over the weekend, Angels dual-threat star Shohei Ohtani became the third player from Japan to hit 100 career homers. Ohtani achieved the mark with a two-run blast off A’s right-hander Adam Oller in the fifth inning. The 2021 AL MVP joined Hideki Matsui (175) and Ichiro Suzuki (117). It took Ohtani 444 career games to reach the mark, which is the fastest to 100 homers by a Japanese player. He is just the second player in Major League history with 100 homers as a hitter and 250 strikeouts as a pitcher, joining Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.

“One hundred is a big number and I’m proud of it, but it’s early in the season, so that’s what I’m focused on right now,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “I just want to keep it going. Early in my career, I went through a lot of injuries and surgeries, but I made it back strong and I’m planning on hitting more and trying to get better.”

Ohtani is 1-for-9 career with five strikeouts and an RBI against scheduled Texas starter Taylor Hearn (2-2, 5.26). The Angels are 3-1 vs. the Rangers this year after winning the first head-to-head series from April 14-17 at Globe Life Field.

MLB Betting Pick: Angels

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Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (May 16th, 2022)