Sundays are always chock full of early MLB betting action, so we got up nice and early to check out the best MLB props and side bets for the day to let you know where the value lies.
Today, we're setting our sights on some phenomenal pitchers, including Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, and Jacob deGrom — who have a combined eight Cy Young Awards on their mantle place.
Here are our favorite MLB free prop bets and predictions for Sunday, May 16, 2021.
Today’s MLB props and picks
Pitcher Outs Brandon Woodruff Over 18.5 (+125)
The Brew Crew have taken the first two games in this series with scores of 6-2 and 4-1, but they won't find it as easy to pick up another win in the early afternoon game today, as they face off against three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.
Mad Max is having another stellar year, pitching to a 2.27 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP and fanning 85 batters across 63 1-3 innings.
Thankfully, the Brewers have their own spectacular starter on the mound in Brandon Woodruff. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 1.41 ERA and 0.70 WHIP, while holding opponents to a batting average of just .143.
The Nats rank 28th in the majors in scoring at home with 3.48 runs per game and they've looked especially bad at the plate lately, with a .314 slugging percentage over the previous week.
With Woodruff racking up between 20 and 23 outs in each of his previous four starts, take the Over 18.5 on his pitcher outs prop.
Giants vs Dodgers Under 7.5 (-120)
After combining for 17 runs on Saturday night and totaling 13 runs on Friday, the Dodgers and Giants might be due for a little regression in the hitting department on Sunday.
The pitching matchup certainly suggests that possibility with three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw taking the mound for L.A. and Kevin Gausman answering the call for San Francisco.
Kershaw is having another strong year, going 7-3 with a 2.94 ERA and 0.90 WHIP across 11 starts. He's coming off a strong performance on the road against the Astros, where he limited one of the game's best hitting teams to one run across 7 2-3 innings.
Gausman has actually been even better, going 5-0 with a 1.53 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and an opponent batting average of .169 through 64 3-3 innings.
In 10 starts this season, he has allowed more than a single run on just one occasion — against the Reds way back on April 13. With both starters looking sensational, bet the Under.
Braves vs Mets First Five Innings Under 2.5 (+100)
We've got another edition of deGrom Day, which is what we call one of our favorite bets for the last few years: betting the Under on the first five innings total whenever the Mets ace toes the rubber.
That bet has cashed in six of deGrom's seven starts this season, as the dominant right-hander has been getting his usual pedestrian run support from his teammates.
DeGrom is on his way to putting up one of the greatest seasons in MLB history, going 3-2 with a 0.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts through 45 innings.
Meanwhile, Atlanta responds with lefty Max Fried, who has had a terrific May. Fried has allowed just one run in each of his four starts while boasting a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over the month.
The Mets rank second-last in the majors with just 1.86 runs per game through the first five innings. Even with the first five innings total set at just 2.5, we're going to keep riding with one of our favorite and most profitable bets this season.
MLB betting card for May 30
- Pitcher Outs Brandon Woodruff Over 18.5 (+125)
- Giants vs Dodgers Under 7.5 (-120)
- Braves vs Mets First Five Innings Under 2.5 (+100)
Picks made on 5/30/2021 at 9 a.m. ET
MLB parlays
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s MLB prop picks, you could win $72.50 on a $10 bet?
Use our MLB parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on MLB props?
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