MLB Best Bet Picks for Today, May 15

Former Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom takes the ball for the Texas Rangers as they entertain their cross-state rivals the Houston Astros on Thursday. It's the first of four games between the 'Stros and "Rangers in the Lone Star State.

If you're seeking offense, take a look at the Twins vs Orioles, the finale in a series that has seen 23 runs in the first two games of this series between the AL teams in Baltimore. The Twins swept a doubleheader on Wednesday, and are seeking to sweep before leaving Charm City.

As always we select our MLB odds from a top sports betting app. Today it's DraftKings, one of the leading operators in the U.S. gaming market. New users of DraftKings can grab bonus bets and a welcome bonus. You'll find odds on every MLB game, and also baseball futures odds and much more at DraftKings.

MLB Pick: Rangers vs Astros

Few rivalries in MLB are more passionate than the one between the Astros and Rangers, who have combined to dominate the AL West the last several years. If you're from Texas, you have to choose sides in this battle between the teams from Space City and Big D.

That Big D doesn't stand for Jacob deGrom, of course. Famously, the Texas righthander has a surname that starts with a Little D. But that doesn't seem to matter, as deGrom is now humming along as the ace he was meant to be for the Rangers (23-21).

The Thursday night starter, deGrom is finally healthy and thriving in his third season with the Texas Rangers, delivering the kind of dominance fans have long awaited. After signing a five-year, $185 million deal in late 2022, deGrom was limited to just nine starts over his first two seasons due to multiple injuries, including a second Tommy John surgery in 2023. Now 36, he's back on the mound and showing flashes of the ace who won back-to-back Cy Young Awards with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019.

In 2025, deGrom has posted a 3-1 record with a 2.72 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 43 innings. He's allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, including a standout performance against the Detroit Tigers on May 10, where he struck out 10 batters over five innings. That outing marked his fourth game with 10+ strikeouts through four innings, tying him with Nolan Ryan for second-most in the expansion era.

To preserve his health, deGrom has adjusted his approach by slightly reducing his fastball velocity, focusing more on pitch location and command. The Rangers are also managing his workload carefully, initially slotting him as their fifth starter to provide extra rest between outings. With deGrom anchoring the rotation, Texas aims to return to postseason contention after a disappointing 2024 campaign.

If he remains healthy, deGrom could once again be a frontrunner in the Cy Young race, reminding the baseball world of his elite talent. On Thursday, I like Houston (22-20) to succumb to deGrom in the opener of this weekend series, but in a low scoring affair.

BET: Total Runs Under 7 (+102 from DraftKings)

MLB Pick: Twins at Orioles

Ten of the 15 teams in the American League have a winning record. The most surprising among them is probably the Twins at 23-20. The team has a ten-game winning streak, finally getting healthy in 2025.

This success for Minnesota is happening with Carlos Correa still in an early season funk. The All-Star shortstop has three home runs and an OPS hovering around 600. Once CC gets hot, the Twins could make a legit run for the division top perch.

To finish off the listless O's, the Twins need a strong showing from Chris Paddack, an unexciting righthander. But as of late, the starter hasn't mattered for Minnesota: even Four-A players like Kody Clemens are coming through. Like he did on Wednesday with a late inning homer to set the margin in the doubleheader sweep.

Expect Minnesota to keep winning, and bet the moneyline.

BET: Minnesota +114 on moneyline (DraftKings Sportsbook)

MLB Best Bet: Athletics vs Dodgers in LA

The weather is warming, which may bode well for Dodger bats. Shohei Ohtani has been heating up lately: three home runs and nine RBI in his last six games. That could help LA increase their slim margin in the tough NL West in the coming weeks.

The A's have won each of the last two MLB Best Bet picks we've made for their games. That led to $225 in winnings, thank you very much. Tonight, we pick against the Athletics, as we see Ohtani & Co. as too much at home.

Other game props we like:

• Race to 6 Runs (Dodgers at +130)
• Run Scores in First Inning (-135 from DraftKings)

You can find interesting odds in the Alternate Run Line market. If you think a team will win by at least three runs, find the odds and lay down your wager. In this case, a winning $100 bet on LA would pay $145 should the Dodgers triumph by at least three runs.

BET: Dodgers -2.5 Runs (+145)