MLB Best Picks for Tonight: Monday May 19

Sports bettors who follow Major League Baseball now have nearly two months of performance to measure the quality of teams and players in the 2025 season. In some cases, the contenders are where we thought they would be. Yet some teams are underperforming.

Odds for Monday MLB games, as well as baseball odds and props are from FanDuel. We selected three game props and one player prop for tonight's games. Later this week we'll share our NFRI and YRFI picks. We'll also have MLB parlay selections this week.

The Pirates and Reds start a three-game series tonight in Pittsburgh. Those two franchises have met in the League Championship Series five times. Some of baseball's most epic playoff moments came when the Reds and Bucs battled in October. Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Willie Stargell, and Dave Parker won't be on the field tonight, but the CIN vs PIT matchup is our MLB betting pick of the night.

FanDuel sports betting app has odds for every MLB game, as well as markets for the NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup Playoffs, the WNBA, and much more.

MLB Pick: Reds (-1.5 Runs, +138) vs Pirates

The Pirates were once a model franchise, a winning franchise, one of the National League's powerhouses. Not this century, but last century when the team had such a great lineup they were known as the Lumber Company.

The 2025 Bucs are on their second manager. It's been a dreadful season. Pittsburgh is 7 1/2 games behind the Reds. Which is even worse than it sounds considering the Reds are in third place. Fans in the Steel City can be forgiven for looking forward to the NFL season.

But the nice thing about baseball is that any team can beat any other team on any given night. The Pirates have starting pitcher Mitch Keller on the mound tonight, and he's been pitching well recently. The righty has allowed only five runs in his last two starts, and he's pitched well enough to better than his 1-5 mark. His teammates are not doing him any favors. But here's the rub: Keller has a 6.06 ERA in 17 starts against Cincinnati. His K-to-BB ratio is not good: 78-to-46. He's also allowed 11(!) home runs to Reds' batters.

BETTING PICK: Your best bet is to wager $100 on Cincinnati on the run line (-1.5) on +138 odds from FanDuel. If Cincinnati wins by two runs or more, your bet produces $237, including your stake.

Sonny Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals (Getty Images)

Tigers +134 vs Cardinals in St. Louis, Moneyline Wager

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in MLB. Since being swept by the Dodgers to start the season, the Tigers are 11-3 in series this season. That success has been fueled by two things: starting pitching and defensive efficiency. Rarely do those factors slump for long. The Detroit pitching depth is a big reason some experts pick Detroit to win their first pennant since 2012. FanDuel lists the Tigers at +450 to win the American League.

Monday's game could be a bullpen feast for A.J. Hinch. That's because Casey Mize is still on the Injured List, and his slot in the rotation is on schedule. Last time through, Tyler Holton started and got five outs in a game the Tigers won against the Red Sox. Most likely, Holton will toe the rubber again, and the Cardinals will need to face "Pitching Chaos" from Detroit.

The Cardinals are sticking close in the NL Central, finally sliding back into contender status. Tonight it's Sonny Gray, the 35-year old veteran right hander, who will start. Gray has been adequate, but unremarkable. The Cards are getting good results from their bullpen and staff: so far the team ERA is a quarter of a run below the mark established in 2024.

But Detroit has more hot bats and a peskier offense: paced by Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter, and even Javier Baez. Yes, THAT Javier Baez. Amazingly, Baez has rebounded after three putrid seasons in a Detroit uniform. If Baez maintains his production, the Tigers could win the division title for the first time in more than a decade.

BETTING PICK: Tigers +134 on Moneyline to Win on the Road vs STL

Twins -1.5 (+152) vs Guardians

Minnesota's season-best 13-game winning streak was snapped on Sunday. Now they come home, following a stretch where thee pitching staff posted 33 consecutive scoreless innings. That staff is the key to Minnesota battling for a playoff spot out of the deep AL Central.

But Cleveland's bullpen has been spotty so far in 2025. Even All-Star Emmanuel Clase has been removed from his role as closer. His crime? Too many base runners: 32 in only 19 innings. The righty has blown two saves, but it seems like a hasty decision to demote Clase, who has led the AL in saves the last three seasons. No other Cleveland pitcher has a pitch as devastating as Clase's signature cut fastball. He's only going to get back to his old self by pitching his way out of it.

BETTING PICK: On Monday, I like the Twins to get back into the W column at home. Give 1.5 runs and take +152 odds on Minnesota to win by at least two runs over division rival Cleveland.

MLB PLAYER PROP PICK: José Ramírez Over 1.5 Hits (+200 from FanDuel) ... Ramírez has a 12-game hitting streak, during which the Cleveland star is batting .386 ... Ramírez has multiple hits in five of those 12 games. Wager $100 on him to be OVER 1.5 Hits on Monday vs MIN, and if he has at least 2 hits, you win $200.