MLB Picks for Tonight's Games, May 22

This week has been kind to our wallet: four winning MLB bets on Monday and Tuesday. For tonight's action we turn our attention to player props from the baseball world.

A player prop keeps us independent from game outcome, and let's us flow our budget to players we like in situations, whether it's a ballpark or pitching matchup.

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Thursday night MLB games feature appearances by top starters Ranger Suárez, as well as veteran Lance McCullers Jr. (still in the league), and a marquee matchup between Nathan Eovaldi and Carlos Rodón.

Our betting advice comes with the stipulation that we advise responsible gambling. Always stay within your budget and units for every game or prop bet. Tonight we find our odds from the MLB section of DraftKings Sportsbook.

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Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros, Under 4.5 K's for McCullers Jr. (-110)

Can it be a division rivalry when one team hasn't won a division title in almost a quarter century? The answer seems to be yes: because the Mariners are in first place in the AL West, where the Astros have dominated for many years. But don't sleep on the 'Stros: Houston is lurking in second place, still a dangerous team on both offense and with pitching.

If you want to bet this game, the M's have won five of their last six games away from home. The moneyline reflects Seattle as a road favorite. The moneyline is your bet if you want to choose a winner.

It only seems as if Lance McCullers Jr. has been pitching since the 1990s. He's still just 31 years old, and after three major surgeries and almost three years away from the big leagues, he's back on the mound in The Show for the Astros. In his three starts in 2025, the right hander has struggled with his command (7 walks in 8 innings), with spotty usage of his sinking fastball (opponents hitting .429 against that pitch).

That's why we don't expect McCullers Jr. to stick around long enough to get five strikeouts. Bet $110 to win $100 if McCullers Jr. records fewer than 5 K's against the Mariners.

Texas Rangers at New York Yankees, +136 on Moneyline

The most compelling pitching matchup tonight in MLB is in The Bronx, where the Yankees host the Rangers. It's two-time World Series champion Nathan Eovaldi vs Carlos Rodón, the de facto ace of the Yanks. The moneyline lists the Rangers as +136 underdogs.

That's our best bet for Thursday: take the Rangers as road dogs in Yankee Stadium. That's because Eovaldi still has fuel in the tank. In fact, Eovaldi is a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award at 4-2 with a 1.61 ERA, a shutout, and a glimmering 65-to-8 K-to-BB ratio in 10 starts. He hasn't allowed a home run in 32 2/3 innings.

Aaron Judge will try to break Eovaldi's home run streak, and given his start it's a possibility the big slugger could hit #17 tonight. Nearly a third of the way into the season, Judge is leading in all three triple crown categories, and still has his average over .400, the latest a Yankee has done so since Mickey Mantle.

Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado Rockies, 7+ Ks's by Ranger Suárez at +170

The more starts Ranger Suárez gets this season, the more refined his pitching repertoire is getting. The veteran lefty got a late start to the season due to injury, but he's been able to coax swings and misses: 17 Ks in three starts. Against the Rockies he will face a toothless lineup that leads MLB in strikeouts.

Rather quietly, the Phillies have the best record in the National League. It should be a dogfight all season between the Phils and Mets for the top spot in the NL East, but the Phillies are an excellent roster and a team no one wants to meet in the playoffs. The Phillies have the best and deepest starting pitching in the NL, and that's with Aaron Nola still struggling, which won't continue all season.

Bonus Pick: Guardians at Tigers, Spencer Torkelson  to Have 1+ RBI, +185

These player props come from DraftKings. To find player props like this, click on the game under the MLB tab in your sports betting app, and choose "Batter Props" from the ensuing menu.

For CLE vs DET, a heated AL Central rivalry, we expect a spirited game with plenty of scoring. Torkelson has 39 RBI to lead the Tigers. He ranks third in the AL in the category behind Aaron Judge and Rafael Devers. At every twist and turn of the season thus far, Tork has been in position to clear the bases, and he's often come through.

If Torkelson can manage at least one RBI on Thursday, your $100 wager with DraftKings will be worth $285 (including your stake).

Torkelson has faced the Cleveland starter (Tanner Bibee) just three times, but he has a double. The Tigers are throwing Jack Flaherty, their third ace, if you will. Flaherty is averaging six strikeouts in his last five starts, against six walks and an alarming seven home runs(!). Stay away from the moneyline on this game: neither starting pitcher is keeping the baseball in the park of late.