There are 10 MLB games on the schedule for Monday, May 5 and our MLB betting experts have found the best bets on the board, including prop picks for stars such as Sandy Alcantara and Aaron Judge.
We have picks for the first game of the day — Dodgers vs. Marlins — and the last — Mariners vs. Athletics — so, be sure to continue reading for today's MLB best bets.
MLB Best Bets Today
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:40 p.m. | |
| 6:40 p.m. | |
  | 7:05 p.m. | |
  | 10:05 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Charlie Wright's Dodgers vs Marlins Best Bet: Back Dodgers Early
We hit the Dodgers' team total in Sandy Alcantara's last start and he's stuck facing them again as he continues to work back from Tommy John surgery. As is typical when recovering from that procedure, Alcantara's velocity has been fine, but his control has been nonexistent. He has a massive 14.2% walk rate through six starts and also ranks in the 20th percentile in hard-hit rate and in the 19th percentile in average exit velocity. Getting hit hard and not throwing strikes is a rough combination, especially against the Dodgers' offense.
The Dodgers lead the league in OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching and are third in wRC+. Perhaps more importantly, they're fourth in K/BB. The Dodgers are also one of seven teams with a walk rate above 10% vs. right-handed pitchers this season.
Los Angeles boasts a frightening group of patient hitters who do damage and although Alcantara should round into form soon, it's hard to imagine him bouncing back here. After giving up seven earned runs against the Dodgers last time out, he's now allowed 20 earned runs over his past four starts.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers First 5 Innings Over 2.5 Team Total (-115)
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Jim Turvey's Dodgers vs Marlins Best Bet: Fade Alcantara
By Jim Turvey
This is a line for a previous season's version of Sandy Alcantara, but not for Alcantara in 2025. This season, the Marlins' righty has cleared 4.5 strikeouts in only one of his six starts, doing so in his season debut against the Pirates. That game was also his best — by far! — by Stuff+ (128). He hasn't cleared 112 in any other game and is barely averaging over 100.
Alcantara has seen his SwStr% drop two percentage points and his O-Swing% drop over 10%. The Dodgers also just got to see Alcantara and blasted him for seven earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings, during which he struck out just two.
The Dodgers boast an elite offense, of course, and Alcantara has the fourth-highest ERA in baseball among pitchers with as many innings pitched.
Pick: Sandy Alcantara Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+100)
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Brit Devine's Padres vs Yankees Best Bet: Judge at Plus Money? Yes, Please
By Brit Devine
What are the books doing?!?!
Aaron Judge has gone for 2+ total bases in 10 of his past 11 games. I don't care who is on the mound, he shouldn't be even money to go over 1.5 total bases right now. He has a .423 average multiple hits in eight of his past 11 games.
Padres starter Nick Pivetta has been good this season, but I would take Judge at this price against anyone not named Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal.
Pick: Aaron Judge Over 1.5 Total Bases (+100)
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Grant Neiffer's Athletics vs Mariners Best Bet: Favorable Conditions for Butler
