We have a nearly full 14-game slate for this Tuesday, so, naturally, our staff of MLB experts has best bets.
Zerillo's targeting an undervalued AL East squad, Minion threw together a same-game parlay for the Mets-Cardinals game, while McGrath touched on a long-term profitable betting system.
Read on for our MLB Picks and today's best bets for Tuesday, March 31.
MLB Picks: Today's Best Bets & Expert Predictions
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 PM | |
  | 7:45 PM | |
  | 8:10 PM | |
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. | ||
Zerillo's Rays vs Brewers Best Bet
By Sean Zerillo
After facing southpaw Kyle Harrison on Monday, the Rays will deploy their strong-side platoon lineup against Brandon Woodruff.
Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero are both nearly 40% better than league average against left-handed pitching, but they are also the Rays' only two above-average bats against lefties. Conversely, while Caminero and Diaz are closer to 25% above average against righties, they are accompanied by above-average left-handed bats (Jonathan Aranda and Jake Fraley) and three other average depth pieces (Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson, and Richie Palacios), with Chandler Simpson's game-changing speed also on display against right-handed pitching.
Rays' lefty Shane McLanahan also forces the Brewers into their lesser split; Milwaukee's current platoon lineups carry an average 103 wRC+ against righties, compared to a 99 wRC+ against lefties.
McLanahan (projected FIP range 3.34 to 3.91; projected K-BB% of 15.5% to 20.1%) will make his first major league start since 2023 (career 3.63 xERA, 3.15 xFIP, 20.9% K-BB%) following Tommy John surgery and a subsequent triceps injury.
He pitched well in spring (13 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 15 K), getting up to 73 pitches in his final outing on March 20, while touching 95 mph on his fastball in his fifth and final inning.
And he generally projects better than Brandon Woodruff (projected FIP range 3.64 to 4.12; projected K-BB% of 17.0% to 19.3%), who made 12 starts last season, after returning from his own lengthy recovery (surgery in October 2023) following a shoulder injury.
Woodruff (2.20 xERA, 3.24 xFIP, 26.8% K-BB% in his 2025 sample) had an odd ramp-up this spring, tossing just five total innings across two outings while going from 32 to 62 pitches but prioritizing caution.
The leash for either starter may be around 80 pitches on Tuesday.
The bullpens, baserunning, and defensive quality are roughly even on either side. Still, I do give Tampa Bay the edge, specifically in the first five innings (F5), in the starting pitching matchup, in their respective handedness, and in their offensive splits.
Bet the Rays to even money on the F5 moneyline, or play their full game line to +108, in what I project as a coin-flip contest.
Check out Zerillo's full Opening Pitch for Tuesday here:
Pick: Rays ML (+108 or Better)
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Minion's Mets vs Cardinals Picks, Parlay
By Ryan Minion
Though playing on the road at Busch Stadium, I feel this is a great spot to target a Mets lineup that is off to a very hot start — generating five earned runs in just 2/3 innings in its first game of the season against arguably MLB's best arm in Paul Skenes. The Mets concluded their season opener with a phenomenal 11-run effort.
In two career starts versus New York, Pallante is 0-2, posting an ERA over seven.
I expect the Mets to continue their success versus the Cardinals’ right-hander by taking an aggressive approach when facing his four-seam fastball.
It is very tough to imagine Pallante succeeding against this Mets lineup, even at Busch Stadium, with the starter coming off career lows last season, posting a 5.30 ERA and a sub-15% strikeout rate.
Over the course of his five-year career, Pallante has had some success at times with his heavy-contact style, generating substantial ground balls.
That said, he is facing a top-heavy Mets lineup that can take advantage of his high-contact style early and often.
I expect the Cardinals right-hander to get touched up early due to the high-contact four-seam fastball that may get him into trouble early versus a Mets lineup boasting elite plate discipline and hard-hitting prowess.
Check out Minion's full Cardinals-Mets SGP playbook here
Pick: Mets ML & TT Over 4.5 Runs SGP
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Red Sox vs Astros Prediction, PRO System
This game triggered one of our Action PRO betting systems, powered by Evan Abrams.
This system identifies winning teams that are performing steadily but not drawing overwhelming market attention.
This system targets regular-season teams with at least a breakeven win rate that are coming off a modest but positive result, winning their previous game by between one and seven runs.
Their prior moneyline price indicates they weren’t heavy favorites — just expected to win. When they return as moderate favorites again and have a consistent streak of games either home or away, it suggests controlled momentum rather than volatility.
The setup capitalizes on teams undervalued by the public for their lack of flashy blowouts or extreme winning streaks, offering value when confidence exceeds perception.
Want more Action PRO Betting Systems? Download the Action Network App and sign up for a PRO subscription here:
Pick: Astros ML (-160 or Better)
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