MLB Picks Tonight: Expert MLB Bets and Props for Friday, May 12

Michael Rathburn digs into Friday's slate to identify his best MLB picks, totals, and props to target, including a look at Spencer Strider's strikeout prop in Toronto.
MLB Picks Tonight: Expert MLB Bets and Props for Friday, May 12

MLB Betting Picks Today: Free MLB Picks and Props for Friday, May 12

Season: 21-31 -17.73 units

Prior Article: 1-2 -1.49 units 

Sports betting went live in Massachusetts this spring and baseball fans located there can use the BetMGM Massachusetts Bonus Code at signup to get a great welcome bonus bet. The BetMGM bonus code gets MLB fans a first-bet bonus offer worth up to $1,000. 

When you have the under 8.5 runs in Rays/Yankees, and the Yankees score 2 runs in the 9th inning to end the game at 8-2 (10 runs), it just is not your day. The Rays scored 8 runs on just 11 hits which is another anomaly and frustrating part of the betting season.

Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics

The Rangers took the first game in the series 4-0 and I will continue to bet against the A's who are the worst team in baseball at 8-31 (.205) as long as the price makes sense. 

Ken Waldichuk has a 7.25 ERA, 1.75 WHIP in 36 innings (7 starts) and allowed 12 homeruns. He got knocked around by the lowly Royals in his last start for 4 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, and 6 walks. The Rangers lead MLB in runs scored at 6.24 runs per game which makes for a bad matchup for Waldichuk. 

MLB Best Bets for Rangers at Athletics 

  • Rangers -1.5 runs for 2.16 units (FanDuel -108)
  • Rangers OVER 4.5 runs for 1.35 units (DraftKings -135)

RotoWire all the top-rated PayPal betting sites in one place for those looking to deposit using PayPal.

Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees

Gerrit Cole has owned the Rays in recent history but they knocked him around in his last start in Tampa on May 5th (5 earned runs, 5 innings). I am banking on a bounce-back performance espcially with a bullpen game for the Rays. 

The under was primed to hit yesterday, but the Rays scored 8 runs on 11 hits and the Yankees got 2 in the bottom of the 9th to send the game OVER the total. I will go back to the well again with the UNDER at 8.5 again expecting Cole to limit the Rays. 

MLB Best Bets for Rays at Yankees     

  • Rays/Yankees UNDER 8.5 runs for 1.08 units (FanDuel -108)

Atlanta Braves at Toronto Blue Jays

Spencer Strider is tied with Zac Gallen for the NL Cy Young futures at +230 and has been dominant this year with 67 strikeouts in 40 innings. He has posted at least eight strikeouts in every start.  The Jays are 21-16, but 3-7 in their last 10, while the Braves are 7-3. The Braves are 13-2 in their last 15 on the road. The best team in baseball continues the hot streak Friday night in Toronto. 

MLB Best Bets for Braves at Blue Jays 

  • Braves -1.5 runs for 1 unit (FanDuel +108)
  • Strider OVER 8.5 strikeouts for 1 unit (DraftKings +110)

 

MLB Best Bets Today Recap

  • Rangers -1.5 runs for 2.16 units (FanDuel -108)
  • Rangers OVER 4.5 runs for 1.35 units (DraftKings -135)
  • Rays/Yankees UNDER 8.5 runs for 1.08 units (FanDuel -108)
  • Braves -1.5 runs for 1 unit (FanDuel +108)
  • Strider OVER 8.5 strikeouts for 1 unit (DraftKings +110)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known as “Rath” in the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) community, he has helped run operations for two prominent daily fantasy sports startups. Michael has taken his insider knowledge and expertise in daily fantasy sports to the content side. Rath won the 2016 FSWA "Baseball Article of the Year, Online" award and was a finalist for the FSWA Best Baseball Series in 2011.
RotoWire Logo

Continue the Conversation

Join the RotoWire Discord group to hear from our experts and other MLB fans.

Top News

Tools

MLB Draft Kit Logo

MLB Draft Kit

Fantasy Tools

Don’t miss a beat. Check out our 2025 MLB Fantasy Baseball rankings.