Free MLB Picks for Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Looks like it's going to be another long season for the Mets faithful. Manager Mickey Callaway got the dreaded vote of confidence from the front office this week (there were rumors he was going to be fired on Monday), and now comes the news that star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes suffered multiple ankle fractures from an accident on his ranch in Florida. He had yet to play this season following surgeries on both of his heels. The Mets were originally hoping for a late June return, but now that's not happening. Guy is a great hitter but so brittle. Cespedes played in only 81 games in 2017 and 38 games last year. Hey, at least Tim Tebow hit his first Triple-A home run recently! He's batting well below the Mendoza Line. I'd still bet that the team calls the former Heisman winner up in September just to get some fans to the ballpark.

A's at Indians (+105, 9)

MLB Network game at 1:10 p.m. ET. Monitor the status of A's DH Khris Davis as he sat Monday with a hip injury that has been bothering him since early this month. Davis pretty clearly can't play every day of the week due to the problem, but the A's don't want to put him on the injured list. Oakland's Frankie Montas (5-2, 2.67) was one out shy of a complete game last time out, allowing two runs with 10 strikeouts and no walks vs. the Tigers. Montas took a no-decision vs. the Indians on May 10 (6 IP, 2 ER). Jose Ramirez is 3-for-7 with a double off him. Cleveland's Jefry Rodriguez (1-3, 3.45) won in Oakland on May 12, allowing two runs over six. Matt Olson is 1-for-2 with a dinger off him.

Key trends: The A's are 5-1 in Montas' past six vs. the AL Central. The "over/under" has gone under in five straight Rodriguez starts.

Early lean: A's and under.

Reds at Brewers (-109, 8)

First pitch of 1:10 p.m. ET. Cincinnati's Luis Castillo (5-1, 1.90) is among the National League leaders in most major pitching categories. Castillo was limited to 5.1 innings last time out vs. the Cubs, but that was because of rain. He got the win, allowing two runs. Castillo is 2-1 with a 3.08 ERA in four career starts vs. the Brewers. Orlando Arcia is 6-for-13 off him. Christian Yelich 2-for-7 with a homer. Milwaukee's Zach Davies (5-0, 1.54) allowed one earned run last time out in Philadelphia over six innings. He has yet to allow more than two earned this season and is second in the NL in ERA. Cincinnati's Joey Votto is 10-for-25 off him with a homer.

Key trends: The Brewers are 4-0 in Davies' past four at home vs. Cincinnati. The under is 4-1 in Castillo's previous five vs. the Reds.

Early lean: Brewers and under.

Yankees at Orioles (+203, 10)

DH Giancarlo Stanton has begun a rehab assignment with High-A Tampa. He'll probably need about a week in the minors before returning to the big club. Stanton has been on the injured list since April 1 due to a left biceps strain and left shoulder strain. It's big lefty CC Sabathia (2-1, 2.97) on the hill for the Bombers. He held the Rays to a run over six in his most recent outing. The future Hall of Famer hasn't seen the Orioles yet this season. Chris Davis is a career .216 hitter off him with two homers and 24 strikeouts in 51 at-bats. Baltimore's Dan Straily (1-3, 8.51) lasted just 3.1 innings in his last outing, allowing four runs in Cleveland. He was bombed for five runs in 1.1 innings on April 7 vs. the Yankees. New Yankee Kendrys Morales is 4-for-14 with two homers against him.

Key trends: The Yankees have won six of their past seven in Game 3 of a series. The over is 3-1-1 in Straily's past five.

Early lean: Yankees on runline and over.

Nationals at Mets (-125, 6.5)

Matchup of the guys who have won the past three National League Cy Young Awards. That was the Mets' Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.98) in 2018. He was uncharacteristically knocked around Friday in Miami, allowing seven runs over five innings. It was the most runs deGrom has allowed in a start since September 2017. DeGrom blanked the Nats on five hits over six in his 2019 debut. Anthony Rendon can't hit him, going 2-for-26 with seven strikeouts. Washington's Max Scherzer (2-5, 3.72), who won the NL Cy Young in 2017 & '16, allowed three runs over six in his last start vs. the Cubs. He's 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts this year vs. the Mets. Juan Lagares might get this one off as he's 1-for-16 with 11 strikeouts vs. Scherzer.

Key trends: The Nats are 6-0 in Scherzer's past six at the Mets. The under is 5-1 in deGrom's past six at home in the series.

Early lean: Nats and under.

White Sox at Astros (-315, 8.5)

Chicago got back rookie outfielder Eloy Jimenez from the injured list Monday night. The touted prospect hasn't hit too much yet, but it's surely coming. The Sox start struggling Ivan Nova (2-4, 7.42). He was blistered for nine runs and eight hits (three homers) over three innings last time out against the Blue Jays. Josh Reddick has seen him the most of any Astro, going 5-for-16 with two homers and two doubles. Houston's Gerrit Cole (4-4, 3.56), a guy I believe the White Sox will pursue next offseason in free agency, shut out the Red Sox on six hits over five innings Friday. Cole is 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his last four starts and he leads the majors with 93 whiffs overall. Chicago's James McCann is 4-for-10 with two doubles and a homer vs. Cole.

Key trends: The Astros have won nine straight Cole starts vs. teams with a losing record. The over has hit in six straight Nova starts.

Early lean: Astros on runline and over.

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