MLB Best Bets for Friday, May 12 from Pickswise expert handicapper Mark Zinno

The Royals begin a weekend series in Milwaukee against the Brewers. Kansas City took 3 of 4 from the White Sox at home this week and have had to travel after playing yesterday while the Brewers had an off day. Milwaukee will send Corbin Burnes to the mound who has been a little unlucky in his last two starts, leaving one after 5 innings and 2 earned runs with a lead, only to have the bullpen blow it. Then in his last start he allowed 3 unearned runs on a throwing error. Burnes has a 1.13 WHIP and is keeping the ball in the ballpark.

The Astros are in the Windy City to face the White Sox for a weekend series. Houston has been struggling at the plate and is averaging 3.7 runs per game since the beginning of May while batting .213, and has an OPS of just .589 with only 6 home runs. The White Sox start Michael Kopech, who hasn’t been great, but facing batters the first time through the lineup, he has allowed opposing hitters to just hit .218. Even though he has allowed 12 home runs on the season, 9 of them came in 2 starts.

Chicago’s batting numbers are a bit deceiving because of a 17-run outburst against the Reds last week. In the 9 other games, the White Sox have scored more than 5 runs just once and are averaging 3.7 per game. Even though Houston is starting a relative unknown in JP France, who is making his second start, I think both of these pitchers can hold these lineups at bay for the first time through the order and then some. Under 4.5 in the first 5 innings.

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The Dodgers welcome the Padres to Los Angeles for a 3-game series. The Padres lost to the Twins yesterday, while the Dodgers had the day off. Los Angeles will start Dustin May, who has been fantastic so far in 2023. He has a 2.68 ERA with a 0.94 WHIP and has allowed only 1 home run on the season. May has allowed more than 2 runs in a start just once this season and he blanked the Padres last week, going 6 innings and allowing just 3 hits, while striking out 6.

San Diego goes with Blake Snell, who has struggled this year, particularly on the road. He’s 0-2 with an ERA just under 6. Opposing hitters are hitting .302 against him and he’s walked 14 batters in 13.2 innings. The Dodgers are averaging just under 7 runs per game and have hit 17 home runs over their last 10. This is a manageable enough price for me to back the Dodgers at home on the money line.