Best Games to Bet on: Pirates vs Rangers & Dodgers vs Mets

There are no NBA or NHL playoff games on tap today, but get a load of this: Clayton Kershaw and Bartolo Colon will be in for an intriguing matchup in Flushing, New York. That game along with a showdown between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers make up our picks for today’s best games to bet on.

MLB World Series News and Previews

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Texas Rangers (3:05 PM ET)

Line: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Texas Rangers – view all MLB lines

Francisco Liriano (4-3, 4.30 ERA) makes a start for the Pirates later today against Texas. Liriano had a good performance in his last start, allowing just one earned run on two hits in 5.2 innings of mound duty in a 12-1 win over Arizona on May 24. He did walk five batters, but he was barely in trouble with the Bucs’ offense rocking. Dating back to his Minnesota days, Liriano’s teams have gone 4-0 in his last four starts versus Texas.

Liriano and the Pirates’ offense will look to keep it going against the Rangers, who will counter Liriano with Martin Perez (2-4, 3.13 ERA). Perez had a sensational outing in a 4-1 win over the Angels on May 24, yielding just five hits and two walks across six shutout frames. The under is 3-0 in Perez’s last three home starts.

Writer’s Prediction

Pittsburgh wins, 6-3.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets (9:00 PM ET)

Line: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets – view all MLB lines

It wasn’t long ago when Clayton Kershaw victimized the Mets with his arm in a 5-0 drubbing of New York back in May 12. That’s when Kershaw pitched nine scoreless innings and roasted 13 batters for strikeouts.

Kershaw aims to punish the Mets anew, when he gets a rematch with Bartolo Colon. Kershaw pitched another nine-inning shutout in a 1-0 win over Cincinnati on May 23.

Colon, on the other hand, is coming off a 7-1 win over Washington on May 23, wherein he pitched seven innings of one-run ball, surrendering just five hits, albeit with only two punchouts.