MLB money line, Mets at Cubs; PGA Charles Schwab pick: Best Bets for Wednesday (May 24)

Each day, one of our experts at bet.NOLA.com will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks in Louisiana are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.

A reminder for those who haven’t signed up yet: New users can get a risk-free bet at Caesars Sportsbook, meaning that if your first bet loses, you get a bonus bet for the same amount up to $1,250. New users also get 1,000 Caesars Rewards points to redeem for hotel or casino credit.

Here are our best bets for Wednesday, May 24:

TOP PLAY

The play: MLB money line, Cubs over Mets

The odds/bet: -115 ($34.50 to win $30)

The book: Caesars Sportsbook

Time/TV: 6:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Our take: We’re not sure what is up with the Mets, who were supposed to be a powerhouse in the NL East this year, but they have not been good on the road, especially as of late against subpar competition.

In fact, they have lost eight of their last 12 games away from CitiField, and that’s against the likes of these same Cubs, the Nationals, Reds and Giants.

Kodai Senga has been good for the Mets, but he, too, has been bad on the road, allowing four earned runs or more in three straight starts. Meanwhile, Cubs ace Marcus Stroman has only allowed more than two runs in a start at Wrigley Field once all season – against the Dodgers on April 23.

The wind will be blowing in, so we likely won’t see too many long balls, and that should help Chicago, which is still without the injured Cody Bellinger. Meanwhile Christopher Morel has been on fire at the plate since being recalled from Iowa a few weeks ago.

PGA, CHARLES SCHWAB TOP 20

The play: PGA’s Charles Schwab Challenge, Justin Rose to finish in the top 20

The odds/bet: +125 ($10 to win $12.50)

The book: DraftKings

Time/TV: Thursday through Sunday on Golf Channel and ESPN+ and on Saturday and Sunday on CBS

Our take: We have been fairly hot with our top-20 picks here on Wednesday, so let’s keep it rolling.

This Colonial course is not for the long bombers who hit it anywhere. Rather, the shorter hitters and ones who do well with their approach shots should have a nice advantage. Although the obvious Scottie Scheffler and even Collin Morikawa seem to be nice picks here, there isn’t quite the value on them top 20 (although we like Morikawa at +1400 to win).

Rose also has played well as of late, and well here at Colonial, winning this tournament in 2018 and finishing tied for third in 2021. He missed the cut last year, but there were unusually dry conditions, which changed many of the course averages throughout its recent history.

HOW WE’VE FARED

Tuesday’s best bets

NBA playoffs: Celtics money line over Heat (WIN $31.20)

MLB player prop: Alex Cobb over 5.5 strikeouts vs. Twins (WIN $10)

Tuesday’s profit/loss: +$41.20 (2-0)

Total for the week: +$27.70 (2-1)

Total for May: +$166.60 (26-19)

Total for 2023: -$292.60 (114-124)

NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)

Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, a $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).