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 Friday, May 26:
TOP PLAY
The play: MLB money-line parlay, Mets over Rockies and Astros over Athletics
The odds/bet: +100 ($30 to win $30)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: Mets-Rockies at 7:40 p.m. and Astros-Athletics at 8:40 p.m. (Mets on MLB TV locally, Astros-A’s blacked out locally)
Our take: Max Scherzer hasn’t had his best year, but he has been fantastic as of late, as New York tries to continue its momentum off the series-ending win at Wrigley Field on Thursday. And don’t think the Mets have forgotten about dropping two of three to this team at CitiField just a couple of weeks ago.
And although the Mets have been anything but a friend to bettors throughout the season, they are 5-2 when Scherzer, who has allowed just two home runs throughout his last four starts, pitches on the money line.
Meanwhile, Houston had a rough time in Milwaukee, but looked like the old Astros in the two weeks prior to that, including an eight-game winning streak. What better place in baseball than to shake off a bad series than in Oakland?
The Stros are 6-3 this season when Hunter Brown starts, while the Athletics are 0-5 when James Kaprielian takes the bump. Seems like an easy back half.
SUN BELT BASEBALL
The play: Sun Belt baseball tournament money line, UL over Texas State
The odds/bet: -135 ($13.50 to win $10)
The book: DraftKings
Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Our take: The Cajuns swept Texas State in a three-game series just two weeks ago and defeated them in the opening round earlier this week, and are facing them in an elimination game. Looks like a nice value play at just -135 for them to move forward into Saturday.
HOW WE’VE FARED
NBA playoffs: Heat +8.5 over Celtics (LOSE $33)
NBA playoffs money line: Heat over Celtics (LOSE $10)
Thursday’s profit/loss: -$43 (0-2)
Total for the week: +$14.70 (3-3, 1 pending)
Total for May: +$153.60 (27-21, 1 pending)
Total for 2023: -$305.60 (115-126, 1 pending)
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).
Related:
MLB parlay of favorites, and a total in The Bronx: Best Bets for Thursday (April 13)
Lakers-Warriors NBA Playoffs spread play, MLB money line parlay: Best Bets for May 2
Hawks-Celtics in NBA playoffs Game 3, and a Friday night MLB parlay: Best Bets for April 21
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 parlay of favorites and a total: Best Bets for Thursday (March 23)
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