The following MLB betting trends are a collection of analytical data, betting systems and strength ratings featured on VSiN and qualified for the MLB games of Sunday, May 24, 2026. This report is meant to emulate the process that Steve Makinen and other members of the VSiN Analytics team undergo when handicapping each day’s MLB board.

AJ’s Angles

These are the top MLB betting trends and systems for today’s games, handpicked by VSiN Analyst AJ Makinen.

MLB Series Betting System #5: Road underdogs of +101 to +187 have been a very good investment in the final game of a series if ending a road trip, going 378-414 but for +98.03 units and an ROI of 12.4% since the start of the 2022 season
System Matches (PLAY ALL): PITTSBURGH (+141 at TOR), DETROIT GAME 2 (+105 at BAL), ATHLETICS (+144 at SD), TEXAS (+102 at LAA)

Trend: Brady Singer’s teams are 22-7 (+15.29 units) when he starts in home day games in the last 3+ seasons
Trend Match (PLAY): CINCINNATI (-122 vs STL)

Teams who lost their previous game to a divisional rival from blowing a save have gone 165-89 SU (+40.56 units, ROI: 16%) as a pick ’em or favorite in the same-series follow-up game since the start of the 2020 season.
System Match (PLAY): NY YANKEES (-136 vs TB)

MLB Bullpen Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays are from the weekly update series on handicapping MLB teams using Steve Makinen’s bullpen strength ratings.

Back teams with both a better SM bullpen rating AND starting pitcher rating if that team has an even or worse record
In the 2025 regular season, I found that teams with an even or worse record on the season but showing a better Steve Makinen Bullpen Rating AND starting pitcher rating have gone 207-139 for +48.41 units, and an ROI of +14.0%! The 2-year record on this angle is now 396-266 for +83.41 units and an ROI of 12.6%. This has proven to be a very good foundational angle to follow since the prices aren’t that high typically. It should be a part of your handicapping routine going forward. For 2026, these teams are off to a modest 92-70 start for -0.61 units and an ROI of -0.4%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): TORONTO (-176 vs PIT), DETROIT GAME 1 (+109 at BAL), BOSTON (-157 vs MIN), NY METS (-115 at MIA), SAN FRANCISCO (-119 vs CWS)

STARTER/BULLPEN CORRELATION SYSTEMS

Teams with strong bullpens (SM rating of 10 or higher) and a poor starting pitcher with a SM rating of -10 or worse wound up 184-226 for -38.36 units for the season when not matched up against the same. This represents an ROI of -9.4%. This is another angle that shows that good bullpens are better support for good starting pitching. This is another go against angle that does well. To start the 2026 season, these teams are again struggling, 33-41 for -11.26 units and an ROI of -15.2%!
System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE (+139 vs LAD)

Teams with strong bullpens (SM rating of 10 or higher) and an elite starting pitcher with a SM rating of +20 or more went 352-210 for +30.55 units, when not matched against the same in the 2025 season. This represents an ROI of +5.4%. For 2026, these teams are off to a slow 109-78 start for -6.22 units and an ROI of -3.3%.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): TORONTO (-176 vs PIT), TAMPA BAY (+113 at NYY), BOSTON (-157 vs MIN), CLEVELAND (-115 at PIT), SEATTLE (-123 at KC), LA DODGERS (-168 at MIL), SAN DIEGO (-180 vs ATH), TEXAS (+102 at LAA)

Teams with poor bullpens (NEGATIVE SM rating) and a poor starting pitcher with a SM rating of -10 or worse went 148-267 for -34.71 units when not matched up against the same in 2025. This represented an ROI of -8.4%, another solid fade angle! For 2026, they are off to a rare positive start, 56-69 for +7.71 units. I still don’t expect this to last long.
System Match (FADE): BALTIMORE GAME 1 (-131 vs DET)

Fade better bullpen overpriced favorites of -190 or higher when the win percentage difference between teams is <19%
In the last three regular seasons in which the team with the Steve Makinen better rated bullpen was listed as a favorite of -190 or higher and had a winning percentage less than 19% higher than the opponent, that team has owned a 427-241 record, but for -131.5 units. This has been an ROI of -19.7%! The 2025 record was 120-59 for -13.3 units. The 2026 record so far is 24-11 for -1.82 units and an ROI of -5.2%.
System Match (FADE): ARIZONA (-199 vs COL)

Overpriced better bullpen without a big starting pitcher edge angle was the 2023 regular season’s most lucrative system
In combining starting pitcher differences in looking at games with -190 favorites or higher, there was a huge opportunity to be selective in fading overpriced favorites. Specifically, when the starting pitcher difference between the better Steve Makinen rated bullpen team was less than 20, those big favorites have gone 242-160, but for -117.36 units in the 2023-25 regular seasons. That represents an ROI of -29.2%, very solid results. In 2025, these teams were measurably better but still lost -1.48 units for the season. The 2026 teams are off to a 14-7 start for -2.03 units. The ROI on that is -9.7%.
System Match (FADE): ARIZONA (-199 vs COL)

Better bullpen underdog teams were solid wagers all season long
Perhaps the most popular angle, a frequent and profitable system has arisen when the team with the better SM Bullpen Ratings played as an underdog (or pick ’em). Money line underdog teams with better bullpen ratings for in the 2022-23 seasons were 701-790, but for +46.27 units. The 2024 season was below standards historically (lost -26.45 units), but we experienced a major bounce back in 2025, as the season record finished at 464-488 for +59.39 units, ROI +6.2%! The 2026 season is off to a slower start, 101-114 for -1.38 units. However, it did get back +9.27 units since the start of last week alone.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): DETROIT GAME 1 (+109 at BAL), TAMPA BAY (+113 at NYY), ST LOUIS (+101 at CIN), TEXAS (+102 at LAA), DETROIT GAME 2 (+105 at BAL)

Worse bullpen teams continue to struggle in extending winning streaks
I have found that fading teams with a lesser SM bullpen ratings that were looking to extend winning streaks is also a strong strategy. In the 2023-2025 regular seasons, on two-game winning streaks, the teams with worse Steve Makinen Bullpen Ratings in a matchup have gone 648-696 for -59.7 units, an ROI of -4.4%. For 2026, they are off to a 58-75 start for -10.54 units (ROI -7.9%). Worse bullpen teams on 3+ game winning streaks finished the last 3 regular seasons with a record of 293-318 for -26.2 units. ROI on that was -4.3%. This has been a very consistent angle historically, and the 2026 results so far show a record of 26-35 for -7.20 units and an ROI of -11.8%.
System Matches (FADE ALL): 2-games – MIAMI (-105 vs NYM), HOUSTON (+144 at CHC), LA ANGELS (-123 vs TEX)
3-games – MINNESOTA (+130 at BOS)

Worse bullpen teams can fall into lengthy losing streaks
Around midseason of 2025, I went back and found that teams with worse Steve Makinen Bullpen Ratings in a matchup and having lost at least their last three games had proven to be a nice fade system. For the full 2025 campaign, they wound up 195-269 for -29.1 units, an ROI of -6.3%. We will continue to track this angle in 2026, and it is now 54-60 for +0.45 units.
System Match (FADE): NY YANKEES (-136 vs TB)

MLB Series Systems

The following systems are from an article posted on April 3, 2025, regarding MLB game-by-game betting, particularly the first and last games of a series.

MLB Series Betting System #2: Teams wrapping up a series and riding at least a three-game losing streak are 431-453 but for +29.92 units and an ROI of 3.4% since the start of the 2022 season
System Matches (PLAY ALL): NY YANKEES (-136 vs TB), CHICAGO CUBS (-175 vs HOU)

MLB Series Betting System #5: Road underdogs of +101 to +187 have been a very good investment in the final game of a series if ending a road trip, going 378-414 but for +98.03 units and an ROI of 12.4% since the start of the 2022 season
System Matches (PLAY ALL): PITTSBURGH (+141 at TOR), DETROIT GAME 2 (+105 at BAL), ATHLETICS (+144 at SD), TEXAS (+102 at LAA)

MLB Series Betting System #9: Big home favorites of -180 or more closing out a divisional series have been a solid investment lately, going 164-66 for +16.11 units and an ROI of 7% since the start of the 2022 season
System Match (PLAY): ARIZONA (-199 vs COL)

MLB Extreme Stats Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays are from the article titled MLB Extreme Stats Systems, detailing betting systems for teams based on noteworthy stats they accumulated in their previous game

“9” is a magic run number for fading a team in the next game
Since 2018, doesn’t matter if the team is playing at home or on the road, if they scored nine runs or more in the previous contest, they are posting a winning record at 2060-1956 (51.3%), but oddsmaker overpricing has resulted in a loss of -271.03 units. This represents an ROI of -6.7%, which is significant in the grand scheme of baseball daily betting.
System Matches (FADE ALL): SAN FRANCISCO, LA DODGERS

Road teams that didn’t score well last game are a bad bet in the next outing
You’re going to want to consider fading teams playing on the road that scored two runs or fewer in their last contest. They have proven to be bankroll-busting options over their last 4+ seasons. These road teams are just 2083-2657 (43.9%) for -272.32 units and an ROI of -5.7% since the start of the 2019 season.
System Matches (FADE ALL): PITTSBURGH, CLEVELAND, NY METS, WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, ATHLETICS, TEXAS

Watch for home teams that didn’t record an extra base hit
Home teams that failed to record an extra base hit in their previous game bounce back with a 630-520 (54.8%) record in the next contest when at home in that same time span. The profit there is +28.22 units, for an ROI of 2.5%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): ATLANTA, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO CUBS

Divisional blown saves lead to bounce-back
Teams who lost their previous game to a divisional rival from blowing a save have gone 165-89 SU (+40.56 units, ROI: 16%) as a pick ’em or favorite in the same-series follow-up game since the start of the 2020 season.
System Match (PLAY): NY YANKEES (-136 vs TB)

MLB Team Strength Systems

The following handicapping information details betting systems for teams based on various team strength indicators or line scenarios.

MLB Team Strength Betting System #4:
Early season (March/April/May) road underdogs between +100 and +160 coming off a loss have gone 522-594 SU but for +74.54 units (ROI: 6.7%) since the start of the 2021 season (including 175-192 SU for +35.94 units in the last 367 divisional games).
System Matches (PLAY ALL): DETROIT GAME 1 (+109 at BAL), PITTSBURGH (+141 at TOR), ATHLETICS (+144 at SD), TEXAS (+102 at LAA)

MLB Team Strength Betting System #6:
Having at least 50 games under their belt for the year, interleague plus-money underdogs who have a 10% or higher win percentage than their opponent have gone 49-34 SU for +23.39 units (ROI: 28.2%) since the start of the 2020 season.
System Match (PLAY): NONE YET BUT WATCH FOR CHICAGO WHITE SOX at SF (-102 CURRENTLY)

MLB Streak Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays detail different systems for betting teams on winning or losing streaks.

Losing Streak Betting System #1:
Teams on losing streaks of 7 games or more are on a 39-103 skid (-40.94 units, ROI -28.8%) in the next game when playing as road underdogs.
System Match (FADE): DETROIT GAME 1 (+109 at BAL)

Losing Streak Betting System #2:
Teams on losing streaks of 7 games or more and winning fewer than 43% of their games on the season are on a 75-150 skid (-43.66 units, ROI: -19.4%).
System Match (FADE): DETROIT GAME 1 (+109 at BAL)

Losing Streak Betting System #3:
Strangely, teams on losing streaks of 7 games or more tend to fare best against their best opponents. Against teams winning 61.5% of their games or more, these teams on losing skids have gone 19-24 (+7.91 units, ROI: 18.4%) while against all other opponents with lesser records than 61.5% winning percentage, they are just 98-181 (-62.96 units, ROI: -22.6%) since the start of the 2021 season.
System Matches (FADE ALL): DETROIT GAME 1 (+109 at BAL), CHICAGO CUBS (-175 vs HOU)

Losing Streak Betting System #7:
Teams that have lost their last four games but are getting reasonably good pitching during the skid have been solid wagers in game #5, as those that allowed 6.0 RPG or fewer during the streak are on a 295-307 run (+10.49 units, ROI: 1.7%).
System Match (SLIGHT PLAY): DETROIT GAME 1 (+109 at BAL)

Today’s MLB Strength Ratings

The following MLB betting trends are taken from today’s MAKINEN DAILY RATINGS page under the MLB tab on VSiN.com.

Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS (15 points or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: TEXAS +102 (+22 diff), ST LOUIS +101 (+15)

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES (15 points or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: LA DODGERS -168 (+31 diff), ATLANTA -168 (+27), SAN FRANCISCO -119 (+24)

Today’s BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER (0.5 runs or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: TB-NYY OVER 7 (+0.9), WSH-ATL OVER 8.5 (+0.8), CLE-PHI OVER 7.5 (+0.5), HOU-CHC OVER 7 (+0.5), LAD-MIL OVER 8 (+0.5)

Today’s BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER (0.5 runs or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
System Matches: STL-CIN UNDER 10 (-0.6), SEA-KC UNDER 8.5 (-0.5), NYM-MIA UNDER 8.5 (-0.5)

Team/Pitcher Situational MLB Betting Trend Spots

The following situational MLB betting trends and qualifying plays look at how today’s teams and starting pitchers have performed in similar spots.

(953) ST LOUIS (29-22) at (954) CINCINNATI (27-25)
Trend: Brady Singer’s teams are 22-7 (+15.29 units) when he starts in home day games in the last 3+ seasons
Trend Match (PLAY): CINCINNATI (-122 vs STL)

(957) COLORADO (20-33) at (958) ARIZONA (27-24)
Trend: AZ is 10-5 (+3.67 units) as a home favorite with starter Ryne Nelson since the start of the 2024 season
Trend Match (PLAY): ARIZONA (-199 vs COL)

(959) WASHINGTON (26-27) at (960) ATLANTA (36-17)
Trend: Martin Perez’s teams are 4-9 (-11.15 units) when he starts as a day game favorite of -145 or higher in the last 6+ seasons
Trend Match (FADE): ATLANTA (-171 vs WSH)

(961) DETROIT (20-32) at (962) BALTIMORE (22-29)  (DH Game #1)
Trend: BAL is 3-11 (-8.95 units) vs LH starters this season
Trend Match (FADE): BALTIMORE GAME 1 (-131 vs DET)

(963) MINNESOTA (25-27) at (964) BOSTON (22-29)
Trend: Sonny Gray’s teams are 12-2 (+9.62 units) when he starts vs AL Central opponents in day games in the last 6+ seasons
Trend Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-157 vs MIN)

(965) TAMPA BAY (34-15) at (966) NEW YORK-AL (30-22)
Trend: TB is 12-2 (+11.01 units) vs LH starters this season
Trend Match (PLAY): TAMPA BAY (+113 at NYY)

(967) SEATTLE (25-28) at (968) KANSAS CITY (21-31)
Trend: Under the total is 13-3-1 (+9.70 units) when KC is a ML underdog this season
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): SEA-KC (o/u at 8.5)

(975) HOUSTON (22-31) at (976) CHICAGO-NL (29-23)
Trend: CHC is 8-18 (-11.72 units) on the run line in day games this season
Trend Match (FADE): CHICAGO CUBS (-1.5 vs HOU)
Trend: CHC is 33-13 (+14.83 units) against teams with a < 0.57% win pct with starter Shota Imanaga since the start of the 2024 season
Trend Match (PLAY): CHICAGO CUBS (-175 vs HOU)

(977) CHICAGO-AL (26-25) at (978) SAN FRANCISCO (21-31)
Trend: Under the total is 19-7 (+11.35 units) when SF is favored with starter Robbie Ray since the start of the 2024 season
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): CWS-SF (o/u at 8)

(979) ATHLETICS (26-26) at (980) SAN DIEGO (31-20)
Trend: SD is 14-5 (+9.71 units) in day games this season
Trend Match (PLAY): SAN DIEGO (-180 vs ATH)

Series #24: Detroit at Baltimore, Fri 5/22-Sun 5/24
Trend: Favorites are 21-9 (70%, +8.00 units) in the last 30 games in BAL-DET series
– The ROI on this trend is 26.7%
Trend Match (PLAY): BALTIMORE GAME 1 (-131 vs DET) and BALTIMORE GAME 2 (-126 vs DET)

Strategies Using MLB DraftKings Betting Splits Data

One of the most touted features on the VSiN.com website, and a feature that we believe to be a fantastic resource for bettors, is the betting splits pages. These are the pages that we have built utilizing the data that DraftKings so graciously provides to us, detailing the breakdowns of the money and ticket splits for point spreads, money lines, and totals. 

In an article published on the VSiN.com website prior to opening day, Steve Makinen outlined 10 different systematic strategies for successfully using the DK Betting Splits Data that were developed in the 2023/2024 season. Here are the systems and qualifying plays for today’s games as of 10:45 a.m. ET. These can and will change, so continue to track and qualify the systems up until first pitch for best usage.

As a general rule, acknowledging the approximate -8.5% 3-year returns on all side majorities, and -3.4% on total majorities, if adopting the use of the betting splits this season, opt to fade majorities unless shown otherwise in one of the systems below to be a profitable follow angle.

DK MLB Betting Splits system #3: Similarly to #2, Majority handle groups have been steady when not too many of them hop on an underdog side since the beginning of the 2024 season, and in fact, the benchmark was 51-66%. These groups have gone 289-312 (48.1%) for a very minimal -1.8 units loss and an ROI of -0.3%. This represents an improvement of 8.2% on the overall numbers and gives bettors a chance to stay afloat when they go against the grain.
System Match (CONSIDER): MINNESOTA

DK MLB Betting Splits system #6: Majority handle bettors have been at their worst overall in interleague games since the start of 2023, going 1074-957 (52.9%) but for -215.64 units and an ROI of -10.6%. This is over two full percentage points worse for return on a huge sample of games and an indication that bettors have trouble gauging the strengths/motivations of the teams when playing unfamiliar opponents.
System Matches (FADE ALL): TORONTO, CLEVELAND, CHICAGO CUBS, SAN FRANCISCO, SAN DIEGO

DK MLB Betting Splits system #7: There has been a unique system that has developed since the start of last season when majority handle betting groups backed home favorites with fewer wins on the season. This is a terrible scenario for bettors, as they are just 360-329 (52.2%) for -118.41 units and an atrocious ROI of -17.2%. There’s a lot of common sense to this not doing well, since the lesser team is being favored just because it is at home or has a better starting pitcher working.
System Matches (FADE ALL): TORONTO, CINCINNATI, SAN FRANCISCO

DK MLB Betting Splits system #10: Over the last season-and-a-half, the average posted total in MLB games has been just about 8.5. In games with posted totals higher than that (9 or higher), majority bettors have done quite well when they’ve had the discipline to opt for Under the total. This group has gone 356-320 (52.6%) since the start of the 2023 season for +26.1 units and an ROI of +3.9%. This is again another rare positive spot for a high volume of games, and of course, is built on the foundation of going against the grain.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): COL-AZ

Team Specific Momentum Building/Letdown Angles

The following MLB betting trends and qualifying plays are from the article entitled MLB post-rivalry series betting opportunities.

NO QUALIFYING MOMENTUM ANGLES TODAY (next couple tomorrow, May 25)

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