A new week in the young 2026 Major League Baseball season begins with a full 15-game slate on Monday. It features a double-header on FS1, starting with a National League Central showdown between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati before San Diego hosts NL West rival San Francisco. Here are my best bets, and also make sure to check out our MLB picks for predictions throughout the 2026 campaign!
MLB best bet: Cincinnati Reds ML over Pittsburgh Pirates (-124)
Cincinnati took 2 of 3 from Boston after winning on both Saturday and Sunday. The Reds remain at home, too, where they went 45-36 last season compared to 38-43 on the road. No MLB club had a bigger home-road discrepancy than Pittsburgh last year. It compiled a 44-37 record at its own park and a dreadful 27-54 as the visitor. The Pirates are 1-2 on the road so far this season after losing 2 of 3 against the Mets.
The Reds are going with Chase Burns, who was their top prospect in 2025 and got a late taste of the big leagues with 13 appearances (8 starts). Burns should be poised for a breakthrough in 2026, armed with a 4-seam fastball that can top 100 mph in addition to a nasty slider. Look for him to get help from a Sal Stewart-led offense. Top hitting propsect Sal Stewart is 7-for-10 with a homer, 3 double, 3 walks and zero strikeouts. The Pirates are countering with Braxton Ashcraft, who has about the same level of MLB experience. Walks are a concern, as twice last year he issued 4 free passes in a single outing – once in just 1 inning and another time in 3.0 innings.
Read our full Pirates vs Reds prediction for tonight’s matchup on FS1
MLB best bet: Chicago Cubs -1.5 over Los Angeles Angels (+110)
The Cubs were an easy winner on the run line for me this past Saturday and I’m going right back to the well for tonight’s game against the Angels. Ryan Johnson is getting the start or L.A., largely because Grayson Rodriguez is on the injured list. This is the first start of Johnson’s career after he made 15 relief appearances last year, compiling a 7.36 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 14.2 innings of work. Although the right-hander may end up staying in the Angels’ rotation, this could turn out to be a bullpen game for the visitors. And that is bad news, because it a bullpen that has already been taxed.
This is Los Angeles’ fifth contest in the last 5 days and it is coming off 11-9 and 9-7 losses to Houston, during which it got a combined 8.2 innings from its starters. The Cubs should be in much better shape with Edward Cabrera on the mound, plus they are playing at home and boast a superior lineup.
Don’t miss our expert’s full Angels vs Cubs prediction
MLB best bet: New York Yankees ML over Seattle Mariners (-108)
The Yankees are coming off a sweep of the Giants and remain on the West Coast to face the Mariners. It should be full steam ahead for New York, which is sending Ryan Weathers to the mound on Monday. A relatively young arm in the Yankees’ rotation, Weathers projects as a potential all-star in the future – and that future could be sooner rather than later. He is backed by a bullpen that has not yet surrendered a single run in 2026.
Weathers is going up against a veteran in Luis Castillo, who was nothing more than mediocre last season and got roughed up a bit during spring training. Aaron Judge has already homered twice, while Giancarlo Stanton is an extremely impressive 6-for-12 so far. Look for Weathers to get more than enough run support in this matchup.
Find out our expert’s 5-star Yankees vs Mariners best bet
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