MLB Plays & Predictions for Thursday, May 7: Working with Washington

Danny Burke

Written by: Danny Burke

Published: Thu May 07, 2026, 12:48 pm ET

Read Time: 5 minutes

Washington Nationals

mlb

Minnesota Twins logo
FINAL
Washington Nationals logo

Minnesota Twins

5

Washington Nationals

7
See Picks & Statistics For The Game

It's Thursday, which means we've got various game happening throughout the afternoon in Major League Baseball.

I've got three bets that I'll be sweating out today, so let's get to it with my MLB plays and predictions for Thursday, May 7.

Minnesota Twins vs Washington Nationals 

It's Simeon Woods Richardson day, which is always significant to point out for us bettors. He's currently 0-5 through seven starts with a 6.49 ERA and a 6.46 FIP. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is below 2%, he has a 1.76 WHIP and a 5.71 SIERA (Skill Interactive ERA).

The list of atrocities goes on and on, but suffice to say, Woods Richardson has been a poor pitcher.

There is a chance he could look halfway competent against this Nationals lineup, which ranks dead last in wRC+ (72) over the past couple of weeks against right-handed pitching. Then again, the other side of that coin is Washington finally finding its spark against one of the worst pitchers in Major League Baseball.

As for the home team, they'll be sending Jake Irvin to the bump, and despite his 1-4 record and 4.93 ERA, his underlying numbers are a bit more promising.

Irvin's FIP sits at 4.03, he's keeping home run damage relatively low at 9%, his BABIP is .283 and his SIERA is 3.90.

There's a lot more to be optimistic about with the Nationals' starting pitcher than the Twins' this evening.

Washington is coming off a 15-2 bludgeoning of Minnesota on Wednesday night, and perhaps it'll be able to carry that offensive momentum into tonight's contest against a terrible pitcher – at least that's what I'm banking on.

Play: Washington Nationals Moneyline (-120)

Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs

Cubs vs Guardians MLB Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (8/12)

The Chicago Cubs are the most electric team in baseball at the moment, and if you've been betting them lately, then you've been a happy person.

Well, I should rephrase that. If you've been betting their moneyline, then you've been happy. If you've been messing around with their run line, it's been a different story.

Nevertheless, the North Siders have been a joy to watch as of late, and there's plenty to be excited about at the Friendly Confines.

My angle for their game this afternoon doesn't revolve around a side or total, though, but rather a player prop.

Left-hander Shota Imanaga is scheduled to start for the Cubbies, and he's the player I'll be zoning in on.

This season, Imanaga is averaging six strikeouts per game, and he's set to face a Reds offense that's striking out at a 25% rate (23rd) against lefties over the past couple of weeks.

Naturally, that may lead bettors to believe Imanaga is in a quality position to go over his strikeout prop of 6.5, but I'm actually approaching this from the opposite side.

I'm targeting Imanaga under 6.5 strikeouts at -130.

Over his last three starts, Imanaga has recorded five, six and one strikeout, respectively. Additionally, the wind is blowing out to center field at more than 11 MPH, and the Reds possess plenty of power throughout their lineup.

I think this could be a tougher outing for Imanaga, and at the very least one that limits his length and chances of eclipsing 6.5 strikeouts.

Play: Shota Imanaga Under 6.5 Strikeouts (-130)
4.9/5 Review Rating
Bonus & Benefits
Up to $1,250 + 50 Free Slots Spins
See our review »
$1,250 Welcome Bonus
Bet Live on Your Favorite Sports
Earn More with Rebel Rewards!
Play Now & Claim Bonus »

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Arizona Diamondbacks

We've got a rubber-match down in the desert, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks are both itching to collect this series win on Thursday.

Right-hander Zac Gallen will get the nod for the home team. It's been an underwhelming season so far for the veteran righty, posting a 1-2 record with a 4.45 ERA .339 BABIP and 7% strikeout-to-walk rate through seven starts.

Still, there are some positive areas to acknowledge. His FIP shows 3.63, is HR/FB ratio is 5.4% and he's producing grounders at a rate of 49%.

The Pirates have been a solid squad as of late, ranking in the top-10 in both wRC+ and OPS against right-handed pitching the past couple of weeks. Be that as it may, I still view this as a quality position for Gallen to settle in and deliver a strong performance.

On the flip side, fellow right-hander and 30-year-old Mitch Keller will start for the visiting ball club. He's got a 3-1 record through seven outings, along with a 2.85 ERA, and 2.89 FIP. His ground ball rate is a tad lower at 39.8%, and his expected ERA (3.77), xFIP (3.97) and SIERA (4.28) hint at some regression.

Can it come agains an Arizona lineup that's hitting a 95 wRC+, .697 OPS and .172 ISO against righties the past couple of weeks? I sure hope so, because I'm backing the Diamondbacks on the moneyline this evening.

Play: Arizona Diamondbacks Moneyline (-110)

MLB Plays:

MLB Record: 46-39-1 (+2.36)

Still Didn't Get Your MLB Fix?

Follow me on X @dannyburke5 for all my picks, analysis and plenty more. Also be sure to follow Betting News on 'X' and Twitch to catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day and check out our Free Expert Picks for every major sports league.

Click for more MLB Picks

Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly

Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER

Check Out All of Our Betting Resources at Betting News

See our Matchup - Free Picks & Stats
Danny Burke
Danny Burke

Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.