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 Monday, June 8, 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 #1: Teams starting a new series and riding at least a three-game winning streak are 482-383 for +43.74 units and an ROI of 5.1% since the start of the 2022 season
System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-149 at ATH)

Since the start of the 2023 regular season, teams on two-game winning streaks but having worse Steve Makinen Bullpen Ratings in a matchup have gone 727-792 for -70.06 units, an ROI of -4.6%.
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+144 vs PHI)

Home teams coming off unusually bad team pitching performances where they allowed 16 hits or more in a game are on a run of 342-305 (52.9%) for +21.72 units and an ROI of 3.4% since the start of the 2018 season.
System Match (PLAY): CLEVELAND (-131 vs NYY)

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 two-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 115-85 start for +3.06 units and an ROI of 1.5%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): SAN FRANCISCO (-149 vs WSH), CLEVELAND (-131 vs NYY)

STARTER/BULLPEN CORRELATION SYSTEMS

Teams with elite starting pitchers (SM rating higher than 25) and a NEGATIVE SM team bullpen rating in a game went 65-69 for -22.93 units when not matched up against similar in 2025. This represents an ROI of -17.1% and it stands as proof of my belief that the strength of a team’s bullpen HAS TO be accounted for in all games. This is a go against angle, which can often prove as or more valuable than systems that suggest backing teams. For 2026, these teams are 18-17 for –2.81 units.
System Match (SLIGHT FADE): SAN FRANCISCO (-149 vs WSH)

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, 74-90 for +7.09 units. This is lasting longer than I would expect.
System Match (FADE): WASHINGTON (+123 at SF)

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 79-96 start for -10.36 units.
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+144 vs PHI)

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 65-75 for -1.26 units.
System Match (FADE): CINCINNATI (+113 at SD)

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 #1: Teams starting a new series and riding at least a 3-game winning streak are 482-383 for +43.74 units and an ROI of 5.1% since the start of the 2022 season
System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-149 at ATH)

MLB Series Betting System #3: Small road favorites of -111 to -130 have been a solid wager in the opening game of a new series, going 233-177 for +17.19 units and an ROI of 4.2% since the start of the 2022 season
System Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-114 at TB)

MLB Series Betting System #7: Small home favorites of -111 to -180 have been terrible in the first game of any homestand, going 408-349 but for -85.41 units and an ROI of -11.3% since the start of the 2022 season
System Matches (FADE ALL): CLEVELAND (-131 vs NYY), SAN FRANCISCO (-149 vs WSH)

MLB Series Betting System #10: Teams playing in the first game of a new series on the road and coming off a win in which they scored six or more runs in a win boast a solid 433-380 record for +49.41 units and an ROI of 6.1% since the start of the 2022 season, so long as they are not priced at +175 or worse
System Matches (PLAY ALL): NY YANKEES (+108 at CLE), PHILADELPHIA (-175 at TOR)

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 upon noteworthy stats they accumulated in their previous game

“9” is a magic run number for fading a team in the next game
Since 2018, it 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 2090-1978 (51.4%), but oddsmaker overpricing has resulted in a loss of -266.80 units. This represents an ROI of -6.6%, which is significant in the grand scheme of baseball daily betting.
System Matches (FADE ALL): PHILADELPHIA (-175 at TOR), LA ANGELS (+109 vs HOU), MILWAUKEE (-149 at ATH)

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 2117-2689 (44%) for -267.35 units and an ROI of -5.6% since the start of the 2019 season.
System Matches (FADE ALL): BOSTON (-114 at TB), HOUSTON (-132 at LAA), WASHINGTON (+123 at SF)

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 640-528 (54.8%) record in the next contest when at home in that same time span. The profit there is +28.50 units, for an ROI of 2.4%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): TAMPA BAY (-105 vs BOS), SAN FRANCISCO (-149 vs WSH)

Unusually poor pitching performances provide motivation for hosts
Home teams coming off unusually bad team pitching performances where they allowed 16 hits or more in a game are on a run of 342-305 (52.9%) for +21.72 units and an ROI of 3.4% since the start of the 2018 season.
System Match (PLAY): CLEVELAND (-131 vs NYY)

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 #3:
In MLB games with high totals (>= 10.5), underdogs between the +116 to +180 line range have gone 221-254 SU but for +46.30 units (ROI: 9.7%) since the start of the 2020 season.
System Match (PLAY): ATHLETICS (+123 vs MIL)

MLB Streak Systems

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

NO QUALIFYING STREAK PLAYS TODAY

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 FAVORITES (15 points or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
Ratings Matches: SAN FRANCISCO -149 (+25), SAN DIEGO -136 (+17), PHILADELPHIA -175 (+15)

Today’s BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER (0.5 runs or more) according to the Makinen Strength Ratings projections:
Ratings Matches: SEA-BAL UNDER 9 (-0.5), MIL-ATH UNDER 11 (-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.

(901) CINCINNATI (31-33) at (902) SAN DIEGO (33-31)
Trend: Under the total is 21-12-2 (+7.80 units) in SD home games this season
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): CIN-SD (o/u at 8)

(903) WASHINGTON (33-33) at (904) SAN FRANCISCO (27-39)
Trend: WSH is the most profitable team in MLB on the road this season (21-13 record, +17.00 units)
Trend Match (PLAY): WASHINGTON (+130 at SF)
Trend: SF has a 6-1 record vs Washington with starter Logan Webb in his career
Trend Match (PLAY): SAN FRANCISCO (-149 vs WSH)

(909) BOSTON (27-36) at (910) TAMPA BAY (37-25)
Trend: TB is 12-4 (+8.28 units) vs LH starters this season
Trend Match (PLAY): TAMPA BAY (-105 vs BOS)

(911) HOUSTON (30-37) at (912) LOS ANGELES-AL (25-41)
Trend: Grayson Rodriguez’s teams are 20-4 (+14.77 units) in his last 24 starts against below .500 teams
Trend Match (PLAY): LA ANGELS (+109 vs HOU)

(913) PHILADELPHIA (35-30) at (914) TORONTO (32-34)
Trend: PHI is 35-8 (+20.11 units) in favorite line range of -148 or higher with starter Cristopher Sanchez since the start of the 2024 season
Trend Match (PLAY): PHILADELPHIA (-175 at TOR)
Trend: Under the total is 13-7-2 when starter Patrick Corbin faces Philadelphia in his career
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): PHI-TOR (o/u at 7.5)

(915) MILWAUKEE (40-23) at (916) ATHLETICS (31-34)
Trend: ATH is 26-12 (+10.26 units) on the run line as a ML underdog this season
Trend Match (PLAY): ATHLETICS (+1.5 vs MIL)

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Series #15: Boston at Tampa Bay, Mon 6/8-Wed 6/10
Trend: BOSTON is 8-4 (66.7%, +3.81 units) in the last 12 games at Tampa Bay
– The ROI on this trend is 31.8%
Trend Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-114 at TB)

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 developed in the 2023/2024 season. Here are the systems and qualifying plays for today’s games as of 10:30 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): CINCINNATI

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): PHILADELPHIA, MILWAUKEE

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

BALTIMORE   
Letdown after series vs. TORONTO: 13-21 (38.2%) -7.10 units, ROI: -20.9%    
Trend Match (FADE): BALTIMORE (+108 vs SEA)

NY YANKEES
Letdown after series vs. BOSTON: 20-18 (52.6%) -11.26 units, ROI: -29.6%     
Trend Match (FADE): NY YANKEES (+108 at CLE)

The post Steve Makinen’s MLB Picks from Betting Splits and Systems for Monday, June 8 appeared first on VSiN.