Memorial Day Action: The Ones to Watch

As any MLB fan will know, Memorial Day is one of the hottest sports days of the year, with a packed schedule that promises action and drama. Although Memorial Day, 31st May, is a sobering occasion that commands respect, it's also a day that's traditionally been big on the sports calendar. 

Together with Independence Day, Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, Memorial Day is one of the so-called “showcase” days of the MLB. With 14 games lined up starting at just 1pm on the east coast and finishing up with a 10pm game, fans can indulge themselves in over 12 hours of baseball.

However, where should you direct your attention with so much on offer? Here's a round-up of some of the meatiest stories which are attracting the hottest MLB betting.

Many are billing this as the preview of the playoffs, with the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees facing up to each other at 1.05 ET. 

Fans might also recall that it's a rematch of the postseason battle, where the Rays won the series to go on to the American League Championship Series. And that wasn't an unexpected result, as they've been getting the better of the Yankees during most of their recent games. 

The question is, will the Yankees be able to step up in this four-game set? The jury is still out, but as tempers tend to rise when these two meet, it's certainly one to watch.

Another two teams which are eying the playoffs make this match likely to be high-quality and hotly contested. However, there's more at stake here when they start at 4.10 ET: it’s the first time that Alex Cora, the Red Sox manager, has been back at Houston since the sign-stealing scandal erupted. 

Cora was previously a bench coach at Houston and later implicated in the illegal sign-stealing scheme, which commissioner Rob Manfred investigated. Sacked by the Red Sox and suspended for one season, he was rehired in November 2020 on a two-year contract.

Memorial Day will be the first time Cora has returned to the Astros since he admitted being part of the sign-stealing. It's unlikely that the crowd will boo him purely due to past misdemeanours, but seeing what reception he gets will be interesting.

With tough competition coming from all angles in the American League East, it’s going to be hard for the runner-up from Central to qualify. That means it's an all-out war to win the decision, ramping up the importance of head-to-heads. 

White Sox and Cleveland have to make up for their game rained off in April, so they are lining up for an intriguing double-header. The two teams at the top of the Central division have it all to play for. Will Carlos Rodón manage to throw another no-hitter as he did the first time he faced Clevedon this season? The White Sox have come out on top in both their previous matches thus far. So it's up to Cleveland now to try and even the score.