We’ve made it to another Tuesday, and we’re once again treated to a day flush with Major League Baseball. As usual, every team is scheduled to play today, giving us a multitude of pitcher props of which to bet. Before we get to these, make sure you check out our full game previews and picks, if you’re looking to bet any game sides or totals.
Mid-May will always be one of my favorite times of the MLB regular season. The mercury in most cities’ thermometers is starting to rise, starting pitchers are fully ramped up, and we haven’t quite yet hit the vaunted “dog days of summer”. As pitchers continue to find their groove, I’m keying in on two who have been throwing well of late.
Cristian Javier (HOU) over 5.5 strikeouts (-120)
Line available at publishing.
Despite being without their ace, Justin Verlander, the Astros rotation has held up nicely so far this season. Part of the reason is Javier, who has acquitted himself well in his first full season as a starting pitcher in the big leagues. Through seven starts, Javier’s ERA is 3.08, and he’s registered 44 strikeouts in 38 innings. Excluding his first start, when the Astros were managing his pitch count, Javier has totaled at least six strikeouts in five of his outings.
To record strikeouts, the second-year pro relies heavily on his slider, especially to right-handed batters. The pitch has a 53% whiff rate, and of the 38 plate appearances that have ended with a slider, 22 have resulted in a strikeout. This is the main contributor to Javier’s K rate ranking in the 78th percentile in baseball, so far this season.
Tonight, Javier will face a familiar foe in Oakland. In two starts against the A’s this season, Javier has recorded 11 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings. Oakland is likely to trot out at least six, if not seven, right-handed batters to face the Astros pitcher tonight. By my count, there should be at least six plus matchups for Javier in the A’s lineup tonight (players with whiff rates of at least 30% versus right-handed pitchers).
It’s a very achievable line for the Astros hurler. I have Javier hitting this prop in five innings.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics.
Lance Lynn (CWS) over 6.5 strikeouts (+100)
Line available at publishing.
An offseason trade brought the big right-hander over from the Rangers, to help solidify the upstart White Sox’ starting rotation. The results thus far have been stellar, with Lynn pitching to a 1.30 ERA in his first six starts, including 44 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings. In his last outing, Lynn stifled the Twins over five shutout innings, registering nine K’s. Overall, his strikeout rate ranks in the 83rd percentile.
Lynn gets the Twins again tonight, this time in Minnesota. The Twins rate as league average in strikeouts (8.9 per game – 15th most in the league), but have shown succeptibility to right handed pitchers. In addition to Lynn’s success, similarly styled pitchers such as Jordan Lyles, Dylan Cease and Kyle Gibson all have reached at least seven strikeouts in the last two weeks versus the Twins.
Tonight, I like Lynn to keep his momentum rolling. I have the ten year veteran pegged at eight strikeouts.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins.
Pickswise is the home of free MLB Picks and Predictions. Check out the latest MLB Prop Bets and MLB Parlays as well as our MLB Best Bets from the experts.
