Best MLB player prop for today, 8/24: Oakland rookie rakes

Aug 16, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Nick Allen (2) and second baseman Zack Gelof (20) celebrate after the Athletics defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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Ahaan Rungta

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NBA & MLB writer for Pickswise, also specializing in NFL betting and fantasy football. Rungta also works in analytics & betting for PlayerProfiler. For Ahaan Rungta media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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The MLB slate features a short slate as usual on Thursday but the betting market has given us a red-hot hitter to target at a reasonable cost, so let’s take advantage. Here is my best player prop bet for Thursday, August 24.

This prop has the best odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook, and if you sign up right now, then you can bet $5 and secure $200 in bonus bets IMMEDIATELY! Head over to DraftKings now by clicking this link.

Zack Gelof (Athletics) Over 1.5 total bases (-115)

Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Recommended 0.5u wager.

There is a lot to like about Oakland’s second baseman Zack Gelof right now, and tonight we get a dream matchup. Since his call-up to the big leagues, Gelof has posted a team-leading 199 wRC+, team-leading .391 ISO, and 39.4% HardHit% against right-handed pitchers while drawing a low 7.8% walk rate.

Today, he faces a right-hander with extreme reverse splits. This season, White Sox starting pitcher Jesse Scholtens has posted a 5.20 xFIP and allowed a .496 SLG and 35.5% HardHit% with a low 7.3% walk rate to right-handed batters. To that side of the plate, he primarily works with a two-pitch combo of four-seam fastballs and sliders. That is no problem for Gelof, who has a .848 xSLG against right-handed four-seamers and a .507 xSLG against right-handed sliders.

The #3 Athletics prospect is in another fantastic spot to mash against the starter but even if he doesn’t get the job done early, he will see a White Sox bullpen that ranks #29 in MLB in xFIP against right-handed hitters and will likely be without high-leverage relievers Bryan Shaw and Gregory Santos in this contest.

As a top-of-the-order bat on the road, Gelof should see at least four plate appearances with phenomenal hitting conditions in Chicago, making this my favorite player prop on the evening slate.

You can also read our MLB picks for all today’s games and our MLB mega parlay

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