I woke up today ready to gamble and I’m delighted that I did because it might be the best board I’ve ever seen. That sounds hyperbolic but it’s pretty much true. It’s just a special day. As far as special days go, the way to make them even more special is by dropping a few MLB player props on the books. Especially when we have as much day MLB as we do today. Maybe grab an early one and then hit the late games. Or maybe what you could do is grab two early ones. Or even two late ones. Frankly, it’s all deadly. Here’s what I am doing today.
Don’t forget to check what our MLB analysts have backed with side and total picks for all the games today/tonight. As always, bets can be added to the card, so why not follow me on Twitter in case we get some last-second action? It makes sense.
Lucas Giolito over 9.5 strikeouts (+118)
Line available at FanDuel at time of publishing
You can go to DraftKings if you want 8.5 at -140 but that’s just not how I roll. I like the plus odds. It’s just a way of life for some people and I am one of them. Just win half of your plus-odds bets and you are in the money. It’s math.
Giolito has not been his dominant self this season but he has shown signs of breaking out lately. In his last three starts, he’s struck out at least nine in all of them. He threw 105 pitches last time out so Tony La Russa will let him work. Double-digit strikeouts are well within the realm of possibilities every time Giolito is on the mound at the moment.
Today he gets a Rays team that is prone to the sit-down. Especially in day games. On the season, only two teams have struck out more than the Rays and both teams have played at least two more games. Lance Lynn just had eight strikeouts the other night against them. I like Giolito to mow down this crew today like he’s a John Deere.
This is one of my favorite MLB player props for today.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox
Paolo Espino over 2.5 strikeouts (+184)
Line available at FanDuel at time of publishing
CREDIT – Jim Rassol (USA TODAY)
I don’t know if this is a joke or what but FanDuel has Espino at 2.5 +184 right now at 11:30am ET. DraftKings has him at 2.5 -140. That’s quite the discrepancy. I think I will go with FanDuel here.
Espino is taking Max Scherzer’s spot in the rotation and did well last time. He went 3.1 innings against the San Francisco Giants on June 11 striking out five. It’s tough to get a great feel on this guy since he was a reliever but 2.5 at this price feels way too low. Especially given that he may pitch to the other pitcher. It’s just tough to know how long he will last but three strikeouts don’t have to take long.
He gets the Pittsburgh Pirates, who don’t exactly strike out a lot but they do strike out. The Pirates have sat down 46 times in the last week which really isn’t a lot but again, there is a team that struck out only 30 times in the same span. Getting three guys via the strikeout today seems pretty likely especially at this ridiculous price.
This is one of my favorite MLB player props of the day.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Washington Nationals
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