This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
Previous day 0-4 -4.05
Overall 35-18 +10.34
Last Sunday was the worst day of the year for me as I went 0-4. After several 4-0 and 3-1, it was bound to happen, but it was a crash and burn. With a limited strikeout prop board today, I dug into some additional props to find value and hopefully get back on the winning track.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Indians 1:05 pm EDT
JT Brubaker has allowed three earned runs or less and struck out at least 5 batters in eight of out 12 starts and there is a strong chance Jose Ramirez will not play Sunday. Add in the fact that the Indians lose the designated hitter at Pittsburgh. The good thing about betting player prop is we do not have to worry about the win/loss result as the Pirates are just 25-44. There has been a huge line move on this game with the total going from nine runs down to eight.
BET – Brubaker over 4.5 strikeouts (-139) for 1 RW buck
BET – Brubaker under 2.5 earned runs (-128) for 1 RW buck
Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles 1:05 pm EDT
The game total has seen a big line move from 9.5 to 10.5 and rightfully so. I think both starting pitchers are in trouble here today. Matt Harvey has an ERA of 7.76 and his strikeout prop is just 3.5 with significant juice on the under (-149). Ryu faces a heavy right-handed lineup in a hitters' park and has struggled in his last three starts with a 6.11 ERA, 3.6 K/9, and 4.1 BB/9. The Orioles tagged left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray for runs Friday night and look for more of the same today.
BET – Blue Jays/Orioles over 5.5 runs 1st 5 innings (-115) for 1 RW buck
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins 2:35 pm EDT
Dunning has incredible home splits with a 1.97 ERA, 11.0 K/9, and 2.0 BB/9 in 32 innings this year. The Twins have been the most disappointing team in baseball and Maeda has a 5.01 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. His numbers have been worse on the road as well. He did throw better his last time out after spending three weeks on the injured list.
BET – Dunning over 4.5 strikeouts (+100) for 1.5 RW bucks
San Diego Padres vs. Cincinnati Reds 4:10 pm EDT
Dinelson Lamet vs. Luis Castillo
I am not sure why the number is 6.5, but there is significant juice on that number as well. Even with that said, I just can not see how Lamet gets to seven strikeouts when he has been averaging three to four innings per start against a solid Reds lineup. He has averaged five strikeouts in his last three starts and 4.1 innings.
BET – Lamet under 6.5 strikeouts (-167) for 1.5 RW bucks