Best MLB Player Props for 5/13
The MLB season is beginning to pick up some steam after one month of baseball. With the NBA season close to the finish line, the MLB will be at the forefront of the sports world. That does not stop us from finding the best bets in the MLB. We have 14 games on the slate today, giving us many options to bet on. This is the start of compiling a record for the remainder of the season for our wins and losses. Let’s start the bankroll on a high note today.
Shota Imanaga Under 5.5 Hits Allowed (-130)
Shota Imanaga is one of the most impressive rookie pitchers we have seen in quite some time. The Japanese phenom is leading the league in ERA with 1.08 ERA. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the Japanese pitcher garnering all the headlines, but Imanaga has been the gold standard. A line of 5.5 hits allowed seems a bit ridiculous when you look at his season. He has only allowed over five hits once this season, but his matchup today is not one to scoff at.
The Chicago Cubs take on the dominant Atlanta Braves. For the last couple of years, the Braves have been one of the best teams in baseball, especially that lineup. They have the reigning MVP in Ronald Acuna Jr. and the 2023 home run leader in Matt Olson. They are a dangerous squad, but I have faith in Imanaga. The Braves lineup has not been their usual selves over the last five games. They are 19th in batting average in that span with a .228 average. They are also 5-5 in their last 10 games.
The Braves can easily turn it on tonight, but I believe Imanaga will have a good game and keep those hits under the prop line.
Corbin Burnes Over 17.5 Outs (-185)
In the off-season, the Baltimore Orioles swung for the fences when they traded for former Cy Young winner, Corbin Burnes. The Orioles surprisingly won the AL East last season and even obtained the number one seed in the American League despite the young core. They have a World Series on their mind and went for it with Burnes. This season so far, Burnes has been good. However, it seems like there is another level he can get to. That next level might start today against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays were supposed to be the next great team. They had young talent, such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. However, they have not had any postseason success and are 18-22 in the difficult AL East. They are batting .231 for the season thus far, which is 21st in the league. The matchup against Burnes tonight is not a good one for this Blue Jays squad either. They are batting .217 on the road, which is 27th in the league. Furthermore, they are batting .224 against right-handed pitchers and that is 23rd in MLB.
The biggest issue for Burnes this season has been his barrel% (33rd percentile) and hard-hit% (46th percentile). However, the Blue Jays have the 8th worst barrel% and 5th worst hard-hit% this season. Expect Burnes to shove today and push to an easy six innings.
Kyle Tucker Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-145)
If you look at the current standings of the AL West, you will be shocked to see that the Oakland A’s are ahead of the Houston Astros. The A’s are clearly in a rebuild without a stadium to call home after this season. The Astros are trying to continue an almost decade-long level of success. However, the season is going in opposite directions for both of these ball clubs.
Despite the Astros’ poor start, their hitting has been spectacular. They have the best batting average in baseball, and Kyle Tucker leads MLB in home runs. I love his hits, runs, and RBI line today against an awful starting pitcher for the A’s. Ross Stripling is one of the worst pitchers in baseball this season. His 5.14 ERA is the ninth-worst in baseball, while his WHIP of 1.57 is the second-worst in baseball.
The Astros need to get going now if they have any hopes of making the playoffs let alone another ALCS. I think Kyle Tucker is the catalyst for a potential resurgence and that can be put on display tonight.
