For my Friday MLB player props, I'll be looking into a couple of pitchers from the AL East in Cade Povich and Clarke Schmidt.
Meanwhile, Taylor Ward will look to stay hot as the Angels return home to take on the Marlins.
Let's dive into my MLB player prop picks for Friday, May 23.
MLB Player Props for May 23, 2025
- Cade Povich Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-120, DraftKings)
- Clarke Schmidt To Record A Win (-120, Fanatics)
- Taylor Ward Over 1.5 Total Bases (+135, Fanatics)
Orioles vs Red Sox Player Props: Povich to Give Sox Problems
This season, Cade Povich has 38 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings. He has struck out at least four batters in six of his first eight starts, but has only cleared this line in three.
One start came in his last outing when he struck out nine against the Nationals. More importantly, he struck out eight in his first start of the season against the Red Sox.
The Nationals do not strike out that often, but the Red Sox do.
Against left-handed pitchers, the Red Sox are 11th in strikeout rate this season and fifth over the last 15 days. He also had 11 strikeouts in two starts against the Red Sox last year, giving him 19 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings against them in his career.
Povich's first start this season against Boston came when Rafael Devers was in the middle of his torrid strikeout pace. He struck him out twice in that game and has fanned him three times in eight ABs. He has also gotten Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Trevor Story at least twice. All four of them are expected to start today.
Six of the last seven starters Boston has faced has had at least five strikeouts. On Wednesday, Tylor Megill had 10 as Boston struck out 16 times as a team. I like Povich to get at least five today and would consider him up to seven at +340 on DraftKings.
Yankees vs Rockies Player Props: Great Spot for Schmidt
By now, you are likely aware that the Rockies do not win very often this season.
At 8-42, they are off to the worst start in over 100 years and are even six games worse than the pace of last year's White Sox. The Rockies have lost five in a row and the Yankees are -320 on the moneyline to extend that streak.
The Yankees have won 11 of their last 15 games, winning each of their last five series. They are coming off a sweep of the Rangers, but their offense may have some frustration to get off after just scoring 10 runs in the series and seeing Jacob DeGrom and Nathan Eovaldi in the last two games.
However, the Yankees are third in the MLB in runs scored and lead the league in home runs and OPS. You would expect an Aaron Judge-led offense to do damage at Coors Field.
The beneficiary of said run support will be Clarke Schmidt. Since coming off the IL, Schmidt has pitched five innings in five of six starts, including six innings in his last three starts. He has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his last four starts.
If Schmidt works six innings, I expect the Yankees' bats to get him a lead by the time he departs. That would put Schmidt in a position for his second win of the year.
Marlins vs Angels Player Props: Back Ward Against Alcantara
Taylor Ward comes into tonight's game hitting just .225 on the year. However, he has been on fire, hitting .328 with five doubles, a triple, seven home runs, 22 RBI and a 1.185 OPS. He is now tied for sixth in the MLB with 14 home runs on the year.
Ward has recorded a hit in his last eight games, including three consecutive multi-hit games. He will look to continue both streaks against Sandy Alcantara, against whom he is 0-for-3 thus far.
However, this has not been a vintage Alcantara season, who enters this start with a 7.99 ERA. Right-handed hitters are hitting .289 against him with seven extra base hits.
Extra-base hits have been Ward's specialty lately as he has recorded at least one in 10 of his last 11 games. As a result, he has recorded two total bases in each of those games as well, including his last eight games.
That has also helped keep the Angels afloat as they have won seven games in a row without Mike Trout. They may pick up another win tonight if Ward continues hot hitting.
