Today is Memorial Day, which means we get a full day of baseball. Three hitters I like in the evening slate are Travis Bazzana, Kyle Schwarber, and Christian Walker.
Let's dive into my MLB player props for Monday, May 25.
MLB Player Props Today
- Travis Bazzana Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + Runs Batted In (-140, DraftKings)
- Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 Total Bases (+125, FanDuel)
- Christian Walker Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + Runs Batted In (+100, FanDuel)
Nationals vs Guardians Props
In the 2024 MLB Entry Draft, the Guardians made Bazzana the No. 1 overall pick. Nearly two years later, he is already impacting the big league roster.
With 100 plate appearances under his belt, the 23-year-old is slashing .294/.400/.424 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He is the first the Cleveland player to have a .400 OBP and at least one home run in his first 24 games since 1929.
He hit his third home run in the eighth inning yesterday and it gave the Guardians some insurance in a 3-1 victory over the Phillies.
Today, he gets Zach Littell who will follow PJ Poulin as the Nationals' bulk reliever and has a 5.83 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.
If one player had a season of .300 batting average, 12 home runs, 24 stolen bases, and 1.050 OPS, they would be a leading candidate for AL or NL MVP. That line is how left-handed hitters have fared against Littell this season.
Bazzana is +550 for a home run today, but he also has a hit in eight of his last 10 games. However, I like the combo for him today because he appears to be the Guardians' new leadoff man, batting there the last two games.
If he sets the table early, one of Jose Ramirez (4-for-11 with two RBI against Littell) or Chase DeLauter will be able to drive him in as the Guardians should be able to generate some runs today.
Bazzana is also averaging 2.3 hits, runs, and runs batted in over his last 10 games and he just had five yesterday.
Pick: Travis Bazzana Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, and Runs Batted In
Phillies vs Padres Props
Schwarber will not be too upset that the series against the Guardians came to an end. They were one of the few teams to keep him in the yard this season, but that has not been the case all too often this season.
Schwarber leads the MLB with 20 home runs this season and is up three on Aaron Judge and Munetaka Murakami. With 360 home runs in his career at 33 years old, he is creeping closer to 500 for his career.
One of those home runs came against Randy Vasquez, who he will face tonight. Vasquez is 5-2 with a 2.96 ERA, which would be the best of his career thus far.
However, his StatCast page indicates negative regression is coming. He ranks in the 73rd percentile among qualified pitchers in walk rate, but in the 23rd percentage or worse in average exit velocity, xERA, barrel rate, and hard hit percentage.
That could make Schwarber a difficult matchup for him. Schwarber is second in the MLB in barrel rate (25.7%) and 21st in hard hit percentage (50.5%). Left-handers also have a .749 OPS against Vasquez compared to .630 for right-handers.
As usual, Schwarber's home runs odds are not great (+270), but that is expected when he has nine home runs in the last two and a half weeks. He also has nine doubles and a triple this season, including a double yesterday.
Nearly 70% of his hits this season have gone for extra bases. Another one tonight will give him two total bases.
Pick: Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 Total Bases
Astros vs Rangers Props
Dodger Stadium is probably Christian Walker's favorite ballpark considering he has 19 home runs and a .341 batting average in 42 games.However, Wrigley Field will be moving up his list after he hit three home runs over the last two games.
Walker is now up to 14 home runs on the year, which is tied eighth in the MLB. He will bring a hot bat back to Texas as the Astros take on the rival Rangers.
Walker had just one hit in the last series against the Rangers a little over a week ago, but it was a home run. He will face Kumar Rocker tonight, who is coming off consecutive scoreless outings.
The latter came in bulk relief as he went 7 and 2/3 innings against the Rockies. However, he still has a 4.79 xERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 44.1% hard hit percentage allowed.
Walker is averaging 2.2 hits, runs, and runs batted in per game. On the Astros' current road trip, he has cleared the number in three straight and four of six games.
I like that to continue today and if it does via homer, he is +470 for a home run and +2009 if paired with Schwarber.
Pick: Christian Walker Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, and Runs Batted In
MLB Player Props for Monday, May 25
- Travis Bazzana Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + Runs Batted In (-140, DraftKings)
- Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 Total Bases (+125, FanDuel)
- Christian Walker Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + Runs Batted In (+100, FanDuel)
