Two young pitchers I will be looking to back tonight are Elmer Rodriguez and JR Ritchie. Meanwhile, Nick Kurtz will look to end the night with yet another walk in Sacramento.
Let's dive into my MLB player prop picks for the MLB games on Wednesday, April 29.
MLB Player Props Today
- Elmer Rodriguez Over 3,5 Strikeouts (-136, FanDuel)
- JR Ritchie Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-125, BetMGM)
- Nick Kurtz Over 0.5 Walks (-155, DraftKings)
Yankees vs Rangers Player Props
Runs have been hard to come by for the Rangers of late as they have scored two runs or fewer in four of their last five games. That includes just four runs in the first two games of this series, all of which were off the Yankees' bullpen. They will look to break out of their slump against a rookie making his MLB debut. However, it may not be any easier for them today.
In four starts at Triple-A Scranton, Rodriguez has a 1.27 ERA, 0.891 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 21 and 1/3. Though he is under a strikeout per inning at Triple-A, he has 391 strikeouts in 354 and 2/3 innings in his minor league career. He also has the arsenal to pile them up.
Rated the Yankees' No.3 prospect and No. 72 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Rodriguez has a fastball that sits at 96 mph and can reach 99 mph. His slider, which he throws in the mid 80s, is his top secondary pitch, but he also has an upper-80s splitter and upper 70s curveball. All four of his pitches received at least a 55 grade on the 20-80 scale with his fastball receiving a 60 grade.
He will face a Rangers' lineup that is unfamiliar with him and ranks 10th in strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers. Corey Seager, Jake Burger, Joc Pederson, Evan Carter, and Danny Jensen each have a strikeout rate of 23.6% or higher. A couple of turns through the Rangers' lineup should help him get four strikeouts and perhaps also climb the ladder with six strikeouts being +390 on FanDuel.
Pick: Elmer Rodriguez Over 3.5 Strikeouts (-136, FanDuel)
Tigers vs Braves Player Props
While Rodriguez will be making his first start, Ritchie will be making his second start. His first start did not start well as James Wood deposited the first pitch he threw 387 feet over the wall in right field. After that, he settled in and went seven innings while surrendering five hits, two earned runs, and striking out seven. He became the first Braves pitcher to allow two runs or fewer in seven-plus innings in 11 years.
The Braves will need another quality outing from him as they look to take the series from the Tigers. The Tigers are not striking out as much as this season, thanks largely to the addition of top prospect Kevin McGonigle. The Tigers rank 17th in strikeout rate against right-handers. However, the powerful trio of Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Spencer Torkelson have a strikeout rate 24% or higher.
Three of the last five starters the Tigers have faced have cleared their strikeout lines, with Rhett Lowder recording seven and Martin Perez recording five. If Ritchie works five innings in his second start, a strikeout per inning will get him over this line. He is +320 on FanDuel to match the seven strikeouts that he had in his first start. If paired with Rodriguez for six, the two of them are +1958 for a two-leg lotto.
Pick: JR Ritchie Over 4.5 Strikeouts
Royals vs Athletics Player Props
Last season, Kurtz was called up in mid-May and hit 36 home runs and posted a 1.002 OPS in 117 games. He does have three doubles and five home runs thus far this season, not quite the same pace from last season. However, he is still instilling a ton of fear into opposing starting pitchers.
Kurtz has drawn a walk in 22 of 28 games (79%) this season. He is second in the MLB with 31 walks drawn, trailing Mike Trout by one. He has drawn at least one walk in each of his last 17 games. That is the longest streak since Barry Bonds 19 years ago.
He will face Michael Wacha tonight, who issued has 10 walks in his first five starts. He has walked two batters in three of those starts with five apiece to left-handed and right-handed hitters. Kurtz has also drawn a walk against him six plate appearances.
While -155 is more juice than I would prefer to lay, Kurtz will be looking to cash this line for the 18th game in a row. With four to five plate appearances at the top of the Athletics' lineup, he will have plenty of opportunities to extend his streak tonight.
Pick: Nick Kurtz Over 0.5 Walks
MLB Player Props for Wednesday, April 29
- Elmer Rodriguez Over 3,5 Strikeouts (-136, FanDuel)
- JR Ritchie Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-125, BetMGM)
- Nick Kurtz Over 0.5 Walks (-155, DraftKings)
