MLB Props & PrizePicks Plays: Saturday’s 5 Selections, Including Bo Bichette & George Springer
Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images. Pictured: Bo Bichette (Blue Jays)
- During an 18-game slate, Tony Sartori was able to target a PrizePicks props parlay for MLB.
- He starts with backing three Royals in their matchup vs. the Guardians.
- Tony also will fade two Blue Jays hitters vs. former Toronto pitcher Robbie Ray.
Saturday's MLB slate features 15 games, which means there's plenty of player props to take advantage of across the board.
Player props have become among the most popular bets in the industry, but while the amount of states with legalized gambling is growing, some may feel left out.
Enter PrizePicks.
With PrizePicks, you get the opportunity to essentially parlay game prop over/unders with cash payouts depending on how many you get correct on that day’s slate.
Therefore, let’s take a look at some of the options on Tuesday’s Major League Baseball slate and see where we can find some value to turn a profit.
A quick refresher if you aren’t familiar with PrizePicks: you can combine up to five different O/U player props to payout up to 10x your wager.
You can do a Flex Play or a Power Play. A Flex Play gives you lesser odds, but you can win money even if you don’t nail every pick. Meanwhile, a Power Play is similar to a parlay — it’s all or nothing.
Here’s how I would approach today’s MLB slate.
What is PrizePicks? A daily fantasy operator — meaning they’re available in more states (30) than sports betting is! — PrizePicks offers a unique opportunity for action on player props in which you parlay two or more plays together.
MLB PrizePicks Plays for Saturday, July 9
Jonathan Heasley Pitcher Fantasy Score Over 21.5
Guardians vs. Royals 4:10 p.m. ET
We have the second matchup of this three-game AL Central intradivisional series, as the Kansas City Royals host the Cleveland Guardians.
Kansas City won last night's contest in dramatic fashion, as Michael A. Taylor hit a walk-off single. I expect another good performance from this Royals group today, as right-hander Jonathan Heasley is slated to take the mound.
Through 10 starts this season, Heasley is 1-4 with a 4.77 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. While those numbers are not that great, I believe Heasley will build off of his last start to pick up the slack.
In his last outing, Heasley allowed just one earned run on three hits through six innings pitched against the Astros — a team much more difficult to pitch against than Cleveland — on the road. Despite not collecting the win because of his bullpen, Heasley racked up 28 fantasy points and went over this total.
We could see a similar performance today against the Guardians. In his one start against the Guardians this season, Heasley allowed three earned runs on six hits through six innings pitched.
Once again, despite not getting the win in that contest, Heasley collected 22 fantasy points and went over this total.
Whit Merrifield Over 0.5 Runs + RBI
Guardians vs. Royals 4:10 p.m. ET
I'm also backing a few Royals hitters in this matchup, as they're slated to go against right-hander Triston McKenzie. Through 15 pitching appearances this season, McKenzie is 5-6 with a 3.71 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.
While those numbers are pretty good, his metrics suggest that regression is around the corner. This season, McKenzie possesses a .350 xwOBA, .253 xBA and .521 xSLG.
If he is to regress, then one of the best options to find success against McKenzie is Whit Merrifield. Merrifield has been on a roll recently, as he has gone over this total in nine of his last 11 games (82%).
Through 21 career plate appearances against McKenzie, Merrifield boasts a .306 xBA, .558 xSLG and .377 xwOBA.
Andrew Benintendi Hitter Fantasy Score Over 6.5
Guardians vs. Royals 4:10 p.m. ET
The other Royals batter I'm backing in this contest is Andrew Benintendi. Benintendi has been a stud for the Royals all season, as he boasts a .318 BA, .403 SLG and .790 OPS.
He's been in particularly great form recently, as Benintendi rides a six-game hit streak and has gone over this fantasy total in seven of his last 11 outings (64%).
Benintendi has homered in the past against McKenzie, and we really just need one extra base hit from him in this contest to give us a great shot at getting over this number.
Bo Bichette Hitter Fantasy Score Under 5
Blue Jays vs. Mariners 10:10 p.m. ET
We have the third matchup of this four-game series, as the AL West's Seattle Mariners host the AL East's Toronto Blue Jays.
I'm fading a few Toronto hitters in this game, as they're slated to go against left-hander Robbie Ray.
Through 17 starts this season, Ray is 7-6 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Ray's metrics are just as strong, as he boasts a .308 xwOBA, .227 xBA and .411 xSLG.
Going against his former team, Ray will be looking to continue his recent streak of dominant performances. Over his last 33 2/3 innings pitched, Ray has allowed just three earned runs on 15 hits while striking out 40.
The first Toronto batter we are fading is Bo Bichette. Over his last six games, Bichette has registered five or fewer fantasy points in four of them (67%).
Additionally, Bichette's numbers take a dip when facing left-handed pitchers this season, as he possesses a .222 BA, .300 OBP, .407 SLG and .707 OPS.
George Springer Under 0.5 Runs + RBIs
Blue Jays vs. Mariners 10:10 p.m. ET
The other Toronto batter we're fading in this game is George Springer. Over his last eight games, Springer has failed to get over this total in six of them (75%).
Like Bichette, Springer's numbers take about a 20% dip when facing left-handed pitchers, as he possesses a .214 BA, .328 OBP, .375 SLG and .703 OPS.
With how great Ray has been on the mound recently, I'm comfortable fading this Toronto lineup in tonight's game.
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