MLB Player Props & Bets: Friday (4/17)
The MLB season is in full swing. Every Friday in this column, we will seek to attack pitcher matchups. We won't bore you with exclusively under only plays, but we won't shy away from them if they offer more value than usual. Total strikeouts, outs recorded, and as the season progresses, total hits and total bases; they're all in play. Let’s dig into our top MLB player props and picks for Friday’s slate of games.
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MLB Player Props & Bets: Friday (4/17)
Season Record: 7-2
Jose Ramirez Over 1.5 total bases (+144 at Kalish)
Jose Ramirez has been a man on fire for Cleveland, going yard three times in his last five games for a .458 average, with the three dingers, four RBI, and three stolen bases. Ramirez has been dominant in his head-to-heads against Chris Bassit over his career, cruising with a .348 batting average with a .941 OPS in 23 plate appearances. He owns a solid 17.4% K rate against the right-handed pitcher, with Bassit allowing a 30 percent hard hit rate to the veteran slugger. Bassit has been horrendous to start the season and will come to the mound sporting a 9.00 ERA and 2.36 WHIP. His .388 opponent batting average allowed on the season is atrocious, he is allowing an alarming 1.72 hits per inning, and his career-worst .475 OPS is something to target until he calms down. All in all, this is one of the top values on the board for Friday's slate.
Ketel Marte Over 1.5 total bases (-110 at theScore Bet)
Marte has had a slow start to the season with a .211 average, but his 88th percentile hard hit percentage, combined with facing Eric Lauer, a pitcher he has been excellent against with a .333 batting average over 13 plate appearances, makes him an underrated value. The value is evidenced by his strong 115.8 matchup rating against a struggling Lauer, who has relinquished 19 hits in 12.2 innings en route to an unsightly 7.82 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. Lauer has seen a five percent decrease in his fastball spin rate, something that Marte has the goods to take advantage of. The stolen base, total hits, and runs scored props were also considered here, but we will opt for the probability play.
Ronald Acuna Over 1.5 total bases (-106 at NoVig)
Acuna has had a slow start, hitting just .247 on the season, but has been mashing over his last six games with a .333 batting average and two stolen bases. Today, he will get to face off against Taijuan Walker, a pitcher who has had his struggles this season. Walker has allowed 21 hits in 14 innings this season, and is sporting a disastrous 7.36 ERA and 1.91 WHIP. Acuna has hit a modest .250 against Taijuan over 14 plate appearances but boasts a .357 OPS. Acuna has been unlucky according to advanced metrics, sporting a .295 expected batting average. Facing a struggling pitcher who is susceptible to stolen bases only adds to the appeal at NoVig.
Raju Byfield is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyContext.