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 (5/8)
Season Record: 12-4
Max Fried Over 17.5 Outs Recorded (-180 at NoVig)
Max Fried is another pitcher who doesn't fit the typical profile of pitchers I would include in this column, but this play is about attacking a Milwaukee Brewers lineup that is expected to struggle against an innings eater who enters this contest sitting on a 1.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a .176 batting average against. Fried leads the Majors with 52.2 innings pitched and a 58.8% ground ball percentage. Fried hasn't been particularly effective against the current Brewers lineup in prior seasons, but we are riding with a pitcher in top form against a team that has mustered just a .224 batting average against southpaws on the campaign. The 18.5 (+160) has its appeal, but for those more risk-averse, the 17.5 alt line carries a significantly higher probability. Fire up Fried for Friday's MLB action at NoVig.
Dylan Cease Over 7.5 Strikeouts (-130 at Hard Rock Bet)
Dylan Cease doesn't fit the profile of pitchers who usually make this column. Yes, his beautiful 13.15 K/9 is highly attractive, but a 1.33 WHIP would usually eliminate him from any prop discourse on Friday's. However, when a pitcher who leads the AL with a 36 percent strikeout rate takes his 56 punch outs to face off against an Angels team that averages 9.1 strikeouts per game, we pay attention, especially when it's coupled with a .198 batting average against vs. the current Angels roster. Cease has racked up eight or more strikeouts in 75 percent of games this season. We would usually tap the alt line on what is a sportsbnok friendly line, but Cease managed 12 strikeouts against this same Los Angeles Angels team earlier this season. Clap the Over on Cease.
Nolan McLean Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-110 at BetMGM)
Nolan McLean projects as a solid value against the Diamondbacks. The young hurler comes into this one averaging a dominant 11.67 K/9 to go with an ace material season stat line of a 2.15 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Arizona averages a robust 7.8 strikeouts per game, but that number jumps to 8.4 per contest against power pitchers like the Mets’ rookie. Nolan has cleared this total in all but one of his starts this season. Mash the Over on McLean at BetMGM.
Raju Byfield is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyContext.