MLB Player Props & Bets: Saturday (9/5)
This is an unusual Saturday for Major League Baseball. Why? Instead of games getting underway at noon or 1:00 p.m. ET, the first games of the day don't start until 4:10 p.m. ET. That just means you have extra time to check out my top MLB player props
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Saturday’s Best MLB Player Props
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Anthony Molina Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-102)
It is hard to know exactly what we'll get out of Anthony Molina, since he is a reliever making just his second start. That likely means he'll have a shorter leash and get pulled early at the first sign of trouble.
Molina went five innings in his first start (75 pitches), striking out six. But in his other appearance for the Giants, he recorded one strikeout in 4.1 innings. The Mets have been doing a decent job at the plate over the last week (.252 batting average) and not striking out a ton (45 punchouts in six games).
I don't think Molina will last long enough against these Mets to strike out four batters.
Parker Messick Over 18.5 Outs Recorded (+137)
When you consider that Parker Messick finished under this total in four out of six starts last month, the under seems like the better play. But there is no value in it. However, he lasted six innings in four games.
Against a Detroit team hitting .224 over the last week, Messick can certainly last at least six innings. If he's having a good day, there's a solid chance the team leaves him in for at least one more out; enough of one to make +137 a solid value play.
Max Scherzer Under 15.5 Outs Recorded (+103)
Max Scherzer had arguably his best outing of the season in his last start, lasting seven innings and giving up one hit and zero runs while striking out 10. But he has lasted over 5.1 innings in just two out of six outings over the last month.
With his recent track record (he's averaging 4.1 innings per start this season), I can't trust him to go pitch more than five innings today against a Royals team hitting .266 at home this season.
Seth Lugo Under 17.5 Outs Recorded (-101)
Seth Lugo has lasted at least six innings in all but two outings at home this season, but he struggled in his last outing (nine hits and nine runs in 3.2 innings) and pitched at least six innings in just two games last month.
When Lugo faced the Blue Jays on August 25th in Toronto, he was pulled after five innings. Toronto has been hitting well in recent games (.267 batting average over the last week). He is averaging 5.1 innings per game this season.
Despite his track record at home and because the Blue Jays are hitting well, I'm taking the under.