Thursdays are typically slower days in Major League Baseball, but that won't be the case this week when the league rolls out a loaded, wall-to-wall 13-game slate. I'm heading to the prop sheet to get some skin in the game. Below, I've listed my top MLB player props for Thursday, July 9th. Let's dive in.
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Thursday’s Best MLB Player Props & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Mitch Keller Under 16.5 Outs Recorded (-117)
It has not been a successful season for Mitch Keller, who comes into Thursday's matinee showdown against the Braves with a 5.02 ERA (59th) and a 1.31 WHIP (48th).
The 30-year-old has recorded 17+ outs in three straight starts, but he did finish under the number in his prior four outings. That includes a 4.2-inning start against the Braves on June 5th, where Keller was lit up for six earned runs on seven hits and three walks.
Atlanta has Keller’s number, slashing .340/.404/.524 against him over 103 at-bats in the head-to-head department. That's an elevated .928 OPS. Add in that the Braves are sixth in wOBA (.375) and fourth in ISO (.229) over the last week, and this could be an early trip to the showers for Keller. Give me the under on his pitching outs total of 16.5.
Bo Bichette Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-156)
I'll be on Bo Bichette to clear this combo prop on Thursday afternoon. The Mets infielder is swinging it well at the moment, hitting .391 with four runs and four RBIs in his last five games. Bichette has eclipsed this line in four of those five outings.
Bichette also has a great head-to-head history against Michael Wacha - 7-for-16 (.438) with a home run, a double and zero strikeouts. New York's lineup, as a whole, is 22-for-62 (.355) with a .903 OPS against the Kansas City hurler.
Factor in that the Royals are dead last in bullpen ERA (5.24) and 29th in opposing batting average (.268), and we should see Bichette have several quality chances to produce at the dish.
Seiya Suzuki Under 0.5 Hits (+162)
Chicago's Seiya Suzuki is in the midst of a tremendous cold streak, having gone hitless in four straight games. His 0-for-15 (.000) stretch, which dates back to July 3rd, is one of the worst in the league right now.
Suzuki is also 0-for-3 (.000) lifetime against Baltimore's Trevor Rogers, so it could be tough sledding for him on Thursday. It's also worth noting that the Baltimore starting pitcher is in elite form, having conceded only one earned run and seven hits across his last three starts (18.1 innings).
I don't think Suzuki turns it around in this spot. Let's take a flier on him to go hitless in Thursday's Interleague finale.
Nathan Eovaldi Over 18.5 Outs Recorded (+120)
There aren't many starters throwing more than six innings per start nowadays. But that isn't the case with Nathan Eovaldi, who is a good old-fashioned workhorse on the mound. The right-hander has been dealing lately, surpassing 18.5 pitching outs (or 6.1 innings) in seven of his last 11 outings.
I can't pass up the plus-money payout that comes with Eovaldi to clear 18.5 pitching outs. He'll take on an Angels offense that has been horrific over the last seven days, ranking 29th in wOBA (.229), 28th in ISO (.074) and second in strikeout rate (29.4%).
Eovaldi has also limited the Halos' current roster to a slash line of .238/.325/.327 over 101 at-bats. He's primed for a big outing in Arlington on Thursday.
