MLB PrizePicks Player Predictions: Saturday (10/7)

The MLB playoffs are officially underway, and expectations are high for truly electric series' across the board. The Wild Card matchups all ended in sweeps, and the divisional games begin this afternoon at 1:00 PM EST. Our PrizePicks regular season went very well in 2023, and we are coming out of it with an official 65-45-5 overall record (56.5% win rate). In my opinion, playoffs can be a bit trickier when it comes to picking player props (less games, higher intensity) but we are going to attempt to keep the good times rolling regardless. Happy October, everyone.

Overall record: 65-45-5

View our PrizePicks Cheat Sheet for today’s top props >>

Overall record: 65-45-5

View our PrizePicks Cheat Sheet for today’s top props >>

Saturday’s Best MLB PrizePicks Player Predictions

Evan Carter Over 0.5 Total Bases

This pick is way too tempting to pass on, as rookie sensation Evan Carter has kicked off his postseason career in glorious fashion. Just 21 years of age, Carter looks like a seasoned veteran whenever he steps up to the dish, with some of the best plate discipline any single player in the league has to offer.

Facing the Rays in the Wild Card series, Carter finished 3-for-4 across two games, (seven total plate appearances) which included a home run, two doubles, and three walks. His biggest issue for obtaining at least one total base on Saturday may be his ability to take walks rather than getting out, as he is so efficient with that batter's eye in the box.

Luckily for Carter, on the flip side will be SP Kyle Bradish toeing the hill for Baltimore, a man that issued just 44 walks across nearly 170 innings pitched through the regular season. Bradish is no pushover, but he is certainly hittable, and Carter is already riding true momentum headed into Game 1 of the ALDS.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Over 0.5 Runs

The MLB postseason is when the stars show out, and there is quite obviously no bigger star in the sport than Ronald Acuna Jr. The Braves will go as Acuna goes, and Atlanta is going to be facing a red-hot Philadelphia team in the NLDS.

Saturday's Braves/Phillies matchup is tied with the Diamondbacks/Dodgers affair for the highest total of the day, and Acuna Jr. will be looking at a plus matchup versus southpaw Ranger Suarez. The 25-year-old superstar led the MLB in runs scored by a longshot with 149 in the regular season, and he should be picking up right where he left off. This over feels like a no brainer as the MLB's best team this year looks to make their way back to the World Series once again.

Merrill Kelly Under 16.5 Pitching Outs

Make no mistake, Merrill Kelly has been a revelation for Arizona across 2023, and one of the more surprisingly impressive pitchers in the MLB. He certainly has a chance to lead the Diamondbacks to an upset Game 1 win over the Dodgers, but it will require a near-perfect outing. Facing one of the MLB's top offenses in Los Angeles is quite a daunting task, especially for a guy with no postseason experience.

Kelly hasn't exactly thrived against the current cast of Dodgers bats, and the team has a .318 average against him in his career. He has also served up eight home runs, four of which have come between stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. He faced the Dodgers four times across the regular season and posted a 3.98 ERA while allowing 11 total runs. His last outing against them was his worst, as he gave up seven earned runs on 12 hits across five innings.

Kelly's outing on Saturday will come down to his ability to avoid giving up the long ball and issuing free passes. Both of these x-factors are coincidentally things that the Dodgers' lineup is exceptional at. The 34-year-old could end up with a serviceable effort for sure, but getting chased early on is very possible in an intense NLDS Game 1 environment.

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday: