Believe it or not, we are just about two months into the 2024 MLB season. It's been what feels like a blazing start to the campaign, highlighted by some incredible accolades and performances across the board. In many parts of the country, the weather is starting to heat up, which should reward hitters as the dog days of summer are near. I'm looking forward to hopping back into some props, and the recent temperature surge has me standing pat with several hitter lines for Saturday's slate.
Current Overall Record: 24-15-1
Saturday’s Best MLB PrizePicks Player Predictions
Jarren Duran Over 8.0 Hitter Fantasy Score
If you told anyone a few years back that Jarren Duran would be the starting centerfielder and leadoff man for the Boston Red Sox in 2024, they'd probably call you crazy. Duran looked like he was going to be another draft pick bust for Boston as recently as two short seasons ago, yet here we are. Not only is he doing both aforementioned things, but he is also arguably the best overall player on the entire Boston roster.
Believe it or not, we are just about two months into the 2024 MLB season. It's been what feels like a blazing start to the campaign, highlighted by some incredible accolades and performances across the board. In many parts of the country, the weather is starting to heat up, which should reward hitters as the dog days of summer are near. I'm looking forward to hopping back into some props, and the recent temperature surge has me standing pat with several hitter lines for Saturday's slate.
Current Overall Record: 24-15-1
Saturday’s Best MLB PrizePicks Player Predictions
Jarren Duran Over 8.0 Hitter Fantasy Score
If you told anyone a few years back that Jarren Duran would be the starting centerfielder and leadoff man for the Boston Red Sox in 2024, they'd probably call you crazy. Duran looked like he was going to be another draft pick bust for Boston as recently as two short seasons ago, yet here we are. Not only is he doing both aforementioned things, but he is also arguably the best overall player on the entire Boston roster.
Duran is amidst a tear of a streak right now and is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak. Through the month of May, the 27-year-old is slashing .273/.341/.584 overall with a couple of homers, five triples (he leads the MLB), and 15 total extra-base hits. In his last four games respectively, he has notched at least one double or better, and his spot atop the Boston lineup is set in stone for the foreseeable future. Boston gets an ideal matchup with Colin Rea of the Brewers this afternoon in what should be an absolute scorcher down at Fenway Park.
Christian Yelich Over 7.5 Hitter Fantasy Score
Flipping the script on Saturday's matinee showing, I'm calling my own Duran bet and raising one Christian Yelich Hitter Fantasy Score prop, as exposure to this game seems necessary. The run line for Red Sox/Brewers currently sits at 9.5 for a reason, the same line that was approached on Friday night in a Milwaukee 7-2 victory.
Part of that victory was continued success from the Brewers' three-hole hitter Yelich, who finished the night 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a walk. Heading into Friday, the 32-year-old has elevated his slash line to an impressive .326/.412/.573 overall.
To add to this already strong momentum, there is no hitter on the Milwaukee roster that has had better success against Boston's Saturday starter Nick Pivetta than Yelich himself. Across 14 career at-bats, Yelich has notched five hits against Pivetta (for a .327 average) that include two home runs, a double, and two walks. I will reiterate once more: Boston looks like an ideal park for hitters this afternoon, given the hot and sunny forecast, and I would be shocked if this weren't a high-scoring affair.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Over 8.5 Hitter Fantasy Score
I'm pretty tempted to tack on another player from the game above, mainly Rafael Devers or William Contreras, but for the sake of the article, we will pivot elsewhere. I personally would not hesitate to stack additional players from this game on Saturday afternoon. That said, I'd like to keep the Hitter Fantasy Score streak going here and conclude with another "over" in Ronald Acuna Jr., surpassing his mild 8.5 line for later this afternoon.
By all accounts, Acuna has been in a bit of a slump by his standards across the entire month of May, but he looks to be coming back online following last night's performance against Pittsburgh. The reigning MVP finished 2-for-4, including a 400-foot three-run bomb off Bailey Falter in the eighth inning.
On Saturday, the 26-year-old superstar gets to square off against a comfortable foe in Mitch Keller. Acuna has an even .400 average against the veteran Pirate across 15 at-bats which includes three homers. If Friday night's 16 combined runs between Atlanta and Pittsburgh are any indication of how this interdivisional series is set to proceed, we could be in for another high-scoring affair in Pittsburgh later today.
