MLB Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Saturday (10/21)

We’ve got one game on the MLB slate tonight.

That’s the Arizona Diamondbacks hosting the Philadelphia Phillies for a critical Game 5 of the NLCS.

The Phillies won their first two games at home to begin the series up 2-0. However, the Diamondbacks have clawed back into the series with some late-game heroics on their home field.

The series is now 2-2. The Diamondbacks will get one more home game tonight before both teams fly back to Philadelphia for Game 6 and (potentially) Game 7.

I’ve got three Sleeper picks for tonight’s Game 5 matchup.

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Saturday's Best MLB Sleeper Picks Player Predictions

Zack Wheeler Over 5.5 Ks (1.58X)

We can’t ignore what Zack Wheeler is doing right now.

He’s thrown a quality start in three straight postseason games, with at least eight strikeouts in each game.

He’s been home for two of those games. But his road game against Atlanta was the game where he threw ten strikeouts while allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings. He’s just as dominant on the road.

Over the last 30 days, the veteran righty has stuck out 31.9% of batters. He got eight strikeouts in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Diamondbacks.

All we need is six. I’ll take Wheeler’s Over.

Kyle Schwarber Over .5 Hits (1.41X)

Zac Gallen will take the hill for the Diamondbacks tonight. He’s a right-hander who has struggled with lefties over the last month and throughout the season.

Schwarber hit a first-pitch home run against Gallen in Game 1 and has hit a .368 ISO and wOBA of .361 against his last 41 righties.

Gallen allowed five runs and three home runs, with eight hits in five innings against Philadelphia. While he might pitch better at home, a home run from a couple of lefties certainly wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for Gallen.

All we’re asking for is one hit. But with Schwarber, it’s typically a home run or bust. So, if you’d like to be a bit more risky and take Schwarber just to hit a home run, that wouldn’t be a terrible decision.

Bryce Harper Over .5 Hits (1.30X)

Don’t ignore the lefties against Gallen. Just like Schwarber, Harper hit a bomb off Gallen in the first inning in Game 1 as well.

Harper has hit a .423 ISO and woBA of .571 while striking out just 18.9% of the time against righties in the last 30 days.

Harper has smacked 30% of line drives and fly balls while hitting 70% of hard contact and a 25% barrel percentage against his last 37 righties.

He leads the team in barrel percentage and should get something good to hit against Gallen.

Against lefties, Gallen has allowed 27.3% of fly balls and 24.2% of line drives over the last 30 days. He’s also allowed a .186 ISO and wOBA of .342 while only striking out 22% of batters.

Take a chance on Harper to earn a hit along with Schwarber. The lefties for the Phillies should be in business tonight.