Tonight’s MLB slate is medium-sized. Still, there are a few eye-catching Underdog pick ’em choices, with a mix of pitcher and hitter props standing out.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet >>
Tonight’s MLB slate is medium-sized. Still, there are a few eye-catching Underdog pick ’em choices, with a mix of pitcher and hitter props standing out.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet >>
Wednesday’s Best MLB Underdog Fantasy Player Predictions
Clarke Schmidt LOWER 8.0 Strikeouts
Clarke Schmidt isn’t an innings workhorse. Instead, he’s basically a five-and-dive hurler. In four starts this season, Schmidt has pitched 5.1, 4.1, 5.0 and 5.1 innings. Additionally, he’s struck out five, four, seven and seven batters.
Thus, Schmidt hasn’t struck out over eight batters in a game this season. In fact, he hasn’t struck out more than eight batters in 36 starts since last season, reaching precisely eight four times. Even in a tasty matchup against the strikeout-prone Athletics, Schmidt’s “lower” for 8.0 strikeouts is an appealing pick. FantasyPros projects him to strike out just 4.82 batters, comfortably under his line.
Reynaldo Lopez HIGHER 15.5 Pitching Outs
In three starts this year, Reynaldo Lopez has pitched 6.0, 6.0 and 6.0 zero innings, putting him over his line in each turn. According to FanGraphs, he also has a 0.50 ERA, 2.08 xERA, 3.64 SIERA, 0.94 WHIP, 8.8 BB% and 26.5 K%. Lopez has successfully transitioned back to starting, suffice to say.
The Braves have also cut him loose. According to ESPN, in his three starts this season, Lopez has thrown 82, 94 and 94 pitches. He should stay hot in a cushy matchup tonight. The Marlins are tied for 25th in wRC+ (85) against right-handed pitching this season. So, Lopez can clear the low bar of pitching 5.1 innings tonight.
Yordan Alvarez HIGHER 1.5 Total Bases (Scorcher 1.2x)
Yordan Alvarez’s “scorcher” line is mouthwatering against a pitcher who struggles against left-handed batters. Since last season, Jameson Taillon has allowed 336 left-handed batters a .260 batting average and .503 slugging.
Meanwhile, Alvarez is a monster with the platoon advantage against righties on the road. In 567 plate appearances against righties on the road since 2021, Alvarez has hit 28 doubles, one triple and 43 homers with a .305 batting average, .635 slugging and .330 ISO.
Garrett Crochet HIGHER 6.5 Strikeouts
Garrett Crochet’s 5.61 ERA in five starts spanning 25.2 innings this year doesn’t align with his ERA estimators. The lefty has a 2.19 xERA and 2.59 SIERA. Crochet also has electrifying stuff and elite plate discipline and strikeout numbers. He has 111 Stuff+, 101 Location+, 103 Pitching+, a 32.7 K% and 31.1 CSW%.
As a result, Crochet has struck out over 6.5 batters three times this season. He has an outstanding matchup for strikeouts tonight. This season, the Twins have a 25.0 K% against lefties.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday:
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
