Top 3 MLB Player Props & Bets: Saturday (6/28)
One of the most anticipated games on Saturday’s Major League Baseball slate is the nationally televised Cubs vs. Astros tilt, as slugger Kyle Tucker plays in his first series back in Houston after being traded from the Astros. But it is another slugger in that game we are choosing to back on a prop that would pay out at +350 odds.
Who else is involved in our best player prop wagers? Read on for our top MLB player props and bets for Saturday, June 28th.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Saturday's Best MLB Player Props & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Lawrence Butler Over 0.5 Runs (+115)
After last night’s 3-0 loss in the series opener, the Athletics have now lost 17 of their last 22 games at Yankee Stadium. They have not won a road series against the Yankees since April 2016. But even if they are big +207 underdogs again today, I expect their leadoff hitter will find success and cross the plate at least once.
Since the start of July 2024, Lawrence Butler entered this series tied for fifth among all outfielders in home runs (31), ninth in slugging rate (.514), 12th in wRC+ (138), ninth in stolen bases (26) and seventh in fWAR (5.3). He has a much better slash line against right-handed pitchers (.267/.336/.444) than he does against lefties (.194/.247/.403). That makes these odds appealing when facing Clarke Schmidt and Yankees relievers.
Jeff McNeil Over 0.5 RBI (+175)
Amid Juan Soto’s scalding hot month of June, Jeff McNeil’s contributions have gone largely unnoticed. McNeil entered yesterday’s series opener with 14 RBI in 17 games since June 7th. That was tied for the 10th-most in the National League over that span.
McNeil should bat with plenty of traffic on the bases when facing Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter, who has allowed three or more earned runs in three of his previous four starts. In addition, Falter’s strikeout rate is on pace to decline for the fifth straight season. That and the fact that he ranks in the 31st percentile in hard-hit rate all play into McNeil’s appealing RBI chances.
Isaac Paredes to Hit a Home Run (+350)
The Astros entered Friday's series opener having won 12 of their last 15 games, with pitching being a big part of their success (team 2.86 ERA over that span). However, given Cubs righty Colin Rea's susceptibility to giving up home runs, Houston should be in for a successful day offensively.
Rea is one of 26 starting pitchers who have allowed 13+ home runs this season. But he is also one of two on that list who have done so in fewer than 74 innings, and all have come since May 1st. After not allowing a home run over his first six appearances, he is on pace for a HR/9 rate of 1.6 or worse for the sixth consecutive season.
Isaac Paredes leads the Astros with 16 home runs, and his .828 OPS against right-handed pitchers is second on the team. Thirteen of his 16 home runs have come against righties. He is a good bet to hit a home run for just the second time in 12 games, considering Rea allowed four long balls in his previous start.
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.