Top 3 MLB Player Props for Sunday, July 31st (2022)
Major League Baseball gets underway early today with a 12:05 p.m. ET first pitch between the Tigers and Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Action concludes with a Sunday Night Baseball showdown between the Cubs and Giants out west. A few other notable games sandwiched in between are the Brewers taking on the Red Sox, the Yankees going for a four-game sweep over the Royals, and a rubber match between the Twins and Padres.
Here are my top three player props for today’s 15-game slate.
Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Garrett Hill O/U 3.5 Strikeouts
Let’s get some action locked in right away with the under on Garrett Hill’s strikeout total. Hill’s getting the start for the Tigers this afternoon as Detroit looks to salvage a series split with the Blue Jays. Toronto counters with Jose Berrios in this matchup scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET from Ontario.
Hill was called up in early July to make his Major League debut for Detroit. The right-hander has made four starts, going 1-2 with a 5.57 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 21.0 innings pitched. Over those 21.0 innings pitched, he’s fanned just 10 hitters and has only recorded four punchouts in one outing.
On the flip side, the Jays rank seventh in the MLB in K% at just 20.5%. Hill has posted an 8.10 ERA over 10.0 innings on the road this season, so look for the Jays’ potent offense to get after him early and often. That should lead to an early exit and minimal opportunities to record four strikeouts.
Bet: Garrett Hill Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-175 via DraftKings)
Dylan Cease O/U 7.5 Strikeouts
The White Sox and Athletics are set to play a rubber match this afternoon at 2:10 p.m. ET from Chicago. The Southsiders go with Dylan Cease while the A’s turn to Adam Oller.
Cease has been spectacular this season, going 10-4 with a 2.03 ERA (fourth) and 1.19 WHIP (35th) over 20 starts. The right-hander is tied for third in the Majors with 154 punchouts this year. He’s eclipsed 7.5 strikeouts in three out of his last four starts and seven out of his last nine outings.
Cease will be squaring off against a lowly Oakland offense this afternoon. Oakland ranks dead last in both team batting average (.215) and OPS (.621) and they have the sixth-highest K% (23.5%) in the league. Cease should mow down this young lineup in a must-win game for the White Sox.
Bet: Dylan Cease Over 7.5 Strikeouts (-160 via DraftKings)
Byron Buxton O/U 1.5 Total Bases
The Twins and Padres are set for a rubber match in Game 3 of their weekend series. Minnesota goes with Dylan Bundy while San Diego turns to Sean Manaea in this interleague clash slated for 4:10 p.m. ET from Petco Park.
Manaea has had an up-and-down season in his first year with San Diego. The southpaw is 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA (50th) and 1.28 WHIP (45th) over 18 starts in 2022. Most recently, he was tagged for nine runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk over 3.1 innings against the Tigers. The clunker increased his July ERA to 6.16, and he has a WHIP of 1.90 this month.
Byron Buxton comes into this series hitting just .222 (137th) on the year, but he has 26 home runs (fifth) and an OPS of .852 (21st). The star outfielder is 3-6 (.500) in this series with homers in each of the first two games. Furthermore, Buxton’s 2-6 (.333) lifetime against Manaea with a double. I like for him to clear his over on total bases this afternoon.
Bryon Buxton Over 1.5 Total Bases (-105 via DraftKings)
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