Best MLB Prop Bets Today | MLB Player Props April 5

Tampa Bay Rays vs Washington Nationals

My Pick: Shane McClanahan over 5.5 strikeouts (-122 at FanDuel)

The pitching staff for the Tampa Bay Rays has been nothing short of phenomenal to start the 2022 Major League Baseball season. Of course, some of that has had to do with them facing the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals in their first five games. But some of that has been the sheer dominance of their staff as well.

On Wednesday, Shane McClanahan is a great bet to rack up six or more strikeouts against the Nationals. He started his season with six strikeouts in six shutout innings against the Tigers and could exceed that number against a Nationals team that has scored just 15 runs in their first five games of the 2023 season.

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees

My Pick: Yankees to score first run (-110 at BetMGM)

On Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Phillies got on the board first against the New York Yankees, and never looked back in a 4-1 win. That was the Phillies’ first win of the season, and the tone was set in the top of the first inning with a Kyle Schwarber home run. In this game, we like the Yankees to set the tone by getting on the board first in this series finale in the Bronx.

Gerrit Cole is set to take the mound for the Yankees in this game, who should give his team a chance to put up the game’s first run in the bottom of the first. Cole tossed six shutout innings at home against the San Francisco Giants on opening day, striking out 11 batters. Look for him to continue to miss opposing bats at a high rate again here, against a Phillies team that tied for 26th in runs scored despite their win on Tuesday.

On the flip side, Aaron Nola is on the hill for the Phillies on Wednesday night, after a shaky first start against the Texas Rangers. Nola gave up five earned runs in 3.2 innings of work to start his season, and the Yankees lineup is not exactly great for bouncing back from a poor start. New York may not come up with a run in the bottom of the first, but expect them to score first no matter when their first run crosses the plate.

Los Angeles Angels vs Seattle Mariners

My Pick: Shohei Ohtani to not record a win (EVEN at PointsBet)

This is not an anti-Shohei Ohtani bet, so much as it is a criticism of his Los Angeles Angels teammates. Ohtani has been brilliant on the mound, finishing fourth in Cy Young voting last season. He even kicked off this year with six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics. But he did not get a win in that season opener, as the Angels lost 2-1, and we expect something similar in this contest.

Since the start of the 2021 season, Ohtani has started 52 games for the Angels. He has picked up the win in 24 of them, coming in at a rate of 46%. Based on the math alone, it is a decent bet to take him to not be the winning pitcher in this game, especially given that the rest of the world will be betting in the opposite direction.

Making matters worse for Ohtani is that he is opposed by another strong starting arm in Chris Flexen of the Seattle Mariners. Flexen gave up one run in four innings against the Cleveland Guardians to start his season, and he has had an ERA under 4.00 in each of his years in Seattle so far. This game could easily be close late, with both pitchers taking a no-decision.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Boston Red Sox

My Pick: Justin Turner to hit a double (+270 at FanDuel)

If there is a game at Fenway Park, and you don’t bet on a double prop, did the game really happen? Here, we will take Justin Turner to hit a double against the Pittsburgh Pirates, using the Green Monster to his advantage to grab an extra-base hit. Turner has one double already this season at home, getting one against the Baltimore Orioles, and we like him to add to that total here.

Mitch Keller is on the mound for the Pirates in this contest, and that should mean good things for Boston batters. Keller gave up four runs in 4.2 innings of work against the lowly Cincinnati Reds in his first outing of the season. A high-scoring game should be expected here, which should include some balls hit off of the Monster by right-handed hitters, including Turner.

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