Best MLB Prop Bets Today | MLB Player Props May 18

Los Angeles Angels vs Baltimore Orioles

My Pick – Tyler Wells Prop To Record Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+110)

The Baltimore Orioles (28-15) are set to start Tyler Wells on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels (22-22). Of the starting pitchers set to play on Thursday, Wells is the player with the best ERA (2.68 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched). He is also the pitcher with the best ERA for the Orioles through the middle of May.

Wells will be taking on the Angels, who are ranked seventh in the AL in strikeouts encountered at 356. Through eight games played, Wells has allowed only 25 hits, 14 runs, eight home runs and nine walks.

This game will be a solid opportunity for fans to place their bets and their potential confidence in the solid pitching of Wells. The Angels have a reliable set of batters that can a batter’s life difficult, but they usually need solid pitching to ensure they are not behind. Wells being the best pitcher playing on Thursday will be too much of a task for the Angels.

Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Mets

My Pick – Taj Bradley Prop To Allow Under 2.5 Earned Runs (-170)

The first two games for the Tampa Bay Rays (32-12) and the New York Mets (21-23) have been brutal on both sides. The Rays won the first game 8-5, while the Mets came back the following day to win the next game 8-7 in extra innings.

The biggest concern for the Rays during this series with the Mets has been the lack of efficiency of the bullpen, outside of the starters. Jalen Beeks and Josh Fleming combined to allow four hits and two walks while delivering six strikeouts.

On Thursday, the Rays will start rookie pitcher Taj Bradley, who has not played and started for the Rays since the 8-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on April 24th. Bradley has had an up-and-down start to his MLB career (3.52 ERA in 15.1 innings pitched). This Thursday will be Bradley’s best chance for a rookie season rebound.

Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox

My Pick – Dylan Cease Prop To Record Under 6.5 Strikeouts (-155)

One of the most solid player prop bets going into Thursday’s slate is set for the brutal series between the  Cleveland Guardians (19-23) going on the road to take on the Chicago White Sox (16-28). White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease has been one of the most disappointing veterans in the entire MLB.

In nine games played and started for the White Sox, Cease (4.86 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched) has allowed 45 hits, 30 runs and 22 walks while delivering 54 strikeouts. Cease has averaged six strikeouts in his nine games played.

While the Guardians are certainly not a reliable batting team (14th in the AL batting average at .229 & 13th in on-base percentage at .302), they are not used to strikeouts. The Guardians have encountered 307 strikeouts through 41 games, which is the lowest of all teams in the AL. It is more likely that Cease will struggle again than lead the White Sox to a solid defensive performance.

New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays

My Pick – Aaron Judge Prop To Record Over 0.5 Hits (-240)

Since coming back from IL, star outfielder and reigning MLB MVP Aaron Judge has become one of the league’s most reliable playmakers as well as for the New York Yankees (25-20). In the eight games since returning from an injury, Judge has accounted for nine runs, nine hits, five home runs, 12 RBIs, seven walks, 11 strikeouts, a batting average of .300, and an on-base percentage of .421.

Judge has played well in the previous three games against the Toronto Blue Jays (25-18). He has been able to account for four hits in the three previous games, with game #4 set for Thursday night.

He will be tasked to help create a spark for the Yankees’ batting team against the Blue Jays, who will be starting Jose Berrios (4.70 ERA in 46 innings pitched). Not much is stopping Judge as he looks to continue making the Blue Jays look foolish on-and-off the field.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals

My Pick – Freddie Freeman Prop To Record Over 1.5 Hits (+135)

The most one-sided series of the week in the MLB is set as the Los Angeles Dodgers (28-16) go on the road for a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals (18-26). This series has the potential to be ugly, starting with the tremendous batting of Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.

Through the first 14 games for the Dodgers, Freeman has accounted for 14 runs, 20 hits with eight of them coming from double-base hits, three home runs, 13 RBIs, six walks, 13 strikeouts, a batting average of .351 and an on-base percentage of .406. From May 10th to the 16th, Freeman accounted for two hits in five of the six games.

Going into Thursday’s game, Freeman has a chance to continue his solid rhythm against the bad pitching of the Cardinals. The Cardinals have allowed 396 hits, which is last in the NL, through 43 games. St. Louis is set to start Adam Wainwright (7.20 ERA in 10 innings pitched), who has allowed 15 hits in his limited time. Freeman could have another three-hit game for the Dodgers on Thursday.