Throughout this season, I’ll be evaluating my favorite MLB player props of a slate based on what the Action Labs Player Prop tool likes — the tool grades each bet on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the best possible grade.
Below, I have laid out two prop-bets I’m playing for Saturday, the case for each bet and the best books to find odds on those player props.
MLB Player Props & Picks
Shane Baz Over 5.5 (+106)
| Rays vs. Yankees | Yankees -136 |
| Time | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | FanDuel |
Tampa Bay somehow has another MLB top prospect in their arsenal, and called up pitcher Shane Baz for his MLB debut on September 20. So far the 22-year-old former first-round pick has been excellent. In two starts, Baz is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and has allowed just five hits and two runs in 10 2/3 innings.
Like most of the Rays pitchers, Baz throws a 97 miles per hour fastball and comes back with a nasty slider and curveball. He has racked up 14 strikeouts in his first two outings and should be able to go over this number against a Yankees team that tends to be strikeout prone.
New York is without their best contact guy in DJ LeMahieu and instead started Rougned Odor, who has the second highest K% on the Yankees at 27.7%. That is a huge drop-off for New York, in addition to guys like Gary Sanchez and Joey Gallo who swing and miss a lot too.
Max Kranick Over 4.5 (+122)
| Pirates vs. Reds | Reds -160 |
| Time | 6:35 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | FanDuel |
Pennsylvania native Max Kranick made his MLB debut on June 27 and looked great in his debut. He struggled a little bit in his early starts after that though. However he has really come on strong lately and looks much more comfortable.
Kranick is 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA on the season and has a 4.91 ERA this month. He has made just one start at home all season but will get to make his final start of the year at PNC Park.
So far his fastball has really gotten hit around, but his off-speed pitches have been effective, with teams hitting just .143 against his curveball this year.
In eight starts this year, Kranick has gone over 4.5 strikeouts just three of them, but has had over five punchouts in each of his last two starts. The Reds have already shut down Jesse Winker, Tyer Naquin, Mike Moustakas and Kyle Farmer for the year, while the Buccos young continue to play hard.
I’ll back Kranick to go over this total on Saturday.
