After a hot three weeks, yesterday we came back down to earth a bit. Paul Goldschmidt could only muster one single off Jose Quintana, the Padres could not crack Zac Gallen for the second consecutive start, and Boston gave Justin Turner the day off, resulting in a void.
However, we are still on a 13-4 run over the past three weeks.
Friday night offers the opportunity to end the week on a high note. Tonight, I have three picks focusing on the AL West. Kyle Tucker and the Astros welcome the Mariners in for a key series in AL wild-card positioning.
The Rays currently hold the first AL spot and they will be in Anaheim to battle Tyler Anderson and the Angels.
Meanwhile, the Orioles will be in Oakland to battle Zack Gelof and the Athletics.
MLB Player Props For Friday, August 18
Kyle Tucker has three multi-hit games in his last four games. Another one would clear this line with just hits. However, in the month of August, Tucker has 16 hits, 10 runs scored and 20 runs batted in for an average of 3.06 hits +runs+ runs batted in per game.
Tonight, Tucker will face rookie Bryce Miller, who will be making his second start against the Astros. That was just his second start in the big leagues when he came out ablaze, allowing one earned run in his first three starts.
Tucker went 0-for-1 with a walk against Miller in that game. However, Miller has allowed eight of his 13 home runs to left-handed hitters and a .783 OPS. Comparatively, right-handed hitters have a .566 OPS against him.
This season, Tucker has 13 home runs and 53 runs batted in against right-handed pitching. He also has hit 20 of his 24 home runs in night games. If he goes deep tonight, he will hit his August average with this combo.
However, the Astros offense has been hot of late, scoring 11 runs or more in three of their past six games. An RBI base hit from Tucker will cash this combo, too.
Pick: Kyle Tucker Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (-155, DraftKings)
Tyler Anderson's first season with the Angels has not been what they expected when he came over from the Dodgers. His ERA of 5.28 is nearly three runs above his 2.57 mark from last season. He has had to pitch around a lot of traffic with a 1.52 WHIP. His inconsistency to find the strike zone has been a contributing factor.
Anderson has issued 47 walks in 109 innings this season after issuing just 34 in 178 2/3 innings last season. Anderson has allowed two walks in 17 of his 21 appearances (20 starts) this season.
Two of the four times he has gone under this line have come against the Royals, who are last in the MLB in walk rate. However, Anderson has allowed two walks to the Rockies and White Sox, who are 26th and 29th, respectively, in walk rate.
Tampa is 21st in walk rate and right at the 8.4% league average. That may be why we are getting this line at a favorable price when he is hitting this line at an 80% clip. However, I am going to take advantage.
Anderson is averaging five innings per start and has pitched at least five innings in 14 starts this season. With five innings tonight, Anderson likely issues two walks. I feel good about those odds considering that he has walked three batters in each of his last two starts in just 9 2/3 innings.
Pick: Tyler Anderson Over 1.5 Walks (-125, DraftKings)
By all accounts, it has been a miserable season for the Oakland Athletics. However. they have continued their youth movement, calling up Zack Gelof, Tyler Soderstrom, and Lawrence Butler in the last month. Thus far, Gelof has been the standout of the bunch.
The 23-year-old is hitting .294 with eight home runs, 16 runs batted in and a .986 OPS. In August, he has been even better as he is 20-for-54 (.370) with 10 runs scored, seven doubles, five home runs, 10 runs batted in and a 1.202 OPS.
Tonight, he gets Kyle Gibson, who has a 4.89 ERA this season and 8.76 ERA in two starts in August.
Against right-handers, Gelof is hitting .299 with seven of his eight home runs and 14 runs batted in. He has hit this line in three of his past four games. He is averaging 4.25 hits + runs + runs batted in over that span.
In two of those games, Gelof had four hits. Another four-hit performance would be a tall task, but tonight we only need two or one with a run scored/run batted in.
Gelof is swinging a very hot bat right now. As a result, I'll take plus money for these odds.
Pick: Zack Gelof Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (+105, DraftKings)
