We have the first game of the NLCS on Tuesday night as the San Diego Padres host the Philadelphia Phillies.
Player props have become among the most popular bets in the industry, but while the amount of states with legalized gambling is growing, some may feel left out.
Enter PrizePicks.
With PrizePicks, you get the opportunity to essentially parlay game prop over/unders with cash payouts depending on how many you get correct on that day’s slate.
Therefore, let’s take a look at some of the options on Tuesday’s Major League Baseball slate and see where we can find some value to turn a profit.
A quick refresher if you aren’t familiar with PrizePicks: you can combine up to five different O/U player props to payout up to 10x your wager.
You can do a Flex Play or a Power Play. A Flex Play gives you lesser odds, but you can win money even if you don’t nail every pick. Meanwhile, a Power Play is similar to a parlay — it’s all or nothing.
Here’s how I would approach today’s MLB slate.
What is PrizePicks? A daily fantasy operator — meaning they’re available in more states (30) than sports betting is! — PrizePicks offers a unique opportunity for action on player props in which you parlay two or more plays together.
Yu Darvish Over 5.5 Strikeouts
Taking the mound for San Diego is right-hander Yu Darvish, who should be an excellent candidate to back in the strikeout department. It was yet another tremendous season for Darvish as he went 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA and 0.95 WHIP through 30 starts.
This success continued into the playoffs as he is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Recording at least six strikeouts in 17 of his last 19 outings, we should expect him to keep it going against Philadelphia.
Through seven career starts against the Phillies, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He has gone over this total in six of those seven starts.
As a team, Philadelphia has struck out seven or more times in each game of this postseason. While that figure obviously includes the final frames against bullpens, Darvish typically goes deep into games as he has thrown at least seven innings in five of his last 10 starts.
Looking at tonight's projected starting lineup for Philadelphia, five of the nine hitters possess a K% north of 21%.
Juan Soto Hitter Fantasy Score Over 6.5
We are also backing a couple of San Diego hitters in this contest as they are slated to go against right-hander Zack Wheeler. An extremely boom-or-bust pitcher, Wheeler is capable of throwing six scoreless innings or allowing four runs in five frames.
That being said, this could be one of those times when he is not as sharp. On the road this season, his ERA drops to 3.84 as he has not performed nearly as well as he does at Citizens Bank Park.
The first Padres hitter we are backing is Juan Soto. Going over this total in four of his last six games, Soto should be able to keep it going against Wheeler.
Through 48 career plate appearances against the right-hander, Soto has posted a .289 BA, .474 SLG and .399 wOBA. When facing right-handed pitching this season, his splits are excellent as he boasts a .261 BA, .511 SLG and .942 OPS.
Manny Machado Hitter Fantasy Score Over 6.5
The other Padres hitter we are backing in this game is Manny Machado. It has been another strong year for the third baseman as he has posted a .296 BA, .530 SLG and .896 OPS in 149 games.
This strong hitting has continued into the playoffs. Through the Padres' seven playoff games, Machado has produced a .296 BA, .593 SLG and .980 OPS.
When facing right-handed pitching this year, Machado boasts one of the better splits in baseball with a .313 BA, .538 SLG and .915 OPS. San Diego is 2-0 at home during these playoffs as it has been playing in front of an electrifying crowd.
With Darvish on the mound, and an inconsistent Wheeler starting in a tough environment on the road, expect the Padres to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the NLCS.
