We have a loaded Saturday slate, but don't worry, I've made it easy for you, as I've pinpointed my top two player props.
So, with first pitch looming, let's dive into how to bet two pitchers in tremendous matchups today.
Our Action Labs Props Tool grades each prop on a scale from 1-10, and I'll be sure to include the grade for each of my betting recommendations in my discussions below.
Hunter Greene Over/Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-107/-127)
| Rays @ Reds | |
| First Pitch | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Best Line: Reds +135 | DraftKings |
The fireballing phenom Hunter Greene has been an enigma thus far in his rookie season. He enters this start with a 6.01 ERA, but has a strikeout rate that's in the top 20% of the majors. His stuff is incredible. However, it has been the location of his pitches that's been his downfall.
Greene is a power pitcher, with his fastball averaging 98 mph. That means that the ball is coming in hard and going out even harder when contact is made, which is why he's allowed 17 homers in 16 starts.
He also gets his fastball by plenty of hitters, as he's racked up 98 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched.
He should add to that total this afternoon.
Tampa Bay is a solid team, but its biggest hole is in its swings. The Rays enter this matchup with the seventh-highest strikeout rate in the league. That number also goes up against righties, as they have the fourth-highest strikeout rate against right-handers.
This number is too low for Greene, as he's proven to rack up strikeouts in good or bad outings.
Pick: Over 5.5 -107
Action Labs Grade: 7/10
Clayton Kershaw Over/Under 6.5 Strikeouts (+114/-152)
| Cubs @ Dodgers | |
| First Pitch | 10:10 p.m. ET |
| Best Line: Dodgers -250 | DraftKings |
The greatest left-handed pitcher of our generation, Clayton Kershaw, gets to take the ball against the Chicago Cubs this evening.
Kershaw bounced back nicely in his last outing against San Diego and is in line to have another excellent start tonight.
Over the years, we've seen Kershaw reinvent himself, as his velocity has dropped both from injury and age. However, he's still as effective as he was at his peak. He enters this start with a 5-2 record and 2.57 ERA.
Most importantly for us, he's struck out 59 batters in 56 innings.
The free-swinging Cubs are in for a long night against Kershaw. They have the 10th-highest strikeout rate in the majors against lefties.
We've seen Kershaw go over this total in half his starts this season, so based on his averages and the quality of this matchup, he should go over again if we get seven innings from him.
Kershaw has actually already gone seven innings four times this season.
Pick: Over 6.5 +114
Action Labs Grade: 7/10
