MLB Player Props for Monday, May 20
The 2024 MLB season is in full swing and we continue to come at it from a bunch of different directions. This season, VSiN Managing Editor Adam Burke will have you covered when it comes to MLB sides and totals in his daily best bets column. You’ll also get some First Five Inning analysis from Jonathan Von Tobel. On top of that, our analytics guru Steve Makinen will feed you some interesting trends and systems on a daily basis. But I’ll be focusing specifically on MLB player props this season, dishing out at least three per day every Monday to Friday. With that in mind, let’s get into the plays for Monday, May 20th.
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Milwaukee Brewers at Miami Marlins – 6:40 pm ET
Joe Ross has only pitched 6.0 or more innings in two of his eight starts this season. But I really like the righty’s chances of working relatively deep in this game. The reality is that Ross is pitching rather well lately, as he enters this game after having allowed two or fewer earned runs in two of his last three starts. He also gave up only three earned in the other one. Now, Ross gets to face a Marlins team that is absolutely miserable against right-handed pitching. This season, only four teams in baseball have a lower wRC+ against righties. The Marlins are also just 23rd in MLB in runs scored against right-handed pitching. With that in mind, I like a red-hot Ross to find success against this lineup. And I would have went bigger on this if not for Miami having one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the league.
Pick: Ross Over 17.5 Outs Recorded (-105)
Minnesota Twins at Washington Nationals – 6:45 pm ET
Mitchell Parker has hit the five-strikeout mark in two of his six starts this year, and he now has a good opportunity to do it again. Parker will be facing a Twins team that can occasionally struggle against left-handed pitching, and the 24-year-old will be doing it at home. Parker is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two home starts this season, so he is clearly a little more comfortable in this stadium. And those two outings were against the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles, so it’s not like he did it against poor competition. With that in mind, I like the idea of going to Parker to turn in another impressive performance, and I think he’ll make an impression in the strikeouts column.
Pick: Parker Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+135)
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals – 7:40 pm ET
Reese Olson is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now. While the right is 0-4 on the season, he has a 2.09 ERA over eight starts. Olson has also had at least five strikeouts in four of his last six starts, so it’s a little surprising that you can get the Over on 4.5 at plus-money odds. And while I know that Kansas City isn’t a high-strikeout team, Olson did fan eight batters when he faced the Royals on April 26th. Perhaps he’ll struggle to reach that mark again, but five seems extremely doable. Olson has tremendous stuff and his confidence is high at the moment. We’re talking about a pitcher that has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six consecutive outings. These odds seem way off to me.
Pick: Olson Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+120 – 1.5 units)
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