Best MLB Player Props to Consider for April 18 (Archive)
Mondays are always a bit slower around baseball because all teams play during the weekend. There are 11 games scheduled tonight and here are four MLB player prop picks we like from BetOnline, one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros
Monday, April 18, 2022 – 08:10 PM EDT at Minute Maid Park
Jared Walsh
- Over/Under 0.5 Runs Scored
- Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases
I don’t think the Angels are going to score all that many runs tonight because it’s expected that three-time American League MVP Mike Trout is going to miss the game. He was hit on the hand by a pitch Sunday and had to leave – the dude just can’t stay healthy. X-rays were negative so Trout shouldn’t be out too long but hard to imagine he plays this game at a minimum.
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Thus, manager Joe Maddon could put the guy who has been the Angels’ most consistent hitter higher in the lineup, which should mean a better chance of scoring runs. That’s the first baseman, Jared Walsh. He has been the club’s best hitter, not Trout or reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani as Walsh is batting .355 with two homers, six RBIs, and five runs scored (Trout had scored eight).
Houston is starting a fine pitcher tonight in Luis Garcia, but Walsh is 7-for-11 with two doubles and two homers career off him so that’s why we like the total bases prop too. Walsh also will be fresh because he got Sunday off against a lefty pitcher.
MLB Prop Pick: Walsh Over 0.5 Runs (+120) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
MLB Prop Pick: Walsh Over 1.5 Total Bases (+120) with BetOnline
Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics
Monday, April 18, 2022 – 09:40 PM EDT at Oakland Coliseum
Spenser Watkins
- Over/Under 2.5 Earned Runs
This is an ugly-looking series with two teams not trying to win this season. The Orioles at least have a great farm system and might be good in a few years, but the A’s sold off nearly every good player this offseason via trades to pare the payroll down as ownership is threatening to move to Las Vegas without getting a new stadium built.
An argument can be made that the worst pitcher in the major leagues is Orioles right-hander Spenser Watkins. The 29-year-old journeyman has made 17 appearances in The Show and has a 7.80 ERA and 1.72 WHIP, allowing a whopping 78 hits and 21 walks in 57.2 innings.
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He was knocked around for four runs in his season debut vs. Milwaukee, and that was in Baltimore. The only reason Watkins is still pitching is that John Means (elbow) and Dean Kremer (oblique) are on the injured list.
This will be Oakland’s first look at Watkins. The A’s offense has been better than expected in a 5-5 start and it’s their home opener. The team’s 10-game road trip was the longest season-opening road trip in Athletics history. They’ll score at least three on Watkins. Take this into consideration next time you review our MLB odds.
MLB Prop Pick: Watkins Over 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (+100) with BetOnline
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Monday, April 18, 2022 – 10:10 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
Clayton Kershaw
- Over/Under 7.5 Strikeouts
The rematch of the 2021 National League Championship Series won by the Braves in six – perhaps the Dodgers win that series and repeat as World Series champions if three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw didn’t miss the postseason due to injury.
One of the biggest stories around MLB last week was Kershaw pitching seven perfect innings at the Minnesota Twins with 13 strikeouts on just 80 pitches but being pulled by manager Dave Roberts. Reliever Alex Vesia then immediately allowed a hit. Kershaw has a no-hitter in his career back in 2014 but never a perfect game as there have only been 23 of those.
The lefty said he was fine with Roberts’ decision to pull him coming – although that he might have handled it differently at a younger age -- off an injury-shortened 2021 season and not being all that built up arm strength-wise after an abbreviated spring training. Others around MLB were outraged.
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Against the Twins, Kershaw’s fastball was “only” an average of 91.8 mph but he induced swings and misses on 63 percent of his sliders that were swung at. It was the 68th career double-digit strikeout contest of his career.
Kershaw has faced the Braves 12 times in his career and is 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 81.2 innings. Braves batters have struck out 96 times this season, among the most in the majors. That said, I do think 7.5 is a bit too many. One DFS simulation site that I use has him with 6.8 strikeouts tonight. There’s always the possibility he has to leave early as well.
MLB Prop Pick: Kershaw Under 7.5 Strikeouts (-160) with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.