Best MLB Player Props to Consider for April 20 (Archive)
There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball but 16 games Wednesday, weather permitting. That’s because of a White Sox-Guardians doubleheader. Here are five MLB player prop picks we like from BetOnline, one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 – 06:40 PM EDT at Comerica Park
DJ LeMahieu and Isiah Kiner-Falefa
- LeMahieu Over/Under 1.5 Hits
- Kiner-Falefa Over/Under 0.5 Hits
The Yankees were able to win Game 1 of this series despite yet another terrible outing from the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history: Gerrit Cole. Something is seriously wrong with the one-time Cy Young's favorite, but that’s a story for another day -- actually, we know what’s wrong: He can’t use sticky stuff any longer.
In a way, the sportsbooks are tricking you on Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (he can play all over the diamond) and shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa on Wednesday. They are overpricing them over hit totals because both have hit new Tigers lefty, Eduardo Rodriguez, well in their careers. In LeMahieu’s case, he’s the only player in this game at over/under 1.5 hits.
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LeMahieu is 8-for-23 (.348) off him with a double but also six strikeouts, and Kiner-Falefa is 6-for-13 with a double and homer. Rodriguez hasn’t been good in his first two Tigers starts, allowing 10 runs and nine hits in 7.2 innings but he’s a noted Yankee killer. Also, consider that the wind is going to be blowing in a bit today at Comerica Park.
MLB Prop Pick: LeMahieu Under 1.5 Hits (-235) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
MLB Prop Pick: Kiner-Falefa Under 0.5 Hits (+160) with BetOnline
Luis Severino
- Over/Under 5.5 Strikeouts
Meanwhile, New York starts Luis Severino on the mound. Remember 2017-18 when the right-hander was one of the best pitchers in the American League and looked like a future Cy Young Award winner? His career has been sidetracked big-time by injuries since but he’s 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 11 strikeouts in eight innings this season and those came against loaded lineups in the Blue Jays and Red Sox.
The 28-year-old will pitch on an extended five days' rest so his fastball should have a bit more behind it. Current Tigers who have faced Severino in the regular season are a combined 5-for-40 off him with 11 strikeouts. Detroit batters struck out a combined 11 times in Tuesday’s loss.
MLB Prop Pick: Severino Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-105) with BetOnline
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 – 07:10 PM EDT at Fenway Park
Bo Bichette and Connor Wong
- Bo Bichette Over/Under 0.5 Homers
- Connor Wong Over/Under 0.5 Hits
Young Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is one of the most promising hitters among middle infielders in the American League as evidenced by his .298 average, 29 homers, and 102 RBIs last season. However, he has gotten off to a slow start this year at .204 with just one homer and RBI and an awful OPS of .510. That homer/RBI came back on April 9. He’s really due.
I believe the Jays tee off tonight on Boston’s Nick Pivetta, who is 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA on the season in allowing eight runs over 7.2 innings. Dating to last season, he really struggles at Fenway Park and had a 5.93 overall ERA vs. Toronto in 2021. Bichette is an excellent 7-for-14 with two homers, two doubles, and five RBIs off him.
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Meanwhile, the Sox are down their top two catchers in Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki on the COVID-19 list so prospect Connor Wong made his 2022 debut and went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI in a 2-1 win over Toronto. He'll remain the primary catcher until Vazquez and/or Plawecki can return to the club. Wong is considered a good defensive guy but not a great hitter – he was hitting .250 at Triple-A this season before a call-up. His first hit of the year will have to wait.
MLB Prop Pick: Bichette Over 0.5 Home Runs (+550) with BetOnline
MLB Prop Pick: Wong Under 0.5 Hits (+100) 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.