The MLB postseason is well underway, with just eight teams left standing heading into the Divisional Series Round.
Shohei Ohtani enters the playoffs fresh off a red-hot September, where he posted an MLB-best 32 RBI, and my MLB player props picks for October 5 explain why I like him to get one in his playoff debut.
MLB props for October 5
- Ohtani Over 0.5 RBI (+150 at bet365)
- Iglesias 2+ hits (+250 at bet365)
- Wheeler Over 6.5 Ks (-134 at FanDuel)
Today’s best MLB props
Prop bet #1: Shohei Ohtani Over 0.5 RBI
There’s not much left to be said about the performance Shohei Ohtani had in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers as he's almost certainly poised to take home his third career MVP award.
Fortunately for the Dodgers, Ohtani ended the regular season on an absolute tear, putting up an MLB-leading 10 home runs and 32 RBI in just 26 games through September while batting .393. It was Ohtani’s best month of the season by far in terms of run production, and I don’t see him slowing down in Game 1 of the NLDS.
Facing off against Padres starter Dylan Cease won’t be an easy task, but Ohtani is batting significantly better vs right handers. Ohtani put up a .322/.411/.717 slash line against righties, compared to .288/.349/.518 vs lefties.
Meanwhile, 91 of his 130 RBI came in 410 at-bats against RHP — nearly one RBI every four at-bats.
Prop bet #2: Jose Iglesias 2+ hits
Jose Iglesias wasn’t a huge factor in the New York Mets’ Wild Card series win against the Brewers, but the club’s offense was pretty quiet outside of an eight-run outburst in Game 1.
The Mets collectively batted just .202 in the three-game series, while Iglesias himself went 2-for-14. Not a great start to his postseason, but the larger sample size suggests he could be poised for a breakout.
The 34-year-old didn't qualify for MLB leaderboards as he played just 85 games this season, but his .337 batting average would’ve placed him above the leader, Bobby Witt (.332).
Like Ohtani, Iglesias finished the season with his best monthly performance in September — his 36 hits were tied for third-most in the majors behind only the aforementioned Ohtani (42) and Julio Rodriguez (39), while the Mets infielder batted .371 through 26 games.
Iglesias also racked up multiple hits in 10 of his last 16 games to round out the regular season.
Prop bet #3: Zack Wheeler Over 6.5 strikeouts
Zack Wheeler gets the ball for the Philadelphia Phillies’ first game of the postseason, and while the 34-year-old may be getting up there in age, he certainly isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
In fact, Wheeler’s 224 Ks marked the second-highest single-season total of his career and just the third time he’s hit the 200-strikeout plateau.
Wheeler’s 224 strikeouts ranked tied for third among all pitchers, while his chase percentage (33.8) put him in the 95th percentile, according to Baseball Savant.
That bodes well for the Phillies starter as he comes up against a Mets team ranked 16th in strikeouts per game (8.52) while striking out nine times in Game 3 against the Brewers.
Wheeler has recorded at least seven punchouts in five of his last six starts and struck out eight against the Mets just two outings ago on September 22.
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