Today’s MLB Prop Picks: Rizzo Rocks the Royals

The first month of the 2021 baseball season wraps up on Saturday with a full slate of 15 games on the MLB betting board.

Our daily prop picks today focus on two of the hottest hitters in the majors in Anthony Rizzo and Taylor Ward, and we're also backing a hard-throwing young southpaw in a favorable matchup. 

Here are our three favorite MLB player prop picks for Saturday, April 30.

MLB props for April 30

• Ward Over 0.5 runs (-150)
• McClanahan Over 6.5 Ks (-144)
• Rizzo Over 1.5 total bases (+140)

Picks made on 4/30/2022 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
The odds widgets below represent the best odds currently available for each betting market at regulated sportsbooks.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Today’s best MLB prop bets

Warding shot

The Angels have surged to their sixth win in a row thanks in large part to the hottest hitter in the majors. No, it's not Mike Trout (who is certainly hot in his own right), reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani, or Anthony Rendon. We're talking about Taylor Ward.

The outfielder was just a single away from hitting for the cycle on Wednesday night and has gone an absurd 13-28 (.464 average) with 10 runs scored in his last eight games.

Today, Ward and the Halos take on the White Sox and starter Vince Velasquez. The right-hander was brutal last season, going 3-9 with a 6.30 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and an OBA of .294 across 94 1-3 innings. He's been awful this year as well, surrendering 13 hits and eight runs through eight innings over his last two starts. 

As long as the weather holds out, look for the Angels to generate runs against the White Sox today. That should mean at least one run for Ward, who has scored in six of his last seven games and has benefited from moving to the leadoff spot with those previously named sluggers behind him. 

Pick: Taylor Ward Over 0.5 runs (-150)

Sugar Shane with the punchouts

After an impressive rookie season, Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan has avoided the sophomore slump and is pitching to a sparkling 2.45 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP in four starts this year. 

McClanahan has a nasty four-seamer that averages 96.8 mph and he has an exceptional whiff rate on his slider and changeup. The southpaw has racked up at least seven strikeouts in all four of his starts this year and has a total of 31 punchouts in 24 innings with the fifth-best strike percentage (69.3%) in the majors. 

The Twins are 24th in the majors with a strikeout percentage of 24.7 and have been even worse against lefties, striking out in 26.8% of at-bats against southpaws like McClanahan. Take the Over 6.5 on his strikeouts total today. 

Pick: Shane McClanahan Over 6.5 strikeouts (-144 at FanDuel)

Rizzo rolls on

If Ward isn't the hottest hitter in baseball right now, that title might belong to Anthony Rizzo. After nearly 10 years and three All-Star appearances with the Cubs, Rizzo was traded to the Yankees last July.

The first baseman was a bit of a disappointment with the Pinstripes in 2021, managing just eight dingers and 21 RBI in 49 games but he has already matched that RBI total in just 20 games this year while surpassing that home run number.

Rizzo enjoyed the first three-homer game of his career against the Orioles on Tuesday and had a two-run jack versus the Royals last night. Rizzo is now second in the majors with 52 total bases on the year while ranking third with a .703 slugging percentage.

The Royals will send 25-year-old right-hander Carlos Hernandez to the mound today. The 25-year-old has a 6.43 ERA with a 1.79 WHIP in three starts this season and has surrendered at least three runs in each outing. 

Things won't get any better for KC after Hernandez, with the Royals bullpen ranking 29th in the majors in ERA (5.10) and WHIP (1.45). Expect another big game from Rizzo and back the Over 1.5 on his total bases at plus money.

Pick: Anthony Rizzo Over 1.5 total bases (+140)

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