Though it is a relatively light schedule in MLB, there are several juicy player props to erase those Monday blues. There are three I especially like, and two of them come with plus odds.
I like a hot-hitting team to obliterate a pitcher’s hits total, an ace to go Over his strikeout total, and an All-Star to get shutout at the plate.
MLB props for August 22
Picks made on 8/22/2022 at 6:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2022 MLB season, here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users can get a no-sweat first bet (up to $1,000) at FanDuel! Sign Up Now
B) New users can get two risk-free bets up to $2,000 at PointsBet! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only
Today’s best MLB prop bets
The odds widgets below represent the best odds currently available for each betting market at regulated sportsbooks.
Contreras to popular opinion
In his last 10 starts, Pittsburgh Pirates starter Roansy Contreras has allowed four or more hits in nine of them, including his last appearance when he gave up six hits to the Boston Red Sox. When he last faced the Atlanta Braves — tonight's opponent — on June 10, he allowed eight hits.
And while Contreras typically racked up strikeouts in the minors, he's not missing as many bats at the major league level with his 8.52 K/9.
The Braves are seventh in the majors in hits, second in home runs, and feature a Top-10 offense vs. right-handers. They have the fifth-highest OPS vs. righties at .751.
While Austin Riley and Matt Olson have done the most damage with the power swing, swatting 21 and 22 homers vs. right-handers, respectively, rookie Michael Harris II and shortstop Dansby Swanson each own batting averages of .289 or better in these matchups this season. In fact, Swanson's 105 hits vs. RHP is the eighth-most in MLB this year.
And while it's a small sample size, rookie infielder Vaughn Grissom is slashing .382/.432/.647 with two homers in 37 plate appearances vs. right-handed pitching since being promoted to the big-league club.
In their last 10 games, the fewest number of hits the Braves have gotten is six.
Expect that trend to continue and for this prop bet to cash easily.
Roansy Contreras Prop: Over 5.5 hits allowed (+110 at DraftKings)
Maximum overdrive in the Bronx
New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer is 25th in the majors in strikeouts with 134 and when the line opened for total Ks for the righty the Over was -128. When the line moved to -112, I pounced on it.
The Yankees are in a slump right now, going 3-7 over their last 10, and in those games, they have struck out more than seven times against the starting pitcher in five of them.
The Yankees are 13th in strikeouts in the majors but are second in strikeout rate for the month of August at 25.6%.
The last time Scherzer faced the Yankees, he got six strikeouts. In his last nine games, however, he has recorded eight or more strikeouts six times. It’ll be nine after Monday’s game.
Max Scherzer Prop: Over 7.5 strikeouts (-112 at FanDuel)
Yelich’s struggles against Urias continue
Christian Yelich just came out of the longest slump of his professional career a week ago. The Milwaukee Brewers star went 0-for-26 until he smacked a home run against the Dodgers last Tuesday.
Since then, Yelich has had a hit in four of his last five games. However, he is facing Julio Urias tonight and has struggled against the Dodgers’ lefty. Urias held the outfielder hitless when they met last Monday.
His career numbers against Urias are just as bad. In 15 at-bats, he only has two hits and a .133 batting average. His hitless performance against Urias will repeat on Monday.
Christian Yelich Prop: Under 0.5 total bases (+140 at DraftKings)
Did you know that if you played today’s MLB props as a parlay, you could win $85.40 on a $10 bet?
Use our MLB parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
