It’s a getaway day in the MLB today, with eight afternoon games on the big-league schedule. That just means we can bet on MLB props all day long featuring some of the game’s hottest pitchers.
Gerrit Cole faces off against Lance McCullers in the Bronx, while Danny Duffy looks to continue his surprisingly dominant start to the season, and is Madison Bumgarner back?
We break down and pick those games and more with our best free MLB prop bets and predictions for Thursday, May 6.
Today’s MLB props and picks
Houston-New York Under 4 Five-Inning Total (-120)
The New York Yankees are massive -200 favorites for Thursday’s series finale against the Houston Astros and the reasoning is simple – Gerrit Cole.
Cole has been absolutely outstanding to begin the year. The right-hander has allowed just six runs over his six starts and his 62 strikeouts are the second-most by a Yankees pitcher in any calendar month, trailing only Ron Guidry's 64 in June 1978.
Here are the stats in which he currently leads the majors: FIP (0.48), WHIP (0.72), walks per nine innings (0.7), strikeouts per nine innings (14.8), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (20.7). It’s incredible.
But not to be overlooked, Houston starter Lance McCullers has been pretty good in his own right. The right-hander owns a solid 3.39 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and is limiting opponents to a .152 batting average. He has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his five starts.
This has pitcher’s duel written all over it.
Royals -0.5 Five-Inning RL (-105)
There are questions out there about whether the Kansas City Royals and their hot start are for real. Well, let me tell you this, if they can get great starting pitching out of guys like Danny Duffy all season, the chances of them sustaining this start vastly improve.
Duffy has been one of the most impressive starters in baseball through the first month of the season. The lefty is pitching to an outstanding 0.60 ERA, with an 0.97 WHIP, and is limiting opponents to a .183 batting average.
Duffy now faces a Cleveland team that is one of the worst hitting lineups in baseball. They rank 29th in batting average, 23rd in OPS, and are hitting below the Mendoza line (.200) against left-handers this season.
With Cleveland countering with a struggling Triston McKenzie, the Royals are a good bet to have the lead through five innings.
Diamondbacks -0.5 Five-Inning RL (+160)
Is MadBum back? Arizona Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner has at least temporarily re-found his All-Star form. Maybe he got a new horse for his ranch? Whatever the reason, Bumgarner is dealing.
The D-backs lefty has given up just two runs on six hits while striking out 18 batters over 17 innings in his last three starts, which includes not allowing a hit over a seven-inning complete game.
Bumgarner next goes up against the Miami Marlins, who have had their way with D-backs pitching to this point in the series but haven’t faced anyone in a groove like MadBum. And in their last two games against southpaw starters (Patrick Corbin and Jon Lester) the Fish totaled just two runs on nine hits over 12 innings.
Miami counters with Pablo Lopez, who is having a strong season. He goes up against an Arizona offense that, despite struggling to get going this series, has been surprisingly solid all season. The D-backs rank second in the MLB in scoring, sixth in OPS, and 10th in average.
We are so on board with MadBum being good again. Sign us up for the value with the D-backs to have a lead through five please and thanks!
Yesterday's MLB record: 2-1, 0.67 units
Season MLB betting record: 49-52-2, -3.57 units
MLB betting card for May 6
- HOU-NYY Under 4 Five-Inning Total (-120)
- Royals -0.5 Five-Inning RL (-105)
- Diamondbacks -0.5 Five-Inning RL (+160)
Picks made on 5/5/2021 at 10:55 1.m. ET
MLB parlays
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