It's Labor Day weekend and the MLB betting board is packed with 15 games on Sunday, with a whopping 10 of those contests beginning before 2:30 p.m. ET.
There is plenty of juicy MLB props and side bets to consider for the early afternoon showdowns and we check out the best angles available so you can catch a few extra winks.
Today, we're backing a pair of pitchers near the top of the AL and NL Cy Young odds boards and also putting some money down on what looks like a massive mismatch in Kansas City.
Here are our favorite MLB free prop bets and predictions for Sunday, September 5.
Today’s MLB props and picks
Robbie Ray Over 7.5 strikeouts (+110)
The Blue Jays southpaw is playing the best baseball of his life as not only does his velocity continue to improve — but so does his control. It's weird to think that the long-time Diamondback is actually the MLB record-holder in career K/9 at 11.17, but while he has always been able to make batters miss he also struggled to find his spots.
That has changed this year, with Ray posting a 5.3 K/BB ratio, far higher than his previous career-high of 3.1. The southpaw has been on fire lately, pitching to a 1.78 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in his last 10 starts in claiming the AL Pitcher of the Month Award for August.
He's also hit double-digits in strikeouts in three straight games, fanning a whopping 35 batters in 22 innings over that span. With Ray facing off against an Oakland lineup that hits just .242 against lefties, take the Over on Ray's strikeouts total.
Corbin Burnes Home Runs Allowed Under 0.5 (+105)
If Ray has been the breakout pitcher of the year in the AL, Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes has been his counterpart in the NL. The 26-year-old has sizzled for Milwaukee, going 9-4 with a 2.27 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP in 139 innings.
In an era where power hitters rule, being able to prevent home runs is an invaluable trait for a pitcher to have — and Burnes seems to possess it. In his last 22 starts, Burnes has allowed just four homers and in his previous four outings he hasn't given up a single long ball.
This afternoon, Burnes faces off against a Cardinals side that ranks 22nd in the majors in both slugging percentage (.399) and home runs per game (1.14). Burnes already has three starts against the Cards and has shut them down, pitching to a 0.53 ERA with an opponent batting average of .138 in 17 innings.
And of course, he didn't allow a dinger.
7 Innings Line White Sox -0.5 (-130)
The Chicago White Sox wrap up a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals this afternoon and everything about this matchup is leaning heavily in the direction of the visitors. The White Sox are fifth in the majors with an OPS of .756 and have been red-hot at the plate lately, boosting that number up to .816 over the last 15 days.
The Royals rank just 26th in the majors with an OPS of .691, so don't expect them to give much help to today's starter Brady Singer, who is 3-9 with a 4.87 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and an OBA of .282 in 23 starts this season.
Chicago will send Dylan Cease to the mound and while he has been a tad inconsistent this season, his 3.82 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and .222 OBA are far better than Singer's numbers. Cease has also dominated Kansas City this season, allowing just 14 hits and three earned runs through 22 1-3 innings across four starts.
The White Sox have gone 12-4 in their last 16 games in K.C. and being able to back them to have the lead after seven innings at this price is too good to pass up.
MLB betting card for September 5
- Robbie Ray Over 7.5 strikeouts (+110)
- Corbin Burnes Home Runs Allowed Under 0.5 (+105)
- 7 Innings Line White Sox -0.5 (-130)
Picks made on 9/05/2021 at 10 a.m. ET
MLB parlays
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s MLB prop picks, you could win $66.17 on a $10 bet?
Use our MLB parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on MLB props?
You can bet on MLB props at every online and casino sportsbook, including MLB player props, derivatives, and a ton of other MLB prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on MLB props in your area.
