JutPicks
We’ve got an 11-game MLB slate to sink our teeth into on Thursday, which gets started at 12:35 pm ET in Pittsburgh as Paul Skenes and the Pirates host the Cubs. Our first MLB player prop bet comes at 1:10 pm ET in Tampa Bay. Let’s get into today’s best MLB player prop bets, while you can also find out our MLB picks for all of the big matchups on Thursday, May 1.
Best MLB player prop: Shane Baz (TBR) Under 4.5 Hits Allowed (+120)
Odds available at Fanatics Sportsbook at time of publishing.
A once top prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays years ago, Shane Baz is finally showcasing his arsenal. His xBA and xERA rank in the 95th and 89th percentiles while striking batters out at a 31% clip. He’ll challenge the Kansas City Royals for the 1st time in his career, who admittedly have been heating up against RHP over the last 2 weeks. However, at plus-money odds, this MLB player prop bet has plenty of appeal and is one I want to take a shot on.
Read our full Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction
San Francisco Giants -0.5 First 5 Innings (-140)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
After attacking one of the early games on the slate, let’s jump to the last game, where the Giants play host to the Rockies away from Coors Field. 42-year-old Justin Verlander will take the mound for the Giants after a solid outing against the Reds in Great American Ball Park — one of the most hitter-friendly parks in all of baseball. The Rockies are coming off a bizarre 2-1 win against the Braves in Colorado on Wednesday, so I expect the fast turnaround to benefit the Giants in this one.
Don’t miss our MLB best bets for today — we have 3 picks across the action and we’re 14-7 so far this season!
