Best MLB player prop bets for today 4/18: Backing Stroman and the Cubs

Double-header season is officially here, giving today’s slate 17 games to choose from. The game I am most interested in from a betting perspective is the Cubs at Athletics game, and I was able to find an angle I like quite a bit. Let’s dive in, and make sure you also check out all of our MLB predictions for Tuesday.

DraftKings Sportsbook is currently giving new customers $150 in bonus bets if they bet $5 and their team wins when they sign up. That’s all there is to it! Grab this amazing sign-up offer by clicking this link.

Chicago Cubs ML / Marcus Stroman 5+ strikeouts (+100)

Best odds available at DraftKings sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -115 odds. 

A 9-6 record with series wins over the Dodgers, Mariners, and Rangers has Chicago Cub fans feeling good about their season outlook. The pitching staff has been incredible, including opening day starter Marcus Stroman. The 31-year-old right-hander has allowed only 2 earned runs in his 20 IP so far. His ERA and WHIP both currently sit at 1.00 while his batted ball metrics are impressive. Stroman ranks 92nd percentile in xSLG with an 87th percentile barrel rate through 3 starts. This will be his first road start, but it comes in a pitcher-friendly park. Stroman was also exceptional on the road last season. In 13 starts away from Wrigley last year, he posted a 2.06 ERA and held batters to a .217 batting average.

Stroman has flashed his strikeout upside already this season, recording 6 or more strikeouts in each of his 3 starts. He is generated chases on pitches outside the zone at a 57th percentile clip and batters are connecting 6.1% less than average on those swings. His whiff rate sits 72nd percentile currently. As always, Stroman is generating looking strikes at a high rate as well. Last season, 29.1% of his strikes were looking, the 9th highest mark among qualifying pitchers. The Athletics strike out on looking 3rd strikes at the 3rd highest rate in baseball. Home plate umpire Nick Mahrley is known as pitcher-friendly umpire with a high rate of called strikes that were true balls. Overall, as a team the Athletics have the 8th highest CSW% and Hayden Wesneski recorded 7 punch outs for the Cubs yesterday.

Offensively, Chicago profiles very well against left-handed pitching, ranking 1st in AVG, 4th in OPS, 4th in wOBA and have a wRC+ of 136. Seiya Suzuki’s return boosts a lineup already filled with hot bats in Dansby Swanson, Patrick Wisdom, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner. Chicago is expected to stack their lineup with 8 right-handed bats against Ken Waldichuk, who struggles mightily against right-handed batters. Behind the southpaw is arguably the worst bullpen in baseball, so while the Cubs team total was also appealing, I prefer to include Stroman as I like how he profiles against the Oakland bats.

Check out our Chicago Cubs vs Oakland Athletics predictions

If you’re looking to get more out of your bets, then Caesars is the sportsbook for you. It’s the only sportsbook with Caesars rewards AND has a great sign-up offer where you can get up to $1,250 back on your first bet! Click here to sign up.