We have an outstanding 14-game MLB slate on Wednesday night after all 30 teams were in action across the majors on the 4th of July. The games get underway with the three matchups at 6:40 p.m. ET (Athletics-Tigers, Phillies-Rays, and Cardinals-Marlins) and finish with the Pirates looking to win their second-straight game over the Dodgers at 10:10 p.m. ET. If fans want to wager on Elly De La Cruz, Corey Seager, Ozzie Albies, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., or other player props tonight, they should check out SuperDraft.
On SuperDraft, users can win 3X the amount wagered if their two-legged player prop parlay hits. Consequently, the more legs you add to your player prop parlay (maximum eight legs), the larger your potential payout becomes, but as the long odds indicate, completing a clean sweep will be challenging.
Below, we'll break down four of our favorite player props on SuperDraft for Wednesday night's MLB slate. Users don't necessarily have to parlay all four picks together, though. Instead, you could make separate two-legged parlays to increase your win probability or attempt to hit it big if all four picks come through.
Best MLB prop bets today: SuperDraft player prop picks for Wednesday 7/5
*10x potential payout if users parlay all four correct picks
1. Taijuan Walker, SP, Phillies @ Rays - OVER 4.5 strikeouts
The 30-year-old righty is coming off a strong June where he went 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA and had 34 strikeouts in 36 innings (six starts). Walker also held opponents to a .171 average and only gave up two home runs -- a noticeable improvement from May (six HRs allowed). The veteran starter will look to begin July on the right foot against the Rays, who struck out 12 times against Aaron Nola on Tuesday.
Walker is not a huge strikeout pitcher but changed that narrative last month. He's gone OVER 4.5 strikeouts in his past five starts, averaging 6.4 strikeouts per game. Two of those starts were on the road against the Cubs and Athletics, where Walker had 14 combined Ks.
He will face a Rays' offense that could not figure out Nola, who recorded 22 first-pitch strikes. Tampa Bay is ranked middle of the pack in strikeout percentage (22.6). However, that number has inflated to 32.4 percent over their past three games, second highest in baseball behind the Angels (33.6). We believe that 4.5 Ks is a favorable number for Walker to go OVER as he tries to lead the Phillies to their 11th-straight road win.
2. Elly De La Cruz, 1B, Reds @ Nationals - OVER 6.5 fantasy points
The rookie phenom has slowed down just a bit after his torrid start after being called up from Triple-A. However, we like De La Cruz to build off his performance from Tuesday, where he went 4-for-4 with an RBI.
De La Cruz will face first-time All-Star Josiah Gray, who hasn't pitched well at Nationals Park this season (5.17 ERA and .269 OBA). Gray has allowed 10 earned runs and four home runs in his past two home starts. We like the switch-hitting Cruz to go OVER 6.5 fantasy points, as he's slashing .356/.407/.616 with three home runs and 13 RBIs against righthanded pitchers. Some users might be scared to take the OVER because of EDLC's performance against the Padres last weekend when he went 2-for-13 with a double and RBI. However, between Gray's struggles at home and his .339 BABIP over his past four starts, De La Cruz should thrive at the plate.
3. Brayan Bello, SP, Red Sox vs. Rangers - OVER 4.5 strikeouts
Bello has been one of the Red Sox's best pitchers this season, posting a 5-5 record, 3.08 ERA, .234 OBA, and 67 strikeouts in 73 innings. After a rough start to the year, the 24-year-old righty has posted back-to-back sub-3.00 ERAs in May and June. Bello is coming off a phenomenal start against the Marlins last week when he allowed just two hits and one earned run while recording five strikeouts in seven innings.
Bello's strikeout prop of O/U 4.5 is an excellent number despite the Rangers hitting an MLB-best .267 against righthanded pitchers. The 24-year-old has gone OVER 4.5 strikeouts in eight out of his past 10 starts (averaging 5.3 Ks per game), including seven out of his past eight home starts this season.
It might be challenging for Bello to hit the OVER, as the Rangers are ranked 13th in strikeout percentage (22.1) and have the eighth-best strikeout percentage over the past three games (19.2). However, Bello has posted a barrel rate of 5.5 percent and BABIP of .218 over his past three outings, so we like the young righty to get five Ks against a loaded Rangers' offense.
4. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves @ Guardians - OVER 1.5 total bases
Albies hasn't hit the ball well against righthanded pitchers this season (.220), but we like him to go off against Cleveland starter Cal Quantrill, who got crushed in his first start last week against the Cubs (3.1 IP, eight hits, and six earned runs) after returning from the 15-day IL.
Albies slugged two home runs in Tuesday night's extra-inning loss to the Guardians. With those two homers, the 26-year-old second baseman has a five-game hitting streak. SD users should look to hammer the OVER, as Albies has gone OVER 1.5 total bases in six out of his past 10 games. Furthermore, he's hitting .400 with a double and triple against Quantrill over his career.
