Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images. Pictured: Patrick Sandoval.
I will be evaluating my favorite MLB player props based on what the Action Labs Player Prop tool likes. The tool grades each bet on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the best possible grade.
Below, I have laid out two prop bets that I am playing, the case for each bet and the best books to find odds on those player props.
MLB Player Props & Picks
Johnny Cueto — Over 3.5 Strikeouts (-180)
| Giants vs. Nationals | Nationals -116 |
| Time | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| Best Book | PointsBet |
The biggest reason for San Francisco’s success this season has been the pitching staff. While guys like Kevin Gausman and Anthony DeSclafani get most of the credit, the entire staff has been really good, including the resurgence of 35-year-old Johnny Cueto.
After two seasons battling injuries, followed by a 5.40 ERA in 2020, Cueto has bounced back to a 4-2 record and 3.70 ERA through nine starts this season. He has a 7.40 K/9 rate this season and averages 4.4 strikeouts per start.
While he isn’t going to blow you away with his strikeout count, 3.5 is just too low. Cueto has gone over this total in seven of his nine starts this season. At his usual strikeout pace, he would likely only need to last five innings to reach this total, which I expect him to do against a struggling Washington offense.
Action Labs Grade: 10/10
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Patrick Sandoval — Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+115)
| Angels vs. Diamondbacks | Angels -136 |
| Time | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Best Book | PointsBet |
24-year-old Patrick Sandoval has just 19 career starts to his name. He has a 1-11 record and a 4.88 ERA over the course of three seasons. This year, he is 0-2 with a 3.62 ERA and has made four starts along with three appearances out of the bullpen.
Sandoval has struggled with his command, issuing 3.62 BB/9. He has an 8.89 K/9 rate which isn’t bad by any means, but he has hasn’t typically lasted long into games. His slider and changeup are the only two pitches with a K% above 10%.
He is coming off his best strikeout performance of his career, fanning 10 Mariners over six innings last week. However, prior to that he never had more than four strikeouts in an appearance all season. Last week seems like more of an outlier than what we should expect going forward. If you take out that one game, has only averaged 2.8 strikeouts per appearance and 3.0 strikeouts per start.
Action Labs Grade: 8/10
