Emilee Chinn/Getty Images. Pictured: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kenta Maeda.
Throughout this season, I’ll be evaluating my favorite Major League Baseball 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 I’m playing Sunday, the case for each bet and the best books to find odds on those player props.
MLB Player Props & Picks
Kenta Maeda — Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+115)
| Twins vs. Astros | Astros (-190) |
| Time | 2:10 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | BetMGM |
It has been a rough season for Minnesota Twins fans, who find themselves at the bottom of the AL Central division. The good news is Maeda looks like he has remembered how to pitch again.
The Twins ace was nails last season, pitching to a 6-1 record and 2.70 ERA. After earning the Opening Day start, Maeda really struggled at the beginning of this season. Through 12 outings, he had a 5.56 ERA with teams batting .294 against him.
In his last six outings, Maeda has pitched to a 3.15 ERA and has an 11.80 K/9 rate. On the season as a whole, Maeda has averaged 5.5 strikeouts per start. However, since the start of July he has upped that to 7.5 strikeouts per outing.
I like him to keep it rolling and reach this strikeout total, even against a tough Astros team.
Action Labs Grade: 8/10
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Madison Bumgarner — Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+110)
| Diamondbacks vs. Padres | Padres (-200) |
| Time | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | BetMGM |
It has been kind of a weird year for Bumgarner. The four-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion has had a few duds, but has also looked like his dominant self for starts as well.
The bad starts for Bumgarner have been very bad. He has allowed at least five earned runs six times this year. Yet, when he’s on, he has been dominant, allowing just one run or fewer in eight appearances.
After three consecutive rough outings, Bumgarner was placed on the Injured List with shoulder inflammation. Since returning from the IL, he has posted a blistering 1.80 ERA in four starts and allowed just four total runs.
The Padres have the sixth-highest strikeout percentage over the last two weeks and Bumgarner has been pitching really well. Action Labs projects him at 5.5 strikeouts, so you’re getting a full strikeout of value here.
Action Labs Grade: 10/10
