MLB Best Bets and Props:
Welcome back to weekend baseball. There are 15 games on the MLB schedule, with the first pitch scheduled at 1:05 PM ET between the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. We have plenty of options to choose from for MLB props and best bets, but below are two of my favorite betting lines to target on Saturday, August 17th.
My name is Matt Williams, and I will be covering weekend MLB best bets and props all season long. Be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @MattWi77iams.
Top MLB Resources:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Tampa Bay Rays
4:10 pm ET
Jeffrey Springs is slowly rounding into form after making his season debut on July 30. The 31-year-old recently allowed one run over five innings against the Baltimore Orioles on August 11.
However, Springs has still not been allowed to eclipse the 90-pitch mark or last beyond the fifth inning. Yet sportsbooks have set his Outs line for 16.5 on Saturday versus the Diamondbacks.
It is fair for books to assume Springs could be in for a gradual increase in workload, but I am not confident Arizona is the best team to make that investment against.
Over the last 30 days, the Diamondbacks are batting .297 with a .351 on-base percentage and .824 OPS against southpaws.
Arizona also hovers around league average when it comes to pitches per plate appearance, so there will be no edge for Springs in terms of efficiency.
MLB Best Bet: Jeffrey Springs Under 16.5 Outs (-115)
*Would take Under 16.5 Outs up to -140
Kansas City Royals vs. Cincinnati Reds
6:40 pm ET
The Kansas City Royals are among the toughest assignments for opposing strikeout pitchers this season. In fact, the Royals boast the 2nd-lowest strikeout rate in the league versus left-handed pitchers (17.8%).
This is unfortunate news for Reds starter Nick Lodolo. In order to cash his Over 5.5 strikeout prop, the 26-year-old will need to do something that only one other southpaw has accomplished this year.
In case you were wondering, the only left-handed starter to collect 6 K against Kansas City is Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal.
Back the Under on Saturday.
MLB Best Bet: Nick Lodolo Under 5.5 K (-121)
*Would take Under 5.5 K up to -145
