Best MLB Player Props For Monday (August 21)

Monday night in the Bigs means a smaller slate with only nine games on the schedule. However, there are still some spots to take advantage of on the player prop market.

Here are the four player prop bets we will be adding to our card tonight.

Austin Riley OVER 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBI

While the Mets did take three of four from the Cardinals over the weekend, they still sit 23 games behind first-place Atlanta. Perhaps even funnier than that anecdote is the fact they are only one game in front of last-place Washington, a team that is in a full blown rebuild this season.

After landing their rare road series win, the Mets figure to come crashing back to Earth tonight when they start another three-game series against the Braves – a team that’s completely dominated them all season.

Picking a Braves’ slugger to tee off against David Peterson is akin to having a sampler of candy, whatever you pick is probably going to be delicious. 

Our candy tonight is that of Austin Riley and his Hits + Runs + RBI prop. Riley has recorded a hit in 25 of his last 30 games and has dominated tonight’s starting pitcher David Peterson to the tune of a .444 average.

He’s also had his way with this Mets’ pitching staff as a whole this season, as he’s cleared 2.5 H+R+RBI in seven of the 10 meetings so far. 

Riley has yet to go yard against Peterson, but we feel like that can change after tonight. And if it doesn’t, the Braves’ lineup will still give the All-Star third baseman ample opportunity to clear this number again.

BestOdds: DraftKings (+110)

Julio Rodríguez OVER 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBI

If you missed what Julio Rodríguez did to the Royals and Astros last week, tonight is your opportunity to jump on the bandwagon of the hottest hitter in baseball.

Julio hit an absolutely ABSURD .568 with 21 hits, 2 home runs, 12 RBIs and 7 runs scored as the M’s won six of seven games and are suddenly breathing down the necks of the Rangers in the AL West.

In Rodríguez’s last 15 games, Julio is 33-for-71 which translates to a .465 batting average. 

Tonight, the Mariners begin a three-game set against the rapidly free falling White Sox, and while tonight’s starter Touki Toussaint hasn’t been as poor as his 1-5 record may indicate, there is absolutely no reason to fade Seattle’s superstar at the moment. 

As a sweetener with backing Julio tonight, Toussaint typically has shorter outings on the mound as he’s only pitched into the sixth inning in three of his 12 starts this season, with six of those outings not even getting into the fifth inning.

That means Julio will get a crack or two at the White Sox bullpen, which is the 5th worst group in all of baseball.

Meanwhile, we’re going to ride the bat of Julio Rodríguez until he shows signs of once again being mortal.

BestOdds: DraftKings (+120)

Aaron Nola OVER 6.5 Strikeouts 

While Aaron Nola is often a streaky pitcher, tonight’s matchup against the free swinging San Francisco Giants’ lineup is too enticing to lay off of.

The Giants have the 4th highest strikeout rate in baseball against RHP and the 8th highest over their last 30 days entering tonight’s series-opener in Philadelphia.

The Giants’ lineup has also been a gift to RHP, with righties clearing their strikeout total in nine of their last 12 outings against this group.

Nola has cleared 6.5 strikeouts in three of his last five outings on the mound, with one of those misses being a six strikeout performance against the stingy Nationals, so he has been in better form of late for the Fightin’ Phils.

Until San Fran can show a bit more discipline at the dish, taking strikeout props against them will continue to be a staple on our betting card.

BestOdds: FanDuel (-102)

Cristian Javier UNDER 5.5 Strikeouts 

Cristian Javier began the 2023 season like a bat out of Hades, but has been mediocre at best for the last three months of action, especially when it comes to hitting his strikeout total.

Javier has gone under 5.5 strikeouts in 13 of his last 15 starts this season and tonight draws the Red Sox who are not a lineup that fans a lot against RHP.

Entering tonight’s series-opener, the Red Sox have the 5th best strikeout rate against righties this season, and Javier has shown all season that he likely doesn’t have the stuff to challenge that metric tonight.

While Houston may very well provide Javier with run support and a win as they get to face a quickly regressing James Paxton, we can’t see Javier racking up six punchouts or more in the process.     

BestOdds: BetRivers (-124)