We are roughly three weeks into the MLB season and there have been some surprising results to this point. This includes a hot start from the American League Central-leading Kansas City Royals. Who saw that coming?
And what is the best way to crown the Royals, when it comes to the MLB prop bets market, as they open a series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays? We give you the answer — and more — with our best MLB free prop bets and predictions for Monday, April 19.
Today’s MLB props and picks
Chase Anderson Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-150)
The Philadelphia Phillies are off to a so-so start this season at 8-7 and now begin a series against the scrappy San Francisco Giants, where they will hand the ball to Chase Anderson for the opener.
What you see is what you get with Anderson: He is always going to give up a few runs and pitches to contact for the most part. This also means not a lot of strikeouts, as Anderson has recorded just six in his nine innings of work this season.
So, Anderson’s strikeout total of 5.5 stands out today against the Giants. That is a number he has eclipsed just twice over his last 23 starts dating back to 2019. The Giants are a middle-of-the-pack team when it comes to strikeouts, ranking 16th getting punched out 9.33 times per game. So, while this number is quite juicy, a win is a win.
Danny Duffy Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-140)
The Kansas City Royals have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball through the season’s first three weeks. Sitting at 9-5, they lead the American League Central.
They’ve done this thanks to fielding an actual major league lineup this season and a solid bullpen (sounds a little like how they had success in 2014-15). K.C. will need to upgrade the rotation at some point if they want to sustain that success but one guy who has been solid for them has been Danny Duffy.
The veteran southpaw has allowed just one run on 10 hits while striking out 11 over 12 innings in his first two starts and on Monday, he faces the free-swinging Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays have taken on a swing for the fences mentality for the past few seasons, which resulted in an increase in strikeouts, and 2021 has been no different. Tampa Bay ranks 25th in whiffs, getting punched out 10.19 times per game. This means the reliable Duffy is a solid bet to go Over his strikeout total.
Angels Team Total Over 4.5 (-120)
Is this finally the year where we don’t have to say, “Another wasted season of Mike Trout?” The Los Angeles Angels are off to a solid 8-5 start in 2021, which is the fourth-best record in the American League. That has been thanks to a lineup that looks fully ready to support Trout.
With Shohei Ohtani healthy, and the likes of Anthony Rendon, David Fletcher, and Jared Walsh all contributing, the Angels rank third in runs per game (5.51), team batting average (.265), and fifth in OPS (.756). The Halos have good plate discipline too, striking out just 8.61 times per game.
L.A. and its talented offense begin a series with the Texas Rangers, who are a bit of a surprise at 7-9. The Rangers hand the ball to Kohei Arihara, who is in his first big league season after coming over from the NPB in Japan.
Arihara uses a wide range of pitches to mess up hitter’s timing and while his overall numbers are solid with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, he has been a little lucky. He has been hit hard and doesn’t get batters to chase much. Then he hands the ball to a Rangers bullpen that ranks 26th in ERA and opponent batting average.
Bet on the Halos to go Over their team total in this one.
Yesterday's MLB record: 1-2, -0.82 units
Season MLB betting record: 25-28, -5.22 units
MLB betting card for April 19
- Chase Anderson Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-150)
- Danny Duffy Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-140)
- Angels Team Total Over 5.5 (-120)
MLB parlays
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Use our MLB parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on MLB props?
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