Today’s MLB Prop Picks and Best Bets: Julio Reigns in West Coast Showdown

Prop bet #1: Olson cashes 'em in

The Atlanta Braves will take on the Miami Marlins this afternoon after dropping the series opener on Friday. Despite the Braves putting up six runs, slugger Matt Olson didn’t really get in on the fun, going 1-for-4 with just a single — but odds are MLB’s RBI and home run leader rebounds today.

Olson has cooled off over his last two games with just one hit and no runs driven in, but the first baseman still ranks atop MLB leaderboards with four home runs and 12 RBI over the past week while batting .370.

Prior to this two-game drought, the heavy hitter had recorded at least one RBI in nine of 10 games with multiple RBI in four of those outings. He also tied the Braves home run record on Wednesday against the Phillies with his 51st dinger of the season.

Reliever Bryan Hoeing will start for Miami, making it a bullpen game for the Marlins and an excellent chance for Olson to pad his lead atop the leaderboards. Olson recorded six RBI in Atlanta’s last series against Miami and I like him to get back on track with at least one more today, especially as Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley keep getting on base ahead of him, affording Olson ample opportunity to cash in.

Matt Olson prop: Over 0.5 RBI (+145 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #2: Heart of Glasnow

We’ll switch things up for our second player prop bet, heading over to Baltimore where the Orioles host the Tampa Bay Rays. Ace Tyler Glasnow has been a flamethrower for Tampa Bay with 142 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings this season and I like him to cash the Over on 7.5 Ks tonight.

The right-hander comes into the contest with 22 strikeouts over his last two starts, including an insane 14-punchout performance against the Red Sox on September 6. Glasnow has recorded at least eight Ks in eight of his last 13 starts and sat down nine Orioles during that stretch back on July 20.

Although he doesn’t rank on the official leaderboard due to his low inning count, Glasnow’s 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings would place him just behind Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (13.8) for the second-best mark in the majors. 

Glasnow has done a good job of staying in games, pitching through the sixth inning in 10 straight outings, so I think we’ll see him sit down at least eight batters again tonight.

Tyler Glasnow prop: Over 7.5 strikeouts (+115 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #3: Julio conquers Clayton

We’ll head to T-Mobile Park for our final player prop bet where the Seattle Mariners host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the last game of the day. Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for Los Angeles as he looks to keep an 11-game undefeated streak alive, but he’ll face some resistance in the form of Julio Rodriguez, who’s been hitting the lights out for Seattle.

The Mariners center fielder is batting .323 this month but has picked up the pace even more this past week, hitting .500 with 11 knocks in just five contests. Rodriguez has recorded a hit in seven straight games with at least two total bases in each of those contests, highlighted by a four-hit performance against the Angels on Monday.

The right-handed batter is hitting .333 this season against southpaws — a big bump compared to his .277 average vs. righties — so this could be a favorable matchup for Rodriguez as he looks to cash the Over on 1.5 total bases tonight.

Julio Rodriguez prop: Over 1.5 total bases (+120)