X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Free MLB Player Props - Today's Prop Betting Picks for Hitters and Pitchers (8/18/23)

Today's free MLB prop betting picks for Friday, August 18, 2023. Use Juan Carlos Blanco's top baseball prop picks and MLB prop bet recommendations to win money on sportsbooks.

We're set for another big stretch-run Friday night slate in MLB that's light on elite pitchers. However, we do have one very good strikeout arm on the mound in a favorable matchup, and a Coors Field game informs two of our three hitter props.

Attention, fellow sports bettors! We have exciting news to share as we are officially partnered with various sportsbooks and have some sweet sports betting promo offers! Get your deposit bonus and a year of free RotoBaller Premium access when you sign up with a new account today! After you're signed up, use our picks in this article for spreads, totals, and props to win big.

In this article, I'll provide my favorite prop bets for MLB games on Friday, August 18, 2023.  Let's look at some of the best MLB player props worth wagering on for today's games without further ado!

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 50% off using code SUMMER. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

 

MLB Pitcher Prop Bets - Today's Betting Picks

Spencer Strider OVER 7.5 Strikeouts Thrown (-145 PointsBet Sportsbook)  or To Record  A Win (-115 DraftKings Sportsbook)

Strider's swing-and-miss stuff is unquestionably elite, and despite a rare downturn in strikeouts over his last two starts, he's still carrying an outstanding 14.0 K/9 and 20.3 percent swinging strike rate on the season.

Strider has whiff rates north of 50.0 percent on two (changeup, slider) of the three pitches in his arsenal this season as well, and he owns a 15.1 K/9 across 71.1 home frames. He's recorded at least eight strikeouts in 19 of his 24 starts, a stellar percentage that heavily fuels the notion he's capable of the feat again Friday.

The Giants also add to that belief, considering they've been the most punchless team against right-handed pitching in all of baseball (.207 average, .276 wOBA, -27.0 wRAA) since the All-Star break while also striking out at a 24.8 percent clip in that split. The latter figure climbs slightly to an even more bloated 25.6 when splitting it out just for road matchups.

Atlanta is well over a -200 favorite for Friday's game, so a bet on the Record A Win prop is also certainly viable at a better price.

Pablo Lopez To Record A Win  (-105 DraftKings Sportsbook)

Lopez is also a strong candidate to emerge victorious Friday in a game the Twins are up to -240 favorites for as of Friday morning. The opposing Pirates' poor track record against right-handed pitching in the second half of the season is one of the big reasons for the lopsided odds.

Pittsburgh has gotten some impactful hits against righties since the All-Star break on its way to a respectable .428 slugging percentage in that split, but the Bucs are also sporting a .213 average, .305 wOBA and 27.2 percent strikeout rate against that handedness on the road in the second half.

Also helping Lopez's chances of garnering a win is opposing starter Andre Jackson, who's pitched to a 5.47 ERA and 2.1 HR/9 in 26.1 innings this season. Jackson does have good swing-and-miss stuff, but he was touched up by the Reds for three earned runs on five hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in his first start of the season last time out.

Minnesota has also been very good against righties at home since the break, producing a .300 average, .924 OPS, .389 wOBA and 22.3 wRAA in that split. Then, Lopez checks in with elite form over the last five starts, as he's generated a 3-1 record, 1.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 and 0.9 HR/9 across the 31 innings he's logged in that sample.

Furthermore, Lopez has given up three earned runs or less in eight of his last nine starts and recorded victories in five of his last six decisions.

Sports Betting Promo Offers

Featured Promo: Get any Betting Premium Pass for 50% off using code SUMMER. Win more with exclusive betting picks from proven winners across 9 sports! Find optimal bets with our Betting Picks Tool and Bet Weighting Tool and follow along in our VIP chat rooms! Go Premium, Win More!

 

MLB Hitting Prop Bets - Today's Betting Picks

 

 

Juan Soto OVER 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI  (-125 DraftKings Sportsbook) 

Soto and the rest of his Padres teammates are likely licking their chops for Friday night's matchup against the Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt, whose sporting an unsavory array of metrics that includes an 0-6 record, 6.91 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 2.3 HR/9. Pfaadt has been better of late with a 4.34 ERA across his last five turns, but he's still carrying an 0-3 mark and 1.6 HR/9 in that span.

The Friars are big favorites Friday behind Seth Lugo and Pfaadt just allowed nine hits and three runs to San Diego his last time out at home. He's also had plenty of trouble against left-handed hitters, pitching to a .307 BAA, .926 OPS, .392 wOBA and 5.65 FIP in that split. Meanwhile, Soto has a .401 wOBA, .952 OPS and 158 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season.

Soto has averaged 1.8 hits + runs + RBI at home this season in a 62-game sample, and the Padres have a robust projected total of 5 runs as of early Friday morning. Arizona relievers have pitched to a .291 BAA, .908 OPS and .388 wOBA against left-handed hitters since the All-Star break as well, so they make for very good targets for Soto once Pfaadt exits the game.

Ryan McMahon OVER 1.5 Total Bases (+130 DraftKings Sportsbook) or To Hit A HR (+425 PointsBet Sportsbook)

McMahon has already hit the 20-homer mark for the third straight season and fourth in the last five campaigns overall, and he's knocked 11 of his round-trippers at home on his way to an impressive .855 OPS in that split.

McMahon is averaging 1.7 total bases per game for the season, and with 48 extra-base hits, he's inching closer to the career-high 56 he belted in 2021. The lefty-swinging slugger is clocking an even better 1.9 total bases per game at Coors Field, and Friday, he draws a matchup against a pitcher who's unfamiliar with the hitter-friendly venue and already has plenty of trouble keeping the ball in the park in the White Sox's Michael Kopech.

Kopech has pitched to a 2.0 HR/9, allowing at least one ball to leave the park in seven of his last eight starts. The hard-throwing right-hander has also given up plenty of hard contact to lefty bats, with 20 of the 41 hits he's surrendered to that handedness this season going for extra bases.

Finally, consider McMahon has a good track record against the two types of pitches Kopech throws most often against lefty batters, the four-seam fastball and a slider -- the veteran slugger sports a .379 wOBA and .389 xwOBA against the former and a .290 average and .396 wOBA against breaking pitches overall.

Andrew Benintendi  OVER 1.5 Total Hits (+120 DraftKings SportsBook)

Benintendi makes for an intriguing player on the other side of the White Sox-Rockies matchup to consider this prop for. The left-handed hitting veteran is facing Peter Lambert, who's allowed a .394 average and .482 wOBA to the 40 left-handed hitters he's faced at home thus far this season.

Lambert has been in particularly poor form thus far in August, pitching to a 7.71 ERA, .849 OPS and .364 wOBA over 14 innings. Meanwhile, Benintendi has a .277 average and very modest 14.2 percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching, and an even smaller 12.5 percent strikeout rate on the road overall.

The above-average contact hitter should therefore be in good position to record his 30th multi-hit effort of the season at Coors Field, where the White Sox boast a 6.2 projected-run total. Colorado's relievers will also make for very good targets, as they've pitched to a 6.30 ERA, .294 BAA and .388 wOBA against left-handed hitters since the All-Star break.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!






POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF