Today's Taste - Best MLB PrizePicks Player Props (5/23/23)

The Monday slate was extremely undesirable for me, so that’s why I decided to hold off until today. We have some mega-arms on the mound today featuring a few of the premier strikeout artists in the game of baseball. 

 

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Dylan Cease OVER/UNDER 5 Strikeouts

 

The recent K prop totals of one Dylan Cease have been low. So low, in fact, that I haven’t seen numbers like this in a few years. We’re talking about a guy who is one of the best strikeout arms in the majors. A pitcher who literally had the best pitch in the MLB last season with that slider. Cease daddy has had a big regression after pushing for an AL Cy Young honor. The walks and command are still an issue with him, but teams are no longer caught off guard by what he is throwing. The fastball velocity is a tick down, and the slide piece isn’t catching batters by surprise. A lot of that has to do with the punchouts just not being there like the past couple years.

 

On Opening Day, Cease Daddy goes down to Houston and dots the defending World Champion Astros for 6.1 innings, no walks, and 10 punchouts. It was maybe the best I have ever seen him look. The next outing, he handled the Giants, a game he logged eight punchies. DC84 looked like he was on his way to another huge season. Unfortunately, the strikeouts especially have been on a bizarre and sharp decline since. In his last eight outings, the White Sox ace has had six K’s or less. 

 

To make matters worse, Chicago has to face one of the best contact teams of the last few seasons. Cleveland remains the leagues’ best offense at not striking out. With the fewest in the MLB (334), the Guardians have proved to be a team Cease has trouble with on the strikeout front. Including his latest start (May 18th), Dylan has had less than five strikeouts in four of his last five outings against this team. While Cease has done well against this offense, it does not come via the strikeout, usually. The fact that this is the second time in a row he will see this team, it does not typically support the pitcher.

 

I can see Cease have a solid performance, but I don’t believe five strikeouts will be reached.

 

 

 

Pick: Cease UNDER 5 Strikeouts

 

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Ronald Acuna Jr. OVER/UNDER 1.5 Total Bases

 

RAHNNNN STAPPPP! I’m obsessed with saying that when Ronald Acuna does literally anything. The guy has been on an absolute tear this season with his .342 batting average, 11 taters, and OPS north of 1.000. RAJ is running away with the NL MVP early on, as he is nearly an even-money favorite. If you look at what the Braves’ superstar is doing in a rebound season, he has been red hot the entire 2023 campaign.

 

Acuna is currently riding a 12-game hit streak. In the month of May, there are only two games where has not recorded a base hit. During the streak, RAJ has either multiple hits or one extra base hit in nine of them. This outlines a great opportunity to ride the hot hand. The Braves will see Dodgers’ rookie, Bobby Miller, in his MLB debut. The Louisville product was a strong college pitcher with his fireball 100 MPH heater. Miller carries a really nice mix of pitches. He uses a back-breaking change up and twirling slider to complement that flame throwing heater.

 

Miller is definitely a predator, not prey. Still, this is a very difficult test in your first MLB start. RAJ is an ultra-aggressive fastball hunter. My guess is Miller will look to get ahead with number one, something that Acuna should look to capitalize on. With the star likely getting at least four plate appearances, I think there is a good shot Ronald stays hot for us.

 

Pick: Acuna OVER 1.5 Total Bases

 

 

 

PrizePicks Player Prop Parlay +300

Cease UNDER 5 Strikeouts

Acuna OVER 1.5 Total Bases