MLB Best Prop Bets Today | April 17, 2025
Written by: Colby Marchio
Last Updated: Thu Apr 17, 2025, 15:28 PM
Read Time: 5 minutes
mlb
MLB Best Bets: Elite-rated bats in strong matchups headline this afternoon’s board. The Cardinals continue to swing it well and face a vulnerable arm early, while Kyle Schwarber draws a pitcher profile that plays directly into his strengths. Value, matchup, and form all line up—let us dive in.
For additional information on picks, props, money lines and more on today’s slate, take a look at our MLB Picks Page or our MLB Odds Page, here.
Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 17th
Check out BetOnline’s New No Strings Welcome Offer that gives new MLB players up to $250 in Free Bets and 100 Free Casino Spins with their first deposit. Find out more about this Promotion as well as lots of other Free Sportsbook Promos right here!
Write Up Transparency
Be sure to follow me on X/Twitter @C_marchio2 to get my full card every day! Check my Action profile on the Action app @cmarchio. Picks are always FREE.
Last Month Betting MLB: 67-95-2 (+8.46u)
Last week Betting MLB: 23-34-2 (+1.71u)
Giants vs Phillies Best Prop Bet
Best Bet: Kyle Schwarber 1+ Hit (-115) odds via BetOnline
Will Kyle Schwarber continue to be great for the Phillies this season?
Three things: elite rating, elite price, elite bat. Do not offer Kyle Schwarber to get a hit while he holds an elite rating on Batters-Box.com at -115. That is a price I am willing to take nine times out of ten, win or lose.
The Phillies slugger has been seeing the ball extremely well to start the 2025 season, boasting a .266 average and a 1.014 OPS. On top of that, he brings some strong elite rating trends: records a hit 57% of the time, goes over 1.5 bases 41% of the time, and hits a home run in 24% of games. The bases trend is not the strongest percentage, but at +180 I did sprinkle half a unit on his total bases today. That is simply an absurd price.
Today, Schwarber faces Giants starter Jordan Hicks, who carries a poorly rated average hitter matchup wOBA and strikeout percentage. He also gives up nearly 35% hard contact. Hicks is primarily a sinkerball pitcher, and his sinker is graded below league value, per FanGraphs. His second most-used pitch is a slider, which is also rated below league value.
Schwarber has historically hit sinkers very well — a career .295 average, 1.011 OPS, and 178 wRC+. This season, he has seen only 32 sinkers, but is hitting .500 against them, with a 2.278 OPS and a 400 wRC+. Very small sample size, but the numbers are too good not to mention.
At a price of -115, I believe taking Schwarber to record at least one hit this afternoon is well worth the squeeze.
Cardinals vs Mets Best Prop Bet
Best Bet: Cardinals First Five Team Total Over 1.5 (-130) Odds via BetOnline
Can Jordan Walker lead the Cardinals to a win today?
The third highest-rated team on Batters-Box.com this lovely Friday Junior: the St. Louis Cardinals. They come in with an overall rating of elite, a lineup featuring three elite-rated hitters, zero rated as poor, five above the league strikeout rate, and four above the league ground ball rate.
So far this season through the first five innings, St. Louis is averaging 2.5 runs. On the road, that number is two. Over their last three games, they are averaging 3.33 runs through the first five. That trend should continue.
They face Mets starter Griffin Canning, who owns the second worst pitcher rating on the day. He also allows the second most hard contact and has the third worst average hitter matchup ISO. On the year, the 28-year-old right-hander has a 4.30 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He is struggling with command — eight walks in 15 innings pitched, a walk rate of 4.8 per nine. He has allowed two or more runs in two of his three starts, and three of his main pitches grade below league average, per FanGraphs.
This is a great spot to back the Birds in the first five. I expect them to get on top of Canning early and often.
Interested in More Content?
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
Follow me on X @C_marchio2 for all my picks and sports opinions. Follow Betting News on ‘X’ and Twitch and catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day!
In need of a sportsbook? Check out one of our favorites below and sign-up for a bonus!
Check Out All of Our Betting Resources at Betting News
More Betting Stories
Former D1 (club) baseball player, Colby has been betting since his college days at DePaul, where he had to endure the worst collegiate basketball the Big East has ever seen. He is an advanced analytics nerd who spends his free time on Bart Torvik, Ken Pom and Batters-Box.com. He has never seen an underdog he has not liked. Hot. Corn. Bull. It does not matter the dog he loves them all.
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
More MLB News on Betting News
MLB Betting News
MLB Best Home Run Bets | April 17, 2025
Colby Marchio18 hours ago
Free Betting Picks
ARI
KC
CLE
MIA
CIN
NYY
SEA
CWS
MIN
LAD
SD
WSH
SF