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MLB Must Bet Props: Runlines & Home Runs | May 18, 2024
![Colby Marchio](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.bettingnews.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FIMG_0481-e1703621008346-150x150.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Written by: Colby Marchio
Last Updated:
Read Time: 4 minutes
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mlb
Happy Saturday, sickos and filth animals! We are once again blessed with another incredible slate of baseball games. Here are a couple plays to fix your cravings.
Have a great weekend! Let’s sweep.
Top MLB Prop Bets for Saturday’s Slate
Picks in this piece are courtesy of BetOnline. At BetOnline, you can get great odds on all of the top MLB matchups every day.
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
The card last night went 1-1 (+0.11) Units.
Runline: Cubs (-1.5) vs Pirates (+110)Get These Odds & Sign Up Bonus @ BetOnline
![](https://wp.bettingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shota-Im.jpg)
Cy Young Hopeful, Shota Imanaga celebrating with teammate
The Stank:
Coming off getting no-hit by baseball phenom Paul Skenes, the Chicago Cubs look to bounce back Saturday afternoon with their star starter, Shota Imanaga, who has been dazzling baseball fans all season long. The NL Cy Young hopeful is posting a staggering 0.96 ERA, with a 0.94 WHIP this season. The Cubs are 7-1 when Imanaga starts. They have won by two or more in five of those eight starts.
Happy Shōta Imanaga Day Cubs Fans! pic.twitter.com/PRlBF0zv5C
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) May 18, 2024
Today, Imanaga faces a roster with nine hitters above the MLB average strikeout rate and five with a poor matchup rating, according to Batters-Box.com. On top of that, the Pirates have been dreadful on the road. Averaging the most strikeouts per game with 10.32.
The Cubs are up against Bailey ‘Fault in Our Stars’ Falter, who has proven to be a reliable player. In his recent encounter with the Cubs last Sunday, he pitched 6.0 innings, allowing five hits and two runs. According to Batters-Box.com, Falter will be facing two elite hitters, with the average hitter matchup rating just a decimal away from being ‘Great’.
There is no need to be worried. The Pirates’ highest-rated hitter in this matchup is below ten other Cubs hitters.
The Cubs’ favorable matchup and abundance of quality-rated hitters should propel the team to a resounding victory over the Pirates, setting the stage for an exciting game.
Home Run: Otto Lopez (+1750) Get These Odds & Sign Up Bonus @ Bovada
The Stank:
Just look at that number.
OTTO LOPEZ HR +1500 ✅✅✅
Nice call @C_Marchio2 😏
Boom 💥 pic.twitter.com/vCUNL7MiDw
— Betting News (@YourBettingNews) May 14, 2024
The value alone is well worth a sprinkle. Especially when Otto Lopez has the seventh-best matchup rating, according to Batters-Box.com. The young stud has been on my radar over the past week, while nobody else seems to care. Lopez is hitting a solid .269, with an OPS of .932 and a pair of home runs in May. Am I biased towards this wonderful man because he cashed a 15/1 home run prop for us on Monday? *Shrug Emoji* Maybe.
However, Lopez has great numbers against Mets starter Luis Severino, even with Severino starting off the 2024 season on a much higher note than in years past. This could be a thrilling home run prop to consider.
Where to find more advanced analytics
Batters-Box.com is my go-to website to find the best matchup ratings for my daily MLB wagers. It is not the end all be all, but it is always a great place to start your journey into your daily baseball bets. Last season using Batters-Box.com I went up 98 units. Don’t believe me? Check my Action profile @cmarchio.
I also use FanGraphs, Statmuse and ESPN for other stats to help me decide if a player is worth my time or not.
Good luck this season you psychos!
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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.
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