MLB

MLB Player Prop Bets to Target on Thursday 8/17/23

Thomas Vecchio  —  @Tom_Vecchio1 Aug 17th, 2023

Player props can be useful in a variety of ways -- from taking advantage of them straight up (to the tune of cold hard cash) to measuring a player's potential to produce in daily fantasy baseball on FanDuel. Here, we're going to focus on the former.

Utilizing our projections as a guide and looking at the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are some spots where you can find value today in the prop-betting market.

Here are some MLB player prop bets to make tonight.

Please note that betting lines and our game projections may change throughout the day after this article is published. Also, the weather may be an issue in some locations.

Christian Walker To Record 2+ Total Bases (+100)

The Arizona Diamondbacks are primed for a solid offensive game with a 4.32 implied run total against the San Diego Padres.

The Dads will turn to Rich Hill on the mound tonight, which puts several of the D-backs' hitters in a favorable spot. Hill has struggled this season to the tune of a .361 wOBA, .501 SLG, 4.60 xFIP, 1.47 HR/9, 19.9% strikeout rate, 39.1% fly-ball rate, and 35.6% hard-contact versus righties.

There are a few strong options from Arizona tonight, but I'm rolling with Christian Walker, who has been on fire in recent games. He has five multi-hit games over his last 10 outings, which is just a glimpse at what he's done this season. To this point, Walker has a 174 wRC+, .433 wOBA, .379 ISO, 51.3% fly-ball rate, and 41.0% hard-contact rate versus lefty pitchers.

Everything lines up for Walker to continue this hot streak and grab a few bases tonight.

Pete Alonso To Record 2+ Total Bases (-115)

With one of the worst pitchers in the league on the mound, the New York Mets could put up some easy runs tonight.

That pitcher would be Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals, who is struggling each and every time he is on the mound. Wainwright is allowing a .405 wOBA, .552 SLG, 5.18 xFIP, .378 BABIP, 12.5% strikeout rate, 1.60 HR/9, and 36.2% fly-ball rate versus right-handed hitters.

There's legitimately nothing good you can say about that stat line and opposing hitters will always be in a spot to thrive.

We'll look to Pete Alonso tonight, who comes in with a 127 wRC+, .352 wOBA, .289 ISO, 47.8% fly-ball rate, and .36.0% hard-contact rate versus righty pitchers. Alonso has immense power and given this soft matchup, he could hit this prop in one swing of the bat.