MLB Best Bets – Free (Wednesday 7/24)
Josh Gross
There are 14 games on the MLB slate for Monday, so there’s plenty of action to be had around the diamond. Below you’ll see a list of my favorite MLB Picks and MLB props.
The odds change pretty quickly in baseball, so take advantage of our Prop Shop for the best possible odds and check out our Pick Tracker for all my picks and FTN’s picks.
With our FTN Bets package, you’ll get picks from everyone at FTN, plus tools, projections and access to Discord,
The Best MLB Props + MLB Picks
Houston Astros Over 4.5 Runs
(-125, DraftKings Sportsbook)
As we creep toward the middle of May, one of the most surprising storylines of the MLB season so far is the Houston Astros checking in with a 15-25 record. Only the Chicago White Sox have fewer wins. Much has been made about Alex Bregman’s fall to the sixth spot in the lineup this past week, and although he’s struggling, it’s not the offense that has let Houston down. The Astros rank in the top half in runs scored, they rank fifth in team wOBA (.327), sixth wRC+ (113), seventh in SLG (.412), fifth in OBP (.327), seventh in home runs (46) and first in average (.262). They also have the lowest strikeout percentage in baseball (17%).
They’ll see pitches Monday from Ross Stripling, who enters with a 5.14 ERA and a career-low 6.21 K/9. Stripling couldn’t make it out of the second inning in his last start, as he coughed up 11 runs (five earned) on 10 hits against Texas. Stripling has allowed 56 hits in 42 innings this season, which is the fourth most behind Miles Mikolas, Patrick Corbin and Logan Webb. His 81.7% contact rate ranks 13th among pitchers with 40 innings on their 2024 resume. The Astros just so happen to rank second in contact percentage (80.3%).
José Altuve leads the Astros with a .330 average and 38 hits against right-handed pitchers. Altuve also leads Houston with 14 extra base hits against RHP. He should be able to set the table for the likes of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Álvarez. Tucker leads Houston with eight home runs, and Alavarez has five bombs against righties. Shout out Jeremy Peña, who has moved up the lineup thanks to his strong play. Peña’s 34 hits against RHP ranks second on the team. His 52 hits and .340 average rank first. He has four multi-hit games over a current five-game hit streak.
Bonus
- José Altuve O 1.5 Hits, Runs & RBIs (-150, BetMGM)
- Kyle Tucker O 1.5 Total Bases (+115, DraftKings)
- Jeremy Peña O 1.5 Hits, Runs & RBIs (-150, BetMGM)
