3 MLB Prop Bets to Target on Thursday 5/9/24

Player props can be useful in a variety of ways -- from taking advantage of them straight up 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 -- which are powered by numberFire -- as a guide, here are some MLB player props bets that look appealing via the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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

MLB Prop Bets

Nolan Arenado to Record an RBI (+145)

While it's not easy to pick from the underperforming St. Louis Cardinals' lineup, Nolan Arenado can do the trick tonight, and I like him to Record an RBI (+145).

St. Louis will go head-to-head with the Milwaukee Brewers and their hurler Tobias Myers.

Myers is a good pitcher to pick on as he's had a rough go through three starts. The rookie starter has a 6.23 ERA and 7.62 FIP, showing no signs of making things happen to slow down offenses. He's also got a 4.55 SIERA. The 25-year-old has been in trouble with his 48.7% fly-ball rate. Hitters can get the ball in the air against Myers, and that will cause noise on the basepaths.

With a small slate tonight, the Cardinals' 4.17 implied total is top three on the night, per numberFire's heat map.

Arenado shouldn't be a surprise when it comes to picking from this lineup.

The third baseman has turned it on as of late, posting a 1.014 OPS and .431 wOBA through six games in May. He's also having his way against right-handed pitchers -- highlighted by a .357 wOBA, .422 SLG, and .803 OPS in the split. Arenado has driven in 17 of his 20 runs against righties, as well.

Offense hasn't been easy for the Cardinals this season, but I think Arenado is a solid bet to come through in this spot.

Josh Naylor to Record an RBI (+110)

The Cleveland Guardians get the Chicago White Sox tonight, which is always a good matchup for hitters.

Chicago will be starting Erick Fedde on the bump, and Fedde has been solid but can give up plenty in the right situation. Fedde has a 3.46 ERA that goes up to a 3.67 expected ERA (xERA), showing he's been lucky only a bit. It's the 4.54 FIP that he's put together where the worry starts to happen, but the success for hitters comes into play.

If we're looking for a hitter to deliver against Fedde, it's Josh Naylor.

Naylor has been one of the best hitters in baseball through the first month and a half. The first baseman is hitting .270 with a .383 wOBA, .540 SLG, and .270 ISO. Power has been on full display for Naylor with nine home runs. The first baseman has also managed to nab seven doubles.

In regards to this prop, the most important statistic with Naylor, however, has been his ability to drive in runs. He has 28 RBIs on the campaign, so I'm looking for him to Record an RBI (+110) in tonight's contest.

Logan O'Hoppe to Record 2+ Total Bases (+110)

Logan O'Hoppe has been a nice surprise this season.

He is in the midst of a potential breakout campaign based on his first 32 games. The 24-year-old is swinging it well to the tune of a .323 wOBA with 2 home runs, 14 RBIs, 5 doubles, and a triple. What's most notable today is that he destroys right-handed pitching, with his average sitting at .310 against righties compared to .143 against lefties. O'Hoppe's wOBA is also up to .352 against righties, making this a good matchup to follow as I like him to Record 2+ Total Bases (+110).

He will get his chance to do so against the Kansas City Royals and their starting pitcher Michael Wacha.

Wacha hasn't had the success KC likely hoped for when signing him. His ERA has been inflated to 5.50. Wacha's 4.18 SIERA shows that while he hasn't been as bad as his ERA suggests, he is still no dominant pitcher in any form. The 37.0% fly-ball rate that Wacha has put together is a good enough sign for O'Hoppe to get the ball in the air against Wacha, who has been around this mark for the better part of the last few seasons.

With Wacha holding a 1.46 WHIP, it's the highest WHIP he's had since 2020, meaning that lineups are getting on base against him with ease.

O'Hoppe may feel like an outside-of-the-box call, but he's in the position to come through as a key part of the Angels' offense.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.