MLB Betting: 3 Best Player Prop Bets for Thursday 7/25/24

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 Player Props

Josh Smith to Hit a Home Run (+630)

The Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers will meet up this afternoon at 2:35 p.m. ET. Jonathan Cannon will take the mound for the ChiSox, and the rookie has struggled mightily against left-handed hitters.

Through 26.0 frames, Cannon has allowed a .565 SLG, .382 wOBA, 37.9% fly-ball rate, and 2.08 home runs per nine innings to lefties. Now, these numbers are inflated given the small sample we have on Cannon, but Texas has some mean lefties who can get one over on him.

The obvious choice here is Corey Seager. The lefty has produced a .505 SLG, .230 ISO, 43.1% hard-hit rate, and 45.7% fly-ball rate against right-handed pitchers. He's also managed a 15.0% barrel rate and .293 ISO across the last 30 days of play.

Seager is in a great spot to hit a dinger, but he does draw a massive 15.5% walk rate versus righties. He also bats second for Texas, so the realistic possibility for a walk or two does shave off some of the value for me.

With this in mind, let's also consider a longer shot in Josh Smith.

Smith owns the platoon advantage and has a .449 SLG, 135 wRC+, and 37.1% fly-ball rate against righties. His overall power numbers aren't excellent, but he has managed a 55.6% fly-ball rate and .226 ISO across the last 14 days. This abridged sample may indicate that he is due, so I'm willing to back him at intriguing +630 odds.

Brent Rooker to Record an RBI (+120)

Across the last 30 days of play, Brent Rooker has generated a 22.4% barrel rate (5th-best in MLB; minimum 90 PA), 50.7% hard-hit rate (17th), 50.7% fly-ball rate (7th), and a .422 ISO (2nd).

He's swinging a super hot bat and will now get a go at a below-average lefty, so let's strike on his RBI prop.

This season, Rooker has managed a .368 ISO (6th), .632 SLG (9th), and a 56.5% fly-ball rate (5th) versus left-handed pitchers. He's one of the best sluggers in the league in this split, so Kenny Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Angels should have a hard time getting past Rooker tonight.

Rosenberg has pitched a total of 53 2/3 innings in his three-year major league tenure. In this span, he has surrendered a .415 SLG, 44.7% fly-ball rate, and 1.00 home runs per nine innings to right-handed hitters. He's been saved by a measly 7.3% HR/FB ratio, though that luck could change in a hitter-friendly Angel Stadium.

Through two appearances this season, Rosenberg has let up 7 ER in 10.0 frames. He'll have his work cut out for him in his first-ever MLB start opposite Rooker. I'll back Oakland's star to win out in this matchup.

Clayton Kershaw Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+102)

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants will meet up today at 4:10 p.m. ET.

Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the first time since October of last season. He underwent shoulder surgery on his throwing arm this offseason and will be on a pitch count this afternoon.

I don't know that we can expect Kershaw to throw past the fourth inning and would be shocked to see him pitch past the fifth inning. The Dodgers need to play it safe with the 36-year-old who is on the mend from a major shoulder operation.

This puts Kershaw's strikeout prop in jeopardy. Through two rehab starts, he threw a total of seven innings and managed seven total strikeouts. He'll now go up against a San Francisco team that sports a .324 wOBA (9th-best) and a more middle-of-the-road 22.5% K% (12th) versus lefties.

The Giants aren't the easiest draw for Kershaw, and we shouldn't expect him to have his stuff right out the gate. Five Ks might be too much to ask for with that pitch count in mind, so I'm happy to side with the +102 odds on the under.

All customers get a 50% Profit Boost to use on a LIVE 3+ leg Same Game Parlay wager on any MLB game happening July 25th! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today’s other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

Looking for more MLB betting opportunities? Check out all of the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

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.