MLB Best Bets: Banking On Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani
Both the Dodgers and the Angels are favored in tonight’s action, and we are willing to bet they both pull off wins behind their aces, but there’s not a lot of value in betting the moneyline or even the run line; however, there is value betting on both starters and their K props. Don’t fade these studs, and snap up the value while you can. You can also try a simple same-game parlay with an alternate K prop to create a plus-money payout at SI Sportsbook.
Bet: Clayton Kershaw over 6.5 K (+110)
Clayton Kershaw is striking batters out at a rate of more than 10 per nine innings, and the Rockies own the league’s highest K-rate for the month of June (28.2%). Yes, I know that Coors Field is more hitter-friendly, but add to that astronomical K-rate the fact that the Rockies rank 28th in OPS, 24th in batting average and have the second-most strikeouts this season vs. left-handed pitching (229), and it should add up to a successful night for the veteran pitcher. Kershaw has lasted 6-plus innings in each of his last four starts, and he has exceeded this prop in eight of 15 starts this season. Grab the value while you can.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports
Bet: Shohei Ohtani over 8.5 K (+110)
It’s a big number, but Shohei Ohtani had 12 punch-outs last week vs. the Dodgers and this matchup should be much easier as the White Sox are striking out at a 24.8% clip in June. Ohtani has exceeded this prop in seven of 15 games started this season and he’s well on his way to another AL MVP campaign. The White Sox are 27th in OPS, 22nd in batting average and have the eighth-most strikeouts (519) vs. right-handed pitching this year. The White Sox have scored a mere 3.23 runs per game in June -- the lowest in MLB -- and there’s no reason to think Ohtani will last fewer than six innings tonight.
Sample SISB Same Game Parlay (+125)
Angels ML
Ohtani over 7 K
Kopech over 5 K
Get creative and build your own here.
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