It's time to get back on track, and I've found three starters who are going to help us do just that. Let's meet them as we dive into our top MLB player props for Sept. 25.
MLB Player Props for Wednesday
- Keider Montero Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+110, bet365)
- Nestor Cortes Over 4.5 Hits Allowed (-125, DraftKings)
- Jack Flaherty Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+124, FanDuel)
MLB player prop bets and MLB prop bets are becoming increasingly popular among bettors. These wagers focus on individual player performances, such as runs, home runs and strikeouts, adding excitement by allowing bettors to target specific player statistics rather than just game outcomes.
Rays vs. Tigers Player Props: Tampa Bay The Ideal Opponent for Montero
The Detriot Tigers surge late in the season has been incredible to watch, and it's time for rookie Keider Montero to join the party. Montero has not had the best rookie campaign, as he comes into this start with a 4.86 ERA.
However, this could be the outing where we see him shine as he faces the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have the fifth-highest strikeout rate in baseball against right-handed pitching, and a big reason why is that they also hold the lowest zone-contact rate in baseball.
For a pitcher like Montero, who rarely gets opposing batters to chase, the Rays are the ideal team for him to face. While Montero is far from a strikeout artist, he has averaged 4.3 strikeouts per outing this season.
So, in a plus matchup, we only need him to exceed his average by one strikeout. That is well within his range of outcomes, and we're getting a great price for him to do so.
Pick: Keider Montero Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+110)
Orioles vs. Yankees Player Props: Fade Cortes Against Baltimore
Editor's Note: Nestor Cortes (left elbow) was scratched from his scheduled start and placed on the 15-day injured list.
I'm going back to the well here and fading Nestor Cortes. Cortes has been solid for the Yankees this season, as he's pitched to a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 30 starts.
Despite his consistency this season, Cortes is due for regression as he's been incredibly fortunate this year. Cortes pounds the strike zone and allows a ton of contact in the process.
Much of that contact has been hard and not on the ground, as his hard-hit rate ranks in the 12th percentile, and his groundball rate sits in the fourth percentile. It's clear he's due to give up more hits, and the Orioles are the team that can rack them up.
The Orioles rank seventh in wRC+ and 12th in OBP against lefties on the season, and Cortes is the guy to break them out of their recent slump.
Pick:Nestor Cortes Over 4.5 Hits Allowed (-125)
Padres vs. Dodgers Player Props: Back Flaherty
Our last stop will be in Chavez Ravine where we are going to be buying the discount on Jack Flaherty. Flaherty has been one of the game's best strikeout artists this season, as his whiff and strikeout rates are in the top 10 percent of all qualified pitchers.
Flaherty will go up against the San Diego Padres, who have been one of the toughest lineups to navigate. The Padres have the lowest team strikeout rate against righties while also having the second-highest wRC+ on the season.
While the Padres are tough, they are not immune to striking out, and Flaherty is one of the pitchers who has the stuff to dominate them. However, the Padres' numbers have brought Flaherty's strikeout prop down far too low.
Flaherty has struck out at least six batters in 74 percent of his starts this year. At the current plus-money price, how could you not back him tonight?
Pick:Jack Flaherty Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+124)