Welcome back to MORE or LESS! The daily Pick ‘Em preview for Week 19 of the MLB Season.
The 2nd half of the baseball season is in full swing with trade-bolstered teams ready to start their final push to the MLB playoffs. Despite the reshuffling, today’s preview highlights four players who are staying with their current teams.
Check out my analysis of Aaron Judge, Bryan Woo, Freddie Freeman, and Lars Nootbaar to get a leg up on today’s MLB props!
Houston Astros @ New York Yankees (7:15)
Cristian Javier (7-2, 4.33) vs. Clarke Schmidt (7-6, 4.39)
Analysis:
The return of Aaron Judge has provided little spark to a Yankees team desperate to get going. Judge only has 1 multi-base game since coming back from injury and continues to struggle at home (.236 avg). The Bronx star will look to turn it around against the AL’s best pitching rotation represented by Cristian Javier (Career vs: 0/5, 3 SO). Will Judge be able to drag New York into a playoff spot before it’s too late?
Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Angels (9:38 ET)
Bryan Woo (1-3, 4.96) vs. Shohei Ohtani (9-5, 3.43)
Analysis:
It’s been an up-and-down rookie season for Bryan Woo, but his best moments have showcased some impressive pitching. Woo proved his 25.8% K rate in his last outing vs. the Angels where he struck out seven. This performance is certainly repeatable, but Woo’s surges are very inconsistent. We’ll see if the rookie can find his footing against an LA team who has the 2nd highest strikeout rate these last few weeks.
Oakland Athletics @ Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 ET)
JP Sears (2-7, 4.09) vs. Julio Urias (7-6, 4.98)
Analysis:
Freddie Freeman showed no mercy to opposing pitchers in July and has carried that same attitude into this series vs. Oakland. The Dodger first baseman already has seven hits in two games while flexing a .778 batting average. “LESS” bettors won’t feel much confidence after seeing Freeman’s numbers vs left-handed pitching (2023: .338, 1.080 OPS). Can he make it 4 straight multi-hit games?
Minnesota Twins @ St. Louis Cardinals (7:45 ET)
Sonny Gray (4-4, 3.22) vs. Matthew Liberatore (1-3, 6.75)
Analysis:
Coming off of an impressive July (.309 AVG, .980 OPS), Lars Nootbaar looks to continue surging against the Twins. The USC product enters tonight’s action hitting this prop in eight of his last ten games, including the last two against Minnesota. Nootbaar, who bats .296 on the season against right-handed pitchers, should also find comfort facing the likes of Sonny Gray. Can he extend his Hits + Runs +RBIs streak to a 7th straight game?