Chris Toman

Chris joined NorthStar Gaming from Covers.com where he was a publishing editor and wrote betting content. Before that, he was the sports editor at VICE Canada, worked for theScore and covered the Blue Jays for MLB.com. In addition to filling out the lineup card each day for the editorial team, Chris writes frequently himself, primarily on the NBA and MLB.

Best MLB prop bets June 6: Back Schwellenbach against Giants, Soto at Coors on Friday night

MLB prop bets

Two starting pitchers and Juan Soto are featured in Friday’s top MLB prop picks.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Spencer Schwellenbach enters in top form, sporting a 2.16 ERA over his last five starts with some big swing and miss. He’s set up well again tonight against the San Francisco Giants at their pitcher-friendly home park.

Check out my best MLB prop bets for June 6, featuring a prediction on Los Angeles Angels righty Kyle Hendricks.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Schwellebach over 5.5 Ks (-143)

I’m surprised this price is available, but don’t anticipate that being the case by first pitch at Oracle Park.

Schwellenbach has big strikeout upside: He has punched out 11 batters in back-to-back starts and has another 10-K outing this season.

The sophomore had a pair of double-digit strikeout games in his 2024 rookie year, finishing with a well-above-average 25.4 K%.

His Ks are down a bit this season, but he’s still above average at missing bats and generally works deep into ballgames.

Schwellenbach has gone six-plus innings in five straight starts and 10 of 12 on the season.

At a run-suppressing park against a team with the 12th-highest K rate in the majors — and below-average power vs. righties — this is an attractive play to me.

Key stat: Schwellenbach’s 11-K performance two starts ago came against the San Diego Padres, the most difficult team in the NL to strike out.

Best MLB picks

Hendricks under 17.5 outs (-118): The veteran has recorded 17-plus outs in five of his last six starts, clearing this line in half of them.

But his performances haven’t exactly been pretty. The 12th-year veteran has allowed three-plus runs in five straight outings and is vulnerable to a blowup each time he takes the mound.

  • Lowest K/9 rate of his career
  • Highest HR/9 rate of his career
  • 2nd-highest BB/9 rate of his career

Hendricks enters tonight’s start against the Seattle Mariners with a bottom-of-the-barrel whiff rate and a 5.34 ERA. Getting this many outs from an arm that struggles to miss bats is asking a lot.

The Angels were off Thursday, so the bullpen comes in with more rest than usual.

Seattle has the seventh-best offence in baseball by wRC+ and is top 10 in homers.

Soto over 1.5 total bases (-120): This price on Soto at Coors Field? The superstar’s struggles and high walk rate lead to this number, but this still feels like a steal.

That’s especially the case when you consider Colorado’s starter: Antonio Senzatela.

The Rockies right-hander has allowed four-plus runs in nine of 12 starts, including seven straight.

  • Senzatela has a 7.14 ERA (the highest among qualified starters is 5.51).
  • The New York Mets pounded him for seven runs and eight hits (two homers) in his last start. One of those home runs was hit by Soto.
  • Left-handed batters are hitting .409 off Senzatela with a 1.022 OPS.

Soto is hitting .229 with a disappointing .797 OPS, but perhaps a breakout is coming. His batted ball metrics are elite, and he’s slugging .773 with a 1.257 OPS over the past week.

MLB prop picks made at 1:12 p.m. ET on 06/06/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 6: Back Schwellenbach against Giants, Soto at Coors on Friday night

MLB prop bets

Two starting pitchers and Juan Soto are featured in Friday’s top MLB prop picks.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Spencer Schwellenbach enters in top form, sporting a 2.16 ERA over his last five starts with some big swing and miss. He’s set up well again tonight against the San Francisco Giants at their pitcher-friendly home park.

Check out my best MLB prop bets for June 6, featuring a prediction on Los Angeles Angels righty Kyle Hendricks.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Schwellebach over 5.5 Ks (-143)

I’m surprised this price is available, but don’t anticipate that being the case by first pitch at Oracle Park.

Schwellenbach has big strikeout upside: He has punched out 11 batters in back-to-back starts and has another 10-K outing this season.

The sophomore had a pair of double-digit strikeout games in his 2024 rookie year, finishing with a well-above-average 25.4 K%.

His Ks are down a bit this season, but he’s still above average at missing bats and generally works deep into ballgames.

Schwellenbach has gone six-plus innings in five straight starts and 10 of 12 on the season.

At a run-suppressing park against a team with the 12th-highest K rate in the majors — and below-average power vs. righties — this is an attractive play to me.

Key stat: Schwellenbach’s 11-K performance two starts ago came against the San Diego Padres, the most difficult team in the NL to strike out.

Embed: #114569

Best MLB picks

Hendricks under 17.5 outs (-107): The veteran has recorded 17-plus outs in five of his last six starts, clearing this line in half of them.

But his performances haven’t exactly been pretty. The 12th-year veteran has allowed three-plus runs in five straight outings and is vulnerable to a blowup each time he takes the mound.

  • Lowest K/9 rate of his career
  • Highest HR/9 rate of his career
  • 2nd-highest BB/9 rate of his career

Hendricks enters tonight’s start against the Seattle Mariners with a bottom-of-the-barrel whiff rate and a 5.34 ERA. Getting this many outs from an arm that struggles to miss bats is asking a lot.

The Angels were off Thursday, so the bullpen comes in with more rest than usual.

Seattle has the seventh-best offence in baseball by wRC+ and is top 10 in homers.

Soto over 1.5 total bases (-120): This price on Soto at Coors Field? The superstar’s struggles and high walk rate lead to this number, but this still feels like a steal.

That’s especially the case when you consider Colorado’s starter: Antonio Senzatela.

The Rockies right-hander has allowed four-plus runs in nine of 12 starts, including seven straight.

  • Senzatela has a 7.14 ERA (the highest among qualified starters is 5.51).
  • The New York Mets pounded him for seven runs and eight hits (two homers) in his last start. One of those home runs was hit by Soto.
  • Left-handed batters are hitting .409 off Senzatela with a 1.022 OPS.

Soto is hitting .229 with a disappointing .797 OPS, but perhaps a breakout is coming. His batted ball metrics are elite, and he’s slugging .773 with a 1.257 OPS over the past week.

MLB prop picks made at 1:12 p.m. ET on 06/06/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 5: Back hitters James Wood and Jonathan Aranda on Thursday

MLB prop bets

Today’s light MLB schedule wraps up early, but I’m still serving up three prop pick recommendations for Thursday’s action.

Today’s MLB props narrative: James Wood, 22, is hitting like a seasoned veteran. I like the price point on his total bases prop, which the Washington Nationals star has been clearing at a high clip.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for June 5, featuring predictions on Jonathan Aranda.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Wood over 1.5 total bases (+115)

Only five players in MLB have topped 1.5 bases more frequently than Wood, per Team Rankings. 

The left-handed hitting slugger is raking, entering the day with 16 homers and a .940 OPS. 

To attack Wood and get leadoff man CJ Abrams to bat from the right side, the Chicago Cubs are deploying lefty opener Drew Pomeranz. 

But losing the platoon advantage in his first plate appearance isn’t a huge issue to me, considering how Wood has handled southpaws and who he’ll see after that. 

Wood is slugging an impressive .520 vs. LHPs with an .865 OPS. 

Once Pomeranz’s day is done, Chicago is turning to righty Colin Rea, who has been much more effective against RHBs this season. 

Rea doesn’t strike out a lot of batters and doesn’t walk many either, giving Wood a good chance to put the ball in play.

Key stat: Wood has cleared 1.5 total bases in 11 of his last 15 games, hitting .315 with a 1.048 OPS.

Best MLB picks

Aranda over 1.5 total bases (+120): The Tampa Bay Rays first baseman has demolished right-handed pitching and is tearing the cover off the ball at home. 

He’ll see a right-hander tonight at home when his Rays host Jack Leiter and the Texas Rangers.

The hard-throwing righty has been a servicable backend arm but has lacked swing and miss and struggled with control, heightening his chances to put himself in hitters’ counts.

That should bode well for a bat like Aranda, whose .326 average and 170 wRC+ both rank sixth in MLB.

  • Aranda at home: .385/.460/.578
  • Aranda vs. RHPs: .338/.417/.556

The 27-year-old has recorded 17 of his 19 extra-base hits vs. righties.

MLB prop picks made at 12:25 p.m. ET on 06/05/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 5: Back hitters James Wood and Jonathan Aranda on Thursday

MLB prop bets

Today’s light MLB schedule wraps up early, but I’m still serving up three prop pick recommendations for Thursday’s action.

Today’s MLB props narrative: James Wood, 22, is hitting like a seasoned veteran. I like the price point on his total bases prop, which the Washington Nationals star has been clearing at a high clip.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for June 5, featuring predictions on Jonathan Aranda and Robbie Ray.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Wood over 1.5 total bases (+107)

Only five players in MLB have topped 1.5 bases more frequently than Wood, per Team Rankings. 

The left-handed hitting slugger is raking, entering the day with 16 homers and a .940 OPS. 

To attack Wood and get leadoff man CJ Abrams to bat from the right side, the Chicago Cubs are deploying lefty opener Drew Pomeranz. 

But losing the platoon advantage in his first plate appearance isn’t a huge issue to me, considering how Wood has handled southpaws and who he’ll see after that. 

Wood is slugging an impressive .520 vs. LHPs with an .865 OPS. 

Once Pomeranz’s day is done, Chicago is turning to righty Colin Rea, who has been much more effective against RHBs this season. 

Rea doesn’t strike out a lot of batters and doesn’t walk many either, giving Wood a good chance to put the ball in play.

Key stat: Wood has cleared 1.5 total bases in 11 of his last 15 games, hitting .315 with a 1.048 OPS.

Embed: #114532

Best MLB picks

Aranda over 1.5 total bases (+120): The Tampa Bay Rays first baseman has demolished right-handed pitching and is tearing the cover off the ball at home. 

He’ll see a right-hander tonight at home when his Rays host Jack Leiter and the Texas Rangers.

The hard-throwing righty has been a servicable backend arm but has lacked swing and miss and struggled with control, heightening his chances to put himself in hitters’ counts.

That should bode well for a bat like Aranda, whose .326 average and 170 wRC+ both rank sixth in MLB.

  • Aranda at home: .385/.460/.578
  • Aranda vs. RHPs: .338/.417/.556

The 27-year-old has recorded 17 of his 19 extra-base hits vs. righties.

Ray over 5.5 Ks (-141): You can make a case to be on either side of this line or just stay away altogether. 

The San Diego Padres are the most difficult team to strike out in the National League and fan at the second-lowest rate vs. lefties in all of MLB. 

Ray, on the other hand, has been dynamite, sporting an exceptional K rate (top 15 among starters) and working deep into ball games. 

That latter point helps make this playable for me. 

San Diego’s offence, while dangerous, has been sputtering. 

  • The Padres rank 26th in wRC+ over the last two weeks and have gotten on base at the third-worst clip in baseball over that stretch. 
  • Ray has worked six-plus innings in seven consecutive outings.
  • He eclipsed this number in all but one of those starts and put up a 1.38 ERA in six May outings. 

And he’ll be at home today, where he has a 1.89 ERA at his pitcher-friendly park.

MLB prop picks made at 12:25 p.m. ET on 06/05/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 4: Back Freddie Freeman and Orioles bats Gunnar Henderson, Ryan O’Hearn

MLB prop bets

Freddie Freeman is once again featured in the best MLB prop picks for today’s baseball games.

Today’s MLB props narrative: The Los Angeles Dodgers star is as hot as anyone in the game and has an enticing price on his total bases prop. Freeman keeps cashing it, so I’ll keep playing it.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for Wednesday, June 4, featuring predictions on Baltimore Orioles teammates Gunnar Henderson and Ryan O’Hearn.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Freeman over 1.5 total bases (+100)

I successfully recommended Freeman on this market yesterday on the basis that he was facing a right-hander. 

He sees one again tonight, and I’m turning back to it. 

Freeman and the Dodgers get New York starter Griffin Canning, who has been solid in his debut season with the Mets but is not someone you need to shy away from.

Canning (3.23 ERA) entered 2025 with a 4.96 ERA over his last three seasons and is an obvious regression candidate, sporting a career-high strand rate despite a career-high walk rate.

By wRC+, Freeman has been the best hitter in baseball outside of Aaron Judge. And no one has been more successful vs. right-handed pitching.

See where Freeman stacks up across several key categories when he has the platoon advantage:

  • AVG: .403 (1st)
  • SLG: .694 (1st)
  • wOBA: .489 (1st)
  • wRC+: 220 (2nd)

At home, Freeman is batting .387/.458/.632. His power is back and he’s hitting a career-best .369.

The former MVP is a slam-dunk play at this price any time he’s up against a right-hander.

Key stat: Freeman has topped this line in seven of his last nine games.

Best MLB picks

Henderson over 1.5 total bases (+100): Baltimore’s star shortstop started slow but has turned his season around and has particularly hit righties well.

Henderson is batting .321 with a .930 OPS vs. RHPs, clubbing six of his seven homers off them.

His Orioles see a struggling one tonight in Seattle’s Emerson Hancock. The Mariners starter is coming off a good outing but hasn’t been missing bats and carries a 5.64 ERA into tonight’s start.

Hancock has the luxury of throwing at his pitcher-friendly home stadium, but T-Mobile Park hasn’t been kind to him.

The 26-year-old has a 9.53 ERA in four home starts.

O’Hearn over 0.5 RBI (+170): I’ll end with an attempted bigger splash on one of Henderson’s teammates.

While Hancock gets the last-place Orioles, the team has been competent at the dish recently, sporting an above-average 106 wRC+ over the last two weeks.

At the centre of the charge has been O’Hearn, who has made a living hitting righties the last few seasons but is demolishing everyone thrown at him this year.

O’Hearn is top five in the majors in:

  • AVG: .335
  • OBP: .423
  • wRC+: 177

He generally occupies the No. 4 or 5 spot in Baltimore’s lineup, prime run-producing positions.

Behind Henderson and a thriving Jackson Holliday, O’Hearn should get his chances tonight.

MLB prop picks made at 2:35 p.m. ET on 06/04/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 4: Back Freddie Freeman and Orioles bats Gunnar Henderson, Ryan O’Hearn

MLB prop bets

Freddie Freeman is once again featured in the best MLB prop picks for today’s baseball games.

Today’s MLB props narrative: The Los Angeles Dodgers star is as hot as anyone in the game and has an enticing price on his total bases prop. Freeman keeps cashing it, so I’ll keep playing it.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for Wednesday, June 4, featuring predictions on Baltimore Orioles teammates Gunnar Henderson and Ryan O’Hearn.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Freeman over 1.5 total bases (+105)

I successfully recommended Freeman on this market yesterday on the basis that he was facing a right-hander. 

He sees one again tonight, and I’m turning back to it. 

Freeman and the Dodgers get New York starter Griffin Canning, who has been solid in his debut season with the Mets but is not someone you need to shy away from.

Canning (3.23 ERA) entered 2025 with a 4.96 ERA over his last three seasons and is an obvious regression candidate, sporting a career-high strand rate despite a career-high walk rate.

By wRC+, Freeman has been the best hitter in baseball outside of Aaron Judge. And no one has been more successful vs. right-handed pitching.

See where Freeman stacks up across several key categories when he has the platoon advantage:

  • AVG: .403 (1st)
  • SLG: .694 (1st)
  • wOBA: .489 (1st)
  • wRC+: 220 (2nd)

At home, Freeman is batting .387/.458/.632. His power is back and he’s hitting a career-best .369.

The former MVP is a slam-dunk play at this price any time he’s up against a right-hander.

Key stat: Freeman has topped this line in seven of his last nine games.

Embed: #114495

Best MLB picks

Henderson over 1.5 total bases (-121): Baltimore’s star shortstop started slow but has turned his season around and has particularly hit righties well.

Henderson is batting .321 with a .930 OPS vs. RHPs, clubbing six of his seven homers off them.

His Orioles see a struggling one tonight in Seattle’s Emerson Hancock. The Mariners starter is coming off a good outing but hasn’t been missing bats and carries a 5.64 ERA into tonight’s start.

Hancock has the luxury of throwing at his pitcher-friendly home stadium, but T-Mobile Park hasn’t been kind to him.

The 26-year-old has a 9.53 ERA in four home starts.

O’Hearn over 0.5 RBI (+170): I’ll end with an attempted bigger splash on one of Henderson’s teammates.

While Hancock gets the last-place Orioles, the team has been competent at the dish recently, sporting an above-average 106 wRC+ over the last two weeks.

At the centre of the charge has been O’Hearn, who has made a living hitting righties the last few seasons but is demolishing everyone thrown at him this year.

O’Hearn is top five in the majors in:

  • AVG: .335
  • OBP: .423
  • wRC+: 177

He generally occupies the No. 4 or 5 spot in Baltimore’s lineup, prime run-producing positions.

Behind Henderson and a thriving Jackson Holliday, O’Hearn should get his chances tonight.

MLB prop picks made at 2:35 p.m. ET on 06/04/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 3: Back Freddie Freeman and Pete Crow-Armstrong, fade Zac Gallen

MLB prop bets

A play on Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman is my best bet for Tuesday’s MLB prop picks.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Freeman’s teammate grabs all the headlines, but don’t overlook what the former MVP is doing himself. The L.A. first baseman has been tearing the cover off the ball and I like him to produce against the New York Mets tonight.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for June 3, featuring predictions on Zac Gallen and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Freeman over 1.5 total bases (+115)

Let’s get right to it: Freeman has a 1.085 OPS at home and a 1.163 OPS against righties.

He’s hit seven homers, an NL-leading 14 doubles and paces MLB with a .403 average vs. RHPs. 

His Dodgers host Tylor Megill and the Mets on Tuesday night. Megill isn’t the best arm to face on a total bases prop due to his low home run rate and high volume of walks and strikeouts. 

But at this price, Freeman is an auto-play for me. 

He’s been mashing all season, topping his MVP teammate Shohei Ohtani in batting average, on-base percentage and wRC+. 

Freeman’s power has come back in a big way following a down 2024 regular season. 

  • ISO: .194; SLG: .476; wRC+: 137
  • ISO: .253; SLG: .621; wRC+: 191

Key stat: Freeman has topped this line in six of his last eight games.

Best MLB picks

Gallen under 17.5 outs (-134): I don’t trust this version of Gallen against this version of the Atlanta Braves. 

Ronald Acuna Jr. is back atop the Braves’ lineup and has a 1.042 OPS through nine games. He has homered three times and is slugging .647. 

Acuna completely changes the dynamic of this team, hitting in front of sluggers Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson and Austin Riley. 

And Gallen simply hasn’t been good. 

  • Gallen has allowed 4+ runs in seven of his 12 starts. That includes each of his last four.
  • His 5.54 ERA and 1.40 WHIP are both career-worst marks. 
  • He hasn’t completed six innings since back-to-back outings against the Mets at the start of May and is 5-7 against this line on the season. 

Gallen has walked multiple batters in all but one outing, and the once-big-strikeout arm is just hovering above the league-average rate for starters. 

The reeling Diamondbacks were off yesterday, giving their bullpen a much-needed breather after taking on a heavy workload in their weekend series against the Washington Nationals.

Crow-Armstrong over 1.5 total bases (-108): Speaking of the Nats, I want a lefty bat vs. Washington righty Trevor Williams. 

For the Chicago Cubs, Kyle Tucker naturally comes to mind. You’ll be paying a steep price if you want to back him, though (-163 to score; -130 to go over 1.5 bases). 

But Crow-Armstrong is a viable option.

Crow-Armstrong is coming off a big month and punishes righties. Williams, on the other hand, has been getting rocked by left-handed batters, making this an obvious play for me.

  • Williams vs. LHBs: 354/.396/.546
  • Crow-Armstrong vs. RHPs: .315/.350/.625

The 23-year-old Cubs breakout star has hit 12 of his 15 homers vs. RHPs and is 9-6 against this line in his last 15 games.

MLB prop picks made at 1:20 p.m. ET on 06/03/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 3: Back Freddie Freeman and Pete Crow-Armstrong, fade Zac Gallen

MLB prop bets

A play on Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman is my best bet for Tuesday’s MLB prop picks.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Freeman’s teammate grabs all the headlines, but don’t overlook what the former MVP is doing himself. The L.A. first baseman has been tearing the cover off the ball and I like him to produce against the New York Mets tonight.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for June 3, featuring predictions on Zac Gallen and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Freeman over 1.5 total bases (+117)

Let’s get right to it: Freeman has a 1.085 OPS at home and a 1.163 OPS against righties.

He’s hit seven homers, an NL-leading 14 doubles and paces MLB with a .403 average vs. RHPs. 

His Dodgers host Tylor Megill and the Mets on Tuesday night. Megill isn’t the best arm to face on a total bases prop due to his low home run rate and high volume of walks and strikeouts. 

But at this price, Freeman is an auto-play for me. 

He’s been mashing all season, topping his MVP teammate Shohei Ohtani in batting average, on-base percentage and wRC+. 

Freeman’s power has come back in a big way following a down 2024 regular season. 

  • ISO: .194; SLG: .476; wRC+: 137
  • ISO: .253; SLG: .621; wRC+: 191

Key stat: Freeman has topped this line in six of his last eight games.

Embed: #114453

Best MLB picks

Gallen under 17.5 outs (-124): I don’t trust this version of Gallen against this version of the Atlanta Braves. 

Ronald Acuna Jr. is back atop the Braves’ lineup and has a 1.042 OPS through nine games. He has homered three times and is slugging .647. 

Acuna completely changes the dynamic of this team, hitting in front of sluggers Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson and Austin Riley. 

And Gallen simply hasn’t been good. 

  • Gallen has allowed 4+ runs in seven of his 12 starts. That includes each of his last four.
  • His 5.54 ERA and 1.40 WHIP are both career-worst marks. 
  • He hasn’t completed six innings since back-to-back outings against the Mets at the start of May and is 5-7 against this line on the season. 

Gallen has walked multiple batters in all but one outing, and the once-big-strikeout arm is just hovering above the league-average rate for starters. 

The reeling Diamondbacks were off yesterday, giving their bullpen a much-needed breather after taking on a heavy workload in their weekend series against the Washington Nationals.

Crow-Armstrong over 1.5 total bases (-104): Speaking of the Nats, I want a lefty bat vs. Washington righty Trevor Williams. 

For the Chicago Cubs, Kyle Tucker naturally comes to mind. You’ll be paying a steep price if you want to back him, though (-165 to score; -137 to go over 1.5 bases). 

But Crow-Armstrong is a viable option.

Crow-Armstrong is coming off a big month and punishes righties. Williams, on the other hand, has been getting rocked by left-handed batters, making this an obvious play for me.

  • Williams vs. LHBs: 354/.396/.546
  • Crow-Armstrong vs. RHPs: .315/.350/.625

The 23-year-old Cubs breakout star has hit 12 of his 15 homers vs. RHPs and is 9-6 against this line in his last 15 games.

MLB prop picks made at 1:20 p.m. ET on 06/03/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 2: Fade Logan Webb and back Jack Flaherty, Elly De La Cruz

MLB prop bets

Three pitchers are featured in the best MLB prop picks for Monday’s seven-game slate.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Two of those arms (Jack Flaherty and Jonathan Cannon) oppose each other when the Detroit Tigers meet the Chicago White Sox. Both lineups have been prone to striking out, and I like the starters to take advantage.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for June 2, featuring predictions on Logan Webb and Elly De La Cruz.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Flaherty over 6.5 Ks (-120)

The veteran righty has an 88th-percentile K rate after ranking fourth among starters with a 29.9 K% last season. 

Flaherty’s knuckle curve has been an elite swing-and-miss pitch that he throws to both left and right-handed batters. 

And he enters in good form, at least as far as the Ks go:

  • Flaherty has punched out eight batters in three of five May starts. 
  • The 29-year-old fanned seven White Sox when he faced them in April.
  • He’s 6-5 vs. this line on the season.

Key stat: The White Sox have the seventh-highest K rate and second-worst wRC+ vs. right-handers.

Best MLB picks

Cannon over 4.5 Ks (+100): Cannon doesn’t wow in the K department, but he has reached this number in five of his 11 starts. 

He was less successful in his 2024 rookie season but he did soak innings, working at least six frames in 11 of his 23 outings. 

This year, he’s doing more of the same: 18-plus outs in five starts, working into the sixth inning another two times. 

Cannon’s consistently getting opportunities to pile up Ks, making up for his actual lack of strikeouts. 

Detroit is in an offensive rut over the last two weeks, making this light line an attractive plus-money play.

  • Highest K rate in MLB
  • 29th in batting average
  • 28th in wRC+ 

Cannon has also thrown the ball much better at home:

  • Home: 3.35 ERA, .687 OPS (15 career outings)
  • Road: 5.18 ERA, .820 OPS (19 outings)

Webb under 19.5 outs (-118): Webb is a workhorse who is probably one of the better bets in the game to hit this large number. 

The San Francisco Giants ace eclipsed the 200-inning mark in back-to-back seasons and leads the majors in innings pitched since 2022. 

But asking any starter to get multiple outs in the seventh is a tall order. 

  • Webb has done so five times in 12 starts.
  • In 2024, he cleared this in 15 of 33 outings.

He’s at his pitcher-friendly park vs. the San Diego Padres, a scuffling but gifted lineup. 

The Padres, 27th in wRC+ over the last two weeks, have been league average on the season and have several powerful bats. 

Five of them have a wRC+ of at least 130, and Webb hasn’t exactly had great success with them either. 

This Padres roster has a career .314 batting average against Webb over 188 career at-bats.

Monday’s best hitter prop

De La Cruz over 1.5 total bases (-106): The dynamic Cincinnati Reds shortstop has been a completely different hitter this year when batting from the left side and at home. 

Tonight, the switch-hitter will do both when his Reds host Adam Civale and the Milwaukee Brewers.

SituationAverageSluggingOPS
Home.286.505.869
Road.234.414.717
Vs. RHP.288.532.899
Vs. LHP.195.299.552

De La Cruz has drastic left/right splits for his career, too.

Civale is an unimposing arm who surrenders plenty of contact. He’ll be followed by a Brewers bullpen that’s 23rd in ERA and pitching at one of the game’s most hitter-friendly venues.

De La Cruz has topped this in six of his last eight games and has a 1.080 OPS over his last 10.

MLB prop picks made at 12:40 p.m. ET on 06/02/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 2: Fade Logan Webb and back Jack Flaherty, Elly De La Cruz

MLB prop bets

Three pitchers are featured in the best MLB prop picks for Monday’s seven-game slate.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Two of those arms (Jack Flaherty and Jonathan Cannon) oppose each other when the Detroit Tigers meet the Chicago White Sox. Both lineups have been prone to striking out, and I like the starters to take advantage.

Check out my top MLB prop bets for June 2, featuring predictions on Logan Webb and Elly De La Cruz.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Flaherty over 6.5 Ks (+117)

The veteran righty has an 88th-percentile K rate after ranking fourth among starters with a 29.9 K% last season. 

Flaherty’s knuckle curve has been an elite swing-and-miss pitch that he throws to both left and right-handed batters. 

And he enters in good form, at least as far as the Ks go:

  • Flaherty has punched out eight batters in three of five May starts. 
  • The 29-year-old fanned seven White Sox when he faced them in April.
  • He’s 6-5 vs. this line on the season.

Key stat: The White Sox have the seventh-highest K rate and second-worst wRC+ vs. right-handers.

Embed: #114413

Best MLB picks

Cannon over 4.5 Ks (+106): Cannon doesn’t wow in the K department, but he has reached this number in five of his 11 starts. 

He was less successful in his 2024 rookie season but he did soak innings, working at least six frames in 11 of his 23 outings. 

This year, he’s doing more of the same: 18-plus outs in five starts, working into the sixth inning another two times. 

Cannon’s consistently getting opportunities to pile up Ks, making up for his actual lack of strikeouts. 

Detroit is in an offensive rut over the last two weeks, making this light line an attractive plus-money play.

  • Highest K rate in MLB
  • 29th in batting average
  • 28th in wRC+ 

Cannon has also thrown the ball much better at home:

  • Home: 3.35 ERA, .687 OPS (15 career outings)
  • Road: 5.18 ERA, .820 OPS (19 outings)

Webb under 19.5 outs (-115): Webb is a workhorse who is probably one of the better bets in the game to hit this large number. 

The San Francisco Giants ace eclipsed the 200-inning mark in back-to-back seasons and leads the majors in innings pitched since 2022. 

But asking any starter to get multiple outs in the seventh is a tall order. 

  • Webb has done so five times in 12 starts.
  • In 2024, he cleared this in 15 of 33 outings.

He’s at his pitcher-friendly park vs. the San Diego Padres, a scuffling but gifted lineup. 

The Padres, 27th in wRC+ over the last two weeks, have been league average on the season and have several powerful bats. 

Five of them have a wRC+ of at least 130, and Webb hasn’t exactly had great success with them either. 

This Padres roster has a career .314 batting average against Webb over 188 career at-bats.

Monday’s best hitter prop

De La Cruz over 1.5 total bases (+102): The dynamic Cincinnati Reds shortstop has been a completely different hitter this year when batting from the left side and at home. 

Tonight, the switch-hitter will do both when his Reds host Adam Civale and the Milwaukee Brewers.

SituationAverageSluggingOPS
Home.286.505.869
Road.234.414.717
Vs. RHP.288.532.899
Vs. LHP.195.299.552

De La Cruz has drastic left/right splits for his career, too.

Civale is an unimposing arm who surrenders plenty of contact. He’ll be followed by a Brewers bullpen that’s 23rd in ERA and pitching at one of the game’s most hitter-friendly venues.

De La Cruz has topped this in six of his last eight games and has a 1.080 OPS over his last 10.

MLB prop picks made at 12:40 p.m. ET on 06/02/2025.