Best MLB Prop Bets Today | MLB Player Props August 2

Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees

My Pick: First 3 innings under 2.5 runs (-130 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Our first MLB prop bet selection comes in a game that could help decide the AL Cy Young award once and for all. On Wednesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays will visit the New York Yankees, in a game where Shane McClanahan will face off against Gerrit Cole. Thanks to that pitching matchup, expect this contest to fall under the total of 2.5 runs scored in the first three innings of play.

Both starting pitchers in this game enter Wednesday night’s action with ERAs of 3.00 or lower. McClanahan comes into this game with an incredible 11-1 record and a 3.00 ERA, while Cole enters with a 9-2 record and a 2.64 ERA. Both men should bring their best to this game as they look to make a statement to Cy Young award voters against one of the other top contenders to win the award.

Along with the strong starting pitching going into this game, the offense of the Yankees is another great reason to take the under in the first three innings of the game. New York has been held to three runs or fewer as a team in three consecutive games. Against McClanahan, the Yankees' offense will continue to sputter, which will help this total for the opening third of the game to stay under.

Chicago White Sox vs Texas Rangers

My Pick: Dylan Cease under 6.5 strikeouts (-102 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

One of the most interesting names at the trade deadline in MLB was Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox. He did not end up getting moved the way that he was expected to, which means he is in Chicago for the rest of the season. His first post-deadline start comes against the Texas Rangers, and we like Cease to stay under his strikeout total of 6.5 strikeouts on Wednesday evening.

It has to be a little bit deflating for Cease not to be going to a new team for the remainder of this season. He has the potential to be one of the better pitchers in all of baseball when at his best, and wasting that potential on a team like the White Sox cannot possibly feel good. As a result, we could see Cease deliver less than his best as the weight of another few months in Chicago could drag him down.

Meanwhile, Cease is going up against one of the best offenses in all of baseball in this game on top of all that. Texas is in the bottom half of the league in strikeouts as a team this season, and they are the highest-scoring team in baseball as well. All of that points to Cease failing to rack up seven strikeouts, as he could potentially be run out of this game early in Arlington.

Oakland Athletics vs Los Angeles Dodgers

My Pick: Tony Gonsolin to record the win (+120 at PointsBet)

Our final MLB prop bet for Wednesday night comes in Los Angeles, as the Oakland Athletics visit the LA Dodgers. In that game, Tony Gonsolin will get the start for the Dodgers, and he should be able to record the win for his team. With the Dodgers being heavy favorites to win this game, Gonsolin just needs to put forth a solid start in order to qualify for the win and cash this prop bet at plus money.

Unlike many contending teams in baseball, the Dodgers did not make any substantial upgrades to their starting rotation at the trade deadline. That could boost the confidence of a pitcher like Gonsolin, who has the talent to make a difference if he is given the chance to pitch in big spots for the Dodgers. While this game is anything but a big spot, the Dodgers starter could benefit from the vote of confidence the Dodgers front office gave him.

Gonsolin should benefit from facing an anemic Oakland offense in this contest as well. They are the only team in all of baseball that has yet to score 400 runs as a team in 2023. Look for Gonsolin to go deep into this game, thanks in large part to the inability of the Athletics to score runs in bunches.

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