Best MLB Prop Bets Today | MLB Player Props, July 21

Baltimore Orioles vs Tampa Bay Rays

My Pick: Orioles over 3.5 runs (-113 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

In the first of our three MLB prop bets for Friday night in Major League Baseball, we look toward the AL East matchup between the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. Baltimore has finally stolen first place in this division from the Rays, as Tampa has really struggled of late. Expect those struggles to bleed into this game, as the Orioles should be able to score at least four runs in this contest.

During the recent five-game losing streak for the Rays, they have allowed four or more runs on four occasions. The total for this game is set at eight runs, with the Rays team's total of 4.5 runs being heavily juiced to the under. That implies that the Orioles have a great shot at getting to at least four runs if this game is going to reach its total of eight combined runs by the end of this one.

Baltimore should be able to take advantage of Zach Eflin being on the mound for the Rays in this game as well. Eflin has given up at least two earned runs in seven straight starts for Tampa, including five earned runs in his last outing against the Kansas City Royals. The O’s will put an early hurting on Eflin to hit their total and help us cash our first ticket of the Friday MLB slate.

Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins

My Pick: Joe Ryan under 5.5 hits allowed (EVEN at DraftKings Sportsbook)

In Friday’s AL Central matchup between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins, AL Cy Young award contender Joe Ryan will take the mound for Minnesota. He does so against a White Sox team that trails the Twins by nine games in the standings of that division. Here, we expect Ryan to lock down the White Sox en route to the Twins picking up a win at home going into the weekend.

So far this season, Ryan is 8-6 with a 3.77 ERA, but he threw one of his best games of the 2023 season against the White Sox back in May. In that game, Ryan threw six innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. He struck out seven White Sox in that game, making the over on his strikeout prop for this contest worth looking into along with the under on his hits allowed on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the White Sox as a team have shown a pattern of struggling to string hits together at times. They rank in the bottom half of the league in hits as a team this year, and they have already struggled against Ryan earlier in the season. Look for Ryan to give the Twins the upper hand in this contest by keeping runners off of the bases by not allowing dangerous contact.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Los Angeles Angels

My Pick: Shohei Ohtani to record the win (+125 at PointsBet)

Our final MLB prop play for Friday’s slate comes in the contest between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels. Shohei Ohtani is on the mound for the Angels in this game, as they look to extend their three-game winning streak after sweeping the Yankees in their last series. Here, we expect Ohtani to pick up the win, as the Angels should be able to get past a Pirates team that has been struggling mightily of late.

Once the leaders in the NL Central, the Pirates are now 12 games below .500 and in last place in their division. Pittsburgh has the second-worst road record in the National League this season, entering this game at 19-28 away from PNC Park. That will be a problem for the Pirates in this game against an Angels team with one of the most dominant pitchers in the league on the hill.

Ohtani comes into this matchup with just a 7-5 record but with a strong 3.50 ERA to his name. He has struggled in his last two starts, picking up losses to the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros. However, a game against the Pirates is far less challenging than those last to contests, and Ohtani should be able to get back on track against a far less daunting lineup here.