Best Bets in Sports: Two Pitcher Props to Lead Off MLB Playoffs 

MLB playoffs begin on Tuesday with games all day beginning at 3 p.m. ET, providing plenty of opportunities to place wagers. The wild-card round features four best-of-three series, with the higher seed getting each game at home over three consecutive days. The Rays host the Rangers and the Blue Jays play at the Twins in the American League, and the Phillies host the Marlins and the Diamondbacks play at the Brewers. Here are my best bets for tonight involving two pitcher props:

Zack Wheeler UNDER 6.5 strikeouts (-115 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
Wheeler has gone under seven strikeouts in eight of his last 11 starts. He was limited in his final start of the regular season with 67 pitches. The Marlins don’t strike out often with a 21.3% strikeout rate, which is the eighth-best mark in baseball. Wheeler has faced the Marlins three times this season. In the last one in Miami on Aug. 2, the Phillies’ right-hander struck out four over six innings. He struck out seven in six innings at Miami on July 7 and six in six innings at home on April 12. Managers tend to have a quicker hook in the postseason, especially in the wild-card round since it’s best-of-three. Wheeler has been under this total in 50% of his 32 starts.

Kevin Gausman OVER 15.5 outs (-130 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
While there’s a risk with starting pitchers getting pulled earlier than usual due to the short series, Gausman is an ace and will likely get more of a chance to get out of jams unless he’s getting shelled. Gausman has recorded at least 16 outs in 23 of 31 starts. The number is likely low due to his struggles against Minnesota. He went 4.1 and 5.1 innings in his starts against the Twins this season and allowed nine walks and seven earned runs. Gausman has a 6.35 ERA in 11 career starts against the Twins and a 5.70 ERA in six starts at Target Field. Gausman has a nasty splitter and the Twins batted .147 against the pitch and a 40.5% strikeout rate against the pitch.

Yesterday’s record: 1-1 (-.09 units)
All-time record: 53–28 (+17.8 units)