May 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Dillon Tate (55) throws a ninth inning pitch against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
- Friday, May 31 boasts a loaded MLB slate and plenty of betting options for both strikeouts and home runs. Top matchups include Kansas City vs. San Diego, Philadelphia vs. St. Louis and New York vs. San Francisco.
- Player Props for Friday’s slate have been posted on top betting sites such as Fanatics, Caesars, DraftKings and more!
- Take a look at some of the best available player props for Friday’s contests below.
We’ve got a strong slate set for Friday, May 31 with plenty of betting opportunities heading into the weekend. The last day of May offers strong matchups such as the Royals vs. Padres, Phillies vs. Cardinals and Yankees vs. Giants among a total of 15 games.
Let’s not waste any time: Here’s a look at some of the best strikeout and home run props for Friday’s loaded slate.
Best MLB Strikeout Props (May 31)
| Prop (Game) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jose Soriano over 5.5 Ks (DK + Fanatics) | -150 |
| Pablo Lopez under 5.5 Ks (DK) | +110 |
| Dylan Cease over 6.5 Ks (Fanatics + DK) | +120 |
Soriano is a good strikeout pitcher with 51 on the year across 51 innings pitched, but this bet is attractive because of who he and the Angels are facing off against. Sure, the Mariners boast a strong hitting lineup, but it’s also one that has struck out more than any team in Major League Baseball this season – by a significant margin. Soriano has exceeded 5.5 Ks in 3 of his last 4 starts and missed the fourth by just 1 K.
On the other side of things, Pablo Lopez is facing the most strikeout averse team in Major League Baseball – the Astros. Lopez, despite being a top 20 strikeout thrower in the league, has missed this total in 2 of his last 3 against strong hitting teams. DraftKings has his total at +110 while Caesars sits at -104 and Fanatics sits at +105 as of writing.
Perhaps the most potentially favorable odds of the day go to Dylan Cease +120 over 6.5 Ks. Cease, one of the top strikeout pitchers in the majors, faces a Royals team that, admittedly, does not strike out a ton. However, the Royals have struggled against RHP this season and Cease has been a machine at throwing Ks, having not been under 5 this entire season and averaging 7.5 across just under an average of 6 innings of work per start.
Best MLB Home Run Props to Target
| To Hit HR (Game) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Shohei Ohtani (LAD vs. COL) (DraftKings) | +250 |
| Gunnar Henderson (BAL vs. TB) (Fanatics) | +425 |
| Willy Adames (MIL vs. CWS) (DraftKings) | +475 |
Home run bets are, well, home run bets. It’s tough to track when a player might have favorable odds to jack one out of the park, but Ohtani is always as strong a bet as any. He faces Dakota Hudson tonight, who has given up 5 homers across 50 innings pitched.
Henderson faces off against Aaron Civale and the Rays tonight, and he’s seen success against the RHP in the past. He’s recorded 1 home run in just 2 at-bats against Civale, and it’s important to remember that Tampa has allowed the 2nd most home runs this season as a team behind only the White Sox.
Adames has faced Erick Fedde twice this season and drawn a walk. Chicago, as stated above, has allowed the most home runs on the season and Adames is the Brewers’ best home run hitter, with 2 in their last series against the Cubs alone.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South and contributor with SBD!
As we approach the end of May, baseball fans are gearing up for another exciting day of MLB action. With several games on the schedule for May 31, there are plenty of opportunities for bettors to get in on the action with some prop bets. In particular, two popular prop bets to consider for today’s games are strikeouts and home runs.
When it comes to strikeouts, one pitcher to keep an eye on is Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees. Cole has been dominant on the mound this season, racking up strikeouts at an impressive rate. In his last start, he struck out 12 batters in just six innings of work. With a favorable matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 31, Cole is a strong candidate to rack up double-digit strikeouts once again.
On the other side of the ball, one player to watch for home runs is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani has been on a tear at the plate this season, hitting home runs at a blistering pace. In fact, he leads the league in home runs with 17 on the season. With a matchup against the San Francisco Giants on May 31, Ohtani has a good chance to add to his home run total and provide some value for bettors looking to cash in on the long ball.
In addition to Cole and Ohtani, there are several other players to consider for strikeouts and home runs prop bets on May 31. Pitchers like Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets and hitters like Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves are also worth keeping an eye on for these types of bets.
Overall, prop bets for strikeouts and home runs can add an extra layer of excitement to watching MLB games. By doing some research and keeping an eye on key players and matchups, bettors can increase their chances of making a profit on these types of bets. As always, it’s important to gamble responsibly and only wager what you can afford to lose. Good luck and enjoy the action on May 31!
