MLB Player Props for Friday, 8/1: Best Bets & Predictions Today
What kind of performances can we expect on Friday from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Michael Wacha, and Logan Gilbert? Follow along as our MLB betting analyst, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite MLB prop bets for Friday, August 1st. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more MLB plays, by subscribing to the RotoGrinders Props & Pick’em package.
Happy August! The Major League Baseball trade deadline is behind us, and the homestretch of the regular season is officially underway. On Friday, the league has 15 games on tap, including 13 games with a scheduled first pitch of 6:45 p.m. ET or later, for those who are unable to get away from the office during the afternoon.
As always, be sure to monitor our MLB starting lineups page throughout the day, as unexpected changes in the batting order can result in value opportunities in the betting and DFS markets.
Another reminder – it’s not a bad beat, or unlucky, if you bet a player to hit a home run and his fly ball dies on the warning track because it’s 40 degrees with the wind blowing in! Before locking in any bets, use our MLB weather page, curated by Chief Meteorologist, Kevin Roth. There are countless edges to be found if we make the right reads on possible rain delays and great hitting weather, just to name a few. Taking a look at the weather report can save us from a bad bet that otherwise looks good on the surface.
Below, you can find my 3 picks for Friday, August 1st!
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Best MLB Player Props for Friday, August 1
Here are my top player prop bets for today, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM ET on Friday, August 1st:
- Vladimir Guerrero Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
- Michael Wacha Over/Under 17.5 Outs Recorded
- Logan Gilbert Over/Under 1.5 Earned Runs Allowed
Vladimir Guerrero OVER 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-140, DraftKings)
DRAFTKINGSGuerrero has been on a tear since the All-Star Break, hitting .407 with a 225 wRC+. Today, he will get to face Michael Wacha, who has struggled to a 4.16 FIP against righties in 2025. Guerrero has 8 multi-hit efforts in his last 12 games but also has a 12.5% barrel rate with excellent contact-quality metrics in that span as well. There are a number of ways in which Guerrero could get the job done here.
Michael Wacha UNDER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-145, DraftKings)
DRAFTKINGSWacha has been one of the least efficient starting pitchers in baseball in recent weeks, averaging 4.2 pitches per batter faced. During July, Wacha threw only 54.3% first-pitch strikes, which led to extended at-bats and elevated pitch counts earlier in contests. As a result, he’s only completed 6 innings in 1 of his last 5 turns through the rotation. Toronto is one of the more aggressive lineups in baseball, which could combat Wacha’s inefficiency, to a degree, but the Blue Jays also lead the league in wRC+ during the last 14 days. Wacha could see a quick hook this evening.
Logan Gilbert OVER 1.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-130, DraftKings)
DRAFTKINGSSince returning from the injured list, Gilbert simply hasn’t been the same pitcher we are used to seeing on the mound. In 8 starts, he has struggled to a 4.07 ERA. His 3.36 FIP and 1.14 WHIP offer some reason for optimism, but he’s been allowing a lot of quality contact – 13% barrel rate in that span. Gilbert has allowed 2+ earned runs in 5 of his last 8 turns through the rotation. There is value on the over here, in an important matchup against the Rangers, who are also fighting for a playoff position.
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