MLB Player Props for Tuesday, 4/8: Best Bets & Predictions Today
What kind of performances can we expect on Tuesday from Cole Ragans, Framber Valdez, and Easton Lucas? Follow along as our MLB betting analyst, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite MLB prop bets for Tuesday, April 8th. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more MLB plays, by subscribing to the RotoGrinders Props & Pick’em package.
Tuesday’s MLB slate began with a trio of afternoon contests, but there are still 12 games left to get underway as of this writing, leaving plenty of opportunities for the betting community to find a few plays to their liking.
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 Tuesday, April 8th!
Editor’s Note: Don’t live in a state with sports betting? Use our Underdog promo code & PrizePicks referral code GRINDERS for over $1,000 in sign-up bonuses for fantasy pick’em contests today.
Best MLB Player Props for Tuesday, April 8th
Here are my top player prop bets for Tuesday, April 8th:
- Cole Ragans Over/Under 17.5 Outs Recorded
- Framber Valdez Over/Under 17.5 Outs Recorded
- Easton Lucas Over/Under 14.5 Outs Recorded
Cole Ragans OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-178, FanDuel)
Kansas City has used each of their 3 high-leverage arms – Carlos Estevez, Lucas Erceg, and Hunter Harvey – in back-to-back days ahead of first pitch on Tuesday. Erceg and Harvey have each thrown 3 of the last 4 days. The Royals would undoubtedly love some length from Ragans to help ease the burden on a bullpen that is flirting with some heavy usage of late.
It’s still early in the season, but it’s worth noting that Minnesota ranks 30th in wRC+ against southpaws through the end of play on April 7. Ragans is positioned to get deep into this ballgame.
Framber Valdez OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-175, DraftKings)
Valdez only completed 5 innings in his most recent start against the Giants, but he clearly had no feel for the ball from the very first pitch of the game. Even still, he settled down somewhat after a rough 1st inning. He gets a favorable matchup against the Mariners, pitching in one of the most pitcher-friendly venues in Major League Baseball. Temperature at first pitch is expected to be around 50 degrees, which should only further help Valdez’s case. Houston’s bullpen isn’t in terrible shape, but they have used Bryan Abreu in consecutive days, and Tayler Scott appeared yesterday as well, so they would love some length from Valdez on Tuesday.
Easton Lucas UNDER 14.5 Outs Recorded (-135, DraftKings)
Lucas made it through 5 innings and allowed only 1 hit in his last outing against the Nationals, but he gets a more difficult test this time around, facing a Boston lineup that enters play ranked 5th in wRC+ against southpaws this season. It’s also worth noting that Washington had 3 LHB in the top 5 spots in the order in Lucas’ last matchup. Today, the Red Sox have Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers atop their lineup, but they have exclusively RHB after that. This could motivate Toronto to go to Yariel Rodriguez in relief the 3rd time through the order. The math favors the under.
Image Credit: Imagn