MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, August 17
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Happy Monday! It's a lighter slate today, but there's still a whole lot to attack. Join me as I break down three of my favorite MLB player props for Aug. 17, including why I expect Bobby Witt Jr. to go nuclea…
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.Happy Monday! It's a lighter slate today, but there's still a whole lot to attack. Join me as I break down three of my favorite MLB player props for Aug. 17, including why I expect Bobby Witt Jr. to go nuclear. Best MLB player props today Player Pick Odds Tomoyuki Sugano Under 3.5 strikeouts <<-173>> Shota Imanaga Over 2.5 earned runs <<+125>> Bobby Witt Jr. Over 1.5 total bases <<-119>> Tomoyuki Sugano Under 3.5 strikeouts (-173) Before you ball up that fist after seeing this price, just know you can take the Under 2.5 at plus-money, or pair this prop with one of the others listed in this article. However, Colorado Rockies right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano enters with the lowest matchup strikeout rate on Batters-Box. He's stayed Under this prop 63% of the time in 19 poorly-rated matchups. Sugano has also stayed Under this number in his last six poorly-rated strikeout ratings. The Los Angeles Dodgers own the fourth-lowest road strikeout rate at just 20.7%. Sugano owns just a 13.33% strikeout rate inside Coors Field. The Dodgers need to get back on track, and Sugano is the punching bag they need. Just don't take this any higher than it is. Time: 8:40 p.m. ET Where to watch: SNLA, COLR Shota Imanaga Over 2.5 earned runs (+125) Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga enters Monday drawing one of the highest-rated lineups on the slate. The Chicago White Sox have the third-highest-rated offense on the day, according to Batters-Box's current-season dataset, which features four elite-rated hitters. The White Sox have started to heat back up offensively following a big weekend in Detroit. Over their last six games, they own a 148 wRC+, .385 wOBA and .888 OPS. Imanaga's last three starts also feature some underlying metrics the White Sox could look to exploit this evening. For starters, he is allowing a nearly 15% barrel rate and an 81.6% elevation rate, while opposing hitters own a .527 xSLG. This feels like a strong spot for the White Sox to make another statement against the North Siders. Playable down to +110, or take the White Sox first five team total Over 1.5 at -130 range. Time: 8:05 p.m. ET Where to watch: CHSN, Marquee Bobby Witt Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (-119) The second-highest-rated hitter on the day over at Batters-Box happens to be the heart and soul of Kansas City, Mr. Bobby Witt Jr. The Kansas City Royals star covers nearly 80% of Athletics right-hander Mason Barnett's pitch mix. In nearly 30 elite ratings at home, Witt Jr. surpasses this prop over 55% of the time, and has done so in seven of his last 10 elite ratings at home. Across his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, the Royals shortstop sports a .333 BA, .519 SLG, .919 OPS, and 52.25% hard-hit rate. On the other side, Barnett has been getting crushed by right-handed hitters, allowing a 23.5% barrel rate and 23.5% ground-ball rate, while they own a .360 xBA, .811 xSLG, and .412 xwOBA. At -119, this price is worth paying. Take this down to -130. Time: 7:40 p.m. ET Where to watch: ROYL, NBCSCA Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record Prop picks: 407-785, -10.5 units Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.Not intended for use in MA.Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links. This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.