:format(webp)/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/sports-betting/2023/06/25/athletics-vs-blue-jays-prop-bets-vladimir-guerrero-jr-should-stay-hot-on-sunday/2023-06-CP167438470.jpg)
Partner Content | Athletics vs. Blue Jays prop bets: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should stay hot on Sunday
The Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics meet up for a matinee rubber match on Sunday at Rogers Centre.
The pregame narrative: Although the A’s look like a delightful matchup for most pitchers, we have a couple of reasons to fade Yusei Kikuchi this afternoon. But we’re certainly not going to fade Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has homered in back-to-back games for the first time since early May.
Check out both of our Athletics vs. Blue Jays prop bets for June 25.
MLB odds as of 9:25 a.m. ET on 06/25/23.
Athletics vs. Blue Jays prop bets
Best Bet : Kikuchi under 6.5 Ks, Belt 1+ hits (+143)
Generally speaking, the A’s look like a dream matchup for any pitcher. They rank last in baseball in OPS (.653) and runs per game (3.5), as well as fourth-last in strikeout rate (24.8%).
With a strikeout rate that high, why are we taking an under with Kikuchi?
Well, it turns out that Oakland has been far more likely to whiff against righties, as its K rate vs. LHPs (22.9%) is only the 14th highest in MLB.
Kikuchi is a left-hander who rarely works deep into games — more on that later — and thus limits his opportunity for a high volume of strikeouts. He’s fallen under this line in 10 of 15 starts this year.
We don’t mind backing Kikuchi under 5.5 Ks (+108) on its own. Alternatively, we’ve opted to tease up that line a bit and add in a hit for Brandon Belt to enhance the price.
Belt, who’s batting in the No. 3 spot for the Blue Jays right now, continues to produce. He has a hit in nine of his past 10 games and is batting .327 since May 4.
Key stat: Kikuchi has gone under 6.5 Ks in seven of his past 10 starts, averaging 4.9 Ks in that span.
Quick pick
Kikuchi under 15.5 outs (-118) : Given that we’re fading Kikuchi in the strikeout department, a fade of his overall workload makes sense, too.
Despite tossing six scoreless innings his last time out, Kikuchi has recorded under 15.5 outs in eight of 10 starts since May.
Keep in mind that Kikuchi routinely flirts with this line, as he’s pitched into the fifth or later in every start this year. But the Blue Jays have their second off-day in a five-day span tomorrow, so the bullpen should be able to handle a hefty workload.
Guerrero over 0.5 RBIs (-109) : A minus-odds price on an RBI prop feels a bit like highway robbery. But Guerrero is finding his groove and should be in a position to cash this for a third straight game.
Toronto has a 5.5-run implied total today, so the expectation is that there will be plenty of traffic on the base paths.
From the No. 4 spot in the Jays’ lineup, Guerrero should be able to capitalize against A’s rookie Luis Medina, who has allowed a .483 xSLG this year, per Baseball Savant.
Looking to get started? Sign up here.
Disclaimer This content was produced as part of a partnership and therefore it may not meet the standards of impartial or independent journalism.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
