Wheeler, McKenzie Top MLB Player Props Bets for Wed, May 1

We cashed a sweep last night! Freddy Peralta loaded up a seven-strikeout performance, going over his 6½ betting line. Angels starter Tyler Anderson allowed three ER going over his 2½ line, and Kyle Tucker went 2-for-3 and over his 1½ total bases in the Astros walk-off win. I’m eager to carry that momentum into Wednesday!

I’ve meticulously narrowed down the best player props for you today based on specific criteria and analysis. Get ready for an exciting day of MLB action!

Best MLB Player Props Today

Phillies SP Zach Wheeler Over 7½ Strikeouts

This might appear to be a lofty number because it’s the highest of any starting pitcher on Wednesday. The Phillies will close out their series with the Los Angeles Angels with their ace on the mound, Zach Wheeler. The 33-year-old right-hander has been an absolute stud through his first six starts this season. He has posted a 1.93 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. If he continues this pace, he is poised to make a run for the NL Cy Young Award.

Wheeler has a career-high strikeout rate of 31.1% so far, a significant bump from 26.9% last season. He has added a terrific splitter to his bag, and it currently leads all pitches in swings outside the zone, along with a ridiculous 33.3% Whiff%. Wheeler is also posting a career-high in called strike plus whiff rate and swinging strike rate. The Angels lineup is ripe for the picking, especially without the services of Mike Trout for the foreseeable future. Wheeler has exceeded this line in three consecutive starts and four of his last five. His last start against the Angels came in 2022, and he finished with nine strikeouts. The Halos own the ninth-highest K% so far in 2024; last season, they finished fifth in this category. Wheeler will dominate again tonight.

Zack Wheeler, 7th and 8th Ks. pic.twitter.com/3YiYf9F3t0

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 25, 2024

Guardians SP Triston McKenzie Under 4½ Strikeouts

Very quietly, the Cleveland Guardians are off to an outstanding start with a 19-10 record, and the Houston Astros have stumbled a bit out of the gates at 10-19. This disparity in performance makes this series extremely intriguing. The Astros took the series opener last night in extra innings, and tonight, we’ll see veteran Justin Verlander take the mound against Triston McKenzie. Cleveland will send the 26-year-old right-hander to the bump, looking to get back in the win column. I’m fading him tonight. Things won’t be easy on the road tonight against the Astros lineup, with the lowest strikeout percentage in MLB.

The Astros have only allowed six of the last 25 starting pitchers they have faced to finish with five or more strikeouts. In April, starting pitchers against Houston went under this line 76% of the time! McKenzie suffered a tear in his UCL last summer but opted for rehab as opposed to Tommy John. He clearly has been affected by the injury. The velocity on every pitch is down, while his Sweet Spot%, xBA, wOBA, and SLG% are up compared to his career marks. His K% is down 4.3%, along with his Whiff% and Out of Zone Swing %. He’s simply not getting batters to chase or swing and miss.

Cleveland #Guardians RHP Triston McKenzie is pitching with a torn ligament in his right elbow. McKenzie opted against surgery last year deciding to go with rehab instead.

First reported by @ByJasonLloyd & @ZackMeisel

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) April 18, 2024

He went over this line in his last two starts against the Athletics and Red Sox, but those teams are striking out the second and third-most in MLB this season. Houston is the most disciplined lineup in MLB with the lowest Whiff%. Count on McKenzie to get chased out of the game early and stay under his strikeouts prop tonight.

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