All 30 MLB teams are in action this Friday night as the first weekend of May gets off to a flying start. There are several Opening Day aces back on the mound making their seventh start of the season, and plenty of interesting options to consider backing or fading on Friday’s slate. Let’s dive in and pick out my favorite starting pitcher prop bets of the night featuring plays from Tarik Skubal, Grant Holmes, and Ben Brown.
Every day of the season, DraftKings Sportsbook offers multiple ways to get in on the action with player props, Moneylines and picks against the spread from each MLB contest. You can also pick series winners, award winners and team futures as well, so be sure to check out all the options available on the MLB page of DK Sportsbook.
Here is a look at my top starting pitcher prop bets for this Friday night.
Best Starting Pitcher Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Tarik Skubal over 7.5 strikeouts (-110)
Skubal and the Tigers are on the road in Anaheim to take on the Angels, and I like Skubal to post at least eight Ks as the first of my starting pitcher prop bets. Skubal will face the lineup without Mike Trout (knee), who was placed on the injured list.
The Angels’ lineup leads the MLB over the last two weeks with a 29.3% K%, averaging 9.9 strikeouts per game. Against lefties, they have a 28.2% K% on the season, the second-highest in the MLB behind only the Rockies.
Skubal has gone over this strikeout line in three of his last five starts and each of his two road starts this season. He is coming off a season-high 11 Ks in his most recent start, which was against the Orioles last Sunday.
He got the win in that game to improve to 3-2 on the season and is +100 to get the win on Friday as well. I like that prop as well, but I prefer this since there’s no need to overcomplicate and bring the Tigers’ offense and bullpen into the equation.
Grant Holmes over 2.5 walks (+110)
Holmes and the Braves take on the Dodgers in Atlanta on Friday night. While this seems like a high number, Holmes has been issuing free passes at a high rate all season in both his good starts and his bad starts, which is why this is one of my top starting pitcher prop bets of the night.
He has made six starts spanning 28 innings while handing out 17 free passes. He has a 14.5% walk rate on the season and is averaging 2.8 walks per start. Holmes has handed out at least three walks in four of his last five starts since going without a walk in his first start of the season.
He faced the Dodgers earlier this year and walked four batters in four innings in a loss in Los Angeles. He issued four free passes against the Twins in his last home start and then three walks against Arizona in his last time out.
Based on how wild he had been lately and how patient and professional the Dodgers lineup is, this is a nice place to get plus-money on his walk prop.
Ben Brown To Record A Win (+180)
The last of my three starting pitcher prop bets is a little bit of a longer shot, backing Brown to go on the road and get a win over the Brewers. The “to record a win” prop always introduces a lot of variables, but getting it at this number makes it worth the sweat in thsi matchup.
Brown and the Cubs come into this divisional series at 19-13 with a two-game lead on the Reds and a three-game lead over the Brewers, who are 16-16. Chicago took two of three games against the Pirates to start the week, while the Brewers took two of three from the White Sox.
Brown is 2-2 on the season with a 6.04 ERA, but his 4.17 FIP and 4.85 xERA show that some of those runs have been a little unlucky. He got knocked around in his last start against the Phillies, which drives this number up to a great value play since he has shown a high ceiling.
Each of his two wins have come on the road in his last two road starts in tough environments. He beat the Athletics at Sutter Health Park, and in his most impressive outing of the year, he threw six shutout innings to beat the Dodgers.
He also looked strong against the Diamondbacks right after his Dodgers start, allowing just one run in four innings but not sticking around long enough to get the win.
On the road again, I think Brown has a good chance to outduel Quinn Priester, who has also knocked around in his last start. The Cubs’ offense is on fire coming into this series, and they should give him the run support he needs to have a good shot at being a great value play at +180.
