This article is part of our PrizePicks MLB series.
We have a solid slate Thursday, and there are potentially profitable PrizePicks opportunities throughout the evening portion. We highlight four of our favorites below:
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Salvador Perez, KCR at CLE: More Than 0.5 Hits
Perez has a favorable history against Guardians starter Gavin Williams, against who he owns a .500 average with over 12 career plate appearances. The veteran slugger is having a down year at the plate overall, but he's at the 85 percentile or higer in xwOBA (.367), xBA (.282), barrel rate (15.0 percent) and xSLG (.549).
Williams has been pitching well for most of the season, but Perez has hit safely in 83 games. Additionally, while Perez has managed just a .100 average and .375 OPS over the 40 plate appearances he's logged in the last 11 games, but the combination of his modest 17.5 percent strikeout rate, .065 BABIP and 36.4 percent hard-contact rate in the same sample underscores he's been extremely unlucky.
Cam Schlittler: More Than 6 Pitcher Strikeouts
Schlittler has been impressive in his first 10 major-league starts, even factoring in a stumble against the Blue Jays last time out where he allowed four earned runs before being chased in just 1.2 innings. The hard-throwing right-hander had previously allowed three earned runs or less in his nine previous starts, and he came into the outing against Toronto with three straight eight-strikeout quality starts.
He now faces a formidable Tigers lineup for the first time, but Detroit checks in with a 24.1 percent strikeout rate and a tame .297 wOBA against right-handed pitching on the road in the last month of play. Schlittler owns a 10.2 K/9 across 27.1 innings at Yankee Stadium and has a 12.6 percent swinging strike rate overall, putting this prop firmly in his wheelhouse.
Julio Rodriguez, SEA at LAA: More Than 1.5 Total Bases
Rodriguez put together another multi-hit effort Wednesday, his 49th such effort this season. The productive day pushed Rodriguez's total-bases tally to 285 over 145 games this season, putting this prop firmly in play for him Thursday against a starting pitcher he's enjoyed his fair share of success against in the past.
Angels starter Jose Soriano has been solid this season, but he's surrendered a .500 average with a couple of homers over 14 career encounters with Rodriguez. Soriano also has a middling 7.6 K/9 against right-handed hitters on the road, and since Aug. 5, he's had outings where he's conceded seven, five and eight earned runs, the latter coming in his most recent trip to the mound versus the Athletics.
Ramon Laureano, SDP vs. COL: More Than 0.5 Hits
Laureano is enjoying a breakout age-30 season, as he comes into Thursday's action with a .295/.357/.537 slash line, 48 extra-base hits and 71 RBI over 119 games. The talented outfielder also has an impressive .387 wOBA, and he's managed to hit safely in 75 of 119 games overall. His matchup Thursday lines up well for his chances of adding to that number, as he's facing a highly vulnerable rookie in McCade Brown.
Brown has been lit up for a .391 average and .476 wOBA by right-handed hitters, a split in which he has a forgettable 4.8 K/9 and a massive 3.2 HR/9. Meanwhile, Laureano has been outstanding against righties at home, as he went into Wednesday with a .331 average, .951 OPS and .407 wOBA in that split. Given the Rockies bullpen had also pitched to a .354 wOBA against right-handed hitters on the road in the last month going into Wednesday, this is a very reachable prop.
