After going 3-for-3 in my bets Sunday, this time I'm focusing specifically on player props for Monday's reduced slate. This time, I'm targeting a red-hot hitter in a total-bases play while also looking at two starters who seem primed to go over their proposed strikeout totals.
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Best MLB Bets Today
Tampa Bay Rays 
vs. Detroit Tigers 
- Yandy Diaz Over 1.5 total bases (+100 BetMGM)
Diaz has been one of the hottest bats in the majors of late, hitting safely in all but one of his last 14 contests and recording eight multi-hit performances over that stretch, as well as hitting the over on 1.5 total bases 10 times already. Hitting .322 with an .834 OPS since the beginning of August, Diaz should be a strong play for Monday's slate since he'll be facing a slumping Tigers team that will send Framber Valdez to the mound.
Even though Valdez was one of the top free-agent signings before the 2026 season, he's been slumping of late with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP in his six starts following the All-Star break. This looks like an excellent spot for Diaz to continue his red-hot hitting.
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Colorado Rockies 
vs. Washington Nationals 
- Cade Cavalli Over 6.5 strikeouts (+104 DraftKings)
Cavalli is coming off a dominant start the last time out. He earned the win last Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk while striking out 11 over six innings, and that was his second consecutive outing with double-digit strikeouts. He has an extremely favorable matchup this time around against one of the worst lineups in the majors in the Rockies, but Cavalli has been effective regardless of who he's facing of late.
The Washington righty is now 7-1 in his last 10 starts, giving up just 14 earned runs to lower his season ERA to 3.22 and WHIP to 1.22 alongside a 162:42 K:BB in 142.2 innings. With those numbers and a favorable matchup, the plus-money-odds here look attractive. For what it's worth, Cavalli has surpassed the line of 6.5 strikeouts in each of his last three contests.
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Boston Red Sox 
vs. Miami Marlins 
- Sandy Alcantara Over 4.5 strikeouts (-120 FanDuel)
The line of Under 4.5 strikeouts looks really low on Alcantara, but to be fair, he'll be facing a red-hot Red Sox team, and Alcantara's recent performances haven't been the best. In his last start, he took the loss Wednesday against Philadelphia, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk across six innings while fanning just one.
While his recent performances have been solid, as Alcantara has allowed only four runs across 33 frames in his previous five outings, the low number of punchouts is certainly a concern. He has just two strikeouts in his last two starts, but he recorded at least five in each of the previous three before this subpar run. I'm backing Alcantara to bounce back in the strikeout column.
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MLB Picks Recap
- Rays vs. Tigers: Yandy Diaz Over 1.5 total bases (+100 BetMGM)
- Rockies vs. Nationals: Cade Cavalli Over 6.5 strikeouts (+104 DraftKings)
- Red Sox vs. Marlins: Sandy Alcantara Over 4.5 strikeouts (-120 FanDuel)
