MLB Thursday odds, picks, player props

Thursday afternoon is the perfect time for a little baseball in the heat, and for sweating out a few bets.

With Wednesday night’s game between the Mets and Orioles rained out, we’re going to be targeting the pitching matchup for the opener of Thursday’s doubleheader.

Former Braves starter Charlie Morton will toe the rubber for the opener in Baltimore and while he’s had a poor season for the Orioles, he’s still striking out batters at an impressive clip.

The Mets don’t typically strike out a lot, but in the past 18 games the Mets have struck out 151 times — 12th-most in all of baseball entering Wednesday.

On the season, the Mets had struck out the eighth-fewest time — 72— so there have been some holes in the armor of late.

Morton has also had plenty of success against the Mets, striking out seven in a seven-inning, one-run effort last season.

He owns a lifetime 3.85 ERA against the Amazins.

Of course, the Mets now have Juan Soto to their potent lineup, but Morton’s strikeout totals haven’t fallen off this year either.

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Morton has 84 strikeouts in his 77 ¹/₃ innings pitched this season, and his strikeout total prop is the one I’m targeting in the opener.

Target the Over of Morton’s strikeout prop, a number I projected to hang around 5.5.

The play: Charlie Morton Over 5.5 strikeouts (+125, BetMGM)

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