Welcome back to another PrizePicks MLB Wednesday!
There are a ton of games in the evening window, and we’ll take a look at three pitching matchups that are catching my attention.
MLB PrizePicks predictions
Seth Lugo more than 5.0 Pitcher Strikeouts
Don’t let the Angel’s run total from yesterday’s game fool you.
They were downright bad during their first game without Mike Trout in the lineup.
Opposing pitcher Joe Musgrove mowed down 11 Angels and gave up just one earned run in seven innings before the San Diego pen somehow coughed up four in the ninth inning.
Must be at least 18 years of age and within applicable state (AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, NE, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY, DC). Full Terms and Conditions apply.
New Players 18+. Available in AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV. There are restrictions in AL, GA, ID, MN, MS, NV, SC, WA. Full Terms and Conditions apply.
First time deposits only. 18+. Must be located in eligible states (AK, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MA, MN, NE, NM, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, WI, WY, DC) for the duration of a contest. Full terms and conditions apply.
Must be at least 18 years of age and within applicable state (AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY). Full terms and conditions apply.
New users only, 18+. AK, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, NE, NH, NM, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, WI, WY, DC only. Full terms and conditions apply.
First time deposits only. 18+. Must be located in eligible states (AK, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, ME, MA, MN, NE, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, WV, WI, WY) for the duration of a contest. Full terms and conditions apply.
21+. New customers only. AL, AK, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, ME, MN, MS, NE, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY, DC only. T&C apply
Last night, I blindly wanted to take Seth Lugo before any data was released today.
Now, my eyes are open and I love that there’s no hook on this number.
It feels pretty safe with plenty of room to cash.
Lugo, a righty, is actually striking out more lefties (24%) than righties this season.
The Angels are projected to roll out six of them, including newly acquired senior citizens Mike Moustakas and Eduardo Escobar, which are two more strikeout-prone bats.
Lugo is a converted reliever, so he definitely doesn’t get the name recognition that he should.
He’s been a solid starting pitcher this season. I’m in.
Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting
Mike Soroka more than 3.0 Pitcher Strikeouts
Yes, Mike Soroka is back.
This guy had the world in front of him a few years ago and has unfortunately been plagued by injuries.
It’s great to see him back at the pro level.
The Guardians are one of the best contact-hitting teams in the league.
There’s just one batter in their projected lineup with a strikeout rate north of 23% against right-handed pitchers, which is pretty remarkable.
However, I think there should at least be a hook on this number.
Soroka hasn’t flashed the best strikeout stuff since his return, but in his defense, he struck out seven batters in his previous start five days ago.
This could be due to his highest fastball velocity of this season, which was supported by a very respectable 10% swinging-strike rate against Miami.
It’s time to jump on board with that increased velocity.
He only pitched in three pro-level games in 2023 and it may have taken some time to ramp back up.
I think he squeaks by with at least four strikeouts against this pesky Cleveland team.
Bobby Miller less than 35.5 Pitcher Fantasy Score
Miller has an electric arm and is one of the most exciting young pitchers in the game.
However, he’ll have to be near perfect to crack this score on Wednesday.
Miller flew through the beginning of his MLB tenure, but he’s hit a bit of turbulence across his last three starts, yielding 16 runs and 12 strikeouts while not making it through six innings in any of those starts.
Miller would have to get through six fairly clean innings to grab points for a quality start and I have my doubts about that.
Pittsburgh is swinging a pretty hot stick right now and they aren’t as bad as the public perception.
Six projected Pirate starters strike out less than 20% of the time against right-handed pitchers his season.