With just one week left in August, MLB is fully immersed in the playoff push. It is a typical lighter day on the schedule for this Monday, but there are still some important games overall. There are still a handful of teams that haven’t been playing for much, which always factors in this late in the year. We also have the benefit of checking with OddsShopper’s EV picks for anything with Underdog, so here are your top two MLB Underdog Fantasy pick’em predictions!
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Underdog Fantasy MLB Pick’em Predictions Today
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Ronel Blanco H/L Than 5.0 Hits Allowed
We get a straight projection without any hook here with Ronel Blanco’s higher/lower than 5.0 hits. Blanco giving up three or four hits in this game and losing the start is totally viable here, mainly because of the walk factor. The Phillies have a couple of batters in their everyday lineup that are drawing a ton of walks — Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh and Bryce Harper.
The problem for Blanco is he’s walking batters at an uncomfortable rate, one of the worst ratios over his past few starts. Allowing baserunners is one thing, but in a stadium where the home team has thrived with run production, it will be Blanco’s undoing. We like the over on the game total again in this game but know Blanco has a propensity to walk batters, giving up timely hits yet being chased without getting to six. There’s always the chance he comes in dealing, taking advantage of some strikeouts in this Philadelphia lineup. That would also correlate to Blanco staying below five hits.
Underdog Fantasy Pick’em Prediction: Ronel Blanco Lower Than 5.0 Hits Allowed
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. H/L Than 1.5 Total Bases
There is nothing wrong with a little chalk, especially when it fits the matchup. The Red Sox are six games below .500 in Boston, and that’s not because of 1-0 games. Coming off the suspended game, the Red Sox and Jays will have the quickest turnaround. Nick Pivetta is charged with keeping Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to no more than a single.
The problem for Pivetta isn’t striking out batters — he brings a 28.9% strikeout rate to the party. It’s more a matter of when contact is made. Guerrero’s 14.2% strikeout rate is not easy to best and should mitigate an overall advantage to Pivetta. Instead, the contact becomes a problem for Boston. Pivetta is giving up hard contact, something that should have Guerrero salivating at the thought.
It’s a good game to look at a home run play for him as well, but we will be more than happy with two total bases.
Underdog Fantasy Pick’em Prediction: Vladimir Guerrero Higher Than 1.5 Total Bases
