4 MLB Player Props and Predictions for Friday, May 23

Memorial Day weekend is often the start of major league baseball’s primetime season. With the NBA and NHL nearing their postseason conclusions, the summer’s stars will begin shining bright during the holiday weekend.

With 16 games on tap for Friday, which players should bettors watch in hopes of earning some cold, hard cash? We’ll cover our top four player prop bets for Friday’s action below.

New York Yankees RF Aaron Judge To Hit A Home Run (+150)

The Yankees are headed West to take on the Colorado Rockies for a three-game series before Memorial Day. Despite having played an All-Star game in Coors Field, the matchup between New York and Colorado marks the first time right fielder Aaron Judge has faced the Rockies on their home turf.

It’s also the first time he’s faced tonight’s starting pitcher Tanner Gordon. After hitting just one home run over the last seven games, bettors should expect him to send a pitch out of the park in the Mile High city, covering this player prop bet.

Atlanta Braves RF Ronald Acuna Jr. To Record A Hit (-350)

For the first time this season, the Atlanta Braves will have former MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. The right fielder has been hot in his five-game rehab assignment, going 5-of-12 with a home run and two doubles for the Triple-A Gwinnett franchise.

Tonight, he’ll face the San Diego Padres’ Nick Pivetta in his first MLB plate appearance. He’s average against Pivetta, recording seven hits in 34 plate appearances and striking out nine times. Still, expect Acuna to record at some point in this game, pleasing the Braves fans – and savvy bettors – in Friday’s action.

Houston Astros Pitcher Ryan Gusto UNDER 4.5 Strikeouts

Rookie pitcher Ryan Gusto is trying to carve out a spot in the Houston Astros’ rotation. The right-handed pitcher has started five of the 11 games he’s appeared in thus far, going 3-2 in his first major league season.

Tonight, he’ll face the Seattle Mariners in a matchup that should favor the rookie. Seattle ranks 26th in the majors, having recorded nearly nine strikeouts per game this season. It’s his second opportunity to face the Mariners after he earned one of his three victories in a relief outing.

Gusto has recorded six strikeouts in all three games he’s recorded more than four innings. Beyond those three games, however, he’s recorded no more than four strikeouts. Expect the rookie to struggle in just his second start this month, falling short of his strikeout total on Friday.

St. Louis Cardinals 1B Willson Contreras To Record An RBI (+170)

The St. Louis Cardinals will begin a crucial three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. St. Louis currently trails the Chicago Cubs for first place in the North, and Arizona is in fourth place despite its 26-24 record.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras will be a player to watch this weekend. After a seven-game stretch where he did not record a RBI in April, the right-handed hitter has been on a tear. He’s brought home at least one run in 10 of his team’s 19 games in May. Expect him to continue that trend on Friday night and cover this player prop bet.