Do you remember a couple of off-seasons ago when we were speculating as to whether Bryce Harper or Manny Machado was going to sign the contract that would make them the highest-paid player in history?

In the end, Mike Trout pretty much trumped them, and it would be safe to say that unlike Trout, neither Harper nor Machado have set the world on fire.

MLB Sportsbooks Reviews

For Saturday’s game, it might be an interesting proposition as to whether both Harper and Machado go hitless.

After all, they are a combined 0-17 lifetime against the pitchers they’ll be facing.

We’ll discuss that, among other things, as we give you five winners to help you enjoy the action.

MLB Player Props Predictions (August 21)

Phillies vs. Padres Betting Preview

MANNY MACHADO (San Diego Padres) UNDER 0.5 HITS (+200)

Opponent: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (starter – Aaron Nola)

Time: 8:40 PM ET

You could go another way here, as Bryce Harper of the Phillies is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts lifetime against Joe Musgrove, but we can get a better price with someone else.

Manny Machado has gone 0-for-9 against Aaron Nola, with three K’s. Of course, we’ll need to see something better than we did last time from Nola, who failed to get out of the fifth inning before allowing four runs against Cincinnati.

MLB Runline Odds

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies Betting Preview

CHARLIE BLACKMON (Colorado Rockies) OVER 0.5 RUNS SCORED (-125)

Opponent: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (starter – Zac Gallen)

Time: 8:10 PM ET

The D-Backs aren’t stellar as a visitor (14-46), so the likelihood of winning at Coors Field is probably unlikely. As for the head-to-head stuff, Charlie Blackmon, who has hit eight of his nine homers at Coors, is 7-of-12 for his career against Arizona starter Zac Gallen.

True, he’s hitting only .258 on his home turf. But with a .643 on-base percentage in this matchup, Blackmon ought to find himself in scoring position.

MLB First Team to Score Props Picks (August 21)

Braves vs. Orioles Betting Preview

BALTIMORE ORIOLES TO SCORE FIRST (+175)

Opponent: ATLANTA BRAVES (starter – Drew Smyly)

Time: 7:05 PM ET

First of all, we can acknowledge that Atlanta is fourth in the majors in first inning scoring, and the Orioles have lost 16 games in a row.

But we’re not betting that Baltimore is going to win; we’re just looking at the possibility of them crossing the plate first.

Matt Harvey has not exactly had a season that is worthy of a Comeback of the Year award (6.25 ERA), but he’s got some pretty decent career numbers against a few of the Braves’ better players. For example, Dansby Swanson, Jorge Soler and Adam Duvall are a combined 4-of-34 against him.

Drew Smyly is Atlanta’s starter, and we’re not even going to bring up his last four starts against the Orioles (12.18 ERA), because he last took place in 2019.

He will have a hard time getting out of the first inning unscathed, as he’s pitched to an OPS while giving up five homers. Out of the first four innings, this is his worst,by far.

No, it’s not completely catastrophic. But for MLB bettors, it’s worth grabbing at this price.

MLB Runline Picks

Pirates vs. Cardinals Betting Preview

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS TO SCORE FIRST (-120)

Opponent: PITTSBURGH PIRATES (starter – Dillon Peters)

Time: 7:15 PM ET

Yes, J.A.Happ has a 6.55 ERA in the first inning. But over his last three starts he has given up just three earned runs in 16-2/3 innings.

Dillon Peters hasn’t pitched much this year, but in his career he’s been, well, a slow starter. In 25-2/3 innings he’s allowed 58 batters to reach base. That’s a 2.26 WHIP ratio (also a 7.36 ERA). He’s worth bucking here.

Rangers vs. Red Sox Betting Preview

BOSTON RED SOX TO SCORE FIRST (-145)

Opponent: TEXAS RANGERS (starter – Jordan Lyles)

Time: 7:10 PM ET

Jordan Lyles has allowed opponents to hit .309 in the first inning, and in the second and third innings his foes have had an OPS of .898 and .969, respectively.

Not that Eduardo Rodriguez has been all that outstanding in that area. But remember that the Red Sox are the top team in the majors in first inning scoring (.76 runs per game), which is double that of the Rangers (who rank 29th). Texas is 29th in second inning scoring as well, with less than half the runs Boston has.