Okay, sometimes you “strike out” in a sense when one of the guys you pick doesn’t start the game. That happened to us yesterday with Charlie Blackmon, who basically got the day off on Wednesday and made a pinch-hitting appearance.

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For Thursday, which is known as “getaway day” in the major leagues, we have a limited number of night games, but in one of them we have the guy who might find himself holding that American League MVP trophy at the end of the year.

And we are not looking to beat him; we’re looking to join him.

MLB Player Props Predictions (July 29)

Blue Jays vs. Red Sox Picks

RAFAEL DEVERS (Boston Red Sox) UNDER 1.5 HITS (-250)

Opponent: TORONTO BLUE JAYS (starter – Hyun Jin Ryu

Time: 7:10 PM ET

Well, we’d have a few Red Sox stars to pick from here. JD Martinez, for example, doesn’t have a career RBI against Ryu in 19 appearances at the plate. In Devers, we have another All-Star player who hasn’t been able to figure out the Korean southpaw.

Devers has been to the plate nine times against him, and has one hit, striking out four times. Whatever he’s doing, it just isn’t working.

For all you people who like to keep track of these sorts of things, take note that Ryu blanked Boston over seven innings on May 18. So it’s quite possible his effect on Devers will be felt longer than usual.

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Brewers vs. Pirates Picks

KOLTEN WONG (Milwaukee Brewers) UNDER 1.5 HITS (-250)

Opponent: PITTSBURGH PIRATES (starter – Chad Kuhl)

Time: 7:05 PM ET

I don’t know; maybe you’d be one of those people who would figure that Kolten Wong was “due.” But against Pittsburgh’s middling (3-5, 4.38 ERA) right-hander Chad Kuhl, he’s not been lucky. Wong has stepped to the plate 17 times in these head-to-head situations,and he has one hit.

You should remember that even though Wong has been walked four times by Kuhl, when you’re talking about getting paid in a prop like this, a walk is decidedly NOT as good as a hit.

The guy who really did the damage when Milwaukee gave Kuhl the bum’s rush on June 12 was Christian Yelich, who had a double and three RBI’s, but of course Yelich is out after having gotten a positive result on a COVID test.

Athletics vs. Angels Picks

SHOHEI OHTANI (Los Angeles Angels) OVER 0.5 RBIs (+125)

Opponent: OAKLAND ATHLETICS (starter – Frankie Montas)

Time: 9:35 PM ET

In two starts against the Angels this season, Freddy Montas, who’s got a 4.29 ERA, has done more than reasonably well, holding the Halos to two earned runs over 12-2/3 innings. Of course, his team will have to start heading in a better direction, as it has lost four of five, while the Angels are winners of four of their last five games.

The Angels have been around the .500 mark, but obviously that’s been no fault of Ohtani, who has torn up the league with 37 homers and 81 RBI’s to go with a 1.058 OPS, not to mention the 5-1, 3.04 ERA record on the mound.

So frankly (pardon the pun), we’re a bit surprised to see him at this number. He’s got 17 plate appearances against Montas, and he already has two homers and seven RBI’s. The only thing that might hurt him here is if Angels manager Joe Maddon gave him what they would call in the NBA “short minutes.”

On the basis of what we know, we’re IN.

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Rockies vs. Padres Picks

CJ CRON (Colorado Rockies) UNDER 0.5 HITS (+110)

Opponent: SAN DIEGO PADRES (starter – Joe Musgrove)

Time: 10:10 PM ET

Joe Musgrove pitched that no-hitter earlier in the season, and lately he’s been up and down; actually more down than up.

Still, he has a good ERA (3.13) and his WHIP ratio is right around the 1.000 mark. And the main reason for that is that he gives up just 6.75 hits per nine innings.

Perhaps the player he’s done best against in the Colorado lineup is CJ Cron. And that is actually a good sign for us, because he’s the guy who’s faced him the most.

Since Cron has managed just two hits in 13 at bats, we kind of like this number.

Read our betting guides on MLB first team to score props and MLB total bases props.