MLB Best Bets for June 9th: Top Picks, Player Props and More

After a busy weekend with full slates Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it’s kind of nice to have just nine games on the schedule for today. That’s still plenty of games and markets to bet on, but fewer to research for my “MLB Best Bets” list.

Over the last week, eight teams have had a pitching staff with sub-3.00 ERAs, and two have batting averages of .300 or better. Does that mean it’s time to lean into unders and pitching props? Let’s find out and see what made my MLB Best Bets list for Monday, June 9.

Cincinnati Reds (+1.5) vs. Cleveland Guardians (-164), o/u 8.5

UNDER 8.5

Neither pitcher looks great on paper. Miley will likely have a short leash—or he might not—since the Reds’ bullpen has been struggling. Luis Ortiz has had some rough moments this season, but his last five outings have been solid.

Both teams have been lacking at the plate over the last week, but the Reds scored almost double the runs the Guardians did (28 to 15). With Progressive Field being a pitcher-friendly park, fans may not want to expect too much out of either lineup.

Chicago Cubs (+1.5) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (-152), o/u 7.5

UNDER 7.5

Chicago has one of the best offenses in baseball this season, but it has been a little quiet over the last week (.237). Philadelphia’s offense ranks in the top 12 this season, but has been the worst in baseball over the last week (.181 batting average with 16 runs scored in six games).

Both pitchers are solid: Matthew Boyd—3.01 ERA, 1.19 WHIP—and Zack Wheeler—2.96 ERA, 0.92 WHIP. So, we have two underperforming offenses facing two excellent pitchers. Yeah, there will not be too many runs scored in this game.

Zack Wheeler, OVER 6.5 Strikeouts at -112
The Cubs have averaged right around seven strikeouts per game over the last week. Wheeler ranks seventh in the league in strikeouts with 94 and has averaged seven-plus over his last five starts. In nine of 12 appearances this season, he struck out at least seven.

Los Angeles Dodgers (-1.5) vs. San Diego Padres (+104), o/u 8

Padres ML at +104
UNDER 8 at -110
SGP Odds: +228
Neither team is hitting the ball well right now or putting a lot of runs on the scoreboard. Dustin May is a good pitcher but tends to struggle a little on the road (1-3 in five starts with a 5.40 ERA), which gives me some hope for San Diego’s bats.

However, Nick Pivetta has been lights out at home this season (5-0 in six starts with a 1.69 ERA). He’ll keep the Dodgers’ lineup in check and then get the win courtesy of the two or three runs of support he gets from his lineup.

Dustin May, OVER 4.5 Strikeouts at +120
Nick Pivetta, OVER 5.5 Strikeouts at -134
When it comes to strikeouts, neither pitcher tends to record many in any given game. However, May has been good for five-plus in his last six starts and will face a Padres lineup averaging around nine strikeouts per game over the last week.

As for Pivetta, he started the season with just four strikeouts in each of his first two starts. But he has since had at least five in every start since (10 starts). He had five in his last start, but seven-plus in each of his previous three starts.

Like May, he’ll get a little help from a lineup that struck out around nine times a game over the last week.