Thursday’s June 5th MLB Best Bets, Top Predictions

The Thursday MLB card showcases 13 games with plenty of player and team props to choose from. One of the intriguing matchups highlights the Battle of Missouri, as the St. Louis Cardinals host the Kansas City Royals.

We’ll break down three plays for Thursday’s action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the props and totals markets are constantly shifting.

Here are the best picks for MLB action on Thursday, June 5:

Rangers First 5 Innings vs. Rays (+120 at DraftKings)

The Texas Rangers look to avoid a three-game sweep against the Tampa Bay Rays on the road tonight.

Texas sends right-hander Jack Leiter to the mound, who owns a 6-2-1 record in the first five innings this season. Leiter tossed 5.2 scoreless innings in an 11-1 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals in his previous outing.

The Rangers fell to 17-2-7 over the last 26 games in the first five innings when scoring at least one run, following Wednesday’s 5-4 defeat. Unfortunately, all three of their runs came in the fifth inning after trailing 5-0.

Tampa Bay starter Ryan Pepiot has not allowed a run in his last two starts but was torched by Texas last season, giving up six runs in a 9-3 road defeat.

Bryan Woo Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-115 at DraftKings)

The Seattle Mariners are coming off a pair of home losses to the Baltimore Orioles as they send right-hander Bryan Woo to the mound today.

Woo has excelled in daytime games this season, recording at least six strikeouts in three outings.

Opposing pitchers have gone over their strikeout prop in seven of the last nine daytime matchups against the Orioles. In six of those games, Baltimore struck out at least six times.

Additionally, right-handed starting pitchers have hit the over on their strikeout prop in 11 of Baltimore’s last 15 road games.

Matthew Liberatore Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+116 at FanDuel)

The Kansas City Royals have had their issues against left-handed starters this season. In 10 games, opposing southpaws have hit their strikeout prop eight times when facing Kansas City.

St. Louis left-hander Matthew Liberatore has cashed his strikeout prop in four of his past five starts, averaging 5.2 strikeouts during that span.

Liberatore posted five strikeouts the last time he faced the Royals — a 2-1 defeat on May 18.

In five of their last six games against left-handed starters, the Royals have recorded at least five strikeouts — including four games with seven or more.