MLB Props & Home Run Bets: Can Gerrit Cole Tame Hot-Hitting Astros in ALCS?

It’s far from March, but we’re deep into Major League Baseball’s final four and a matter of days from the Fall Classic. In the meantime, our MLB championship series props and home run bets highlight several players who will help punch those World Series tickets.

Top sportsbook apps provide a number of MLB props, home run bets, and strikeout wagers for the ALCS featuring Yankees vs. Astros and Phillies vs Padres in the NLCS to suit baseball bettors’ tastes.

NLCS Game 3 Betting Lines

The NLCS is knotted at a game apiece, and Game 3 is priced as a virtual coin flip. The Yankees, meanwhile, are favored to close the gap at home on Saturday. Here are current odds from sports betting apps around the marketplace.

MLB Props & Championship Series Home Run Bets

Home Run Picks

Yordan Alvarez vs. New York Yankees

Alvarez is possibly the most dangerous hitter in the postseason. He produced a 1.086 OPS in the division series in spite of an 0-for-7 in the 18-inning marathon that eliminated the Seattle Mariners. He has six homers off of Yankees pitchers, including two against Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ probable Game 3 starter.

Also read: Yankees vs. Astros Game 3 odds, updated series price, prediction

Bryce Harper vs. San Diego Padres

So much for Harper needing to knock off rust. He’s slashing .407/.448/.963 in the postseason. That’s a 1.411 OPS. He left the yard to the opposite field multiple times, a sign that he’s locked in. The Padres have tough pitchers taking the hill, but when a player of Harper’s caliber is in the zone, it often doesn’t matter who’s delivering the pitches.

Juan Soto vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Soto owns a .922 OPS against Phillies pitchers and is slashing .333/.438/.683 with 12 homers in 120 at-bats at Citizens Bank Park. Familiarity is never a bad thing in the postseason, and Soto’s time as a Washington National means he’ll feel right at home when the series shifts to the City of Brotherly Love.

More: Phillies vs. Padres Game 3 line, new series price, prediction

Strikeout Wagers

Gerrit Cole vs. Houston Astros

Stick with us here. Betting on Cole is a “choose your adventure” play.

Those who expect the Yankees to advance to the World Series should be bullish on Cole in Game 3. For the Yankees to beat the Astros, it will almost certainly require an “earn your stripes” type of performance from their $324 million man. That type of outing, in theory, will be accompanied by length and punchouts.

Those less optimistic on the Yankees claiming their 41st pennant can bet the Under with confidence. After all, the Astros are one of the toughest teams to strike out, and Cole is serving up home runs like free samples. He’s surrendered at least one home run in 10 straight starts and 14 total over that span.

Lance McCullers Jr. vs. New York Yankees

The Yankees whiffed a little over 10 times per contest in their five-game division series win over the Cleveland Guardians. McCullers, for his part, has logged at least six innings in his last five starts (including postseason). If McCullers can avoid fatal mistakes — easier said than done — he’ll be able to log the frames that allow him to rack up some punchouts.

Also check: World Series odds | Best sports betting bonuses