Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another edition of our RIVAL Fantasy MLB DFS prop picks for July 15th, 2023! We will focus on two fantasy contest types offered on RIVAL - Challenges and FantasyBook (Over/Under).
Challenges are H2H matchups between two MLB players. You choose which one you think will score the most fantasy points, then place a bet to back it. If another user decides on the other player at any time before the contest, the bet is on! If your player scores more fantasy points, you win 1.8x your bet. FantasyBook is more traditional over/under DFS prop picks - whether you think pitchers and hitters will score Over or Under the set lines, and choosing your amount. You can parlay multiple picks together to vastly increase the juice (ex: 3 picks = 5x your bet).
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RIVAL Challenge Picks
Blake Snell OVER James Paxton
As I was scrolling through the challenge matchups this morning, there was only one pitcher I wouldn't take Snell over and that's Spencer Strider. Snell has the second-most projected strikeouts according to my projection and a good matchup against a Philadelphia team that can struggle against LHP. This slate is loaded with ace pitchers, but I would Snell up against just about all of them in terms of his fantasy score today. And let's note that Tyler Glasnow is not available for challenges as he's pitching the first half of a doubleheader (as he's the only other pitcher I have projected ahead of Snell).
Lane Thomas OVER Bryan Reynolds
I am not sure Thomas is getting the respect he deserves among casual fans and non-Washington fans. He's having a huge season, he's just doing it in relative obscurity on a bad team. He's been near elite against LHP this season and he will face Steven Matz as the opposing pitcher from the Cardinals today.
Meanwhile, Reynolds has not done much in July, scoring in double-digits just once this month. And the Pirates get a very good opposing pitcher on the hill today in Alex Cobb.
RIVAL Over/Under Picks
Jose Ramirez (OVER), Ronald Acuna Jr. (OVER), Jake Irvin (UNDER)
J-Ram has been heating up for Cleveland and I usually like deploying him against lefties as he's a slightly more productive hitter from the right side of the plate. He has a nice history against Andrew Heaney, including two home runs against him and Heaney is coming off a poor start.
Acuna Jr. has been smashing this projection with regularity during the last month as the Braves continue to be red-hot. He doesn't even need to get any extra-base hits to do it, he's been able to crack this number sometimes just by getting a single or walking and then stealing a base and scoring a run.
Jake Irvin is a pitcher with a SIERA over 5.00 and he's facing a Cardinals team that doesn't strike out much. I don't see him padding his total with many Ks and he will have his work cut out for him trying to keep this Cards team off the scoreboard.
Trea Turner (UNDER), Masataka Yoshida (OVER), Julio Rodriguez (OVER)
Turner has to go up against the red-hot Blake Snell and he has not performed well against Snell in his career with just three hits in 20 plate appearances and eight strikeouts. These other two hitters are in good spots today and in good form.
Yoshida has been the most consistent hitter in Boston's lineup and sees sinker-baller Marcus Stroman today. He should be able to put the ball in play and he's been cruising over 7.3 fantasy points quite often, take a peek at his game log. J-Rod is coming off another impressive performance at the HR derby and had two hits and a walk in his first game after the break last night. He faces Michael Lorenzen - a decent pitcher, but one that allows a lot of contact and Rodriguez thrives against RHP.
Good luck with your contests today!
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