Top MLB prop bets June 8: Back Mike Trout on this plus-money play

Thursday’s MLB slate consists of 11 games, finishing off with the series finale between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels.

The pregame narrative: We’re looking for some action in that one and are targeting Mike Trout on his total bases prop. Ahead of that game, we also have a play for the Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians matchup.

Check out our two picks and the betting odds in our best MLB prop bets for June 8.

MLB odds as of 2:46 p.m. ET 06/08/2023.

MLB prop bets

Best Bet : Trout over 1.5 total bases (+106)

Trout is plus money on his total bases prop for the third consecutive game. As long as we’re getting him at this price, we’re all in.

The Angels slugger fell short on this prop in the series opener after being held to a single, and he cashed it last night with his 14th home run of the season.

Trout is without question having a down year by his standards, but getting the three-time MVP at these odds is still an enticing play.

The 31-year-old enters tonight slugging .500 with an .863 OPS. His average (.265) is sitting at a career-low mark, but the power is still there. And we’re not about to overanalyze the all-time great, who slashed .317/.400/.606 in April.

Trout faces Cubs lefty Drew Smyly, who is enjoying a strong season but has allowed eight hits and 14 runs over his last two starts. In 18 head-to-head at-bats, Trout has five hits, all of which have gone for extra bases (three doubles, two homers).

Trout is whiffing a lot, though it’s in line with his previous two seasons. And Smyly’s K rate is below average for the third consecutive year. Smyly is allowing plenty of balls in play, too, ranking 10th in the NL in contact rate.

The southpaw should have trouble retiring Trout on strikes, leading us to believe he’ll have to rely on his defence to bail him out. With Trout barreling the ball at a good rate when he does make contact, we think this matchup lines up well for him.

Key stat: Smyly has surrendered six of his seven homers to righties this year.

Quick pick

Adam Civale under 4.5 Ks (-129) : This is a tough number for Civale to crack, as his two rotation mates that went ahead of him in this series would attest.

Shane Bieber only generated two strikeouts versus Boston on Tuesday and Tanner Bibee did the same last night. Boston has MLB’s fifth-lowest strikeout rate versus righties, which Bieber, Bibee and Civale all are.

Civale has cleared this number once in his three starts. He has only made one start since returning from an oblique injury and he was limited to 83 pitches, fanning four against the Twins, who lead the majors in K rate.

This is a difficult assignment for Civale, who has been a below-average strikeout arm in three of his four MLB seasons.

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