Orioles vs. Phillies: The best player prop bets for Sept. 22

Player props are an amazing thing. They have the ability to take a one-sided September MLB contest like Wednesday’s series finale between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies, and turn it into a can’t-miss betting opportunity.

Baltimore Orioles (48-103) at Philadelphia Phillies (77-74), 7:05 p.m. ET

Here are our top three player prop picks for this tilt.

Zack Wheeler Over/Under 7.5 strikeouts thrown

Zack Wheeler will try to improve on his dark-horse status for the NL Cy Young Award against a fairly punchless Orioles lineup at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.

Baltimore has produced the second-most strikeouts of any MLB lineup in September, fanning 193 times through 20 games. Only the Cleveland Indians have been sat down more on the month, but their 197 Ks have been earned over 21 games.

Wheeler – who owns a scant 1.02 ERA through three outings in September – has rung up 23 batters over his last 17 2/3 innings of work. It’s not a stretch to imagine him fanning at least eight O’s hitters in this spot.

MLB pick: Over (-105)

Bryce Harper Over/Under 0.5 RBI

If Bryce Harper keeps producing in September, voters will have no choice but to hand him his second career NL MVP Award.

Harper – who leads the majors in OPS at 1.050 – is batting .354 with seven homers and 17 RBI in September. Though he’s matched up with a lefty starter in Keegan Aiken, he should still have his fair share of chances against the Orioles' woeful bullpen, which owns an MLB-worst 8.69 ERA over the last two weeks.

Count on Harper to plate his 81st RBI of the season on Wednesday night.

MLB pick: Over (+125)

Keegan Aiken Over/Under 4.5 strikeouts thrown

The Phillies have won five of their last seven contests, inching closer to their first NL East title since 2011. Their offense has been a big reason why, plating 37 runs in that span.

Philadelphia has also been disciplined at the plate in September, registering the ninth-fewest strikeouts in the majors (143). That spells trouble for Baltimore starter Keegan Aiken, who owns a 7.07 ERA through three starts this month, and a 7.71 ERA in 49 innings of work on the road in 2021.

He’s unlikely to last long enough to punch out five Phillies, so bettors should take the Under on this player prop.

MLB pick: Under (-145)