Tigers vs. Pirates: The best player prop bets for Sept. 8

The series finale between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates may not hold any playoff implications, but it’s a very interesting contest from a wagering perspective. Let’s highlight our three favorite prop bets for this tilt at PNC Park.

Detroit Tigers (65-75) at Pittsburgh Pirates (50-89), 6:35 p.m. ET

Akil Baddoo Over/Under 0.5 runs

Akil Baddoo has been an on-base machine at the top of the Tigers’ order thus far in September, so he should have plenty of chances to get knocked in on Wednesday night.

Baddoo has a .407 OBP since Sept. 1, including a single and a walk in five plate appearances in this series. He’ll take on Pirates starter Mitch Keller, who’s been shockingly bad at home this year, producing an 8.31 ERA and .341 opponent batting average.

Backing up Keller is a middling Pittsburgh bullpen that’s 18th by ERA (4.45) since the start of September.

Baddoo could of course knock himself in with a homer, but he’s listed at +650 to do that for a reason. This play is a much safer one.

MLB pick: Over (-125)

Jonathan Schoop Over/Under 0.5 RBI

Jonathan Schoop is the Detroit team leader in RBIs with 73, including a Tigers-best 36 on the road.

He’s driven in two runs already on the Tigers’ road trip, though none have come in this series. That feels due to change on Wednesday night against Keller and the Pirates’ poor pitching staff. The price is certainly tempting enough.

MLB pick: Over (+175)

Bryan Reynolds Over/Under 1.5 hits

Prop bettors should side against Bryan Reynolds having a multi-hit evening against Matt Manning and the rest of the Tigers’ pitching staff.

Reynolds’ four-hit Sunday – which included a grand slam – was just his second multi-hit game since Aug. 14, a span of 21 starts. He’s never faced Matt Manning (in fact, none of his teammates can say they they’ve faced Manning in the majors either), which gives the edge to the pitcher.

The Tigers’ bullpen has performed well over the last two weeks, ranking seventh by ERA in that stretch (3.08).

MLB pick: Under (-225)